Welcome to July 2006
Our Engagement Photo, Spring 2005 & Wedding Photo, October 8th, 2005
Thank you for visiting. We update this page every few days.... check back soon!
Thank you for visiting. We update this page every few days.... check back soon!
July 13, 2006:
After 2 weeks of being away from this blog, moving, and studying, studying, hating those counseling books, studying.....
I PASSED MY L.P.C. TEST
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the FIRST (and last) try!!!
I PASSED MY L.P.C. TEST
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the FIRST (and last) try!!!
Well, let me fill you all in on all of the excitement of the last few days......
Bruce pretty much remained upstairs and did *everything* around the house on his own so that I could study (or, more specifically, CRAM) for the last few days. I EVEN turned down three overnights at work (and anyone who knows me knows that my giving up 27 hours of pay is a BIG deal) so that I could sleep well during the night, and then I got up early each day to continue studying. Most of my dreams were nightmares that (not surprisingly) dealt with my being overcome and fighting against unstoppable giant imaginary animals........hmm.....can you guess what the animals represented? :) What's your theory? :)
I AM SICK OF STUDYING COUNSELING THEORIES & HISTORICAL THEORISTS & STATISTICS & BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!!!!
Yesterday (Wednesday), I even got up at 4:30am to do some good last-minute cramming before leaving at 7am. Despte what the statistics claim, I have always studied the very best during cram time. And, it worked!!!
At 7am, after taking my shower and gathering all of my extra pencils/forms/and both of our watches (I wore both JUST incase one broke, I would still know how much time I had), I woke-up Bruce to stay good-bye. I asked him to not be mad/upset if I didn't pass my test, because I hadn't studied everything that I had wanted/planned to, a lot of the names/dates just wouldn't stay in my brain, and to watch me like a hawk the next few days, because if epilepsy is still in me, a seizure would likely appear yesterday or this week. Obviously, I was INCREDIBLY nervous at that point. He hugged me, said a heartfelt prayer while hugging me (which made me cry, and the stress tears took awhile to go away), and then he hugged me more while trying to re-assure me more before I had to leave.
After eating on the way (we had extra-brain-power eggs for breakfast and supper the evening before!), I got there at about 8am, and crammed more until I walked in the place at 8:50am. They locked up all of my things, including my pencils and my purse, and took me around the corner to an ALMOST sound-proof testing room (they gave me earplugs...and I used them....the more chance to block out ANY noises/movements the better). I was the only tester, and instead of a paper test (as I had expected), it was completely on the computer. I had 6 hours to take the test (4 regular plus 2 to accomodate my learning disability), so I made myself read every question and possible answer slowly (and usually several times over), and still finished in 5 hours. It was a VERY hard test, and they asked SO many detailed questions. I was glad that it was multiple-choice (or "multiple-guess"). I was pleased with myself, however, when I began to recognize that many of the questions were things that I know that I have learned and now think of as common fact since beginning my art therapy studies over the last 7 years. So, a lot of the answers really did come from my KNOWLEDGE, not just the silly names/dates. When I finished the test, I came back around the corner, and my results were coming off of the printer. And, *I PASSED!!!!!!!*
I called Bruce, Mom, and Debby on the way home, and later called Bruce's Mom/Dad and Grandma/Grandpa, too. When I got home, Bruce suggested that we go out to a dinner/movie date to celebrate....it was SO nice! :) I was EXCITED!!!!! I was SO told to expect not to pass the first time around. But, I DID!!! I DID!!!!! Now, once I turn in paperwork (and, of course, pay them another fee), I will get my license. All those companies who stated, "we'd love to hire you, but we can't until you are licensed." I want to go to ALL of them now. Soon, I will no longer HAVE to be cussed at daily by kids as a substitute teacher or by ignorant co-workers who don't speak English while I clean peoples' vomit/behinds as direct care. :) :) :)
Bruce pretty much remained upstairs and did *everything* around the house on his own so that I could study (or, more specifically, CRAM) for the last few days. I EVEN turned down three overnights at work (and anyone who knows me knows that my giving up 27 hours of pay is a BIG deal) so that I could sleep well during the night, and then I got up early each day to continue studying. Most of my dreams were nightmares that (not surprisingly) dealt with my being overcome and fighting against unstoppable giant imaginary animals........hmm.....can you guess what the animals represented? :) What's your theory? :)
I AM SICK OF STUDYING COUNSELING THEORIES & HISTORICAL THEORISTS & STATISTICS & BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!!!!
Yesterday (Wednesday), I even got up at 4:30am to do some good last-minute cramming before leaving at 7am. Despte what the statistics claim, I have always studied the very best during cram time. And, it worked!!!
