What just happened?

It seems like 1,000,000 crazy things just happened, which would have made for good blogging material all along, but have instead drawn me away from my blog. But here I am.

Most recently, and most frightening, Neil and I got a calling last week! I was at first afraid they were going to ask us to speak in Sacrament, which would be TERRIFYING, as I have a very scary ward. But instead, they asked us to "teach" nursery!!!!! I can't think of a more perfect calling for Neil or a more ill-fitting one for me. Neil is stoked and I -- well, I laughed out loud when the guy asked us. Not an hour earlier, Rosemay asked me to hold her adorable and good baby, Josiah, while she led the music. This was 2 min. I figured I could handle. Nope, sensing my fear, he started screaming about 1 min. into me holding him. It's not so much that I don't like kids, it's that they reeeeaaaalllly don't like me. I guess callings are for us to learn and grow from. I am really terrified to be stuck with a bunch of babies for 2 HOURS; fortunately it's every other Sunday. I figure this will either make me really want to have one or ... not.

In other news, I made a very difficult choice and decided to accept the relative unknown in a job with (edited) and told my boss at my dream job that I will be leaving. Am I crazy? But, it's a best-case scenario -- she says I can stay as long as I'd like, until I actually start training. And since it's been exactly 1 yr. since I applied for the job in the first place, I am thinking it may be awhile until I actually start with them. So everything is cool there. Except when I think of the fact that I will spend the rest of my career living outside of the U.S., which is exciting but also makes me a little sad.

I have actually used the camera mentioned in my previous post, most recently last weekend when a friend and I went to tour rich people's fabulous horse stables in Middleburg, Va. Unfortunately, the batteries weren't charged. A few weeks before that, Neil surprised me with tickets (a 3 mo. anniv./Mother's Day present) to a polo match in Leesburg!! It was my first time using the camera and it was fun. While in Leesburg, we visited Mary on her farm where I used to live.
When we got to Mary's, she was about to go for one of her daily walks, so we went along. Her dog, Friday, and Mitch (a woman, ironically) went with us.
Mary's property is really beautiful, and very much like how this overdeveloped area of Va. "used" to be.
I love the fields. This is a very "Virginia" scene to me, very home.
Mary has used part of the property for a conservation easement and planted a pine forest. One of the first times Neil came over, it was snowing lightly and we went for a walk through the forest. Muy romantico!
The aptly named pool house where I used to live. Mary still swims laps in it. I'm lucky if I can make it down and halfway back once.
Mary is an incredible lady. She has had an awesome life -- she was born in Shanghai to British parents. Her father was a diplomat. She had to leave China during the war, and moved to Africa to work, where she met her husband, whose family lived in Leesburg. She has done tons of amazing things, and has the best stories, made better because she still has a British accent. It was very nice living in her pool house and I miss not seeing her more often!



America's Polo Cup featured Italy vs. USAZoom out.

Zoom in.
Zoom way in.
They have a cute tradition during "halftime" of stomping the divots. Everybody went out to stomp. Well, I took pictures, but Neil is in the middle there, looking for divots.

Sorry, Italy -- USA won!

MOTHER LODE

I just realized my access to all dis:


What's his is mine, right? I reasoned that if he's not going to use it, I may as well. I would love to improve the quality of pictures on this blog. Sorry, cameraphone.

The only thing is, how do I lug something like this around? I feel like I'd need a press pass to justify carrying this thing. How do other people chronicle their daily life with whatever they use that isn't a cameraphone or a tiny little spy camera? Is their camera this ginormous? Is this impractical for daily use?

Also, Neil said I could use it since it spends 99.99% of its life on the closet shelf, BUT I am notoriously clumsy, and if I killed it, I may find myself not too far behind.

How do I ensure its safety?

Perhaps I should stick with the cameraphone or the tiny little spy camera? This treasure chest of camera goodies is so tempting though! I just picked it up and put the strap around my neck for safety, and tried to turn it on and take a picture. That took about 5 min. to figure out. Also, it said "No card present." I think it could be more complicated than I want to deal with, but its promises of pretty pictures are hard to ignore.

That Forces Combined picture over there on the right seems to fit every post. Look at that skeptical look Neil's giving me! I promise I'll be careful with it, ok?!

Colorful

I wish I had a colorful picture here. I got nothing. OH, wait -- I just found an old pic that won't delete from my camera:
Always a bit weird to see that photo session (Dec. 2005) mixed in with whatever current pics I upload. Check out the 'do!

I still need to post the before and after photos of my most recent haircut. Here's the before, from a couple months a go -- a heavily bobby pinned, mullet-ish pseudo-Japanese rocker (wannabe) look:
The "Forces Combined" pic over there on the right is this same 'do, down in the front, still in a pony in the back.

The after: Like I said, need a good photo. But people have said it looks Rihanna/Posh Spice-ish. It does a faux-hawk (when I style it) up the back, and then the left side is short until it gets to my temple, where it's long and I tuck it behind my ear. The whole right side is long and A-line, longer toward the front. It's supposed to be rocker-looking. Except it's always a bit of a challenge, as the hair wants to defy gravity and requires much flat-ironing.

What else? The security clearance is complete, but no word yet from State. Think maybe I should call them. Would love to stay at the current job. Right? I am hearing all sorts of opinions from others. Now would be a good time to pray about it. And pay my tithing! I've been reviewing my Patriarchal Blessing. Interesting. And now there's the whole dynamic of what's in the best interest of my "family" (my husband and me!) and hearkening to his counsel.

Decisions, decisions.

Top Secret

Wow, my life just got a tad more exciting. I'm in the middle of a top-secret security clearance investigation. It's totally routine, but it still is a little nerve-wracking for some reason.

My first clue that they were doing this was when my old roommate in IA said an investigator was going to call back in 30 min. to ask about me. Then I got a voice mail from my former landlord in HI, saying some nice young man came to their house to ask them about me. My longest existing friend (how do you say that -- we've been friends for 18 yrs.?) in GA is meeting an investigator on Mon.

Weird!

I had to meet with an investigator here the other night. He mentioned my former employment at an accounting firm, which was eerie, since I hadn't told him I worked there -- just weird to meet someone who already knows all this stuff about you.

Who knows, maybe they're investigating my blog and wondering if they can clear a self-proclaimed Outlaw.