Online again!!!

JP and I finally have internet! So, I hope these updates will happen more often!

Blogging...

Blogging at a public computer is challange for me. I like to take my time, review it and figure out exactly what I want to say and since moving to Austin I have not really had time. I am sorry for this.

Hopefully we will be getting internet at home, as JP says his computer is fixed.

Art, Austin and applying

It has been a month since moving into our apartment here in Austin. Over all we are transitioning well, but it has not been as easy as I would have liked.

First of all, I have met up with someone from Maine who I had met in Maine through my sister, but did not know well. She invited me join her in selling art at the weekend markets and we also ventured out into the "First Thursday" evening art market. I have loved having an artsy friend to share ideas with and to someone who helped me greatly in putting my art up for sale. Thursday night, I am very pleased to say, went very well. I sold a magnet and a painting. It was not a large painting, but it was the first one I have ever sold to a stranger and it excites me to think that my painting is hanging somewhere unknown. We intend to sell at as many Saturdays as able before Christmas and at the December's First Thursday show. Each show I have learned a lot about showing, making my portion of the booth inviting and that buys are fickle and not predictable.

Second, I love Austin. I miss the fall, but there are so many pluses that I can forgive the leaves for not changing color. The weather has been lovely and we are learning how to get around by bus and bike, although we will likely get a car within six months. I love that we can bike to the book store, end up spending an hour talking to strangers and still get four books for $17. I love how much happier JP is with his new job.

Last, but least... I am applying for jobs. It has been much more frustrating looking for jobs than I expected. I am not sure if I just picked a bad agency or if the Austin nanny market is less flexible than I thought, but people around here seem to really think nannies need cars and stuff like that. Oh well. This has forced me to go back to my first plan of looking for jobs outside of nannying. I have an interview on Thursday for a part-time job at our local grocery store and am looking into preschool type jobs as well as any art jobs. I am hopeful that something will come up soon. I am just thankful that we preplanned on staying here for the holidays as that takes away a lot of the financial stress that often pops up this time of the year.

Now I just need to get Thank You cards written and mailed and my life will be breezy.

An Artist Adventure

Okay, okay... no pictures yet, but I have found the cords and all that. Part of the problem is that we need to fix the computer before we can use it when we are online at the apartment building's office AND we dont yet have it at home yet.

But the exciting reason for this update is that I am taking part in an artists' market tomorrow! I am sharing a booth with two other people so it should be loads of fun. I also hope to sell something! Keep me in your thoughts!

Coming soon... apartment pictures.

There are still boxes left to be unpacked, but we are pretty much settled. It is a very lovely feeling.

It is one of my goals this week to get a nice set of pictures taken so that I can share our lovely little pad with all of you who keep asking for some... :)

This week on my adgenda I have to get finger printed, become certified in CPR/First Aid again, get my Thank you cards made and ready to mail, get art in order so that I can sell some of it at an Artist Market on Saturday and take pictures of the apartment for you all. Oh, I am also going to get a website set up for my art. And still do all the things I usually do like laundry and cooking and stuff like that.

Oh, another fun fact, JP and I are finally taking advantage of the gym in our apartment complex. It's great to be able to just hop over for a while and then be back home without any ordeal.

And last but not least, Thank you for the lovely birthday cards and notes. They were lovely.

Okay, I will try to update more now that I am "settled". Take care!

FYI Update

We are in our own apartment now. Moved in last Thursday. We have unpacked about half of our boxes and are in process of getting a couch and a few more shelves. JP is working and loves is new job; however I am stilll looking.

More details as they come.

Our week of homelessness... :)

We are not actually homeless, we are just house-sitting until our apartment is available. However, we are indeed in Austin, TX - FINALLY! We are slowly figuring our away around and adjusting to life here. I knew it would be a smaller city, but I imagined a more compact smaller city. JP and I have figured that land-wise the city of Austin may be bigger than Chicago, but it's just more spread out. It's also very hilly and green, which we love, but that also hides buildings that we did not see the first time around. We found a whole mall yesterday that was hidden in the hills. Also the weather and types of plants here remind us both of Southern California, without the prices and the ocean. The lakes and river are really lovely though and help us forget that we are in the middle of Texas.

Oh, and we did get to check out where we will be living. We love the apartment complex. It seems to be well maintained and the staff seems very friendly. We were already won over by the woman who helped up secure the apartment and meeting her confirmed that we are with good people. We were able to walk through a sample apartment, that is the same layout as our place and we were both very pleased with the size and layout. Our decks look out over trees and both of the doors open to the outside. I just love that. I can't wait to set up and to have people come visit. We get to move in on Thursday.

