Tennessee Backwoods

No news on the house yet, and I decided against the Management position. As you see from the last post I am very excited about returning (but mostly finishing) school up and start Teaching.
Halloween kicked off the Holiday season quarter at work and things are getting crazy already. Rumor has it from the locals here that if you want to make it to work on time you will want to leave at LEAST 2 hours earlier than your scheduled shift due to Holiday shoppers. Second fact I found out... Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga (the one that I conveniently am literally two parking lots of walking distance away from) is the Largest mall in Tennessee--which I can totally beleive because I have fallen victim to the losing my car incident more than once. People come from bordering states to shop there. Retail at Holiday time is madness! We are half way done with our Christmas shopping already this year because I dont want to be anywhere near Work if I dont have to be when I am off.
TWO exciting things about Holiday time for me right now...
1. I get to make and send out Christmas Cards! YAY
2. Andrew and I will be able to make it home this year...Dec. 26- Jan. 2!

We have been trying to do more outdoor activites outside of our own yard. Last weekend we found Red Clay State Park (One of many around us) We took the dogs on a 1 1/2 hour hike through the trails. It was fun, relaxing, and got us far from the Holiday chaos! :)
We also went to Andrews work party last Thursday. Volkswagen rented out the entire Aquarium and hosted a huge Halloween dinner/bash. Everyone was dressed up in costumes and I was so fun to see all the kids trick or treat through the aquarium.
Thinking about going on a Color Tour this weekend through Gatlinburg...I'll let you know how that goes!

Back on Track

So I absolutely LOVE my job, but its not the job I want to continue forever. I moved to Tennessee for my new fresh start--so continuing my education is a must and a want. I decided to take the current semester off to settle-in and get residency status at University of Tennessee Chattanooga. There is no minimum of how long you must live in Tennessee to claim residency--UTC just took it upon themselves to make that choice. And since they decided I wasn't qualified and tag on that $5000 to any amount of credits I decided to take...Yah...I took some time off. For the upcoming Spring semester, I decided to take a different approach and apply at Chattanooga State. Much to my delight I became a permanent Tennessee resident by answering two simple questions...Tennessee Drivers License. Check. Some form of proof of residency through mail. Check. :) If everything falls into the plan. I am a new student at Chattanooga State eager to earn my teaching degree K-6. I will have to transfer back to UTC at some point to finish my teaching degree and for my Graduate degree in Educational Administration...gotta get through the next year first. Starting in January I will be Full-Time Team Lead for Academy Sports and Outdoors and Student at Chatt State (guess and check with how many credits I take...thinking around 11.)

Never a dull moment...

So I am already not doing so well with my personal blogger goal of at least a post every week....been so busy. Applied for another position at work--salaried black shirt manager position (just to make my life a little more complicated haha.) Hoping that things pan out with that. Cross your fingers for me. Will keep you posted with that one.

So we are the new designated dog-sitters of Ice: He is a Cane Corso. Andrew works with his owner-Mike. Ice is a professional show dog around the nation. He has earned many prestigious awards. Fully trained...has a interesting diet...4-6 raw turkey necks for dinner: bone and all. Raw meat and organic vegetable pureed mixture for breakfast. He is best friends with the both of them. Mike said he can fix me up with a rescue....I say Yes...Andrew says no. haha.

We had the joy of having family down this past weekend. Andrews Mom and Dale--his brother Mike and sister-in-law Lindsey (pregnant with twins!--looking cute as ever) Andrew took Friday off to tour them around while I was at work. Had a bon fire that night and Stromboli for dinner (and maybe a drink or two.) I took Saturday off to spend some QT with the fam. We had Aretha Frankenstein pancakes for break fast (a local restaurant with their own pancake batter--highly recommended) Finally got to experience the famous Tennessee Aquarium--AWESOME. Favorite exhibits were the otters and these odd little creatures the Leafy and Weedy Sea-Dragons...



The New Me!

Okay, so for those that are outdated on my most recent life changes....

• I moved to Tennessee in May of this year to live with Andrew (my boyfriend)

• Andrew and I have been dating for over a year now. He is my world and my best friend.
• Andrew and I have started our little family by adding Royce (Lab) and Reba (Redbone Coonhound)...both of them consume our every spare second and are the joy of our home.

• We are living in the country hills outside of Chattanooga--loving not being in  an apartment!

• I am working at Academy Sports and Outdoors. Have had a promotion and 3 raised since I began in June...loving it! I am Apparel Team Lead, work oodles of hours, and spending too much time and money on my 25% discount throughout the store! :) Let me know if you need anything!
• I am taking this semester off school because  I am not yet considered in-state for tuition purposes, but and returning in the Spring to go into Education. I want to teach the 5th grade and eventually go to grad school for Administration to be a principal.
• My weekly schedule is boggled by work every week, but once in a great while I get a weekend DAY off...Always take advantage of those to spend time with the family at the dogpark, swimming with the dogs, hiking, and Andrew and I newest hobby of garage sales. lol.
• Constantly house hunting, but currently trying to stay in touch with the market....maybe get back into the house market soon?
• Have met a few great gals that I call my friends here...Caitlin, Anne, Lauren, Amber, and April. (Miss my girls back home like crazy.)
• Hardest things that I have had to adjust to in the south...
• Shopping Carts are called Buggies (and refer to the as that)--weird I know.
• Ordering yourself a regular tea will be delivered as a sweet tea 100% of the time. Hate it!
• Lemonade is not sweetened down here-the tea is. Love the lemonade/ lemon water :)
• Apparently I speak too fast with my northern accent... ?!?!?!
• Majority of people here don't deserve to have a drivers license. UGH!
• Miss my family and friends back home
• Best things about the South
• BBQ. Yummo! Sugars is #1
• Coleslaw on your BBQ--double YUMMO!
• Sonic
• Mountian Views
• Outdoor Fun- Hiking, Camping, Scenic Attractions.
• Meeting new genuine- life impacting people everyday!
• haha sounding like I am going through puberty as my southern accent tries to break through. lol

More Soon! xo