Wow, have seven months really passed since my last blog post? I actually came to a point where I was ready to retire this old gal but, alas, I've recently felt the need (and guilt) to document what we have been up to the past seven months. Even if it hasn't been much. So, this post is probably going to be a lot of rambling as I chronologically share the "highlights" of the previous seven months.
This past winter was cold. Too cold. Miserable. A frigid hell on earth. I know I'm being dramatic, but there were just way waaaaaaaaaaaay too many days below freezing. I'm crossing my fingers for a mild winter. PRETTY PLEASE!?
So Christmas and the few days after were quite pleasant, as I think I mentioned in the post about Hopewell Furnace. Then mother nature basically gave us in the Northeast the middle finger and tormented us with several months of suffering. I tried to stay positive in our new environment out of the city, but it was really hard. I think I became a bit depressed for a couple of months, for multiple reasons. Firstly, the days were short, and though that has never bothered me before, it did this year for some reason I can't even explain. Second of all, I had just started a new job, a job I actually really liked (and still do), but credentialing was taking a little longer than expected which would delay actual money coming into our bank account. In my current position as an independent contractor NP I get paid a percentage of what I bring in to the company. So if I don't see patients, I don't really get paid. This was kind of distressing for Clark and I, as we had just blown through a boatload of money by taking a few months off from life. (Financially, not our best move ever.) The doctor I work for and the office manager came up with a solution so I wouldn't go months on end without compensation. I would be paid a base rate bi-weekly, and each quarter the money I've brought into the company would be totaled, and they would just deduct my base rate for the quarter from the percentage due to me. Confusing, but I agreed to it because in the long run I should make more money with this compensation plan versus a standard salary. Anyway, I didn't start seeing patients til the end of February, and because I've had to build up my own patient base, I've just finally, at the end of quarter two, repaid my debts and broken even! We've never in our marriage had to be so financially strapped. We weren't even breaking even for several months once taxes were deducted and all bills were paid. And oil heating is no joke. That shit is so expensive to heat a house during the winter. It was just a really hard and boring time because we had like zero extra money in the budget to do anything and it was always so dang dark and cold. Even in our house. We kept our house heated to a brisk 60 degrees and we were still needing to have the oil tank filled every 5 weeks. Additionally, I think it finally occurred to me that with Clark in school, we can't spontaneously travel or even do little weekend trips. Which was basically a fantasy during the winter anyway because we had zero extra money. But I'm a planner and it was difficult for me to not have a fun little trip to plan. Lastly, I think I was depressed because I couldn't even enjoy running outdoors. So why didn't I just run on a treadmill indoors? Good question. The answer is I absolutely loathe treadmill running at a gym where the tv channel options are: CNN, reality tv, and another crappy reality tv show. Time just passes so slowly on a treadmill. So I continued to run outdoors during the winter, arising before the sun rose to get my run in before work, when it was like 10 degrees, and ran ever so carefully on sheets of ice which covered the trails for the majority of the winter season. We live only a mile from several fabulous running trails, which might be the major highlight of living where we do. Nevertheless, these trails became so compacted with snow that they never had the opportunity to melt during the winter, and they became miles and miles of ice sheets. It was rough. Some weeks I just couldn't go out because the snow was too deep, but most weeks I was able to glide slowly over the ice to get my miles in.
But, it's summer now and everything is going to be ok. I knew that from the beginning, when I initially made us move to the suburbs so I could begin work at my current job, but it's so hard to stay positive when both partners in a relationship are naturally pessimistic. Every day I'm trying to be more optimistic and positive. I've got to learn how to change my negative outlook on life before we have children, or our children will be doomed!
So let me show you some pictures of the beautiful, snowy winter we endured. Also, the most gorgeous Amish table we've ever coveted. Someday, I hope, we can own a beautiful dining set.
Seriously, I lust after this dining set every time I look at this picture.
Also, we did splurge for Christmas and treated ourselves to an Amish made side table. Not the best idea to purchase it during our financially unstable period, but we did make the purchase before we realized just how strapped we were going to be. Whoops. Sure is nice, though.
Also, we found a carrot that looked like a penis. It brought us joy on that one, blustery, cold winter day. Remember that, Clark?
I know this picture might not be completely worthy of being blogged, but why oh why would did our wings come with only three little twigs of celery? I always look forward to celery with my wings. Gotta balance the meal out somehow, you know. AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH THREE TWIGS OF CELERY!
During this time we did visit my brother and his family in Delaware, but I'm not sure I'm allowed to blog about them anymore. I can blog about their dog though, I'm pretty sure. Isn't he cute!?
Clark got really good at making cast iron pizza. He's such a great house husband.
