August...already?!

Can I just share how difficult it is to believe that it is August, and that Michael and I have been here over a year. Time seriously flies!!

There are lots of things going on in our lives - it's always interesting!! :) We moved into a new apartment in late June and we are pretty much in love with it. It's a longer drive to work, but who cares. It's in a quieter spot in the city, which is nice, and reminds me of the midwest a little bit - but only a little bit.

We also have a new addition to the family - Ms. Roxie Hullinger became a part of our family on July 7 and we LOVE her!! She is a 3 year old half Chiahuha and half Jack Russell Terrier, so she's lovable and hyper all at the same time. She reminds me a lot of the dog I grew up with, so it's fun and sad all at the same time.

Roxie is really well behaved, but she LOVES to bark her head off at other dogs. It's like she thinks she can beat them up or something - which is definately not the case! We'll continue to update everyone on the adventures of Roxie - and include some pictures soon! :)

Happy HOT August!

Things To Stop Caring About (by Megan Hullinger)

Why is it that I have all these awesome ideas about blogging, and when I sit down, I have no thoughts left? Irritating.

Have you ever had those days where you stop caring about certain things in your life? Like, those stupid OxyClean commercials where the guy is yelling at you to use the product? Sir, I don't care if it gets mustard out of the clothes, quit freaking yelling at me. So, here are my list of things that I have stopped caring about in my life:

1. I don't care that I wake up with one word and one song that keeps running through my head. This morning? Word = torso. Song = Lamb Chops Playalong Theme/This is the song that never ends. A couple of days ago, Word = Popsicle. Song = The Hills are Alive. WHAT is happening to my BRAIN? Who cares, I don't.

2. I don't care that the Obama's are getting a dog. WHAT? This is what we talk about? I also don't care what Michelle is wearing, how much the girls love Miley Cirus and the Jonas Brothers, or how the White House is being redecorated. Stop talking about it.

3. I don't care if I never hear George Bush's name again. That sentiment also includes Carl Rove, Dick Cheney, and that Rice woman. Hell, it includes Joe Biden, Hilary Clinton, Harry Reid, Gov. Gibbons, Gov. Blowjob-ovich, Kennedy, and even President Obama. You're all full of hot air anyway, just do your damn jobs and quit pointing fingers, it's annoying.

4. I don't care about anything that Fox News reports on. O'Reilly makes me sick.

5. I don't care that people are all pissed off about Miss California. She has her opinion. Perez Hilton has his opinion. I have my opinion. MOVE ON.

6. I don't care that Sprint now has the first 4G network. What does that even mean?

7. I don't care that Jay Leno is leaving the Tonight Show. 11:30 is too late for me, kids - I'm old.

8. I don't care that the actors are working without a contract. Really? You need a contract to earn millions? Whatever. Lots of people work without a contract and are getting shit pay and pink slips. Get over yourselves, you are NOT that important, and NOT that influential. Quit acting like you are.

9. I don't care about the newest toys from Apple (sorry, Michael).

10. I don't care who you are, if you get a DUI, you lose your license. End. Of. Story.

11. I don't care what ingredients are in it - I'm going to get a pizza if I want to.

12. I don't care if you hate Twilight, I love it, so get over it.

13. I don't care if my apartment isn't 100% clean right now. That's a big step for me.

14. I don't care if ANYONE gets bailed out any more. Screw those guys, let the stock market correct itself, we'll be fine, even if we are all living in boxes. That's what happens when our country gets greedy.

15. I don't care what TMobile is selling, but damn are their commercials funny.

I DO care that the weekend is only 2 days away. Happy Wednesday :)

Updates!

Sorry, we took a brief hiatus from the rigors of typing a brief blog. It's stressful! :)

Nothing much is different, except the fact that we are bewildered by the weather. I never thought that 53 degrees would be cold, but it is when you live in the desert. We did happen to have a once-in-30-years snow storm, which was more than a little interesting.

Life's been a bit busy! At work, Megan's life has become increasingly hectic, as summer orientation season is approaching. Michael is working with FontaineBleau in both Las Vegas and Miami to be sure all of the technology is working smoothly in both locations. The Las Vegas resort is opening in October, so it'll be busy up to and after opening! After figuring out that Michael's work schedule with FB opening will be crazy, we're not sure if we are going to make it back to Illinois for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, which is disappointing. At this point, we won't even be able to take an "official" vacation at all until next February - but perhaps a weekend camping trip to the Grand Canyon may be in the works (as of an hour ago, lol).

We're excited to have some visitors coming to the Las Vegas area soon - Chad and Amy are coming in April, and aunts, uncles, and cousins are coming in June! Yay!

In other news, Megan is considering auditioning for the producation of West Side Story by the Super Summer Theater. Auditions are in March, and the production (13 shows) is in July. Who knows what will happen, but it'll probably be fun! :)

Definition of Private Time

There are people in this world that do not know the meaning of 'private time'. Most normal people get it that there are certain times, and places, that private time should commence. The bathroom, in my opinions, is one of those places.

