Well, the day finally came. I think I am almost a Texan.

I realized that last night when Tim and I went to Michael Martin Murphy's Cowboy Christmas presentation at LU. I really did enjoy the cowboy songs and the music. We have also been attending a Cowboy Church. We haven't figured out which one fits us right.

In addition to that I am really into tractors and earth moving machines (thansk to Tim)

What is keeping me from being a full Texan is that twang and the use of "fixin' and ya'll." I haven't brought myself to using their language yet.

Anyways, back to last night show, one word for you - amazing. I have been wanting to see it for the past three years, but the tickets have always been extremely high at $50 a ticket. However this year for LU staff, faculty, and students, you could buy tickets for $5 on the day of the show. I thought it was a steal of a price. The music was really good. You should have seen and heard the fiddle players. I don't think I could play that fast on the violin, but maybe on the piano. I really enjoyed the stories he told. He was talking about a cowboy going to look for his Christmas tree. I pretty much did what he talked about last weekend looking for my Christmas tree. I took my hand saw and walked Tim's land until finding two perfect trees, one for his house and one for his mom's house. Tim just watched as I cut the trees down. I was able to drag one back to the truck. For the other one, it was two big and Tim had to help me. Last night's story about walking through the woods and dragging a tree back was an experience I could relate to.

Guess who is back!!! ME!!!

I know I have been a slacker. Just recently I have gain access to the internet on a daily basis. I guess I should catch everyone up with my life. It has been up and down since moving here. I had a hard time finding a job. I tried working in food service at the hospital, but when I was told no to going and visiting my dying grandmother after been told yes, I quit. I then went to working at McDonalds as a manager. It was not what I was expecting. I was working 60 hours a week and constantly not feeling well because of no sleep. I then moved over to Chick-fil-a. I had a plast there. I met wonderful people, both coworkers and customers. I worked there for a little over two years, before I was offered a job as a secretary for a program funded by the department of education. I have been here for almost 3 months. I don't mind it. It is a lot different than working fast food. However, I still want to teach. I have been working on my certification to teach history at the high school level. Tho I really want to teach at the college level, I have to start somewhere.

I figured I will start writing again as a way for me to express my opinions especially of what our government is doing and to give updates on my life.

I guess I will write some since I have the time to. The past 6 months or so since moving to Longview has been an up and down one. I have had three jobs since moving here. The first two did not last long at all. I never signed on to work 12 hours or more days. So, I looked and found another job that I enjoy. I am working at Chickfila. It is really fun. I could not ask for a better boss or hours. I am working 7-3 Monday thru friday. What could be better than that? Oh, I teaching job would be. But until things get straightened out with my thesis. I can't teach. I have a teaching job at LU. All I need is paper to be done.

I was able to go home in september and spend some time with the family. My grandma was supposed to come out and visit but she was just too weak. About 2 weeks latter I went to the East coast for her funeral. It was good to see and catch up with cousins again. I was only there for three days but it totally did not seem like three days. I took the last flight out of DFW and arrived in Philly after midnight. It took me a while when I returned to get caught up on sleep. Tim picked me up in dallas when I returned. He went ahead and took me out to eat and spent some time there because my birthday was the next day. Also that same weekend, my brother got engaged. She is a wonderful girl and I am so exxcited.

The holidays came. I was sad to not be able to spend them with my family. But I am thankful to have been able to spend them with Tim and his family. Christmas was fun. I was able to get to know his brother and his wife better. :) After Christmas, the weather turned really nasty. Havent been able to do a whole lot outside, but I try to when I can.

Things between Tim and I are going great. Like any relationship it has its good days and bad days. We have definately stayed busy. Over MLK weekend, we went to arkansas and experience three days of below 32 degree temperatures. We have had access to a backhoe. Those are soo much fine. I have learned a great deal of things from Tim. I am also helping him out in so many ways. His interests are soo exciting and intriguing. They are also becoming my interests very quickly.

Well thats about it for now. Bed time. Work tomorrow.

I am still alive. I have been extremely busy here. I don't know really where to start except to say call me if you want to know what has been going on. I don't have a consistent access to the internet.

I only have one more day of work. I can't wait. I am extremely excited. I will still miss those that I work with, but not the job.

Today was an interesting day. Well interesting might not be the best word to use, but it was a good day after work. I was able to talk to this guy about my age who works at olive garden. He and I compare our working policies and people we work with. Well today we had a really good talk. He just ended a relationship due to decit and lying. He shared a lot of stuff. I really enjoy talking to him. I encouraged him and took his mind off his recent break up. You would think that he is your normal guy. But he isnt. He is different to put it nicely. But he is quickly becoming a really good friend. I told him to call me or IM me if he is ever feeling lonely. He really appreciated that offer. I also told him even though I am in Texas, we could still talk. and that he is welcomed to visit if he ever needed a place to get away to. Theresa and I will be visiting him at work to support him and help him out but giving him a good tip.

My apartment is pretty much cleaned and packed. the only thing left is my bedroom. It is almost done too. I am so excited that everything is coming along just fine :)

I only have seven more days of work. I would have six but I decided to pick up a whole another shift. They needed the help and its overtime hours. I am excited. The end is near. I have looking forward to this day for who knows how long. But it is finally here. I am going to miss those that I work with, but definately not the job.

Tim has made it make to Longview. We had a really deep conversation yesterday. We talked about things that we both need to work on and how we can help each other with those things. We also talked about rules and ideas for what to do when I am down there. We do not want our lives to revolve around each other. We still want to be able to hang out with friends. I am looking forward to finding out about coaching youth soccer and possiblyworking with teen girls through scouting. I want to have girls nights with lisa and esther. I learn so much from those two and I want to continue to learn about things from them.

I haven't heard anything back on any jobs yet. but I have received a teaching application for east texas christian school that I am working on filling out. It will take a while because there are a lot of essays that I have to write.

Last night I heard from Tim. I was so excited. As much as I get down and sad when I dont hear from him, just hearing his voice and him calling makes me feel so loved and so cared for. I can't wait for him to get back to longview. He will be in longview saturday night. Which means that I will be able to call him sunday. He is playing farmer driving huge tractors and plows. There is something about him that just draves me crazy for him. :)

Work was ok today. Lydia received my two weeks notice. She was sad cause I am leaving. But they all know that I am going onto bigger and better things. :)

Im off to bed. Im tired. Its hot and humid here to.