In late February and early March, my parents came to visit! It was horrible timing though. They endured two blizzards while here, and I think the temperature reached a high of 30 degrees? I know it did not get above freezing, that's for sure. The snowy weather did give them opportunities to snuggle up in our easy chairs (what we call our Ikea chairs...you know...the wooden ones that like every college student has) and watch three full seasons of Breaking Bad. They were instantly hooked. We did try to show them a good time. We visited the Martin Guitar Factory in Nazreth, PA, Hopewell Furnace, and we did drive out to Amish country. We avoided Philadelphia all together because they had the "been there, done that" attitude and wanted to avoid crowds. I think their favorite part of the visit was probably sitting in the easy chairs and watching Breaking Bad. It was so good to see them. I just wish we could have done and seen more while they were here. Please visit again when it's not below freezing temperatures!
An Amish barn full of junk, all for purchase. My parents loved it!
Yes, the oven mitt picture is worth documenting because this oven mitt was a gift for our wedding back in March 2008! You can see how well used it had been.
We also celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary on March 8, 2015.
I came home from work on St. Patrick's Day to the most amazing corned beef and cabbage dinner. So good. For dessert, Clark tried to make a pistacchio pudding pie with left over whipped cream. It was perfect, aside from the fact that he forgot to bake the pie crust. The pudding was delicious, though!
Clark met a friend at the gym one day back at the beginning of winter. Her name is Rani, and she is a 60+ year old Indian woman who is a nurse. We've gotten together with her a couple of times to eat at some local Indian restaurants, and I couldn't help but snap a picture of the gulab jamun. It was smiling at us, and it always reminds me of our friend Joanne, who lives in Australia. She loves this stuff, and can never get the name right.
At the end of March I did a 20 mile trail race. Originally, this race had been scheduled for early March. But since the trails were all still snowy and frozen over, the company putting the race on had to push the race back nearly a whole month. It was still incredibly cold the day of the race. Parts of the trail were still frozen, too. I'm proud to say that I was the first female finisher! I got a little
German weather house as a prize. This race hurt so good that I ended up signing up for a 50 k scheduled in May.
Over Easter weekend we got together with our friends the Tuckers and decorated eggs. It was so fun and we loved having them over. We also decided to spend Memorial Day with them as well, later on in May.
Our Easter egg hunt treasures.
In April we were given free tickets to a 76er's game, so we thought, why not? But gosh darn it, they ended up losing. Not a huge surprise, but someday it would be nice to see them win!
The weather finally started to warm by the end of April. Not a ton, but a little. So on one of the nicer afternoons we drove out to Saint Peter's Village and did what you are supposed to do there. Hop across rocks and boulders from one side of the river to the other. Only, I ended up tweaking a muscle in my leg while doing this and could barely walk back to the car. I felt about 80 years old when that happened. Since I was in the midst of training for the 50k, I had to take a few days off from running to recuperate.
Springtime is such a beautiful time of year in these parts! I didn't get into the city to take pictures of the blooming trees this year, but that's ok. Here's a tree across from our church building looking ever so lovely.
In early May we went on an overnight camping trip with our friends, the Pimentels. It was a blast, and I was so happy they decided to do this even with an eight month old! We drove down to Elk Neck State Park, which is right near the Chesepeake in Maryland. We highly suggest camping at this park if you ever get the chance.
They stuck their little guy Caleb inside as they continued to put together their tent! It was too funny, and he was happy as could be!
Group shot the next morning. Such good times!
The Turkey Point Lighthouse wasn't too far so before heading back to Philly, we stopped by for some nice Chesapeake views.
We also stopped at a community farmer's market in the town of North East where we found a bait vending machine. Novel.
That same weekend we also attended the Food Truck Festival right here in Phoenixville. It was so crowded. Definitely not enough vendors for the turnout. I waited 45 minutes for an empanada that did not satisfy and was way more expensive than anything you would get at a food truck in Philly. I would have opted for Chinese, but wouldn't you know it, all the Chinese food trucks had sold out earlier in the day. We met up with one of my co-workers and her husband. Clark and her husband ended up getting some Soul Food, for which they waited over an hour!
On Cinco de Mayo I went South of the border and got me a little Mexican food. Taco Bell is authentic, is it not?
Clark had three weeks off between semesters in May, and spent a good amount of time traveling to North Carolina and Nashville to visit family and to attend his youngest brother's graduation. While the hubs was away, I too stole away to Delaware for a couple of nights. I can't post pictures, but I had the amazing opportunity to tour some phenomenal aircraft and get some quality time in with my niece and nephew.
The only photos Clark took while away were of our niece Georgie. She is at such a cute age and clearly was a mess while eating cake. Can't wait to see the NC Toblers at Thanksgiving, and we're still crossing our fingers that Kyle will be able to be there!
