Which house should we get?

David and I are trying to decide between two houses at this point. We're going back to see them both today, and we need to make a decision this weekend so we can move on one of them Monday.

Here's the deal with each of them:

David's favorite is in the Raleigh city limits, so it's closer to friends, family, jobs, etc. It's smaller than the other one, and our furniture won't fit quite as well. But the neighborhood is beautiful (it's a golf community with gorgeous homes), the home is on a corner lot and the equity in the home would be pretty good, we're thinking. It has brick on the outside, which is a huge plus. This house is a resale.

My favorite is in Fuquay-Varina, about 20-30 minutes south of Raleigh. It would be a longer commute to friends, family, work, etc. But the home is larger, and our furniture would fit very well. It's on a cul-de-sac lot that backs up to a wooded area and a greenway, which you can't actually see. The neighborhood is nice, but it's not amazing like the other one. It also doesn't have any brick. But this house is new, so there's a possibility we could get the builder to add a few features here and there (i.e. a refrigerator).

Any thoughts?

BY THE NUMBERS: Moving style

So in the spirit of Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette style, I think my move back to North Carolina can be summed up in a "BY THE NUMBERS" box, which is a graphic element the paper uses to pull out important numbers from a story.

BY THE NUMBERS

7
Hours it took to drive a 4.5-hour drive with the truck back to Raleigh

8
Total family members, including me, it took to move

9
Total hours it took just to load and unload the truck

16
Total hours from beginning to end that the move took, including drive time (8 a.m.-midnight)

10 x 20
Size in feet of my storage unit, which we filled to the door

26
Length in feet of my moving truck (and yes, we filled the entire thing to the door)


I'm so grateful to my parents, David, Nicole, my future father-in law, Uncle Rich and Cousin Bryant for helping me! I love you guys, and you all really came through for me. I cannot thank you enough for helping me!

Home, sweet home!

David and I are going to look at houses this weekend! We are so blessed that we're going to be able to get a house, especially since we'll be able to take advantage of the tax credit.

We're just starting the process, so we won't be buying anything for a couple of months. We definitely will want to buy it before the wedding, though, so I'll be able to jump in there and fix everything up in time so we won't have to worry about it too much after the wedding. We've got about 10 or so houses that we're interested in, so we're going to look at the first four this weekend. We've hired a Realtor, so they'll be working with us to find us the best deal and the best home for us.

Want to see the ones we're looking at Saturday? Here they are, in order of my favorite to least favorite:

1. 2204 Water Spray Drive — This one is immaculate. I love the stonework on the outside and sheer elegance of the house inside. When I picture the home I'd live in, it looks very similar to this one on the outside.

2. 3421 Opequon Drive — I love the stonework mixed with vinyl siding. Also, the kitchen is beautiful. This is, by far, the best kitchen of any of the ones we're seeing. It's very modern looking.

3. 161 Longbay Street — I like the kitchen and dining room areas. I think we'd have to add an island in the kitchen with this one, though, since the kitchen is a bit small. I've got a tiny kitchen in my apartment now, and I will never live somewhere with a lame kitchen again.

4. 3209 Octawa Trail — Imagine, if you can, that none of the walls are painted the hideous colors that the current homeowners have painted it, and you will see a unique, pleasant home underneath. The kitchen isn't huge, but it has an island, which is key. (I love black or stainless steel appliances, by the way.) I'm also not crazy about the outside color of the house, but I think I could get used to it. One downside to this home is that we'd have to spend a fortune in paint just to cover up their horrible choices. But I'm going to paint anywhere we live, so I guess it's not that huge a deal. ;) Check out the orange room. Orange? Seriously, guys? Ew.

Anyway, all of these homes are great. We won't really know for sure how we feel about them until we go in them, obviously. Our favorites could become impossibilities after we've seen the inside of them, and the ones we liked so-so could become favorites!

I can't wait to start looking on Saturday! It's definitely a buyer's market out there right now, so we're going to be homebuyers at a perfect time!

"Me, a name I call myself"

Andrea J. sent this YouTube link to me today. It pretty much gave me a happy Friday.

I want to be one of those dancers.

