Showing posts with label South. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I think she meant it as a compliment...
One of the ladies who works in my office asked me where I was from. Here's our dialogue:
Her (in a deep Southern accent) - Julie, where are you from?
Me (in a pure, Midwestern accent) - Originally Michigan, but I haven't lived there for 10 years. I've lived a lot of places since then. Why?
Her - I thought you might be from around here.
Me - Oh really? We have been here for almost two years. (Here being the South with all of its drawling glory, grits, and fried chicken.)
Her - Yeah, it sounds like it. I reckon your accent is just like ours.
Her (in a deep Southern accent) - Julie, where are you from?
Me (in a pure, Midwestern accent) - Originally Michigan, but I haven't lived there for 10 years. I've lived a lot of places since then. Why?
Her - I thought you might be from around here.
Me - Oh really? We have been here for almost two years. (Here being the South with all of its drawling glory, grits, and fried chicken.)
Her - Yeah, it sounds like it. I reckon your accent is just like ours.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
WW: The Genius of the South
Look, it's fireworks!
Upon closer examination, it's fireworks AND a gas station.
And you can't even see that they also sell alcohol.
Swell.
check out the WW hub
Saturday, January 24, 2009
I think I have my sign
Regarding grocery stores, that is.
The other day when I went to Kroger, I saw this...
Kroger loves me! That's reason enough to be a loyal customer, eh?
The other day when I went to Kroger, I saw this...
Kroger loves me! That's reason enough to be a loyal customer, eh?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sneaky Sneaky
We go to a huge church here in the South. CO and I looked around last Saturday (we go to a Saturday night service to avoid the crowds) and were still overwhelmed by how many people were there. We really miss our old churches - Cape Cod Vineyard, Elevate, and the Docklands Church. There's just something about a small church that makes us feel recognized, loved, and part of something... I don't know how to describe it. Yes, the bigger churches have ways to be more involved, but often it comes quicker in smaller churches.
We've been here about a year and a half now (minus the six months in Australia), and have been going to the same church since February of last year. And we've never joined a small group because you have to be a member first. And being a member requires commitment (as well it should). But, with CO in school and the church being a 30-40 minute drive away, it was hard for us to commit to much more than weekly services.
Until now. Our upstairs neighbor told me about a Bible Study going on in our neighborhood, and that sounded good to me. Turns out it's at our church. And I signed up for it. I'm still not quite sure if I'm allowed to go. Wait - yes, I just said that! I'm not sure if I'm allowed to go to a Bible Study!! No one asked if I was a member, so maybe their requirement is for their House Groups/Small Groups/whatever they're called, but anyway, I sure felt sneaky!
We've been here about a year and a half now (minus the six months in Australia), and have been going to the same church since February of last year. And we've never joined a small group because you have to be a member first. And being a member requires commitment (as well it should). But, with CO in school and the church being a 30-40 minute drive away, it was hard for us to commit to much more than weekly services.
Until now. Our upstairs neighbor told me about a Bible Study going on in our neighborhood, and that sounded good to me. Turns out it's at our church. And I signed up for it. I'm still not quite sure if I'm allowed to go. Wait - yes, I just said that! I'm not sure if I'm allowed to go to a Bible Study!! No one asked if I was a member, so maybe their requirement is for their House Groups/Small Groups/whatever they're called, but anyway, I sure felt sneaky!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Day 2
Today I actually got logged into my computer and most of the programs that I need to use for my new job. That's super-exciting.
I would like to say that now I am making what I made a year ago, plus a latte, per hour. And the last hour of work today, I went downstairs, got the mail, then proceeded to type zero's. All for more money than most of my jobs in recent history. Nice. I think I might like this.
I'm pretty excited- my boss is doing some really cool research and me typing in zero's actually might help with the project.
I would like to say that now I am making what I made a year ago, plus a latte, per hour. And the last hour of work today, I went downstairs, got the mail, then proceeded to type zero's. All for more money than most of my jobs in recent history. Nice. I think I might like this.
I'm pretty excited- my boss is doing some really cool research and me typing in zero's actually might help with the project.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Gluteraldehy... what?
I got a job.
That in and of itself is a major statement. After months of searching (and angst) last year I was not very optimistic heading into interviews that I would actually get something. People once impressed by the left side of my resume then take a gander to the right side of my resume and see that we move every year or so. Here in the South, that's grounds for not hiring someone (aka a Yankee like me). But, I applied to the university that CO attends - more specifically, to their temporary service. Yup, I'm a temp.
