Currently Listening The Altar and the Door By Casting Crowns see related

Sooooooo, here's another update!

My first day at Sight and Sound was awesome!  I spent 4 hours doing paperwork with a bunch of other people, then met with my supervisor and the other two people who were starting in my department, went to lunch (only had about 15 minutes!), and then went to the stage to meet the rest of the crew.  Luckily the two people I got to know during orientation know, like, everyone in this town, so I have gotten introduced to TONS of people.  The deck tech consists of Chris (Deck Tech Supervisor), me, Mandi, Kibb, Colton, Ryan, Shaina, Kayleigh, Cha-Chi, Scott, Eric, and Joe.  Everyone is awesome, but the people I have really bonded with and gotten close to are Scott, Mandi, Cha-Chi, Joe and Eric.  I was very afraid of not getting along with the other girls on the team, but thank the Lord that hasn't been a problem at all!  Everyone has been so kind and patient as we new people get used to the flow of things and catch up.  When you're dealing with set pieces 45 feet high and are from 10,000 to 17,000 lbs. in weight, you tend to want to be sure of what you are doing so no one gets hurt.  Speaking of getting hurt, I had my first injury on my third day!  I know!  But before I get to that, let me share with you how I fit in the group:

Colton, Ryan, Shaina, Kayleigh, and Kibb and I are getting to know each other very rapidly, and we are becoming good friends, or at least very comfortable with each other.  Now, here's how the others relate to me:

Mandi - both of us don't want to sit on the sidelines so we just jump right in there when we can, just to do something. 

Cha-Chi - he and I mess around, but I know if anyone hurts me or crosses me in any way, he's there to stand up for me.

Joe - ahhh, Joe.  Joe has decided that I am cute (he's married) and that he is going to fix me up with people in the company.  He reeeeeally wants to play matchmaker!

Scott- Scott is my fellow Houstonian!  He's country, street, white trying to be black and sometimes Asian (haha, inside joke!).  He and I bonded about 12 seconds after we met.  He's married with the most adorable 4 year old little girl!  Scott is my big brother.  Basically he says that means that anyone that Joe sets me up with has to go through him first!  hehehe  It's so nice to have that.  He's always huggin' on me, or asking me how my day is going, talking about Houston and Texas and all kinds of stuff. 

Eric - Eric is such an awesome guy.  He's so involved in his church, he's lived all over the country, he's very attentive and detailed, always the first to volunteer.  He's a fantastic conversationalist and so funny.  He's done tons of things and just wants to serve the Lord wherever he's called.  I'm really enjoying spending time with him.  He and Scott are rarely far away from me.  It's so nice to be loved and accepted so quickly. 

Alright, now I know some of you skipped past all of that just so you could see what I did to myself on me third day.  That's ok, just go back up and read it.  Yesterday (which was Wednesday) I was on the back side of a set (weighing in at around 12,000 lbs.) and we were moving it upstage.  No problems to begin with, but all of a sudden my side started to move much faster than the other (because someone else started pushing very hard, which we appreciate greatly!  We need all the help we can get!)  However, the heel of my tennis shoe got caught under the set as it moved forward quicker and while the set kept moving, my foot got sucked under, bending it all the way down to the floor.  I freed my foot and got to the side and out of the way of the large, still moving set piece, and just bent over cuz I was in alot of pain.  I couldn't catch my breath because I was in so much pain.  My muscles were stretched in a way that I don't think they were intending to ever intending to be stretched.  Scott and Eric were the first to get to me (of course) and called our supervisor, who called a first aid certified person (Heather, she's awesome!).  Nothing is broken or fractured or anything, but I did have to stop working for about an hour or so and get some ice on it.  Before I took my shoe off I could feel my ankle swelling up.  So we put a cold pack on it and I stayed off of it for awhile, then I was almost back.  I walked around with everyone, but didn't push much.  Today I was back to moving things full throttle and there's a nice, colorful, and LARGE bruise on my foot. 

I am so sure that God has me exactly where He wants me.  I have so much fun at work, and even though we work 10-12 hour days and I am exhausted when I get home, I can't wait to get back to work at 8am the next morning!  That has to be all God!  I am really praying that this is where He has called me.  I would have NO problems staying here for a long while!

So there you go.  That's enough for now I think.  I am going to B-E-D!!!!! 

