Changes

So I find myself here, after trying for about 30 minutes, unable to sleep. Maybe it's the freaks doing their vacuuming at 10pm trying to get all their chores in. Maybe it's the car alarm that keeps going off at random or that annoying yappy dog that doesn't know when to quit. Maybe it's this hot weather that is not lending itself to sleep. Who knows. Regardless, I'm awake.

This is the season of change, where one season changes to another. The weather out here is virtually the same all year long, so it's harder to distinguish, but I can still feel it coming. And it's not just the seasons that are changing. Mike and I are moving to North Carolina at the end of the month. At this point we are unsure of employment, but secure enough in the knowledge that California is not a long-term home for us to feel like this is the right choice.

Last month we visited Mike's parents and siblings, and it made me realize how much I miss mine. I guess talking on the phone and email every week or so masked how little I get to see of my family being out here, but the trip brought it out. This is the longest stint that I have been without seeing my parents.. ever. You might laugh, but it has been almost a year. Granted, my first year of college it was a year before they moved back, but I think that time was not as bad because I did not have the option to go and see them. Now I could...if I had the money...and vacation time... and had not just added to my family list.

Ah well, moving to the East Coast will help that. We will be within 4 hours of Mike's family, 7.5 hours of my sisters, and a quick (cheap!) flight away from my parents. Additionally I'll be within 4 hours of 3 different aunts and uncles. It will be a veritable plethora of relatives! I'm very excited. Nervous, but excited.

I'm not looking forward to packing and driving again. I'd love to simply ship my things over, or put them on a matter transporter (I wish!) to arrive instantly. That would save many problems. For example, driving with 3 cats will not be a day at the beach. Shipping them (live cargo) and then letting them stay in a pet safe area at an airport till we could pick them up or someone else could, is .. shall we say .. incredibly expensive. Outrageously so. At least the vet has agreed to give us some sedatives for the cats.

Well, and so it begins. Goodbye, California, hello, North Carolina.

Bathroom Monitors

While Mike and I feel confident that our mothers gave us superior, or at least adequate, potty training, and that they taught us to scrub behind our ears in the shower, we have three household members who don't seem to have that same level of trust in our abilities. These three have self assigned themselves to be our Bathroom Monitors. No matter what time of day (or night) Mike or I feel the urge to shower or use the facilities, at least one of them is there to monitor us.

Manni seems to be the best at checking behind-the-ear scrubbage, while Noobs and Ghost make sure we wash our hands after using the facilities. Noobs, however, has seemingly become a shower apprentace, although she is still just at the grasshopper level.

The offical shower monitor seat is on the toliet, not quite looking towards the shower, pretending to be between sleep and vigilant awareness. The apprentace is relegated to lay in the sink. The monitor must make sure that when the shower turns off and the shower curtain opens they are pretending indifferance. After you have toweld off, however, you must present your hands for inspection. The best way for a monitor to monitor you is if you run your hands along their furry heads (not the same as petting...please...this is serious business!) and for you to bring your nose down to their nose. Apprentaces must content themselves with a few hand rubs and some running water in the sink. The most important aspect of a shower monitor's job is that you cannot ever miss a shower. Ever.

While the post of shower monitor is very strict in defining how it must be carried out, the potty monitor is not so strict of a position. It is generally performed by two individuals, but one may suffice if the other is sleeping. A potty monitor must make sure that the water in the sink is running fine before (and while) you are on the potty. The best wayto test it is by licking it out of midair, or just as it hits the basin. Alternatively, if someone's big fat head is in the way, you can test the water as it runs off of them. If the water does not seem to be running properly while the subject is .. otherwise engaged, a potty monitor must and is required to complain. Loudly. Sometimes pitifully. Anything to get the water on. Noobs and Ghost are generally equally good about monitoring our hand washing techniques and testing the water while we are .. otherwise engaged. A potty monitor must always be available and there must always be at least one in the restroom with every subject. Always.

All in all, these are two very difficult jobs. Mike and I are fortunate to have such good monitors living with us. I don't think I could manage to monitor him on my own, or possibly even remember all the rules. I know he wouldn't care enough to monitor me. But that's why we have opened our home to Ghost, Manni and Noobs. They are diligent and thorough and will not let us down.

