… was a GREAT day.  It was a good day at work (I got a lot done, I got assigned a couple of fun projects, I got to relieve my boss of a little bit of pressure and take on a task management role, and I got a couple of overtime hours).  It’s been a great evening at home (it’s gorgeous, and we’ve spent the evening relaxing outside on our fabulous deck looking at our fabulous lawn – which David just mowed for the first time).  And, most importantly, today is Friday.  The first day of the weekend.  =)

On another note, my dog looks almost human (in an alien sort of way) when he stands on his hind legs.

It’s finally warmer here.  After a week and a half of snowstorms and blizzards and snow showers and icy roads and snowed-in garages, it’s finally warm enough that the sun is making things drip.  And I can drive again!  I had to try to pull out of the garage a couple of times (the garbage trucks they turned into snow plows have plowed the alley, creating walls of snow in front of all the garages), but I finally made it out!

Snow really freaks me out.  Dave’s been the driver – when the roads look like they have for the past couple of weeks (Indy STILL hasn’t cleaned up our residential streets), I don’t drive unless I absolutely have to.  I slid off of then back onto the road a couple of years ago and was very lucky that I only hit the guardrail instead of the other cars around me.

The dog likes the snow now that it’s softer – for a while, there was an inch-thick layer of ice on top of the foot of snow.  Jake would take a step and fall through, take another step and fall through.  It was funny.  =)  Today, though, because the sun was actually out, the snow was soft enough that he jumped around and cavorted and chased squirrels.

…

Tomorrow is my last day here - I fly out very early Wednesday morning, and I’ve got a lot to do (taking a break from work now) before then.  I’m doing laundry and packing most of my things tonight.  Tomorrow night, I’m going shopping for the things Leah said she wanted me to bring (among other things, Colts caps – she’s a fan!) with me.  She called last night with a list.  =)

I can’t wait – except for the leaving David for two weeks part.  I’m glad to be seeing my family, though – twice a year is just not enough.

I’ve been shamed into posting again.  =)  But guys, now that I have a dog, it’s more fun to spend my spare time OFF the computer.  Especially since I work on one every day, all day long.

I think the only really interesting and out-of-the-ordinary things we’ve done lately happened the last couple of weekends.  We had a couple of football-watching shindigs – for the AFC Championship game and for the Super Bowl – where 25-30 people (at a time) crammed into our house for dinner and the game (or to play games – turns out we had several games of chess, some Jenga, some Fluxx, and some Cities & Knights of Catan going on).  We ended up bringing two extra TVs for the big game because there were so many people here that we just ran out of chairs, sofas, floorspace, and standing room in the living room.  (Jake LOVED the crowd.)

Before the games, because I got a raise, David and I were, then weren’t, then were, then weren’t, then were, then really weren’t going to and so didn’t buy a bigger TV.  We just had folks watch the games on our 15-year-old, small, but perfectly fine, TV. 

I loved having people over, even though it was a lot of work.  I like being surrounded by the people I love – it makes me feel connected in a way I need.  I think I get that from my Mom.

Anyway, that’s pretty much it.  It’s been blisteringly cold here, and it looks like the temperature will just keep going down.  It started snowing this afternoon and already there are 2 or 3 inches on the ground with no sign of stopping.  David had class in Anderson today so he’s staying the night.  I have a deacons’ meeting later – it’ll be fun getting out in that mess…

But, on the plus side, Jake loves the snow.  He short-haired and skinny so he gets cold quickly, but he loves running around out there.  Check out my flickr pictures (flickr.com/photos/taukerman) to see a couple of new dog pictures.  I’ve finally been able to take a few that show you what he’s really like.  =)

It’s quiet around here.  Except, of course, when the neighbors start or park their really loud car – then, the dog barks and whines and runs all over the house.  Maybe someone he loved (or hated) had a motorcycle.  Maybe he’s watching for David to come back.  Which is why it’s so quiet.

With David teaching at Taylor and staying up north this week, I’ve been on my own.  It was nice to have some time alone after vacation and being surrounded by people, but now I’m just missing my husband.  Good thing he’s coming home tomorrow.  =)

I’ve gotten a lot of extra hours of work in – enough to make up for the holiday this week.  I’ve also done a lot of catch-up work for a client.  It feels good to not be buried under a backlog of work.

Oooh… and me and Jake have been getting along well.  That means he’s not running all over me anymore.  At least while it’s just me and him, he’s pretty obedient.  I haven’t had to wrestle him once.  =)  He gets in his crate in the morning and at bedtime.  He sits without being bribed (well, he did once).  He even stayed for a few seconds (with a heavy bribe).  He’s a fun dog - I’d be crazy here completely alone, and he’s good company.

We had a *stack* of people over here on Sunday night. 25 or so. This get-together accomplished two purposes: 1) it was our 2nd annual pumpkin-carving extravaganza with the Gardners (and expanded to friends and family from all over), and 2) it was a great opportunity to show off our house, to give everyone the “tour” at once. =)

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, so I won’t spend time talking about the shindig. (I disagree with that saying, by the way.) Here are some photos:

The first bunch

 
Trogdor rage (he did a Trogdor pumpkin)

 
Racoon rage?  (she did a racoon pumpkin)

 
one of my favorite pictures.  this is one NEAT kid.

