Classical Conditioning

Well, we are a couple sickies this weekend. We've got some sort of cold/body ache going on.  Last night, we passed out on the family room floor/couch early last night after watching one of the lamest movies ever. I still don't know why I stayed up because I was so exhausted and it was so terrible.

So, our cat Scout can be very hyper. I think it's because he is the equivalent of a 4th grade boy. As such, with the advent of the Christmas tree, Cory and I have had to start his holiday training. Hopefully it won't be his annual holiday training. See, last year, we left the tree up until May (okay, we were too lazy to box it up, so we just moved it into the guest room).

According to Cory, 'kitten' Scout used to climb the tree.  I don't doubt that, because Scout also seems to think he can drink out of my parent's fridge water dispenser (true story, my Mom saw him clinging onto the ledge for dear life).

Well, grown up Scout in his lion like glory is not welcome climbing up my Christmas tree.

So, this is his training:

1. Delaney puts up Christmas tree. Part of the lights don't work. She spends hours trying to fix the lights.

2. Scout is frolicking all around the living room in chaotic excitement. He also tries to suck on the branches and jump through the branches.

3. Delaney yells and beats him. OKAY, okay, PETA. I'm just kidding. More like a good, healthy, swat.

4. Delaney comes home to find a big hole in the middle (can't currently find my camera). Either the tree collapsed in on itself, or Scout took a nap there, hurled himself at the tree in joy, etc.

5. Delaney spends ages getting the beaded garland positioned just right on the tree.

6. Scout wiggles his hips and tries to chase garland.

7. Delaney yells at Scout.

8. Delaney spends hours putting ornaments on tree.

9. Scout paws at ornaments on tree, knocks them off, and wrestles with them. He continues sucking on tree branches.

10. Yelling and beating, swatting, commence. We whip out the spray bottle.

11. He's still the cutest cat ever.

In other news, a friend of mine (the one who told me that he was Maine Coon), told me about the Raw Food diet for cats. Basically that means feeding your cat raw meat. I know, I know, (really, I do) that it sounds crazy. My dad is an ultra germaphobe, especially about things like raw meat. So, if my cat dies by Christmas...it's all me.

But, really, my cat totally pounced on and promptly killed a mouse (it was in our family room!) earlier this spring. He then tried to eat it raw, in my house. That was of course a negative and we shook it out of his mouth onto the porch (and...it was gone in the morning. which is just wrong). So, when you think about it, cats always have eaten raw mice, birds, rabbits, etc. So, I have tried giving him some meat...to see if he likes it. Just a little meat. Yes, I know I'm crazy.

He likes chicken, beef, turkey liver/heart (Thanksgiving), and turkey neck. Pork didn't agree with him. No worries, we still currently leave out the 24 hour kibble buffet. And, he's still as massive as ever. But he is not fat (yet); it's all bone and fur. His goal in life is to never turn into this tub of lard:

My parent's fat cat, Smudge, who almost killed my dad. Too lazy to stand to eat :)

Disclaimer: I don't really beat my cat.

Hand Models

Can I just say that this video is slightly creepy? But, she does have good looking hands. She has an impressive portfolio. That link only shows a handful of stuff she has done. Still, she's a bit of a nutter.

Murphy's Law

So, last week I had an interview for a school receptionist position that I felt pretty good about and I quite wanted to get. Now, let me preface this by saying that I have applied to 30 jobs in Crowley ISD, and about 10-15 via other districts and Craigslist. I've interviewed for a handful.

I've been substitute teaching since October. So, while I do like my "job," I certainly do not love it. So, I'm always looking for something better (especially if it has benefits!). Well, I told myself to not get my hopes up because I probably wouldn't get it. And I didn't. Naturally.

I'm starting to get a complex. Now, don't worry, I know I'm going to get a better job. Eventually. I figure Heavenly Father is trying to teach me a lesson. Since I obviously haven't learned it, I've been brainstorming.

1. I 'm supposed to have a baby. Okay, moving on, that's not it! Let's learn that lesson in a couple years.

2. Cory's theory is that I'm supposed to realize that I shouldn't focus on money. I fixate on saving money. The plan was for us to pocket my entire teaching paycheck, pay off all of his student loans in a year, and save up a 10-20% down payment for a home. Since I didn't get a teaching job, I've focused more on being a bit more frugal so we can still slowly meet our goals.

3. I would have had a mental breakdown balancing starting a brand new school year, moving into a brand new townhouse, moving to a brand new city, and supporting Cory in a brand new job, while he worked 80-90 hours a week...possible. Okay, fine, very possible.

4. I'll meet some great contact subbing that will lead me to a great opportunity....we'll see.

Well, until I figure it out, Let's go with this last option:

5. Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong".

I'm currently leaning towards this one because while I am frustrated I don't have a better job, I'm almost just as frustrated with my jaw. I seriously think I have Temporomandibular joint disorder. Why? Because my jaw locks and pops nearly constantly.

It's probably all my fault. In case you were ever wondering what the best type of gum on earth is...it's Orbit Sweet Mint. I went through the Costco sized packs in college (especially my senior year) like no one's business.

And the most disgusting type of gum? Orbit Lemon Lime. It tastes like cleaning supplies. I'm serious.

Anyways, the addiction mellowed a bit my first year teaching, but the damage had been done.

My jaw started popping and getting stuck in 2009. Last Friday night, the tally was 20 times in an hour. However, sometimes it is more or less. It's ALWAYS annoying. Especially when I have to do this very talented poke and pull deal to unlock my jaw every. single. morning. So, I've been looking into doctors/dentists...but we only have health insurance. No dental.

Here are some things that will always happen (sooner or later):

Variation Law
If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now. SO TRUE

Law of Close Encounters
The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you look really disgusting.

Law of Mechanical Repair
After your hands become coated with grease (or baking batter, dirt, etc.), your nose will begin to itch and you’ll have to pee.


Law of Physical Surfaces
If you drop an open-faced jam sandwich or peanut butter toast, it will land face down on the carpet or rug. Especially if the carpet is brand new.

Wilson’s Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy
As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.


Law of Probability
The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of Random Numbers
If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

The New Dating

So, Cory and I have an analogy about making friends after you get  married. It really is the new dating.

So, let's outline the steps of starting a relationship.

First, it starts out with some attraction. You see the couple at church or something and think, "Hey, they look cool, we should be friends with them!" (Note: be careful with this. Just like in dating, some weird couples look all too normal).

Next, you might try and casually get to know them. Maybe you introduce yourselves, find out where they're from, what they do for a living, etc. Hopefully this leads to the big hurdle: the first date: So, you give the couple a call or go up to them, and invite them over. For a movie, dinner, games, something fun, whatever.

Now, sometimes the couple is busy and can't make it to the original first date. So, maybe you ask them again. And, maybe, if you're a sucker like Cory and me, you might even ask them several times.

Or, they accept! So, you go on the date. You try and make a good impression, like, hey, just so you know... we are really fun people. But, here is where you might compare this date to other dates. Is this couple as fun as that one other couple? But, even more, you wonder...do they like us back?

So, maybe they could come over for that first date. So, then you invite them over for a second.

Will they call back? Is this relationship one sided?

At some point, you realize you are indeed that awkward guy that can't take a hint. So, you decide that you'll stop inviting them over and see if they reciprocate. This is when you realize that they're just not that into you.

But, every so often, you find that gem of a couple. You know the one. They invite you over as much as you invite them. The wives like each other and the husbands like each other. They are fun. They laugh at your jokes, you start to get really comfortable hanging out, and before you know it, you have a couple friend. 

Cory and I invited two couples over for dinner today. Both were epic fails (they were both busy). Are we weird?

Oh well, we have a fun night planned anyway. We had a great dinner where we talked about some traditions we'd like to do with our future family. Now, when Cory finishes planning his observation lesson (by the principal...but he's not even fazed. he's awesome), we'll go on a long missed Sunday walk and watch Harry Potter 3 (and maybe 4, or Iron Man 2).

The End of Football!

Although it has been fun watching Cory start his first coaching job, it has been a major time commitment. So, although it was disappointing to not make the playoffs, Friday night's game marks the beginning of...weekends off!

So, on Cory's first Saturday afternoon off, we finally organized our garage! We are storing some extra furniture in our garage that won't fit in our house. Plus, we have all of my school stuff since I don't have my own class this year. So, we put together our shelving units and organized everything. It felt so good to get it done and be able to park in the garage again!

The next project is cleaning out the mini fridge my parents gave us for Cory's classroom.

Saturday night, we used our first Groupon at Los Vaqueros. Cory and I absolutely love going out to eat. But, we like to stay within a certain restaurant budget. So, I've been looking for Groupons at Fort Worth restaurants. 

I know that many people think that going out to eat is a total waste of money and they don't factor it into their budget. I totally respect that. But, for us, eating out is a way that we love to spend time together. For us, it is an investment in our relationship. We know that we could have date nights that involve free activities, but eating out is our date of choice. 

Last night at dinner, we were talking about why we love eating out so much. A huge part of our friendship was going out to eat together every Thursday night for pretty much a whole semester. This gradually bled into a weekly Saturday night date. We continued the tradition when we started dating and we've gone out most weeks since we've been married. It makes us still feel like we're dating. It always give us a chance to sit and talk about what has been going on. We always laugh and enjoy each other's company. It's so much fun.

The restaurant had some old carnival games (guess your weight, etc.). We started out the night by getting ripped off by the"Sex Appeal Meter." I had the camera ready in case Cory got "blah" or "clammy" :) He said that would be ridiculous. He said it was no surprise that he got "burning."

Because that particular light bulb looked a little more used than the others, I said it was broken and that it always tells people they're burning. He insisted we blow another quarter to test it.

So, it was a good thing that it was broken (or that we're just ridiculously attractive), because I think my self esteem would have gone down if I had then gotten "blah" after Cory got "burning."

We enjoyed our chile rellenos, sour cream chicken enchiladas, and strawberry sopapilla! It was a great night made more affordable by Groupon!

We finished the night off by picking up a fire log and snagging some Halloween stuff for 90% off. We had a great evening hanging out in front of a fire in our fireplace. We've never lived in a place with a fireplace before, so we were pretty excited.

Cory is loving having his weekends back. Right now, he is chilling downstairs on our couch watching a BBC Robin Hood (well he might be napping by now...) in none else but our...SNUGGIE! This was a gift from Tristan for...well, I think it was just because we're awesome.

In his words, "I can wear a blanket and still have my hands free!" Yes, yes, we know it's sexy. Back off girls, he's mine.

Happy Halloween!

Last night, Cory and I went to a coworker's Halloween party. It was a rowdy night (not for us) with some drunken yelling, a man dressed in nothing but vines and a speedo, scantily clad women (young and old), a Rangers win, and a large amount of beer (well coke and 7up for us). It may make me sound naive, but it was my first party with alcohol (besides some parties with my mom's side of the family with some social drinking of wine). It was pretty different than the Halloween party we went to last year (where we played Mafia and Cory dominated). Although we had a nice time with the coaches Cory works with, it made me very glad that my husband does not drink :) Although, yes, it did provide some laughs.

So, last year we made our costumes very last minute. We painted leftover wedding boxes to be dice and we were maybe still a little soggy from the paint. This year we could actually fit through doors! We ended up going as Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd. We trimmed up Cory's beard (it started out being very bushy and 14 inches long) but left it longer than Abe's so it would be obvious who he was. My hat and hair were definitely too flamboyant for Mary Todd, and Cory is maybe just a little shorter than President Lincoln :) But, we were going for dramatic effect. Plus, some of you know that Cory wants to name one of our kids Lincoln.

 The best part was that people actually automatically knew who we were! They kept calling us Abe and Mrs. Lincoln. Plus, since I had to wear a wig and color in my eyebrows, some of the coaches had a tough time recognizing me (yes, they may or may not have been a little drunk). Cory said he couldn't get over how different I looked. After leaving the party, we went to IHOP still decked out. It was a little embarrassing.

Cory in my Dad's old coattails and me in one of my old musical costumes from 10th grade

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

We forgot to buy candy last night in our tired stupor after the party, so we're being scrooges and pretending we're not home!

Happy Haunting!

Check out my beautiful flowers that my father in law gave me!

The jury is still out on what Cory and I are being for Halloween. Don't you worry, we have options.

After much procrastination, I decorated our house for Halloween last Sunday. Although the mantle is a little more bare than I'd like, we are still feeling pretty festive!

this one is our favorite!

Mr. Bones & our eyeballs :)

I thought I might light my hair on fire making these babies!

only 3 more days!

Utah Trip!

We get to go back to Utah for a few days at the end of January! Although we were very excited to return to Texas after Cory graduated, we made some wonderful friends in Utah. Southwest had a great 48 hour sale ($60 one way to SLC!). Cory really wanted to go snowboarding so we got these as an early birthday present for him. So, he is going to take a couple days off from school and we're going to go visit some friends!

We're hoping to hit up some of our old favorites, including:

• Although we really love the sushi place we have found in Fort Worth (we've been there 3 or 4 times since we moved here) we will definitely be heading back to Asuka with Jeff. Definitely. 

• Staying with Gramma & Papa for a couple days. I lived with them my senior year of college while Cory and I were dating. He actually told me he loved me at their house, proposed at their house, etc. etc. I came to Austin for a couple days this week to see Gramma while she was visiting. 

• Seeing Cory's old roommates. We really miss them. Here is us with them at Cafe Rio.

Tristan, Russell, Stuart, Mitchell, Cory, Delaney, & Jeff

• Probably hitting up our old date spot YoZone.

• And, we'd love to see some of our very very favorite Utah people...the Dyes. We hung out with them a lot while we lived in Saratoga Springs and we haven't found an adequate replacement. What do you say Kathy?

• And of course snowboarding at Sundance or Snowbird!

Representing Dallas in UT

Ready to hit the slopes!

We are really excited! Even though it will be beyond frigid and I've really been enjoying our 80 degree October days...

10.14.10

So, I'm sometimes a little scatterbrained. On Monday, I lost the keys to our car while we were at Cory's parent's house. So, we had to sleep in Arlington (with no overnight things), borrow his mom's car, and wake up at 5:15 so I could drive Cory to work. It was AWESOME. The best part was that we couldn't see the keys in the car and I could not figure out where I left them. Well, actually maybe the best part was the fact that it's our only set of keys. Or that it had our house key on it so we were locked out. I guess it's a toss up.

So, after taking Cory to work, I sat in the car in the parking lot for two hours (okay, it was like 6:30am so it's not like I was going to go and run all my errands) until the apartment office opened and could let us into our house. I was about to go to the dealership to buy a new set of keys (pricy!) when Haley (Cory's sister) said that my keys had gotten buried under the carseat in her car! yay!

So, I drove up to Frisco, made a quick leisurely trip to IKEA, and got my keys. Then, I drove to Arlington to trade Cory's mom's car for my car. Then, I drove back to my house. Yeah, that only took most of the day.

I'd like to say things like this don't happen all the time. But, then earlier tonight I felt something under my shirt. I had my pearl necklace chilling in my bra...No, they didn't fall off while I was wearing them. Apparently it seemed like a good idea when I was in a hurry for work at 7:15am to stash them there until I had time to put them on. So, I wore my pearls in my shirt all day.

I decided to be a substitute. I think it will help me meet lots of teachers and help people know me at different schools. I've done a few days and it's been pretty good :) I actually already had a teacher request me back. I loved his class and kind of wish it were mine so I was happy to do it. As always, we're horrible at taking pictures, but I will take some of the baby shower for Christine this weekend! I'm heading to Austin tomorrow to get ready for that and coming back Saturday.

Until then, here's an oldie, but always a good one.

Scavenger Hunt

So, I spent the last 6 days in Austin doing a window washing project. Cory got very very lonely. In his words, "I've never missed you that much." Not even when we were apart for 5 weeks when we were engaged? Let's just say that Cory is a really social and touchy-feely person and without me or his best friend Jeff, he is a lonely man.

Anyways, so he was really insistent that I be home on Tuesday evening by 6 pm. He wouldn't say why and tried to pretend it was 'just to see me.' It was obvious he was lying. I really needed to finish my job, so I extended it to 6:30. I made the drive up wondering what he had in store. I was running about 15 minutes late but I called him when I was about 10 minutes away and he was still at work! I told him that I would be a little fried if he made me rush to Fort Worth and he was at work when I got home!

When I got home, I didn't see his car but I thought that it could be in the garage. When I walked into the house it smelled horrible! I guess Cory totally roasted a frozen pizza (like 4 days ago) and it smells like something burned down. But, there were five envelopes in the entry way because Cory spent days planning a scavenger hunt for me. It was really cute.

So, here is a recap of my fun night!

LETTER ONE
Letter One told me how much he missed me and loved me and that I had a night of surprises. He said I needed to go to Hulen Mall. I wasn't allowed to open Letter Two until I was in the parking lot.

LETTER TWO
Needless to say, I was anxious to get to Hulen Mall! Letter Two said that he wasn't at Hulen Mall but that I needed to relax and enjoy myself. He talked about when we were dating and we would go to Yozone in Provo. I loved Yozone! He had found a place inside the mall that was self serve yogurt. He left $10 and told me to get some yogurt. Of course he said some other stuff too. But, I wasn't allowed to open Letter Three until I was sitting down eating my yogurt!

This isn't my yogurt, but it's something I would get! I love mochi!

LETTER THREE
Letter Three started with a Cory quote, "I have a good saying that if you look good, you feel good; if you feel good, you play good. So, I think you need to take more time to pamper yourself. This is something you would never spend the money on yourself, So I spent it for you. Take some time for just Delaney." So, he had gotten me a gift certificate for a spa pedicure at a nail salon at the mall. I was supposed to text him with my progress during the pedicure (and read Letter Four). But, I found out during the pedicure that my phone was in the car. It was such a fancy little place with private rooms and dimming lights.

LETTER FOUR
I'm not going to say where Letter Four took me or what it said, but I will say that Cory wanted me to use a $10 off coupon that he got by taking a phone survey that asked him, "Did they ask you if you wanted to try on a bra? Why did they not ask you to try on a bra? Did you like the fitting rooms?" He said there was no option to say, "I am a male."

LETTER FIVE
So, after my pedicure I ran out to my car to get my phone. Just as I was opening the door my phone was ringing and it was Cory. I told him that I had left my phone in the car and that I had just finished the pedicure. I turn around and there he is. I guess he had been calling and couldn't wait so he came to the mall early. I guess he got confused when I left the mall (that wasn't in his plan) and he had to hide as I passed him. He waited for me while I shopped and then Letter Five took us to Chili's where we had dinner (we had to have a budget dinner after such an expensive night!).

It was a fun night and Cory did a good job spoiling me. It was really sweet. I love this guy!

Cory and me in Cancun in June 2009

Austin

I came to Austin for the weekend to do some window washing. My dad manages two large office complexes and has let me learn how to do mulching, planting, and window washing to earn some really good money. I've done this particular job two times before and hated it. So, I was going to let my little sister do it to rebuild her depleted bank account (caused by the freedom that comes with a drivers license, getting a Wii, going paint balling, etc.). However, since she is taking 5 AP classes (and she even dropped one) she spends like 5 hours a night on homework...which means no time for window washing. She really is such a smarty. 

Still, Cory and I have set some lofty financial goals concerning his student loans. So, I wanted to earn this extra money.

A few things I've learned from doing manual labor:

1. It is really very scary to clean two story windows on a ladder that is too short. One year, I cleaned these on a 16 foot ladder. This year I used a 21 foot ladder. Using the 16 foot ladder meant I stood on the top rung and balanced myself on the window frame (you know those "caution" signs? I ignored them). So so scary and a very very bad idea. 

2. I've noticed that people either are really impressed that I am willing to work outside in the heat or they sometimes think I am maybe white trash or uneducated. I can't tell you how many times I've heard the joke, "Oh, I should have you come over and do my backyard/windows" or "Ya hot enough?" 

3. I apparently look like a 15 year old. Especially without makeup on. I have had a couple people ask me what grade I am in high school. I then tell them I have been graduated from college for over a year. This also happened at Cory's school. They have a very strict uniform/dress code. I did have on makeup this time, but an assistant principal still thought I was a student not properly dressed. No, I'm Coach Carroll's wife. The worst part about this is that he teaches at a 9th grade campus. I am not being confused with a senior but with a freshman. Awesome! People say I'll appreciate that when I'm older. 

4. It is not fun to work outside when you have a cold. The past few days I have had a body ache, sore throat, and runny nose. Makes me feel like a weakling when I try and move my tall ladder.

5. My dad is awesome. The first day, he rigged up a contraption. I used to hate this job because I couldn't reach the tall windows and it was terrifying. He got me this bar that safely suspends me away from the window. It's wonderful! 

6. Cory hates me being gone over weekends. He isn't good at being alone. So, he slept for 15 hours last night. Slept through two alarms. That's a hoppin' Saturday night.

I have had a great time being back in Austin! Last night, we roasted foil dinners on the fire pit. It's General Conference weekend and it's been great to listen to the talks with the family (well, minus Ang and the husbands). I went to the Relief Society broadcast (scroll to the bottom) with Cory's mom last weekend and that was really great too. I loved the stories that President Monson told. He gets such a kick out of himself and I love it! Watch General Conference online here and read about our church here.

Heading back to Fort Worth soon...news about a new job and pictures of our new bedroom stuff coming soon! :)

Our St. Bernard Cat

So, I recently found out the fate of our cat. So, he used to be small and little like this:

Well, apparently, I have the St. Bernard of cats. In my church, women have and are visiting teachers. This means that we visit other sisters in the ward that we are assigned to and become friends (hopefully) and talk about our beliefs. Anyways, my new visiting teacher loves cats. As soon as she walked in the door, she latched onto Scout and thought he was just wonderful. He is really a cute and playful cat; but he is a little nuts.


As she is scratching his ear, she says, "Oh, he's Maine Coon." Like an idiot, I'm like, "Are you talking about the hair that grows in between his toes?" I swear I'm not an idiot--just he has hair sticking straight out around his ears and that was where she was scratching and that's the connection my brain made. Moments later, I realize she was saying he is the breed Maine Coon. 


This is what I learned from her and from Wikipedia (Don't worry, I only updated 5 facts on there to be totally fake. I try and do my part.) 


1. Maine Coons can grow until they are 5 years old. Scout is one and is a monster with huge paws.
2. Male Maine Coons can weigh 15-25 pounds. Yes, TWENTY FIVE ell bees.
3. If you get a purebred that comes with papers to prove it, they can cost $700-1000 (Although Scout was free from a neighbor and of course we don't have breeding papers, but I'm of course planning on forging some in the near future). 
4. They are really gentle and playful cats their whole life. The males act clownish (oh really, I hadn't noticed...) while the girls are slightly more dignified (like real life).
5. They love water (which explains him sitting on the edge of the tub EVERY TIME we shower. He will scratch on the door if we lock him out. Plus, he sometimes likes to sleep in the sink.)


According to Wikipedia: "The Maine Coon is noted for its large bone structure, rectangular body shape, and long, flowing coat. The breed can be seen in a variety of colors and is known for its intelligence and gentle personality."


So, this may very well be his future.

Just Call me Roonil Wazlib

Some of you know how much Cory and I love Harry Potter. Part of the reason we became friends is because we discovered our common love for Harry Potter. When we were dating I gave Cory the boxed set of all seven books for Valentine's day (got them from the book order at school). He is one of the only people who not only doesn't make fun of me for rereading them annually but usually tries to do the same. I finished the sixth Harry Potter (thus the title) and I started the seventh. The big question is...does Harry die?

Also, I finally finished decorating (mostly) the guest room! I have spent the fast few days sewing up a storm and I have to say; I'm really quite proud of myself. Please admire my handiwork.

I started by making these curtains. We already had the brown ones, but I wanted to jazz this space up with some color. The sewing isn't perfect...but I put on grommets! That's legit.

Despite my mom's excellent packing of our moving van, a few things were damaged in the move. Some losses were pretty normal (i.e. el cheapo bookshelves falling to bits), but one of my pillow shams got a funky orange tattoo on it. It was packed next to one of our orange couch pillows and decided to leech some of the color. Eh, it wasn't that great looking anyway! So I made these cute tie pillows, added flowers to my remaining beige shams, and made matching pillowcases. They're so snazzy.

I also made this mod podge clock from a cheap clock at IKEA. Hot glued on some coordinating rosettes and...beautimous!

I attempted to take some pictures of the whole room with my prehistoric camera. I usually try and use Cory's camera (which is a little better than mine) but I couldn't find the charger. When your camera still takes batteries, you probably need to upgrade.

There are a couple wall spots that I would like to find something for, we need a dust ruffle that's actually made for a double bed (this one fits a queen), and we need a less green trash can. But, I love the old typewriter I snagged at an antique mall.  Oh, and don't forget my beautiful sewing machine. When I told my mom that I made some projects for my guest room she was thoroughly shocked that I could sew. Mom, I remember making camp shorts and all of those trace the pattern things with you! Plus, let's not forget the teddy bear and coordinating camping tent Christine and I made in our sewing class.

In other news, the master bedroom is the next project because it is seriously a pitiful place. Cory and I are also very excited because we finally found a good sushi place. We love sushi. When we lived in Utah we would go to this gem in Provo with our friend Jeff pretty often that was all you can eat and delicious. Well, there was another one that we decided to boycott after they sat us at our booth and then came up 10 minutes later and said, "You know, you should probably leave, we decided we're not going to serve you." They had decided to close even though we saw people eating at the next table over. Since arriving in Texas we have gone to a place in Austin and a place in Fort Worth. Neither were very impressive and were more trendy than tasty. But, we went to a knockout place that delivered some of the most beautiful and delicious sushi we've had in ages. We were impressed so much that we gave them a 30% tip.

Cory and I also got callings in our new ward. Cory is an Elder's quorum teacher. That means that he teaches about a lesson a month to the men's Sunday school class. I got called to be the Laurel's advisor in the Young Women. So, I get to teach the 16-18 year old girls every Sunday. It's one of my dream callings because I really looked up to my Laurel advisors.

Things have been busy with Cory working as much as ever (those kids wear him out!). I've also gotten to jet back and forth between Fort Worth and Austin a few times. I keep reminding Cory that he knew these ATX jaunts would happen when he stole me away from there :) I do quite like Fort Worth (mostly because I am within 5 minutes of almost any store that I need which is pretty much opposite of Saratoga Springs). Still, I love me some Austin! Last time, I got to see Angie and our whole family was together (minus the sons in law).

Our living room is almost complete; it just needs new curtains and some more pictures. Our complex replaced our fridge/freezer because apparently they agreed that it isn't normal for your popsicles to be juice and your frozen chicken to be very much thawed. It cost some money with the lost food (the most depressing of which was our cookies 'n' cream Blue Bell--that stuff is expensive!). The replacement is only marginally better, but we'll take it. I am still couponing and loving it. Last week I made $1.50 buying cleaning supplies. It's really fun. But, still nerdy.

We've Still Got It & a Couch

In case you were wondering, Cory and I lead a very romantic and exciting life. We went on a date last night couch shopping. And we still had a great time. I went and "scouted" out the Labor Day sales and brought Cory in on Saturday evening to show him my short list. According to Cory, being excited about my successes in couch scouting is nerdy. He tested each one for comfort and on whether the fabric was "Scout-proof" (our cat isn't de-clawed).

Don't get excited, our budget hasn't quite graduated to fine Italian leather with double hand stitching. Although , they did have a nice leather sectional we thought about getting.

Still, we ended up going with the microfiber because it was comfortable, soft, and better with the cat.

We went to a little Indian place after and then got "When in Rome" from RedBox (haven't reactivated the Netflix). We both thought it was silly but funny enough. Since our couch won't arrive for two weeks, we pulled down the foam mattress topper from our bed and watched it from the living room floor. Yes, we camped out in the living room and slept there too. It was a fun sleepover party. We had a lot of fun just hanging out; which is something we haven't gotten to do much of lately.

Cory is off at football practice (had to be there at 1:00 today. He'll probably get back at 5 or 6?) and I get to grade papers for the busy guy. Don't feel too bad, I'll probably read Harry Potter and work on my coupons too. I've decided if I save more money on food, I get to save more money in the bank. But, we'll see how it goes.

Moving In

Moving into our new place has been a bit of a process. First, Cory's parents brought up a small load of boxes and a rocking chair. Then, Cory came down and surprised me with a weekend visit (we had been apart for 2.5 weeks with only a day here and there).

We picked up some stuff white trash style from the storage unit and he took up a load with him.

With my summer landscape work complete, it was time for me to begin moving all of our stuff. One teensy little hangup was that Cory accidentally took the key to the storage unit to Fort Worth, and I was in...Austin. He mailed it to me, but, I decided I didn't really feel like waiting two days for it. So, we got the lock cut and replaced it with an extra one my sister, Tara, had.

Then, Tara came up with me with her Mazda CX-9 loaded up. Meanwhile I drove my parent's truck loaded with a mattress that we scored when my parents upgraded, our kitchen table, and boxes. Since my parents were in Boston for Mackenzie's first day of junior year (what??), I went back to take her first day of school pic (she's a big deal, okay?). Actually, I really came back to trade the truck for my car and come back again with a load.

Finally, we brought the bulk of our furniture and the remaining boxes up the last weekend in August. Since Cory doesn't get weekends off, I was really glad my parents could help us move the rest of our stuff up. We loaded up my parents truck, a 12x8 trailer, and my Mazda 3. They didn't get back home until 3am! That's love for you :)

I've spent the past few days getting unpacked, organized, and settled. We finally got our internet, and we were able to cancel our DirecTV contract without a $400 early cancellation fee! I was so pumped! My parent's washer died at the end of August, so they replaced their washer and dryer. This means that we got their old dryer! I found a used washer on Craigslist. We had to replace the hoses for both units, but we still got a washer and dryer for about $180. Nice!

I'll post pictures of the place once I've decorated. We still need to get a couch and some bookshelves.  I've still been applying for jobs right and left, and even interviewed for one, but I'm remaining hopeful that something will work out. Cory is really enjoying his work; although he works between 70-80 hours a week (unofficial Delaney calculations). I went and ate lunch with him and sat in on one of his classes today. The school he is at is no joke when it comes to discipline and discipline problems. But, he really wanted to work in a lower income school. He'll be great at it.

So far, I've played the devoted wife and attended Panther Night. Cory got hazed. Just kidding. But, they did make him do the dunk tank because he's the rookie.  Poor guy didn't bring another set of underwear so he had to go commando during all of the boring sports introductions on the field. Our friend Jeff sat with me and we both decided it was probably one of the most boring things ever. But, we got sushi after (my favorite).

 Here is Cory on his first day. He wears his coaching stuff to school for practice and changes there.  What a handsome guy!

I've also gone to two football games and we have another varsity game tonight. Some of you know that despite numerous efforts, I cannot understand football. It truly is embarrassing, but a true fact. So, yes, I did try and watch the game...and there were some good runs and we kept hitting the other team so hard they kept getting injured. But, okay, I did read Harry Potter for the last couple minutes. I'm rereading the series (annual occurrence, lame I know) and I'm on book 5. It's my least favorite, so I'll be glad to be on 6. The end devastates me every time.

Scout (our cat) has adjusted well to the move and has mastered being lazy (but still absolutely adorable). He has taken to sleeping in the guest bathroom sink.


In other news, I'm trying to get into couponing (any tips?) and I also ordered this beauty. I am SO excited. I want to make curtains for our house and for Cory's class. I also want to do our bathroom and bedroom stuff. I'll post them when I'm finished!

Overall, life is good, even if I can't seem to get a darn job. We both know that Cory's job is a great match for him and a really lucky opportunity (what entry level coach gets to be on the varsity football staff at a 5A school?). Date night has been officially moved to Saturdays, since Cory works late every night except Wednesdays. I am a football coach's wife. And I like it well enough :)