"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb."

I gave in to the Twilight obsession after numerous friends and family members encouraged me to read the books.


Stephanie Myers strikes me as an odd sort of writer. I was quite disturbed how, despite the loads of errors in the books that made me want to take a giant red pen to it, I was still captivated enough by the story to love it.

I know there are so many different opinions out there on the books, and that many people who do like the series favor either Edward or Jacob over the other. I guess I just wanted an outlet for my new-found obsession.

I suppose it's a bit like Bella's obsession for Edward — she just can't help loving him. I can't help loving these books, and I don't know why. Her books are filled with errors, it's completely unrealistic and several parts of the books I actually despised just to get to the good parts. It's very odd.

Many people suggested I watch the movie after I read the book, because, of course, the book is better. I, however, watched the movie first at the behest of Nicole. I'm very glad I did. Because I saw the movie and then got even more storyline when I read the book. I know a lot of people were upset that there was so much left out in the movie. But movies can't all be like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which Peter Jackson kept very literal to the books. I understand why they left many things out. And the next movie is supposed to have a new director or something, so maybe that will help a little.

The moment Robert Pattinson came on screen, I thought he was ugly. I didn't get it. I mean, the books, so I had heard, portrayed him as this god-like figure who was more beautiful than words could describe. Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen? Eh, not so much.

But after I read the books, Pattinson grew on me. And while I still don't see him as being more beautiful than words, he's much more attractive than I originally felt when he came on screen.

Kristen Stewart, on the other hand, is a perfect Bella. She's beautiful, but it's not so striking as it is with some women. I can't wait to see what they do with her in the Breaking Dawn movie! And by the way, her hair is gorgeous — I'm jealous.


All in all ... I love these books. I know, I know — vampires, true love, destiny, blah blah blah. But they're so good! And I'm not ashamed of loving these books. :) Now I just need to get the 2-disc movie as cheap as I can find it ...

Crisis of ... career?

That likely will be the last time I post about a potential position online, as I did not get the job at Misys.

While I've been turned down a lot in the seven months I've been searching (and the six months prior to getting my job at the Packet), I thought this was a slam dunk. I'm no 6'8" basketball player, but I considered myself to be, if anything, overqualified for the design position.

I didn't ask why I hadn't been chosen — I just wanted to get off the phone before she could hear me cry. I'm lame, aren't I? One of the many reasons why I was so disappointed was they had apparently made the decision some time last week and not bothered to tell the rejected candidates.

Don't get me wrong; I understand that's a fairly common practice, but I guess I assumed since I (and the other candidates who had gotten through to the final phase) would be contacted about their choice of another person.

If my dad's 25-year position there, my graphic experience and my resume were not enough to convince them I was fit for the job ... what in the world are they looking for? What else can I do?

This has all left me with a crisis of career, I suppose. What do I do now? One reason I was so excited about this position was that it didn't require me to be so creative because I'm burned out. It didn't require me to be the ultimate designer. I'm not so sure I'm qualified to be a graphic designer, as I'm really not as creative as I originally thought I was.

I have to figure out what to do now. There are so many unknowns that I don't even know where to begin.

I have to move out of my apartment. That's the one thing I'm sure of. The paper has cut the entire staff's salary, and I can't afford to live in my apartment anymore. I've already given my landlord my 30-days notice.

So where do I go? Do I potentially move in with a friend where the rent is much more manageable? Or do I go back home where my heart is and end this awful 18-month distance it's put between David and me?

If I go back home, do I just look for any old Joe Shmoe job?

Since I'm not all that psyched about my abilities as a graphic designer, do I try to figure out what else I want to do? Should I try to rethink what I want to do with my life, which, in turn, might require me to go back to school? *groan*

I'm lost. I don't have any insight as to where to go from here. I really thought the Lord was leading me right into that position at Misys, but now I have no clue. I'm devastated.

You might say, "But it's just a job. You'll find one — just keep looking. It'll come." While I realize this is true, it's frustrating because I don't know what to do now. I know that everything's going to be OK, and I'll find something. The Lord's going to work it out for me somehow. But I have to figure out what to do — and He hasn't told me that yet. And frankly, I'm a bit concerned I'm not understanding Him at all right now. I'm not angry or anything — just confused as to where He wants me to go, and how I go about figuring out what that is. I thought I knew.