Also, if you hadn't heard. JP got a good job already and begins tomorrow. I am still jobless, but am hoping to find something soon. So far though, life is good. We are very glad we moved.

Moving Plans!

Hello all! Here is a quick move update:

Tonight: Final packing!
Tuesday (29th): Packing moving van, staying with JP's mom.
Wednesday (30th): Driving for a long long time, getting a hotel somewhere.
Thursday (1st): Driving some more, arriving in Austin in the early afternoon, unload van at storage unit, go to friends' pad and crash.

Phone numbers are staying the same, address available upon request (although we'll send out new address cards sometime soon).

Follow updates on facebook - you know we'll be bored.

On the verge of a move...

Twelve days until we embark on a new Chapter of our lives. We are progressing really well with the packing, though we are taking a break these few days around our Chicago wedding party. We have another good bye party the following Saturday and a few goodbye dinners in-between.

The one big sadness of all this craziness is leaving the little H man. I have one week left with him, so I am going to treasure my time.

Over all, things are moving along nicely.

Austin - we're almost ready!

A Monday of all Mondays.

Do you ever wake up after a terrible night's sleep hoping that, at least, the rest of the day will go well enough? That was how my morning began, exhausted and not ready.

I left home in such a mental state as the skies rained more dreariness onto me. This is also the week of the expected arrival of my second charge, whom Mr H. has nicked named Bear. I had also been forewarned last night that there is a water leakage problem in the basement that has put the playroom off limits for sometime. This is all on my mind as I walk to the bus stop. I was only a few blocks from home when an SUV, needing urgently to pass the only car around, sped past me in the parking lane and doused me from head to toe in the most disgusting city water available (the puddle was as wide as a car). It kills me because a block later there was only a little puddle. I then sat for twenty minutes on a overly air conditioned bus, freezing my wet behind off. Thankfully I arrived to work and leaped into a hot shower and sweats that I leave at work.

Okay, so I am finally showered and the Grandparents are sent off and then I finally get the low down of the damage downstairs - which is a story all on its own, but basically we can't play in the basement until they figure out if the leak is for sure taken care off and so forth. But I think amidst chaos that we have everything ready for baby Bear and getting doused makes for an amusing story. Though I did love everyone thought it was a good story until I showed them my backside (seriously, head to toe) and then they were horrified at all the grossness.

Oh, cute story: I asked Henry where baby Bear was and he looked up from playing and told me, "At Work" (aka in Momma's belly and Momma is at work). Love this kid.

Seven weeks

We're have about seven weeks before we move: a yard sale / open house, a wedding weekend in Maine (I'm in the wedding, too), a family wedding party for us (in the alley) and a goodbye party - plus packing, finding a jobs in Austin, getting everything set for an apartment there and oh, yeah, moving. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Maine Math

Direct flight + Manchester Airport's East Rental Car System + Ipod connection + 5.5 hours in a car = JP and I going to Maine and not hating the traveling.

Lots of food + friends and family + a few presents = A wedding party in Maine (and true to Maine, it was overcast and cool - so no swimming... )

(Jasper Beach + Loads of fog = Typical day on the coast of Maine) + JP and some of my family + Tons of fun.

More food + More family + Still not sunny = My family reunion.

Amazing sunny day = Last day in Maine, mostly spent in a car.

Manchester Airport's Rental Car drop off + Direct flight + Sister-in-law pick-up at the airport = Painless travel home.

All this = First time showing off JP as my husband in Maine! Yeah!

Two Day Work Week

I love two day work weeks.... I love zero day work weeks the best, but that's not possible right now. I am still so excited about our trip to Maine!!

Pre-party planning

Last night I was able to see the set up for our September Chicago party in full swing at our friends' annual alley party. It is going to be amazing, fun and just what I wanted. Now we just need to finish up the invites and get them in the mail.

On the topic of parties - JP and I will be in Maine on Wednesday and our Maine party is Thursday, my side's family reunion is Saturday! I CAN'T WAIT!

Cubbies!

In Chicago the 3rd seems to be a bigger deal than the 4th. The first works are held on the 3rd, although the parade is on the 4th - neither of which I attend. JP and I were blessed with a fun alternative for the 3rd. Our friend Mara and Marcus got tickets through work for the Cubs game and asked us along. The Cubs won in the tenth inning by a walk! The only downside was that it was oddly chilly for July in Chicago.

