60. Yo.

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
Carseat, Dora umbrella, and shoes.

2. When was the last time you threw up?
I don’t even remember!

3. What’s your favorite word or phrase?
Ok, little fella.

4. Name 5 people who made you smile today?
Elkana, Abby, ummm…co-workers and clients?

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Driving to work.

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Driving back to work.

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Nope

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
I’m going to hit your car.

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Butter Pecan

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Slim Fast

12. What are you wearing right now?
Gray pants, black sweater, black shoes, black socks, black coat (am I gothic?)

13. What was the last thing you ate?
Peanuts

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
No, suprisingly

15. When was the last time you ran?
Monday morning.  It was COLD.

16. What’s the last sporting event you watched?
basketball on tv, I’m sure.

17. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Kenya

19. Ever go camping?
I worked at a camp for a whole summer

20. Have you ever lost anything down a toilet?
Toliet paper

22. What is your guilty pleasure?
I’m not sure…

23. Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot?
I use them in texts too!

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
I stopped drinking soda.

25. What did your last text message say?
Love you too! 

26. Are you someone’s best friend?
 I’m not sure.

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Working.

28. Where is your mom right now?
School

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
papers that need recycling

30. What color is your watch?
bling bling!

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
Kangaroos

32. Ever ridden on a roller coaster?
Yes.  But I don’t think I could anymore

33. Birthstone?
Sapphire.  Love it.

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive through?
Drive Thru

35. Do you have any friends on facebook that you actually hate?
I don’t hate anyone. 

36. Do you have a dog?
No animals, yo!

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
a client

38. Have you met anyone famous?
Maybe

39. Any plans today?
Working.  30 day shred with Jillian Michaels.   Dinner with Ab and El.

40. From whom did you get this?
Copied from Elise’s facebook

41. Are you happy?
Yes.  VERY.

42. Where are you right now?
Work

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
Ummm, no comment.

44. Last song listened to?
Stella!

45. Last movie you saw?
The new Chipmunks movie.

46. Are you allergic to anything?
Drama

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
My new Nikes.  Or black dress shoes.

48. Are you jealous of anyone?
Probably.

49. Are you in a relationship?
You betcha.

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
Maybe…not sure…

51. What time is it?
Time to go home.

52. Do any of your friends have children?
A few

53. Do you eat healthy?
I’m trying to get better.

54. What do you usually do during the day?
work

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
I don’t hate anyone right now…

56. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily?
When I answer the phone.  I think….

57. How many kids do you want when you’re older?
2

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
26.  Geez.

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Yea…not for a while. Not as fun as it used to be!

60. how did you get one of your scars?
I don’t have any.

Ummmm….that’s a weird way to end a Meme.  I love these.

I’m Baaaack….

….not that anyone reads this anyway.  But, I keep telling myself to blog again…so, SHOCKER, I am.

Soooo much as changed since that last post. 

Elkana and I had been casually talking about me looking for jobs in Kentucky.  So, I started looking.  And me, being the super-job-getter (it is my job, anyway), found 2 positions that I was interested in.  I interviewed for both over Labor Day weekend (my 25th birthday, and the day my car insurance dropped dramatically).  One, come to find out was part-time, but the other was EXACTLY (ish) what I was doing (and enjoying) in St. Louis. 

It was really a no-brainer, now that I look back on it.  I wasn’t happy in St. Louis.  I just didn’t have that feeling of “home”.  I enjoyed my job.  Loved Abby’s daycare.  And really enjoyed being close to my family.  But, I was lonely.  I missed Elkana more than anyone could imagine.  I was tired of the long distance crap.  So, I accepted the job (with a little prodding).  Abby and I moved 2 weeks and 5 days later.  I started my job 3 weeks later.

