Hello to one and all. I really don't have much to say, but feel the need to blog just the same. The only real news is that we have been waiting to hear about a particular job that David had been interviewing for. It was with Cook Children's Hospital in Ft. Worth. David really wanted it and felt really good about his chances. Alas, it was not to be. We got the call yesterday. They went with a guy who already has some experience working with a foundation. Drat and blast! So now we go back to the drawing board. There are only two other possiblities out there at present, one in Seattle and one in Philadelphia. Neither of which has started interviewing yet. We realize that the right job just hasn't come along yet, but it is disappointing just the same and a little frustrating at the long wait in between interviews and decision making and all that. With that said, we also realize that we are truly blessed and we are much better off than many other families who are also out of work.
Just a little shout out to Chris--if you haven't checked his blog lately you need to. He has started blogging again in style!
In another week or so David and I are off to the island of Kauai in Hawaii!! Thanks to Cathy (David's sister with the timeshare) for the invite. Chris is going too and we are going to have a blast. Perhaps it will be our last hurrah 'cause if we don't find a job in the end, we will have to cut way back on our living expenses and try to join the ranks of the retired. I can't think of a better way to go out than in Hawaii!! I hope it doesn't come to that, but hey, we can party like it is the last time!!!
We are also looking forward to a visit in August from Sara, Wade and Matt. They are planning a road trip to Texas and we are excited!! The only problem may be if Sara gets the job she interviewed for this week. While we hope she gets the job, we will be so very sad if they don't let her off for the trip. Matt says that he will have to come by himself if Sara can't get off. I told him that he and Wade should come together, but we are pretty sure Sara wouldn't like that too much. Plus, Chris is coming home in Sept. for the BYU/OK football game at the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington. Hopefully it will work out and we will get to visit with all our kids in the next few weeks.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Retirement?
Hello one and all. I realize that I am well overdue for an update and as usual I have no good excuse for the delay. I hope there is still someone reading this...
Anyway. First of all congratulations go out to the Kodi Nixon family on the birth of Parker and to the Andrew Steele family on the birth of Henry! Both extremely cute babies and they both have a jealous Aunt Camille and Uncle David who wish they lived closer!! By the way, where did Parker get all that HAIR?! Doesn't he know that babies are supposed to be bald unless they are Hispanic? (In my limited experience working in the nurseries of hospitals only Hispanic babies are born with tons of long hair!)
So, David finished his twenty-five years of work with Electronic Data Systems on April 30. I have already been asked at least once if he is driving me crazy yet being at home all day. The surprising answer to that question is "no, not yet". He does spend most of the day in his office working on the computer. He is researching job opportunities, working on investments, revamping his resume, buying pool supplies, etc. etc. etc. He does have a couple of job opportunities in the works, however. One in Chicago with a utilities company and one in Ft. Worth for Cook Children's Medical Center. He has a second interview with Cook Children's a week from Friday. So, we wait.
Meanwhile, we are "pretending" like we are retired. Last week, for example, we took off for what turned into a really fun road trip. It started out as a trip to Branson, MO. David has talked about going there for a while now. It is supposed to be loads of fun (according to people we know who have been there)and it is within a days drive from here. We took off without any reservations of any kind and decided to see what happened once we got there. The area is really pretty--green and hilly. Branson itself is situated between a couple of lakes. The trouble is that what there is to do there isn't really what we enjoy doing. There are LOTS of shows to see starting at 10am every day. There are two amusement parks, miniature golf and go-carts on every corner, two outlet malls, two regular malls and lots of places to eat. It is hard to know which of the shows are ones you would like and they cost between $20 and $50 each per person. We decided to see one called SIX. It is a family of six brothers who sing making the sounds of intstruments with their mouths--singing acapela the whole time. We like the LDS group Inside-Out (who do the same kind of show), so we thought we would like SIX. They were really good and it turns out they are LDS too. They come from a family of ten boys from a mom who was told at 17 that she wouldn't be able to have kids. The show was really good and very entertaining. The next show we decided to see was an Elvis impersonator. I have always been an Elvis fan and saw a very good impersonator perform during Parent's Week one year at BYU-Idaho. This particular performer was touted as being voted the #1 Branson enteratiner for the past 6 or 7 years--so we thought we would give him a try. Big mistake!! He was way into himself and not so much into Elvis. He did sound like Elvis, but I just couldn't handle his ego. Too worried about how his hair looked and he even sang a song he wrote himself. Each of us wanted to leave at intermission, but didn't say anything to the other. Too bad. A wasted two hours.
