To Sell or Not to Sell: That Is The Question

Everything I look at in the house has this glow around it. The glow is whether to sell the piece of furniture or to keep it because I can use it where ever we end up.   Last time we moved it was a literally a few blocks, and we went into this purge and burn mode.  If we had not used it since living at the Summit House ( all of our homes are referred to has the street name it was) then we got rid of it. Trash diggers in the KC area loved our house for like a month.  

I guess I should back up a few here. This move won't be somewhere else in the KC metro area, it will either be across the country or across the big blue pond.  It's been a dream of mine since I started teaching to get into the DODEA system and teach on military bases. It is a long process to get into.  I started the process in August in 2010.  After a year and a half, my account went into the "active" status and I have interviewed for a several different jobs. The first job was for a job in Italy. That job went to someone that was already in Europe and could get their quicker.  The second job was for Puerto Rico. Finally there was the Alaska job interview.   Both the Italy job and the Alaska job were for the Base Youth Center, not in the classroom.  I actually would like something out of the classroom.  After being in the classroom for 6 years, I am ready for some sort of shift.   I don't want out of education, just something new. 

I check the USAJobs.gov website daily to see if there are any new postings, as well as the DODEA website now that it's getting into the hiring time for next school year. We really want Europe. It would be an amazing chance to live as cheaply as possible and then travel all over the place with Dade. Once you get into the system you have a better chance of getting the "dream" jobs in Europe. 

Okay, so back to the beginning of this post. Clint and I seem to be on the same page with what to keep and what to sell. What it will come down to in the end is if we have to move ourself (state-side) or if we will get moved by the government. Most of the large furniture will go. Mainly because we won't know the size of the new place. Dade's stuff we will keep, his bed, toys, etc . . . We already have a list of things we are ready to let go of, now I just have to get pictures taken, and the listings put on Craigslist. The nice thing about moving is the adventure of getting to the new place and setting everything up how you want. It is always fun to decorate a new place. 

In the coming months, there will be a new adventure for our little piece of the Krause Clan.  I plan to blog about it along the way. 2012 brings us into a new adventure! 

Somewhat Therapeutic

I am writing this while I watch my laundry spin in the dryer. I am not exactly sure what makes coming to the laundry mat relaxing and calming.  In all honesty, I LOATHE doing laundry. It takes so much time to wash everything, dry everything, then fold it, and finally put it away. I would much rather be doing something else.  However, coming to the laundry mat is a very different experience in and of its self from doing laundry at home.  

First of all, if you come at the right time of day ( which for our laundry mat is weekdays and Sunday mornings) there is hardly anyone around.  You get your run at the machines, and can wash five loads ( or more) at once.  That right there makes my day. Nothing like unloading all your baskets to get them all washing at the same time.   Second, its rather quiet. Again that goes along with number one of knowing the right time of day to come.  I can last Saturday in the morning and it was a nightmare. Everyone  and their brother was in here doing their laundry, and I had machines going throughout the entire laundry mat, which makes it difficult to watch your stuff. Lesson learned: only come Saturday morning if completely necessary.   Finally, you see an eclectic group of people at the laundry mat.  When I was here last weekend a mom was teaching her son math by playing UNO. She made him count off the left over cards and keep track of all the scores. Today a lady was working on a hand stitched quilt while her laundry was going. Then you have people like me who come in with their iPad and write a blog about doing laundry at a laundry mat, how profound. 

Like anything, there are pros and cons of doing your laundry at the mat, but for us the pros seem to out weigh the cons.  With moving in our very near future, we don't want to invest in a new washer if we cannot take it with us.  For now, we will make our little trips to the mat a few times a week to get what we need done.  It's always an adventure, that's for sure. 

Reading Goal

This time last year, I made a challenge to myself.  Clint purchased my NookColor as a Christmas gift, and in less than a week, I had read the entire Hunger Games trilogy. I was feeling pretty good about myself.  I had graduated with a 4.0 from Baker with my second Masters, and was blowing through books.  I challenged myself to read 24 books.  I figured I could attempt to read 2 a month, and see where it took me.  Although I didn't reach my goal, I still feel pretty accomplished in reading 21 books in 2011.  Here are the books that I read this past year.  As you will see, I enjoy reading YA novels, and that the majority of them had something to do with vampires and/or werewolves. No, none of them were the Twilight Series. I was forced to read books 1 and 4 for a graduate course on Vampires in Literature, and they are trash for vampire literature, not to mention how the portray women to be helpless as well.  (Didn't mean to go on a tangent there, sorry!)  Without further ado, the books I read in 2011.  Feel free to ask questions about the books.  I will give you my honest opinion about them. 

1. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

2. A Reliable Wife - Robert Goolrick

3. Fallen (Fallen, #1) - Lauren Kate 

4. Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1) - Maggie Stiefvater

5. Torment (Fallen, #2) - Lauren Kate

6. Marked (House of the Night, #1) - P.C. Cast

7. Jane Goes Batty (Jane Fairfax, #2) - Michael Thomas Ford

8. Betrayed ( House of the Night, #2) - P.C. Cast

9. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

10. Chosen (House of the Night, #3) - P.C. Cast

11. Untamed (House of the Night, #4) - P.C. Cast

12. Hunted (House of the Night, #5) - P.C. Cast

13. Tempted (House of the Night, #6) - P.C. Cast

14. Burned (House of the Night, #7) - P.C. Cast

15. Awakened (House of the Night, #8) - P.C. Cast

16. Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard, #1) - James Patterson

17. The Gift (Witch & Wizard, #2) - James Patterson

18. 11 Birthdays - Wendy Mass 

19. Destined (House of the Night, #9) - P.C. Cast

20. The Secret of Zoom - Lynne Jonell

21. The Help - Kathryn Stockett 

These are the books that I purchased, but still haven't finished yet.  They are the first in line for this year. 

1. American Gods - Neil Gaiman

2. The Awakening (The Vampire Diaries, #1) - L.J. Smith

3. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg

4. The Potato Chip Puzzles: The Puzzling World of Winston Breen - Eric Berlin

5. Passion (Fallen, #3) - Lauren Kate 

Currently I am reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.   This year I am challenging myself to read 23 books.  It's two more than last year, so we shall see!  If you have any suggestions on what I should read, let me know.  I am always up for suggestions. Believe it or not, I do like reading adult books as well, and stories that aren't about vampires. 

*This was my first post using my iPad, and I am pretty excited about how easy it was!