Some Decorations

This year Chancho and I went out for a Christmas Lights excursion. We really only got to see two beautiful homes because they were so far apart, but these were the pictures that I got.

A home in Queens, NY

A home in Bronx, NY

 This house was ridiculous. It's a Hollywood theme so there are manikins dressed up for a dinner party, along with every other decoration available from Santa to Snoopy. They were playing Michael Jackson's "Beat It" when we were viewing the house, which I thought was odd. The whole house was odd, including the fact that it is painted bright pink. But it was still awesome regardless of the weirdness.

Here's my tree! (Don't mind the spooky eyes, it's just Foxy)

Foxy checking out her first Xmas Tree

Completely decorated - Red and Silver theme this year

Garland across the mantel. And Foxy creeping in again.

Garland going up the staircase

There is also garland with lights on the front door, along with wreaths, but I didn't get a chance to take a picture of those yet. Busy busy busy...only a few more days until Christmas! I still have yet to finish all of my shopping. Perhaps by Monday or Tuesday it will be done. Chancho is going away this weekend so I'll have some extra free time. 

Quote of the Day: "He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." - Roy L. Smith
Listening to:  "Silent Night" by Mariah Carey

In The Spirit

I've been waiting patiently to hear back from the new job (PCS) and still my phone is silent. I've called twice and left messages. Still nothing. Perhaps they're busy with the holidays themselves. Maybe they're waiting for the new year. Whatever the case, it's driving me nuts! I can't make plans without knowing if they're going to call and need me to work. I'm in limbo right now. And I HATE limbo.
TG and I decorated the house the other night finally. The tree is up along with the garland and nativity scenes. I didn't do every single decoration this year, just out of pure laziness, but the house looks good. I'll upload pictures later. I am currently babysitting Buster. He is sick with a cold and possibly an ear infection. He keeps smacking at his ears. I definitely have a soft spot for sick babies because all I've been doing is cuddling and reading to him. I even rocked him to sleep today for his nap.
But what has really got me in the spirit is that my best friend Jean from childhood has reappeared into my life. She was isolated from friends and family for a good 2 years because of the guy she was dating. Everyone was really worried about her for a while and we were hoping that she would open her eyes to see the horrible life that was surrounding her. Unfortunately, it took a traumatic event to do that. But none the less she is out of that life and back with her friends and family. We've hung out twice and have tons of plans to do things together. She is currently seeing her childhood sweetheart and is in the happiest time of her life. Which ultimately makes me happy for her. They're talking marriage, they went ring shopping and have even discussed buying a place together. So of course, being the girl that I am, I'm wrapped up in the idea of being married too. Chancho and I have talked a lot about it in the past and even now. He's even mentioned taking a stroll through a jewelery store to "browse". But Chancho has also been my reality check. He brings me back down from cloud 9 and shows me realistically where we are. However, it doesn't hurt to dream about that dream wedding. I mean it is the season to be merry!

Quote of the day: "Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves." ~Eric Sevareid

I'm Running On Empty

Wow, I have been MIA for a while now. My bad. I have been very busy from my grandmother's 85th birthday to training for my new job. I guess I'll just start typing it out for ya.

Way back in November, my father's side of the family had a great family gathering to celebrate my grandmother's 85th birthday party. Everyone was able to make it which is such a rare occurrence. We were able to watch a slide show of old pictures. The actual slides in a slide machine, if you understand what I'm saying. It was crazy to see how much my brother looks exactly like my dad and how my cousin looks exactly like my grandfather. I loved being around everyone and just being able to relax. And little did I know how much I would miss that.

Thanksgiving snuck up on me the following week. My brother and his wife came, along with my sister and her husband. They each brought their kids dogs. So we had 3 dogs running around the house. We also celebrated my 23rd birthday. Chancho was able to come after work to be there for cake and a few presents.

My actual birthday was on the 30th and it also happened to be the day that they were lighting the Rockefeller Christmas Tree so I had a gathering of friends over at Chancho's place to celebrate and watch it get lit. I had a great time with all of my friends. I love when we can all get together in one place. Especially, since we never all get to be in the same place at once.

Then this past week has been hectic. I started my training at my new job. I had to pass a Therapeutic Crisis Intervention class before being hired. I was stressin out beyond belief. It was a four day class, the fourth day being the test day. We had to go over a 100 page book and learn restraint techniques. It really took a toll on not just my mind, but my body. I feel like I'm 90. I was cramming in my studies and trying to practice my "take downs" all week. But alas, I passed! I am officially hired and can start work as soon as they give me my schedule. I still have to call, but no one is in on the weekends.

I also was able to attend Chancho's Christmas party this year. Last year I was so nervous and this year, I was just "whatever" I had too much going on in my life that I couldn't mind what was going on at the party. I did meet a ton of people that I couldn't tell you who or what their names were, but they were all "cool" or "great" guys. I also met the guys that are going on a mini getaway with Chancho next weekend for a football game. I was able to warn the one guy that Chancho snores like a freight train and to watch out. We had to leave early because my test was the next day, but it was still a good time. I'm looking forward to next years party.

