www.bopsbeth.com: August 2004 Archives

« July 2004 | Main | September 2004 »

August 31, 2004

Business Card!

I got my first business cards this week! I've never had business cards before! :-) I'm so excited :-)

Anyway, tomorrow during lunch my friend from work, Erin is going to take me to pick up my new couch. Oh yeah, and another co-worker, Jeff is going to come and help tie the couch to the car so it doesn't fly off on the Texas highway when we drive it to my apartment :-) I'm so excited. Tonight I put the slip cover on the loveseat. I spent about 2 hours trying to get it perfect, and now I don't want to sit on it! :-) But tomorrow night, after dinner at Heidi and Nate's, I'm going to come back and decorate the walls with my pictures, and then I can take some pics for ya'll so you can see my apartment with furniture!! :-) Becuase I know you guys are all just sitting on the edge of your seats wanting to see my apartment ;-)

Anyway, I'm gonna go. Selena is on Lifetime Movie Network...(One of my all time fav. movies, on my all time favorite TV station) Goodnight!

Posted by beth at 11:19 PM | Comments (0)

August 30, 2004

Shopping Weekend!

This weekend was a shopping weekend. I'm officially CUT OFF from shopping once I pick up my new couch and the coffee table (that I have a rain check for). We went to this special area in Austin called: "Furniture Row" where I was able to buy a Scratch and Dent item couch. It was a good price, and the only problem with it is that it has a tiny run on the underside of one cushion. I figured for $100 off, it was worth it. :-) But it's really cute. it's blue denim, with blue and white piping. The pillows match the piping, as well as 2 additional flowered pillows (Which will soon be covered with better fabric because the flowers are kind of ugly).

My friend from work, Erin, has kindly volunteered to take me in her truck (Nissan X-Terra) to pick up my couch Wednesday during lunch, and move it with me into the apartment! I'm so excited. Once the couch is in, I can start my decorating :-)))) So my apartment should look pretty cute for my sister, Jake, and Seymen's visit this coming weekend!

I also bought sheets for the new air mattress for Chrissy and Jake, and my last - but MOST IMPORTANT purchase - was a new Monopoloy game. The requirement (Set by Chrissy) was that I buy another version (At home we have the Anniversary edition, and the millineium edition). I found at ToysRUs, the "Train" Version. It comes in a tin canister, and everything is shaped like trains, and there's little drawings on the houses and hotels :-) The monopoloy tournament will commence on Friday, Septemeber 3rd at 10:00pm! :-) (I heard from my other co-worker Steph today, that there's a version called: <a href="http://www.dogopoly.com/dog/main.htm">Dogopoloy</a>, which is all dogs! That will be the next purchase of Monopoloy when maybe Chrissy moves to S. Carolina in January :-)

Posted by beth at 06:34 PM | Comments (0)

August 28, 2004

My First Guests!

I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited! I'm having my first dinner guests for dinner tonight!!! I woke up this morning all excited because my digital cable TV is coming today, and I'm having my first dinner guests. I took a shower, cleaned up a little more, hung my Turkish Evil Eye about the patio door to ward of unwanted evil. I just finished planning out the menu for dinner tonight!

Appetizer: Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzerlla, and Basil with Baslmic Vineger
Main Entree: Germilli Pasta with a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Homemade Ceaser Salad
Wine: Yellow Tail Chardonnay

Posted by beth at 01:09 PM | Comments (1)

Bugs Bugs Bugs...Minor Set Back

Well I had a minor set back tonight. I was doing pretty good all week, but tonight was just no good. Let's see...It started with me going shopping when I got done with a nice lunch with my two new friends from work at the Shady Grove. We sat outside talking and drinking and eating chile cheese fries...which seemed like a good idea then...Well I left them and went in search of two used/scratch and dent appliance stores for a washer and dryer. Basically, I found nothing that was a good deal (after calling my cost consultant A.K.A Seymen, numerous times). The one thing I did get was a bad stomache ache from the chile cheese fries (as you can tell the whole diet, going to the gym thing hasn't started yet either)...