 
Robin’s yuck-this-is-gross face

 
mmm…  this was Rosita’s (left) first pumpkin carving experience.

 
Trogdor and Rather Dashing

 
my very favorite pumpkin design – James’ Zim and Gir.  isn’t this amazing?!

 
Most of us.  Check out James’ head (on the coffee table)!

Our new house is stinky.  There’s a foul, unidentified smell eeking up from the basement.  I’ll be calling a plumber tomorrow.

We spent the weekend out of town.  Before we left, David dumped some bleach water down the drain in the basement.  When we got back, it was still stinky.  Dave just dumped an entire container of liquid fabric softener down the drain (as recommended by the guy from the Mayor’s Action Center).  We’ll see if that has any effect; my guess is that the plumber will be necessary.

There was a big earthquake on the Big Island of Hawaii today – my family felt it on O’ahu.  They’re staying at Bellows this weekend, which has cabins literally on the beach.  They were in their cabin when the earthquake hit – Mom said they all ran for the same doorway and had a collision.  =)  After the shake stopped, they ran out to the car…  their first thought was big earthquake = tsunami.

No tsunami actually came, but the quake shook some gas pipes loose on the base.  They can’t get back in to get their stuff – and they can’t get back in to have my Dad’s birthday party with their friends.  But hey – they’re all still alive, and no loss of life has been recorded as a result of this 6.6 quake!  Since they can’t get back onto the base, they’re going over to Debbie’s – Mom said she and her kids were a little shaken by the earthquake (who wouldn’t be, on an island after the 2004 tsunami in east Asia?).

No earthquakes here in Indy – just a long, long 24 hours.  =)  Our Saturday/Sunday schedule (this isn’t even much crazier than a typical day for us!):

SATURDAY
7:30am-8am – prayer meeting at church
8:15am-9:30am – breakfast with church folks
9:30am-11am – work day at church (we raked and raked and raked leaves and acorns)
11-12 – shower and dress
12-12:45 – drive to Anderson
12:45-2 – lunch with Dave’s family
2-5 – errands
5-5:45 – free time
5:45-6:45 – meeting with contractor who’s going to do some work on our house
6:45-7:00 – dinner
7:00-1:30am – chaperone youth lock-in at church (we left when they went to sleep)

SUNDAY
8am-8:15 – prayer meeting
8:15-8:45 – serve breakfast to the kids & clean kitchen
8:45-9:30 – shower & dress
9:30-12:30 – Sunday school and church
12:30-2 – prepare, serve and clean up after youth-hosted lunch for entire church
2-4 – crash HARD (2 hour nap)
4-5 – stumble around waking up
5-6:30 – choir practice
6:30-7 – wash dishes left over from church lunch

This kind of schedule is why we’ve been so exhausted.  =)  It was a good couple of days, though – I had a great time with the Mead kids at the lock-in, and I always enjoy the folks at church.  As hard a day as today was, it’s nice actually serving.  Sometimes I feel like I just exist – I go to church meetings, but that’s it.  Today, we were USEFUL.  =)

Our loan application for the house has been approved!  Now, all we have to do is wait for a new roof, and we’re ready to close!

It sounds pretty ridiculous in here.  =)  David and I are at the table in the dining room, both on our computers.  I’ve just finished making up the hour of work I missed today (I went to the bridal shop with Bethany to get her alterations done – it’s a maid of honor’s duty!) and I think he’s just playing around online.  We’re both sniffling like crazy.  I’m just coming off a week-long head cold and I think he’s just now starting.  Anyway, thought I’d share – it’s cracking me up.

The house: No news on the mortgage loan yet – but in this case, no news is good news.  The only way we’d hear something back this soon is if something’s wrong.  We’re meeting with the realtor Thursday at lunch to talk over the inspection. 

After we got back from the bridal store today, I drove Bethany by our new place (she hasn’t seen it).  As we walked around outside we almost ran into [literally] four huMONgous spiders that had strung up webs in all the walkways around the house.  They were evil-looking, even to a non-arachnaphobic like Bethany…  After the fourth we saw, we just decided to leave and come back later with other people.  There’s safety in numbers (and in carrying big cans of Raid) when you’re dealing with GIGANTIC arachnids. 

We found a house. We’ve looked at house after house over the past couple of years (between going around with friends who are house-shopping, watching friends buy and move into new houses, and searching ourselves last year and recently), and I’ve never seen a house I love as much as this one.

That said, let me tell you a little about it. This house is on a one-block section of street that’s between a brand-new elementary school and a city park. it’s got a large lot with a lot of trees. It’s a two-story “Arts and Crafts” style house that was built in 1935. It has all hardwood floors and the original woodwork of the house. It’s been kept up very well and updated. There’s a large deck in the back and beautiful landscaping (complete with a fountain, pond, and a couple of herb garden enclosures). There’s a 2-car garage. We just couldn’t find a thing to even worry about – it’s gorgeous and well-kept!

The house we have fallen in love with (these pictures don’t do it justice):

the front yard

the porch

the entryway – and the beautiful staircase

the entryway – and the beautiful staircase

some of the kitchen.

some more of the kitchen.

the dining room

more of the dining room

the deck and the backyard

the house from the backyard

the downstairs bathroom, just off the kitchen

the staircase

the second bedroom

the washroom (on the second floor!)

the second floor bathroom

the master bedroom (two walk-in closets)