Every 3 months or so...

Not bad...so I made it through first quarter and am counting down the days until Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks...everyone is adjusting nicely to the work schedule...I am enjoying teaching, and God is good!

Catch-Up!!

Is this summer really almost over?? Am I really starting work for the ENTIRE school year on Monday? YES!! I'm not sure why everything in the South has to be so STINKING early!! What's wrong with starting school the day after Labor Day like they do in Alaska?? Nothing.

I am excited to be working with Kevin though...and where the children will be...I am not excited about having everyone ready to go and in the car by 6:15 am!

Zeke has just lost his second tooth...well on his way to manhood! He will be starting 1st Grade next Monday, and this Monday Aug 4 will be his 7th birthday!

Zeb will be starting kindergarten on Aug 11, he is very excited about it...

Zanna will be in the K-4 program at our pre-school which she loves so far except for naptime...

Zach, as soon as he is potty trained (seems like it will be about age 15 at the rate we're going) will be attending K-2 at the pre-school...

And Lionel and Katie brought my new little nephew John Austin down for the 4th of July weekend...I heard some murmuring among my children about us having another baby...I put a quick end to that little fantasy!!

Rose Thomas, Realtor;)

http://www.inmanrealtygroup.com/bin/web/real_estate/AR183191/ACTIVATE_FRAMES/AGENTS/Franklin/1214773778.html

Where has a month gone?

I am now officially a licensed Realtor in the state of Tennessee...I have my first showing tomorrow night...I'm a little nervous...

Kevin has been out of town all week for basketball camp, so it will be great to have him back...

I have so many things to do besides this...Zeke's baseball season is over (Thank Goodness!!)

I am searching for a hot new hairdo...send me pics!! It has to be short...It's late, I'm tired, I'll post some catch up pics later...

This one's for you Lee-lee;)

Zach footage...

Tried twice to upload it on here...maybe it's too big or something??

http://www.youtube.com/user/belarosenbug

Paging Dr. Thomas...

OK, I accidentally got these pictures in reverse order...so start at the bottom picture and work your way up!

We have a fabulous deck on the back of our house. It's kind of old, and everytime the kids go out there I warn them about getting a splinter...poor Zeke was the first to get one, it was a monster!

After a few careful tries to dislodge the half of toothpick in his foot, we decided to soak it in hot water...

And after MANY tearful protests I was finally able to give it a little wiggle and get it out! I was so proud of myself...

Zeke was back on the porch barefoot in 3 minutes...

Zeke...

Zeke won "Top 3" in his class, it is the award given to the top 3 academic students in no particular order...photo credit goes to Kevin who didn't want to walk down the aisle for a decent shot...bitter?? Yes, I am.

Zeke's Kindergarten Chapel

Zeke was chosen as 1 of 5 "readers" in the kindergarten chapel, there are about 60 kindergarteners so we were really, really proud!!

Cinco de Mayo Baby

All of my babies are late, and they all had big heads. My first baby was a C-section, after which I had 2 VBACs. When I was 37 weeks along with Zach, his head measured that of a 41 week gestation. Knowing that he would probably be late...and that with a head that big I would probably end up with another C-section...I elected to have a C-section without going through 27 hours of labor first this time. May 5th just happened to be the perfect day for everybody...and who doesn't want a free margarita on their birthday? So, Zach became my Cinco de Mayo Baby.
We took him to Red Robin, just like we took the other 3 in Anchorage, it's so convenient that Murfreesboro just happens to have a Red Robin!
Once again, I got to the end of an event and realized I had only gotten 3 out of 4 children in any pictures, not sure how that happens, but at least I got the birthday boy this time (Zeb's Chuck-E-Cheese celebration, I didn't get any of him:( Oh, well, the whole last post and the whole next post are all about Zeke...

Game ball!!!

