Our New Hamster Mobile

Jeff and I have had SO much trouble with our car since January 2011. The car has been in and out of the 'car hospital' about 3 times, costing us an arm and a leg, on top of our monthly car payments. No thank you! I was so over our car. On the way to work one Friday morning, I was about 3.5 miles away from home when our car just broke down. I was right next to Northwestern H.S. when I guess the Timing Belt broke. Long story short, had to tow in the car, and literally 9 WEEKS and 3 auto shops later, we got our car back... JUST to have the AC quit working the VERY NEXT DAY! I was livid! This is what I believe to be one of the hottest summers I've lived through, and we've not had AC for the 9 weeks our car was in the shop, then what would you know... The AC quits working the very next day it comes out of the shop.

Jeff and I decided to start shopping around for a new car. I was so upset with our car that I told her (yes, my car is a her) that we are trading her in for a younger, more attractive model. She was being replaced. My dream car (or SUV rather) is an orange Honda Element... You know, that burnt orange color. I just think it looks great, unique, and just my style. Well, my hubby was not on the same page as me. I do understand that they cost more than we could really afford, so, we kept looking. One thing that is unique AND we could both agree on is a Kia Soul. The next thing to do is pick a color we both like. That was easier than I thought. Jeff thought I would want an orange, since that's what I want my Element to be, but when I saw an orange Soul, I didn't really like it as well. I told Jeff I actually like the green color better, or better known as "alien". Ok, that's what we want. I ended up going down to my Grandmas house, so Jeff got to test drive a Soul without me. Oh well. Jeff told them what we wanted, and put down a deposit. The next step is the longest. Waiting. We waited. 3 weeks we waited for our Alien Soul to arrive. FINALLY we got word that OUR Alien Soul is waiting on us in Lafayette. Friday night was the first time we were both able to go to Lafayette and pick it up. I was not sad to drop off the Altima . I was more than happy to drive up and see them shinning up our Soul. But wait, more waiting! We still had to sign papers, and the guy we were waiting on was already with another customer. Oh but that would be too easy right? Then, the computer system went down. We had to wait for that to come back up. (this is when I was able to test drive it) FINALLY we were able to sign papers and drive it home. I can not believe we have a new car! We are have already made rules. #1 NO smoking (we don't smoke, so this rule is for any family/friends who ride in it) #1 NO eating or drinking (for now) and #3 NO PUGGLES until we get seat covers, and the divider. (so they won't jump up into the front seats - they love doing that. ) When we drove it off the lot, there were 13 miles on our new car. And driving it home from Lafayette put some miles on it, running errands in Kokomo, and going to the Walton Freeze really put some miles on it. I can't believe it's in the 100's already! It takes NO time at all to add on the miles. Enough of the story, here is our new car!

Great Grandma's Tea

Great Grandma Jewell was a beautiful woman. Strong. Independent.
She had a heart that you don't find very often these days. Great Grandma Jewell lived in California, and I grew up here in Indiana, so I never really got to know her that well. We had phone conversations that brought us together, or as together as we could be. I was able to visit her twice in my life. Once right after I graduated H.S. in 2002 and once in 2007, when she turned 90 years old. I was so thrilled to sit by her side, and listen to her talk. I didn't care that she had Alzheimer's, and usually asked the same questions several times, I felt a strange connection to her. A woman I hardly know, but her blood runs through my veins. She is the woman I was named after. She is the Mother of the Mother of my Mother. My Great Grandmother went through so much in her 92 years. She was a wife, a Mother of 3, a Grandmother, and a Great Grandmother. She went through jobs, then owned a business. At the end of her life, she was living in her own home, with her two loves (chihuahuas) and her son.

A couple weeks ago, I stayed with my Grandmother. She sat me down and told me, did not ask me, to take the Silver Tea set. When my Grandmother explained to me that this was Great Grandmas Tea set, I did not argue. I have in my house a piece of her now. I beautiful set that I can show off, and a pass down to my children some day. I am blessed to have known her. Even if I didn't know her well, she is my Great Grandmother. I love her. I miss her.

He Loves Me

Summer 2011 has been something else. It's been busy with a new job. Driving to and from Indy to work in a call center. It sounds crazy, and I will be the first to admit that it is, but... sometimes to get what you want, you have to make some sacrifices. Working at BV, I was working every single weekend, and just about EVERY holiday. Jeff and I only got to see each other on weekends, since I worked 2nd shift, and he works 1st shift, and even then, it was only half a weekend day at a time. I missed my husband. So, driving to and from Indy Mon=Fri (even with gas prices at $4.20) worked for us so that I could be home most evenings, all weekends, and holidays. I am now actually able to work from home. My office is in my house. I just walk to the spare room and work 8 hours a day. (that's a blog waiting to happen) It has been amazing. Actually planning things with friends on weekends and family dinners. It's the small things that add up when you miss them all the time. I have actually taken the puggles to the Dog Park a couple times this summer, and we plan on going to Pooches at the Pool at Kokomo Beach at the end of August. (I'm sure that'll be something to blog about as well!) I have also been trying to grow a garden. That's something to laugh at! I don't know why, but the only thing (Besides weeds) that I can grow are peppers and sunflowers. My sunflowers are BEAUTIFUL! So many sizes and colors. Now that I am working from home I go out to the garden, cut my own home grown sunflowers, and put them on my desk. I love it. I feel blessed ever time I look at them. One of my sunflowers began to wilt, so I started plucking each petal one by one, and of course saying "He loves me, He loves me not". I got down to the last petal, and guess what... HE LOVES ME. He is just amazing. A hard working man. I look forward every day when he comes home at 4pm. (I can hardly wait to get off work at 5pm) It is a blessing to be his wife. "He loves me, and I love him".