Currently Reading In the Shadow of the Cross: The Deeper Meaning of Calvary By Ray Pritchard see related

Alrighty!  Here's an update on the move from Houston to Branson:

Thursday began with closing out my old apartment (giving back keys, rent, stuff like that) then back to Katy to finish packing and load the truck with boxes.  We were aiming to leave around noon, that got pushed back to 3, and that got pushed to 6!  With all of the last minute things that came up, we just couldn't seem to get out the door.  I also had to make sure that I had packed everything, cuz it's not like I could just run home and pick it up!  After the truck was loaded and showers were taken, we headed out to run the last couple of errands before we headed out.  We finally left around 9:30 or so.  Debra and I drove the Trooper and mom and dad drove the U-Haul.  Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Texas, around 2am, Debra was driving and got pulled over!  She started freaking out a little cuz she didn't know what she had done wrong.  We weren't going over the speed limit or anything.  So he comes over and it's this Barney Fife hick.  Meanwhile, mom and dad (who were in front of us) stopped and came back for us.  Now, this guy was pleasant, but the reason for his stopping us was absolutely ridiculous!  The bulb that lights my license plate was out (because I was in an accident several weeks ago).  That's why he stopped us.  He asked for Debra's ID and permit, but he never asked for mine or insurance on the car.  It was just ridiculous!!!

So, we pressed on. 

After driving all night through Texas and most of Arkansas, we hit some rain.  There was some pretty cool lightning, but mostly it was just windy and rainy.  As we drove on it just kept getting worse and worse and others on the road were pulling over and just stopping, so we followed.  We sat there for awhile until the rain and wind died down, then started on our way again.  1/4 of a mile down the road we saw that there had been a tornado!  There was tons of damage, including power lines in the road.  We had to wait and watch rescue teams rescue several people and clear the power lines.  We got some pictures, but they aren't very good cuz of the rain but there were houses completely gone and trees pulled up.  We could see the roots of the trees that were pulled up!  So if we hadn't stopped where we did we would have driven right into the tornado.  God is good! 

We finally got to Branson about 12:30pm and went to the apartment to crash.  We looked around and brought pillows in so mom and Debra could sleep while dad and I went to my physical appointment for work and run a couple of errands.  I was nervous about the physical, but God was good once again and gave me a fantastic experience.  The nurses were so incredibly nice and the doctor was fantastic.  It didn't feel like a physical, we just talked about the town, Sight and Sound and sharing our faith.  He told me about alot of the churches that were around and said that he hoped to see me at his.  Everyone is so nice here! 

So dad and I came back and crashed for a couple of hours (and by "crash" I mean fall on the floor and sleep).  We unloaded the truck in a couple of hours, then went to Shorty Smalls and had reeeeeeally good bar-b-que, then ran by Wal-Mart, came back to the apartment and slept! 

More to come......... 

Currently Watching The Guardian By Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Sela Ward, Melissa Sagemiller, Clancy Brown see related

Well, The Heiress opened incredibly well.  I was quite sad that I wasn't stage managing.  It still felt like my show. Oh well.  Funny, I'm still listed as the stage manager in the program. 

My mom, dad and I moved out all of my stuff from my current apartment today.  Tomorrow I go to church, lunch with old friends, go back to the apartment to clean, then up to Spring to get boxes, then re-pack everything Monday, go to work Tuesday and Wednesday, load the truck with furniture and boxes and drive up to Branson Thursday evening/night, unpack and go to my physical on Friday, unpack Saturday and Sunday and do some fun stuff with the family.  Wow.  I can't believe all of that starts tomorrow. 

I'm going to miss my friends here so bad!  It's just the weekend and I already miss them. 

Oh, and I'm officially addicted to Facebook!  Sad, I know. 

I think I am going to dedicate one of the bedrooms in my new condo entirely to pictures.  I've got so many photos on my computer and in albums and tons more in boxes.  I can't wait to get there and start this new life.  And, of course, decorate!

If you haven't seen The Guardian, you should.  It's fantastic!

Currently Watching How I Met Your Mother - Season Two By How I Met Your Mother, Monique Edwards see related

I got to go to a hockey game today with my buddy Will and it was awesome!!!  The Aeros played the Admirals.  The game ended in a tie and we went into overtime and then a shootout and we won!  There were two proposals, like 6 school choirs, a high school drum band, cheerleaders, and a jazz group.  Lots of entertainment that Will and I commented on frequently.  Hockey is fun.

I'm so very tired and don't want to be where I am anymore.  I know that sounds whiny.  It was the worst week of my life until Thursday. 

Off to work.....

Currently Listening Deep Enough to Dream By Chris Rice see related

Needed something to distract my mind from some stuff, so I thought I would post some pics.

Me and Debra getting ready to go to the zoo!!!

Debra about to go in to see the birdies!!!

One word.  LLLLAMMMMMAAAAAAA!!!

Rob, Me, Cliff and Aaron at the pig races at the most awesomest RodeoHouston ever!

Friends!

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton in concert at RodeoHouston 2008!  They are so amazinly awesome!!!!!

Ahh, good times.  Now to add photos to facebook.........