It has been a while

Let's start with the good news!
My friend Stacy had her baby, Makenna Leigh, September 5, 2007.
My cousin Michael and his girlfriend Miranda had their baby, Michael Layton, September 13, 2007.
I finally finished Appraisal school and having passed the "registered trainee" state exam I have just one more state exam to pass for "certified residential appraisal" by the end of the year.
Now on to the bad news!
The school work means nothing if I don't find a supervisor to work under. Urgh!!! I am learning that what you want to do and actually getting the chance to do it are light years away from each other. I'll just chalk the whole experience up to knowledge, of which I will shortly lose do to the whole "lose it if you don't use it" theory.

In my world of writing...
My friend Mai just got word that she finaled in the American Title Contest, please check her website for more details in the coming months. www.maichristythao.com

On to my music...
Check out Andrea Corr's beautiful voice.

I just fell in love

I love dogs and hope to one day soon be able to have one of these adorable Cairn Terriers.

Finally a few new pictures of the house to share

I did get around to actually taking some photographs and here's what I have as of August 2, 2007.

Music

I love this song by A Fine Frenzy...


And what's better than a funny Scotsman playing a banjo...

R-2 Appraisal Class

I made it through my second set of classes. Yeah! Now I just have two more to pass and then a final exam and on to the State exam. I'm noticing a lot of test in my future. That just means I'll be doing a lot more praying.

I hope to have some pictures of the finished house coming soon. (That is if I can get it finished-I need the money.)

What we know...things change

I would really love to move to Scotland and live on in a rural area or a farm. That sounds ideal to me at this moment in life. Anyone else think this sounds good? I have days when I wish I could up and move anywhere I wanted without a thought, but then there are always things you have to think about...money, family, job (not that I have one mind you), school, friends, and CHANGE. I'm easygoing, enjoy the outdoors and completely fell in love with Scotland while I vacationed there in 1998. The feeling of my soul being at home occurred in Braemar while walking into "town" and hasn't left. I still pull out the photos from that trip and think about going back. But as always that is a hope for the future, something to strive for.

My favorite band is The Corrs and since they decided to take time off for living life, Caroline, Sharon and Jim each began having children that left lead vocalist and tin whistle player, Andrea, to do a solo CD. Ten Feet High is to be released in the USA on the 31st of July. Here's a peek at the video for her single, Shame on You. Hope you like it!



Check out her website www.andreacorr.co.uk for another video This Is What It's All About. I especially love her voice in this one.

I made the first cut (Appraisal classes)

OK so I passed the first exam, now on to the second of three starting this Saturday. Continue to wish me good luck. I need every little bit and every little second to get this stuff ingrained in my brain. I really am enjoying it and all my friend in class made it too!
We got the house exterior painted today. YIPPEE!! Doing the happy dance! (Too bad you can't see this dance, it's definitely "So You Think You Can Dance?" material!--you know the ones that make you laugh and wonder why someone told them they could dance?!)
OK so back to the subject at hand...I may actually get this thing done. Who said it couldn't be done? I still have some interior painting and the laminated floors to get done but I really see the sign going up in the yard (House For Sale) next week. I hope it sells fast. (Send a prayer to the heavens.)
I haven't been writing-in the sense of fictional writing to sale a book- for awhile now. But I have been having the jitteriness (did I just make up a word?) to do so. I don't call dabbling writing. I mean serious sit your butt in the chair and crank out fifty pages. I have been writing a little here, a little on the back of receipts, on the Kleenex box before bed, and well you get the point. I have been excited about this "world" I'm creating and all the wonderful places I can go with it. Stay tuned!!

Remember school...

Well, I set myself up for this one. I started my Real Estate Appraisal classes this past weekend. (Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.) This is like boot camp for the appraisers. I'm getting flooded with new words and meanings as well as seeing into the world of appraisers. I am now bowing to the more knowledgeable society of practicing appraisers. Wow there is so much that goes into this job. Knowledge about the law, statistics, analyst, real estate terminology, and economics to name a few are part of this career choice. I'm going to have to get myself in gear and buckle down to make this my career. I love real estate and home improvements but having come from a background in retail and medical claims I'm having to push myself to learn all these things in a concise and concentrated period of time. My first exam is Sunday...Wish me luck!
Off to study!

One day at a time

That's my motto today.
I have decided to be an independent consultant for Pampered Chef. If you love to dabble in the kitchen and love gadgets you'll love Pampered Chef products. Years ago I went to a party then had one of my own (for the discounted products) and have loved "playing" with all my "toys". If you haven't heard of Pampered Chef (or just haven't seen what's new) check them out at www.pamperedchef.com.
Appraisal school starts next Saturday. Wish me luck with learning and then finding a job. I could really use it!
On the house front, I have gotten a lot of things done only to still have a hundred more to do. This concept is not new to me. The plumber final (and I do not even want to go into that situation) finished his work and we're waiting for the inspection on Monday. I now have a toilet, only problem is there is no door. Something else to get to next week.
On the writer's front-I have been doing a little "world-building" for my Celtic mythology based story. And I had a great idea for a new story tentatively titled, Reel Love. This story is about an film archivist, Amberlyn Griffith and a rogue god, Cian trapped in a movie reel.

Sorry so long gone...

Nothing new has happened in my life. Big surprise. No job, still working on the house and pretty much struggling to get by.
I haven't talked about my chickens before so here goes I have two hens and a roster. And three weeks ago one of my hens, named Red, had eight babies. (Picture included)
Also, the picture I promised of my kitchen is included and more has been done. I will get those up as soon as I can.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend! And don't forget about our armed forces serving and protecting! Check out www.amillionthanks.org