2011 Review

This year hasnt been quite so bad... pretty good toward the end...

January- same old same old... class, work, class, work..

Febuary- we surprised each other with some cute Valentine's Day love..

[gallery]

 

Banks suck.

Ugh. Our bank charged us another $17 fee this month, just like last month. Yes, I should have called before but I just dont have the time. Well, this morning I made the time. Basically, they changed their account types & if we dont keep at least $3000/month in our account they charge a fee. Seriously?! They claim they sent out letters to explain the upcoming changes, but of course, I never got one.

"So let me get this straight, other banks were very public about their $5 debit card fee, and you all proudly hung signs stating you wouldnt be charging a debit card fee, but then secretively change your account so that you can charge higher fees?!"

"uh uh uh.. Ms. (insert last name here) let me see what we can do to help you."

Thats how the conversation went this morning. The first man kindly refunded my fee for December, but had to transfer me to another dept for November. And that man was extra rude, stating he didnt know why the first man even refunded it for me, since I was clearly notified.

And me being the hot head that I am said "Ya know what?!? Dont refund it. I will close both accounts on Monday."

Thats exactly what I planned to do on Monday. Until I realized what a hassle that would be. Spend time closing one account, then opening another, then setting up our direct deposits for work (which we are required to have =/), waiting for debit cards to arrive, blah blah blah. In the end, it's just not worth it.

So the bank wins. Of course now it looks like an empty threat, which I hate more than anything. >=/

Nothing I can do now, without causing me more headache and stress.

Damn.

9.11 Never Forgotten.

I know its been a while since I've posted and there's so much to catch up on: starting my program, moving to our new apt only to have to move again (say what?!), so so much more. I think about needing to blog everyday and I check my most-read blogs EVERYDAY... sometimes twice a day ;) But today is not the day to catch up on us...

Today, we remember the tragedy in our country 10 years ago today. We remember those who lost their lives, those who gave their lives, and all the families that carry the burden of worry and loss. We are thankful for those who are willing to put on that uniform and fight for strangers and lay down their lives. 9.11 always puts life in perspective for me, and reminds me that my problems are quite trivial in comparison for which I am truly thankful.

In 2010, I posted this 9.11 blog and remembered all this sadness of that day. Every year, I watch the coverage again on YouTube, with all the music tributes, and every year it makes me cry again. I watch it because its hard and its sucks.. and sometimes that's the only way to really be reminded. We may talk about 9.11 day to day in a casual conversation, but nothing brings back that day like seeing the planes and towers collapsing. All the smoke and ash. And those fire fighters... ahh that gets me every time I see it. God Bless them.

Today, when I finally woke up (slept late because I have been getting up at 6am everyday for last few days!!) I turned on tv to find the coverage. All that is on is the revealing of the memorial, which is beautiful. I love how the memorial was built downward instead of upward. I read somewhere that  in the aftermath when everything was settled, the ground almost seemed as if it was sunk in.. that it was very eerie at Ground Zero and seemed always quiet. So it seems fitting that they would build it the way they did. The waterfalls are so beautiful and peaceful.

[caption id="attachment_592" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="9.11 Memorial at Ground Zero"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_598" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="USA - Ariel view of Ground Zero"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_594" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cross at Ground Zero"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_597" align="aligncenter" width="309" caption="Boston Memorial (where the planes were hijacked from)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_599" align="aligncenter" width="273" caption="What the Future Holds for Ground Zero"][/caption]

God Bless America.

 

>1-1-11

>Hello 2011!

The past few months have been sooo busy. I had planned to blog on Christmas (since I last blogged on 11-25 and 10-25) but that didnt work out. We had a wonderful Christmas with lots of family time and yummy food and super great presents ;) I got a ring!! Jess got me a beautiful ring with our names on it and our birthstones!! Gorgeous!! And she got the only thing shes been wanting for the past year or so.... PAULA.DEEN cookware. She was so excited when she opened and realized what it was. Presents are lovely... but theres nothing better than being with the one you love and your family.








Recap of 2010:

• We went to Hilton Head, SC - A surprise Valentine's Weekend Trip


• We added a beautiful tiny addition to our family - our little Mango!


• We went to Panama City Beach, FL - first beach vacation for us.


• We moved 3 times.. lol


• I turned 24 - Jess turned 22


• I went back to work at my old job.


• Jess got into her Community Health program


• And we continued to work toward finishing school!!