Anyway, I went home slightly dejected. Then went out again after talking some more with Seymen. I went to best buy and then checked out the funiture warehouse. Let me tell you about the furniture warehouse. They have a sign out front: "Our building may be ugly, but our prices are Beautiful". Well...That was a flat out lie. THe building was ugly...I'll give 'em that...but the prices were NOT beautiful...

So I went home and got into bed to finish this book that I've been trying read every night (but can't seem to manage past 10:30pm before passing out in exhaustion). Anyway, I had about 1 chapter to go when I realized I was starving...So I went to go make myself dinner. I was pretty sick of lasanga since I've been eating it for lunch and dinner since Tuesday. So I decided to make some AuGratin potatoes...Oppps...Can't. I forgot to buy butter. So I'll make the lipton noodles packages...Opps. Can't. No butter. So I'll make a salad...Opppss...WON'T...There's some weird dead bugs in the lettuce. OK... I settle on Frozen Peas (which I defrosted...I'm not THAT desperate) and Texas toast.

As I was cooking away, I got a phone call. I thought it was Seymen, but it turned out to be the Austin Fire Department. I was kind of tired and I didn't have my glasses on, so sometimes I find it harder to focus on thinking (don't ask...It's just me)..Oh yeah, and my DSL has ruined my phone. I can't here anything because it gets really really quiet...So I answered. I wasn't really paying that much attention, and for a second I thought I was getting in trouble for something...but no. They just wanted to tell me about some free benefit concert and asked for money. Not really paying attention, I signed up for the Bronze level of contribution. $35. They are sending me two tickets to this benefit concert somewhere in Austin, and all I have to do is send them a check. About 5 minutes after I said, yes, I realized I had committed to giving them money. And all I could think about is that I didn't want these tickets...I don't have anyone to go with...So I checked out of the conversation and just tried to respond nicely etc. FInally, the guy finished talking and I was transferred to someone else who was going to verify my info. The whole time thinking, I'm just going to ignore the tickets and ignore the contribution and not respond...THen the dude goes: "Thank you so much for your support. God Bless you and your family ma'am."... So now I just feel guilty. I have to give them the money.

OK, so then I decide to go out on the porch. I'm out there, and what do I see? A HUGEEEEEEEEEE and I mean HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE bug thing. I had no idea what it was. It was on my poarch table, rubbing it's little legs together staring at me. I froze and stared at it for like 3 minutes, and quickly went inside, locked the door and refused to ever go outside at night again. Then I called my dad and asked him if it would be bad if I moved back home. In his special dad way, he convinced me to stick it out, at least until it's light out when the bugs are gone...and convinced me that I'd be fine, and that yes I should go grocery shopping tomorrow...And no I shouldn't wait until Sunday, even though that was my master plan for the weekend. That I do need to eat dinner, and no I couldn't move home, and no one was going to move to Texas to kill bugs for me.

So...It was a minor set back...But I'm OK now. And I'm intent on doing this little stint here in Texas. I tried to be brave and overcome my fear before I let it sink too deep in. (Even though, even now I can still see that bug's face and little hands rubbing together thinking about when to jump on me and attack)...So I took a walk to the mailbox, and then walked to the Laundry center and realized that laundry is only $0.75 for wash and $0.75 for dry. So I've decided to not buy a washer/dryer. I'm going to buy a couch tomorrow instead. And save up for these dishes that I really want. (I have a mismatched set that I got on sale, and they are so cute that I want to the entire set.) <a href="http://www.pfaltzgraff.com/cgi-bin/sgin0107.exe?CODIV=0107&FNM=07&UID=2004082722302362&T1=16703800">These are my dishes</a>. I'm just missing a coffee mug and a dinner plate. I'm hoping to get the missing cup, plate, another 16 piece set, the tea kettle and the salt and pepper shakers, for Christmas. I've already placed my order with the Turkish Santa ;-)

Anyway...Now I'm just sitting around reading my 2nd book of the night...but I'm pretty pumped right now because Heidi and Nate told me that they are going to come over for dinner tomorrow night. They will be my first guests since I've been in the apartment! And it's just my luck because I have 3 dinner plates. Just enough for us! :-) And I'm sitting here trying to think of something really good to make for dinner, to impress them so they come back again ;-)hehehe

Ok. I'm going back to the book. I just wanted to get the story on here before I forgot and before it lost all it's effect...

