Happy House Anniversary!!!!!

Yes, it was exactly one year ago on this day that Jason and I were pouring over closing papers in Lake Mary. Our closing took almost 45 minutes. Of course, our taxes were re assessed right before we moved, so our payment went up like 200 dollars. Not to worry. We still love the house and we are still doing things to improve it. I will have to link you to my Facebook pictures.

Oh, to be or not to be on Facebook. Jason hates the idea of me being on ANOTHER social network. I can sort of understand, but I know all these people and it's pretty harmless. Oh well. I really only use it to share pictures. That's pretty much it. I don't go all crazy.

Plans are underway for J and I to go to Mexico and Belize in March. I am so excited. I would love to go snorkeling in Cozumel and drink margaritas on the beach. I have it all figured out.

For the time being, I have to study my Watchtower and make breakfast. No vacation yet, but it's getting there. A little spin on one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs.

Celebrating my 200th post. But who really is counting?

Not much going on in the world of Julie right now. I am still waiting on the final product that will be my new bathroom. I think it will be the shiz-nit. If I could just get Martin to get over here and finish it!!!!!!

Breakfast was ssooooooo good this morning, only because I am the partial chef. I had 4 eggs and some southwestern hashbrowns and they were a great combo. There is nothing like fried potatoes. J and I watch Paula Deen in bed this am and everything she made was in some way fried. I love Southern Women when they cook.

We got the new Scene-it game: Seinfeld Edition. I can't wait to blow people away with my frivolous knowledge of everything Seinfeld. I think we'll play when all the fam is over this week. I can't wait for them to all arrive. Found my Pioneer folder. I can't believe how I've kept up with it. All those notes that I've typed over the last 11 years. I hope I will get to go back to Pioneer Service School this summer. It would be worth not having a real vacation for another year. I still think we will go to Mexico/ Belize for our anniversaire. With all the remodeling work, I haven't really talked about it again.

We went over to the Daley's last night and I am so jealous of her irises. My irises are puny compared to hers. I even fertilized this month. What is the deal? I just don't get it.

I am working 40 hours this week because of the holiday, but I'll get paid for 48. Yippee. That pretty much means service is a bust this week. I will try to squeeze the gym in on Tuesday night and possibly hit it one other day. I really don't want to make it Thursday, even though I know the gym will be open till 12pm. Decisions, Decisions.

I can't believe Ashlee Simpson and that gay-boy husband of hers stole my cat's name for HER baby's name. What a travesty.

Until my next big drama, ttfn

Good to Know About Being Cold

I sat in the Gazebo park in Sanford to watch "Hairspray" and froze to death. No amount of blankets, jackets, or sweaters made a difference. I couldn't believe it. I know it couldn't have been over 45 degrees. It was the wind and the fact we were sort of near the lake. It felt like being up north next to the Potomac River at Mount Vernon in the middle of January weather. I am fondly remembering middle school trip circa 1992. Ah, those were the days.......

Bathroom is getting closer to done. I really should take pictures and show them to track the progress. The slow progress. Hey, the walls no longer have crappy old lady flower wall paper under the ugly white washed paint. They are finished and smooth. I had the dust all over my house a few days ago to prove it. The tile floors do look nice, and I can't complain too much. He really did it as a favor. A favor that HAS to be done by this Wednesday. I hate spelling that day of the week. I bought the paint and it is ready to go.

Family comes in on Thursday. Yeah!!!! Haven't seen Christina since May. It's been too long. I think Alex will be coming too.

Bathroom Before......and after.

What do you think?

The yard does take shape

I finally started on my yard project. I snipped away all the palmetto bushes. They are so white trash. Jonathan came over and weedwacked and cut the yard. I moved rocks. Yes, rocks. My place is the real Rock City that everyone pays to see. Yes, I make those little red houses that people have in their yard. My yard has so many rocks.

I found my first snake in the yard. He was tiny and hiding under a rock. So cute, really. I thought I killed it because I picked up the rock, saw the snake, and dropped it on top of him. I dug the little guy out and picked him up with a stick. He lay kind of stiff and then began to move around. He had a yellow and orange belly and a yellow ring around his head. I'll have to put a picture of him up. He was cute. I finally quit teasing him and let him wander in amongst the rocks.

