If At First You Don't Succeed...

After I was laid-off, I decided I'd better go get my Idaho driver's license. Yes, it is way past due, I just haven't had time to get it taken care of since I was working the same hours as the DMV is open.

Try 1, September 3:
I went through the county's security entrance and headed into the DMV office. I had everything, or so I thought....I didn't have anything with me showing my proof of residence.

They stated that I was welcome to use the insurance card in my car. So I headed out to get the card.

Try 2, September 3:
Back through the security entrance with the insurance card. However, the card didn't have my name on it so it wouldn't work. Even with a copy of my marriage certificate...

Try 3, September 4:
Another day and third trip through security...I was starting to feel way too suspicious by now...with a copy of my cell phone bill addressed to me. I pulled out all of the documents and they stated the photocopy of my marriage certificate was not enough, I needed the certified copy from the county.

They kindly offered to let me change my license but couldn't change my name. An option but not helpful enough since I have a flight later this month and my married name is on the ticket.

Try 4, September 4:
Back through security now with my cell bill and CERTIFIED copy of my marriage certificate. The previous 3 trips I waited a maximum of 5 minutes before I was helped. Of course this time, when I was all ready, several people were in line ahead of me. Not to worry too much, I came prepared with a magazine and began to read.

After a couple minutes I noticed the sign stating check or cash only. Yep, you guessed it, neither were with me, just the debit card.

I left the line and proceeded home without much success...again....

Try 5, September 8:
Hopefully this was my last time through security! I headed into the DMV office and brought everything with me this time, Utah driver's license, certified copy of my marriage certificate, proof of residency, AND checkbook.

Another piece of evidence I live in a small town. When I went to the counter, the employee asked how many trips I'd made. She also stated that she suspected that I'd studied and she was right, 5 trys to get my license was 4 too many.

As I left that last time, I walked out with this in my purse:



About time, in more ways than one!

Quick Update

I have tons to be doing today & right now but thought I'd do a fast update on the last few weeks. (Sorry no pictures since I haven't downloaded any for awhile.)

• Thursday, September 3, returned to work from lunch and found out I was being laid-off effective immediately and would be paid through Friday. Not too stressful since we'd been discussing when I could quit. We went out to dinner and a movie that night to celebrate.
• Applying for a new job.
• Went to the SE Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot, ID. Can now say I've been to Blackfoot and not just driven by on I-15.
• Packing boxes-our move is only a few weeks away so I'm trying to get a jump start on all the preparations. (Dan works for Biomat which is a blood plasma donor center. He will be finished with all of his training-9 months of it!-in about 1 more month so then we'll go to a center where he will work as an assistant manager for 6-9 months. Then we'll most likely transfer again where he will be working as a manger. Ugh, 2 relocations in about 1 year's time, not something I'm looking forward to!!!)
• Preparing for our trip to Chicago and drive west. We fly on Sunday, September 20. Load the truck on the 21st and start our drive on the 22nd. We plan to make a vacation out of it. We have the time and the miles so why not? Nauvoo, Carthage, Far West, Adam-Ondi-Ahman, Liberty Jail, & Independence in the first 2 days. Then just driving the next two to Denver and onto Cedar City where the unloading of the truck will begin before we return on the 26th to Pocatello. Excited about the trip, except for the 5 days driving in a 16' moving truck.
• Notified Amanda & Sid of our tickets to the Scarlet Pimpernel. We purchased them in April for September 19th, which has finally arrived! Both kids are super excited about the evening's events. Dan and I are looking forward to it too.
• Purchased 8 birthday cards yesterday! Have September-January birthday cards purchased, with one exception in January.
• Trying to get things in place for 1 more show before we leave Pocatello. After a week of nightmarish challenges, we realized the right decision was to not do another show.
• Helping Dan get ready for his work trip to Kennewick, WA. He leaves Tuesday, September 29th. Good thing we return on the 26th from our trip!
• Deciding if I will drive up for part of Dan's time in Kennewick.
• Was released from the Primary the end of August and put in as the 2nd Counselor in the Young Women's. No more quarterly sharing time activities. That's been replaced with weekly young women's activities....not sure that's an even trade-off....

That's all I can think of at the present. Have to get a move on attacking my growing To Do list for today...gotta run...

