Drive By Truckers

The other night I went to a concert for a band called the Drive By Truckers. I went with my friend Laurel, her husband Aaron, and her friend Kelly who I've met before. The concert was good. Mostly it was fun to just listen to SUPER loud music and watch people dance. Man do I wish I was more like that most days - where I could just let the music move me and not care what people think. But alas...I never will be that person - So I just enjoy the music and smile at other people enjoying the music.

Here's a little sampling of what we saw

First blog in 3.5 months!

Wow I just looked at my last post and realized I haven't kept up on this blog at all. Not that I needed to look at my blog to realize that tee hee. I haven't even logged into blogger since then I think. I'm a bit behind on everyone's life.

Here's what you missed while I was away:
1. This weekend my FAV taking class friend Samantha moved. *POUT* But she is living in the UK for the next few weeks and then traveling for the summer and then settling in San Diego - so it's not like I'll never see her again - but I will miss her dearly!

3. I've been traveling non-stop for the first quarter of the year. I swear I've been on a ga-zillion trips.
California
California
Portland
Portland
Seattle
Portland
So. Utah
Clearly a theme there as well! haha.

And now you're officially caught up! So it's not like you really missed much. Work has been crazy - and not expected to let up until at least Mid July. I'm currently on the job hunt because I'm pretty much expecting to not have a job after I kill myself off finishing up this conversion. They've decided to make a bunch of changes that our division has no control over. I guess only time will tell. I've already applied for a job in Olympia, WA (kind of hoping for that one) and will probably apply for one in Chicago. I guess we shall see. Those are the ones internally I would apply for I think. There are a couple in Los Angeles - and you all know I love California, but probably don't want to live in LA. Nor commute from where I would want to live :) I hate driving. My 10 minute commute to work daily makes me want to pull my hair out.

Other than that - things are pretty normal here. Hope you are all doing well!
Sorry I've been MIA. No promises on being better though :)

California - Take 2

I am in California for the 2nd weekend in a row. Last weekend it was to hang out with the parentals for my 33rd birthday! This weekend it's for CHA (Craft & Hobby Association). It's a lovely day here and when I got in my room though, the thermostat was set at like 76. BLEH - too hot! So I went to the thermostat in order to bring down the temperature and I actually sang the following song.



ps if you aren't watching the show Modern Family on ABC - you're seriously missing out! It's HILARIOUS!

Christmas Eve Eve

Since I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving...and I'm sure you've all been dying for the next post...I'll oblige in updating this blog.

Thanksgiving was SUPER FUN! I went to Portland (drove..lost my voice singing in the car for 12 hours haha. Worth it!) for Thanksgiving and had the most fun ever with the cutest nephew in the world! They cut his hair - which was really really sad...for me. He looks like such a grown up boy now! I do miss his "surf hair" as we lovingly called it. But no denying it - he's still the most adorable boy alive.

This was take one of his "scary" face. He's too sweet to even be scary!

I'm not lying when I swear I have a picture of Jake as a kid somewhere making this EXACT face. This was take 2 of scary faces. He's really not good at them! haha.

We laughed and played games and "I Spy" forever. We roasted marshmallows and read books and one night before bed he said "You're the best aunt in the whole world!" Awww...love him!

Then I came home. Melissa had her baby before I left and I got to see her (Thanks for coming early Paige! I would've been sad if I didn't get to see her newborn). Miss Paige Lund Hinderman was born and she's the most petite little girl I've ever seen! So sweet and cute.

Then I got to babysit! Kurtis and Melissa had tickets to the Christmas concert with the BareNaked Ladies - so I got to watch Preston and Paige! SO FUN! Paige slept the whole time and is just the sweetest thing ever. Preston is a GREAT older brother and he read me a story before he went to bed. He's just learning and did a super fantastic job! My fav part of the night was when he was getting ready for bed, he comes in from brushing his teeth and is wearing his boxers, t-shirt and socks and says to me "does your husband just wear his underwear to bed?" I told him I didn't have a husband. He says "oh, but when you do - he will I promise. He will only wear his underwear to bed." haha. Love that kid. He's quite the character.

And now you're all caught up!

For Christmas I'm staying put. I usually burn out on travel by the end of the year, and will enjoy some peace and quiet around my own place. Wishing all my friends and family the best of holidays and looking forward to a new year and new memories! Praying for snow, and Peace on Earth.
Just Imagine...

Love,

Jamie

xoxox

How much do I love...?

Just had to re-sign my lease for 6 months.
The cute guy (probably kid is a better word for him) in the office was chat-chat-chatty and semi-hitting on me if I do say so myself.
We talked about school, etc - and then he asked how old I was. HAHA
Why do I love that question? What I love even more is making people guess.

He told me "you have a range". Safe. His range for me was 20-25!!
I'm in love with that kiddo! haha. His face was like...hmmm....when I told him I'll be 33 in Jan.

Note: He may just be horrible with guessing people's ages like I am. haha. But I'll take it where I can get it!

The book the sassed me back

When I was in Houston for work last month - on the way back in the airport I bought a book. This shop was bigger than most book stores you find in airports and I had plenty of time to browse. Usually I have in mind a book I've been dying to read - but this trip...not so much. So I'm walking around and Chatty McGee - the guy working the shop - kept offering to help me find something. Which always bugs me. It's like asking the waiter "what would you suggest" when you go out to dinner. You don't know me from the homeless guy off the street - so how about you tell me what I would like to eat tonight. haha. That one always makes me laugh.

Anyway - so I'm looking and I see this section titled Mystery. I usually like a good - make you think, scare you a little kind of book. There's an author that I'd read a couple of times called Mary Higgins Clark and it was always an easy read. At the time I couldn't remember her name just knew she wrote a lot of books. So when I picked up the book titled Vision in White by Nora Roberts (there was quite a lot of books written by her as well) I figured..yep this must be it! And being a mystery book about a wedding - it had to be good right? I figured there would be some blood on the dress, some axe murdering ex-boyfriend come to break up the event, steal the bride. Who knows!

I'm of the addage - judge a book by it's cover. Usually if the publishers/writers can't muster up a little effort to market a book so I want to read it. You win! I probably don't want to read it. After I got onto the plane and started reading - I kept wondering where the mystery part came into play. (FYI - my hindsight can be your tiny fortune....Nora Roberts is a romance book writer. What these books were doing in the mystery section - I will never know). HAHAHAA Laughs on me even further when I got totally hooked. I read the book in one day! LOVED IT! In face just bought Book 2 of the 4 book series yesterday when I was out with Melissa at Target (and just finished it too!) SUCKER!

Houston, TX

Cute Miss Elizabeth


Mister Carson - who is so funny


Noah who was SOOO proud of those things on his face
and the fact that his jersey is REVERSE-ABLE! No
greater magic on Earth could've topped that discovery!

I was in Houston for work 2 weekends ago. And in between my classes that I was teaching I got a chance to visit my friend Sarah who just moved from TN, to TX. It was a very lucky thing! Although I would've loved to stay longer I was only in town and had the afternoon free. We got to go to Noah's football game and run around their house like crazy people! It was a fun day with my fun friend! I just wish the picture of us had turned out better! haha. I guess it goes to show you don't let the 5 year old take the picture! :)


Jamie & Sarah. Great Friends!


Some of my favourite kiddos!

**Sarah, I'll email you a link to the videos of Noah's game so you can show Jason**