If you aren’t around me all the time (and not many people are), you wouldn’t notice the transformation.  I feel like I almost always put on a good front.  But now, it’s not always a front.  Actually, now it’s pretty genuine.  The move hasn’t been a complete piece of cake (but pretty much).  We had problems finding an apartment on such short notice.  But, El, being Mr. Proactive, found us a 2 floor, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouse WITH A WASHER AND DRYER.  For HALF of what I paid in St. Louis.  I thought I found a great daycare.  And it sure looked like it from the outside…great playground, great facilities, qualified staff.  But, it just wasn’t right.  I felt like the teachers were  a little cold.  And it just wasn’t right (that mother’s instinct kicks in from time to time ).  Other than that….not so much.

I absolutely love living with Elkana.  I am pretty sure he likes it too.  Of course we have had to make compromises (toliet seat, leaving clothes on the floor, leaving the lights on, you know the normal).  But the important thing is.  We have made those compromises (I even lock the door all the time now).  It’s so nice to come home to another adult.  It’s so encouraging to have someone to talk to after Abby goes to bed.

And, I really like Kentucky.  The town we live in is about 30,000.  I work in a town of about 100,000 (okay, I don’t really know exactly).  The sizes work well.  Traffic is smooth on my 15 minute drive to work.  I don’t have to drive for 20 minutes to reach somewhere only 5 miles away.  I feel safe running in the mornings.

And no one but a single mom would know how nice it is to go grocery shopping ALONE.  Elkana does MORE than his share (honestly sometimes I feel guilty about how much he does).  Abby and El are seriously 2 peas in a pod, 99% of the time….except when he won’t let her watch her “channel”. 

Who knows what the next couple years will bring.  But right now, Abby and I have found our place.

A Reunion

This past weekend, Elkana visited (YAY!), and we headed out on Friday to visit two of his friends that he hasn’t seen in 3 years.  Elkana and Steve grew up together as “immediate neighbors” (as I was reminded 1001 times) and have know each other since they were “this big”.  S and E trained together, but Elkana was the first in his village to get a scholarship to the US.  Steve followed 1 year later.  But, due to distance and schedules, they haven’t been able to meet up. 

Even though I spent most of the time trying to pick out the few Swahili words I know, I was so happy to see my favorite guy so happy.

It was so stinking adorable to see two grown men so excited to see each other.  And leaving.  It was so heart-wrenching to see two grown men so sad to leave each other. 

Aren’t they cute?

Where?!

Weekends like this past one make me wonder where I’m supposed to “be”.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE St. Louis.  I love the big city, the attractions, close proximity to my family, and my job.  BUT.  I always feel lonely after he leaves.  And Abby does too. 

Case in point: She slept in my bed, on the side that Elkana sleeps on, and said she was keeping it warm for him.  (Makes me cry!)

And, today, when I was pondering where to go shopping, I thought to myself…I wish I had someone to go with.  It sucks.  Sometimes I feel so alone in this city.  It’s an unsettling feeling, not knowing where you belong.  I know I belong with El, but where? 

Basically, I’m feeling emo.  It will pass.

Current Favorite Songs

Basically, I wanted to put all my current faves in the same place, so when I want to listen to them over and over at work, I don’t have to search for them on YouTube   Lucky you!

Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band

Stella by Freshly Mwamburi
–This is in Swahili.  And 10 minutes long.  I “sing” along with words that sound similar, but basically this song is about Stella who leaves to go on vacation and comes back t0 Kenya with a Japanese fiance and Japanese baby.  Every once in a while you can hear a word that sounds like Japanese. 

Fearless by Taylor Swift
–Abby and I love Taylor Swift…even though her songs all kinda sound similar.  Ab definitely sings along.
Fave part (this is my ringtone):
And I don’t know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance
In a storm in my best dress
Fearless

Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Calliet
Fave part (also a ringtone, because I’m sappy):
They don’t know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I wait for you I promise you, I will

Lucky I’m in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we’re in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Wordless Wednesday

 This may be one of my new favorites.  The quality is poor…but whatever.  Abigail got a Dora umbrella from El and she insists on carrying it to daycare every day.  And at least once per night, she says, “Remind me to have Olkana get you an umbrella.  So your clothes don’t get wet.  Remind me.”  She’s also rocking her Dora sunglasses, upside down, of course.  Adorable.