Looking Forward + Embracing the Present ...part 2

Another thing I'll miss in our next place....which I can't believe I forgot!!!!....One HUGE advantage of a smallish/smaller town is that everything is close, including our places of employment to our homes. When our schedules match (meaning Dan is not working until close), Dan and I will meet at home and have lunch together. Definitely something that will be greatly missed in a bigger community. It's been fun to have that mid-day connection giving us both the motivation to go back to work for the rest of the day. Maybe we'll be lucky enough that that can continue to be possible in future locations...not sure that it would be wise to hold my breath though....

Are You Kidding Me?!

Last night after work I went to Target to get the group wedding gift for a co-worker. I left at 5:40 pm and arrived approximately 1 HOUR LATER! No it wasn't crazy, random Idaho rush hour.... Target is really, truly 45 miles away!!! Just one of many stores which are much, much too far away from me, in my opinion. I sure hope this isn't the start of something I will have to grow accustomed to in our next place of residence.

Legal, No Legal...Is Grey Area

Step 1:

Tie empty soda bottles to rock,

be sure to leave plenty of rope to pull the rock back in:

Step 2:

Make sure the knots are secure:

Step 3:

Put dry ice into the bottle:

Step 4:

Get water:

Step 5:

Pour water into bottle with dry ice:

Step 6:

Quickly screw the caps onto the bottles:

Step 7:

Throw into the water as far as you can:

Step 8:

Watch and...

Wait...

...gather others to watch and wait too...

...Oh, oh, oh...the waiting about to pay off...

Lie down (or sit) on a bridge for a better effect as the bottle floats underneath....

Step 9:

Clean up your mess and gather more supplies so you can start the whole process again!

That was fun! Do it Again!!!!
(Warning: Do NOT do this without proper adult supervision!)

(If you do this and get into trouble, you didn't learn it from me.)

Looking Forward + Embracing the Present

We knew when we moved into this apartment that it would most likely be temporary. We signed a year lease and that is almost up, can you believe it?! Thankfully we can remain on a month-to-month lease until Dan's transfer comes through sometime before the end of the year.

(This post is dedicated to the anticipation of our transfer and move....now if we only knew when and where exactly!)

Our apartment is spacious and cozy, however, certainly not perfect. As such, when our transfer comes, there are several things I won't miss...

Using stairs to enter and exit our home.

Not having a doorbell

Confusing neighbors with how to find us

Sharing a mailbox with the upstairs neighbors

No real windows on one whole wall!

Having a fireplace for looks only

Having to listen to the upstairs neighbors's parties, tv, fights, music, 11 pm vacuuming....

Not having the whole house to ourselves, our family, and our guests

It's great to have a washer and dryer, FINALLY, but we have to invade the upstairs neighbors to do our laundry

Our use of the garage limited to a little storage

Water gurgling up through the kitchen sinks and drain in the kitchen floor while the washer is draining

Being able to do laundry only on certain days

Our own personal pond in the middle of the kitchen floor when using the washer

Our dishwasher and disposal...

(nope, you're not missing anything, we don't have either!)

(Dan's nephew, Matt, came in the kitchen looking to put something in the dishwasher. I said he could, if he could find the dishwasher. He looked around and asked where it was and I answered that we didn't have one! He kept looking for the green dishwasher he was sure he'd seen here before...nope 9½ years without one!)

Limited room for guests

Staring longingly at the empty garage the girls upstairs get to use but don't

Sharing the backyard (we've both been told it's ours and yet, we rarely seem to be about to go out and enjoy it....)

Having to clear our use of the backyard with the upstairs residents

Having to watch where we step in our yard!

Listening to the dogs (yes, there's more than 1 upstairs) yap and bark at everything that moves, including us

The view (or lack thereof) from our kitchen window

Small master closet, currently without one door

No master bath/suite

Having to flip the fuses often when the space heater and microwave are on at the same time

Upstairs neighbors with control of the thermostat and not understanding how it works! (Hence the space heater being on)

Bundling up inside on hot summer afternoons

Freezing in the summer and winter

Using a space heater year round

Limited kitchen counter space

Our Pepto bathroom

One bathroom

No tub

and some things I will miss...

