So I'm not exactly sure what the point of this post is, so I just plan on rambling and see what comes out.
Interest rates have been cut again. Good for those who are buying a home. Bad for my savings account that is now at a 3.0% interest rate. Down from 4.5% a few months ago. Bummer. I hate that because I make less money. Oh well, maybe the rates will still be low when Rich and I go to buy a house so that we can benefit from all these cuts.
I'm still trying to win the Honda Fit that they're giving away. After this week, I've only got one more week to qualify. It'd be nice to win a car so that I don't have to go through the hassle of negotiating to buy one. Rich's truck is looking like it's on its last legs. It's been in the shop for 2 days. I knew it wouldn't last much longer due to the fact it has over 200K miles on it, but I was really hoping it would make it to December. The repairs are beginning to cost more than the truck is worth and I hate putting more money into it than we have to. I just need a little more time to save up some more money for the down payment (and to see if my mom and brother win the Fit and would like to give us a deal ;). My mom and brother have already qualified for the final drawing, so that means I've got a 1:50 shot at getting this. Not bad odds if you ask me. I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed.
Rich and I found an apartment in B-ham. I think it will be nice. We never could have done it without M & J. They took us all over town for 2 days. We definitely owe them some major baby-sitting time.
We found out this weekend that N & K are also joining us in B-ham. It will be nice to have a group of people I already know there. I think it will make the transition to the area easier especially for me since I tend to be a bit of a hermit. I am desperately hoping that my transition into my new job goes better than the one I'm currently at. Let's just say that some people were more welcoming and helpful than others. It took me over a year to break into the clique here. If I hadn't come to this area with friends already in place, I would have been run off a long time ago. I don't expect everyone to like me. I'm not that naive. There are always 1 or 2 people that decide I suck for whatever reason without getting to know me first. These are usually the people I make an effort to bug the hell out of once I figure out what gets on their nerves. I know that's probably really mean, but its just how I deal. For example, when I figured out that my mere presence around this one person drove her up the wall, I made every effort to make sure I followed her out to every smoke break she went on. lol She finally got to know me and we have a pretty good working relationship now. I can't say that I trust her, but we're definitely on more friendly terms. If I were less secure with myself, I don't know that I could cope the way I do. And I don't look at people who don't like me as a person with a major character flaw. If you don't like me...that's okay. However, if I have to work with you, I expect you to put your personal feelings aside and at least be civil. I expect the same from myself.
We also recently found out that N & K are expecting their first child. I'm very excited for them. And even a little jealous. I'll admit it. I'm not ashamed. I would be bold-faced lying to you if I said I wasn't at all. Rich and I have always taken life with our own timeline. Would I have wanted a child within my first year of marriage? No. I always wanted at least 5 years of marriage with my husband before children came into the picture. I feel like that time is important. Especially, since I got married right before I turned 22. Sometimes I have to stop and realize that in the mist of all my friends having babies, I really am doing what I want to with my life. I never wanted to be a SAHM and still don't. I wanted to make the bigger paycheck and let Rich stay at home with the kids for a couple of years. I don't think I have the same maternal instincts as other women. That may change after we have kids, but I don't feel the need to have them now. I also feel that it's important to bring our future offspring to a home we actually own. I don't want to bring my child home to a place we rent. I don't know why I feel so strongly about that, but I do. I also don't want to get "knocked-up" during my first year at a job. I would hate for my employers to think that I am just using my job as a means to afford to have children so that I can leave the work-force later. I know that stereo-type is still circulating in the working environment. I don't want to do anything that will project that image.
I'm very excited about moving on to the next stage of my life, even though its a little scary. But really...what change isn't a little scary? I am now faced with the question of "Do I finish this degree or desert it?" As of now, I'm planning on finishing my thesis and defending it. However, I am still harboring some hard feelings about how my graduate student career has been handled. I also do not appreciate some of the things my major professor has been implying since I started interviewing for jobs. Others on my committee have been so supportive, and I feel like I'm just getting hostility from my MP. I feel like after 3 1/2 years of working on a Master's degree, I've put in more than enough time. I don't feel like at this point, all the blame for not being done can rest on my shoulders alone. I'll take partial responsibility, but definitely not all. When it takes 6 months to get feed back on 7 pages of my thesis. That's not my fault. And it's also not my responsibility to stay on your butt to make sure you do your job as my MP. You should do that because it is expected of you as a MP and not because I've called you about it 20 times a day. That is where you have failed. If only I could say that to MP without death as a consequence. I'm not looking to burn any bridges at this point. But I also will not be looking to MP for any future advice or guidance. MP has made it clear over the years that she is definitely less than interested in helping me.
Rich and I have been busying packing and getting ready to move. I don't know when my next blog will be, so everyone will have to be patient. I'm planning on moving March 29th and Rich will stay in C-town until the end of April. It's going to be a lonely month, but I've done it before. Until then...