Holly

Whew

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 18:02:36 GMT

I start posting and do a good job of it and then disappear again. I can't seem but get totally caught up in life and unpacking (yes, STILL) and kindergarten and errands and work (just signed a new client, so I am up to 3 now!) and everything. I feel like I am constantly busy but don't always get much accomplished, if that makes sense.

Regardless, I am going to try to post more even if that means short, little posts and not long, thoughtful ramblings.

Hold me to it.

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Moving

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 18:54:49 GMT

Have any of you ever used PODS (or something similar) to move?

I don't think we can afford an official moving company where they come and do everything but something like PODS where they drop off the containers, you fill them, and then they pick them up and haul them seems more affordable or more our speed. Otherwise, we're likely doing everything ourselves and that sounds so, so, so stressful. We've done it a few times but never with kids. The kids add a whole new element. Plus, we're going much further this time and I can't ride for any longer than an hour, so I'm like the worst person to have on trips like that, particularly if you have to make multiple trips. The kids and I will make the trip once and whatever else has to happen... well, we'll figure it out.

We've been looking at houses online. We have to get the official offer from the job and then I guess we can apply for a mortgage. I am kind of nervous to be buying a house again. It's the best bet looking at mortgage costs vs. rent and we do plan on staying indefinitely but... after everything that happened in Carlisle... I am so scarred.

But so far things have been going well and all lights are green and things seem to be happening in our favor, so I am going to just roll with it!

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I think this might actually work out...

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 02:17:34 GMT

So... they offered Andy the job! In Scranton. Where we have been trying to get to for... years. And he finally got a job offer. It's almost unbelievable.

He got the soft offer the Monday after the interview. He had another interview for the state (so could potentially get contacted by other state agencies at any time) and then a meeting with the Dept. of Labor and Industry chief counsel, at which point they essentially made the hard offer. He doesn't have anything in writing yet but the chief counsel was talking about when Andy would start and wanting to send him to a conference, so... they're pretty much planning on him it seems like!

It's going to be a pay cut. A pretty significant one. And by that I mean, huge. But the cost of living will be lower and even though things will probably be pretty tight, we think it's going to be worth it. Worth it to get back to PA. Worth it to be back to a more rural area. Worth it to be closer to family. In a better school district.

The insurance is... complicated. Much like this interview process has been. But he'd start with 14 days vacation, which is better than we thought at first, and he's going to negotiate to see if he can get a better salary or a review for salary increase after a few months. Basically just to see if we can make the deal better for us since we're losing salary AND needing to relocate.

We're thinking we'd like to buy a house. That would probably be best for us financially when looking at house prices vs. renting but we'll have to see how all of that plays out.

But... yeah... looks like we should start packing!

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House Stuff

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 23:41:46 GMT

Landlord came by today and can you all guess what he fixed, kiddies? That's right... nothing. I mean, he made minor attempts but nothing is done, except that he took all of the glass hangy dealies off the chandelier in the living room. Who puts a chandelier in the living room anyway? I guess he's going to come back at some point and put in a new ceiling fixture and hope that fixes the problem.

As for the microwave, which is of the over-the-stove variety, he does not want to replace that. He's planning on taking it out and putting in a hood vent. Now, obviously landlords aren't obligated to provide a microwave, so there isn't much we can do about that and we do have a microwave stored in the basement from when we moved in. Thank goodness for that. However, we have almost zero counter space in the kitchen and slamming a microwave up there is going to make food preparation fucking ridiculous.

He also let us know that he wants to sell the house... He said probably next year. (I don't know why not this year.) He was trying to sell it before we moved in and settled on renting it because he wasn't able to get out of it what he wanted. Maybe it will work out for him this time? I don't know. I know I wouldn't buy this house. But that's just me.

But that's not our problem and hopefully we'll be moving soon! We're operating off of that hope and are going to be planning to move. I don't know when it will happen but we're going to start packing up the non-necessary items now and donating those things that we don't love enough to move. We figure it's best to be prepared and work towards that goal!

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Things that are currently broken at our house:

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 23:46:48 GMT

- the ceiling light in the living room
- the microwave
- the water dispenser in the door of the fridge
- the ice maker in the freezer

Oh, and there is still a hole in the basement wall from when the basement flooded 2+ years ago and caused mold in the wall.

Our landlord is coming over tomorrow at noon. We'll see what he fixes. I'm going to guess... not much.

So annoying but we're month to month here now, so we're just riding it out until we're able to make a move. Not sure when that will be but we don't want to move multiple times or get caught up in another lease. Definitely not feeling the love for this house though.

Today I shampooed the steps down into the basement (Why, oh why are they carpeted when the basement is tiled and the area in front of the basement door is hardwood?) They were looking terrible because Benny loves to barf on the stairs. He's the sweetest. It was a pain to do but they look a ton better. Not perfect but way, way better.

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Exfoliate Me

Sun, 16 Apr 2017 01:48:50 GMT

When we went away on our weekend getaway, the lady that did my facial recommended that I exfoliate more to help even out my skin tone/get rid of spots left my acne. I came home and ordered a scrub off Amazon. I'm not loving it. It's great on the body (my bum feels lovely - ha!) but it's way to aggressive for the face.

Who has an exfoliating facial scrub that they love? Do share!

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ERMAGERD

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 13:38:37 GMT

It's interview day!

I am so stinking nervous! I think the likelihood that he gets an offer is pretty high but I am nervous about what they might offer him salary-wise. Please let it be enough!

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Hello DW, I guess.

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 18:44:58 GMT

So, I'm here now. Where ever here is. I have no idea how DW works or what I am doing but I'll figure it out.

Last week we combined the kids' rooms. We moved Toby's crib, dresser, and glder into Emma's room and moved all the toys and books into Toby's room, which is now the playroom. In general, I am loving the change. The kids share a room much better than I ever expected (we found this out at Christmas time). Sometimes they get into shenanigans (limited because Toby is still in a crib) but for the most part the go to sleep nicely and sleep really well. And it has made bedtime so much easier! Bedtime is pretty enjoyable now and Andy and I take turns doing it. The playroom has come together fairly well. I moved Emme's big bookshelf into there, along with the play kitchen, small bookshelf, hamper full of dress up stuff, and the toy shelf from downstairs. My living room is no longer toy haven! I love that most of all. There is still a queen bed in the playroom and we're going to eventually get that out of there but when depends on a couple things, mainly the results of Andy's interview tomorrow!

Andy has an interview tomorrow in PA! So, that stupid captka interview for the State of Pennsylvania actually paid off! One of the people at the interview was with the Board of Labor and Industry. She is bypassing the second interview and called Andy to offer him an interview for the a position Board of Labor and Industry in Scranton! We are very hopeful for this interview. Obviously, they must like him a good deal to have him bypass that second interview (which he could still get a call for, regarding other PA positions), so that's good. Scranton is one of the places we have really been trying to get to because of it's proximity to family and friends. We're trying not to get our hopes up to much because we don't know what will happen but this is the opportunity that we have been waiting for. Please cross your fingers and pray for us that this works out, that he get s a job offer, and that it's a decent, livavle wage that we can work with. I am so nervous for him and for us!

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