A short novel on Updates

Well, a lot has been going on, and maybe I should be better about posting. I have found my phone, email and yes, even this blog, have been sorely neglected. I used to go over my minutes on my phone, recently not. Do I have fewer friends? Not necessarily, I just find myself calling less frequently. I find myself thinking "yeah, well, the phone works two ways," but that doesn't really excuse my lack of communication, it just proves I'm not alone in it.

So now for some updates...

Doctor Visits

Mike has been professionally diagnosed (not just self-diagnosed) with RLS - Restless Leg Syndrome. This condition causes his legs to feel "like they have to twitch" in his words, also described on the websites as having creepy crawlies inside your legs. It started out not too bad, but I think the accident and having to stay home on disability aggravated the condition, and it got to the point where he was staying up till 2am, exhausted, but unable to fall asleep because of "the twitchies" as I call them.

Based on a TV commercial and some online research, Mike figured out he probably had RLS (yes, yes, laugh if you will) and a doctor's visit confirmed. Fortunately the doctor could and would perscribe some medicine for the twitchies and for the past week the they've been blissfully still at night and he can sleep early.

Accident Updates

Thank you to everyone for your prayers during this stressful time post-accident. Mike is at about 98% again. His back is still sore sometimes upon waking up, and the Orthopaedic Surgeon won't let him run or do high impact exersizes yet, but comparatively that's nothing. We are still awaiting the final settlement from the claim, but once that comes in we should be in pretty good shape. Let me rephrase. We're by no means in poor shape, in fact we've been blessed to have more than enough income despite the accident and subsequent doctor visits, lack of vehicle, etc. We do have some credit balances, but those will be taken care of with the settlement, and the rest will be saving up for a new place.

Home Improvements

I wish by "Home Improvements" I meant that we were improving on our own home. I watch all these shows on HGTV (Home and Garden TV) about home improvement, design tips and techniques, and more. I can only implement some of the design tactics though - the ones that don't involve any painting or serious remodeling of the apartment as that is not allowed by the complex's management. I have watched tips on maximizing storage and minimalizing actual items showing (no, that does not mean stuffing everything into the closet). Tips on color coordinating a room so that your eyes flow easily from one section to another. Tips on just getting rid of stuff you don't use anymore or doesn't fit. I have tried all this, and yet there is SO much that I would still like to do! I would love to put up curtains (involves large, hard to hide holes in the walls), paint the walls (no go) , put up shelves (again holes), and much more. Oh well. For some later date.

What I was able to do was get a new faucett AND a plunger! Okay, so it wasn't really by choice, it was more because it NEEDED to be replaced, but it had the same effect. Now I have a much nicer, much newer, much more visually appealing faucett and drain. I also now have a plunger, for the first time in 2+ years. All smiles here! Now if I could just do the other stuff...

Work and Business

What can you say about work? Work is work. Sometimes I wonder if there isn't anything else out there I could be doing instead. I wonder if a non-profit could pay me as much as regular sector, or if we could make it with less than what we currently are paid, would I stay at my job? I honestly don't know. In the majority, I like my job, I like what I do, and I like being the expert. It is very stressful though and I feel like a fire fighter at times, always running around putting out fires with no time to catch up. Is it worth it? I'm not sure. Then again, I'm used to making what I make. Would I be able to step out of my comfort zone and make less? Again, I don't know.

The business, well, that's coming along. So far I have two clients and have a proposal in with a third organization. I haven't had a chance to go all out, there have been more pressing matters to attend to, but I find myself liking it very much. We'll see where thi s path leads to.

....

So that's the end of the updates for now. Mike wanted to know how my novel was going. I'm off for now, but I will try to keep updates coming as they happen. Feel free to call us in the meantime.

Who loves bubble wrap?

Who loves bubble wrap? Everyone of course! Who wouldn't love to get their hands on some nice bubble wrap and just pop the beegeebers out of it? I can't think of a single soul who would give up a piece.

In fact, even our cat cannot keep his greedy little teeth out of it! Yes indeed. Ghost loves bubble wrap. Mike told me the other day he was sitting at the computer and heard some popping noises. Pop. Pop. Pop. He looked around and determined they were coming from the hallway. Since I didn't happen to be in the house, it must be one of the cats getting into something they shouldn't. When he looked over, Ghost was chewing on the bubble wrap and popping it.

Since then I have found Ghost popping bubble wrap twice. It's a new fad for him I guess. I woke up this morning and the bubble wrap (we keep it by the door in case we have to mail something) was pulled out of it's storage and all over the place. Weird kitty.

