lock box

Wonder what we're up to?  This photo pretty much sums it up.  Its a keybox so that our house can be seen by potential buyers.  

We got our house listed last week and have already had 4 showings --- keeping the house show ready is not easy, and I have NO idea how folks with kids do it!   Making the bed, cleaning the kitchen, keeping all of our stuff put away and getting myself and the dog out in time for last minute showings has kept me running.

I know its worth it because the more showings we have the sooner we will have an offer (I hope).

I know folks will ask why we are moving again so soon (been in our current place 2 1/2 years).  We'd originally thought we'd stay longer, but long term we need more space, less stairs, and a yard (and pool!).  We debated waiting another year, but knowing we will need to move it just seems like the right time to do it, and honestly this is already our compromise -- I wanted to be here through Super Bowl (to enjoy our proximity to all the festivities), and once that came and went we got serious about listing.

Moving is never easy, and this one IS the last one for a long time.....

a funny observation...I realized that most people buy a house to give their kids a yard....we will buy a house to give my husband (and dog) a true yard (again).....



**a week later, i had to title this 'lock box' and oh yes, believe me i keep saying put it in a lock box...

Home Alone

Kevin is at his first ever out of town (actually out of state) conference.     I considered going with him (I really want to be a tag along on a conference), but several factors - including it being a week earlier than we first thought - made us decide it would make more sense for me not to go.   Which means, that for the first time since his grad school days I'm home for a few days without him.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm excited -- total TV control!   plus I can starfish across our bed if I want to.     Sure I will miss him, but making the best of it - no sports and I can watch the shows that pile up on the DVR since he's not a fan...

Space Center Houston

 I just got back from my annual professional conference.   This year it was held locally - Clear Lake - and while I'm a bit bummed I didn't get to go to another part of the state, it worked out pretty well as I was able to minimize my nights away (good since our dog needs pills every morning and night now) and still get to participate in the professional development and networking opportunities.

One evening I also got to spend time at Space Center Houston, I haven't been there in at least a decade and before that my last visit was probably a grade school field trip.  While there, I kept thinking why don't I come here, its so close!  I'm already looking at planning a trip back with Kevin.

One of our general session speakers was sick and they were able to get an ASTRONAUT to come to speak to us in her place.  I have to admit I was more excited about the replacement speaker (though I do wish our original speaker a speedy recovery).  He (Col Ken Cameron) was fascinating (and funny!) to listen to, and it was interesting to hear about NASA as a company, they have communication and bureaucracy problems, like any employer.   I loved his pictures and stories about time in space -- they took Blue Bell ice cream with them when they docked with the Mir space station....Blue Bell has been eaten in space!!!

I highly recommend you visit Space Center Houston if you are ever in Houston, and I also brought back many ideas to try out at work.

Super Bowl Festivities

We've been enjoying the Super Bowl festivities in downtown, leading up to the big game on Sunday.

I asked Kevin just last night if he found it weird he's been into downtown 3 times this week - I go every day (for work), but he doesn't generally get down there this much!   It is weird but in a good way -- one trip to take it all in (so much hustle and bustle doesn't even feel like the same city), another trip to meet me after my volunteer shift (we intended to go to NFL Experience but ran out of time after grabbing dinner at Biggio's and deciding it better to go on a night we didn't have work the next day).   We had fun people watching and happened to see the red carpet to a gala, lots of NFL hall of famers; and then last night we finally made it inside.

I was glad to finally get to see NFL Experience as a spectator.    We wandered the whole area -- lots of football events, green screens, even a Skittles locker room!  We stopped into a section to see the referee calls and were able to watch a panel discussion of a former QB and former referee talk about their experiences and answer questions, even my lifelong football fan of a husband learned a few new things.  

We also wandered through Discovery Green (park) and the city blocks connected that are blocked off for free events --- the area is unrecognizable!   Some of the best things we saw are not even part of the event, just kids being kids -- an impromptu dance-off, and they were good!

We saw a lot of food options - food trucks galore, but opted to head out of the festivities to eat at a restaurant, sitting and having the food brought to me was a winner!

I have one more shift today, should be busy being the weekend of the big game.  My volunteering is going well -- it has made me feel more of a part of the festivities; my assignments have all been at "NFL Experience" inside the convention center.     Seeing the kids so excited to do anything football (I helped retrieve and set up balls for punt, pass kick one shift) is the best!   Some kids are so tiny, and some adults become like kids again.

Resolutions

oops.  I just realized this never posted -- two weeks late but here are my new year's resolutions


Looking at my past resolutions, I probably need to quit making resolutions...oh well....I like to make these declarations with the turn of the year, and want to work at keeping them, here they are:

• work related: begin reading chronicle of higher ed 
• stop cursing -- its gotten a bit out of control in recent years... 
• move this year - this is a big one, I hate that we are going to move again so soon, but while the townhouse is fun (and we LOVE the area), its not going to work for us long term -- lack of yard, little storage, and so many stairs (main level has no bathroom, so any time we need to go to restroom its up or down a flight of stairs)--sadly I have this situation at work right now TOO! 
• take a cooking class
• read 17 books this year 
• Participate in online weight loss program I signed up for through my health insurance 
• Stop wasting time on computer.....figure out plans and do those things - I can spend so much time on the computer and not have any idea what I did, so I want to plan what I want to do -- even if that is skim facebook, pinterest...
• Finish a crochet project - I've got a good start on this one!

I've actually finished a crochet project (beanie for K), and we've started on moving plans (well, at this point selling plans) -- got a storage unit to help with getting place ready for showings.  I've also been to two online meetings with my