Today we are planning on attending a family cookout. What a nice relaxing weekend.

Humidity...

I've started working out in the mornings before work, but this morning I got up and just can't moving... well, I looked up the weather and apparently it's 76 degrees (not bad!) at 74% humidity (ugh!). I think biking to work will be enough today. Maybe I'll make up and work out tomorrow.......

It's hot here...

... but I finally think I am adjusting. It always takes me a big to adjust to Chicago summers, this summer especially since it was so hot and cold this spring. Also, considering that Austin's temperatures for this week our in the 100s I am not complaining about Chicago's measly 94 degrees. I actually think Austin's heat will be easier to deal with because we'll have AC at home.

At least it finally feels like summer...

June Update

It appears our "Chicago Reception" Party is going to be a "We're married and moving" party. We are trying to get everything set to move to Austin in October!! Details to come, of course!

We are also a month away from our trip to Maine and our Maine Reception. It's an exciting time to be Tall Tree newlywed.

Renesting, of sorts.

JP and I are in the mist of moving things around in preparation for our new roommate. We are so focused on moving to Austin that we are doing really well at getting rid of things. Clearing out the back room and the closet are scary reminders of how much stuff I have in my possession. We're going to need four months to get everything organized and packed... oh man.

Premature mourning

My phone randomly revived itself. I am still not fully trusting of it, but for now it is saving me the expense of having to buy a new phone!

Mourning the loss of another cellphone.

I have maintained a very close relationship with my electronic connection to the world (my cell phone) since first obtaining one in 2002. Seven years under my belt I felt a certain pride in that most of my cellphone deaths were not completely my fault. I lost a cell phone to baby slobber when I first started nannying. Another in a rainstorm. Oh, that is an unfortunate consistency. I lost some simply because they were for work and no longer needed. I lost others because the phones were old and were well beyond needing to be replaced.

My current phone is my least favorite of all phones. It was a daily irritant, however, it was mine. It was highly allergic to water, a fact I learned the hard way last summer when the little H man sprayed me down with water. However it revived itself and I tried to treat it carefully, and love it despite it's faults. But today, today I failed. I joined the masses of cellphone addicts who have committed unintentional cellphone slaughter. I dropped my cellphone in the toilet. Death by toilet water. I hang my head in shame.

So, I guess I don't work.

I learned today from a certain little two year old that I don't work. His Mama works downtown in her office and his papa works sometimes downtown and sometimes at home, but his Julia just comes in the morning to play and then goes home to see her JP.

Why Austin, Texas?

Check out this site about Austin, Texas from the Small Planet Guide.

Why Austin? Why not.

We're moving... in eight months.

JP and I will be moving to Austin, Texas February 2010. Sooner if JP gets a job, but that is currently our plan. We have been itching to move for a while and he's wanted to move to Austin for a while. He finally got me to check Austin out with some seriousness and I am now just as excited as is he. To help save for the move, we are taking on a roommate for six months or so. My friend Debbie was in need of a room and this way we are both able to help each other out. We'll keep you updated on the progress of our move.

Also, don't panic if you are in the Chicago area - we consider this to be a temporary 3 to 5 year adventure. A time for us to save money for a house, to maybe get our masters and explore a new region of our beautiful world.

The beauty of unplanned weekends.

So much of our lives are spent booked, planned and pre-arranged that when all plans fall through and an open weekend falls into our laps it truly is a thing of beauty. The ability to be flexible is the key - to be open to last minute plans and to meeting new people. Also, the joy of spending an entire day being lazy and hanging out with your best friend (aka your spouse :) brings the unplanned weekend to it's best level. It's still early, so there is more to come.

First week down, a life time to go.

We have survived our first full work week of married life. We still like each other.

The Beginnings.

To make a long story short - JP and I are newlyweds (the blogs title is a play off of our last name). We met a year ago, April 12, 2008, at my friend's art opening. Our first date was a few days later on April 22nd. Within a few days we hit it off and within a few months we knew we were destined to spend the rest of our lives together.

March 27th, JP proposed. His cousin's roommate was throwing a house party and our friend's band was playing. JP arranged to sing "Julia" by the Beatles with the lead singer accompanying on guitar, then got down on one knee to ask me to marry him. It was lovely.

We had originally planned a July wedding, but quickly grew weary of planning a wedding and decided to elope here in Chicago on the one year anniversary of our first date.

So, on April 22, 2009, JP and I were married. We are now Mr. and Mrs. "Tall Tree".

Enjoy.