I may be back

Okay so apparently it's not okay to not write on your blog for four months... but it's not like I have anything else going on in my life really... so here I am. I'm back. Back in action.... for today.



Few updates... Life in Eugene is good...no I'm gonna say it's great...na... I love it! Too many things to narrow down really. Lets start with my job. I am doing intake now. Pretty entertaining on some days, tear wrenching on others and overall still feel like I love what I do. I got mobbed by a swarm of bees the other day... they were big bees- nosey bees. Some Creswell residence who had nothing better to do than to swarm out of their apartments to see what the CSD worker was doing banging on the door across the way. All of them waiting, just waiting for me to turn around and ask them..." Do you know what has been going on over here?"... oh they wanted to get involved so bad. I loved just standing there and letting them sit in their anxiety of desire to be a part of the action as the mother would not answer the door. Just sayin' there are your tax dollars hard at work.



And this girl I work with Amanda. Everyone calls her Mandy. I think she likes to be called Mandy but on her name plate it says Amanda. On her e-mail is says Amanda... on her facebook it's Mandy... I just don't know what do to each day... how do I address her- now that is stressful
(Amanda, I really just wanted to give you a post spot on my blog cause it's really hard to get a spot on my page...:))

My jumbled thoughts this week...

I love my niece- she cracks me up. today when I told her that Ashton lives with us she says..."Oh cause he didn't have a home?" So funny, as if I am just picking up lost kids off the streets and bringing them in.

I have poison oak. I hate it even more on my face. The left side of my face looks like I am a frusterated teenager with horrible acne- the the right side looks pretty normal... I like playing... camera one, camera two while turning my head in the mirror. It is groose!

I can't decide if I should run the 1/2 marathon or the full in a week. My inner competativeness says no way in hell I am running the 1/2, but my body is saying... "be careful, don't hurt me"...

I think I am a dorky mom cause I got one of those wagon things to pull behind my bike so we can all go on bike rides... It's kind of a Eugene thing I think.

We really want to buy a boat.

Only 12 more days until we leave for St. Croix. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I don't like watching professional basketball. College hoops are SO much better. These guys are lazy

Why do we have this bran new fridge and it doesn't have an icemaker? Bugs.

I miss my friends in Salem. Wish just one would move to Eugene. I know someone else would love it here! It's great!!!

I am the luckiest woman in the world. Chris Rice is the most amazing man. He makes me so happy!!!

I love talking about wall ball with Paityn. Yesterday I taught her what a "baby" and a "skimmy" was... she told me the other day after school, "mom, I was the king of wall ball today, no one could beat me" :)

Why do I like watching 16 and pregnant? Why is that entertainment? yuck.

week two

Simply put, I love it here! Week two under my belt. One full week of the new work, daycare etc. routine... and yes, I love it. Why one must ask... let me elaborate.

One may say, well of course you love it, you live in a lime green house on a street full of "normal" colored houses... we are that house that you drive by and say to who ever is sitting in the front..."why on EARTH would someone paint their house that color"... sometimes I want to post a big sign in the yard and say, "we didn't pick this color, our landlord did"... hummmm, that may be a good idea I have going... But anyways, it's not the color of the house that grows my love for being in Eugene now...

So many things. this place is like a runners paradise. If only I had more time to go out and explore the running possibilites... I know that someday I will get to. People running all over the place. Paths taking you from here to there, this town just makes me want to get on my running shoes and go... now if only it would stop raining for one day- that'd be nice.

I love work. The people are great and it feels so much more relaxed than in Salem. I feel like I get to do the things that I love...interacting with people and doing social work. Now of course there are many of the same paperwork demands and non stop policy crud to cover us... but the feel of this branch is just so much more laid back. Have lots to learn, but each morning when I am driving to work I get excited for the newness of what is ahead.

