Currently Listening Souls Alike By Bonnie Raitt see related

Yesterday the ice barriers over Lake Erie broke and now our front yard (aka. Tonawanda Creek) is filled to the brim with tiny glaciers. Winds in Buffalo were clocked at 90 miles per hour, and Niagara River's level was the second highest ever recorded. Twas an exciting day.

In need of true beauty while at work?

Also, I've discovered this evening that using Etta James' At Last as the standard for creating a new station on Pandora Radio is beautiful. Excellent wind down music for a day jammed with client meetings, provider errors, and hypothetical money.

I think we're going to Florida within the next two months. I got a new car last week. I've finally been professionally diagnosed and put on medication for having some serious allergies. We've joined a gym. Nephew #1 will be three next week. Nephew #2 is cute as a button. Not much else has happened recently.

Currently Listening MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 By Lauryn Hill see related

Haha - I was just surfing the web and came across this picture: http://phialphakappa.com/photos/2005-2006/1-20-06/90.jpg I don't remember that picture being taken, and I had never seen it before.

We're moving in two weeks. We found a charming little place right on the river. It's quaint, small, and exciting.

My fantastic husband called today, asking all about my loves. He went on a long walk today on the other side of the world. He went through St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Parthenon, the Colosseum, the Vatican, a castle, and many other things today, and he wanted to know more about what he'd seen (oh, how I love art history).

It's funny how you get used to someone's presence. There are so many things I won't do without Josh here. There was a free Drop Kick Murpheys concert downtown yesterday night, but it's way too Detroit down there to be alone during the day, much less the night when people are drinking. I wanted to go for a run today, but several women in the area have been murdered while out on the bike path through the last decade; and while they've caught the "Bike Path Rapist," I still don't feel quite safe without a Marine running beside me. Then tonight, I would've loved to go down to the Bucking Buffalo and dance, but even with a date, the men don't mind their selves. Tomorrow, I'll have to wear an extra layer because I'm always cold in church without an arm around me.

When I grow up some day, I'd love to have my own piano. I miss playing. I miss playing very much.

I ran across a new artist today: http://www.janvonholleben.com/work.html. Dreams of Flying was my favorite.

Currently Listening The Reminder By Feist see related

ti amo

In response to the questions, the plan after paying off debt is to buy a house with cash. This is the part where you laugh. BUT, we've crunched the numbers, and it's very possible with a good interest rate and good self government.

We're looking for a new car, and have had little luck in looking. So far, every car we've called to look at turned out to be owned by a Russian and in an accident in the past.

Meanwhile, my wonderful husband is currently in Rome, and while I miss him very much, I get to drive the Jeep while he's gone! It's lovely to have a vehicle that has a properly working clutch, good struts, and can't be heard a mile away.

The job's been going really well. There were a couple reviews recently, and they were encouraging. All this accountability and review can be intimidating and overwhelming, but also very encouraging at times too.

I'm buying a camera this week. At last.

Currently Listening Costello Music By The Fratellis see related

New York

I'm sorry for the suspense. I appreciate your prayers and concerns!

Josh and I have been trying to make decisions about the next five or so years of our lives, mainly where we'll be living and how long.  We found the most beautiful house, in our price range, and we were going to bid on it last Monday. We prayed about it, researched a lot, read about house buying and budgets and debt, and we decided against a house in New York all together. Our county has the highest property taxes in the nation (hard to believe, isn't it?), and we've decided to be radical (in a humbling kind of way). We're now in search of a smaller, cheaper, not-as-nice apartment, where we will stick to a tight budget, live a a tight living space, and pay off all of our debt. It's really a relief to have a plan, and not be bound to New York either. This will take a lot of self-government, but with God's help and blessing, it'll have a great ending!

Another concern right now is with my job.  I'm still in the learning process and I tend to get stressed easily (I know, some of you are laughing at the understatement), so each day is a challenge.  Anyway, right now, I have a short drive to work 4 days a week, and one day (Tuesdays), I drive down near the PA border for work, which is 3 1/2 hours of driving round trip. Anyway, my boss is now talking about having me go down there more than once a week. I leave at about 6:30 morning and don't return until 7 at night, and it really wears me out. Anyway, I'm really concerned about that up and coming decision (on my boss' part).

On the exciting side, I had the best weekend I've ever had in NY. We went to a free performance of Othello in the park on Friday, and went to a friend's cottage in Canada on Lake Erie on Saturday. It was such a fun summery few days!

Ulcers and Prayer

Josh and I are just a few hours away from making a very rash decision.

One that will effect us for several years, if not the rest of our lives.