Posted by beth at 01:25 AM | Comments (0)

August 26, 2004

Merhaba!

Yippppeee! I found a turkish teacher today!!!! I'm so excited! My turkish classes will begin again soon. As it turns out, the Univeristy of Texas @ Austin offers an undergraduate and graduate degree in Middle Eastern Studies, including a Turkish program. I decided to e-mail the teacher today to find out if they offered classes that the public can come to, or if he knew of a learning center, similar to Spring Learning Center in Rochester. Well, he said that he didn't know of any learning centers, but he would be willing to give me private lessons 1 hour a week, or I could use one of his graduate students! :-))

I'm so excited!! :-) I'll have plans at least 1 night a week now! Wahooo! :-)

Anyway, I have to keep this short. I actually do have plans for tonight...My department (Training Development) is having a dinner and drinks with the Training Department, at my friend Cheryl's house. (I went there for dinner my first weekend alone in Texas). So I'm outtie...but I just wanted to share my good news with ya'll!

Posted by beth at 07:47 PM | Comments (0)

August 24, 2004

2 is Better than 1?

CELEBRATE!!!! I have INTERNET ACCESS!!! My Independent life has commenced! (1. It's independent life, not single life because I still do have my loving Seymen. 2. Life does not begin until I have Internet Access -hehehe...Me materialistic?...NOoooo ;-).
OK Anyway...back to the title of this entry. I was able to pick up my packages from the apartment office, and found a lovely 2 packages! I drove right to my apartment (through my security gate, which did I mention has a BIG Star in the middle of it? And I mention this because EVERYTHING here has big TEXAS Stars and big TEXAS flags...because everything's bigger in Texas)...
Anyway...back to my story. I now have 2 DSL modems and TONS of filters. Who knows what I'll do with 2 modems, but I have 'em!

Let's see...It's been so long since I've been posting (Not counting my roach story today)...I'm not sure where to start. Well...first of all...a week ago, I left Texas and flew to Boston on Friday the 13th. Yes...that is a bit risky, but I really had no choice at the time. Meanwhile, I'm learning from my step-mom and sister, that my dad has decided to fly down to Florida to go be with the house and the hurricane. So I spent Thursday night, and friday all day worrying about my dad, trying to call him to see if he'd been a victum of Charlie. To make a long story short...he was smart and decided to leave the island because the hurricane hit, and the house was not damanged. The Center hit 7 miles away from the island, complete devestation, and Palm Island has barely a palm branch missing. So that was a huge relief. We were able to leave on our cruise in relief.
OK...So we went on this family cruise. There were 14 of us! My younger sister and I shared a cabin together...and almost became "unfriends" due to my 3 days of sea sickness, and a combo of 2 tired girls stuck in a tiny room with no windows. But in the end we had a good time :-) and we are still good friends as well as admitting that we are sisters ;-) She, Jake and Seymen are still coming to visit me in 2 weeks!!!!
My uncle decided that Chrissy and I couldn't not drink on the cruise (we are both trying to save what little money we have, me for my move and new life here, and Chrissy for her upcoming move to South Carolina in January.) So he insisted on buying all our drinks for the entire cruise. All I have to say about that is that one night on the ship, I drank 6 Apple-tini's, and 1 white sangria...and SOME of you reading this, have witnessed/heard about my last encounter with apple-tini's, men in 3 piece suits, and alex with the cherry...It was not pretty. My aunt gave me some "Hang over Pill...That would completely cure any hang over"...So I just took it because I was drunk. Two days later, come to find out it was a pill from her perscription of Flexerall or something :-) But it worked DAMNNNN good! Here's a picture to show you...
(From left to right: My sister, my brother-in-law Mike, My Uncle Steve, and Me...My Uncle was the one who brought the skin heads and the life jacket ensamble..again...we were all really very drunk).

