Recent Happenings

A few things have happened in the past several days that warrant mentioning, but I'll have to expand on some of them (with pictures) later since I'm blogging at 6am and need to go get ready for work soon! I have one story that has to be told today, though, so enjoy.

The first and biggest exciting thing is that Nick and I moved into our new apartment. Now, you might be asking yourself why on earth we'd move to an apartment from the cute house we had. The answer is two words: shadetown and deployment. The first word refers to our old neighborhood. At one time described as "up and coming" I've determined that the sentiment was in fact wishful thinking. While there were several nice families on our block, once you strayed from there it was a total mixed bag...of nuts! Since Nick is hoping to go to Afghanistan for nine months next year, and let's face it he's been gone for half of this year, we thought an apartment in a nice, quiet community would be far preferable.

We were not let down! Our apartment is bigger and so much nicer than our old (read uncleanable dirt and grime hiding in every cabinet, only two prong outlets, and power that goes out whenever you vacuum) cute (read tiny) house. We've got a nice deck for enjoying the outdoors, and I think Finlay likes his daily walks more than the chance to run around freely in the yard, which he only did occasionally anyway. I'll post some pictures as soon as all the boxes are out of the way.

Yesterday I also got my first major appliance! Yes, Daddy, I did my research first. If you've every been to our house when we've been doing laundry you know it's a big pain to dry clothes. The dryer didn't time itself or turn off on its own, and for the last eight months it has made a horrible screeching sound constantly that is apparently irreparable. Since we have to be more quiet in our home now (we're on the second floor of three) we decided that we had no choice but to buy a new dryer. It's nothing fancy, just your basic-level Maytag. Of all the dryers in our price range this one got the best reviews, and I know that Maytags tend to be trustworthy. The coolest thing about it is that it has a cycle you can run on any heat setting (any of the five!) that senses the moisture in the barrel and automatically shuts off when it reaches the desired dryness level (you choose from several options). I tried it twice yesterday and absolutely love it! I'm a little poorer now, but at least my clothes will be pampered from now on.

The last accomplishment yesterday was the cable set-up. It almost went perfectly. However, we had a small glitch - I mean, come on, it's Time Warner Cable, of course there was a glitch! When I submitted my installation request I noted that we wanted to switch our box to an HD box because our new TV is HD. The guy comes to install my cable - no box. So, knowing how pumped Nick is about getting HD and wanting to reward him during his sixth straight week of 13 hour-plus work days, I haul my butt down to the TWC office in Five Points. Not, I soon discover, a good plan.

When I walk in, I can barely fit in the door because the line is so long - at least fifteen people deep. I should note here that I am holding our massive DVR box. I quickly notice that stationed inside the store is a policeman - not a private security guard, but an honest-to-God City of Columbia police officer, complete with gun. This, I think to myself, is not a good sign. So I stand in line, waiting patiently. After all, if I'm not here, I'm at home unpacking boxes, which is frankly getting monotonous. So I don't really mind waiting that much. I'm determined to remain pleasant.

About fifteen minutes into the experience there is a mini-revolt in the store. It seems that about half of the people in there are just there to pay their bills with cash or money orders. Who knew that many people actually went to the store to pay their bill? Apparently they do. So, there is one cashier who is handling only these people, and at some point they decide to make their own line at her station. Not the right plan! There are others who have apparently inquired as to this option previously and were told that there was one line and one line only. They become somewhat irrate at the people in the new line. It's at this point that I become grateful for the policeman because he gets over there in just enough time to diffuse the situation and send everyone in the new line back to their original places in the old line. Then, like kindergarteners waiting for lunch, they all scurry back to claim their exact places. The woman behind me, who I am guessing was mentally altered in some way, definitely invaded my personal bubble to ensure that she got to claim her previous spot. She never backed off!

So fifteen minutes later( at least thirty total minutes of standing in line) I reach the counter, swap out my box, and head home to hook it up, grateful to have left in one piece. I get all the cords plugged into all the right places only to discover that the woman at the counter failed to supply me with an electrical cord. Since I'm working all day today, that will have to wait until tomorrow, when I'm sure I'll have another adventure at the TWC office.

Happy Hump Day everyone!

Lindsay Hall, M.Ed.

