Early Christmas in Iowa

Brian & I went to Iowa December 4-9. We left on Thursday night around 10:15pm and got to Norwalk where his parents live around 12:30pm on Friday afternoon. We drove straight through the night and we were very happy to arrive and get out of the car. Bentley slept the entire trip...she only got out once to go potty. All the other times we let her out, she didn't want anything to do with her food or water and wouldn't go potty. We spent Friday around the house with Craig & Mary and the boys just got ready to go hunting on Saturday morning. They got up early and spent the entire day hunting. Mary, Jenna and I went shopping in the afternoon and when we got home, we all sat around the table and had 3 different soups. Since the boys got 5 deer on Saturday morning, they did not go back out to the same property on Sunday. Brian, Andy (Jenna's husband), and Scott (Craig's friend) sat out in the field on Sunday morning to see if they could get anything else...Scott & Andy both shot another one. That's a total of 7 deer. Sunday afternoon, we had early Christmas with the DeDecker's and thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship. After the family left, Brian & I went to dinner with our friend Lauren. It was great to see her pretty face!! Monday was a pretty leisurely day...Brian sat out in the field in the morning and then had a doctor's appointment in the afternoon. I went to spend the day with Anna and Scarlet and then we got all of our stuff ready to go and headed back to Austin around 10:30pm on Monday night. We were not in much of a hurry so we took it slow and got home on Tuesday afternoon around 5:30pm. Overall, it was a great trip. Bentley LOVED the snow...she ran around in it, jumped in it, rolled in it...she was in heaven!!! Everyone loved her and gave her tons of attention. She made a lot of new friends!!! Check out the pictures!!

Fletcher Thanksgiving 2008

What a great break from life...we had a great holiday with the whole family. We went out to Memaw & Papaw's house on Friday and ate goo-gobs of food and had good fellowship! It was great to see Bailee, Noah, Caleb & Ana...they're growing up so fast!! And then we got to meet sweet little (really little) Owen...Ben & Amy's son! It was a great time...check out the whole family!!!

YAY Bentley!!!

Brian and I have been slowly but surely trying to teach Bentley some manners. We started with "sit" and then "shake" and then "lay down." The first one was pretty easy...we hold out our fist (as if there is a treat in it - I learned this from Paul) and say "sit" and she does it. Then Brian started to teach her to shake and she learned that one pretty quickly. We did those 2 for awhile but then we started thinking that it was time for her to learn to lay down. So after sit and shake, we started moving our hand from left to right as if telling her to lay down and just today, she started doing it. I was so excited the first time she did it this morning that I called Brian squealing! She then did it again tonight for Brian and it was pretty exciting. The next thing to teach her is "stay" and "roll over." She learned awhile ago to ring the bell next to the door when she wants to go outside...she abuses it a little but its a pretty great tool!!! We're such proud parents!!! ;)

I CANNOT believe this is the world I live in...

So, I was driving to work one day and surfing through the stations and stopped on one for some reason...maybe there was a song that I liked and then it ended and the morning show started talking again. Apparently, there is a man that was sentenced life in prison plus 80 years for running a family over in a parking lot. I'm assuming that sentencing someone LIFE in prison PLUS 80 years means that NO ONE wants that person to EVER get out of prison. He will DIE in prison??? Guess what...this man has leukemia and has now received $470,000 worth of treatment to help him live. I find this beyond ironic because he is in prison to do what...live? Die? How is it logical that this country has made it possible to spend $470,000 on a life that is simply over??? That money could have gone to all the families that have children with leukemia and cannot afford the treatment for the child...it could've gone to a charity...it could've gone to a church or a private school for some kind of scholarship for someone who did not commit a horrible crime. I am just baffled that this happens...that money was just wasted on someone who will still die in prison and now we have to pay for him to live in prison...after we've already paid for his cancer treatments. Why does this happen?