The next day we decided to make a break for it and drove to Memphis. I used to live there and have always wanted to revist Graceland. When I was there last you could drive up to the front of the house when Elvis was out of town, but you couldn't go inside. So, we went to Graceland. It was really cool! They have an audio tour that you listen to as you walk through the house and it was very informative. The house is straight from the 70's and it isn't hard to imagine Elvis living there. Of course, it is all terribly commercialized--but we got over that part. Except David was sorely tempted to buy one of the powder blue jumpsuits availble for a mere $3,000
After Graceland we drove on to Corinth, MS (where my grandfather was born), Red Bay, AL, Baldwyn, MS (where many of my ancesters lived and are buried),and Tupelo, MS (where my mother was born--oh, and Elvis too!) We found three different cemeteries using our GPS and I was able to take photos of all the headstones of my ancestors there. I had never done anything like that before and it was a blast, believe it or not! We had a really good time looking for and tromping through all the cemeteries. Driving through the cities and area where my ancestors lived was cool too.
On the way back home we stopped off in Memphis again for some BBQ and on to Hot Spring, AR for the night. Hot Springs is an interesting place. We took a tour of one of the original bath houses and rode up the observation tower in the National Park there. It was a lot of fun. We enjoyed the bath house tour a lot more than we thought we would. Best of all--it was all free!! The next day we headed for home. We had a lot of fun just being together and sort of just following our noses. I really can't remember the last time we took a trip like that just the two of us.
Now, on to the rest of the family: Mike has been working for Kroger for the past several weeks. He works in the evenings and it looks like it is turning into a full time position. He is also going to begin some free-lance graphic design work for a company in UT this week. He can do that from his computer here at home. Melinda continues to work at the pre-school. After school is out she will go to part time there for their summer program. Chris continues to work at his job in San Fran. He still likes CA, but wishes his work was a little more interesting. Once the new guy starts in a few months, he is hoping some of the grunt work will get passed on. Matthew is working full time at the Independent Study Office on campus. He likes it well enough and it is paying the bills. He joined a gym too and is working out again. Soon he will send in his application to the Marriott School of Business and hopes to get accepted for the fall semester. We are keeping our fingers crossed for him. Sara and Wade continue to work through the summer preparing for graduate school in the fall. Wade was accepted into the Sociology program where he will be for the next two years. Sara continues working in the kiosk at University Mall, but is trying to find a receptionist/secretarial position. She isn't having too much luck, but she is applying for everything she can find.
So, that brings you up-to-date with this fam. We can all use your prayers: David with his job hunt, Mike with his continued job hunt, Chris that his job will get more interesting, Matt that he'll get accepted into the Marriott School, and Sara that she will find another job soon. We appreciate you all and love reading your blogs etc. I'll try to keep you informed about our comings and goings.
Anyway. First of all congratulations go out to the Kodi Nixon family on the birth of Parker and to the Andrew Steele family on the birth of Henry! Both extremely cute babies and they both have a jealous Aunt Camille and Uncle David who wish they lived closer!! By the way, where did Parker get all that HAIR?! Doesn't he know that babies are supposed to be bald unless they are Hispanic? (In my limited experience working in the nurseries of hospitals only Hispanic babies are born with tons of long hair!)
So, David finished his twenty-five years of work with Electronic Data Systems on April 30. I have already been asked at least once if he is driving me crazy yet being at home all day. The surprising answer to that question is "no, not yet". He does spend most of the day in his office working on the computer. He is researching job opportunities, working on investments, revamping his resume, buying pool supplies, etc. etc. etc. He does have a couple of job opportunities in the works, however. One in Chicago with a utilities company and one in Ft. Worth for Cook Children's Medical Center. He has a second interview with Cook Children's a week from Friday. So, we wait.