I love being with Chris. Being here has made our relationship feel so much more real. More normal instead of visits here, heading back home, driving back and forth and the dreaded..."when do I get to see you next question"... I love coming home to him every day. He has been encouraging me to be a better mom each day. And I get so excited for the days when we get to have five kids in our home rather than four... I know, sounds crazy, but having Ashton is double the blessing. It is fun to watch him interact with the kids and I love that they ask each day on the way home "Does Ashton get to be with us tonight"... oh, and Nolan plays cars, trains, basketball and BOY THINGS with him!!! :) Love it.

Overall, I feel like each day is a breath of fresh air. It is kind of nice not knowing anyone on some days. I would like to make a few friends, but I am sure that will come. After 30 years in the same place I really just wake up and feel like the world is ahead of me for that day.

And I have my first visitor tomorrow.... I can't wait :)

There are just a few of the nuggets into these last two weeks here in Eugene. I am a happy woman!!!!

headed back home

So I realized that the real reason that I moved from Salem is because Java Crew never put my name up for a free coffee... all I ever wanted to see what "Free Drink for any Brandyn"....
what a bummer :)

After my first week here in Eugene we headed back to Salem for Easter. As we drove back I found myself being really excited to get back in Eugene. I am excited to go back to work tomorrow and just excited to be here...

The first week was pretty great. This town feels so comfortable to me, if only I could have few friends here. That's all that's missing... guess that will come in time.

Wendy's

So today I am sitting in Wendy's... enjoying a nice meal with a wonderful 12 year old on my caseload... and as we are eating our fries, I peer across the restaurant and observe some of the fine people also enjoying their lunch at the Wendy's on Lancaster Drive in Salem.

The first couple that catches my eye is an older, clearly retired couple sitting at the table to my right. They are obviously done with their meal, with their table cleared and just their soda cups left, they are sitting sideways in their chairs, people watching. The man turns to his wife, with a very disgusted look on his face "Do they have the heat on in here?" He asks her. "They must," she says very angerly back at him. They both spend the next two minutes in utter frusteration talking back and forth at how the just could not believe that the restaurant would have their heat on at this time of day... I chuckled inside and thought to myself- Really, if you are hot and done eating... I have an idea... leave. But no, they remain there, getting more and more upset, adjusting the collars of their shirts, rolling their eyes and looking around as if they would be able to see a heater and turn it off or something... Really it wasn't that hot in the Wendys in my opinion... I didn't tell them that.

Next a lady to my left, just across from the "hot couple". Sits down and is about to get down on her yummy meal. She opens up the silver wrapper of her sandwich and takes a big bite. She could hardly wait to taste that fish through her mouth... but then, she stops mid bite and gets a very angered look on her face. She looks at the sandwich, examines it inside and out- then marches back up to the counter. (at this time the "hot couple" notice that something is wrong with her meal and they begin to inquire to one another about what's wrong with her sandwich)...
The lady comes back and sits down, clearly very upset. The "hot couple" says to her... what happened with your sandwich? The lady responds "I ordered a fish sandwich and this is a chicken sandwich". "WHAT" the "hot couple" say in disbelief. "That is not right, they need to correct that and give you the right sandwich". .. The three of them go back and forth, griping and complaining about how horrible that is, how they just can't believe this place and how this is so unacceptable...

As I continued to listen to these three get themselves more and more worked up it took all that was in me to not turn to them and say "Don't choose Wendys and you may be happier"

My chicken sandwich was great, my fries were just right. Could have used a refill on my coke, I wasn't too hot and my little pal loved every minute of his double bacon burger and oreo milkshake... To me, it was a good day at Wendys.. but not for everyone..

make me run

Just renamed my blog

Looking for something that kind of defines me a bit... here's where I come from with it...

Make me... I tend to be someone who struggles in following rules- not all rules, just some (gosh I hope Chad isn't reading this and see's that I am admitting that)... :)

If you look at my driving record, you may notice my problem following the rules of the road. If you have ever been in my car with me, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

And run... I think about when I used to play basketball. I hated to run. I would gripe and whine ( I know out of character right) each time we had to do any extended running or conditioning.

Now, I voluntarily run miles a day. And love it. No one's making me, I could sleep in an extra hour or so each day- but I don't, my body get's up and the treadmill switches on...
There are some days I have to "make" myself do it but for the most part- my routine owns my days and has created somewhat of a robot in me....