Again, even that was not enough to make me... what's the word... optimistic. I had applied there last year and never heard a peep from them. Phone calls and emails left unreturned. I went into the interview curious of why I was not placed in a position last year, and highly doubtful of anything that will come in the next few months before we are restationed. So, in my interview last week, I casually asked about last year. My recruiter looked at my file. More accurately, my recruiter looked for my file. And couldn't find it. Anywhere. That explains a lot.
Fast forward to last Friday - my recruiter called me with a position! Woohoo! I have a legitimate excuse not to unpack boxes! Yay! Boo, I won't be able to play on Facebook for hours on end. I started today, Tuesday. My position involves "Microsoft Office use and maintaining a database" it also is potentially long-term as they are looking for a permanent placement for this position. Sweet. (I am potentially nervous about whether or not I say CO will graduate in May... but we'll save that for later).
I go to work today. I'm on time. I look good, certainly better than my sweatshirt/jeans combo I've been employing for unpacking. My boss takes me on a tour - good stuff to know. The tour involves ENTERING A CURRENTLY OCCUPIED SURGICAL ROOM. Well, I didn't need to scrub up or anything, but seriously, it was the control room for an operating room and I am fully convinced the surgeon looked at us when we entered the room. Ok.
I had problems logging onto the programs I need to use to do my job, so the only thing I really could do was either organize my cubicle or do the one assignment my boss has for me. That assignment - TRANSCRIPTION! Um... medical transcription? I watched ER back when it first came on. I've been to a doctor. I've been in a hospital (today). Other than those last three facts, I'm not too sure I'm qualified to type out those notes you have spoken onto the little tape recorder. But yes, I did it, and I think I did pretty well.
After all, the transcription was interesting. Not the typical words that I usually use, mind you, a whole new set of words. Words that included "gluteraldehyde" and "flowcytometry." No, I still don't know if they're spelled correctly, and NO, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY MEAN! I think I still got the basic gist of what the whole transcription was about though... you know, if the doctors cut something out of you, do you know where it goes? Sometimes you get to take it home with you (Cousin Beth?) or sometimes they send it to a research lab. When they send it to a research lab, they have to process it in such a way that the research lab can do their magic. And that process of how many grams the sample can be and how to prepare the slides - that's what I was typing!!
Oh, and I learned where the mail room is. It's in the basement, 12 floors below my cubicle. I hopped on the elevator and ventured down to the underworld. Nothing on the Basement floor is signed. No maps to show you where to go -you just have to know where you're going. Today, being my first day, I am reading the signs posted next to each and every door. And about two doors before the mailroom, I saw a sign reading "Express Access to the Elf Kingdom". I had always wondered where the express access was - I'm so tired of taking the normal route. ;)
I think it'll be an interesting next few weeks, if not months!
That in and of itself is a major statement. After months of searching (and angst) last year I was not very optimistic heading into interviews that I would actually get something. People once impressed by the left side of my resume then take a gander to the right side of my resume and see that we move every year or so. Here in the South, that's grounds for not hiring someone (aka a Yankee like me). But, I applied to the university that CO attends - more specifically, to their temporary service. Yup, I'm a temp.
Again, even that was not enough to make me... what's the word... optimistic. I had applied there last year and never heard a peep from them. Phone calls and emails left unreturned. I went into the interview curious of why I was not placed in a position last year, and highly doubtful of anything that will come in the next few months before we are restationed. So, in my interview last week, I casually asked about last year. My recruiter looked at my file. More accurately, my recruiter looked for my file. And couldn't find it. Anywhere. That explains a lot.
Fast forward to last Friday - my recruiter called me with a position! Woohoo! I have a legitimate excuse not to unpack boxes! Yay! Boo, I won't be able to play on Facebook for hours on end. I started today, Tuesday. My position involves "Microsoft Office use and maintaining a database" it also is potentially long-term as they are looking for a permanent placement for this position. Sweet. (I am potentially nervous about whether or not I say CO will graduate in May... but we'll save that for later).
I go to work today. I'm on time. I look good, certainly better than my sweatshirt/jeans combo I've been employing for unpacking. My boss takes me on a tour - good stuff to know. The tour involves ENTERING A CURRENTLY OCCUPIED SURGICAL ROOM. Well, I didn't need to scrub up or anything, but seriously, it was the control room for an operating room and I am fully convinced the surgeon looked at us when we entered the room. Ok.
I had problems logging onto the programs I need to use to do my job, so the only thing I really could do was either organize my cubicle or do the one assignment my boss has for me. That assignment - TRANSCRIPTION! Um... medical transcription? I watched ER back when it first came on. I've been to a doctor. I've been in a hospital (today). Other than those last three facts, I'm not too sure I'm qualified to type out those notes you have spoken onto the little tape recorder. But yes, I did it, and I think I did pretty well.
