NC Resident!

Today I completed the final step of becoming an NC resident...I trekked back to the DMV to register my car. With my car title, insurance, and new NC license in tow, I was ready! I successfully obtained my very first NC license plate for my little red escape :) I ended up having to take another driver license pic because they left my apt # off the first DL. So now with a brand new license and car tag, I'm official!

I made it over to Griffin Brothers, my friendly car guys, to get my car inspected and have the car tag "installed." I left it there and went to work. They told me it would take awhile (this is a more detailed inspection that the LA "flash your lights" inspection lol). Just 10 minutes after I got to work, they called to say my car was ready. I picked up my little red car that was almost "new" with its NC plates. I think it was happy :) Now I don't stick out like an out-of-towner.....which I guess is good since I've been here 3 years!

What a successful day!

BTW--any family and friends that are itching to visit the wonderful state of North Carolina, be sure to look me up when you come! I know all the good places to eat and shop here...hehe :)

Posted in: on Monday, June 30, 2008 at at 8:30 PM 0 comments  

Official!

I am now an official licensed NC driver :) After obtaining NC auto insurance last week and studying for the driving exam last weekend, I headed to the DMV at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. While waiting for almost 2 hours for my number to be called, I befriended 2 girls around my age who were studying too. In this DMV, it was nice to find some normal people to talk to since the crowd was a little sketchy. It's such a small world too, because one of the girls was from Mt. Brook/B'ham and went to Auburn, and the other was from SC and went to Baylor. They knew some of the same people who went to SU the same time I did. It was nice to have friendly company while waiting.


I am proud to say that all that studying paid off and I passed with only missing 1 question. There was one question about snow/ice and your tires....um, hello, it rarely snows here in NC, and I don't come from where it snows ever---so I quickly skipped that question (I would have probably gotten it wrong).


And I successfully registered to vote in NC too. No more absentee voting! Election '08 here I come! No political comments necessary :) But this means my vote won't be able to help my fellow Louisianians/Franklin Parish citizens in the local elections. Oh well, I can have my say here in Mecklenburg County and NC now.


The only bad news was that I didn't have my car title to register my car in NC and get my official NC license plate. That will be my task for next week. Then I can officially say I'm an NC resident, farewell Louisiana *tear*


Things are moving along smoothly here. Maybe growing up isn't so bad after all :) *smile*

Posted in: on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at at 1:45 PM 0 comments  

Growing up is hard to do

Why is it so confusing and difficult to figure out which car insurance policy to get?? I am in the process of getting insurance in NC so I can finally get a drivers license here. After dealing with this for 3 days and with 3 quotes, I'm still confused :) Hopefully I'll get coverage this week so I can study up for my driver's exam for next week. Yup...I have to take the NC written driving exam to get my license here. I have had 2 friends fail their first attempt in the past, so I'm going to study! Soon I can be an official NC resident woohoo!

In other news...I'm one TB test away from volunteering at the children's hospital. Once I get the TB test checked Friday, I should be cleared to volunteer! I'll hopefully be able to start next Friday at the end of June :) Who knew it would be such a long process to start volunteering? But I'm sure it will be worth it!

That's all for now :)

Posted in: on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at at 8:24 PM 1 comments  

Good luck and farewell

Today was Alisa's last Sunday at MPUMC. We will definitely miss her as our young adults minister, but wish her the best of luck in D.C.


Vaughan, Alisa, and me on Alisa's last Sunday


Me and Alisa with the stole we gave her at the young adult's party

Posted in: on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at at 9:27 PM 0 comments  

Recent life happenings


Here are just a few pics from spring/summer 2008



Vaughan, Nicole, and I at Speed Street in uptown Charlotte during Nascar Race week.



Me and Lucy on Memorial Day weekend at her family's lake house on Lake Nantahala.




Mom and I walking the Guillian-Barre 5k in memory of my grandma and my friend Mary Matt.
At the finish line after walking the 3+ miles :)



Some of my Samford friends getting ready for Pammie's wedding.


Posted in: on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at at 10:26 PM 0 comments  

My new creations

Made by Michelle (monogram by L&M Monogramming)

This was my latest apron creation for my college friend Pam (aka Pammie) who got married in April.





And here's the beautiful bride on her wedding day


Pam and Becki

Pam and her new hubby Jeremy

Posted in: on at at 10:19 PM 0 comments  

Change can be good

So I should probably update everyone on my career situation (for those that haven't heard about all the changes). This actually a very exciting time for me right now. After finishing grad school classes for I/O psych (aka work psych, aka human resources), I still have that pesky thesis pending (no comments needed on this please). This is a thorn in my side I'd rather not discuss (if you want me to be your friend and like you, please do not bring this topic up next time you see me).

