Hey there!

Not much going on. Still no word on anything I wrote about last time! The state has yet to make any decisions on the budget cuts, therefore the schools can't make any decisions either. I'm hopeful though that even with cuts I will keep my job. Even if I don't want it forever, I'd like it a few more years to just build up some security.

No word on the house either. It's a short sale which we've been told can take a very long time but this one was pre-approved by the bank so it should be faster. We were expecting faster to mean a couple of days but it's been almost 2 weeks since we made the offer. Our realtor has said although it's a waiting game to try not to worry. He doesn't see any reason why this house won't be ours. It's just a matter of the bank doing their job to get back to us and I would guess they are a little busy right now. On the other hand I'm ok with waiting a bit because I'm still waiting on documents to be mailed back to me to actually complete the loan process. It just sucks being at the mercy of someone else. I've done all I can do and now we wait. In the long run it will be for the best that it takes some time to save us money on double rent & mortgage for a few months over the summer. It's not worth breaking the lease on the apartment so we'll have both places for a bit. The longer the house takes the less we'll be out, I just want to know it's a for sure thing!! Giving me lots of time to daydream I guess.

This afternoon I have an 'informal interview' for this volunteer thing I applied for. The program is with the city of Phoenix and is called River Rampage. Basically, each year they take a group of kids-- some with special needs, some at risk kids (such as homeless, low income, gang related, etc) and take them on a week long white water rafting trip in Utah. The idea is to help teach the kids to appreciate diversity. There have been some amazing effects on these kids after the trips. The kids earn their trip by completing 40 hours of volunteer work, so there are clearly more benefits to the kids and the community which I am all for, plus I've always wanted to go rafting. So if I am accepted into the program my role would be to mentor the kid(s) and help them in completing their volunteer work--help them find ideas of where to volunteer, take them and participate with them if they need me to, etc. And then go on the trip with them. Everything about this program just sounds wonderful to me and right up my alley. I'm not sure if they require rafting experience or if they are looking more at experience with kids, etc. So we'll see!

Summer is approaching (only 43 days of work left!) and I'm actually pretty excited to not have much planned. I won't be working and I'm not doing any major traveling so I can do whatever I want. Although I can already tell I will 'accidentally' fill it up. If I get the rafting trip I will keep busy volunteering with the kids and the actual trip is 1 week long. My friend Cathy is coming to visit for a week, I'll be coming home for a week or 2, and probably going to Ivan's family reunion for the first time in Memphis. I also want to maybe finally do the volunteering with the IRC I've been talking about for years. I've been thinking about tennis lessons too...we'll see! Hopefully I'll have a new house to be decorating and enjoying. And Celeeste has just about talked me into doing the Chicago Maraton in October, which means I'd be training all summer. I don't really have a reason not to other than being lazy. And I need to get moving again anyway, I like working towards a goal, and will have plenty of time over the summer to train. So we'll see. I'm just worried I won't have the motivation to train since I've already done one.

Anyway I guess I'll get going. Ivan's mom flies in today, just for the weekend so that'll be a nice visit. We'll probably do some shopping and show her the house. Keep your fingers crossed on that!