I meant to do this update weeks ago...

When I stop and think about it, I haven't been that busy. But it's felt busy.

I got to drive the Mini Cooper for two weeks before I had to give it back. It was a sad, sad day indeed. I tried to convince myself that if I never left work I wouldn't have to give it back. Didn't work.

I returned it on a Friday. The next Saturday Ed & I went to a half-day morning swim meet in Madras, came home to shove some food in our faces then turn around and left for Eugene to car shop. We test drove about 4 cars, and drove home a 2004 Audi A6 Quattro.

We settled on calling him Klaus on our drive home. 

I have yet to take pictures of the inside besides this one shot of the dash that Ed took. I have dark all leather seats, and they are all heated (front and back, very tempting to crawl in the backseat, warm 'em up and take a nap under a coat on long drives). It's an automatic but has the manual option (for when Ed drives..) It's a Bi-Turbo (also know as a Twin-Turbo but they decided to call it "Bi".) has a Bose sound system, and pop-up headlight washers. It tells us when we've been driving for 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, etc. In case we'd like a reminder to stop and take a break. It's all set up for satellite radio and OnStar should I ever want to set that up. Last weekend we took it to our mechanic, who is a german car specialist, and he gave it a mostly clean bill of health. Says it's in great shape for it's mileage but dose need the timing belt replaced (which happened yesterday) and I was having trouble with the engine temp gauge which caused the Check Engine light to come on, but that was easily fixed with a new (expensive) spark plug. Next weekend they are taking to Yamhill for some other general engine maintenance... I have yet to have a weekend where there isn't some sort of work being done on my car. However besides the timing belt this weekend, none of it has been major work, just maintenance.

Last weekend was also Connie's bachelorette party, lots of fun had there. We had custom shirts that said Bridesmaid Beytoch on them, Connie's simply said Bride and had a picture of her and Dan on the back. One of the girls rented a limo for about an hour and half and we just drove around feeling awesome and drinking champagne.

Of course we had to take our classy selves to 7-11,

The limo dropped us off at McMenamin's for dinner, and then we walked to The Summit for dancing, then to Liquid to see what was going on. We were about to leave due to a ridiculous cover for a not that great band when they decided to give us free shots, put us in the VIP lounge area for free and give us a bottle of champagne. So we stayed for a while. It was around 1 am when we decided we were done there and ready for food, so we called a cab, had her take us though a 24-hour drive though, and then home. Pretty sure I was asleep by 1:30.

This weekend was the Bridal Shower. Much more low-key but still plenty of champagne going around. And soo much food. Played a couple of actually fun games including "Hot Potato" with a bag that had a teddy in it. Whoever was holding the bag at the end of 60 seconds had to go in the bathroom and put it on over their clothes, and come out to show everyone. It was pretty entertaining watching the Grandma's barely touch the bag, practically just smacking it to the next person. The other game was a type of scavenger hunt though our purses, and whoever had the most items on the list won. In a slight unfair advantage, pretty much everyone playing was a mom except me, so I did not have Cheerio's, rocks, or used tissues in my purse. I did however have the second most amount of chapsticks/lip-glosses in mine.

Not the best picture of shoes... :/

Weddings are getting close and it's started to get a little stressful around here. I do have my complete attire for Amy's wedding except for jewelry, and I am still waiting to hear from the seamstress on my dress for Connie's. I need to get my sash cut (Connie has the fabric, just need to get my piece cut and hemmed) and need jewelry for that too. Shoes are in, pleasant 4 in heels for both events.. I got my hair done last weekend before the Bachelorette Party so I am pretty much ready! Just a few minor details left. Ed has a vest and tie ordered for Dan & Connie's wedding, I still need to get him a black shirt for the night too, but he is otherwise ready also (besides a hair cut).

I am both excited and a bit stressed for this week. Family is coming into town all week who I can't wait to see and spend time with. Dan and Connie's wedding is next Saturday, just a week away now. And our vacation begins the next day! I have to find time to pack during the week, and do laundry before Friday because I won't be doing it on Saturday! And figure out how we're getting to the airport!

Looking all official. <3

In work news, Ed has been picking up more shifts, he's started life-guarding these past two weeks or so. And Friday night he closed up at the pool for the first time. I haven't been swimming this week, just because Ed's schedule and the pool's scheduled have  been a little wonky. Also I'm still waiting on my new swimsuit that I ordered at the same time as my dress for Amy's wedding (which I've had for over a week now) and have yet to hear anything about the status of the suit. I'm giving them a call on Monday.

I interviewed for a new position at work. I didn't get the position I interviewed for, but I did get offered a different new position. It's called the flex position, and basically I am time off coverage for anyone, anywhere. So I could be covering for someone in Redmond, or Prineville. It could be a swing shift, or a graveyard shift. I am basically there to fill a need. First up is a Medical Leave that I will be covering for about 6 or 7 weeks as a co-worker recovers from surgery. I have been training with her for half a week already. I started working her 7 am to 3:30 (instead of my previous 7:30 to 4) and eventually I'll start Tuesday-Saturday instead of Monday-Friday. Hopefully after I get back from vacation instead of starting this Saturday. And that Saturday is 6:30-2:30. I will officially take over for her on April 16th.  After that's over I'm not sure what's next. It's a relief position, that ends up working full time but it's not considered full time. It comes with a raise but still no benefits, however to make up for that they give the raise plus 15%. That will officially start for me on March 31st.