At 7am, after taking my shower and gathering all of my extra pencils/forms/and both of our watches (I wore both JUST incase one broke, I would still know how much time I had), I woke-up Bruce to stay good-bye. I asked him to not be mad/upset if I didn't pass my test, because I hadn't studied everything that I had wanted/planned to, a lot of the names/dates just wouldn't stay in my brain, and to watch me like a hawk the next few days, because if epilepsy is still in me, a seizure would likely appear yesterday or this week. Obviously, I was INCREDIBLY nervous at that point. He hugged me, said a heartfelt prayer while hugging me (which made me cry, and the stress tears took awhile to go away), and then he hugged me more while trying to re-assure me more before I had to leave.
After eating on the way (we had extra-brain-power eggs for breakfast and supper the evening before!), I got there at about 8am, and crammed more until I walked in the place at 8:50am. They locked up all of my things, including my pencils and my purse, and took me around the corner to an ALMOST sound-proof testing room (they gave me earplugs...and I used them....the more chance to block out ANY noises/movements the better). I was the only tester, and instead of a paper test (as I had expected), it was completely on the computer. I had 6 hours to take the test (4 regular plus 2 to accomodate my learning disability), so I made myself read every question and possible answer slowly (and usually several times over), and still finished in 5 hours. It was a VERY hard test, and they asked SO many detailed questions. I was glad that it was multiple-choice (or "multiple-guess"). I was pleased with myself, however, when I began to recognize that many of the questions were things that I know that I have learned and now think of as common fact since beginning my art therapy studies over the last 7 years. So, a lot of the answers really did come from my KNOWLEDGE, not just the silly names/dates. When I finished the test, I came back around the corner, and my results were coming off of the printer. And, *I PASSED!!!!!!!*
I called Bruce, Mom, and Debby on the way home, and later called Bruce's Mom/Dad and Grandma/Grandpa, too. When I got home, Bruce suggested that we go out to a dinner/movie date to celebrate....it was SO nice! :) I was EXCITED!!!!! I was SO told to expect not to pass the first time around. But, I DID!!! I DID!!!!! Now, once I turn in paperwork (and, of course, pay them another fee), I will get my license. All those companies who stated, "we'd love to hire you, but we can't until you are licensed." I want to go to ALL of them now. Soon, I will no longer HAVE to be cussed at daily by kids as a substitute teacher or by ignorant co-workers who don't speak English while I clean peoples' vomit/behinds as direct care. :) :) :)
July 22, 2006
This last weekend, it was nice to see Bruce's Mom/Dad, as they stopped by here on thier way back from Holland (Michigan) to visit relatives there. They got here in the afternoon on Sunday, and stayed with us for the day, had excellent tacos with my Mom/Brett, and then stayed overnight (and were our first overnight guests here!). Unfortunately, I had to work the overnight Sunday night/Monday morning, but they waited until I arrived home asap, and then they left that morning.
As of Saturday, we still had many boxes to open and much cleaning to be done, so Saturday/Sunday morning ended up being quite the cleaning weekend. But, by the end of it, this place looked good! :) (And our goal now is to mega-clean every weekend, so that it stays looking this good.) All of the pictures are hung, and, for the first time ever, I have enough space/ledges to display ALL of my ceramic artwork!!! (Never thought THAT would happen...) We still have a very minor amount of unpacking/organizing yet to be done, but for the most part, we are finally moved in. (YEAH!!)
Then on Monday, I taught another dichroic glass class at the Ohio Craft Museum....we made bugs! (big dragonflies, little dragonflies, butterflies, ladybugs, and worms)....the kids loved it, and so, as a result, I had approximately 50 pieces to fire. That kiln has been working non-stop since Monday afternoon (it should be finished by Midnight tonight <Saturday>). Then, on Monday, I'll teach there again ("puzzle pieces," which are much smaller so will only take a few days to fire). Throughout this whole week, Bruce has been doing a lot with the firing process....as he put it the other day, "I never thought that I'd get into something like that, but it's interesting!" What a good husband he is. :)
Also this week, Bruce got word that National City will be shipping him to Chicago for all of August to do the reconciling job that he did here until a month ago. We're still waiting until things are finalized within the next few days, but it looks excellent. They'll give him a company car to drive and use while there, they'll give him a hotel room, they'll fly him home/back every weekend, he'll be given "at least" 10 hours of worktime (aka lots of O.T.) every day, good pay, and when Bruce ends the job, his severance pay will be re-instated right away. They asked Bruce how long that he wanted to have the job, and Bruce told them "about a month;" so about a month it is. National City likes Bruce....too bad the dimwits didn't see that when they decided to cut him!
This last weekend, it was nice to see Bruce's Mom/Dad, as they stopped by here on thier way back from Holland (Michigan) to visit relatives there. They got here in the afternoon on Sunday, and stayed with us for the day, had excellent tacos with my Mom/Brett, and then stayed overnight (and were our first overnight guests here!). Unfortunately, I had to work the overnight Sunday night/Monday morning, but they waited until I arrived home asap, and then they left that morning.
