Back to Church

I pretty much stopped going to church when I left my parent's house (college). I started up again sporadically but was always on the move so really had no time to let roots take hold. I then lived in somewhere else after grad school and after working there for over 8 years following school, my husband and I did a few months at a near by church which ended up rubbing us the wrong way. Now, we find ourselves feeling more settled than we have anywhere and started looking for a church a few weeks ago. Mainly we are after the fellowship. While we are much happier here, we still feel a sense of disconnect. We hope a church family will help. So far it's going well. We have been involved in a few of the more social events and have been attending regular services. Religion has been a rough thing for me. I won't go into major details, but I have always identified more with my mother's chosen religion. My father's religion, however, was the one my sister and I were raised with. It was a religious experience that I felt revolved more around a guilt complex than anything else. Luckily, my husband (M) has had a long history with the religion my mother belongs to. I am hoping M & I can learn from each other when it comes to our backgrounds. I am also hoping we meet lots of new people and begin to build some friendships. Now I just need to pray that this will stick. I am still afraid that some event will occur that will turn me off from church again. If I sound conflicted, it's because I am... but I'm trying to give it all a chance!

The Waiting Game... And Office Supply Lust

Well, I took the test and will get my results in the next couple of weeks I guess. They really didn't say... I was hoping for instant results! I appreciate all the words of encouragement.

Work has been pretty busy so the mind is occupied pretty much all the time. I am working on lots of organizational projects right now. There are few things that capture my attention more than getting paperwork whipped into shape. There is a TON of paper generated in real estate. I just spent a looong time in Office Depot just gazing at all kinds of options - folders, binders, files, partitions with fasteners, pockets, etc. etc. I know that for some people Office Depot is a scary place, much like Home Depot is to me! I get all happy even if I just buy a new set of pens. Office supplies are a drug to me. It's a good thing I am an independent contractor now because I can get exactly what I want and then I can write it off. Hooray! I do have to watch myself, however. I can get a little carried away. Yes, I was one of those kids who looked forward to a new school year because it meant all new stuff - Trapper Keeper, highlighters, spiffy pens & pencils, protractor, compass, notebook paper, and many more absolutely essential items. I think my parents were blessed to be in smaller towns at that time (not an Office Depot in sight!) - so there were Five & Dimes like Ben Franklin and Woolworth's... couldn't do nearly as much damage there. :o)

Hope everyone is staying warm. It's below 40 here now and it's supposed to rain tonight... so we may have ice in San Antonio in February... that is very, very unusual for here. I used to live in Ohio, so I still am not used to 40 being such a big deal, but it is here! I'm glad to see some actual winter weather! I like a good chill now and again... I just wish I could live somewhere with four defined seasons - with each not being too extreme! Wishful thinking I'm afraid...

Test Stress

I've never been a "good test taker." What exactly does that mean anyway? To me it means that I really get anxious and even things I absolutely know fall out of my ears because I'm so stressed out. Anyhow, I have an exam that I have to take Tuesday and it helps me get closer to my first real estate designation (more professional alphabet soupness following my name). I already have 4 letters after my name because of my masters degree, so the more the merrier. :o)

I'm an "old school" test taker too. I make flash cards. It's a habit that I actually developed later in life (during grad school). I have a form of dyslexia which makes it difficult for my eyes to focus on some text formats (columns, text on facing pages - I use guide pages sometimes). Anyhow, it helps to isolate the information on separate cards. I have a photographic memory with many things - I am convinced this is tied into the dyslexia somehow. In any case, I hope this exam goes well... I'll have two others after this (later this year) that go towards this designation. So... that's what's on my mind right now. Hope I'll have more exciting news later! xoxo S

More than 20 Questions...

Life has been SOOOO busy… I was at a continuing ed workshop Monday and Tuesday which fried all my brain cells. I managed to stay away from the caffeine, but ate enough carrots to keep me awake that I fear I may now have the coloring of an Oompa Loopa… Since I’ve been in a rut about writing lately I’m more turned on by these questionnaire type blogs… I will get into a more narrative mindframe… so this is mindless, easy, and hopefully somewhat informative so you learn a little more about me…

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6 am. Rolled out of bed and was on the Pilates mat within 5 minutes… Fun, fun!

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds anytime (size varies, pearls for black dresses only.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Casanova, I LOVED it.

4. What is your favorite TV show? I’ve expanded this one… Current Ones: My Name is Earl, The Office, Without A Trace, CSI, & Project Runway. Past Ones that are showing reruns Dharma & Greg, Felicity, & reruns of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

5. What did you have for breakfast? Peppermint Tea & a Banana Cookie Lärabar …

6. What is your middle name? Katharine

7. What is your favorite food? Cashews or dark chocolate… it’s a toss-up

8. What foods do you dislike? Walnuts, pecans, undercooked eggplant, coconut, mint jelly, capers

9. Your favorite Potato chip? Homemade without gluten ingredients (olive oil & sea salt work)!

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? James Blunt’s Back to Bedlam

11. What kind of car do you drive? Honda CR-V EX – when it’s not being driven!

12. Favorite drink? Water OR a Grande Soy Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be? Bath, England

14.What color is your bathroom? Slate gray with white tile and marigold color towels.

15. Favorite brand of clothing? Ann Taylor or Harold Powell

16.Where would you retire? Bath, England or Edinburgh, Scotland

17 Favorite time of day? 6-10 PM

18. Favorite sport to watch? Swimming, Figure Skating or Basketball

19. What laundry detergent do you use? Cheer

20. Coke or Pepsi? Neither

21. Are you a morning person or night owl? Night Owl

22. What size shoe do you wear? 11-12 – they just make them BIG when they are above size 10… I always have to try on…

23. Do you have pets? Yes, a dog.

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with your friends? We just got a new car!

25. What (who) did you want to be when you were little? A Muppet.

26. Favorite Candy Bar? Dark chocolate Ghiradelli

27. What are the different jobs you have had in your life? Librarian, researcher for P.I., cookbook editor, travel book editor, camp counselor, Waterfront Director at an all girls camp and now real estate agent/assistant to Top Producer.

28. Favorite season? Winter in Texas. Fall anywhere else that HAS 4 weather defined seasons…

29. Nicknames you've had? Not telling

30. Piercings: Ears only.

31. Eye color: Green, Gray, Hazel (they change)

32. Ever been to Africa? No

33. Ever been toilet papering? Yes

34. Love someone so much it made you cry? Yes

35. Been in a car accident? Yes, I wasn’t driving. I was on passenger side and got a concussion…
otherwise it was fine… car was totaled.

36. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

37. Favorite restaurant? Bistro Vatel

38. Favorite flower? Tulip

39. Favorite ice cream? HD’s Low-Fat (HA!) Chocolate

40. Favorite fast food restaurant? Chipotle.

41. What color is your bedroom carpet? Berber – multi shades of beige, hate it.

42. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Passed it on first try… using that license is another story…

43. What is in your CD player right now? Hmmm… lets see… 5 CDs – Jason Mraz, Mix CD from my husband, The Four Tops – Greatest Hits, Tony Robbins’ Goal Setting Workshop, ABBA (But James Blunt is still in my MP3 player)

44. What is your favorite color? Red

45 Lake, Ocean or River? Ocean for scenery, lake for swimming

46. Favorite Cocktail? Gin and Tonic with lime.

47 Where would you go for a girls weekend get-a-way? The Crossings Spa in Austin

48. What do you want to be? Happy

49. What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done? It’s a tie… skydiving or bungee jumping off a very high bridge in Canada.