Anyhow...that's all for now.

Business Owners 101

Today I became a business owner.

Over the years I've done some contracting on and off, but recently after talking with Mike I've really had an urge to own a business. He feels the same way. So after much discussions, much research, meetings with the SBA and bank, and discussions with other small business owners we decided it was time to take the plunge.

I plan on doing Hispanic Market Consulting. Mostly it will be translations, of which I already have some clients. I also plan on doing consulting on marketing to Hispanics, which is basically what I've been doing for the past two years, approximately. I might branch out into interpretation also, but not sure. Don't know what the difference between translation and interpretation is? Don't worry...up until a few years ago, I really didn't either. Interpretation is oral, translation is written.

Mike plans on doing some sales. Re-selling mostly. Purchasing wholesale and then selling online. You need an additional license/permit for that,and right now we don't have the capitol or space to begin that part of the business, so we'll wait for a few months. Meanwhile, he's going to research into what are good commodity products.

Today I went down to the county clerk and registered a DBA, then got a tax ID for the business. Monday we'll get the Business License and bank accounts. Who'd have know it was so easy? Now on to the marketing part of the business...how to promote the business.

Anyhow, will keep you posted.

Just peachy

So finally, after almost a month, I feel like I'm caught up on sleep, if nothing else. Mike's doing better, though still not sleeping as much as usual and still havnig to take medicine. The housework is falling behind, but I think I have the energy to do some this weekend. Well, when I get back at least.

The good thing about having headquarters in the same town as your family lives is that every once in a while you have to go back for business meetings...and get to see your family! Unfortunately I didn't get home for Rosie's graduation ceremony, but I will get to see Heather's dance recital. Six year old's are so cute!

Anyhow, along with sleep has come a more positive outlook on life. My apartment might not look the way that I want it to, I might not have a stress-free job, and life might not always be peachy, but it certainly is do-able.

Accident

Just so you know, we're okay. Mike was in an accident today, and is pretty shaken up. I was on my way into work when he called me to tell me he'd been hit. I turned around and I don't think that 15 (20?) minutes has EVER taken that long! By the time I got there they'd just taken him off in the ambulance so I saw the wreck before I saw him. Not particularly the best way to do it!

Turns out a lady rear ended him at a light. We were in the ER all morning waiting on Xrays and doctors and everything. He's got a back injury, a fractured finger, and a ton of pain. Doctor prescribed some pain meds, so he'll be on those for a bit. Can't work for a week and has to take it careful after that. What a way to get out of going to the gym, eh?

Anyhow, it's the end of the day and I'm going to bed now. Long day, but thanks to everyone's prayers we're doing okay. Love to all!

Thank You cards

To anyone who reads this and thinks "I gave them a wedding/shower/etc present and still don't have a thank you card" ...I'm working on them. It's a longer process than what I had expected, in part because I object to just writing "Dear ___, Thanks for the coffee maker. Love, Mike & Elisa". So your cards have a lot of writing on them. Also it's taking longer in part due aversion to simply typing the notes up or sending an email. So they're all handwritten and they're all personal.

Additionally, there's a lot of neat other stuff to do.. like shop for my new bookcase, set it up, and just overall decorate. That's much more fun than sitting around writing letters, no? Eh, so maybe cleaning is not always, but then there's finances, name changes, cooking, and a million other things. My aim is to have them all done and in the mail by this Friday, so wish me luck!

Love to all - Elisa & Mike

It's March, y'all!

Alright, so I've slacked on posting updates. Lots going on, most of it just getting through the day-to-day of it all.

Married life is good, the cats (yes plural) are finally getting over being sick, and most of my mail now comes to Elisa Auffhammer. Still getting used to that, and to introducing myself with my new name. My cats seem to like the new last name though, so I can't complain.

My husband just made me some breakfast, we're sipping on coffee and he's watching the stock market news on the TV. We've actually started to follow the market, plan to do some investigating, maybe take some classes, and get into it (when we have the spare change, of course).

Anyhow... ta-ta for now. If you want to know more email us.

Disgruntlement

I dare say "Disgruntlement" is a misleading title. Disgruntlement merely implies that I am somewhat upset, frustrated or my feathers are rumpled. I would say that I am passed that stage and into a slightly deeper stage. Irked? I haven't quite decided.