Last night at his game, Zeke was 3 for 3, including a 3 run HOMERUN!!
He received the game ball at the end of the game, unfortunately I didn't get a picture of it:(
It was a great game!! I gave Kevin the wrong exit number to get to the game, by the time he drove around for 45 minutes and figured out where to go...he ran out of gas, and spent the game on the side of the road waiting for us to drive home...

Potty Time!!

Zach told me today he wanted to go potty! He didn't go on the potty, but he sat there for awhile and then went on the floor...but I would say progress has been made!

Of course I don't really believe this...

This is Kevin and I at Exit Glacier in Seward Alaska the week before we got married (this was on August 1st...gotta love those Alaska summers!!)

It is just funny....

"Thought for the day: Men are like fine wine. They start out as grapes, and it's up to the women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with."

In my past dealings, I have found that "stomping" on Kevin, no matter how well intentioned or God-ordained ;) it may be has never really been effective...

Thank you Lord for a better way!

It's still funny though:)

Of course I got the one that he didn't hit!!

I am so proud of Zeke, he is such a smart boy! Everyday he amazes me with what he is learning in school. Last night we were out in the yard playing, and a caterpillar came walking along...he didn't know what he was getting himself into!

As he crawled around on Zeke's arm, Kevin and I informed him that it would soon turn into a butterfly. A little offended, he looked at us and said, "I know, after it turns into a chrysallis!" Who knew they taught that stuff in K-5?

Good Deal

A friend of mine just let me know about a good deal on make-up, I just order 15 things for $15 dollars, and then used a half price code to make it total $14.45 including shipping...I am posting her post below to tell all my pals about this great deal:)

For the Girls!
To all my faithful readers who wear makeup:The company E.L.F (Eyes Lips Face) has recently been bought out by Nordstrom and they are liquidating their inventory. Everything is $1 and kits are priced at about $1 per item in the kit. We are talking makeup, bath stuff, nail stuff, brushes, gift sets, everything. If you spend $75 shipping is free.If you spend $15 and put in coupon code CAROLINA at checkout, you will recieve 50% off your entire order.I just placed an order at $16 and the shipping was $6.95 to Alaska. When I put in the half off code, my whole order including shipping was under $16. Have fun!

This Kid Loves Baseball!!

Hope this translates into millions some day;)

I agree :)

Last night at dinner, Zeke shocked us all when he broke out with, "Sometimes I just feel like a slave around here!" Trying to control our laughter and keep our composure we asked why, to which he replied, "You always make me do work and I don't get paid for it!"

I don't know why it was so funny, but through my tears of laughter I tried to explain to him how we are a family and we work and live together and we share the money daddy makes...I don't think it took though...

Getting in step with technology!!

I have posted LOTS of new pictures on my myspace page,

www.myspace.com/rosebudthomas

Check 'em out!!

Halloween 2007

For the second year in a row...we were able to go trick or treating WITHOUT snow clothes on:)

I will be playing catch-up since I know how to post pictures now...

This and That

The other night we celebrated 10 years since our first date, March 25, 1998, by going to a Predator's game...on the way we did some extra celebrating with one of Metro's finest, Kevin got himself a date with traffic school or a speeding ticket on his record and out of our pocket...our babysitter had parked behind the family car, so we jumped into Kevin's car he drives to work...it won't pass IM yet (we didn't have the failed IM certificate in the car), so it can't be registered yet...the tags are expired and Kevin hasn't changed his license over from Kentucky yet.
Also...the only proof of insurance I could find was over a year old (although we do have insurance) ...we were more than a little nervous...apparently Officer Coleman is a benevolent fellow because he let us go with warnings on all that...I have an appointment to get the car fixed now...the ironic thing is that I am typically the person who would have had all these violations unlike Kevin who thinks if you aren't 15 minutes early you are late...we had a great time at the game:)
Thank you Lord for mercy!!

Here we go!!