I tried my first piece of lobster and my first lobster roll. I have to admit, I don't understand why everyone is so crazy in love with lobster. I wasn't that impressed. But I tried it and that counts. Here's proof that I tried it:

Oh and how could I almost forget! We went to Prince Edward Island and took a bus tour through the National park and to Anne of Green Gables! Here's a pic. of PEI and the 2nd is my grandparents in the buggy outside the Anne of Green Gables House!

OK Last picture...This is my CUTE CUTE CUTE baby cousin Takoda!

So...That's all about the cruise...I didn't really put that many scenary pictures up...Ya'll will have to come down here and visit me to see the rest ;-) I'm going to go now...since I've been sitting at my computer all night and talking on the phone. I haven't unpacked anything today. My clothes are in a pile in my closet...

Ohh OK..I have one last little story. First of all, my dear friend Heidi and Nate are the two bestest people in the whole world. They met my moving van guy here at my apartment while I was on the cruise, and they facilitated the entire move. On top of that!!! Heidi unpacked a bunch of boxes for me, made my bed--bedskirt and all!! and organized my kitchen (exactly how I was planning to I might add)!! It was sooo nice! I came home from work Monday afternoon and I walked into my already set up apartment! It was the best ever. Espeically, when I thought back and remembered that when I was packing, my mom started using my "feminte products" for packing coushins...Yes that was extremely embrassing when I thought of it after the fact.

Anyway, I gotta go. Seymen just called and he's going to help me fix something else on my computer...Bye!

Posted by beth at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)

I'm Back!

Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to let you know I'm back in Texas again! I arrived "home" from Rochester on Sunday night. The cruise was fun and great, but it was even better to go back to Rochester (Even if it was only for 18 hours).

Anyway, I'm at work right now so I have to make this short. I just wanted to give you one little "Texas Story"...

So I finally brought pictures in to decorate my cube wall with...well I was putting them in one location and I changed my mind, so took them down. As I was removing one, it dropped down the wall and under my desk...

So I went on hands and knees to search for the picture under my desk...(now get a mental image of me on my hands and knees in a skirt trying to move my file cabinet...) So the picture dissapeared...I have no idea where it went, but some day someone may find a picture of my mom, my sister and I. But what I did find...was a nice big fat ROACH!!!! IN MY OFFICE!!! Under my recycle bin!!! And I FREAKED OUT!! Everyone here was like...That's small Beth. Just step on it...I'm like...Um...does anyone see a problem with a ROACH!!! being in my CUBE?!?!?!?! HELLOO?!??!?!

Anyway, by the time I tracked a willing co-worker down to step on it, the roach had dissapeared and now I'm left to wonder where it's crawling...worrying the next time I open my drawer or something I'll find this roach...

OK...Back to work. Hopefully I'll have Internet tonight! My DSL package is at my apartment office still...Cross your fingers that it's still open when I get home from work!

Posted by beth at 03:03 PM | Comments (0)

August 11, 2004

Hello Again

Hi...
So, the week is half over now. Only 2 more days and then I'll see my family! I'm so excited! Yesterday I went out and bought the gag gifts that my mom assigned me to to buy :-)

I'm half way done with my training for work. Today we actually had a chance to do transactions on bank accounts. We did withdrawls, deposits, and transfers. At the end of the day, we had to balance our draws and for some reason, that is still unknown to me, my drawer was $90 short! (I Sware I didn't steal any of the fake money!!!)...So I think I was not meant to be an FSR (Teller). But it was really fun, and I got to use the fun little machine that prints the information on the customer recipts. I felt almost like a little kid who was playing bank, but even better because I was able to use the real tools and stuff! :-)

So I had a mini-scare this afternoon around 3pm. I checked my cell phone and had 8 missed calls from Seymen and the moving company guy James. James thought he could make it to Austin tonight to move my stuff in, by 7pm...but being as unprepared as I have been lately, I didn't get the message until to late, and I also didn't have money to pay the mover! Good thing it didn't work out, or else I'd be up a creek since the employee banking center closes at 2:30 every day!

