I am done with my Masters pretty much. Looking for a job is pretty depressing, but I am sure it will all work out.
Right now, Derek and I seem think we may be sticking around Sandersville due to the economy. He has a good job here, we have a nice and affordable house and I can probably find a job where the commute is no more than an hour and fifteen minutes. We had really hoped to move, however, to be closer to his parents and to live in a place that has a little more going on. But - if truth be told - Sandersville is not
horrible or anything. We enjoy the friends we have here and we also enjoy Derek's soccer team and the one-screen theatre down the street. We just still kind of feel like outsiders - even though we have been here for two years. It is partly our fault. We have been incredibly busy and when I get stressed I seclude myself. It's just my nature. On top of it all - everyone we are friends with goes to the same church. Being that Saturday nights have either been soccer game nights, leaving us Sunday morning to have "us" time OR being that we use the remaining non-soccer Saturday nights to actually get out of town and go have some fun (in Augusta or Savannah - or most recently, Orlando!!!) we just haven't been to church so I think that has put a little damper on our Sandersville interactions lately. It may not change much over the summer though as we have 3 vacations planned (2 of which are education conferences) and have tickets to 18 Braves games. So...we will see what happens. We still have a few weeks to pretty much settle in on our decision.
If we do stay here, however, I have a list of things I NEED to be perfectly content:
PAINT for all the walls and permission to paint them
Everything necessary for a sports room in our office for Derek
new couches and coffee table (not necessarily brand new, just new to me, clean and NOT PLAID)
at least 6 bookcases
a storage unit
new bedspread and accompanying items for both rooms
the carpets cleaned
an idea on how to keep my cats inside without killing them and with the house staying cleaner...
Not too much to ask right? I kept saying that I was going to wait to do all this kind of thing until we got a place we knew we would stay for 5 or 6 years. BUT - there is no way I can live here without it being exactly what I want in a home anymore. These white walls depress me and without the storage we need the house gets cluttered SO easily. So, I have a lot to look forward to in whatever decision we make.
All of our friends are having babies. Now, this baby bug has not spread to us yet - but I am excited for everyone that I know who have had or who are having babies. All of them are so adorable. I have been helping Brittany with her shower and a little on her nursery one day. I went to see a friend, Cynthia, the other day who has a precious (but early) newborn and I know three others who are expecting. So. A lot of excitement going on around us right now, and it is always nice to have good news like that around!
Derek is doubly certified now! Math and Social Studies. This is excellent because he is much more marketable this way - not to mention I am just so proud of him for being so dedicated to his job. Next certification: Spanish. Next Degree: MASTERS! (That is why I am not doing my doctorate right away - he needs a chance to do his masters, =) ).
Well...back to the job search...
Our Budget. - Derek has taken it over and has made it work. I love it that I don't worry about expenses at all anymore.
Rachel Maddow. - She is well-spoken/eloquent, rational and doesn't raise her voice or interrupt her guests that have a different opinion than she does. I think she is magnificient, an actual reporter.
The Braves Season Tickets. - We have been to around 18 games this year. I feel like I live at Turner Field some weeks but that's okay because I LOVE THE BRAVES.