The Pnebleu Blog

Wow, it’s already November.  Time is flying.  So to elaborate on my October post, the last few months have been quite crazy!  I’ve gotten settled in to my 2-bed, 2-bath apartment that I share with me, myself, and I.  I’ve taken my first business trip that lasted 6 days (I worked in Beaverton, OR, near Portland).  I’ve gone on a two month spending spree to fill out my apartment.  I discovered the gender of my soon-to-be nephew.  I’ve installed Windows 7 on my PC and I’m loving it!  And I’m planning my schedule for the hectic holiday season.

I love my new Canon EOS Rebel T1i.  I’ve got a lot to learn, but ever since I got my first digital camera in 2002 photography has been a passion.  These two photos are a few of the things I’ve bought to fill out my apartment.  Most of the dishes are dirty at the moment, so the cabinet seems a bit empty.  It’s normally full to the brim.  I have enough settings for 8 people.

I’m looking forward to the coming months.  I’m planning a holiday party for some of my coworkers.  This will be a good début of the dishware, my cooking skills, and my hosting abilities.  Amanda, my sister is due in January.  I’m very excited about the addition to our family.  Plus, babies can be used as chick-magnets .  I’ve also started planning for the purchase of a house.  It probably won’t happen until after 2010, but I want to get a fixer-upper.  I don’t want it to be falling apart, but it could be in need of a remodel.

I’m almost settled into my new apartment.  I still have a lot to do in the second bedroom (my office), but I’ll have to get some shelves to get it completely finished.  I’m getting my list together of things that I need to buy to fill out my apartment.  Dishes, glasses, silverware, and an HDTV are at the top of my list.

Cable and Internet was connected last Tuesday.  I am currently watching the History Channel in HD.  The program is about robot warriors.  I’m a little creeped out by how the military is using robots.  World domination by the machines will be here soon enough.

I definitely like having the whole place to myself.  I can just relax and do what I want in my new place.  Once I get the dishes, I’m going to plan a dinner party to have people over.  That should be fun!

I’m starting the apartment search all over again.  I’m looking forward to having my own place (one bed/one bath), but I’m not looking forward to the hunt.  I’m trying to find something in College Station with a more mature, i.e. non-student, population.  $600 per month is my maximum.  I am making washer/dryer connections a requirement, if not the appliances.  Kitchen size is a major consideration, as well.  I’d prefer not to have a studio apartment, but if I can’t find anything else that will do.  Well, I’ve talked enough about looking, now I’m actually going to do some hunting.

A lot of things are happening for me right now and in the near future.  Last Saturday, I moved into my new apartment.  I’m really excited about it.  I had to rearrange my room quite a bit to make everything fit, but I’m happy with how things are.

On Monday, my family and I are flying to Seattle until the 17th of June.  I will definitely be posting stuff from Washington.  On July 7th, school will be starting at Blinn.  I’m taking Freshman Composition and Speech; two classes that I’ve just been putting off.  Well, I have to get up early tomorrow, so goodnight!

This month is the worst and best month of the year. It has always been the busiest month for me and my family. I finalized my new lease for June 2008 through June 2009. I have received information that I might be getting $300 from the IRS for the Economic Stimulus Package. The tests and projects are revving up. I had one test yesterday. I have two tests on Wednesday (4/9/2008) and more coming later this month. My immediate family has 3 birthdays this month, including my own.

Money is tight at the moment, so I’m watching every purchase with great vigilance. I have to get groceries soon, but I don’t get paid until 4/16. I’ve been needing to get an oil change, so I finally did today. My wallet hurts a little; $55. This afternoon and evening I decided to procrastinate as much as possible, so I didn’t read the 200+ pages for my 2 exams on Wednesday. I researched my schedule for the fall and I’ll talk to my adviser to determine if what I choose is appropriate. When I have a nailed down schedule I’ll post something about it. I’ve also been cleaning: the bathtub, vacuuming my room, sweeping the kitchen and entry, and washing my dishes. After that I listened to and watched a few podcasts. Security Now! 138 I finished my day just with Finance homework and blogging. I hope your month is better than mine. (My month isn’t really that bad, but I like to over-exaggerate.)

Life has been rolling along at lightning speed for the past couple of months, and I’m not the only one to notice it. I’ve had to find an new apartment to live in for the Summer, Fall, and Spring coming up, which actually didn’t take that long. I only have about 5 weeks left of school this semester. Chores that I need to do are starting to stack up as I’m getting behind. My car, for instance, will need some maintenance done on it in the next couple of months, yet I’ve been waiting because I didn’t and still don’t have the money to do it. I paid off all of my taxes early, so that I don’t have to worry about now. But, my wallet is decreased because of it. The price of gas, therefore the price of everything else, has increased quite a bit recently. It’s now about $3.15/gallon, whereas last year at about this time I paid $2.42/gallon. If the price of energy continues to rise exponentially, I am going to have some trouble along with the world economy.

The 2008 election is coming up real fast and I don’t like any of the choices. It will be interesting, however, who wins the Democratic nomination. If they were smart, Obama and Hillary would ask the other to be the Vice President when they become the nominee. I’ll probably be voting for McCain, but there are so many things about him I really dislike.

Braden and Mikayla, my younger siblings, entered photos and desserts into the county fair at home. Braden won 2nd Place for his photo and Mikayla was the Reserve Grand Champion. Braden also got 1st Place for his Banana Nut Muffins and Mikayla got 1st Place for a Pound Cake. Each of the food items made the sale, so Monday they will be auctioned for and the kids will get the proceeding money. I’m really proud of them. They are so much fun to be with. Since I moved to College Station, I haven’t been able to spend much time with them as I’d like. I really miss seeing them everyday before and after school. My family means so much to me.

I will add some pictures of “the kids” and their ribbons as soon as I can.