Finally!

Devon was hired onto his current job with a less than desirable schedule, but after months of looking we had no choice but to take it. We just held onto the hope that his schedule would change before basketball season. But after many months of rumors and quasi promises that he would be moved to an earlier shift we had just about given up hope. Until last week, when we gave up all hope as he was moved to another department. When they moved him they made it very clear that this department was open till 10pm and someone would need to be there. We were devastated, not only was he not being changed to an earlier schedule, he was getting forced into a later schedule. We both had it! After some less then desirable thoughts about his company, we decided if they were going to do this, he was going to start looking for another job, ASAP! Well, I'm happy to say, but a little embarrassed to admit that after all the trash talking, they told him they were putting him on the 7-3 schedule. WHAT A BLESSING! Now, he'll get to referee, as much as his little heart desires. Which is great for two reasons: 1. He LOVES it! 2. It's all extra cash in our pocket.

Now that Devon is working a earlier shift, it means that I get to go into work earlier. So, I decided to start working 4 ten hours days. That way Devon and I can get up at the same time and with his referring we'd get home about the same time and I have a whole extra day off during the week. This is only the first official day of our new schedule, but I'm already loving it!

Advantages of Marriage

There are lots of advantages to being married, never having to go home alone, someone to mow the lawn and waking up next to a very handsome man every morning. But one of my favorite advantages was FINALLY becoming an aunt. My family isn't really known for being very productive in the whole baby making business, so at the ripe old age of 26 I was still nephew-nieceless. But then I met Devon and on May 30th I become the aunt of 1 niece and 3 nephews. Only a few months later I had 2 more nieces. A big thank you to Devon for allowing me the opportunity to have some of the cutest nieces and nephews around! (And to their parents for making such cute kids)

Bringing Out the Big Guns

I just think this is super cute! (Ignore grumpy Devon at the end...)

Wanted - Dead or Alive!

Earlier this week we had a flyer taped to our front door by a neighbor neither of us really knows. Apparently this person canvassed the whole subdivision with the notices that were captioned by a large "$50 Reward" headline.

What is the reward for, you ask? Information leading to the identification of a dog owner.

The full-page flyer includes a grainy black-and-white photo of the dog suspected of decorating this person's yard, and an excerpt from a city ordinance proclaiming the illegality of allowing your dogs to crap on someone else's lawn.

This neighbor says that he has "tried everything" to keep the dogs off his yard (except the old fashion .22, I suppose), and it "was the last straw!" when he and his son found new deposits in his grass TWICE this week.

He leaves his name and phone number and promises to anonymously reward the person who tells him the owner of the dog(s) he describes.

Who knew that in these trying economic times, such a problem could be so consuming, that you would not only offer a fair amount of money to entice a snitch, but also spend the significant time it must have taken to distribute the flyers all around Hawks Landing?

I could definitely use the $50, but even if I did know the identity of the scandalous dog owner, I think it would be much more fun to keep the information to myself and see if this neighbor takes even more drastic measures to squash out such an apparently outrageous problem.

My Husband

This is a little late, but too good not to share. Here are a series of text messages between Devon and I on July 15th...

Devon: 9:47am Im running the dishwasher. If I don't have time to do the dished before I leave you are forbidden from touching them.

D: 9:50am And were all out of dishwasher detergent.

Annette: 10:01am I'll grab some on my way home, I have to go to Wal Mart anyway.

D: 11:31am Baby. Near disaster! It involved the dishwasher. A stupid mistake by me. And lots of paper towels. But don't worry. Everything is fine.

A: 11:34am What'd ya do?????

A:12:40pm So ur gonna leave me hanging and not tell me what happened??

D: 1:01pm Just a little water on the kitchen floor. Didn't have time to make the bed or do the dishes because I had to clean up. But I think Hamilton (our cat) was entertained.

A: 1:08pm How did water get on the floor??

D: 1:48pm Don't ask questions. Just accept the facts.

By this time I'm starting to put 2 and 2 together...

A: 2:10pm You put dish soap in the dishwasher, didn't you?

D: 3:03pm You'll never know unless you can get Hamilton to sing.

A: 3:10pm I bet I can make you sing...

Sure enough I was able to make him sing. We didn't have enough dish washing detergent to fill the whole tray, so he supplemented the difference with dish soap. Lo and behold suds began to flow from the dishwasher and covered the kitchen floor. Luckily he was home to advert catastrophe! The only sad thing: I wasn't there to see it!

My husband may not be perfect, but he sure tries and I LOVE him for it!!!

Lazy weekday mornings.

I spent two weeks in job training working from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Once I finished training I was assigned a team and started working at 7:30 a.m. - not a bad schedule, really.

Well, after one week of that there were some personnel shakeups and I've gotten put on the noon to 8 p.m. shift. I'm not very excited about the change, especially since Annette leaves for work at around 7 in the morning. Now, here I am sitting at home a little after 8 a.m. wondering what I'm going to do for the next three hours.

There is some house cleaning and dish washing to be done after being away at the family reunion all weekend. I could read a chapter of two of the book I've been working on. I could do some long-overdue Japanese study I never seem to have time to fit in. It looks like I'll have to start going to the gym in the mornings instead of late afternoons like I'd planned.

I think working the afternoon/evening shift is a lot more fun when you're single and can stay up as late as you want...

0% Unemployment Rate

That's right, the Black household has hit an unemployment rate of 0%! After almost four months I've finally found a job!! And the best part, I'm actually excited about it. I'll be working for the state. This is a completely new field to me, so there's a lot to learn, but I'm sooooo up for the challenge. Besides just being excited for the job itself, I'm excited I'm working for the State. First of all we'll get GREAT benefits. Second, I'll get off EVERY state holiday. Third, two words....JOB SECURITY!

It's been pretty discouraging the last few months, getting rejected by job after job after job. Every time I'd find out I didn't get a job Devon would say, "you just weren't meant to get that one, there's another that's better for you." I tried to believe it, but it was hard. But, as much as I hate to say it, Devon was right. In terms of job responsibility, security, pay, benefits, work environment and long term career goals, this jobs is heads and tails above all the others I've interviewed for. I am very blessed I was not offered any of those other jobs, leaving me open and available for this opportunity.