I talked about how Ghost (insert appropriate epitaph here) was acting all sad and drugged? Yeah.. that did not last as long as I hoped. Ghost is not the ideal convalescent, shall we say. He learned he can still bully Manni with the cone on, and make himself sick too.

Tuesday (12th) he tossed his cookies -okay cat food- and had a messed up stomach. So when I took him the next day to the vet for his checkup I mentioned it. They said take him off the antibiotics he was on and if it kept going to bring him in. Needless to say I was SO happy to not have to give him any more pills. Ghost is not a good pill taker, but that's another story. Well he lost it twice on the 14th and 4 times yesterday (15th) so it was time to go in again.

Now I have THREE medicines for him. The first one is an anti-throwup medicine. Two times a day for 3 days. The second one is for stomach infection. Two times a day for 7 days. The third is for ear mites (you're asking yourself "what the...?" . Yeah. Exactly). You're right! Two times a day! For 10 days. You know how much Ghost loves medicine? About as much as I like 10 ingrown toe-nails and 4 emerging wisdom teeth.

So as you see...disgruntled might be a bit misleading.

A whole new Elisa

So I've offically changed my name. Well, on the most important things. My SSN, Driver's License, Bank and work records, benefits, etc. Bills will happen in time.

Weird. After 26 years of being Obregon, now I'm Auffhammer. And it's still strange because most of my bills haven't changed yet I still have to sign credit cards & stuff Obregon. My email at work still goes to Elisa Obregon till they get that changed (who knows HOW long HR & IT will take).

I wouldn't have it any other way though. I know some women who just add his last name. Or hyphenate. Or don't even change anything. It would certainly make old friends finding you easier. One of my prof's from college had been published quite a few times under her maiden name, and was recognized publicly with that before she married and wanted to keep it. Or like the famous people who get married and keep whatever they were first known with. I understand all those reasons, and more. But still...I prefer this. Call me old fashioned.

Back to Reality

Well we returned from our honeymoon and are back to reality. Suitcases & boxes of stuff scattered around after I had just managed to get the place looking good. The cats wreaked havoc high and low while we were away and I came back to find papers that were on the table decorating the floors. As a memento, Mike brought his boutonnière and I brought one flower from my bouquet, but the cats at those since we hadn't thought to put them out of reach.

One of my friends from work was watching the cats for the week and a half we were out. She said Noobs and Manni (the friendly ones) were out to see her, but Ghost (the bully) would hide under the bed. What a wuss. Well the day after we returned to LA I noticed something strange on Ghost's back when I petted him. After pushing aside all the fur (and he has a lot) it turns out there was a chunk of furr/skin missing. I guess he must have caught it on something under the bed. To be on the safe side I took him to the vet. Turns out it was infected. Lovely.

Now Ghost is wandering around - actually mostly stumbling drunkenly - around the apartment with a satellite collar on his neck making sad little noises. They had to knock him out to clean up the infection (he has a HUGE stiched wound on his back now surrounded by a shaven area) and he's still somewhat out of it. Poor kitty is used to being a bully and he's so helpless now. He can't even sneak up on anyone because he can't estimate distances and keeps smacking the satellite collar on stuff and can't back up straight. He's desperate to be petted and even sat on my lap for 1/2 an hour just purring and sitting still --- a first EVER!

Anyhow, that aside, work was ... well ... work.

Allright, well I'm off for some Rice-a-Ronie's . Mike's at work and I want to stay up and make sure Ghost is okay.

Ta-ta! Elisa

Last of the Honeymoon (sniff)

Day 6 - Saturday
Nothing too big on Saturday. We went out to the beach, did some shopping (souveniers of course!), relaxed and had some beer. It was nice. I forgot how strong the sun on the equator is, however, and acquired some pretty intense tan lines. I guess that's better than being pale?

Day 7 - Sunday
Giants won! Tried to fix the tan lines, didn't work and I got more. Beer. Pizza. Mike doing the happy dance because the Patriots did not get a perfect season. House. Gads......time running out on our honeymoon and vacation! Why? I sooooo do not want to go back to work..... *sigh*

Honeymoon (pt 2)

Day 4 - Thursday
We'd planned on going to the Dole Pineapple plantation on Thursday, but due to some transportation snafu's (actually, the pain-in-the-butt's at the shuttle place) we didn't end up going. Instead we napped a bit, and stayed in. Oh, and we went to the beach also. It was nice to relax some.