I'm blue. I apologize if this is depressing or if I'm being a Donna Downer. I also understand that my day hasn't been even close to as bad as some people's ( jennibugg.blogspot.com/ — Please pray for this family if you will).

But what do I do now?

Anxious like whoa

Due to a few interesting turn of events, and now that I know I won't lose my job if the world knows this, I can now proclaim to the ... three? ... people that read this (and already know) that I'm looking for a job.

I had an in-person interview Thursday with AllscriptsMisys, the company my dad worked at for 26 years, though it was called a few other things throughout that time. The position is in their forms group. You know when you leave the doctor's office and he or she gives you a form with tons of conditions on there and the one applicable to you is checked? AllscriptsMisys makes software programs for doctor's offices and hosiptals, and the forms group makes the forms that work with those programs. So I'd be designing those forms.

Sound boring to you? Well, considering I love filling out forms (except for tax return forms because the government terrifies me), designing them sounds even more fun.

I made it to the third round in the interview process, as I've already had two separate phone interviews with the company.

I was, theoretically, the last in-person interview, but the supervisor told me that one more resume had come through. If that person doesn't get very far in the process, they will be making their offer to the chosen candidate by the beginning of this week. If that last person gets to the in-person interview, it could be the end of the week.

I'm beyond anxious for this position. I realize that it if isn't the right position that the Lord wants me to get, then I don't want it. But it's very difficult to keep that in perspective when I'm living five hours from my fiance, my best friend and my family, when I'm planning a wedding and when I have to get out of a city that is eating up every extra cent I earn through cost of living.

Palmetto Electric, my electric company, raised their rates to attrocious proportions. I literally will not be able to afford to live here during the summer if I run my air conditioning. And, as most of you know, it's ridiculously hot here, and I don't do well in really hot temperatures.

I know that if it's meant to be, I'll get the position. It's just really hard for me to get my mind off of it. I mean, at this point, I've done all I can do, impressed (or haven't) everyone that I have to and name-dropped all that I can. (Thanks, Dad!)

I have a very good feeling from the last interview, but I don't know if that's the Lord giving me peace about the fact I'll get it or me wishfully thinking. All I know, is that I love my job right now, but it's sadly time for me to go, especially with all the turmoil going on at the office right now. If someone can get their job back by my leaving, I really want that to happen.

I really can think of nothing else other than this job, and I know that's not healthy, especially if it's not the right one for me. I'm just praying with all of my heart right now that it's the right position. And if it isn't, I'll then have to ask God for the grace to accept it. But right now, I know that everyone I know is praying I get it! :)

Anyway, this is really just a post for me to get this stuff out of my head, so I can hopefully not worry about it quite as much. I'll keep you in the loop!

I'm picky, but it was good

I just tried a Stouffer's Southwest-Style Chicken Panini. As most of you know, I'm such a picky eater. But I decided to be brave and try it. Plus, it sounded delicious.

It's got cheese, chicken and bacon with a semi-spicy southwest sauce. I love it, because the bread is kind of crunchy, but the inside of the sandwich is juicy and tender.

I've tried another kind of panini from them before, but I really didn't like it. The bread was really the only good thing about it.

I apologize for the quality of the photo, but this was the only one I could find.

Bottom line: It's delicious, and you should try it.

Prom dress donations

My friends in the features department at The Island Packet published a short story in today's (Friday) paper about a group that is collecting gently used prom and bridesmaid dresses and the accessories to accompany them. Read the story at http://www.islandpacket.com/lowcountrylife/story/760472.html

I thought this was a fabulous idea. It's designed to help teenage girls that can't afford to buy their own prom dresses.

I was fortunate enough that my family could provide those dresses for me, and I remember each dress and the magical time I had wearing them. I cannot imagine how heartbreaking it would be if a young girl could not afford to look like a fairy tale princess on her special night.

The group in Bluffton, S.C., is collecting these dresses and then providing girls in the community with a chance to go "shopping" March 1. Unfortunately, I will be out of town that weekend — in the city where all of my dresses happen to be.