Case in point - I entered the small 4 stall bathroom on the third floor of the union, fully planning on emptying my bladder who had held far too much liquid for far too long. I heard someone talking - yes, talking - to what seemed like no one.

This woman was talking on her cell phone while using the bathroom. This once sacred place of number one and twos is no longer a safe place to do your business. No, now, everyone has the opportunity for the world to hear your bodily functions while getting in a good conversation with a friend. Seriously, talking on your cell phone while driving, sitting in a restaurant, and while shopping isn't enough? You really have to let it cut into your bathroom time, which, on average, takes about 3-10 minutes? What's next, phone calls during sex?

Ugh, be smart, people! Phone calls in the bathroom make me feel uncomfortable. Ew!

Well, Nevada's Screwed

Yes, I know the economy sucks pretty much everywhere in the country - just today, it was announced that three companies are cutting over 15,000 jobs. Those 15,350 people just had their livelihood shattered because of our crappy economy.

Well, as bad as it seems for the rest of America, Nevada seems to be worse. Maybe it's just because I am a resident, but things seem to be spiraling out of control - no one seems to know what will happen next. Our only source of income for the state is (stupidly) from the gaming industry; this week, it was reported that most major casinos are laying off workers, and there are reports of casinos closing their doors.

Really? I thought everyone gambled. Or, maybe that's what this state's stupid legislature/governor thought. I seriously am tired of all of the politics that are taking place.

Of course, no one's job is safe, least of all mine. The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents is voting on a 25% tuition increase - not for next summer, fall, or spring, but for this spring - next semester. This gives our students no time to plan, financially, how to pay for college during the next semester. Furthermore, it is becoming more and more difficult to get student loans because of our crappy economy.

Thankfully, a number of our students (approximately 800, according to Facebook, which seems to be the end all be all for pissed off students) are attending the Board of Regents meeting this afternoon on UNLV's campus to protest such a large spike in tuition. Good for them, I am super proud of them!! :)

But, on the other hand, this tuition hike would only get us through this fiscal year - next fiscal year is a whole other story. Then, of course, if there is no tuition hike, then how the heck are we going to pay the state the massive amount of money we now owe them? To me, the only answer to that question is to cut jobs. You would think they would cut jobs from the top, right? Well, anyone who has been here more than two years gets a 1 year advance notice that their contract will not be renewed; however, for newer people (like me), they only have to give a three month notice.

Awesome. No matter how this pans out, it's going to be bad, and we all know it. Most of us are trying to keep our head up, not trying to worry, but it's obvious that moral has plummeted. I wouldn't be surprised if a number of people are searching for other jobs so they can avoid the cut.

Me? I'm here for the ride - there is no way we can afford to move. Even if we did, Michael loves his job, and his job is pretty stable (or so we think, who fricken knows at this point). Besides, I really like UNLV, and I hope they deem me a hot commodity and keep me around.

I don't know what is going to happen, but everyone is going to feel the effects of this economy - especially in Las Vegas.

Zaccheus, wee little man?

So, Michael and I were at church a couple of weeks ago, just listening to the good 0l' preacher tell us about what we should be doing with our lives (which, it seems, always seems like it's a topic that I had been struggling with recently, so I bet God just thinks it's a hoot when I finally figure it out). I was zoning out a little bit (sorry, it happens), and suddenly heard the preacher refer to Zaccheus.

Zaccheus? Where have I heard that name?

Then it dawned on me...I started singing this little song in my head that I learned when I was a kid:

Zaccheus was a wee little man

and a wee little man was he!

He climbed up in a sycamore tree

for the Lord he wanted to see!

And as the savior passed that way

he looked up in the tree

And he said,

Zaccheus, you come down!

::dun dun dun dun dun dun::!!! (forgot the last lines)

After realizing what it was, and singing it quietly out loud (Michael was thoroughly confused), I thought about how many bible stories I learned through song. It's funny, because just the name triggered the memory - Zaccheus, he was short, he was a tax collector (when the fact that he was a tax collector was mentioned, I nodded my head like one of those annoying women on a food processor infomercials), and that he just wanted to look at the good ol' JC.

It's funny, though, how many bible stories do I NOT know because there was no song associated with it? It's amazing how children's minds suck everything up, and that music helps kids learn (ahm, school districts who are cutting music programs); it's awesome.

Makes me wanna be a Sunday School Teacher. Kind of.

So, here's to Zaccheus, and thanks to a little diddy and a weird name, I kinda know who you are. Woop.

Zaccheus is doin' his yay God thang. Wonder where he got his hat.

oops.

and by

...did I even neighborhood right? It doesn't look right to me.

I meant

...did I even spell neighborhood right? It doesn't look right to me.

Yep. Loser.