What I found in the yard today!!!! It is always some kind of treasure. Today, I found an old birdcage that was collapsed, a rake head, a curler, and of course, the snake. I sounds like I have a junkyard for a yard but I don't. It is just full of treasures and surprises. Don't be jealous

Water leaks suck!!!!!

OMG! found something I didn't want to find. A stinking leak in my shower that made it's way into MY closet. Thankfully the investment guy is sending someone out on Sat. yeah! hope it's nothing major.

Good news- I fixed the shower in the other bathroom. I am such a genius. All it took was a 1/2 " pipe cap.......not a big genius, but a genius move nonetheless.

Why are we afraid of snakes?

I pondered this question today as I explored my backyard. Yes, I said explored. I know, 1/3 of an acre isn't gianormous but to me it is. I hadn't even gone in the backyard since I moved in. I took the day off from service to get some of my yard work done and send pictures into the insurance company.

So, back to exploring the backyard. Everything was a new discovery. I imagined that there was an old lady who loved to garden that lived in this house. Maybe she was responsible for all the stray cats in the area. They are lonesome without her. She spent a fortune on plants. Some still have the tags on them, just like leaving the tags on clothing. I discovered she planted grapevines, pear trees, tea roses, dogwoods, crape myrtle. Unfortunately, all the plants have been sadly uncared for. I can't tell what is what. The yard has pavers located everywhere in the yard. I think if I find enough of them, I will pave my slab in the back in lieu of resurfacing it.

So back to the question, Why are people so afraid of snakes? I told myself as I cleaned the yard: "I'll stay out here an hour, or until I see my first snake." Well, I was sadly disappointed as I didn't see one snake. Only one ugly lizard and a plastic frog in the front yard. Maybe we all have an innate hatred for snakes because that was the animal the devil used to seduce Eve. That sounds reasonable. But snakes do eat the rats and other pesky rodents so they aren't all bad.

I found so many different types of trash in the yard: tv antenna, a wine jug (not bottle, I said jug) forks, q tips, band aids (ukk!) soy sauce packets, with soy sauce still in it, yah! , a plug and light outlet, a brush, the list goes on and on. So did that sentence. I'm glad my English teacher isn't reading my blog now. Maybe she is. If she is, she's a loser.

It has been accomplished!!!!

Jason and I finally closed on the house. Immediately on Friday, we started moving in. We got almost everything in the house and half way unpacked by Friday night. We didn't actually go to bed until 3 am. Nice. The next day, we had to move over some odds and ends. But 5pm, we have almost everything in it's place. My daybed wouldn't go back together so it's getting the old heave ho.

Try living on three hours of sleep while going crazy. It's never fun. I didn't take a shower until last night. It reminded me of not showering when I visited South America. I dreaded showers because all showers were freezing cold. No joke.

We should be getting our deposit back from the landlord in a week or two. I was sad to hear that the landlords health is getting worse. I feel bad for his wife and the rest of the family.

The cats were the hardest thing to move. I put John in charge of that and Bronx went from sweet and innocent to murderous hellion cat. He didn't leave the box springs of my bed until yesterday evening. I haven't seen him eat since this morning. I think he's almost back to his old self. Bronx and Harlem are playing up a storm as we speak. They have made themselves at home.

It is so nice to have a brand new kitchen. I have so many cabinets that I can't use them all. I almost feel like I don't deserve it. I cook my first meal in it last night. Morningstar sausage with eggs, peppers, red potatoes, onions, and paprika. Not bad. Don't try the veggie patties by Morningstar. They are disgusting.

Things are really good. Jason and I aren't as stressed, atleast not at each other. It's so nice to get through things and just enjoy each other for a while. The next big project is painting and revamping the master bathroom. Just a little as we go. We don't want to put ourselves in debt just to decorate the house.

We had soooo much help moving. John, Todd, Harold, Rose, Jonathan, Kristine, Dave, Jim. It was amazing what we accomplished in two days. And Todd said we'd still have boxed after a month. He doesn't know me well, does he? I only have boxes of pictures that need to go up after we paint. Besides that, everything is where it should be.

The yard will need some attention, but that comes with time. Just like anything else.