Anyway, my stuff is still coming on Saturday morning, and Heidi and Nate will be meeting the mover on my behalf. So when I return from Boston/Montreal/Rochester, all my stuff will be in the apartment :-)

Anyway, I gotta go get gas...I'll write again later!

Posted by beth at 08:55 PM | Comments (0)

August 10, 2004

Just an FYI

This is just an FYI for all ya'lls that read the blog regularly...

1. It has been requested (by Seymen) that I try to write more regularly about what is going on here...So from now on, I'm going to try to post at least once a day. (This will be easier once I move into my apartment and I'm alone at night...but I'm trying to soak up as much "people interaction time" as I can get with Heidi and Nate, while staying with them.

2. Believe it or not...I DO NOT have internet ordered and set up yet in my new apartment...I'm leaving on a family cruise this Friday...Flying from Austin to Boston, where my entire family (mom's side) is going on a week long cruise through Canada and Nova Scotia. So from this Wednesday (or Friday) until after 24th of August I will be without internet. Also, I cannot do anything from work, so there will be very few posts, unless I bring my laptop back to Heidi's and steal their Internet connection...Anyway, I just wanted to give all ya'lls a heads up as to why I won't be posting or online for most of August.

3. As a two days till parting note, I wanted to give my current list of my new "Texan Language".
a. ya'll --> Pronoucnced: yawl --> Definition: You all --> Example: How ya'll dooo-iiin?
b. all ya'lls --> Pronounced: all yawls -> Definition: You all (pulral) -->: How was all ya'lls weekeeennnnd?
c. fixin' --> Pronounced: Fix-in --> Pronounced: getting ready to... --> Hey Beth, Ahhh'm fixin' to leave fur the day.
d. burnet --> Pronouced: Burrr -nit --> Definition: Street/Town name in Texas --> Example: "Burnet. Lern-it. Durnit."
e. might could --> Pronounced: miggghhtt cooouuuld --> Definition: Still not quite sure. --> Example: Ahh might could go fur sum ice cream riiiiight now.

Posted by beth at 12:23 AM | Comments (0)

August 09, 2004

Positive Attitude

Well today was a really good day. I think it's probably been one of the "best" most comfortable feeling days so far. The day started out as usual...I missed my alarm clock and work up at 6:51 instead of 6:00am. I ran around like a chicken with no head trying to shower, feed the dogs, pick out clothes etc. But surprisingly I made it to work with 3 minutes to spare before 8:00. (Yes it takes me about an hour to get to work from Heidi's place :-)

Anyway, all day I was in training...the class is called Guaranty Essentials...Basically I am learning how to become a bank teller (Financial Service Representative (FSR)-- That's what they are called now...The more P.C. way to say bank teller). So anyway, I'm going through this training because this is one of the courses that we will be re-writing in the training department. Also, I need to take the federal regulation tests, so that I am in complience if the bank were to ever be audited. There are three tests where the scores count. I have taken 2 of them with one to go on Friday. So far I passed both with a 100% on the privacy test and a 97% on the Truth in Savings test. Both of these you need a 90% or above to pass, and if you fail 3 times, you are terminated from work. Eventually, I will be writing the questions for these tests as well...(Comforting huh?)

Anyway, the training was really neat, and for those of you who have witnessed my interest in loans, 401K, IRA's money market accounts, you would understand why I am so excited to be in this training. I am trying to learn as much as I possibly can about the different accounts that we (Guaranty Bank) offers, and how they work so that I can apply that information to my personal life.

