Nike

I am the queen of many things, including quotes, lunch packing and post-its. (I've also earned the name Cleaning Fairy by a few friends who have had their dishes done when I visit). The names serve me well, but I admit I've failed as far as the last one goes. I can't tell you how many times I've written "blog" on a pink post-it or in big letters on my dry erase board, yet I log on and see that I haven't written on this thing in two and a half months.

In an effort to prove that I can, in fact, keep a blog, I am updating. ... Just do it, right? Unfortunately, I am going to miss a lot of things because even the mental notes seem to expire.

First and foremost, Pete is now a Charlotte resident and lives about 100 times closer than he did two months ago. I know he misses his friends, family and snow, but it's also nice to be within driving distance and make weekend plans. He was also incredibly blessed with a job, offered to him the same day he interviewed in November. (My professors might call that a "divine appointment.") He's now a site manager for a law firm in Charlotte and lives less than half an hour from me.

On the homefront, Hilda is still job searching, so prayers are appreciated. There's part of me that thinks, "OK, you could have a job by now, even if it's not something you really want," but then I feel bad because I'm not the one in that situation. Either way, I couldn't ask for a better, more gracious roommate. I've had some doozies.

This past weekend, Pete and I went to TN to surprise Dad for his birthday. Mission accomplished; he was surprised indeed. We also went on a family bowling excursion and I was way out of practice. How embarrassing. Even Emily beat me, although she used the bumpers. ... I also got to watch her draw while I was home. She tried to draw my portrait when I was in for Christmas and made my eyes really far apart. She writes me and Pete about five notes every time we're in; they all say "to tif and pete, from emily," usually followed by three or four "I love you's" and some Hello Kitty stickers.

Mom recently got a job with Americorp and likes it a lot better than Food City. I'm happy for her, although I will miss the Food City stories about croissants falling off the buggy and busting open.

Seth is also doing well and just got his first vehicle passed down from my aunt an uncle - a Grand Cherokee. He did something to the muffler or something to make it louder and more macho. Mom doesn't like it. I told him it will make it difficult to sneak in if he misses curfew.

In other news, I found out Friday that I'm getting a scholarship to pay for one of my classes! It'll save me about $900, which is a huge load off; I'm soooooo happy. I start back to school next Tuesday.

Well, that is the really, really abridged version, but I will try my darndest to write on here more often. I miss doing it.