Well, it's finally over and done with. On Saturday I graduated from my Master's program. Nick and I celebrated that morning by signing the lease to our new apartment. That night we went with some friends to the Flying Saucer to celebrate properly. We had a great time! Here's a picture of the flowers Mom and Dad sent me. Aren't they pretty? There are also some gorgeous lilies in there that you can't see. Below that is a picture from my graduation celebration!

Graduation Party

So I know I've been ranting for a few weeks about being officially done with school. However, my truly official graduation date is this Saturday. Today, my friends in the History office organized a surprise graduation party for me, complete with cake and ice cream! I was bowled over. I'm not doing anything to officially celebrate so I hadn't even thought that anyone else would remember that I was, in fact, graduating, much less do anything to commemorate the occasions. My co-worker Melissa even told me that she'd been planning to attend the big graduation ceremony since she knew I wouldn't really have anyone else but Nick to watch me. I think she was pretty relieved to find out that I'm not going to be walking on Saturday.

Do I have great co-workers or what?!

Mark and Lauren's Wedding Weekend

My little brother got married this weekend! The wedding was in Dallas, and it was beautiful and tons of fun. I think it's easier to just show you in pictures rather than try to tell you what it was like (slideshow below). Nick and I got to see so many of our family and good friends - we are so thankful! It was such a joy to see all of you.

Move Info

This post is for Grace, but some of you may have her same question. I said we're moving, but I didn't say to where! Nick and I are moving to an apartment in a nicer neighborhood from where we live now. This is in preparation for Nick's probable deployment in the upcoming year. Keeping up a house - in a shady neighborhood to boot - is not my idea of fun times when I'm by myself.

Look for a big update with lots of pictures next week, after Mark and Lauren's wedding!

Quick Update

Ok, so I won't officially be Lindsay Hall, M.Ed. until graduation on August 9th. However, I just heard back from the professor with whom I did my independent study (submitted yesterday), and it turns out that my work was more than satisfactory! This means that there is no longer any impediment to my graduation. I am OFFICIALLY finished!!!

Another belated update

Ok, I know I have not done an excellent, some might even say adequate, job of updating the blog this summer. However, I think I've included enough about my schedule that you should all understand why I haven't had much time to sit around and spill my guts to the computer. The good news is that now that season of life has passed.

Late last week I was really feeling stretched to my limit, and I turned to an old favorite. Music has always been an outlet for me, and many of you are aware that my all-time favorite is vintage Amy Grant. Now, I've been watching iTunes since we downloaded it 3 years ago for The Collection, but every time I've tried to find it in the past, it hasn't been available. However, providentially last week it was there. I bought The Collection, made a CD for my car (no I'm not high-tech enough to have an mp3 thingy in there), and have been listening to it ever since. Although I find the whole cd to be really encouraging for daily life, I've really been uplifted lately by "All I Ever Have to Be." I feel like I have reached so far and pushed so hard in so many directions this summer that I've been at my breaking point more than once, especially when I was doing it on my own with Nick on the road.

However, I firmly believe that getting this degree and preparing for the job I'll do afterward are absolutely in God's plan for my life. And I know that if this is all in his plan for me, he'll give me the resources to get the job (or jobs as the case has been this summer) done.

Today I completed and submitted my very last assignment for my M.Ed. degree. Now I just have to wait for a grade and finish out my last two weeks as a GA in the History department. I have to tell you, it feels really, really spectacular to be finished with this degree! Although I'm glad to be finished I can't imagine what life would have been like here in South Carolina if I hadn't been obedient in pursuing my Master's. I'm so glad that I took what felt like at the time to be a huge chance.

Alright, enough yammering about what's going on in my head. I've got some pictures to post! I figure I need to get these up before I come back loaded with pictures from Mark and Lauren's wedding (Saturday).

These first pictures are from a picnic lunch Nick, Finlay, and I had Friday on the Horseshoe. I have to give equal opportunity to both parents here:

Alright, I have to admit that I've not been doing Nick justice with his soccer game stories. I actually have some pictures. They're not good pictures, but they are at least pictures. Now you can see Nick in action!

Here you can see the team preparing for battle

Nick is undoubtedly rushing to the fray

Very blurry action shot!

I hope you enjoyed catching up. Now that life is slowing down (ha! how can I say that when we're moving in a few weeks?!), well relatively slowing down, I'll try to keep you in the loop a little better. And for those of you I'll be lucky enough to see this weekend - I can't wait!