time to catch up....

Andraya, Dad, Adam, my Uncle Art, and I made the trip to Tulsa on August 13th following the insane packing on the 12th in what was the hottest day in Lincoln this year. We got Tulsa around 5:45 p.m. only to learn that Norman Village stopped letting people move in at 5 p.m. so we went and found a hotel for the night. Choose the Red Roof Inn. We got "settled" and went down to Arby's for supper. I noticed my wallet was not in my purse and panicked. Searched the Arby's and looked on the way back to the hotel. Got back to the hotel and noticed the door to our room was slightly ajar. I panicked even more now, my ipod and laptop were sitting out and plugged in. Thankfully everything, including my wallet were inside. We got everything unloaded with help from a couple of helpers hired by housing. We went to Elmer's BBQ for supper and enjoyed the badwich which was awesome. Sunday brought about my venture into law school. Andraya went and stayed with Helen Brantley while I went to the keynote speech and took the oath for law school which was followed by a wonderful reception with some delightful snacks and drinks. On Monday we met Vickie Hildebrand who is a law clerk for The United States District Court of Eastern Oklahoma and discussed her role in helping free Ronald whose last name is evading me at the moment but Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz were the focus of John Grisham's non-fiction book The Innocent Man. That was a wonderful experience. On Tuesday we went to the county and federal court houses. We watched a young man enter a plea deal and spoke with a Tulsa county district judge and then the federal judge for United States District Court of Northern Oklahoma as well as a federal magistrate judge and a law clerk. We also met a probation officer and a U.S. Marshall. We then had lunch at the Tulsa County Bar Association. Wednesday was supposed to be our day to give back to the community but Andraya was sick so I had to pick her up from school early. That Friday we went to a Tulsa Driller's game and we enjoyed that. We are slowly adjusting to Tulsa and are liking it thus far.

Adventures in Tulsa (and beyond...)

We went to Tulsa, OK last weekend for my "Pre-Orientation Day". Dad and I left Mom, Adam and Andraya at the hotel while we went to the University of Tulsa's Alan Chapman Activity Center (their campus's version of a student union/center). We realized that the campus is located right on Route 66 and that google directions aren't always the best. The information fair reminded me of the state fair. All that information and free stuff... We picked up 3 t-shirts, a handful of pens and a koozie. Found out some great information and got my reading assignments for August. I toured the law college and fell in love with it. The law library and the college are in the same building, so now I know where I'll be "living" the next 3 years of my life. We also toured the show apartment of the campus apartments so I got to see what my apartment is laid out like. It's spacious and it will be nice that Andraya has her own room and the washer and dryer in the apartment will be a blessing. Work hasn't been too bad, but we've had some issues adjusting to the brand new building and some of it's quirks. Hopefully the first day of Thespians won't be too bad. 1000 kids and we still don't have glasses... I also purchased my plane tickets for July and verified my plans to ride back with Bethany to Nebraska with her two sons. I've found that I enjoy studying in the law library and now that I know where to catch the inter-campus bus, I will take that to go to study there and ride home from City Campus when I'm done. That uphill ride from Holdrege to J is not fun on 33rd. I've finished one of the books I checked out from the library and I've got 2 more to work on so I'm off to read! But, a little taste of Tulsa and something Wendy asked for: a picture of a penguin

All By Myself...

Thursday was Andraya's first last day of school, so she has spent the last few days in Pender enjoying PoPo's, Subway and Grammy and Poppy and I've been working on getting used to being home alone. At least twice this weekend I've heard a sound and had to stop myself before I asked what she was up to. She has been enjoying herself and I've started slowly packing. I packed up most of my vhs tapes today (we don't watch them much anyway) and sorted a bit through my books. I worked today and yesterday and will work on through Thursday. I have Friday off to venture down to Tulsa for the first time and see what the city is like. I have been thinking about all the things I won't miss about work, but the list is long! I definitely won't miss washing trash cans. I have a blister on my knuckle and it's not exactly the most lovely of jobs... I won't miss the dish machine getting it's rinse water too hot and having it burn my finger tips because the plates are almost too hot to handle! I could probably go on until it's time to go to work in the morning. I am enjoying some of the perks of having "mommy-free" time. Like watching tv undisturbed and being able to sleep when I'm tired! And, kudos to my nephew for using the toilet today!

Sunny Days chasing the clouds away....

Andraya and I spent over two hours outside this afternoon playing in the breezy sun. It was a nice day, albeit a little to windy. I returned to Abel for the first time in over a year. Learning an entire new dishmachine will be a challenge, but it looks to be a lot of fun. The dining room is fairly small...about the same size as the servery but I think that it will work well. We shall see when we open. I am a bit tired from all the running in the sun, but I know someone would like to go back out after supper...we shall see. I am making tri-color ravioli with an Alfredo sauce and veggies! yum.

First Post...or something like that

Well, I decided since Katrina started her own blog, I'd start my own as well! I am slowly preparing for a major move as well as adapting to the life of a law student. Everything will change, more reading and studying and adapting to a new climate and a new school for Andraya. I have a reading list 3 pages long and that's only the suggested summer reading. In 3 weeks when we head down to Tulsa for the pre-orientation on the 12th, I will get my assignments for the Fundamentals of Legal Study the first week of August. I am looking forward to the new challenges and different things we will face over the years.