!Yo Diggity!

At work, we’ve recently moved to a new building and it is quite nice. Not that the old building was NOT nice but the entire time we were there we knew it was temporary. So it didn’t feel like ‘ours’. Anyway, since we’ve been in the new building our lives have improved. We’ve got bigger monitor screens, more huddle/conference rooms, multiple kitchens, blah, blah, etc, etc. All this is well and fine… but there is one thing that is really starting to get on my nerves: the automatic lights. Yes, there are automatic lights in the restrooms. One would think that might be a nice thing to have, but not really when they don’t quite work right and you are not quite sure what it is that triggers the light. Is it my movement in the general area? Do I need to step into the stall for the stall light to come on? Is is the stall door that triggers the light?? And the thing is, the ’stalls’ are like mini rooms so you can’t go into one and shut the door without a light. It’s pitch black. I’m sorry, I do feel that I kinda need to see what’s going on in there.

The other situation which this light issue has become just that - an issue, is that in some of the huddle rooms the light is automatic. So supposedly, when you walk into the room the light should come on. There are no light switches or anything, the light will eventually just come one. Again, these are rooms with no windows so it’s pitch black in there if you should go in and shut the door. So recently we have been doing some interviewing and let me tell you it is quite uncomfortable when I led a Hungarian, whom I’ve just met, into a tiny room, shut the door……… and we are standing there in the dark. These last two times my response was, “Sorry, it’s a new building. The lights will come on soon, I promise.”

Again, these are pictures from my trip home to Indiana waaaaaay back in June! I’m catchin’ up here though so get ready!!

After Shilpa’s wedding I made a short trip to Indiana. I wanted to see everyone while I was there so I was making a mad run from house to house from city to city…. errr…. small town to small town. I still didn’t get to see everyone that I wanted to… maybe next time… Lord knows I’ll try!!

My first stop was Bourbon, Indiana. There was this maaaad kid:

… and this sweet, shining, happy kid!!

haha ….Awwwww kids. So Tyler is the oldest son of my sweet, very pregnant friend, Amanda. I say ‘oldest son’ as if there were two. As of one week ago… there ARE two!! I don’t have a picture yet but Amanda just gave birth to boy number two: let’s call him Jaydon Michael!! CONGRATS, Amanda and Adam!!!!

Next stop was Amboy, Indiana. I know, the huge metropolis of Amboy - another biggy. But on the scale of things… everything is big at the Martin house. They’ve got 4 kids… awesome kids at that. Just love these guys!!! Every time I’m there is just feel ‘home’. Debbie and I were neighbors growing up and more like sisters now. And watchin’ these kids grow up has just been cool.

While at the Martin house we got to attend some real good ‘ol Indiana summer events. Ball games, swim practice, whiffle ball in the yard, foot races in the drive-way. Yes, the adults can still beat the kids…. I wonder how long that is going to last?? Debbie, Joel - we’d better keep in shape… these kids are gettin’ GOOD!!

Next stop was Peru, Indiana. This is where my Dad grew up and I got to see my Grandparents there:

I love visiting with these two. Grandpa is always tryin’ to give me chocolate (yum!) and Grandma has got a heart about the size of a basketball. Just love her!!

Then down to Delphi… home sweet home. Did some maxin’ and relaxin’ here. Played some cards, went for walks… nothing stressful at all. Time to enjoy good company.

Sunday was a treat as I got to be home for the Paschen Grandkid’s picnic. Really good turnout this year! My grandparents (my mom’s parents) host a picnic every summer where they invite only the grandkid’s and great grandkids… basically just exclude my mom’s generation (the kids). You see, it’s quite a large family… my mom has six brother’s and sisters and I have 19 first cousins, all or mostly married and most with kids. So altogether… well… it’s a lot. I think there are close to 40 great-grandkids. Wow. So the picnic is good for just getting together and getting to know the people in your family - there are so many of us sometimes it’s hard to keep track. It is cool how my grandparents really encourage us all to just spend time with each other… with our families and enjoy each other. This will stick with me forever I’m sure. I couldn’t have picked a better role model in my Grandfather if I could pick. I really am very, very lucky!

After the picnic, I got to swing by my friend’s Adam and Amanda’s house (not the one’s in Bourbon - I have two set’s of friends named Adam and Amanda - haha). It was good to see them as usual… their daughter Allie is really a growin’!! And quite the diva already!!

Next and final stop: big brother’s house. I’ve got some big big news about Seth and Katie… but I’ll have to wait just a little bit to let that out… hmm….. (and obviously I was supposed to post this BEFORE I told ya’ll they are pregnant!!

You know I have an obsession with eyes. This will all make sense later. I promise.

And then it was back to Budapest for me… no rest for the weary though… Frey was soon on her way….

Stay tuned…. I’m catchin’ up!!

Vacation stories and photos are coming soon!! Please stay tuned… I think it will take me awhile to select from the over-400 pictures that Christie and I took on our European road trip. I wanted to assure you that I’ll post them piece by piece this time so you’ll have new update (hopefully daily). But that is NOT a promise.

Stay tuned!!!

One funny thing that kept happening when Christie and I were on our little road trip….

This is what happens when you are taking scenery shots and you forget to take off the zoom for the next photo. haha - whoops!

***Pictures and stories from the trip ARE coming soon….

I’ve driven a stick (or for those non-Americans, a ‘manual’ car) just twice in my life. First time was with my brother when I was 16… might have even been 15 and we had gotten this crappy, old, rusty looking, red Ford Escort. It was a stick and he said he could teach me how to drive it, “It’s not that hard. I’ll teach ya in five minutes.” Well… all that happened in that next 5 minutes was that I drove onto the highway just in front of a huge semi truck and almost killed us. Half a mile down the road my brother said, “Get out, I’m driving. You need a different car.” hahaha Oooooo K. Second time was a couple years ago when I was sitting at resturant with my friend Richie and challenged me to drive his car home… it was a stick, and driving in Houston could be a little intimidating. If you know me, you know that I am always up for a challenge… I will say that I tried to back out at one point but Richie wouldn’t let me. Oh no. So he drove my car and I drove his the whole 4 blocks and 1 stop light home. I probably only killed it 6 times.

So when Christie and I were planning our trip, I asked her if she had ever driven a stick… she said she had… sorta. Ok… well so had I… sorta. There wasn’t an option that I could remember on the rental reservation so I wasn’t sure what the expect. We got to the rental place and I asked the rental guy if it was an automatic… he said, “I’m not sure… is it a problem if it isn’t?” Nahhhhh. No problem… I just might need a little lesson. And guess what happened? I got a 10 minute driving lesson in the parking garage. Went from parked to first to stop. Reverse….. and stop. Goooooo forward. Ok, got it. And by the grace of God, the car rental guy let us go. I think he was a little nervous too really…. gave me his cell number just in case we should need any instructions on the way! The scariest part of our trip really was that drive out of the parking garage. Up into the daylight and into the world of signs I can’t read, traffic rules I don’t know, one way street and tons and tons of crazy drivers!! Eeks!! On the drive from the rental place to the apartment I think we encountered every single obstacle there could be… pedestrians, scooters, one-way streets… even a ladder crossed the street at one point. That drive was a bit nerve-racking. But we did make it home in one piece. So this is where the journey begins……

A ridiculous looking car….. at least people could see us coming!!

A couple of drivers who maybe weren’t so sure about themselves…..

And a good time… about to be had by all…..

…more to come…..