Spring fever here

Fucie desperate for some sunshine

We all have a bad case of the winter blahs.  Sooooo ready for nicer weather, like everyone else in the country.  It is so scary to hear about all the weird weather and storms across the nation and around the world.  Yes, The times, they are a'changing!  -and not in a good way.  It frustrates me that media attention is constantly focused on insignificant fluff.  It is easier for everyone to ignore what is happening to our planet and focus on "the now".  I hear of very little plans for the future (when we have disrupted the balance of our ecosystem to the point that our planet can no longer support life as we know it).  In light of all the natural disasters, Skott and I have had several interesting discussions lately such as:
     -If we had 1/2 hour to evacuate, what would we take and where would we go?
     -If our home was leveled by a tornado (good-bye food storage), what would we do?  Where would we go?  How would we eat?
     -If disaster struck and the government broke down, would we stay and defend our home, our things, our food?  Or would we pack up essentials and band together the family?  Where would we go?
     -What if the roads became impassible? 
Lovely dinnertime conversations, I know.  But interesting, nonetheless.

As many of you know, my job hunt is proving much more difficult than I ever imagined.  And with the recent passing of a bill by our idiotic governor, biology jobs in Wisconsin are futile to pursue.  Yes, I am aware that the job market is TOUGH everywhere, but I cannot sit and rot working for this stupid hotel company much longer.  It is pretty ridiculous that I fight back the tears constantly every weekend due to the tremendous stress and B.S. level I am forced to deal with at night, especially when none of the 3 managers will answer their phones and I am left to try and figure things out.  We have decided that we need to be more mobile so I can apply for more jobs nation-wide.  So we have been getting our house ready to put on the (crappy) market.  Oh boy.
We made it a goal to really and truly de-junk/de-clutter.  I will not lie, it has been extrememely overwhelming and stressful!  One side of our garage is completely full of items for the yard sale.  It's not that I don't want to get rid of things, I do.  It's just the mess you create while trying to sort through things.  Piles everywhere....  But let me tell you, it feels GOOD.  It's amazing how these things have cluttered up our lives for so long.  We have been using a wonderful technique as we go through things:
1) When was the last time we used this?  How often do we use this?  Why haven't we used it more?
2)  Is this something that has sentimental value but is never displayed or looked at?  If so, is it something that can be used?
3) Was this a gift from someone?
4) Cool item, but where/how can we use it?
I have taken many, many pictures of things that have sentimental value, but that have been packed away in a trunk since I left home.  Dolls, stuffed animals, barbie horses, care bears, ....  Most of them are stained and the barbie horse hair is a weird sticky texture now.  Why keep them?  So I have a new folder on my computer with pictures of these items so that I can always bring back memories when I look at the photos.  And quite truthfully, I will look at the photos more than I would ever open that trunk and look at the actual items.
I also have a lot of pillowcases, tablecloths, etc that were embroidered by my grandparents and great grandparents.  Rather than keep them in a trunk (where they won't get ruined), I have taken photos of them, and then I plan to use them!
Things such as my graduation cap, gown and tassles.  Really?  Why am I keeping them?  Click a pic, donate.
Some things are harder than others.  I have A LOT of blankets and afghans.  A ridiculous amount actually.
Why am I keeping them all "just in case".  We sorted through them -set aside ones for camping, ones for winter-time throws, ones for guest bedroom. Kept one in the hope chest that was quilted for me by three generations when I was younger, then the rest we are donating to the woman's shelter.  Someone else might as well get some use out of them, right?

This de-cluttering has been very liberating in an undescribeable way. And it feels good knowing that someone can get use out of something that would otherwise be sitting in storage.

pretty much how I feel

I have been horrible at blogging, especially lately.  My body refuses to adjust to the day sleeping schedule so I am always exhausted.  I get up, eat breakfast, pack/clean/paint/, exercise for 1-2 hours, then have dinner and go to work.  I feel more stressed now than I did in school.  It seems like there are never enough hours in the day.  The last major project to be completed before listing our home is the basement.  Then a thorough deep clean.  Then cross our fingers.

I am a planner.  I don't like not knowing.  I don't like uncertainty.
What I do know:
I love plants.  I love conservation work.  I love working with people.  I love my family.  I love the ocean.  I feel happiest being in nature.
I also believe with all my heart that we will be guided in the direction we are meant to go.  Things will happen for reasons that might not be apparent right away.  I put in a for a great job here locally.  A dream job.  I was in the top 3.  I didn't get the job.  It was devastating.  I have since put out close to 100 applications and landed only one more interview.  Didn't get that job either. 

I don't want to sell our home.  I love it.  I love living next to family. 
But I also cannot live to work at a crappy job.  So much of life is spent working, it might as well be something you enjoy.  -or at least something that doesn't give you anxiety attacks and send you home in tears every day.  Skott and I have made a lot of sacrifices  the past three years while I was in school.  I don't want them to be for nothing.

So here's to crossing our fingers and seeing where life takes us!

Skott has been spoiling me lately.  After a particularly rough night, he made me breakfast:  ocean animal shaped pancakes, ham, and eggs.  Yum!