While in my most recent interview for a HR job, I just sat there realizing that I would be completely miserable in this type of job. It was almost an epiphany....an "ah-ha" moment. Definitely a God-thing, I feel. I have been working at a recruiting firm in an internship type job since September. This was to help me get on an HR track to get some recruiting experience. While I love my coworkers and what I do here for the most part, it is not my future.

I started talking to friends and others about switching to child life (www.childlife.org). This career track of working with kids in a hospital has always been in the back of my mind (I just chose to ignore it at the time). Well what do you know....my friends have connections :) My friend Jennifer put me in touch with the child life coordinator at Presbyterian Hospital. Well...things just started coming together and I met with a couple of child life professionals at Presby recently to get my questions answered and such.

So all things going as smoothly as possible, I will start volunteering at Hemby Children's at Presby this summer in order to complete 50 hours of volunteer hours. Then, I will be eligible to apply for a child life internship for spring/summer 2009. I am very excited! I'm sure there will be lots more updates and stories to come as I begin this adventure.

In the meantime, I am set to start a new job at another recruiting firm in July. So this will give me a better financial situation for the next year until I can intern and switch to child life. So for right now, things are looking good and I can't complain :)

All this means too that I'll be in Charlotte for at least another 1-2 years, maybe longer (shhh don't tell my family). I keep trying to convince them to move here...but who am I kidding, hell will have to freeze over first before they'll leave the 'boro.

Posted in: on at at 11:00 AM 0 comments  

Heat wave

**This heat has already gotten the best of me today...and its only the first week of June!

Needed:
1. A new place to live in Myers Park, Dilworth, Elizabeth neighborhoods with central a/c (I can seriously live w/o washer/dryer, dishwasher as long as its cool inside!)
2. A nice, clean, friendly roommate to share 2 br apt/house with previously mentioned modern conveniences (if you know of anyone in Charlotte, send them my way)

OR
1. AIR CONDITIONING!
I'm considering biting the bullet and investing in a portable a/c unit for my bedroom since I can't install a window unit. And also channeling my inner-repair "woman" self to install shades over my mini blinds and under my curtains to help keep the heat out.

I thought Louisiana summer heat was bad....stupid global warming...NC isn't any better!

Posted in: on Friday, June 6, 2008 at at 5:01 PM 0 comments  

The place where I call home

For those of you unfamiliar with my lovely apt....I'll give you the low-down. I may live in the middle of one of the nicest neighborhoods in Charlotte...next door to million dollar condos....but I live in a 50+ year old apt building...with no dishwasher...no washer/dryer...and only one "window" a/c unit thats in my den. But I love my old apt :)

Despite these minor inconveniences, I couldn't ask for better neighbors or a better place to live. My neighbors are wonderful...when I first moved in, my neighbor Anne brought me cookies :) I don't have sketchy loud ghetto-fabulous neighbors like my other apt in the university area (which totally sucked btw). I can walk on beautiful tree-lined streets with amazing homes on my way to the park. I live within a few miles of my church, most of my friends, the ymca, Harris Teeter (aka grocery store for you non-Carolinians). So all this to say is that even though I don't have all the "modern" conveniences, I love where I live! (Ask me in a month or so when its the middle of HOT summer, I may change my mind lol).

A view of a Myers Park street (probably Queens Rd West) in Charlotte.

My new idea is to get a bike with a basket so I can ride to the park, to the store, etc. I just need to actually go to Target or Walmart and buy the bike first. This will be my small attempt at creating a cleaner earth, saving money on gas, and getting exercise. We'll see how this goes since it's already supposed to be in the high 90s and up to 100 degrees in Charlotte this weekend. Oy!

Posted in: on at at 10:22 AM 0 comments  

first attempt...














So here I am attempting to venture into this blog world. I thought it would be good to put my thoughts and such somewhere. A few things I will probably blog about...

Family...Mine is in LA and TX, while I am starting my life in NC. Not always the easiest thing.

Friends...near and far from high school, college, grad school, etc.

My vintage apt....what it's like to live without central a/c, washer/dryer, and dishwasher. The rough life!

Career...doing a 360 degree career change from recruiting/human resources to child life...more on that later.

Church...Weight Watchers (trying to lose those last 5 pounds)....And just whatever else I have the urge to share about life :)

Cheers!

Posted in: on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at at 10:13 PM 2 comments  

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