On Saturday, I celebrated my 26th Birthday! Which means that I am now officially closer to 30 than 20. Whoa.
Nathan and I started off by sleeping in and then heading over to Cracker Barrel. I love Cracker Barrel. It's so deliciously terrible for you but so tasty. I indulged in the Multi-grain Berry Pancakes complete with blackberries, fried eggs, bacon, and coffee.
 |
| Yeah, that's what I got. |
Don't be fooled by the "fruit and grain" line at the top of the menu. The pancakes still come with warm maple syrup and a heaping scoop of butter.
Afterwards Nathan carted me around to various music stores to find something musical...I kind of tune that stuff out now.
Later on I went to an unofficial birthday cookout. Meaning, the cookout wasn't at all for me, but Facebook informed many of the attendants of the day's event and the news spread rapidly. Then I went down to Nathan's show at Carver Park where the band announced me as a birthday girl and where Danny, the saxophone player did NOT play me the birthday song. I was disappointed. But I had all these new friends there too :)
Then we went out for a night on the town with some band members.
So thanks everyone for making the day so eventful and fun!!!
Well, I am pleased to announce that I had a phone interview, which led to an in person interview. I am very encouraged about getting a response at all after the 50 resumes that I have sent out and the 15 or so positions that I have applied for.
I had an interview today! I think it went okay, Maybe? I was asked some questions that I felt completely unprepared for, and am not feeling super confident about it. I don't even remember the last time I really had to interview for a job.
*update: apparently it's a communication test - that I hope I passed.
But, I do know that God is going to provide for us. Nathan has a job, and I know that I will be able to find something. It's just a weird season of life. This transition. Transitioning into a new apartment. Transitioning into a new city. Transitioning into having no friends around and finding new ones. Transitioning into unemployment and too much free time.
In the meantime, Dillan is staying with my in-laws for the next few days. Because our apartment is kind of unfinished, we did not want to stress the dog out by changing his life so much and have him in the way while we tried to wrap up painting and such.
This is also a super blessing because the little boy has worms. Yes, on Tuesday morning, as Nathan and I were heading out I got a call from my mother-in-law informing me that Dillan pooped out a worm in the kitchen floor...
Thankfully she rules and took care of getting him to the vet and getting him some medicine to rid of those nasty tapeworms, which by the way are not from this incident, but actually because at some point, he ate a flea...
But apparently he is doing fine and we were sent this picture:
Sunday night, after the long weekend at the Blue Plum Festival, Nathan and I wanted a little down time. We tried to get the Fresh Market for some Jeni's, but it closes very early on Sunday, and since we were already traveling that direction, we went to marble slab. I've been a standard coffee ice cream with heath bar mixed in, but that night I just wasn't feeling it. So, instead, i embraced my inner 8 year old and got cotton candy ice cream.
we then stopped at a Redbox and rented "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes" which has to be one of the longest movie titles ever. Anyway, I through a quilt on the floor, stacked some pillows up and got an old down comforter out of the closet. It's the coziest way to movie watch.
And Dillan agrees. He wasted no time taking our leg space on top of the squishy comforter, and then he wasted no time into taking a little nap.
Remember how I was getting nervous about taking my professional exam, the NCIDQ?
Then remember how I fantasized about completing the exam and rewarding myself with ice cream?
Then I told you all about that ice cream and finishing that exam...
Well, all that paid off, and I'm happy to announce that I am an NCIDQ certificate holder.
Triple pass - All three sections. With a pretty comfortable buffer zone too.
To celebrate, I posted an embarrassing photo and called it my happy face. I'll celebrate with more jeni's when we get to nashville next week. Until then, i want to see your happy faces too. Post me a link in the comments and tell me what you're celebrating!
This morning, not 5 seconds after getting out the door for our morning walk, Dillan lounged at the ground, bit, and came out shaking a tiny mouse (or something). And by shake, I mean, whipped it back and forth with all the strength he could muster and then he let it go and watched it fly straight into me. I can only assume that he let it go in the first place so he could watch it try and escape only to lounge, bite, and shake it again.
Luckily, Dillan is always on a leash, and I could pull him away. And i dragged him around the corner still listening to this tiny creature shriek.
Then, I had a moment of panic realizing that Dillan has not yet had his shot updates, and oh my, what if that mouse has rabies, and now my dog has rabies.
Well, we are going to visit Petsmart again. I'm calling them now.
Nathan has been playing at Doe River Gorge for the past 10 years. Last night, he played for the one and probably only time this summer, and possibly the last time for a while.
The first summer that Nathan and I were dating, I came in to visit him and experienced Doe River for the first time. While the band practiced, I spent 2 or so hours on the hill watching campers play in the teal colored lake, reading some sort of book (probably a harry potter...), and feeling that I missed out on some milestone of childhood by never attending a summer camp. Then at 8, we went in for worship, and I was blown away. Growing up in a church with someone who leads hymns and my mom on the piano, I'd never experienced a worship so personal. In the tent, I was surrounded by teenagers worshiping God with no reservation.
I cannot say how much this place has impacted me, my husband, and the thousands of youngsters who attend each summer; but, I know I will miss it dearly.
This past weekend, we spent most of our time doing band things, and by most, I mean all.
Friday night, Nathan played with the R&B band "Unlimited" which is a lot of fun. It's also fun watching Nathan play to a crowd of people who are most likely not at all interested in hard rock. He kind of sticks out.
Afterward, we strolled around looking at all the local vendors and babbling on about how "they" should bottle and sell in either fragrance spray or candle form the smell of deep fryers and powdered sugar. Essentially "carnie" smell. without the petting zoo. That would cost extra.
Last year, Blue Plum started the Urban Art showdown, inviting artists to graffiti some canvases. Here are a couple of really impressive ones.
I wore this knowing that it would be about 55 degrees that night.
Saturday night, Nathan's band "The Resolute" headlined. I got to hang around while they interviewed the band. I am a husband-supporting tweeting machine. And there's no reason not to go ahead and claim all the benefits for being the one and only band groupie. Yeah, I'll take some free food! Mmm, yes, a blue moon please!
They nailed it. And it was fun to see a big crowd rocking out up front. Thanks to everyone who came out to watch!
I can't decide whether to feel especially excited or anxious about all the changes that June is going to bring.
1. My sister is getting married next weekend. Meaning all 3 of the girls will belong to someone else ending this generation of "Hogans". It's only now that I realize the importance of a lineage, so instead of bearing my father's last name forever I can carry on the values that he taught me and continue to honor him.
2. Nashville. We are crazy people and have decided to move 2 days after returning from a wedding packed weekend. Nathan takes the cake on craziness though because he is starting a new job 2 days after we move. Which, I am okay with, because it means I can unpack things exactly where I want them. Also, beware of the sulking puppy updates. He doesn't handle change well.
3. Unemployment. Since I was 13 I had a job. Even though it started as babysitting in the summers, and progressed to scooping ice cream, then retail, plant work, campus employment, resident director, and then finally to professional employment. I am excited for what Nashville might bring for me, as a designer, for great opportunities, bigger buildings and bigger budgets. But also anxious for finding a job, and then admittedly a little ashamed that I might have to work at a shop for a while. Gotta do whatcha gotta do.
4. My Birthday, and thus, closer to 30 than 20. Age. I thought I was so "mature" when I said I would embrace my silver hairs as I got older and one day look like Helen Mirren, but as I continue to find those bright strands, I feel a little more pressure to dye for a while...
So, for the month of June, I am claiming the promise that God provides, and he does it abundantly and in His good pleasure and in his prefect timing.
And in the meantime I am going to be making ice cream.