Does anyone in the Raleigh area know of an organization that is doing this there?

I decided just to post some photos of my time wearing each of my beautiful dresses. Ah, memory lane ...

This beautiful purple dress is from Belk, I think. I wore it to my first Junior, Senior Banquet at North Raleigh Christian Academy in 2002 my junior year of high school. Pictured with me is my date that year, my then-boyfriend, Jamin Peck. I loved this dress. It has little flowing ribbons down the back, and I had ballet slippers dyed to match the dress.


Looking back on these photos now, this teal dress is my favorite. It's so beautiful. I got it from David's Bridal. I think I wore silver flats to go with it. I wore this dress to the Junior, Senior Banquet my senior year of high school in 2003. Pictured with me is my date that year, Steven Pearce, the brother of my friend, Amy.


I actually bought this dress for an event with a campus organization at UNC my freshman year. I wore it to that event, but I don't have any photos from that; and I think I only had it on for a total of about one hour. I think I got this dress from a department store as well. The quality of this photo is not very good, but the bodice is beaded with black shiny beads, and the skirt of the dress is black matte satin — though it blends in with his tux. Shown in this photo, I wore this dress to the prom of my then-boyfriend, Thomas Boyd, my freshman year of college in 2004. Thankfully I already had it for another event, so I didn't have to buy a new one!


This beautiful crimson dress was from David's Bridal. I was the maid of honor in my friend Amy Pearce's (now Amy Moseley) wedding. I had gloves and shoes that were dyed to match. It was a wonderful dress, and it was quite similar to the teal one I bought for my senior year prom. Amy got married in December of 2005.

So most of you probably don't care about my dresses, but most of you know how much I love fashion. ;) Each of these dresses carries wonderful memories, which is why I've kept them — well, that and I'm a pack rat.

I guess every girl keeps them thinking, "What if I have an occasion to wear this again?" I've reached the point, however, of being able to give them away. I mean, if I were to ever go to an event where I needed such a dress, I'd of course want to buy a new one, right? ;)

Besides, it would mean the world to me if I could make a young girl's special evening that much more special if she could wear them. So, please, if anyone knows of another organization that's collecting gently used prom or bridesmaid dresses, let me know. I want so much to be able to give them to a good cause.

Why was six not enough?

I've had trouble understanding why a woman who has no money, no husband and no job wants children in addition to the six she already had.

Now, I'm not one of those people who thinks the death threats against Nadya Suleman are appropriate or anything. That is, of course, terrible, and I think people should at least treat her with civility. But I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why she decided to undergo in-vitro fertilization when she already has far too many children than she and her mother can care for.

While her mother, Angela Suleman, recently said her anger at her daughter's decision was softened by the sight of her newest eight grandchildren, she has gone on record as being very upset by her daughter's actions.

Angela Suleman's entire retirement check goes towards helping Nadya and her children each month. Why would someone be so selfish as to pay more money to get a procedure done to bring even one more child into the world when your family is struggling to support you. Had Nadya gotten pregnant through natural means, I would never think the child should be aborted; but this woman paid to have this procedure done.

Nadya Suleman said in interviews that she went through a period of time where she was depressed after an injury during a riot at a mental hospital where she worked in 1999. She said the birth of her first child helped her spirits, and that she wanted a large family to make up for "certain connections and attachments with another person that I really lacked, I believe, growing up."

It is not a child's responsibility to provide some sort of connection that you lacked as a child. It's your job to make sure the child doesn't experience the same thing. Trying to make up for your childhood by having 14 children is selfish and is not at all thinking of their welfare.

In these dark days of economic recession, why would you want to use your mother's money to finance a procedure which would enable you to have who knows how many more children that you will be responsible for caring and providing for? Those poor children will have a difficult life, just because she wanted a large family.

I just don't get it. It's not fair to the children. It's not fair to her mother. And it's not fair to the taxpayers that now will have to pick up the slack for raising her children.

I'll leave you with one last thought: Even if none of this makes sense, why would you want to do this to yourself?

Ouch. Also, ew.