We’ve had some crazy happenings the last few weeks in the Burch household. I was approached by two of the VP’s at TTi. They asked me if Wade might be interested in coming back. I know my jaw dropped. I told them I had no idea – we definitely never discussed this. They called Wade a few days later and discussed the new position they were creating. Wade decided the job in Milwaukee still suited him better and told them so. A few hours later he gets another email from another VP at TTi asking if he would be interested in a different job opening. I don’t know what is going on, but what a nice compliment to Wade. We did discuss the idea of staying in Anderson and parts of it would be nice, but we ultimately decided the best place for us is in Milwaukee. Now it just better snow when I get there!
I forgot the joys of working inhouse at a company’s legal firm and having an outside law firm. The outside law firm gives Christmas presents. Debra and I both received the tins of chocolate from our outside law firm. Yumm! Now I just have to decide if I eat it all or share it with coworkers…
I got a call from Michelle this morning. Bryson arrived at 2:02 am (on his due date). Bryson was 8 lbs 8 ozs. and 21 inches long. I went after work for a quick visit and got a picture of the new mom and sweet baby.
Sunday and today were spent in the car. I drove from Milwaukee to Paducah (and saw some snow!) and arrived just in time to pick up Madison from being boarded. She was a little worn out.
I got up early the next morning, loaded Madison and Taylor in the car, and headed to Nashville. I spent an hour at Melissa’s house checking out all of her updates and letting Madison run around in the backyard. Then we drove to Atlanta where I made a few returns before driving the last leg to Anderson. I have never been so glad to see my house!
Wade and I have a busy weekend planned. We got up early this morning and ran a few errands (shopping, boarding Madison, dropping of Christmas presents) before taking time for a few quick pictures.
Next up was a visit with Kate and her family. Taylor is a bundle of energy and into everything. Anna was sweet and just slept while I held her. It was good to catch up with Kate and Scott. I hate that we don’t live closer.
We rushed from the visit with Kate to Chong’s for a quick buffet lunch at the best Chinese restaurant (Wade and I actually agree on this) with my mom. Then Wade and I hit the road for our drive to Milwaukee. We are spending a few days up there looking for a house. Wade did all of the driving and I caught up on my Smallville episodes.
The last few years we have had all holidays in Paducah. This is perfect for Wade and I – we always get to see both families. This year we stayed with my mom, but had Thanksgiving dinner with Wade’s family. Wade made apple crisp and I made corn pudding. We stayed at my mom’s house long enough to say hi to all of my family and then arrived at Granny and Papa’s just in time for food.
After the Thanksgiving meal, there was the necessary nap and then a game of uno. Papa got his normal “special” rules. He has trouble telling the difference between green and blue so we let him play either – which he does use to his advantage. We spent the evening with my mother and helped her put up her tree and begin the Christmas decorating.
Today was the longest drive. I was in the car for over 11 hours. I left work around 2 pm, stopped quick to pick up Madison, and got on the road. My normal route is I-85 South to Atlanta, I-75 North to Chattanooga, and then I-24 West to Paducah. I decided to avoid Atlanta and take back roads due to the inevitable traffic. As I was getting ready to rejoin my normal route in Chattanooga, I heard on the radio about the hour long backups on all interstates. At this point I decided to avoid Chattanooga – probably the wrong move. At this point I was far off my mapquest directions and relying on my nav system. I wasn’t paying close enough attention – rain, cell phone, dark, etc – and ended up on I-75 North to Knoxville.
The key to my master plan was to arrive in Nashville in time to pick up Wade from his flight. I was actually going to arrive on time, amazing when you look at my route, when I get a call from Wade 20 minutes before he was supposed to land. His plane was diverted to Little Rock because of the storms. At this point he assumed he would be lucky to get to Memphis but would never catch is connecting flight to Nashville. He planned to get a cab to his parents’ house and borrow a car to drive to Paducah. I stopped at a mall in Nashville until I knew for sure Wade had taken off for Memphis. I was about an hour out of Nashville when Wade called and had me turn around. He was coming into Nashville after all. I picked him up and gladly turned the wheel over to Wade. Did I mention it rained and poured the entire drive? I was so glad to get to Paducah and my bed!
Below you see my normal route in blue and the actual route in red (the thick line is where I had to backtrack and drive the same part twice).
Our company doesn’t pay for models (if you have seen our packaging this will not be a surprise). We use company employees and then pay the employees with power tools. I have modeled for two tools – a Ryobi One Plus Spotlight and a Ryobi Battery Powered String Trimmer. I have not seen either of these items on the shelves at Home Depot. However, Wade is now in stores. Wade modeled for a Homelight MightyLite Backpack Blower. I was hunting up a blower to do my leaves and the boxed unit arrived in my cubicle. I took it home and before I opened it realized Wade was on the box. None of the pictures are very large or clear, but I recognize Wade. He’s the one in the top picture.
I included my picture but it’s not on a box.
I received a pair of Merrell Promo Chill Slides for Christmas a few years ago. I wear them all winter long. The soles are in great shape – the insides is another matter. The shoes have shearling lining which make them wonderful to wear. Over the years, the foster puppy Jack tore out a bit of the lining and the insoles are full of holes. I assumed I would just have to buy some generic insoles, but I did check the Merrell website first. I didn’t see anything listed, but decided I might as well email the company. They emailed back and do sell them – for only $7.50 a pair. I bought two. Then I get a personal phone call telling me they are back ordered, but would I still like to place my order. What a great company. Hopefully I will get them by the middle of January – I will really appreciate them in Milwaukee!