So...really nothing special happenend today. I just feel really motivated. And I spent my first work day night alone, and was really productive and busy. I am actually looking forward to living by myself, and accomplishing this new goal of mine to successfully live completely alone for 13 months. So...1 day down...394 days to go...I can do it! :-)

Posted by beth at 11:04 PM | Comments (0)

August 07, 2004

Pictures of My Apartment

Hi! I just got the keys to my apartment today, so I took some pictures so ya'll can see it! (No one has seen my apartment yet! Tori, Heidi and Nate have only seen the model)

Here's the Kitchen
<a href="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Kitchen.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Kitchen.html','popup','width=288,height=216,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Kitchen-thumb.gif" width="144" height="108" border="0" /></a>

Here's the Dining room
<a href="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/DiningRoom.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/DiningRoom.html','popup','width=288,height=216,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/DiningRoom-thumb.gif" width="144" height="108" border="0" /></a>

The Living Room
<a href="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/livingroom.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/livingroom.html','popup','width=288,height=216,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/livingroom-thumb.gif" width="144" height="108" border="0" /></a>

The Bedroom
<a href="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Bedroom.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Bedroom.html','popup','width=288,height=216,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Bedroom-thumb.gif" width="144" height="108" border="0" /></a>

The Bathroom
<a href="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Bathroom.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Bathroom.html','popup','width=288,height=216,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/Bathroom-thumb.gif" width="144" height="108" border="0" /></a>

The Bathroom Sinks (they definitly deserve their own picutre!)
<a href="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/BathroomSinks.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/BathroomSinks.html','popup','width=288,height=216,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/BathroomSinks-thumb.gif" width="144" height="108" border="0" /></a>

The Walk in Closet in the Bathroom
<a href="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/WalkinCloset.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/WalkinCloset.html','popup','width=288,height=216,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.rit.edu/~ekb2747/beth/archive/WalkinCloset-thumb.gif" width="144" height="108" border="0" /></a>

So this is my first day/night completely alone in Austin. Heidi and Nate just left for a fun filled trip in Vegas with her family. I left this morning when they did, and went to my new apartment to get the keys, and then spent the day shopping and lugging all my stuff to the top floor (6 flights of stairs...I'm gonna have BUNS OF STEEL when I'm done at this place).
The apartment is really nice looking...Just really empty...and REALLY lonely too. I couldn't spend too much time there today because I started regretting that I moved to Texas alone...but it's not so bad when I'm at Heidi's. Once I have my stuff it'll feel better I think. I'm really excited about my bathroom...and I had a fun surprise when I walked into the bedroom and found a nice ceiling fan. Best invetion of all time.
Anyway, I'm gonig to get dinner. I'll write again tomorrow...

Posted by beth at 08:12 PM | Comments (1)

August 04, 2004

It's Wednesday

Well I've been at work for three full days now. I've been learning a ton of stuff.
Today we had our Orientation, where we learned about the company and the different departments. Then we took a tour of the facilities. It was so interesting and motivating!

Did you know that Temple-Inland is not a bank? Me either! It is actually two different types of companies merged into one. Temple is the name of the man who founded a lumber business. They take trees and make them into lumber and other by products. Inland is the name of the man who founded a paper cooregation business (spelling?). They were one the first to make cardboard boxes, moving away from wooden crates. Well in 1985, the two companies merged under Time, Inc. Therefore forming Temple-Inland. In 1988, Temple-Inland decided to make a third portion of business to their company and started Guaranty Financial Serivces, so they could offer loans etc. to people. They are now all merged into the title of Guaranty Bank, which is who I work for!

It was really awesome hearing what they had to say about the company, and how much they value their employees. They want to encourage us to make Guaranty bank our final professional resting area.

