Catchin' up on your R&R!

We live in Texas now- San Antonio to be exact! At the end of May, we moved to where "the stars at night are big and bright!" 

Prior to moving here, I had never been to Texas (unless you count a layover in Dallas a decade ago- which I don't). Since moving here, I have learned all sorts of interesting things. For example, before moving here, I thought that San Antonio was located in southern Texas. Now I know that is not the most correct answer. The most correct answer is that San Antonio is 5 MILES FROM THE SUN!!! In other words, it can get hot here; like your-sweat-starts-to-sweat hot.

I have also learned that Texas drivers are never in a hurry... ever. Nor could they possibly fathom why anyone would be. I never thought going the speed limit to maybe 5 over the speed limit qualified me as a Speedy McSpeedster, but out here I might as well have taken driver's ed from the cast of The Fast and the Furious.

Now the summers and driving aside, we really do like San Antonio! We live in a great area, our ward is fantastic (Rory is the assistant Deacon's advisor, and I'm the Beehive's advisor), and we are both loving what we're doing out here.

I will now proceed to brag about Rory: He is doing extremely well in graduate school. For the most part, his classes are interesting and applicable to him. He also keeps very busy with his graduate assistantship, where he works as part of a community outreach program covering, for the most part, high school athletics as an athletic trainer. I'm a proud, proud wife.

As for me, I got a job working for a real estate company for the first couple months we lived here. Now, I'm fortunate enough to be doing my own photography (see here for my website or here for my blog). I take pictures like this...

And like this...

And like this...

Of course we miss our Utah friends, but life is great! I hope now that things have settled down a bit to be better about updating our blog. (I make no promises, however) Don't hesitate to drop us a note- we'd love to hear how our far away friends are doing! 

Where are you, Christmas?

Typically, the holiday season truly is "the most wonderful time of the year" for me. I love the lights, the gift giving/receiving, the stories, that "gingerbread feeling," the focus on Christ, etc etc. Not to mention, Rory and I fell in love during Christmas time.

This year, however, my enthusiasm for the holiday season has been sub-par. I'm not quite a Grinch or an Ebenezer, I don't think... more like Cindy Lou Who from the 2000 version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, who asked, "Where are you, Christmas? Why can't I find you?" Unlike Cindy, I have a pretty clear idea as to why there is very little "jingle all the way" for me.

Work has been INSANE. We've been booked out for photo sessions for over a month and will continue to be booked out clear up until the last week of December. I catch myself saying all the time, "I can't wait until Christmas is over!" Bah-humbug, indeed! Last week, my attitude started to bother me.

Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who recognized my "Bah-humbug" attitude, and suggested that we get a Christmas tree. Decorating our first Christmas tree together as a married couple did wonders for my spirits. Yesterday, we decided to participate in our ward's "Angel Tree" and give a gift to a child in need. I also watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night. I'm happy to report that my holiday spirit barometer is creeping towards full!

What brings the Christmas spirit into your life?

A Marshmallow Day

Today was my day off- my day to do what I want, when I want. Last night I planned out my entire day. I was going to let myself sleep in (but not too late). Then I was going on a birthday presents hunt for a certain someone whose birthday is this Sunday (cough, Rory, cough cough). Next, I'd go to the gym and do a REAL workout- none of this girly, pansy stuff I've been doing as of late. I was going to do a heartpumping, sweat pouring, leg shaking work out. Then I was going to sit down and write my tear jerking, testimony building, life changing talk that I am to give on Sunday. That was to be followed by miscellaneous errands including but not limited to: dropping off a letter at the post office, buying a couple ingredients for dinner, and seeing if I could find some purple nailpolish (the pink I have been wearing is SO last season... it's officially fall). Yes, I was going to have one very productive day off.

At 3:00 pm, as I sat on our bed eating Marshmallow Matey's by the handful, I took inventory of my day. Sleep in a little- check. Birthday presents- check. Workout- ummm... haven't quite gotten around to it. Then again, I did all that walking around at the mall... Write my talk- oh, I'm just waiting for the inspiration... or something. Miscellaneous errands- well, none of those things HAVE to be done today. I sighed, knowing that what should have been a "go-get-em" day, had turned in to a marshmallow day.

The funny things is I could easily have gotten all those things done if it was a regular work day. There's just something about having a bunch of semi-pertinent things to do and a whole day to do it that just welcomes procrastination for me. I guess in that regard, it's a good thing that I'm back to work tomorrow. And an even better thing that we got the extra large bag of Marshmallow Matey's... I'll be looking forward to my next marshmallow day.

Hired and fired within 10 minutes!

Driving home from my clinical assignment with the BYU Rugby team this afternoon, I noticed I had a voicemail. The message was from the receptionist at the company I interviewed with yesterday for a part time job at a call center. I've been trying to find a job before the couch cushions completely mold to my body. The nice lady informed me that I had been hired, and asked me a few questions, and we reviewed my availability. The call ended, and I promptly texted Rachel to inform her that I had gotten the job!

Rewind to Monday, the day of the interview... While signing some paperwork before the interview, a man came out of his office, and said to the receptionist something to the effect of, "I hate it when people arrange interviews, and then don't show up to do them!" At first I thought he was talking about potential employees, but it turns out he was talking about the man that I was supposed to interview with. So, I went back with the replacement interviewer. The interview went well - the only rough spot was the schedule. As we talked, I noticed that the interviewer notated that I wanted the 4-8 shift, but seemed to gloss over the fact that I needed a different shift for Tues/Thursday, which we had discussed at length.

Fast forward back to this afternoon... 10 minutes after texting Rachel about the job, I get another phone call from the same number. "Hi, this is Troy from _______. I wanted to ask you a couple questions about your availability for work." This was the guy that was supposed to interview me. Turns out that the replacement interviewer had failed to notate that I needed a different shift for Tuesday and Thursday, and the company only wanted to hire individuals that could work one shift Monday through Friday, and that the job offer was being rescinded. No apology, and very curt.

I was kind of shocked. I pointed out that we had discussed that issue in the interview, and that it must not have been recorded. He didn't seem to care. Part of me wanted to say, "If you had been there to interview me like you had agreed, we wouldn't have this ridiculous problem!"

So, today I got hired... and fired.