This is my nephew, JJ. Yes, it's the same dog I posted a picture of earlier in the post. He looks calm here as we cuddle, but he often wets himself with excitement. All over the house, multiple times a day.
Phoenixville also had a carnival in the park that is literally less than a half mile away! Clark and I were the weirdos hanging out at the carnival with a bunch of teenagers and parents with children. It was just like, all these people are so young, or all these people have children and that is why they are here. Shortly after I finished my bag of cotton candy, we walked on home and discussed how weird it was to be at the carnival childless and in our early thirties.
Mid May I ran the 50k. It did not go well! I thought I was prepared for this race, but clearly I was not. I hadn't trained properly with salt and instead relied too heavily on carbs. It was such a hot and humid day that I lost a lot of sodium by sweating and by mile 17 I was a mess. Constant stomach cramps that prevented me from running. It was like my first marathon all over again, only worse. Plus, I had several spills on the trails. I told Clark after the race that people behind me probably thought I looked hung over or something. I just couldn't stay on my feet through the first 5 miles, and with my second fall I actually did something to damage my hip adductor. I continued to run on it but I'm now paying for it. I've compensated so much since then that my achilles tendon is acting up. But I digress.... A very encouraging 50 miler saw me along the trail and asked how I was doing, around mile 24-25. I told him not so good and said I just needed to get to an aid station so they could take me back to the finish line. He gave me some salt tablets and said I had come too far to give up. He talked to me as he walked with me to the next aid station, and told me to drink some soda and just sit and wait for a bit. So I did just that. After about 15-20 minutes I was feeling better and I actually ended up finishing the race. I was an hour off my target, but I got through it! Now I will never, ever enter another longer trail race without salt tablets!
Here I am at the start.
And here I am struggling through to the finish! I was a mess. As I mentioned I fell multiple times and I was just covered in dirt. Clark had to rinse me off with several water bottles.
One night we went to the grocery store and Clark bought a whole cart full of Nabisco treats! Just kidding, but the overflowing cart was so worthy of a great photo op.
Like I mentioned above, we spent Memorial Day with our friends, the Tuckers, but my bro and his family came up Memorial Day weekend just for the weekend. We barbequed and the next day played at Ikea and Valley Forge.
My little grillmaster. Getting our skewers bbq'd to perfection.
This year I am determined to get family pictures of just the two of us. Finding a photographer who doesn't charge an arm and a leg is not easy here, however.
All I want is a 15 minute shoot and you haven't even studied fine art in college! How can you charge that much!? I have the perfect place in mind for our pictures:
This area of Valley Forge is never crowded and I just love the cannons. I'm half tempted to just take our tripod and do self timed family photos. I've done it before and I can do it again!
In June, Clark flew out west to attend his grandma's funeral in Idaho Falls. We are so sad about her passing but are relieved that she is now reunited with her love and free of her failing mortal body! He flew into SLC which was great because not only was he able to go to his grandma's funeral and see family, but he was also able to see good friends from our days in SLC and revisit our old stomping grounds!
We have been spending a lot of time at Valley Forge. This summer started out incredibly rainy, and so when our picnic plans were foiled, we would have our picnic in our sun room.
For the Fourth of July, we traveled down to Delaware to spend the holiday with family. We had some amazing bbq (thank you, bro!), played many games of corn hole, went to a nearby beach, and watched the fireworks in downtown Dover! Can't get more American than that!
Most recently, we went on a double date with a couple we go to church with. We went bowling, and though I typically suck at bowling, I won the first game with my highest score ever! Clark won the second game with his highest score ever! I had to document these photos to prove that I have bowled over a 100! I also didn't bowl a second game because I didn't want to ruin my winning streak.
We've also been getting together with one of the nurses Clark used to work with and her family. She is very crafty, so we decided that we're going to try to get together monthly and have a craft day! She knows how to sew, so under her tutelage, I was able to make some ASU envelope pillow covers!
Since Clark goes into Philly for class on Mondays, I typically tag along and visit with my friends or tour around the city. This last week we also decided to have date night and rented roller skates at Penn's Landing thanks to an awesome Groupon deal. It was a lot of fun. City Hall is no longer under construction, so that is nice, too!
I love that the fountain water at Love park was blue.
The Irish Memorial at Penn's Landing.
Clark is so smooth on skates! I, on the other hand, have lost any and all coordination I may have honed as a child!
So that is what we have been up to the past seven months. I'm looking forward to some adventures we have on the horizon. We'll be meeting up with our Australian besties in Montreal and then we travel to Pasco to see my family and meet up with some friends in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Needless to say, I'm very excited to leave the Mid Atlantic for a bit!