My family and I picked out our Christmas tree! It's still out on the front porch, but hopefully this week it will be put up. I can't wait to decorate. I just need to find the time. I finished my extended family shopping today. I'll do another post about those gifts. Now, I have to find a day to buy for everyone in my family.

I think I've gotten everything out. I still have a few busy weeks ahead of me so I'll see if I can keep up with this. I've missed reading and blogging.

Us at the Precinct Party

Quote of the Day: "Don't spend your time lookin' around for something you want that can't be found." –Baloo (The Jungle Book)
Listening to: "Christmas Tree" by Lady Gaga

This Could Be Life Changing

I've kept this under wraps, but I applied for a job, as I have been for over a year now. And I finally got a call. And it wasn't a rejection! Woohooo! At first I had no idea who the lady was or what she was calling in reference to. I had to go back to my emails and see where I had applied to and what matched up with the voicemail. It turns out that I applied for a Milieu Counselor job. Today, I went to the interview. It is in a gated community so I had to ask the security guard to let me in and I had to ask for directions because I've never been on the campus before. He directed me the best he could and wished me luck. I pulled up to the building with the columns as he had described and called Chancho. I was nervous as all hell. I sat in the car in my newly purchased suit (from Chancho. Thanks babe!) and called Chancho for a few last minute words of encouragement. He told me I'd be fine and to get my butt in there. It would look good if I was early. As I was hanging up I heard a chorus of "Good Luck" in the background. He had told everyone in his office that I was going on an interview and they were wishing me luck. It made me smile as I left the car in search for where I was supposed to be. I walked up to a set of doors and they said to use the front entrance. I would if I knew where the front entrance was! So I went across to another set of doors. Same sign. I stood for a minute looking around feeling like an idiot and then walked out to a parking lot and turned to find huge ass green doors. Third times a charm, it was the front entrance. The lady behind the desk had me fill out another application, which I did the best with because I couldn't remember all of the addresses and phone numbers for everything, but whatever.
Then I had my interview. The lady was unbelievably nice. She was so laid back and did a ton of talking. She explained that I would be working with kids ranging from ages 7 to 20 years old that have been taken out of their homes because their home life was unfit or their parents abused them or there was substance abuse involved or some other traumatic experience that required them to leave their home. I would be in charge of a cottage on campus (there are 12 total) and in one cottage there are 16 kids. I wouldn't be working full time or part time, just on call as they need me. For now anyways because I don't have any experience. So this is me getting my feet wet. She encourages open communication so if I go home the first day crying, she wants to know. Before I can start, I need to go through all the necessary background checks, fingerprinting and drug tests. Then I need to complete a Therapeutic Crisis Intervention class that is 4 days long.
I am not going to lie, but I am nervous about starting this job. I'm nervous because I obviously don't have any experience in this field other than the classes that I've taken in school and that isn't nearly enough to prepare me for what I have in store, but I do know that I want to help these kids. I know that it can be a very rewarding opportunity for me. Am I scared for what's to come? Hell yes I am. Am I excited? Beyond excited. I am ready to see what I am capable of and what else is out there beyond retail.
I was explaining to my mother today about what this job and what is expected of me and unfortunately, I didn't get any support from her. In fact, it was all negative responses. Not one good thing came out of her mouth. I should have expected that from her as she is a hard, honest, cold, person, but I did want some sort of encouragement. I guess that is why I have loving friends and a wonderful boyfriend to say all of those things I need to hear. I can't let her negativity get in the way of what I feel is right for me at this time. Even if it isn't and I wind up deciding after a week that I am not fit for it, then I know. I tried and gave it my best. I can put it on my resume and look towards other things. But for now, this is what I want and I'm going in head first.
TG and Chancho took me out to Olive Garden tonight to celebrate. It was a great night involving wayyyy too much eating.
Quote of the Day: "Never dwell on the past & don’t allow the future to scare u, because it will crush the happiness of your present."

Naughty Package

I had this great idea that I would be romantic and send a little package to Chancho at work. I thought Wouldn't it be nice to send him a little something to get him ready for me when he gets home? I mean they always share it in magazines and movies to spice things up in the relationship to do things out of the ordinary. So I started brainstorming, trying to figure out what I could send that would spread a smile across his face while he was sitting at his desk doing paperwork. A few things crossed my mind and then I decided against them. I finally settled upon something that would not only get him to smile, I was hoping to get a phone call saying he'd take loss time and be home early to see me ;) Then....I realized, sending a package to a police station....Not a good idea. Any crazy person could send a package to the station and it could have something life threatening in it so my little naughty package probably wouldn't be okay either. I sent Chancho a quick text asking what he thought about me sending him something and he said that whatever package I sent to him in the mail would most definitely be searched before being delivered to him. Thank goodness for my brain and realizing that I shouldn't send a package because that would have been awful if I just sent it out and it was searched!
Time to come up with something else to get him to come home early...