Meanwhile, we are "pretending" like we are retired. Last week, for example, we took off for what turned into a really fun road trip. It started out as a trip to Branson, MO. David has talked about going there for a while now. It is supposed to be loads of fun (according to people we know who have been there)and it is within a days drive from here. We took off without any reservations of any kind and decided to see what happened once we got there. The area is really pretty--green and hilly. Branson itself is situated between a couple of lakes. The trouble is that what there is to do there isn't really what we enjoy doing. There are LOTS of shows to see starting at 10am every day. There are two amusement parks, miniature golf and go-carts on every corner, two outlet malls, two regular malls and lots of places to eat. It is hard to know which of the shows are ones you would like and they cost between $20 and $50 each per person. We decided to see one called SIX. It is a family of six brothers who sing making the sounds of intstruments with their mouths--singing acapela the whole time. We like the LDS group Inside-Out (who do the same kind of show), so we thought we would like SIX. They were really good and it turns out they are LDS too. They come from a family of ten boys from a mom who was told at 17 that she wouldn't be able to have kids. The show was really good and very entertaining. The next show we decided to see was an Elvis impersonator. I have always been an Elvis fan and saw a very good impersonator perform during Parent's Week one year at BYU-Idaho. This particular performer was touted as being voted the #1 Branson enteratiner for the past 6 or 7 years--so we thought we would give him a try. Big mistake!! He was way into himself and not so much into Elvis. He did sound like Elvis, but I just couldn't handle his ego. Too worried about how his hair looked and he even sang a song he wrote himself. Each of us wanted to leave at intermission, but didn't say anything to the other. Too bad. A wasted two hours.
The next day we decided to make a break for it and drove to Memphis. I used to live there and have always wanted to revist Graceland. When I was there last you could drive up to the front of the house when Elvis was out of town, but you couldn't go inside. So, we went to Graceland. It was really cool! They have an audio tour that you listen to as you walk through the house and it was very informative. The house is straight from the 70's and it isn't hard to imagine Elvis living there. Of course, it is all terribly commercialized--but we got over that part. Except David was sorely tempted to buy one of the powder blue jumpsuits availble for a mere $3,000
After Graceland we drove on to Corinth, MS (where my grandfather was born), Red Bay, AL, Baldwyn, MS (where many of my ancesters lived and are buried),and Tupelo, MS (where my mother was born--oh, and Elvis too!) We found three different cemeteries using our GPS and I was able to take photos of all the headstones of my ancestors there. I had never done anything like that before and it was a blast, believe it or not! We had a really good time looking for and tromping through all the cemeteries. Driving through the cities and area where my ancestors lived was cool too.
On the way back home we stopped off in Memphis again for some BBQ and on to Hot Spring, AR for the night. Hot Springs is an interesting place. We took a tour of one of the original bath houses and rode up the observation tower in the National Park there. It was a lot of fun. We enjoyed the bath house tour a lot more than we thought we would. Best of all--it was all free!! The next day we headed for home. We had a lot of fun just being together and sort of just following our noses. I really can't remember the last time we took a trip like that just the two of us.
Now, on to the rest of the family: Mike has been working for Kroger for the past several weeks. He works in the evenings and it looks like it is turning into a full time position. He is also going to begin some free-lance graphic design work for a company in UT this week. He can do that from his computer here at home. Melinda continues to work at the pre-school. After school is out she will go to part time there for their summer program. Chris continues to work at his job in San Fran. He still likes CA, but wishes his work was a little more interesting. Once the new guy starts in a few months, he is hoping some of the grunt work will get passed on. Matthew is working full time at the Independent Study Office on campus. He likes it well enough and it is paying the bills. He joined a gym too and is working out again. Soon he will send in his application to the Marriott School of Business and hopes to get accepted for the fall semester. We are keeping our fingers crossed for him. Sara and Wade continue to work through the summer preparing for graduate school in the fall. Wade was accepted into the Sociology program where he will be for the next two years. Sara continues working in the kiosk at University Mall, but is trying to find a receptionist/secretarial position. She isn't having too much luck, but she is applying for everything she can find.