This is actually an old photo of Zeke, but it was so cute and relevant I thought I would break it out. When Zeke started going to the potty BY HIMSELF at 18 MONTHS I couldn't understand what the big fuss about potty training was...now I get it after Z-2 and Z-3...

Kevin's school that he works for has a pre-school, we get a significant discount, I would like to utilize this opportunity...small caveat, all children have to be potty-trained...for 3 out of 4 I am good on that requirement.

I want to potty train Zach by his 2nd birthday, May 5th, or very soon thereafter...tonight I brought home the potty chair...let him play with it...took his diaper off...he sat down about 25 times, and then in the 30 seconds that I spent with the chair upside down trying to affix the rubber non-skid pad to the bottom...he started to potty on the floor, by the time I got the chair in position he was done, I hope this in not a sign of things to come...

This could be dangerous...

Now that I know how to put pictures on I may never again clean my house...

July 2000 right before Leah Daily became Mrs. Donald Endress. Christmas 1997, we were at a tournament somewhere and hit a local mall, wish this was a little sharper picture....Santa and Mrs. Oatsvall and all the elves.
Darrin and Rachelle visiting Zeke in the hospital October 2002, prior to them having their own brood when they had lots of extra time and money:)

Memories!!

I tried to upload more, but maybe I got too many in one post...

Leah is all the way to the left and I am all the way to the right, this is in front of a glacier in Alaska the week before my wedding, this is in August 2000, there is a big iceberg right behind us, not sure if it is going to show up or not...
This is Zeb's birthday, since it is illegal to video a birth in Alaska, my pal Rachelle was stealth and got the whole thing on tape!! She was also with me through 2 days of labor, thanks Rach:)

The REAL Gwen Oatsvall ;)

Too soon...

I was going through some old pictures, found this pic of my friend Misty from college, she passed away in a car wreck soon after college. When I started thinking about her, the first things that came to my mind were that she loved Jesus, she loved her family, and she always made the people around her feel loved no matter who they were. That's how I want to be remembered.

Testing....

Only have a minute...hodge podge:)

1. God is awesome beyond comprehension, words could never adequately describe how he is working in my heart and the heart of this wonderful man he has blessed me with for life. I am seeing maturity in both of us that is almost scary:) Still just the tip of the iceberg, but God is faithful ALL THE TIME.

2. My church is incredible. If you do not feel your place of worship is an absolute HAVEN and place of TRUE worship and AUTHENTICITY, sell your house and move to Nashville, I am not even kidding, it is that worth it!!

3. I have had an epiphany in my spiritual development, I have long been preparing myself for greatness in the kingdom...the next Elizabeth George, Stormie O'Martian, or Beth Moore...(PLEASE don't laugh) but Sunday I was COVERED with peace when I internalized the statement ***I want to be God's agent in the world accomplishing HIS will HIS way.*** If it is as Joyce Meyer Jr., sobeit...if it is as a real estate agent...teacher...counselor...pre-school worker...mama...WHATEVER...I truly desire to be only what God would have me to be

4. I went to my first Nashville Predators game last night...I thought I hated hockey...but I am HOOKED! I love it!!

All for now...more to come:)

Trouble comes in two's I guess...

I didn't blog about Zach's tumble down the stairs outside, the concrete stairs, and I had really almost forgotten about it except for when I see his half tooth that had to be filed down...who knew they couldn't put a cap on a baby tooth?? Makes sense I guess...

I have had 4 children over the last almost 7 years, never have they broke a tooth, but now in less than a week Zach broke a tooth and I noticed yesterday that despite my belief that he hadn't broken a tooth, he also has a broken tooth (I think it might have cracked it and the piece didn't break off until later because I was pretty sure he hadn't broken a tooth) ! 7 years, no broken teeth, now 2 in one week!!

The same thing happened with black eyes, 7 years, no black eyes and over Christmas break 2 black eyes in one week.

Yadda, yadda, yadda...

Crazy Day!! 3 Cheers for Mayfield!!