The venture

Each day I have a different thought. I'm excited, sad, nervous...

A fresh start
Clean slate

Lots of change at once

Excitement to start a life with a wonderful and amazing man

Nervous about not knowing anyone
Looking forward to not knowing anyone

Sad to not have my parents right up the hill

Excited to take such a big step

Excited to establish my family in a new place
Excited about the school the kids will go to



This is my last four days here in salem. Same job for the last 8 years. Same town for the last 30. Drive the same route to work, get the same latte, generally eat the same lunch... my days are pretty much routine--- and in four days it all changes.

Most of my house is boxed up... This week I wrap things up and off we go...

I will continue to update my blog with all that this new venture holds

Watch out Eugene, here come the Millers! :)

Can't believe I'm doing it. Can't wait.

10,950

I have only 15 more days as a Salemite... Wow. After 10,950 days of living in the same place, I'm beginning to wonder what life will be like outside of these wall. I thought I would take some time and reflect on the things that I have loved most about this town I call home... hum... maybe I'll share some dislikes too while I am at it.
First of all, why did Salem EVER get rid of Cindy's Cinnamon Rolls? I mean really. It was the perfect meeting place at the Salem Center Mall for your parents to pick you up. They would make these gigantic sugary cinnamon rolls that were always warm as they hit your mouth... then, one day they just went out of buisness, leaving your only option for that sweetness like that to Cinnabon.... which by the way was my employer for about two months. You know it! I was a cinnamon roll expert-
Lets just go through and share a couple of the places I was employed here in Salem while I'm on this thought. My first job: Roths IGA. I really only worked there because Sarah Mills worked there and Liz Hannan worked up in the video department. When they hired me... I was a courtesy clerk. I had to go to a bagging class for a whole day. Well, six hours of learning the proper way to put canned foods and fruit into a brown bag... Really- ah well, I learned some great skills- that I used for a month. Thats how long I lasted there- a month. There were other things I wanted to do, like go to a dance when I was scheduled to work.... see ya later Orvile I said... and never looked back.

One more place of employment for me... Tony Romas. Unfortunatley this was even in my later years in Salem. I believe I was even like 22 when I worked there. I started working there with the hopes that they would let me be a server. Pam( she was the manager) promised me that I would be a server in no time! That the tips would be flowing and life in Rib-land would be wonderful. I spent another day in a training getting my liqour licence even.... and never made it a step above the delivery driver. I drove that little hatchback all over town- delivering ribs and getting one dollar tips.... So this madness lasted about three months until I wanted to go to a wedding and they wouldn't let me have it off... so I called Pam on the phone and told her that I couldn't make it into work... and that I was quitting... And that was the end of my delivery driving days...


So, there is a bit about my life in Salem over the 10950 days... we'll see what I can think of tomorrow... :)

Cadberry Crack and talking Hispanic

So Cadberry makes these milk chocolate easter eggs, they come in the pretty purple bag. Beware... they are like crack. Not that I really know from experience with crack, but I have seen a lot of people who are addicted to crack, so that's where I make my comparison. These devilish little candies will take you over. Once you eat one, you truly can't stop. And you can't just get them anywhere. Safeway feels like they don't need to provide such goodness to West Salem and Roths feels like they need to have little minature bags with five eggs in them... But Walgreens, now there is a hook up. And Fred Meyers.... this you know!!! Today I provided my friend with a special delivery of crack. She was working, hard of course... measuring cervic's, helping babies crown, and listening to the women around Salem scream while they give birth... so I thought, she really could use some crack to get her through her day. So, in transition from one meeting to the next, I swung buy, sent a text(yes while driving ) and said, "meet me at the mother baby turn around in 5 minutes".... We did a quick transition, it was smooth and harmless... and her day then was complete with her own bag of the wonderful cadberry crack.... I am thinking about them now, as I am tucked into my bed and my mouth is watering...