A New Goal

My cousin Prezley inspired me.  She saved her spare change for a month and ended up with $100!  Impressive.  So….I’m going to copy and do the same.

I’m going to start giving myself a $20ish per week allowance, to be used on things other than groceries, gas, daycare, and trips to Kentucky.  Every bit of change I will save and see how much I end up with after a month or so.  Prez bought a camera with hers….I think I will copy that as well!

I haven’t posted in a while.  Maybe its because nothing too significant has happened in our lives…although that is often a good thing!   Or maybe because I’m lazy (yep, that’s probably it). 

I’m gonna make a list!   Once again…I’m lazy.

• Abigail is potty trained.  Have I mentioned this?  We haven’t bought diapers or pull ups in almost 2 months.  Niiiice.
• Work is great.  I’m #7 of about 35 in number of job placements, which I’m very proud of. 
• Elkana is amazing.  I spent last weekend with him, and as always it was perfect.  Nothing exciting (except our chicken-pork-beef chinese food was crap-tastic…never going to Cafe Fiesta again!….but I got our bill cut in half!).  But amazing all the same.  Have I mentioned that I’m in loooove? Sappy and annoying, yep.  But it’s truuue.
• Weekends are tough for me.  I like to busy all the time.  I either want plans, or I want to be in Kentucky.  It’s almost impossible for Abigail and I to not go somewhere on both days of  the weekend (zoo, museum, other parks, anything but staying at home!).  I try to keep it budget friendly, but varying. 
• It seems like I write the same thing in every post: Elkana, Abigail, something to do on the weekends.  I need a hobby!!!

I’m very lucky to have parents that LOVE to spend time with their granddaughter.  If I ever ask them to watch her, undoubtedly the answer is yes.  And, being a single working mom, I really appreciate the chance to just unwind, even if just for a day.  Last weekend, my mom asked me if Abigail could come visit her the following weekend…and of course, I said yes. 

I think this might have been the first time I didn’t want her to go.  Let me explain….

Elkana had been here since Tuesday.  With  a weeklong break between his summer classes, he, of course, came to visit his 2 favorite girls. 

Just the three of us.  It was perfect.   It was a family. 

I’ve never been good at giving up control.  I’ve been told that I keep Abigail with me like a handbag (um whatever, if you know me, you know that I’d probably lose that handbag and I’ve never lost Abigail…yet!).  I like to do things my way.  But, with El, things are different.  He understands her.  And he understands me. 

On Tuesday night, El did the unthinkable.  He attempted to put Abigail to sleep.    Putting Abby to sleep is like pulling teeth.  I blame the 3 hour naps at daycare (I’m going to talk to them about that, I promise!).  But, she requires someone to lay with her and someone to “pat her back”.  Which actually means just put their arm around her (it’s actually kinda cute…but really a pain in the butt).  After an hour, I went to check on them.  Abigail and El were sitting up in bed, Ab was wearing Elkana’s watch and OVC XC medal, and they were playing catch with Schnoopy (who is a stuffed dog…Ab and El named him).  Elkana GLADLY relinquished bedtime duties back to me, but he definitely got an A for effort.

Each night, around 2:30am, Abigail would sneak into our bed, and wiggle her way between El and I.  And each morning, he would dress her while I got ready for work. 

It was so hard to let her go to Biz-Elle on Friday.  Well, at least, at first.  We enjoyed our weekend together, but many times, you could catch us quoting Abigail.

Reason #134759238 Elkana is perfect: He bought Abigail a Dora shirt as a gift.  And a Dora waterbottle and a Dora plate.  It’s so easy to buy this kid stuff…she’s so freaking greatful!  She immediately put the shirt on and told us that “My friends at daycare will love to see this shirt”.  And she slept with the water bottle! How can you not buy her everything!?!

Update 3: The Boo

I could say a lot.  But, when I was visiting Kentucky last weekend, this quote was in the book I was reading.

Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
~Shakespeare

True dat, Shakespeare.

And that’s THAT.