Yesterday had big ambitions...all of which came to a screaming halt about 5 minutes after productivity commenced, I was finally dressed with all the kids dressed, fed and ready for the day...I was putting the trash out when I heard synchronized wailing from the back yard, I assumed each was to blame for the others angst, until I saw Zeb with a mouth-full of blood running down his face and shirt...he was apparently standing too close to the metal bat Zeke swung at full-force, both were extremely traumatized, took Zeb to a walk-in clinic that didn't accept our insurance and eventually ended up at the ER because they did accept our insurance.

It took 3 hours for them to say the cut was in a place that they don't stitch (the little thing on your gums above the line directly between your 2 front teeth that attaches your lip to your gum had been "lacerated" aka ripped apart) and that his teeth would be sore for a while and he needed a tetanus shot. For our 3 hours of combined waiting we were awarded with a total of 3 minutes between the dr.'s assessment and the tetanus shot. Praise the Lord he didn't need more than that.

Zeke was still extremely upset, so we all went to Chuck E Cheese to take everyone's mind off of the physical and psychological turmoil that was present...called my 4:00 hair appt to tell her I was about 10 minutes late and she informed me that she had gone home early and wouldn't be cutting my hair...thanks for letting me know...hadn't washed my hair that morning...so I had to take Zeke to baseball practice looking very pretty (still in my yardwork clothes...)

Got onto the interstate where unbeknownst to me a tractor trailer had overturned...took 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the next exit...Zeke missed his first practice...the night ended about 2 hours after bedtime with happy meals for everyone.

Chuck E Cheese and Mc Donald's in the same day...my kids thought it was the greatest ever...there goes the eating out budget for the rest of the month!!

All in all the day didn't go how I planned, but it ended well with a bowl of moose tracks:)

Self-disclosure of sorts:)

So I recently read on a great website, www.48days.com a startling statistic, only 4% of people who are job hunting find their job via the internet. This makes me feel a little better that I have been looking for a job for over 5 months now and haven't found one...I have been using the internet exclusively...wish I would have read that statistic 5 months ago!

My resume is less than impressive, and even when I get an interview few people (none so far) will be able to appreciate the skill sets that are involved in being a mother of 4 and having been a youth pastor's wife for 8 years despite the fact that I earned a Master's degree with a 3.9 GPA while also staying home with 2-4 children...(shameless plug to make myself feel better and compensate for not finding a job yet...)

I have to admit part of me is ecstatic about not finding a job, I love being at home...but when it comes time to pay bills I realize we do need a second income...I am praying God will bring me something family friendly and lucrative all in one:)

T-U You Know!!

Headed back to Chattanooga for the day Saturday, met with some old friends and toured our old stomping grounds, The Walking Bridge, Downtown Chattanooga and The Chatanooga Choo Choo, ate pizza in a train car which was the highlight of the day for the kids.

Man I miss that simple, simple time in my life!! Why did I think life was so hard?

Gettin' Out of Debt Dave Ramsey Style!

Last fall sitting in our missions conference I listened to a presentation from a missionary family to Peru. They needed people with a heart for missions to come and join their work to help with Women's Ministries and their whole work in general. I wanted to stand on a desk and say, "Here I am, send me!!" I tried to mentally stand up until I realized I was hopelessly glued to my seat by DEBT. (not really hopelessly, I have Hope)

I have long been saddled with this heavy burden...it has felt so impossible to ever be
debt-free...my fabulous friend Leah got me hooked on Dave Ramsey and yesterday we invested a nice little sum of our tax return and went to Dave Ramsey's HQ in Brentwood, TN for financial advisement, and it was worth every last penny!

So now I see some light at the end of the tunnel, it is still a VERY long tunnel though, but I have commited myself to God that I am going to follow the guidelines set in place yesterday in the hopes that we will be able to get out of debt and someday go to the mission field, or adopt internationally, or make a lot of money and help a lot of other people do those things.