NASCAR

Last weekend (November 2-3), Brian and I drove to Dallas/Fort Worth to go to the Nascar race. My friend, Kristin (with a K ;) works for Jim Beam and they happened to be having a party deck for the race. She got us VIP passes which included all race events on Saturday and Sunday, pre-race pit passes for the Nascar race, headsets with radios that followed any driver you wanted to hear, free food and beverages, and we didn't have to walk anywhere...we were delivered everywhere via golfcarts. We sat about 15 feet from the track and the noise was unreal. We were so close that tire shreds were being blown up on us throughout the entire race. Brian had a blast...it was like a dream come true! Unfortunately, Dale Jr. did not win the race but Brian still had fun watching him try. Thanks so much to Kristin & Jim Beam for giving us such an unforgettable experience! On Saturday night, we went out to Fort Worth and spent the evening with Bryce & Trish. We ended up spending the entire time at their house watching Texas Tech beat the hell outta those t-sippers!!! Out of the 12-14 people there, only 2 were stupid enough to root for UT. The rest of us were Aggie fans and all have the same mindset - ANYBODY but Texas!!! Poor little Colt McCoy looked like he was gonna cry...poor baby. Maybe we should get him a t-sip crying towel. Anyways...overall it was a fantastic weekend. We were able to stay at Kristin's house like it was our own private suite. We had a great time and I hope that one day, Brian can enjoy the race like that again...but next time with his daddy!

United again!

There has been a development in my employment in the past few days. November 7th will be my final day with Sunstate Equipment Company. I begin at United Rentals on November 10th. I'm making the move to United Rentals because they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I'll be making $1.25 more an hour and in my honest opinion, the medical benefits package at United is better than Sunstate's high deductable HSA plan. I've always had a love for United since I worked there back in Iowa, and I am looking forward to working there again. I will be working at the Round Rock, TX branch, which is actually closer to home than the original Sunstate location I was working at before I got transferred to the new store in Buda. I'm sad to leave that new location down in Buda, I've taken a lot of pride in setting up the new shop and yard, and almost see that new store as my little baby. Its a great location (other than the fact that it is 60 miles from home), the layout of the property is ideal, and Sunstate should do well in that location expecially once things are finally all set up and the economy comes back around. I'm leaving Sunstate on a good note, the manager understands why I am leaving, and he was not able to come back with a counter offer that would keep me there. The manager also understood my abilities, capabilities, experience, and desire move up, and agreed that Sunstate, given the current state of affairs with the economy, wouldn't be able to promote me to something more profitable for a while. I have enjoyed my time at Sunstate, and enjoyed the friends I have made working there, but I look at them as a stepping stone, they gave me the income I needed after I got laid off from Austin Engineering, and allowed me to be way overpaid for the position I held, but they have assured me that I was the best yard man they ever had.

Looking forward, I am going to work for an "Aerial" branch at United which is the same type of branch I worked for in Iowa. I'm going to be a Class A CDL driver for them and will driving one of their Tractor Trailer haul trucks delivering and picking up equipment. The branch I will be working at is currently a "satellite" store to the main branch in San Antonio, but they are growing the location into a full stand alone branch, hence the reason they called me and offered me the job. They are growing and need people to fill the positions. I look forward to opportunities that may present themselves as the branch grows in the future. I have no doubt that my previous experience, talents and work ethic will help me succeed in the future.

No other real news...Bentley is growing like a stinking weed! She's truely a blessing to us...one of the best mannered dogs I've ever seen, let alone had as my own. She's extremely obedient, smart and is tons of fun to play with.

The truck trade deal for the Jeep Liberty seems to have fallen through....the lending market is in the toilet even for people like us with good credit, and it just wasn't worth trading a 7% interest rate for one WAY above that, and having to bring $7,000 to the table as a down payment to cover negative equity didn't really appeal to us either. Sometimes you just gotta run with what you got, and if anything is a positive about keeping the diesel truck, we have seen $2.99 deisel down here the past day or two, so that helps that fuel prices are coming down. I still hope to sometime soon find some time to get my WVO blending setup completed and start driving for next to nothing, but that takes time to get the WVO for free....time is hard to come by these days as you all probably know.

Until next time! God bless and take care...

Welcome to the blogging world, right???

...so here it goes...I am officially blogging. I always read Teri's blog and then click on other peoples blogs and wonder why I haven't started my own. I love reading about life in Vegas with my sweet niece and nephew and now, I guess it's my turn to keep everyone up to date on Brian & I.