Everyone knows what a huge football fan I am so I was excited about the GaTech vs. UNC game this afternoon (okay, none of that is true). Wade flew in to Atlanta last night at 10:30. We got a hotel room and planned to join Daniel and his fiance, Karen, for the GaTech football game the next day. Karen had given Daniel tickets a while ago and he had asked if we would want to join them. It all worked out perfectly. We stayed in the same hotel, went for breakfast at OK Cafe, and then watched the game. The game turned out to be really good and we did win! Next it was a quick trip to the Tech Bookstore for a new shirt for me and then on to Fellini’s for dinner. We had a great day with old friends.
We picked Madison up in Duluth (the only boarding place I could find that is open on Saturdays) and then headed home. We even got home in time for a relaxing evening.
I decided tonight was officially wrapping night. I unloaded all of the gifts from the backseat of my car, made a pizza, popped in a move, and started wrapping. I thought all of the wrapping would be done in a few hours – wrong. I was up till 1 am, but I am done. All of the gifts are wrapped, tagged, and bowed. They are even in separate piles for KY and for shipping. Now I just have to get them all loaded in my car for my drive next Wednesday. For now they can sit in the dining room.
I have mentioned my friends from Governor’s Scholars before. Travis emailed me a few days ago and asked for a place to stay on their drive from Florida to Ohio. I was happy to have company – I get to see friends and have company for an evening. They arrived just in time for dinner. We spent the rest of the night watching their daughter, Melilla, play with Madison. They were both ready for bed around 9.
Travis and his family are preparing for a mission trip to Bulgaria (their website is here). They are spending the next few months raising money and then will live overseas for 3.5 years. It was exciting to hear about their plans and catching up about the changes in the last year.
It occurred to me the other day that I have no idea where I will be before Christmas. I could be living in Milwaukee. I could still be in Anderson. I could even be in the middle of moving. The more I thought about it, I realized it would be very smart to get a majority of my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving. Then I could leave the gifts at my mother’s house and not have to worry about them.
Our realtor scheduled an open house for this afternoon. Perfect! I went to church in Greenville (at Summit), made a quick stop at the Haywood mall, and then spent the rest of the day at the Gaffney Outlets. I have one or two people left, but the majority is done!
I have decided to leave all of the presents in my backseat until I can get them wrapped (hopefully this week). Then I don’t have to create a random pile of stuff in my house. It’s amazing how much better I feel and how excited I am about Christmas.
Michelle invited me to an evening event in Greer. You paid $20 for a ticket that went to a good cause and then received discounts at local stores. A boutique shoe store was hosting the event. Imagine my surprise when I found a pair of brown boots – which I needed. I am not normally much of a shoe person, but these came in narrow and felt wonderful on my feet! We also stopped in a boutique clothing store next door to visit a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy and I ended up buying a present for mom. Christmas shopping has officially begun!
Saturday night my internet died. I rebooted the modem and then went to bed. My master plan did not work, the internet was still out when I got up on Sunday. I tried a few other tricks and called Wade for some advice, but no luck. (Lucky for me, my neighbors have an un-encrypted wireless network.) I finally called the cable company and the earliest they could send someone out was today. Two guys showed up at my door. First they determined that we had too many splitters in the hosue and we could no longer have cable upstairs. Then they decided they could work around that. Finally, they decided I had a bad modem. They gave me a new modem and now I have internet! They didn’t even charge me. I miss my wireless when it is down.
This is a little late, but too cute. Melissa and Chris found the perfect costume for their 3-legged dog – a pirate with a peg leg. I think I am correct that Taylor even won a prize for her costume. Chris works at M&M in the pet division – they get to bring their dogs to work and had a contest.
Today was Michelle’s baby shower. Kristi and I were throwing the shower, but at Michelle’s house.
I don’t have a picture, but Kristi made a really cute diaper cake for the centerpiece. I was in charge of the food and we had lots, but my favorite was the sugar cookies. Melissa had the idea of making baby themed sugar cookies – it was fun and I love using Judy’s recipe!
We played the game “guess how big Michelle’s tummy is” and I lost big time. She would have to have been pregnant with quintuplets. But we all had fun and then it was time for presents. Michelle got lots of cute stuff. Below is her going through the gift basket I made:
Wade was working on my computer and the squirrel decided to perform a talent show. I’ve worked at my desk hours and hours and never had a squirrel get so close. Wade took a picture for me:
This is my first weekend without Wade. He arrived in Milwaukee this morning and plans to do some house hunting.
I had a lazy morning until I realized the tire place might close early. (Before Wade left he got me 4 new tires, saved the tire that was only a year old (had to replace one with a bubble), and ordered me a new rim. I’m going to get a full size spare!) I called at 11 and was told they closed at noon. I rushed out the door and got there at 11:30. My new rim had arrived and they were going to put my year old tire on the rim. I also asked them to mount it under the car and they said that would be no problem. The shocking part is when I went to pay. They wouldn’t charge me. I have used these guys before and been impressed with their nice touches, but they did 30 minutes of work for no money. Too bad we won’t be in the area to continue using them!
I tagged along with the McGuirts to Lindsay’s wedding. It was a wonderful wedding with orange bridesmaid dresses. You’d never guess she was a Clemson alum, huh? The reception was fun and had three different buffets with different themes (Californian, Southern, and Southwest). Wade missed out on some good barbecue. We stayed through cake and got to visit with lots of old friends. Lindsay and Robert should be in Jamaica relaxing by this time tomorrow.