Day 5 - Friday
Friday we visited the Polynesian Cultural Center, and what a great day! We spent pretty much the whole day there, visiting the different "islands" that they had setup. Each "island" showed a bit of the culture, had a quick activity and some of them let us taste native foods. We actually used a guide, which I'd never really done before, but decided to today. Cousin Pili. He was cool, called us all "Cousin" the entire way. They taught us a bunch of Hawai'ian words and ones from Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Easter Island and another I can't remember. Of those, I can only remember Aloha and Mahalo. There was a luau at the end and the food was sooooo good! I found out that in Samoa the guys cook. I think I'll move with Mike there. Anyhow, I'm exhausted, going to bed now and so Aloha ..have a great evening!

Our Honeymoon

So now we're on our Honeymoon in Hawaii. It's been raining on and offsince we arrived, but it's been great. We're staying in Waikiki, on the south side of Oahu. The hotel is nice, and YES, we have actually left it! In fact, we've been pretty busy for being on vacation. Pictures at www.picasaweb.google.com/TheAuffhammers.

Day 1 - Monday
We arrived Monday around 12:45pm Island time. That means 2:24 PST. It was a long 5 hour flight, but somehow or other Mike managed to get us the Exit row seats, so we had plenty of leg room. Okay...so I always have plenty of leg room, but MIKE had some this time too. Upon arrival at the airport, we picked up our bags, hopped on the shuttle to the hotel and made our way here. After checking in we went down to get some food (no food service on a 5 hour flight!) and ended up having some Vietnamese. There are a TON of Asians in Hawai'i. Oh, and of course we bought some Hawai'ian attire!

Day 2 - Tuesday
The second day we headed down to check out the local areas. We walked around for a while and saw the shops and the beach. On and off rain, but gorgeous beach! Pictures up on picasaweb. We saw the statue of the Duke and I proved my ineffectiveness at taking pictures when I took a picture of Mike & cut off the Duke's head. That picture didn't make it up onto the gallery! I'm still getting used to introducing Mike as my husband, or hearing him refer to me as his wife. While we were shopping one of the store owners was asking Mike if he wanted to purchase this (I forget what) for his wife and I'm so used to saying "no, we're not married" that for a second it almost came out automatically, then I realized..........oh wait..........that IS me!!

Day 3 - Wednesday
On Wednesday we went down to Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona, and the USS Bowfin. I knew what had happened that day at Pearl Harbor, but I don't think it ever hit me exactly how many lives were lost. Saying "we did the tour" sounds so glib, and pictures just don't capture it. They showed us real footage of that day and afterwards, and we got to go out to the memorial for the USS Arizona. I could still see the ship below the water to some extent, and of course the parts above the water. To know that most of the sailors (God rest their souls) were never removed from the ship... it's something that you can't just walk away from untouched. The Bowfin and the memorials around it spoke to how many crew were lost in the subsequent war. They were considered "on eternal patrol". It makes you think.
Anyhow, afterwards for supper we went to Tiki's Bar & Grill and had some good food, got some Tiki mugs and had some authentic Hawai'ian drinks. Yum! And on to the next day..

ps. Happy Birthday, Nog!

Our Wedding 1/26/08

Well all the planning is finally over! We were married on January 26th, 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama at Annunciation Antiochian Orthodox Church. The day seemed to fly by, and there was not enough time to see everyone that I'd wanted to see, but what a great day. Friends and family came from near and far (mostly far) and it was great seeing everyone again and meeting my new relatives.

The day started out pretty early, and I was pretty nervious. Mike tells me he was too. The flowers were beautiful, Caterina and Miranda were gorgeous in their dresses and Heather was very cute. Rosie and Miranda were going click-happy with their cameras, and Mom, Paula and Holly were great about helping out with everything.

Mike looked so handsome as I was walking down the aisle. In fact, he looked that handsome all day long, but that's beside the point. I remember everything else going by so fast, but the time that I was there saying my vows time seemed to slow down. I wanted everyone to be able to hear me, all the way to the back of the church but I couldn't keep my voice from shaking. Oh well, the person who needed to hear me did - Mike.

The reception was great. Partying, dancing, cake, etc. Tons of fun, tons of talking, tons more pictures. Loads and loads of pictures. Want to see some? We have pictures on www.picasaweb.google.com/TheAuffhammers. If you happen to have pictures, please send them to us (TheAuffhammers@gmail.com), we'd love to see them and post for others to see too.

And now... I'm Mrs Auffhammer.