As of Saturday, we still had many boxes to open and much cleaning to be done, so Saturday/Sunday morning ended up being quite the cleaning weekend. But, by the end of it, this place looked good! :) (And our goal now is to mega-clean every weekend, so that it stays looking this good.) All of the pictures are hung, and, for the first time ever, I have enough space/ledges to display ALL of my ceramic artwork!!! (Never thought THAT would happen...) We still have a very minor amount of unpacking/organizing yet to be done, but for the most part, we are finally moved in. (YEAH!!)
Then on Monday, I taught another dichroic glass class at the Ohio Craft Museum....we made bugs! (big dragonflies, little dragonflies, butterflies, ladybugs, and worms)....the kids loved it, and so, as a result, I had approximately 50 pieces to fire. That kiln has been working non-stop since Monday afternoon (it should be finished by Midnight tonight <Saturday>). Then, on Monday, I'll teach there again ("puzzle pieces," which are much smaller so will only take a few days to fire). Throughout this whole week, Bruce has been doing a lot with the firing process....as he put it the other day, "I never thought that I'd get into something like that, but it's interesting!" What a good husband he is. :)
Also this week, Bruce got word that National City will be shipping him to Chicago for all of August to do the reconciling job that he did here until a month ago. We're still waiting until things are finalized within the next few days, but it looks excellent. They'll give him a company car to drive and use while there, they'll give him a hotel room, they'll fly him home/back every weekend, he'll be given "at least" 10 hours of worktime (aka lots of O.T.) every day, good pay, and when Bruce ends the job, his severance pay will be re-instated right away. They asked Bruce how long that he wanted to have the job, and Bruce told them "about a month;" so about a month it is. National City likes Bruce....too bad the dimwits didn't see that when they decided to cut him!
July 28, 2006
This week has pretty much been our status quo. Bruce is now officially going to Chicago on Sunday afternoon, and then flying home for the weekend next weekend. National City is still working out the details as we speak, but at least he knows where he'll be living for a week ("Courtyard by Marriott" by Chicago's Midway airport) and will be driving a rental car. More will be documented as I know it. ;)
On Sunday night, I did have a slight meltdown surrounding the fact that Bruce will (primarily) be gone for at least a month, even though we'll be talking every night like we used to when we were 2 hours apart. I didn't realize that what I was saying was just hurtful frustration until Bruce looked beyond my words, put his arms around me, and quietly asked me what what wrong. Once I calmed down, I apologized to him. At times like that, I am really glad that somehow God chose Bruce for me. He is truely my best friend and a wonderful husband. I mean, I am very happy for his opportunity there, don't get me wrong, but I am worried too. And, we're still newlyweds....I mean, I still LIKE to come home to him! (Even if he's sound asleep when I come home at midnight.) Also, with me on Clomid right now, they say the timing is everything. So, seeing my husband only on the weekends for at least the next month isn't something I'm entirely excited about. If finances get slightly better this month (aka, if I sell a lot of pieces at the art show), we talked about the possibility of me going to Chicago for his last weekend there. I would love to go back to their history museum and especially show Bruce the Art Institute of Chicago Museum....oh, how I would've loved to go there for my Master's....except the pricetag was about $35,000 per year <gasp!>. In my opinion, Chicago is comparible to or perhaps better than Cleveland for thier promotion of the visual and performing arts. That is definately an area that Columbus is known (overall) to be lacking in.
This week has pretty much been our status quo. Bruce is now officially going to Chicago on Sunday afternoon, and then flying home for the weekend next weekend. National City is still working out the details as we speak, but at least he knows where he'll be living for a week ("Courtyard by Marriott" by Chicago's Midway airport) and will be driving a rental car. More will be documented as I know it. ;)
On Sunday night, I did have a slight meltdown surrounding the fact that Bruce will (primarily) be gone for at least a month, even though we'll be talking every night like we used to when we were 2 hours apart. I didn't realize that what I was saying was just hurtful frustration until Bruce looked beyond my words, put his arms around me, and quietly asked me what what wrong. Once I calmed down, I apologized to him. At times like that, I am really glad that somehow God chose Bruce for me. He is truely my best friend and a wonderful husband. I mean, I am very happy for his opportunity there, don't get me wrong, but I am worried too. And, we're still newlyweds....I mean, I still LIKE to come home to him! (Even if he's sound asleep when I come home at midnight.) Also, with me on Clomid right now, they say the timing is everything. So, seeing my husband only on the weekends for at least the next month isn't something I'm entirely excited about. If finances get slightly better this month (aka, if I sell a lot of pieces at the art show), we talked about the possibility of me going to Chicago for his last weekend there. I would love to go back to their history museum and especially show Bruce the Art Institute of Chicago Museum....oh, how I would've loved to go there for my Master's....except the pricetag was about $35,000 per year <gasp!>. In my opinion, Chicago is comparible to or perhaps better than Cleveland for thier promotion of the visual and performing arts. That is definately an area that Columbus is known (overall) to be lacking in.