Quote of the Day: "It isn’t how you forget, but how you forgive, not how you listen, but how you understand, not what you see, but how you feel, it's not how you let go, it's how you hold on."

Eating My Cake

I am happy as a fat kid eating cake. This week was nothing special, but the talks that Chancho and I have had have helped me feel more comfortable and confident in us. He's been super attentive to my feelings and emotions lately and it's been very soothing to know that his feelings for me haven't changed. There has been so much communication between us that it's got me high spirits. Granted, we definitely aren't back to where we were before the "incident", but as he says "we are moving in the right direction". The biggest thing that makes me happy is that we are actually talking when something upsets us and we are responding rationally with each other. Huge steps! Before, we just let the issues fester inside. Now, we can say "hey I'm not happy with this, that and those..." and we work on it.
Yesterday we spent the morning together before he headed into the city for class. It was a great having him hold me all morning while we slept. (I get up early, drive to his place, and climb into bed with him while he's still sleeping) I love having his arms wrapped around me, knowing he's doing it unconsciously in his sleep. He left for class and then picked me up when he was done 3 hours later. He cooked food, or rather, reheated some leftovers his mother made earlier in the day, and we sat and watched TV together. It was great having alone time with him. Better than usual. I think we both needed each other. Fireworks were going off. We didn't leave the bed for the rest of the day. Thankfully, TG was at work. 

Earlier in the week TG and I took an adventure up to Bear Mountain State Park. I wasn't really sure where we were going, but we just drove. We finally made it. And these were the views that we had.

 On our way back, some coworkers contacted me and suggested we meet in the city for dinner. Not having much else to do, we said yes. In we went and wound up at Spice, which is a Thai restaurant. TG nor I have ever had Thai food so it was an interesting experience. We took one look at the menu and were confused. Nothing sounded like anything we ever had before and had to ask Suki and Circhgrl for some advice as to what to order. It wound up being one of the best nights that I've had in a long time. I hadn't laughed that hard in a while. We're going to make it a weekly event, each of us picking another place to go. I'm really looking forward to it this week.

 

 

Curry Puff

Quote of the Day: "Life is too short, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly"
Listening to: "Gernade" by Bruno Mars

Raise the Hoof

TG and I haven't had much time to spend together since she's moved in. I think it's finally getting to her as today she's asked that we do something to get her out of the house. I also think that it's showing how much I've changed since I've left school. I hate to think it, but I may have grown up some. I have left behind my drinking habits and now am working crazy hours that keep me responsible. I can't just not show up. TG however, I feel like is still in that frame of mind and wants to go out drinking and having that college lifestyle still. So here I am learning to balance it all out. We did take a walk the other day together to give us something to do, but it is starting to get cold so we're going to run out of things to do that are free. Here's a few pictures from our walk.

This past weekend was a good one. I actually got to spend the entire day with Chancho on Friday. I don't think that we've been able to do that since....I can't remember when. I went to his class with him and then he got me Halal food. It's from a street vendor. I wasn't a huge fan of it. I think cause it was chicken, maybe if he had gotten me beef, I would have liked it better. When I get the beef next time, I'll decide. From there we went to get our Halloween costumes. Nothing was fitting me in the stores. I threw a tiny fit and wanted to go home. I was frustrated and tired. But I knew I needed a costume so I calmed down and put a smile on and ventured to another store to find something that did fit. Chancho of course was able to just fit into anything. As guy costumes are a one size fits all. They get it so easy. After finally finding something that fit, we headed home and Chancho took my parents, TG and I out for dinner. My mother is a nurse and she just took an exam to add a few more initials after her name. She passed! She didn't think she would, but she did so we took her out to a restaurant to celebrate. It was a great Italian place. That I want to go back to. Then...after dinner Chancho, TG and I headed over to a haunted walk. Our friend Zach had to be there as he's a volunteer firefighter in that town so we met up with him. He walked through with us and had TG on his arm the whole night screaming. It was freakin scary as hell! Chancho and I led the way. Chancho got scared at one point. Which I didn't expect. I almost pissed my pants at one point. It was a good night. I want to go back again next year, as scared as I was.
Saturday night, Chancho and I headed off to a coworkers party. I was a little nervous as to how it was going to go because I was the only one from work that was going, but it turned out to be a great night. Our costumes were a huge hit and everyone there was super friendly and had some good costumes as well. There was good food to keep Chancho happy. Here's a picture of our costumes The Milk Maid and her cow:

A fun filled weekend has come to an end and now another week continues on. I can't believe it's November. But that means only 4 weeks til my birthday!

Quote of the Day: "Put love into action. Words alone won't do it."
Listening to:  "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman