Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my 'little' brother, Wendell who was born on my 6th birthday and to my son-in-law, Keith who also shares my birthday! Hope you both have a wonderful day! Love you both!

A Couch

A simple couch...that is what I need but who would have thought it would be so hard to get one? I have looked at a dozen stores but just can't seem to find one that jumps up and says 'buy me!' I know, I know! I am too picky about things. Sorry but I just can't help it! Unfortunately, I have bought couches (and other furniture pieces) because they were 'ok' or 'on sale' or 'will do for now' but I am determined not to do that this time. I want a couch that looks nice, is comfortable, built well and at a reasonable price. I have finally found a couple of couches that fit my criteria but I can't decide on a color choice. I have had blue couches for more than 25 years. In fact, I have only had one other color and that was chocolate brown. I love blue but I am ready for something different. Something that will spice up the room a little. I always take the tried and true because that is what everyone expects of me...not necessarily what I really want. I really have a much more flamboyant person inside than most people realize. I just do a very good job of keeping her contained. I seem to have this very practical side of me that normally wins out. So I have decided that I am not purchasing a tan or beige couch because they are very neutral and would go with anything. I am not taking another blue couch. I am blued out! I would consider a purple or plum colored couch but haven't come across one. I have basically narrowed it down to two colors....red or green. The red couch is not a true red but rather a rusty, spicy dark red. The green is a nice dark olive tone green. Either one would fit in my new living room very nicely. I am leaning toward the spicy red. It would add a splash of color to the room and brighten everything up without being too vibrant and loud. But I think Allen would prefer the green one...a little calmer...more understated. So alas, my dilemma. Do I take what I think would please others or just say 'what the heck!' and go for some spice?!

Settling In

We have been here a few weeks now and things are pretty well settled in. Furniture is placed where we think it will work the best (at least for now) and pictures are hung. It feels like home now. We have been doing some exploring thanks to Mapquest and the GPS. We are so close to loads of shopping and restaurants so everything is very convenient. Allen has located a couple of Lodges that are nearby and plans to attend their meetings this month. Hopefully, he will find a good fit in one of them. They both have Eastern Star Chapters so once he feels good at a Lodge, we will check out the Star Chapter. We have also been looking for churches that would be close and have found a couple that we plan to visit. We need to find a family doctor and dentist and then I think we will be set. We have a new bank and new insurance agent already. So many things change besides your address that you don't really think about when make a move. Thankfully everything seems to be falling into place quite nicely.

Another January

Well, here I am again in the middle of January. I didn't post a single thing here last year. How depressing! Last year we just had too many things on our plate and they weren't all good. They just took up too much of our time and efforts. We are both looking forward to a great year in 2011. We have moved to San Antonio, TX...well, actually we live in Live Oak, TX but it is just a stone's throw from San Antonio...literally. We really like our new place so far and are loving the area and people we have met. Allen has started a new job and this is the first time in a long time that he has been genuinely excited about going to work...and he comes home just as excited! That is great! 2011 should be an exciting year and an adventure for us as we explore this new area and all of the possibilities it has to offer both personally and professionally. I plan to keep updates here for our friends and family so you can stay up to date with what is going on in our lives and hopefully let us hear from you now and then. Stop by any time!