After all, the transcription was interesting. Not the typical words that I usually use, mind you, a whole new set of words. Words that included "gluteraldehyde" and "flowcytometry." No, I still don't know if they're spelled correctly, and NO, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY MEAN! I think I still got the basic gist of what the whole transcription was about though... you know, if the doctors cut something out of you, do you know where it goes? Sometimes you get to take it home with you (Cousin Beth?) or sometimes they send it to a research lab. When they send it to a research lab, they have to process it in such a way that the research lab can do their magic. And that process of how many grams the sample can be and how to prepare the slides - that's what I was typing!!
Oh, and I learned where the mail room is. It's in the basement, 12 floors below my cubicle. I hopped on the elevator and ventured down to the underworld. Nothing on the Basement floor is signed. No maps to show you where to go -you just have to know where you're going. Today, being my first day, I am reading the signs posted next to each and every door. And about two doors before the mailroom, I saw a sign reading "Express Access to the Elf Kingdom". I had always wondered where the express access was - I'm so tired of taking the normal route. ;)
I think it'll be an interesting next few weeks, if not months!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Loyalty
I don't know what it is, but I have some unnatural attachment to whatever grocery store I patronize. It could be that we move so often the grocery store is one place I can kind of get attached to - I end up going there at least 2-3 times per week, sometimes more. After all, that is even more frequently than we go to church...
Anyway, we have a few different options for grocery stores here in the South. We have Harris Teeter (expensive but good produce), Kroger (good price, very close, valet valet?!? parking), and Publix (expensive, but what CO grew up with, and a thirty minute drive). All three are chain stores, and Kroger is pretty good, so we've been going there. There are actually two Krogers that are probably the same distance away from each other and we refer to them as "our Kroger" and "the ghetto Kroger." The ghetto Kroger is in the worse part of town and has a completely different aura about it. It attracts a different social strata. The produce isn't quite as nice. The store is dirtier. We don't go to that one very often, elitists that we are... ;)
This week, we're getting a new Publix which is about a block closer than the Kroger. Publix is sometimes a little more expensive than Kroger most of the time, but has good sales. CO LOVES Publix. Loves them. But strangely enough, I feel some loyalty to Kroger, who has been there for me. How can I switch from the grocery store I know and love to another? Perhaps I'll go there to visit, but I still want my Kroger to be my grocer.
Anyway, we have a few different options for grocery stores here in the South. We have Harris Teeter (expensive but good produce), Kroger (good price, very close, valet valet?!? parking), and Publix (expensive, but what CO grew up with, and a thirty minute drive). All three are chain stores, and Kroger is pretty good, so we've been going there. There are actually two Krogers that are probably the same distance away from each other and we refer to them as "our Kroger" and "the ghetto Kroger." The ghetto Kroger is in the worse part of town and has a completely different aura about it. It attracts a different social strata. The produce isn't quite as nice. The store is dirtier. We don't go to that one very often, elitists that we are... ;)
This week, we're getting a new Publix which is about a block closer than the Kroger. Publix is sometimes a little more expensive than Kroger most of the time, but has good sales. CO LOVES Publix. Loves them. But strangely enough, I feel some loyalty to Kroger, who has been there for me. How can I switch from the grocery store I know and love to another? Perhaps I'll go there to visit, but I still want my Kroger to be my grocer.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thai anyone??
Now that we're in our new house and (kind of) settled in, I'm anxious to try making some Thai food. Anyone have any easy Thai recipes? Pad Thai or Pad See Eew? Lemongrass chicken?
Friday, April 11, 2008
The South
DH and his friend from school
DH and I about to eat...
Fried green tomatoes!
Lynn and Rachel playing on the swings at Lynn's house
DH got jealous of the swinging, so he tried it
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
I'm a Yankee...
and I know it.
Well, I'm a midwesterner first, and overall, I guess that makes me a Yankee. I'm not Southern, and I don't think the word "belle" could ever be used to describe me. And I'm cool with that. My dh is a Navy brat, and his parents are both military brats, but somehow the South still comes out in them.
For example:
Dh's mom wants her grandkids to call her Mamaw. That means my children will grow up saying "Mamaw." I hadn't ever heard of that before. I guess those of you Hannah Montana fans (the general majority of my readers - j/k) know that she had a grandmother visit from the South and Hannah called her Mamaw.
Personally, I think it sounds weird for me to say it in my Midwestern accent. It just doesn't flow naturally out of my mouth.
But somehow, after spending a week in the Smokies, it sounds better to me. Maybe I just had the time to mull it over, and realized it wasn't that big of a deal. Maybe it was having the chance to talk it out with my sister and friend. Maybe I realized after talking to a clerk who put on a t-shirt "should of went" that Mamaw isn't that bad. Maybe I saw my mom with her granddaughters (not my children) and realized whatever they call their grandmother, nana, mamaw, vovo... the love will still be there. Who knows... but whatever it was, I am ok with it.