I have started selling a ton of stuff on Craig's List to pay off smaller debts...I have already made $240 on things that were just sitting around my house!!

Stay tuned for more updates:)

The Creditors

Wednesday night someone called and offered us 2 tickets to go see a Nashville Predators game. I am not a hockey fan, but I will always try a pro sporting event at least once.

Well, Zanna got sick, so I didn't want to leave her with a sitter, and Zeke had to be up for school the next day, Zach at hockey game would put somebody in the psych ward, so by process of elimination Zeb ended up going with Kevin.

Zeb thoroughly enjoyed the experience, particularly memorable to him is the "video" on the jumbotron which apparently shows the mascot devouring a few opposing players.

On the way out to the car, Zeb looked around in the dark parking lot, and said, "I hope no creditors jump out and eat us."

Valentine's Extravaganza

A few weeks ago I casually asked Zeke if he wanted to buy or make Valentine cards for his class. He said he wanted to make them, I figured he would want to buy them. This week has been crazy, so finally at 8 pm last night we sat down with construction paper, glue, scissors and most importantly to Zeke, glitter; because in his words, "Glitter just makes everything nicer." Who knew??
We figured out what he wanted to do and got started, he tired out after cutting out the 2nd heart, so I finished cutting, gluing, and *GLITTERING* 17 little cards...it looked like a glitter factory exploded on my kitchen table...I am anticipating a clause next year in Zeb's Valentine letter, "Parents, please, no glitter!"
I learned a lesson, next year we can make cards for family, but for the class we will be buying!!

An epiphany...

In a recent...ahem...disagreement with my husband, in an instance where he had (in my opinion) been insensitive (kind of like a buffalo) I was very angry, and hurt. Obviously I am not anymore or I wouldn't be blogging about it.

I was doing the dishes, and I was praying that God would help me know how to handle this situation. My train of thought was how exactly can I approach (manipulate/control) this situation and get the most emotional bang for my buck (or the most sorrow on my husband's part in wronging me) not in a vengeful way, but I had been wronged and it needed to be made right, and he needed to understand my delicate nature and how he had offended his bride. I waited for an answer and heard nothing.

I thought about the story about the beggar woman finally achieving her goal from the ruler because of her persistance, and how the Bible says if you lack wisdom or understanding just ask. So I put on my best 4 year-old impression and told God that his Word said to ask, so I am asking; and I just started asking, "What should I do?" over and over in my head...thankfully I was alone because I probably looked like a crazy woman.

God in his infinite love and mercy overlooked my self-centered immaturity and whispered to me I Corinthians 13. (Not audibly...but I heard him) This was NOT what I was looking for, so I stopped asking. I would like to say I obeyed immediately...but I don't want to get in trouble for lying...so this morning I read it, this is howthe Message Bible put it.

I Corinthians 13:4-7 (Parentheses mine)
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," (ouch) doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, (Oh me!) takes plesure in the floweing of truth, PUTS UP WITH ANYTHING (Even having my feelings hurt?? How can this be??) trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

Save me from myself, Lord!!

Here's to another month of not being pregnant!!

I'm just really excited about not being pregnant and I thought I would share.

More lip from Zanna...

Zanna to Zeb, "Mommy's a meanie bo beanie." (Because she is not allowed to go out to play until she cleans up her current excursion which happens to be the art box.)

Zeb in stern reply, "No she's not. She follows the law. The law that says you can't go outside until you do your job."

At least I am getting through to somebody.

Embarrasing things...

Zanna has recently screamed while standing and pointing in restaurants.

"Mommy, they're chewing with their mouths open!" Referring to a woman and her daughter sitting across from us, who were indeed chewing with their mouths open.

"Mommy, he got ice-cream without permission!" Referring to the 50 year-old man sitting at the table next to us.

"Mommy, his shirt in on backwards!" Referring to a man, whose shirt was not on backwards.

Save me from myself!!

