Monday, November 25, 2013

Continuing saga of Texas living....



Life in Texas is going about as you would expect. The weather has been mild until this week when most of the country got hit with cold. Since I have to walk the dog now instead of just letting her out the back door, this is not my favorite kind of weather.   We walk about 1.5 miles a day which averages out to about 10 miles a week, great when it's not rainy and cold. Not so great when it's 34 out!

The job search is moving at (according to me) a snails pace.  I have had three interviews. I have another next Monday and one of the places I interviewed wants me back again next week to meet more people.  All of the applications for every job are now on-line.  You can't apply any other way and you do not get a real person.  It's a lot of sit around and wait to see if someone calls. Well, that makes me nuts so I started looking up people on-line in the jobs I am interested in and emailing them my resume. This is the only way I got the interviews.

When I planned my moved I really thought I would rent an apartment for a year until I got my bearings and knew my way around. I had a change of heart and as soon as I get a job I am going to start looking to buy a condo/townhouse.  Rent for a small apartment is more than what a condo payment would be for me and I just can't help feeling I would be throwing my money way.  I am pretty sure I will be working in downtown Dallas and since I don't want a long drive I will need to live in the city where rent is higher. Plus, I was ready to redecorate my house before I put it on the market so now I have this unfulfilled craving!

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!



Sunday, November 3, 2013

Texas Living


I am staying with my sister and her family until I get a job and find a place to live. We are in a four bedroom, 2000 sq ft apartment. I don't mind. I have my own space and the apartment is bigger than my house was. No, my issue is Gracie. For her entire 10 years of life she had a backyard to run around in.  I could just let her out and not worry about it. Now, in an apartment, we have to walk...and walk...and walk! In the morning I take her to the field behind the complex. She gets to sniff and run around until she gets tired.  In the afternoon we walk in an almost 1/2 mile circle around the complex and at night we do the same.  While she is getting exercise, I don't think she likes it.

She used to lay on the patio and guard her yard from invading birds, squirrels, rabbits and bugs for most of the afternoon. She would sit in the front window and guard her house against marauding mail men and kids on the sidewalk for the rest of the day. Here she doesn't have as much excitement so I think she is a little depressed. Also, when we got here I noticed she was missing a tooth. This lead to finding a new vet, an extraction of 10 teeth and over $900 in vet bills.  She just doesn't seem like herself.

The cat is doing fine! Ha ha .. I was more worried about her than the dog and she great.

I started looking for a job this week and have applied to about 15 openings.  I have an "at least one application a day" plan.   I haven't had to look for a job in over 10 years and the process has changed. Everything is on-line now. I tried calling a company but they directed me to their website.  If you know me at all you know I am very impatient so all this waiting around makes me want to pull my hair out!  Wish me luck!

Finally, I am on my last aligner with my Invisalign braces and will have to fly back up to Michigan in two weeks to get finished up and get my retainer. My teeth are nice and straight and I am happy with the results. I would post a picture but teeth are gross!