Well, I'm a midwesterner first, and overall, I guess that makes me a Yankee. I'm not Southern, and I don't think the word "belle" could ever be used to describe me. And I'm cool with that. My dh is a Navy brat, and his parents are both military brats, but somehow the South still comes out in them.
For example:
Dh's mom wants her grandkids to call her Mamaw. That means my children will grow up saying "Mamaw." I hadn't ever heard of that before. I guess those of you Hannah Montana fans (the general majority of my readers - j/k) know that she had a grandmother visit from the South and Hannah called her Mamaw.
Personally, I think it sounds weird for me to say it in my Midwestern accent. It just doesn't flow naturally out of my mouth.
But somehow, after spending a week in the Smokies, it sounds better to me. Maybe I just had the time to mull it over, and realized it wasn't that big of a deal. Maybe it was having the chance to talk it out with my sister and friend. Maybe I realized after talking to a clerk who put on a t-shirt "should of went" that Mamaw isn't that bad. Maybe I saw my mom with her granddaughters (not my children) and realized whatever they call their grandmother, nana, mamaw, vovo... the love will still be there. Who knows... but whatever it was, I am ok with it.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Not that we live in a rich area or anything...
Our grocery store has valet parking. Who's that lazy?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The great vacation conundrum
This winter stuff is getting old. I know, I know, I grew up in Michigan and should be used to the cold and yuckiness for months on end. To the contrary, I argue. I grew up with it. I have tried it and discovered that I do not like it. I'm living in the south, in a completely landlocked state, which although "warmer", is more depressing because there's no hope of a beach to be found. We've been here for a whopping 6 months and already I'm itching to leave. That's where Spring Break comes in.
DH looked into his schedule and discovered he has nearly two weeks for Spring Break. Two weeks? Who could have dreamt it? The rub? We're graduate students. Graduate students = poor as church mice from having to buy books every 8 weeks. We have friends who live in Dublin and London that we'd love to see. We would love to venture down to Costa Rica and catch some waves. I want to go back to Hawaii, duh (to live, but I'd be content just to visit). It'd be fun to go somewhere exotic or warm - and we have the time!! Why why why???
ps - the duct tape is really working! It definitely was the right option!
DH looked into his schedule and discovered he has nearly two weeks for Spring Break. Two weeks? Who could have dreamt it? The rub? We're graduate students. Graduate students = poor as church mice from having to buy books every 8 weeks. We have friends who live in Dublin and London that we'd love to see. We would love to venture down to Costa Rica and catch some waves. I want to go back to Hawaii, duh (to live, but I'd be content just to visit). It'd be fun to go somewhere exotic or warm - and we have the time!! Why why why???
ps - the duct tape is really working! It definitely was the right option!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Miscellaneous Ramblings.
Story 1
I met yesterday with a friend from back north. Funny, because I didn't know her until we moved here. But anyway, we met and were discussing things about living in the south. One of the things that made me laugh the most is the way people can say whatever bad thing they want to about someone else or something else, and then if they add "God bless 'em" to the end of the statement, it's all ok. Examples:
"He has the ugliest nose, God bless him"
"She is a little brat, God bless her."
It's kind of crazy.
Story 2
I've been taking time off from working out due to a bad cold that has lingered. I think I'll go back soon because one of my three year olds came up to me today while we were sitting in the movie room and said, "Miss Julie, are you pregnant? Do you have a baby in your tummy?" Thank heaven her mom is pregnant and so they're just used to pregnant talk. I still will work on my pouch though!! No more slacking off for me!
Story 3
Kind of funny - just don't take it seriously.
This could be a grown-up version of my current life...
I met yesterday with a friend from back north. Funny, because I didn't know her until we moved here. But anyway, we met and were discussing things about living in the south. One of the things that made me laugh the most is the way people can say whatever bad thing they want to about someone else or something else, and then if they add "God bless 'em" to the end of the statement, it's all ok. Examples:
"He has the ugliest nose, God bless him"
"She is a little brat, God bless her."
It's kind of crazy.
Story 2
I've been taking time off from working out due to a bad cold that has lingered. I think I'll go back soon because one of my three year olds came up to me today while we were sitting in the movie room and said, "Miss Julie, are you pregnant? Do you have a baby in your tummy?" Thank heaven her mom is pregnant and so they're just used to pregnant talk. I still will work on my pouch though!! No more slacking off for me!
Story 3
Kind of funny - just don't take it seriously.
This could be a grown-up version of my current life...
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