Category: NB

Halfsies!

It’s wild to think Zeke and Eli are already 3½ and 1½! Time really does fly by when you’re chasing toddlers. 😁

We are so blessed to have them both. They keep us on our toes, and they’re very good to each other–thick as thieves most days. Sometimes it feels like we’re just referees in their little world, but honestly, watching them grow side by side making memories is the best thing ever.

On the work front, it’s been just over a month since I started my new job. I’m still working in IT doing systems administration, but now in the construction field instead of healthcare. The change of scenery has been refreshing, and I really enjoy the people I work with and the work that I do. It’s a good reminder that sometimes the right move isn’t about reinventing yourself–it’s about finding a better fit for the skills you already have.

All in all, we’re grateful. Grateful for healthy kids, steady work, and the chance to keep building our little story in these tumultuous times. Life feels full, messy, and good–and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Until next time,

Andrew

When One House Closes, Another Opens

That’s my slight spin on the quote “When one door closes, another opens” by Alexander Graham Bell. 🙂

It sometimes feels like it was only yesterday that Danielle and I made the huge decision and commitment to jump off the deep end and move to Arizona from Georgia. But alas! It’s already been over 3 years! Wow! It’s crazy how time flies.

In the time that we’ve been here in AZ, we’ve settled our roots in reasonably well (got myself a job, a beautiful house we intended to be our “forever house”, had most all of our family move nearby, etc.). But as with a lot of things in life, we had a change of desires for what we wanted for the rest of our lives and in retirement; shifting our hearts and mindsets from being in our forever house to preparing for our forever house. With that came getting out house ready to list on the market. We started that process really last year doing upgrades to the house and stuff like that.

Fast forward to earlier this year, and we reached out to our realtor and got the serious ball rolling to list and as you read in my last post, we officially listed. Since then, we had a TON of showings — somewhere in the neighborhood of 50! — and then we accepted an offer and have been going through all the motions with that … paperwork, inspection, appraisal, and other rollercoaster nuances. Today marks the official date we wrapped up selling our house. We put a lot of work into making the “house a home”, just like our last one in Georgia, and I hope the next people will love it, take care of it, and make it their own “house a home”, too. We wish them (and the house) the best.

Now we start a new chapter in our lives. This one I think is more outside the comfort zone than even moving was. We are going to build our own house (well, not us, but you get it). Of our needs and wants for the long-term future, the housing and land we are seeking doesn’t exist in the masses like it would back home, or it is exceedingly outside of our humble budget, so actually building our dream house isn’t really far fetched and meets or goals right in the middle. It’s too early to say anything because we’re just getting the ball rolling with the right people, but I’m sure I’ll throw out a new post or two (or more) as we go along this journey. So stay tuned for that.

Oh, yeah, and I pretty much gave up counting what day it is in Corona Quarantine … it’s been a lot with no end in sight. -_-

Until next time,

Andrew

Old Memories … Sold!

You might look at the title and think “What!? That doesn’t make any sense.” Let me fill you in. The neighborhood Danielle and I live in did a once-a-year (I think) community yard sale this past weekend. I don’t remember them ever doing once since we’ve lived here 3 years now, but maybe the luck of the draw we were not here or didn’t hear about it. Either way, we had a crap-ton of stuff to sell — things like toys, games, books, arts and crafts, and some electronics.

Well, part of that process was first deciding if I wanted to part with most of my old toys — Power Rangers, G.I. Joes, wrestlers, Hot Wheels, Batmans, and other misc toys. I decided yes because I do not have the same sentimental relationship I had with them when I was much younger, plus we’re moving later this year and that’d be unnecessary extra baggage to tag along for no reason.

Friday I was not here (working) but Danielle sold reasonable lot of them. Some whole sets of things went completely. Saturday, in between being on-call at work, I was able to negotiate selling the rest of the lot of Power Rangers to an enthusiast/collector guy … after letting a couple kids pick a few they were super excited to get. So, all in all, I got my enjoyment out of the toys long ago, and the memories that are in my mind are hopefully there forever.

I’ll rest easier now knowing that all of these various toys can make a new master happy and have a purpose again of getting played with or outwardly displayed in some way.

My Phone is Getting Android 10!

We all know that phone and device manufacturers like to cycle out to the ether of “obsolete” devices that are not terribly old. Well, I was excited when my phone got Android 9, but today I got the notification –just a few minutes ago actually– that there was a pending update to Android 10. Now I was impressed…mainly from the point that the S9+ that I have could get it, but moreso that Verizon did let it get it OTA.

I waited a few minutes to post until after the update to be absolutely sure it worked, and it seems like it has.

Here’s to a positive change with devices for once in a long time.

CoD Season 2 out now!

https://www.callofduty.com/modernwarfare/season-2

Season two of Call of Duty (CoD) is out. My friends reminded me a couple of days ago about it, and so I fired up the ‘ol Xbox and started downloading… it’s a whopping 70GB! At that moment, we were having a brief Internet issue so I was getting a megabyte or so vs the couple hundred I usually get, and so I said nope and shut it down (was doing school work and house DIY stuff anyway).

Yesterday when I got home I kicked off the download after confirming speeds were good. It was fully downloaded/installed when I checked it later in the night.

I haven’t played yet, but I’m excited to see what it contains. I’ve seen leaks and the CoD website, but I mean firsthand.

Until next time,

Andrew