One other thing, today I am waiting for a meeting in the lobby of an AFS office and a woman walks in and starts talking Spanish to the woman at the front desk. I was sitting next to a woman there in the lobby, who had been trying to make small talk with me, asking me questions about my kids and volunteering TMI about her kids and grandkids... And as the two women continued to talk in front of us in Spanish she turns to me and says... "Man, don't you wish you spoke Hispanic? I really wish I spoke Hispanic.".... I smiled, knodded and agreed...

Got offered a position in Lane County today...

Looks like things are coming together...

More details to come...

My mind is at its end for today...

" The best is yet to come"

Last winter I was in church and left with the phrase "The best is yet to come" imprinted on my heart. That has become the "modo" of my life. It's been a motivation, encouragement and exciting thing to think about...

Chris Rice has been proof that that statement is coming true. He is the whole deal. A man with a heart of gold. The way he looks at me, when it's just the two of us, or when we're singing "party in the USA" with the kids- it's priceless. I am being treated the way that I have always wanted to be treated. He is fun, makes me laugh and makes my heart deeply happy. Today when Paityn asks "are we gonna see Chris today", I responded "yes", and she belts out a loud "Yessssssss".... my heart jumps even more. He is a great father and watching him love on his son is such a blessing. He is a leader and takes initiative, he can crack down and have a good time, yet pound out a tough conversation just as quick. He respects me and builds me up each time I talk with him or spend time with him...

So tonight, I go to bed thinking, "yes God, the best is yet to come... and the best has come..."

Roller Skates or a Horse

Tonight Paityn had the best comment
"Mom, you know, if you'll just get me a pair of roller skates, then I don't think I'll want a horse"

I'll take the roller skates I told her!

Today was a long day. Worked all day then went to Eugene to check out a day care and a house...
Thinking we may go for the house.... not sure about the day care... a bit too dog smelling for me, nice lady, good price- but not going to sacrifice a thing for the kids. So on to try to find another. The house- in the neighborhood with a great school, great quiet neighborhood(until we move in of course)... great yard and all newly remodeled. It will be a bit different going from my ginormous place here where space is overflowing- but it will be good for us to downsize, get rid of the unneeded toys and start a fresh- we'll see.

now the job- gotta pay for those roller skates :)

Move and TCBY

So, I don't really know who will read this here blog... but I guess I'll pretend that lots of people are super interested in what I am up to and want to know what's up in my life...

The move...
For 30 years I have lived in Salem Oregon. I was born here, raised here- rocked Myers,Chapman,Walker, South,Chemeketa and WB... I've lived in West, South, Central and North Salem.... then ended up back here in West. I do like to think of the different places I've lived here in Salem... Gilmore,Ptarmigan,Glen Creek,Hood Street, back to Glen Creek,Stanley Lane, Court Street,back to Glen Creek, Park Ave, Gil Street,Clarmount and now 1220. Wow... that's a haul around the town....

So now, after all this time I find myself looking at places in Eugene... learning words like Gilham, Ferry Street and Beltine are becoming more and more familar to me.
I had an interview last Friday. One of those rad group interviews. 15 people, in a room trying to proove that they are the best fit for the position. Kind of humorous in many ways... one lady who was a drivers ed teacher did all she could to make her drivers ed. title seem more like a classroom teacher profession... I caught her when I asked more questions about what she taught and such... I think she was embarrased... anyways. I hopefully will get called back for another interview in a week or so and know more of what/when and where things will go next.

You know, the best thing about Eugene....There is a TCBY there still. Yeah, it's a bit out of the way from anything... but completley worth the drive. Why did those all go out of business in Salem anyways? Dumb.

I thought it would be fun to update this here blog about my process in moving to Eugene. For now. It's 8:32pm and I am beat---I'm going to bed...we'll see what tomorrow brings.

I've become a blogger

Well, here goes nothing. I've always wanted to enter into the world of blogging... and today, I sit inside on this sunny afternoon and went for it...
I thought this would be a fun way to keep people updated on what's happening in my life and the life of my four little loves...

I don't know the rules of blogging... are there rules? Are there certain things that you can and can't say? I think that its every man for himself... So I'll go with those rules. :) We'll see how this goes