So, that brings you up-to-date with this fam. We can all use your prayers: David with his job hunt, Mike with his continued job hunt, Chris that his job will get more interesting, Matt that he'll get accepted into the Marriott School, and Sara that she will find another job soon. We appreciate you all and love reading your blogs etc. I'll try to keep you informed about our comings and goings.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Don't Faint
Yes, I know it has been months and months since I blogged, so be it. I actually have some energy at the moment and decided not to waste it on going to the grocery store. So I am blogging. Lucky you.
Life has been pretty non-eventful these past five months (thus the non-blog)so it shouldn't take too long to catch up. Thanksgiving was really fun 'cause David "surprised" me (I was secretly hoping he would)by flying all of the kids home for the holiday. It was short, but very very sweet. We had a great time eating, talking, playing games, playing Rock Band, and eating. The Cratches and the Jetsels came over for T'giving dinner and were able to meet Wade for the first time. It was great!
David and I went to Provo for Christmas with Chris and Matt. Mike and Melinda stayed here in TX with the Walkers and Sara and Wade went to CA for Christmas with the Jacobsens. Everyone got together, however, on January 1st for a Nixon reunion at Aspen Grove. It was our first one during the winter months and turned out to be really fun. There was lots of food and some cross-country skiing, and lots of sledding, and plenty of games and visiting plus a little shopping as well. EVERYONE was able to come and we were all able to stay on the same floor of a newly finished lodge with a great common area and a nice kitchen. Every family had a private room or two with a bath--it was probably the best accommodation we have had at a reunion yet--except for our house in England, of course.
I went back to UT a few weeks later to help Joan after she had hip replacement surgery. It worked out really well. She needed my help and I was also able to spend some time with Sara/Wade and Matthew too. Joan has recovered nicely. She is so dedicated to doing her exercises etc. She is a real example--I know she didn't feel like doing everything the doctor told her to do all the time, but she didn't miss a session and now she is up and running good as new.
Now for the kid update: Mike is still searching for that design job, but starts at Kroger today training as a cashier. Melinda is relieved that she won't be the only one working in their family, although her teaching job ends with the school year and look doubtful for next fall due to cutbacks at the school. They are still living with us until their financial situation perks up. Mike has started looking for design jobs outside of TX, so maybe he will get lucky as he broadens his field.
Chris is really enjoying his job at Deloitte in SanFran. He recently changed apartments since his old roomie with all the furniture got married. He is now living with his friend and workmate, Matt. They get along really well and now he can carpool to work. He loves SanFran. One of these days David and I are going to get out there and visit him and let him show us what all the fuss is about!
Matt is plugging away at school. He is preparing to apply to the Marriott School of Management for the fall semester hoping to get into the business program. As of now, he is planning to stay in Provo and work during the summer--he just needs to find that elusive j-o-b.
Sara and Wade will be graduating in April--YAY!! Wade has been accepted to the master's program in the sociology department for fall. He will be doing that for two years and then, I think, plans to go on for his Phd. Sara is working at a kiosk in the mall selling childrens accessories, but is hoping to find a different job for the summer. She would like to eventually work in the library system for the city or in one of the local schools, but sounds like she will need to start out in a volunteer capacity before she can work her way into a real job. They both determined people and hard workers, so we aren't too worried about their success.
David's job at EDS will end on April 30. He has been interviewing with several companies these past few weeks and we are just waiting for those interviewing processes to continue and see what, if anything, comes out the other end. One job is in NY, one in Ohio, and another in Chicago. We aren't entirely sure at this point what we will do if none of them work out...stay tuned. David just got back from a fabulous trip with Scott and Sherma (and Cathy and Ray) to the Craven Cabin. Scott and Sherma go in a couple of times each winter with snowmobiles and David has always wanted to join them. He was very excited to go and had a great time. He bought these HUGE artic expedition boots at REI for the trip, plus, he had to buy a helmet 'cause the rental place didn't have one big enough for his head. 'Nough said.
I continue to work at the physical therapy clinic and in primary. My rheumatoid arthritis has been giving me trouble of late and my doc and I are trying to get that under control. It is slow going, but things are gradually improving. I am trying to get my head around the possiblity of moving east and getting the house ready etc. Meanwhile, life goes on. We are looking forward to going to UT for graduation in a couple of weeks and I am hoping we can work it out to join Cathy (and whomever else can make it of the invitees) in Hawaii in August. I won't make any promises, but I hope to blog a little more often in the future.