First, I'll start with the newest addition to our family. We have a new puppy. Her name is Bentley and she was born July 7, 2008. We picked her up September 27th and have enjoyed getting to know her and watching her grow. She is full blood chocolate lab and just as sweet as can be. I've always had female dogs but Brian has always had male dogs. He is used to hyper non-stop dogs and he is amazed at her temperment. She is laid back and easy going all the time. She loves to sleep. She loves to chew on her bones and chew toys. So far, she's learned to sit and shake. We hung a "Christmas bell" next to the door and she nudges it with her nose everytime she needs to go outside to go potty. She's only had a few accidents in the house. She gets to go to work with me at least 3 times a week and she LOVES when Brian gets home. She likes to snuggle with him and play fetch with him and go for walks with him. We are now dog people and she will be attending every family event with us from now on. Welcome to the family, Bentley girl.

Now to Brian's job...he works for Sunstate Equipment Rental. He started at the new store in Buda last Monday (10.20.2008). He is one of about four guys down there and he really is enjoying the freedom of the new store. He is no longer just the "yard-guy." He works the counter, runs the yard, answers the phone, and does just about everything else he wants around the shop. Last week, he got to weld almost every day...according to Brian, that is a GREAT day. Right now, he is working down in Buda on a "temporary" basis. This temp basis means they'll pay for his diesel for his commute and they'll pay him for his drive time. It's a great deal for right now but we don't know what it holds for when he is no longer temporary. We're just riding this out for now. Along with Brian's job, comes Brian's transportation. We have had Brian's truck (2006 Dodge Ram 3500) since August of 2007. It has been a huge money pit and has caused us a lot of financial stress. It was for sale from March '08 until now and we've finally decided to trade it in for something more economical and something that will lower our financial commitment each month. We have found a diesel 2006 Jeep Liberty. We test drove it ALL weekend and found absolutely nothing wrong with it. We took Bentley with us and she seemed to really like it...she slept ALL day in the back. We are in the process of getting the truck traded in and getting that load off our shoulders. We'll be happy when that payment is gone...well, lots lower.

And my job...is well, my dream. Unfortunately, it doesn't pay all that well...or at least, not consistent. When it does pay, it does pay well. Just last week, I installed an entire living room for a client and she was beside herself thrilled. I have recieved 2 emails from her since then praising my work. That is the #1 reason that I do this. I started doing it because I love to do it and I'm very good at it but it's even more fun when my clients think I hung the moon. If I could score one big client that wanted to spend goo-gobs of money, I'd be set and I wouldn't feel so bad for spending so much time doing this for a living. In the mean time, I'm trying to pick up odds and ends to bring in some extra cash. As soon as we get out of this monstrous hole we're in, I can focus more on decorating. Here's something I've found in this business....NO ONE thinks they can afford it. They're wrong. We do everything...flooring (wood, tile and carpet), countertops, rugs, upholstered furniture, casegood furniture, lighting, accessories, artwork, window treatments (hard & soft - drapery, blinds, shutters), wall coverings, paint colors, re-upholstery...and the list goes on. It's so much fun to help people bring it all together...taking their existing furniture and making it work with new stuff. For instance, I have a client right now that has an antique sofa and 2 antique chairs. They are family heirlooms and she really likes them but they're not really her style anymore. So, she's moving the 2 chairs to 2 different rooms and we are adding 4 bright, fun pillows to the sofa and 2 contemporary bright, loud chairs. Lamps & tables will help bring it all together and we have accessories that are in the plan but she doesn't want to splurge for them now. SO, in a few weeks or months when she wants to add something else, we'll add 1 vase, or 1 piece of artwork. I just love that I can help her bring together her home and she hasn't had to break the bank over it! Yes, I love it...just wish I could afford to focus all my time on it.

So I guess all that's left is where we live....we're living north of Austin in Leander. We live in a guest house on a ranch/farm type land and we LOVE it. We never have to worry about traffic or loud neighbors. Bentley has acres and acres to run, if she wants. And we have the greatest landlords EVER. God has seriously blessed our lives and we can't wait to see what else He has in store for us!