The other night we had a re-enrollment meeting for Zeke and Zeb going to school next year. It was pretty late when we got done, so we stopped for a quick bite at Steak N Shake. I locked the car door, put the key in my pocket, and went inside.
When we left, Kevin went out first and started my car and buckled Zach in. I sat down in the driver's seat, took Kevin's keys out and reached for mine in my pocket...it wasn't there. Now we are not talking about a key you can just copy at Wal-Mart. It was the kind that is one huge single key with lock, unlock, approach and alarm buttons on it. It is VERY expensive. Remembering I had taken my jacket off in kind of a wierd position I realized it must have fallen out of the pocket, so I ran back in certain I would see it on the floor before I got to the table. I didn't see it, and the fact that the floor of Steak N Shake is covered in little black squares about the size of my key didn't make my search any easier! I looked in the cracks of the booth, all over the floor underneath and when the waitress came back I asked her if she had seen it, which she hadn't. She offered to go look through what she had cleared off to double check for it.
While she was gone, I went back and emptied my purse out thinking maybe I had stuck it in there, retraced my steps about 100 times, and went back in.
The manager suggested I call someone for an extra key, I not very graciously told him I wanted my key because it was very expensive...he didn't seem very interested in helping look too much...and I immediately became suspicious (either he was very lazy OR he knew we weren't going to find it )...I remembered he had also walked outside retracing my steps, and unfortunately irrationality took over and I concocted in my head that he had indeed seen my key, picked it up and then gone out and written down my license tag so that he could later steal my car...fairly certain of my hypothesis I debated on confronting him (THANK YOU LORD for inhibition) after a final sweep of the restaurant which did include me prostrating myself on the floor and rubbing my hand under the booth several times with my rear up in the air...I ended the 45 minute search by leaving my number in case it was found.
On the way home I was so angry, not so much about not having my key but about the poor moral quality of the Steak N Shake manager...the Holy Spirit began to deal in my heart...and I finally came to the point where I could say maybe God is going to use this someway, but no matter what my being angry about being taken advantage of wasn't going to hurt anyone but me, the poor man was probably just glad I was gone!!
It occured to me the next morning that I didn't check the seat where I sat down in the car...maybe it was the Holy Spirit reminding me of how pathetic I am when I 'get in the flesh' which I had in BIG way...but it took about 3 seconds to find it under my car seat.
The moral of the story is I'm nuts, and I thank Jesus for loving me anyway.

A prisoner in my own home...

Yesterday I had MIRACULOUSLY gotten all 3 kids down and sleeping at the same time. I thought I deserved a little nap too, Zanna had been up at 3 am going potty and as dramatic as she is in the light of day, she takes it to a whole new level in the middle of the night. I am usually not at my finest then either...so it makes for a testy exchange...anyhoo...
I was just going to kick back in the recliner with a blanket for a little bit, and out of the corner of my eye I saw something moving on the floor. Reassuring myself that I was seeing things, I had just about talked myself out of what I saw until like he had read my mind and wanted to make sure his presence did not go unnoticed the unwelcome visitor made another lap around my entertainment system. It was a little black mouse!!
As I debated whether or not I should call Kevin's school and tell him to come home for an emergency, I was eventually able to calm myself down until the brazen menace made another lap around the entertainment center and then made a beeline for my chair. I screamed and stomped my feet up and down on the foot rest hoping to scare him back behind the tv, but it was like he had already decided there was no turning back. I felt safe in my chair until I pictured him climbing up the interworkings of the chair and coming out the seat, so I jumped up on top of the chair, ran across furniture until I got to the kitchen, propped the door wide open and got my broom determined to defend my family AT ALL COSTS!! (It was like 30 degrees outside)
With my broom I climbed back across the furniture and started beating on the chair hoping to scare him out of his hiding spot and out the door...he didn't budge. I thought maybe he had gone to one of the other couches or baskets I have around the coffee table and end tables...no luck. I started dragging shoes across the floor with my broom to throw at various places around the room hoping to flush him out of hiding...but he was just too good for me. I finally gave up, although I stayed out of that room for the rest of the day and warned the children to do the same.
This of course brought an onslaught of questions about the fatality of a mouse bite and what kind of germs they carried on their little claws...I realized my paranoia was frightening them so I played it down despite my desire to completely freak out until the beast was brought to justice...
Long story not as long as it could be, we set a trap, apparently he isn't a fan of organic almond butter which Kevin accidentally used instead of peanut butter, and I dreamed about mice all night long, in my dream we caught the black one but there were about 4 more to take his place and they were all mocking me...I never had a mouse in my house until I moved to the South!! Alaska here I come I have had it! The bad grammar and ignorance I can handle, but the rodents, I cannot!!

