Winter Wonderland

Big News!! I turned in my 2 week notice at work on January 4, 2010. My last day at work was January 15, 2010!!

I've been spending my days getting our new house in order. All the boxes were unloaded into the garage. I unpack the boxes, bring in items, and put the items in their new homes. All boxes and packing materials stay in the garage. Anyone who has ever done a major military move will understand how nice it is to not bring the boxes and paper inside. When the packers pack military families, they use lots and lots and lots of paper. So, our house is not cluttered and we can enjoy it. All the boxes in the garage have been opened, but I am now to the point that I have a hard time finding homes for items that are left.

We still have a few items at our old house. It would only take a day of work to empty the house, but there are two major problems. One, the weather. It is either raining, freezing cold, snowing, or a combination of the three. Two, Tide Guy is traveling frequently for work. He has only been home a number of days this year. I have loaded my car a few times, but I can't get the big items and it is just too cold to stay in that house for a period of time.

All of our new furniture has been delivered. We still need end tables and maybe a coffee table for the family room. I've looked a few times, but can't find anything I really like. That, or the pieces are just too big for the area. It is wonderful to sleep in our new bed with the king size mattress that has been in storage for three years. It is so nice to see the house beginning to look like we want. We haven't hung any pictures since we are not sure of some furniture placement. That is the last thing we will do.

We had measurements done yesterday for plantation shutters. We hope to have those installed within 4-5 weeks.

We have had so much snow this year. I haven't seen this much snow in years. I even made snow cream. I have some great pictures of the house covered in snow.

Saturday, Tide Guy and I went to Tuscaloosa for the First Annual A Club BBQ Cookoff. The A Club had many former players signing autographs on the field. When I walked into the stadium, Derrick Oden gave me the pamphlet for the day. I was star struck immediately. Tables were set up on the field for former players to sign autographs. They started with players from the 60s, then each decade had a turn. Also, many players were roaming on the field signing autographs, too. We also got a tour of the field house. Mike hit the "WIN" bar that all the players hit as they leave to go to the field for a game. I couldn't reach it, so he picked me up so I could hit it, too. I also sat on Mark Ingram's stool in the locker room. Some of the players we saw: Coach (and player) Ray Perkins, Paul Hogan, Derrick Oden, Jay Barker, Wesley Britt, Tyler Britt, Jeremiah Castille, Chris Rogers, Tyler Watts, Dr. Gary White, Mal Moore, LaRon McClain, John Copeland, John Moore, and dozens more. The players were all so very nice. They all thanked us for coming and supporting them both on the field when they played and in their efforts to raise money. We enjoyed watching them interact with each other, too. The 60s players were giving each other a hard time about different plays or things that happened. It was incredible to walk on the field of Bryant-Denny Stadium. From the field view, the stadium seems so much smaller that sitting in our seats looking down Saturdays in the fall. We had so much fun and I can't wait to go again next year.

Afterwards, we went to the Colosseum for the Bama/Arkansas basketball game. Bama had no chance of winning and they played that way during the first half. Something happened in the second half and Bama actually turned it around and won.

In national news, gas is down to about $2.49 or so. The economy is horrible and the employment rate keeps getting worse. Houses are being abandoned every day because people can't make their payments. Luckily, the health care issue seems to be stalled, at least for now.

In adoption news, it looks bleak. Rumors are rampant that China wants all international adoptions to become special needs. We have been "in line" for over two years for non-special needs. Another rumor is China expects to refer more babies this year, but not really speed up. I don't know exactly how that can happen, but it doesn't look promising.

Time to get working on the boxes in the garage.....Oh, there is snow outside right now!

Tide Gal