I have to stay in that position for at least 6 months, before I can apply for something else. But I figure, it's a great chance to learn a lot, try out a lot of different things. There is no doubt that something will open up in 6 months, and if not, I don't HAVE to stay in the Medical Records department. There are plenty of other departments where I can still use my degree that I could move into if I'm feeling trapped into this position (which I hear is a really crappy one).

I suspect my next update will come post-weddings & vacation. :)

I leave you with one of the pictures from our photo session last month. It looks so much less scary than it was!

Poor, poor Petra.

So, apparently when the city decides to build a new roundabout out of concrete they are forgetting that we get ice in the winter and concrete has no texture to help provide traction. Drive to work Monday morning was cold and there was a bit of frost on the ground here and there, but the roads were dry. Until entering this  poorly designed roundabout with two lanes to enter from one side, but only single lanes the rest of the way around, very faint lines to designate these lanes, confusing and little signage to explain it and a sudden change from normal, dry asphalt to slick concrete.

I was happily about to exit this roundabout, when a fellow entering from another street hit the concrete and although he was on his brakes, they weren't doing anything for him and the front left corner of his Bronco invaded the personal space of Petra's front passenger door. My first thought was "Yay, Volvo!" as one of the reasons we selected it was for it's safety ratings and I have a simple bruise on my knee and no other injuries. I also drove away from the scene (after given permission from the officer of course) and got myself to work while the owner of the Bronco had to wait for a tow truck.

Arranged to have it towed to a body shop while at work (because I wasn't really keen on driving it around more in the state it was in.) and worked out the rental car details, had Enterprise pick me up from work and drove home a beauty of 2013 Mini Cooper. I am already attached to the little thing, named it Petri, and pretty sad that I have to give it back. (I keep telling Ed that we're going to trade Mini's with other owners around town, so that we get to keep one and they have to return one.) It makes the cutest little sounds at me, has a Start Engine button push, two sun roofs, and more storage space in the back than I expected (although it's still not a lot). Ed has a swim meet out of town next weekend and I am trying to convince him to take the Petri for a road trip but he's pretty set on taking Hans.

In less fun news, we found out Wednesday that the damage to Petra is over half of what she's worth (by just $70) so the insurance has decided she's totaled. Ed and I are going to get my stuff out of her tomorrow, try to pull out the new CD player, and the new tires, and the new battery, and hopefully be able to siphon out some of the $60 of gas I had just put in not 5 minutes prior.

We've been doing a bit of car shopping, mostly just browsing to see what I like and such. Can't buy anything anything we settle with the insurance company and get the loan taken care of. I've been trying not to think too hard about it because I don't want to get attached to car but not be able to buy for a week or two and have it gone by then.

Besides being in my first car accident ever in my life, and getting to drive my dream car around for a while, the week has been uneventful. Nothing remarkable happened at work. I finally bought my own pair of goggles to swim with, so I'm not using Ed's any more. Still swimming at least twice a week. I'd like to go up to four nights a week, but currently around two or three. KD and I have started "Pedometer Races" each day since I did a fancy pedometer a week ago at work. She usually wins.. but after a month of these races, she's going to swimming in the evenings as well.

Also in the swimming world, I told the head coach that Ed works with that I'd be willing to maintain the team website for her. Since it hasn't been updated in over a year. Apparently they are about half way though a contract with Go Daddy which is fairly cheap and not so great so I don't know exactly what all I'll be able to accomplish with it, but mostly I just want to find a way to be involved and help out with the team so I thought that would be something I could work on.

Now that Ed has the coaching and lifeguard tests and such behind him, he's working on training for a lifeguard supervisor position. There are a couple of lifeguards who have given their notice and leaving soon so there are spaces opening up, but I also  happen to know that the supervisor position isn't usually offered until after life guarding for a year. March will be Ed's 6th month working there so it's pretty exciting. Swim team practice is amping up with an extra hour in the afternoons for all the meets coming up, also many of the older kids were at State competitions last weekend and sectionals last month. He's also going to have some morning lessons start up again in a week or two. Things are continuing to move along nicely for him at work.

As I type, I'm in the middle of crafting (waiting for paint to try). Trying to make some cute picture frames to take to work. My inspiration comes from a "frame" I found on Etsy that looks simple enough to recreate. The wood plaques I got are, not as fancy. Just cheap little things from Walmart. I've painted up the edges and will soon be adding scrapbook paper. A few weeks ago I ordered 4 x 4 prints of some of my favorite Instagram pictures that I plan on using. All I need to do is put it all together, and get some of those metal clips to attach. And looks up how to make some Mod-Podge at home. Which I think I know how to already but should double check.

Well.. I suppose that's all. I have more I could ramble on about, but I think this is long and rambly as it is.. so I'll save it for the next update. :) Perhaps the next one will be a little more focused and organized.