Life has been pretty non-eventful these past five months (thus the non-blog)so it shouldn't take too long to catch up. Thanksgiving was really fun 'cause David "surprised" me (I was secretly hoping he would)by flying all of the kids home for the holiday. It was short, but very very sweet. We had a great time eating, talking, playing games, playing Rock Band, and eating. The Cratches and the Jetsels came over for T'giving dinner and were able to meet Wade for the first time. It was great!
David and I went to Provo for Christmas with Chris and Matt. Mike and Melinda stayed here in TX with the Walkers and Sara and Wade went to CA for Christmas with the Jacobsens. Everyone got together, however, on January 1st for a Nixon reunion at Aspen Grove. It was our first one during the winter months and turned out to be really fun. There was lots of food and some cross-country skiing, and lots of sledding, and plenty of games and visiting plus a little shopping as well. EVERYONE was able to come and we were all able to stay on the same floor of a newly finished lodge with a great common area and a nice kitchen. Every family had a private room or two with a bath--it was probably the best accommodation we have had at a reunion yet--except for our house in England, of course.
I went back to UT a few weeks later to help Joan after she had hip replacement surgery. It worked out really well. She needed my help and I was also able to spend some time with Sara/Wade and Matthew too. Joan has recovered nicely. She is so dedicated to doing her exercises etc. She is a real example--I know she didn't feel like doing everything the doctor told her to do all the time, but she didn't miss a session and now she is up and running good as new.
Now for the kid update: Mike is still searching for that design job, but starts at Kroger today training as a cashier. Melinda is relieved that she won't be the only one working in their family, although her teaching job ends with the school year and look doubtful for next fall due to cutbacks at the school. They are still living with us until their financial situation perks up. Mike has started looking for design jobs outside of TX, so maybe he will get lucky as he broadens his field.
Chris is really enjoying his job at Deloitte in SanFran. He recently changed apartments since his old roomie with all the furniture got married. He is now living with his friend and workmate, Matt. They get along really well and now he can carpool to work. He loves SanFran. One of these days David and I are going to get out there and visit him and let him show us what all the fuss is about!
Matt is plugging away at school. He is preparing to apply to the Marriott School of Management for the fall semester hoping to get into the business program. As of now, he is planning to stay in Provo and work during the summer--he just needs to find that elusive j-o-b.
Sara and Wade will be graduating in April--YAY!! Wade has been accepted to the master's program in the sociology department for fall. He will be doing that for two years and then, I think, plans to go on for his Phd. Sara is working at a kiosk in the mall selling childrens accessories, but is hoping to find a different job for the summer. She would like to eventually work in the library system for the city or in one of the local schools, but sounds like she will need to start out in a volunteer capacity before she can work her way into a real job. They both determined people and hard workers, so we aren't too worried about their success.
David's job at EDS will end on April 30. He has been interviewing with several companies these past few weeks and we are just waiting for those interviewing processes to continue and see what, if anything, comes out the other end. One job is in NY, one in Ohio, and another in Chicago. We aren't entirely sure at this point what we will do if none of them work out...stay tuned. David just got back from a fabulous trip with Scott and Sherma (and Cathy and Ray) to the Craven Cabin. Scott and Sherma go in a couple of times each winter with snowmobiles and David has always wanted to join them. He was very excited to go and had a great time. He bought these HUGE artic expedition boots at REI for the trip, plus, he had to buy a helmet 'cause the rental place didn't have one big enough for his head. 'Nough said.
I continue to work at the physical therapy clinic and in primary. My rheumatoid arthritis has been giving me trouble of late and my doc and I are trying to get that under control. It is slow going, but things are gradually improving. I am trying to get my head around the possiblity of moving east and getting the house ready etc. Meanwhile, life goes on. We are looking forward to going to UT for graduation in a couple of weeks and I am hoping we can work it out to join Cathy (and whomever else can make it of the invitees) in Hawaii in August. I won't make any promises, but I hope to blog a little more often in the future.
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