Anyway, I'm convinced. I really like the company. It's huge, with tons of employees, and everyone is so friendly...And they have the CUTEST accents EVER! Every sentance they use the word "Ya'll".
"Ya'll wanna go to lunch? Can ya'll wait five minutes? Whatch-ya'll doin' over theere?" It's so cute. I'm completely facinated with the accents.

Anyway...enough of that...I think I'll go watch TV until Heidi and Nate come home from work. (I got out really early today!! Yippee :-)
Tomorrow I'm going to sign my lease at riata...Double YIPPPPEEE :-)

Posted by beth at 06:37 PM | Comments (1)

August 02, 2004

1st Day of Work!

So I survived my first day at Guaranty Bank. I made it to work about 20 minutes early (giving myself an hour to drive to work). Everyone is really friendly. I have a total of 6 people on the team including myself and another girl that started today. They are all in their late 20's early 30's. My boss took the whole team to lunch today at Chile's, where I had a better chance to talk to the others.

Kristina, my new boss is getting married in a month. Shelly lives "In the North" --Which I learned today is a bad place to live because of the horrible traffic-- and her boyfriend lived in the Riata at one point. She lives somewhere close to my apartment though. She also worked for the company who worked on Barnes and Noble University before LMNK took it over. Jeff, the only male in my team, is from Germany...but has no accent (that was a topic of conversation at lunch) and drives VW GTI. Elizabeth, who is transferring out of our department is married and went on her honeymoon in Turkey, and bought a turkish rug. And Stephanie is the other "New Hire" --That's what we are called right now-- and she lives south of work (the good place to live) and has been married for 4 years, likes camping and scarpbooking.

So, that's my new team...They are all really close and we all eat lunch together everyday at the Cafeteria (there's a real one there...that actually has a menu and sells food...). They have happy hours, one of which they are planning for this friday in order to help me make friends...and Game Night, where once a month, the team gather's at a team members home and brings significant others and drinks...

OK...More later. Nate Just called dinner.

Ok I'm back...Anyway, work was cool. Driving home was not. I was caught in evening traffic for an hour, and my car A/C doesn't work so well in this SWELTERING heat :-)

Supposedly on Wednesday, Nate's work is having a happy hour after work. Thursday I am going to Riata to sign my lease, and Friday my boss Kristina is planning a happy hour. Nate and Heidi leave for Vegas, on Saturday...and I get the keys to my new apartment.

Posted by beth at 08:10 PM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2004

We Arrived!!

Hi Everyone!

As I’m sure you are wondering...Tori and I made it to Texas in one piece! :-) We actually did not get lost the entire trip (except once, inside the army base at Fort Campbell –Kentucky/Tennessee, which was a small city in itself.)

We left early Wednesday morning, and arrived in Austin at 9:45pm on Friday night. We drove through so many southern states, and had a “fun time” driving through the ghetto of Birmingham and New Orleans.

Nashville was surprisingly clean, and we enjoyed ourselves at BBKings Blues club for the evening when we arrived Wednesday.

Thursday night, when we arrived in New Orleans, we met up with a college friend of mine, and spent the evening on Burbon Street! (We sampled the hurricanes and hand grenade...Then re-sampled the hurricanes.) All in all it was a great trip. A special thanks to Cracker Barrel’s books on tape deal.

Yesterday (Saturday), my friends Heidi and Nate took Tori and I on a tour of Austin, and we also stopped by my new apartment complex and toured the model. Afterwards, we drove past my new office, and then onto the famous 6th street.
Later last night, we had dinner at the 3H Cattle House, followed by a heated game of pool at the Saloon behind it (That is never to be referred to as a bar, because it’s not...It’s a Saloon :-). It was a great Authentic Texas evening filled with Lone Star Beer, and a live country band.

So, Tori left really early this morning...Today we're going to a fun place (with go-carts and viedo games!! :-) and I am hoping to venture out on my own to practice the route from Heidi's to work, work to the apartment, and the apartment to Heidi's...Wish me luck!!

Posted by beth at 02:03 PM | Comments (0)