We're Coming to O'Neill for a Visit!

I talked to Deb this morning and agreed to plan a quick trip to O'Neill to help celebrate Uncle Butch's birthday and Father's Day. Dave and I have been talking for quite awhile about coming back for a visit but just haven't been able to get it together. So this will be fun. We'll only be able to make it a short weekend trip, probably Friday through Monday (June 13th to the 16th). June is a very busy time for Dave's business so we won't be able to extend it further. We'll firm it up with everyone later.

Deb gave us some exciting news a few days ago. She and Ken are moving to Salt Lake City for a new job. She's quite excited but I'm kind of bummed. I really don't want her to go but it's a great opportunity for her. I'm sure she'll post about it soon.

Can't wait to see you all in O'Neill!

Looking forward

After just looking back at my last post, I realize I last wrote about Wyoming in August, so it's been even longer than I thought!

As you know, last week I graduated from SCC with my Associates in Business Administration. That was very exciting and was glad that everyone (Mom, Dad, G-ma, G-pa, Eric, Eric's Mom, and brother Joe) was able to come. I got a beautiful necklace from Mom and Dad and $100 from G-ma and G-pa. I still have yet to figure out where that will go. =)
I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do next and I'm pretty sure I will go back to school to get my Bachelor's degree. Now this proposes another question of what it will be in! I have also been thinking a lot about this and believe  I will pursue an English degree. (*insert Mom smiling*) I've always enjoyed writing, rhetoric, grammar, and reading, so I figure there are many different avenues that this degree could support if I wanted to go in a direction that would allow me to write. Even if I didn't do that, I would have that to back me up in business as well because we all know communication and writing are integral to a business.

This leads me to my next piece of news: my job. Last fall, I was contemplating getting another job because I needed to work 200 hours for my last class in order to graduate. I wasn't willing to put off graduation any longer, so I decided to start looking for a job earlier than I had anticipated. I wasn't exactly excited to be at the data entry job anymore - more motivation for me to look for a new one. I applied for maybe five or six jobs because I was being picky, trying to find something I liked yet got compensated somewhat well. That is extremely hard to find without a degree.

I answered an ad for something that was relatively general about what they wanted.  It was everything I liked and wanted to do, so what the heck. I got a call two days after I mailed my resume for an interview. It turned out to be a Federal Savings and Loan. However at the time of hire I found out they were purchased by Mutual of Omaha Bank in 2007. The actual date of purchase was just a couple of weeks after I got hired so they were able to give me a higher rate of pay than they originally were going to.

I had to turn them down twice before I finally got a call asking how much I needed. I was so
upset when I found out I wasn't able to afford it, but it seemed like it was meant to be after they called back offering me the job at what I needed. And ever since, I still feel the same way, so I am excited for conversion this July. We will be installing all new software and offering a full line of products, just like a commercial bank. I'm most anticipating how that will go because I will be learning all of this with everyone else even though they have been there for years beyond me. Besides enjoying working with customers again, I feel I'm in the right place because learning/thinking about money, home mortgages, and savings is preparing me for not only my life, but also the near future. I haven't had the best track record with my money, so it's kind of ironic that I work in a bank and like it.

I think I covered everything...I'll have to come back and read this later because I've revised it so many times, I'd rather not turn back now. =) Hope everyone is doing well!

Congratulations Annie!

Well done Annie. I'm always pleased to hear about anyone finally earning their degree. I know how hard it is especially working and juggling other committments. I hope it will open new doors for you.

Give us some details soon.

Steve

Blogworthy News!

Hi all!
I kept thinking I was going to keep you all posted as things were happening, but didn't do a very good job. Should be easier now that we have the internet at home, so here goes...

I am writing from the easy chair in our new apartment, two bedroom, one bath, garden level, in an old elementary school building (we liked the building reuse thing), surrounded by shadeless lamps, empty shelves, living room, bedroom and patio furniture, a coat tree, a deep freeze and countless boxes. One bedroom isn't much better and the other is pretty much impenetrable. But we are here. We wouldn't have made it without Mom and Dad, their basement, their Explorer (and their taking us out for pizza while all this was going on), Annie and Eric, who came every weekend in February and then some, and the neighbor down the road who helped out with his tractor and trailer (and is also storing the stuff that didn't fit in the storage garage). We started out slow and organized and ended up the last week (closed on the sale of the acreage a week ago this morning) throwing things in boxes and loading the moving truck in wind and snow storms and unloading it in the wee hours of the night. I figure by the time this place reaches an equilibrium, it'll be time to decide what we want to do for long term.

No new towels yet, but the internet and a cable tv package that will keep us is sporting events, classic movies and the BBC America for twelve months has been fun. Also we have discovered DVR and caller ID-didn't know what we'd been missing. Our window ledges are at ground level so I'm thinking I'll put some pots outside the windows with lettuce and herbs and some tomatoes. Maybe one with a pepper and a squash too. Can tend them by raising the screen. So far the nicest thing is being able to come home for lunch, but I miss the open-ness and the privacy of the acreage. We didn't have only sheers on the windows out there and nothing on a lot of the windows, here we don't open the shades (there are vertical blinds on all the windows-which is good cause we didn't have to buy any curtains), it's kindof like living in a hotel. But it'll be fine for a while. One thing I've started already is a list of criteria for the next place, a wish list really, as I'm finding things that I took for granted before (i.e. vanity doors that are wide enough to get a shoe box through). I guess I'll be more well-rounded.

John just got back from Kansas last night, he's enjoying working on the oil well engines. He and the friend that he's working for have been spending a couple days a week down there installing and maintaining them (he missed a few trips for the moving). I get to go to Orlando on Thursday for work, will return on Sunday. Time to order Christmas merchandise already. I'm craving the flight time this trip for the total inactivity.

Our next big thing is Annie's: she'll graduate on the 19th of this month with an Associate degree in Business from Southeast Community College -- Yea! Annie, you'll have to take it from here and tell about your new job and what you might do next...

I'm going to become more computer savvy and work on including some photos in my next post -- time for bed now though. Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!
Love, Suz