Sid living with us

Amanda's visits

A new fridge we didn't have to buy

A clothes line (retro, yes, but great to use...weather permitting of course)

Doors, doorknobs, and keys that remind me of Grandma and Grandpa Hafen's home

Lots of storage for a basement apartment

Being only a mile from work

Having a yard but not having to do the yardwork

Hearing Dan come down the stairs when he gets home, especially when he surprises me and gets a ride or comes home early.

A spacious living room area

Living half way between West Yellowstone and Salt Lake

Telling people we're a great place for a potty stop on the way from Salt Lake to Yellowstone

Sleeping in a pitch black bedroom

Living a couple blocks from the church

Being able to say we live on Colgate Street, "that's spelled just like the toothpaste"

The great people we've met here in Pocatello

Being no more than 15 minutes from any point in town (of course everyone in Pocatello can say the same thing)

Watching community parades and knowing, not just recognizing, several people in the parade

Easily parking 4 cars in the driveway

Driving or walking through town and getting Horrocks Family Stories at various locations

Our first place together as husband and wife

All the memories associated with our first place

I know, I know, I know...

I've been torturing myself for months now when I look at other's blogs (and Mom's given me at least 2 guilt trips) and remember mine has been so neglected for such a long time. It's like so many other things, I do really well for awhile and then life gets busy and I slack. Then I get so far behind that it seems overwhelming to ever catch up. I take pictures and funny things happen that I think, I need to blog this...the title would be...the pictures would have the following captions...then I just don't get it done. Between work, spending time with my cute hubby, church, facebook, emails, producing plays, preparing for a patriotic celebration, laundry, time with Amanda & Sid, and anything else that comes up, more time has gone by and my blog still sits there neglected. Not sure how exactly I'm going to solve this dilemma but I'll do my best to improve. I just have to figure out how I can keep up on this, and everything else, and not feel like I'm neglecting anyone, especially my husband.

So, even though I started this MONTHS ago, I'm going to move ahead with the story of Dan & I. It needs to be recorded somewhere so in years to come (who am I kidding, anytime in the next couple hours is very possible) I have proof enough to say, "I told you so, Honey." :)

One of the biggest things on our to do list was to find a place to live. We searched the paper for listings of places that were available. Based on what was in the classifieds, I was very hopeful we'd find something great with more space and pay as much or less than I paid for my 1-bedroom in Salt Lake. We narrowed down the options and set a few appointments, then headed out to look at the places...suddenly I felt very hopeless about our prospects.

The first place we looked at Dan was really excited about but I wasn't super thrilled. The landlady lived across the street from us. Not a big deal except that during our tour she commented on how we'd need to sweep the porch weekly to keep to free of debris. Well, I'm not exactly the most obsessively clean person, but I'm also not some teenager who needs mom to hang over my shoulder telling me how to clean and I suspected that's exactly what would happen. No way in my opinion.

We went to a couple more places and suddenly the first place wasn't looking so bad and the picky landlady seemed livable. The other places were trashed, small, dark, low ceilings (a 6'6" husband requires high ceilings in the whole apartment), smelly and way overpriced for what we were seeing and what they were asking for.

I was beginning to get a little nervous since I only had 1 day in Pocatello and it was looking like we weren't going to find much success on our trip with time ticking away very quickly.

We looked at the place we later chose but left still somewhat unsure. We headed back to Dan's sister's place so Dan could go back to work in West Yellowstone. I visited a bit with his sister and nieces before I returned to Salt Lake. Before Dan was far on the road and I left, we both called each other saying we needed to take this place:

The kitchen

Living Room

Extra bedroom

(All of these pictures were taken the day we looked at it. Not our things.)

Now began the process of packing up 8½ years of stuff in my 1-bedroom unit to sort, give away, toss, keep, pack and move to my new place in Idaho...

My old kitchen; mid-move

Living room; mid-move

Bedroom; mid-move

Current/Temporary bedroom, yes, it's in the living room.

(I gave way my bed and the bedding so I had to use what was still available.)

My stuff in our new place, safe and sound (living room).

More of my stuff (living room).

Yes, even more of my stuff (extra bedroom). Now which box to begin unpacking...

Well, time for FHE, guess that's it for right now....