Random Ramblings

Original title, I know...I have a dear sweet friend who is on my case to update, but there isn't much exciting going on in my life.

My sweet husband surprised me with peanut m&m's last night:)

On the way home last night Zanna asked, "Mommy what's a zavior (savior)?" To which I replied, "A savior saves us from something just like Jesus saves us from our sins."
She thought for a second and then came back with, "Yeah, Jesus saves us from our sin, and bad guys and bears and wolves and monsters and gooses and if you are stuck in a wall!"
I would say that about sums it up.

My house is clean which is a great feeling.

God has been so faithful to me and my family. I am so blessed to have found such a fabulous church.

Last week I thought we were going to maybe have a snow day, didn't happen. Then I really thought we were going to have a snow day yesterday...didn't happen. I checked this morning thinking it will probably happen on the day I don't expect it, and I got really excited because there were school closings...but not us. But, since I do have plans to go to lunch tomorrow, if I were a betting woman I would put my money on a snow day;)

Interviewing 101

Here I am, 30 years old, looking to begin a career, not really wanting to just yet, but it seems to be about that time, I have a master's degree but no experience, so I am in the catch 22 of over qualified for some jobs and underexperienced for all the rest, I finally got an interview with a company that would have been a FABULOUS opportunity and I learned so much I thought I would share. Key word there is would, they are going to pursue other candidates.

1. If you leave an interview feeling like it was more like a therapy session, that is not a good sign. The less you talk, the better.

2. Figure out what in the world muti-tasking is other than cooking dinner, cleaning the kitchen and doing some laundry at the same time. Also better not include the term multi-tasker in your resume profile and then say that you prefer to work uninterrupted.

3. When they ask you questions, such as are you an introvert or an extrovert, are you a servant or a leader, etc. etc., don't answer both to all questions.

4. Don't tell them that you frequently end up working with a sense of urgency due to poor planning and time management even if it's true. Spin it a little bit with something positive.

5. Don't completely freak out and feel like a huge loser because all 3 people that are interviewing you are SIGNIFICANTLY younger than you are (and apparently all drank a red bull immediately before the interview.)

6. Drink a red bull immediately before the interview.

7. If everyone else at the table is taking notes, that may be a clue that you should be writing something down too.

8. When asked where you see yourself in 5 years, do not answer, "Wherever God wants me to be." EVEN IF IT IS A CHRISTIAN COMPANY.

9. If your potential boss has written a book, READ IT.

Well, this certainly has been cathartic, finding a job would be more cathartic, I really did learn a lot on that interview, I wish it hadn't been my first one. I will probably reapply in a different department of the company if anything comes open...in the meantime I will be reading a book and developing an affinity for red bull.

For Leah

I can't remember if I have apologized for all the horrible things I did to you in college, but rest assured I am getting what is coming to me now. I remember how I used to set my alarm for an hour before I had to get up...and how you hated it for all 3 years that we lived together...well I am going on 8 years of marriage, and that is the cross I must bear...I guess you really do reap what you sow...

I wonder, has Buddy ever hit you in the face with a mirror?