Junk and Swimming

(This is the current view from the front window of our apartment. Notice that the contents of an entire living room set are sitting out there in from of our dumpster. We could freakin' open up our own RC Willey!)

Well, I never claimed that we didn't live in a crappy apartment complex. We are honestly grateful just to be here, but it does come with its own set of issues, one of them being that people who move think it's okay to just leave the stuff they don't want to haul with them in front of the dumpster. That's not allowed--it is stated in the apartment rules--but it happens regularly anyway. The biggest issue is that the garbage people won't take it unless it is IN the dumpster. Most of the stuff in the photo has been there for nearly 2 weeks now.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE...

Dave and I went swimming at a nearby public pool today. I hadn't been to an outdoor public pool for years, and never with Dave (other than the rec center or at Larissa's apartment). This was a full-blown, huge pool with waterslides, diving boards, kiddie play areas, and yes--one of those giant water mushrooms.


(this is a picture of the pool from their website)


This particular pool even had a "lazy river" area where there was a current that would take you around in circles. We had a BLAST together and would have stayed longer if the weather hadn't gotten scary. When the wind blows and you're standing in line for the slide, it is FREEZING against your wet skin, hair and bathing suit.

Commenting

By the way, I have changed the settings so that now anyone can comment, even if they don't have an account. No, this isn't a plea for comments, I'm just letting you know in case you wanted to and had trouble.

--Karen

End of Summer Semester

Whew! Summer semester is always a little stressful simply because the classes are squished to fit into a shorter amount of time. This means longer class periods and more homework with less time than normal to finish assignments. BUT... Dave and I just completed our summer classes, and I'm pleased to say we did quite well. Heck, I even got an "A" on the world's most BS'D 5-page essay.

We will both be attending this fall. Dave will be starting his teaching cohort, and I will be (slowly but surely) finishing my English Associates. I can't lie and say that I feel as accomplished about my academic progress as Dave must feel about his, but at least I've worked hard and will have proof that I competed some college with a paper in my hand that says I did it. I am still trying to decide what I may want to get a Bachelors degree in. I mean, I'd say English, but I'm not crazy about writing papers and I don't think it is a degree that will get me far when it comes to a career.

Anyway, the two of us will be invovled in school and working part-time. Dave will remain at Woodcraft, and I am pleased to say that, after over a year working there, I am finally leaving Westmore School. I have a couple of job prospects, and hopefully the job I get doesn't include cleaning (which isn't really so bad, just mind-numbingly boring), but what can you do? :) I have been wanting a change for months now and at last the change is here! Whatever it is, I'll be happy.

Later!

Yesterday, and a new toy

(apple tree...I really wanted to pick that apple and eat it, not photograph it, but...)








(Dave and little Ves, looking so darn cut!)










Dave's parents are up at the family cabin, and a few of the kids came over to the house and had dinner and stuff. Dave made home-made pizza and all was fun. Too bad we never got to that Poker game, or Settlers of Catan.






(Whitney. This is a glamour shot of her.)










AND.....








At the school where I work, there is a ton of surplus stuff that teachers don't want. Most of the time, these items go to away to the district's surplus if no one at the school wants them. I image it to be a giant warehouse or something like that. But there was an old autoharp amongst the stuff and I have wanted one of these instruments for years. I am not a musical person, but part of me believed that I would indeed be willing to learn how to play if I could get my hands on one.

Well, the principal let me take it, even though the autoharp technically should be accounted for and given back to surplus. But seriously, it has been around so long, who is still keeping track of it?! I'm so surprised that I ended up with this--they can be pretty expensive (although the old one I got probably isn't worth too much).

Dave's Birthday: The Sequel

Last night, we went to Dave's parents' house so we could celebrate Dave's birthday with his family. We had to drive through a blinding downpour to get there, but, dang it, it was worth it! It was great--along with Dave's Mom and Dad, Dan and Jenny were there, and Kathy and Jimmy Jr. too. Oh, and Whitney, of course :)

(Doesn't he look good with a baby? ;) )



We enjoyed dinner, then had cake and ice cream for dessert. It was, of course, cherry chip cake with chocolate frosting--a family tradition! You know, 23 candles are pretty hazardous all on one little cake...

(Thanks for walking the cake over to the table, Dan!)




Dave and Kathy (I had loads of trouble getting the camera to focus yesterday...).






Dan gave Dave an Optimus Prime Transformers toy! Dave finds it quite entertaining indeed.






And, Dave was given the game "Settlers of Catan" from his parents. This game is some serious fun. We became addicted to it when some people from our old ward indroduced it to us, and for over a year we've been wishing we could get it. Yay!

Thanks everyone for making Dave's birthday so freaking wonderful this year!

Movies Blog

I created a blog especially for movies we have seen together. It's just little reviews and reactions and such, just a place to keep track. (Movies Blog)

Dave's Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVE!

(Dave with his birthday loot!)

Today was the anniversary of Dave's glorious birth. I tried and tried to think of something cool I could do for him, and it occured to me that I haven't really ever thrown a surprise party for anyone. At least, not one that was my idea.

I set it up at my sister's apartment, since there would be no real way for me to pull it off at our place. He suspected nothing. I said we were going to her apartment so he could open a present from her, and SURPRISE! My two sisters and bro in law were there with decorations and a birthday cake.

It was sort of tough to get the whole thing organized but it was well worth it. Dave was so happy and felt very loved. It was a very happy day for him. We ate cake and treats and he opened some gifts (candy, a picture, index cards [lol], and a new shirt to name a few).

We talked and snacked, and then we watched a movie. It was called "Manos": The Hands of Fate, and is known to be one of the worst movies ever made. It is very deserving of the honor, too. Dave and I had seen it before, but my little sister had somehow managed to avoid seeing it. We ammended that little problem :) She will never again be the same...

So pretty much it was great and lots of fun and laughs, and tomorrow we get to go to his parents' house and celebrate his birthday again!

"I am Torgo. I take care of the place while the master is away..."