It's a strange world....

Downtown San Antonio.  Halloween lasts a week on either side of the actual day.  This guy was just walking and I loved seeing him!

My Boys....two of them at least.....

I think these two have bonded.  Trey, my greyhound, has been with me for 7.5 years.  He's always loved men better than me or the girls but he's an awesome dog period.  Tonight, I was cooking dinner, Stacy fell asleep on the couch and Trey slipped up with him.  I happened to look over and a huge smile lit my face seeing this great site.  Trey has found his man.

When Stacy woke I asked if he knew Trey had been up with him snuggling for a long time.  Not a clue, thank goodness I took the picture.  Total cuteness.

Settling in

I've been in San Antonio since September 27 so just a few weeks now. Splitting time between Austin and SA due to job commitments and trying to get my house ready to be sold is taking its toll. Yes I have Stacy but he can't come to Austin to help cause the dogs are now in SA and need care and we have 17 year old Melissa in SA not to be left alone yet. 

On the Austin end it's tough trying to do the repair and fix it stuff alone with the limited time. And when I'm in the area I need to get hours in at the library. Just not enough time. 20 hours a week in Liberty Hill whether physically or via computer. 

I also work 19 hours a week at Palo Alto College as a reference librarian. BORING!!!!  I'm working so below my potential that I'm practically sleep walking when I'm there. I've also found out that the job will remain 19 hours a week for as long as I will stay and some of the ppl have been there 5 years. I need full time so job search is still on. 

Life is good but very stressful. Moving in together is a huge stress. Selling a house is a huge stress. This entire job situation is incredibly stressful. Stacy and I keep saying that making it through all of this means we can make it through anything. 

Oh, add in the commuting issue to Austin area. And the monetary burden of decreased income and two house payments. Stacy's brother used to rent part of his house so rental income is gone as I'm there but I bring the extra mortgage. Sigh. Need to sell my house fast and get me a wife to take care is some of this stuff!!  

I just keep moving forward and trust all will move fast once house is on the market. Just need to eek out time and stress relief!  Keep looking to the exciting future, ONWARD!

Lazy days...

Monday morning, Stacy had a doctors appointment. I've got my coffee and my puppy and am snuggled back in bed, being lazy and completely enjoying it. 

It was wonderful to not have to drive to Austin Sunday night like I've had to for so many months now. San Antonio is home. Waking, seeing Stacy out the door, snuggling my puppy, just being here and knowing I won't make the trip to Austin til Friday makes me so happy. Majority of my time here now, settling into a new home and life. I'm feeling an even bigger push to live a life of mindfulness and contentment. 

This is what I want, my new life and our new family. Perfect. 

Drumroll please....

Talk about big life changes....here it is.  All out in the open all official like.

I'm getting married to Stacy Underwood....amazing man that came into my life via okcupid.com.  Yes, online dating and look what happened.  No wedding for a while, lots to accomplish before then.  Give it 6 months to a year.  Things to do.....

Secure a new job.  Oh wait!  Did that.  Well, a temporary part time job to start anyway. Hope to work it into full time as they need to hire the position just haven't yet.  Hope I"m the gem they've been waiting for.  It's at Palo Alto College in San Antonio which is part of the Alamo Colleges system.  Reference Librarian.

List house for sale.  Talking to Shane tomorrow to talk about listing and what I need to do then will bust my butt to get it done to list by start of October.  The market has been very hot here....hope it continues.

Last day full time at Liberty Hill will be end of September.  Starting October 1, I will continue on part time, working from home via computer and making the 1.5 hour trip weekly and staying a night or two. But end of September, Melissa, the dogs and I are San Antonio bound to stay.  All this while working part time at Palo Alto College too.  BUSY????

Move...soon as the house sells the furniture has to join me.

With all this, Stacy's brother lives upstairs in the house....he's moving to the back house so we can be in the main house.....upstairs instead of down in the guest area where Stacy's been living.  Probably around November will start painting and getting moved in to our space.

Whew.  Tired yet?  I don't even want to start thinking about the stuff to be done in my current house.....replace microwave, replace some baseboards, a door....carpet cleaning.  Positive outlook....it will all work and be wonderful.  Good things to look forward to!!!

Stepping out

Beautiful art. There are a number of these around the campus of Palo Alto College which is part of The Alamo Colleges system. Yes, Friday morning this is where I am for an interview. Part time. Temporary. Not words I'm fond of in looking for a job but.....they haven't advertised for the permanent replacement yet. Perhaps this could turn into a 'trial for hire'?  

I'm going to ask but bottom line is it gets me to the same town the man I'm gonna marry is in, I'm game to try. Yup you read that right. New town. Marriage. Huge changes. I'm taking a risk because I need to be in the area to really be in the job market. 

Now to cross fingers and toes and hope all goes well and I get offered the position.....or something better comes along. 

A new beginning.....

So, as I've mentioned, I am moving to San Antonio.  This is the man I'm in love with, Mr. John Stacy Underwood (goes by Stacy) that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with.  We have a goal to have a beautiful rest of life together and to better ourselves doing it.  So.....goals have now been set.  November 8 is my drop dead date.  House will go on the market start of October (gotta do some repair, fix up etc).

Night of November 8 I move to live in San Antonio.  Oh, that includes Melissa too.  We've worked at fixing up the studio apartment she will live in that is inside the house.  She's all set.  Now our weekends are all about getting us settled there and him coming here to help me get the house ready.

If I don't have a job and the house hasn't sold by November 8 I will continue working in Liberty Hill....using the massive amounts of vacation I've built up.  I can come in at noon on Tuesdays, work late, stay at the house on Tuesday and Wednesday night and drive home at 4 pm on Thursday.  That gives me two nights away from home staying in the house that is for sale.  Use 1.5 - 2 days of vacation a week.  Full pay.  I have enough vacation to do that for at least a month and a half.  That gives me the rest of the time in SA to look for jobs and get the house ready.  It's a fall back anyway.

Major goal is San Antonio job.  Rough in this world where everything is online application only.  How do I really know they got my application?  If I can get in their face I can get the job.  But even phone calls disqualify you at most places.  Ugly world, I have to say this is one place I really don't like technology.

Anyway....was wandering through my blog and realized I don't have pics of Stacy in it really....and I like pics of Stacy :).  Oh.....I'm going to meet his mom on Sunday.  Must be serious.