I am so thankful to wake up everyday next to the love of my life and lay down beside her each night. There's nothing better than finding true love and knowing that forever really means FOREVER!!

Baby,

You are everything to me and each day I think God for blessing me with you.

I look forward to another year with you and to see what 2011 has in store for us.

Just think we're another year closer to the start of the rest of our lives.

I love you today, tomorrow, and forever.

>Trick or Treat! :)

>

This may be the cutest pic-- I've ever seen!! :)

Although, I couldnt get a single picture with

them both looking at the camera,

they were amazing at staying

somewhat still.

Kiwi knows to stay put (especially when I have a camera)

But Mango...

is still a baby.

And he NEVER sits still.

:)

It was worth the money spent on sweaters and then 3 pumpkins

just for this pic!!

>Im Obsessed!! :)

>

This is my newest obsession.

I had plan to buy the cheapest ipod I could find, even thought about a refurbished one.

But EVERYONE said this was definately worth the money.

Yea, Right. I dont think any electronic is worth $250.

I was wrong.

ITS AMAZING.

:)

Im in love.

>"The Kids Are All Right" Movie Review

>Ok, so the movie finally made to a theatre near us within an hour drive. We were super excited that it was close by and it was the 2nd to last night it would be showing, so needless to say we HAD to go that night! =)

Now, I didnt hold high hopes for the movie since the reviews were bad. But none the less, I felt that this movie about two lesbians made it to the big screeen, so we were obligated to support it. I felt like that story line was a good idea, because its real. I mean its bound to happen in real life. If you use a sperm donor, your kids will probably want to know about him when they get older. However, I HATED that one of the moms cheated. WTF. I have a hard time believing that a lesbian would really cheat with her sperm donor. Plus, it adds more negativity to same-sex marriages, or relationships. Its like thats all people think about us, that we will definately cheat & we will definately cheat with the opposite sex. Of course, when she cheated they showed it, A LOT!! From every angle, to every moan. Blah. And, the one and only time the women had what appeared to be sex, they were watching gay man porn. HELLO! Am I the only lesbian that doesnt watch gay man porn?!?!?!? Ummm.. I dont think so. Anyways, I thought the characters were good and the storyline (aside from the affair) was good as well. However, I think they could have went into more details about their lives and who they are, where they come from, how the kids were raised. Idk, just seems to me that the movie held such potenial and could have done so much for the lesbian community. The couple made it through the affair, which I really liked. Cheating to me, is simiply unforgiveable. BUT! Once youve been together 20 years, with 2 teenagers, its kinda hard to just walk away from everything. Plus, I loved when their son says "I dont think you two should break-up. You're just too old" ahhh classic. :)

All in all, It was alright. Rent it. Laugh. And ignore the affiar. I did. ;)

I think I should add movie reviews to this blog.

>Job Interview!

>I gotta job interview on monday!! Woohoo!! Ive been hesitant to fill out an application and go back to Publix(where I worked for 5 years!) but yesterday I went and filled it out. And they called this morning to schedule an interview!! :)
I had planned to sleep in the next several weeks that im out of school, but I guess its meant for me to go back to work!

We'll see on Monday, I guess!

>Oh Happy day!

>Yesterday, I took my last final for summer quarter. I havent had a break since January, well not a real break. One or two weeks between quarters is not a break. Not to mention, Ive been taking extremely stressful classes. Jess & I, both, finished our anatomy I & II with B's. I'm out of school till mid September. YAY!! =)

Somewhere in the middle of all the stressing, I freaked out about all these sciences and changed my major. I thought maybe nursing just wasnt for me... so I changed it to General. I was going to go for early childhood education, but now that I did well in my anatomy, I feel like I should continue to persue nursing. Ahhh.. decisions. decisions. Nursing is my first passion I think, butnow I'm drawn to teaching. Maybe I'll just take classes for both, then I can apply to both programs. Then I can teach M-F and be a nurse on the weekends. hehehe.

>Fight-Fight-Fight

>I dont know whats been going on lately. All we've been doing the first days of the new year is FIGHT! Weve been fighting about everything.... money, living space, cleaning and so on. We even argued at 6 am yesterday because one of us (Jess! lol), was hot and slinging covers around on the bed. And of course, me being the bitch I am was pissed when she woke me up for the second time.. ahhh so so petty. LOL. We're just going to chalk it up to "HORMONES". Our monthlys are like four days apart so our moods are out of control. We're better now as all loving couples eventually end up being.. However, I believe I got some really bad advice. Someone, a friend, read my status on face.book, and texted me to see if everything was ok. Now my status was simply: " .. is so over 2010.. seems like this will be a year of fighting". HELLO! I was in a bad mood. So this person says to me-- "Why dont yall just break up?! All yall do is fight!!" W.T.F. First of all, everyone argues. We live together and spend almost every waking moment together. Which on a normal day is fine cuz we also BFF. Id rather hang out with her than anyone else and vice versa. Of course, were gonna drive each other crazy. Right now, we dont even have school so were only apart when she goes to practice (2 hrs a day). I was just like "Are you f***ing kidding me?!" Anyways....

On Monday, we go back to school. BLAAAHHHH!! Which were both dreading. Jess never wants to start school so this is normal for her, but Im always ready to go back so I can get it over with. I dont know why this quarter is so different. Maybe its the time of year... its cold! And I love it being cold as long as Im snug in the bed with my love and my chi chi. =)

ahhh school = 4 days.

>The Nightly Routine.

>Every night Jess looks up homeless animals online and desperately tries talk "us" into adopting it. She is loving trying to put them all in are small 2 bedroom apt. And every night she finds a heartbreaking story to share with me and plead the "can we rescue it" case. I, of course, want to help and adopt all these babies too but our landlord says we have to pay a $300 pet fee for any animals! UGH!! Therefore, we cant just adopt them and bring them home. She informes me every night of all the animals we will have when we have our own place. She has a beautiful heart and is just trying to save the world one animal website at a time.

We went today to sign up to volunteer our time at our local animal rescue center.

Man, I love her.

>Schools... Out.... For..... Summer!!

>Well, maybe not summer but at least the next six weeks for me!! =D Jess goes back next week! Could be 6 weeks of me sitting home alone sitting home alone since she'll start pre-season practice too, BUT I might have a job interview this week!! YAY for me! I really want this job and need something to do till school starts. Unfortunately, I'll have to change my class times around but I figure its worth it. But I get to go shopping for new clothes to wear if I get the job!! Guess thats about all for now!!

>Bittersweet.

>This was the best/worst week ever.

We finally moved into our apartment which we love. We've been unpacking and organizing, in this process we have realized we have way tooooo much stuff. We had our cable and internet connected this morning. Thank God! We were getting bored of Grey's Anatomy (on dvd) everynight. Although, Jess kinda likes it cuz she only seen a few episodes here and there. But its definately better having more than just that.

And the horrible part: We found out our puppies' mother (Coacoa) has Parvo. For those of you who dont know... its a highly contagious disease for dogs. It usually only affects puppies and it was extremely rare that Coacoa got it. Basically, it breaks down their system, depriving them of nutrients and dehydrating them. So even if they are eating and drinking normally their bodies are not absorbing it. After finding this out, we immediately got the babies from Jess' mom's where they had been, in case there was any chance they hadnt already gotten it. However, after one day, it was clear they had Parvo too. We took them to the vet but they said even with treatment, they probably wouldnt make it and that it could always come back. And though it was the hardest decision we've ever made, we decided to have them put to sleep rather than the pain and suffering of attemping to treat them. Friday was the hardest day for us and we just cried all day. We tried to stay busy and just focus on unpacking. We know it was the best thing to do but we hate that they arent here in the new place with us. I thought about taking their pictures off this blog because its hurts to even think about them but I dont wanna erase them. We miss them terribly and hate that this happened. At least for their short little lives they were loved and spoiled right from the start.

RIP Bella and Alice.

>This GA Heat is killing me!!

>Did I mention that I'm extremely hot natured?? I hate the heat.. And now that school has officially started, we're living in Jess' apt till end of the week. Can I just tell you that her air does not keep this 2 story place cool!! So I'm miserable. And right now she's at the gym and says its cooler in there than is in here.Of course it is. uugghhhh

Anyways. I'm super excited because theres only 5 days left till we move into our own place!! One of her teammates will be living with us, yay.. rent split 3 ways! The sooner we get settled in our place the sooner our fur-babies can come live with us! =) Her teammate is getting a puppy too, so it looks like we'll have 3 babies there..haha.

School is great.. I'm trying to see if I can enroll in two school so that my past core at the tech school wont go to waste. I would like to at least be a Phlebotomy Tech since it wouldn't take long at all to complete, and then I could work at a hospital or Dr's office somewhere. Fingers Crossed!

All my girls!

This is Bella!

And this is Alice!