Much news. First, I have too many jobs, and sadly have to give one up. I am keeping the SAT teaching gig, because starting in August I can do that one in the evenings. Also, my boss informed me that I will get to tutor a National Merit hopeful starting this month, so it should be fun and less overwhelming than teaching an entire class.
The big news is that I got a bona fide full time job at the TCEQ, working in the Air Quality division, which I start on June 22. I am really excited about getting paid again! And oh joy, health insurance! Also, the job seems to be tailor made for my weird skill set, so I am looking forward to starting. Will keep you posted on highs/lows of new career.
I have to give up the KMFA volunteering/internship, much to my dismay. I hoped to work out an early bird schedule at TCEQ such that I could spend the afternoon at the radio station, but they are making me stick to 8 to 5. It has been fun, and the people are really nice. I have become obsessed with Vivaldi and the tofu sandwiches at Wheatsville Co-op in the short time I have worked there. I am not sure public radio is for me, though. The non-profit pace is a little too slow, or something. Too many years of optimizing everything for profit has ruined me. In the meantime, if you lub classical music, tune in to 89.5 FM or become a member or volunteer like I did!
Last night I went to volunteer orientation for Camp Fire Boys & Girls! As some of my older friends might know, I was quite the little CF girl back in the day. (My mom can tell you stories of having to sell hundreds of boxes of candy.) Houston doesn't have a CF council, but Austin does, so I decided to volunteer. My original intent was to be a Club Leader (i.e. have my own little group and meet with them every week) but I am worried my current multi-job schedule may be too much for that. Luckily, there is a perfect job for me...Club Events Coordinator. I basically get to make calls and set up large events and organize registration and advertising. It sounds really fun, and I am very excited about it!
In the meantime, there is tons of activity in the Naik/Ewing household. We are building a house in Mueller! Our floor plan is called the "Oasis" and is apparently the top choice amongst single old ladies, so it really fits in with the Golden Girls aspect of my personality. Sadly, no room for a lanai, but we will have an adorable front porch. We are currently in the throes of home design 101 and we have lots of meetings and home depot trips to do. Hopefully we will begin construction the first week of July. We are crazy excited about the new house and have already started bickering about things like countertops and paint colors! Like a real life married couple! Ha.
Alecia took me to Ikea yesterday to get ideas from their showrooms, and I found some color combos I really like. Also, Ikea has terrific window treatment ideas, so it was really fun. Luckily, I only have to obsess about home design for a short time before construction starts, then we are locked into what we choose. I guess then I only really have to worry with paint colors and all the glorious little paint cards I brought home from Home Depot.
Wedding planning is moving along at a snail's pace. Aneil has been working diligently on the wedding favors (yes, we are freaks and are already making favors) and I think he has that planned for most of the weekend. Concurrently, we took a dance lesson in an effort to improve our surprisingly terrible slow dancing technique. Apparently I try to lead all the time (imagine that) and Aneil wiggles around too much. We made an attempt at a box step with turns and I think we are going to take a few more lessons next month. Our instructor, Darren, is the cutest ballroom dancer I've ever encountered. He is small and British and looks eerily like Tim from "The Office." Before he met us, he was sort of mortified by our First Dance song, but once he was convinced that we were being ironic he was totally on board. He then spent half our lesson showing us funny music videos on youtube and entertaining us with stories. Plus he loves "Freaks and Geeks" so he is automatically a winner in our book. It was a shockingly fun and fast hour. Can't believe I was dreading it so much beforehand.
I opted to go with the Austin Cake Lady for the wedding cake, because I fell in love with her Mexican Vanilla w/ Bavarian Cream filling. (Get excited, everyone!) Aneil was a lil annoyed that I sort of just wrote her a check and was like ok done and done! But I mean, I was in a cake-daze, it was that delicious! So I partially blame the cake and I partially blame the fact that I am only slowly getting used to making joint decisions. Marriage is hard, y'all!
Okay, so lots of stuff going on, but if you know me well, you know that this is the pace that is most comfortable for me. I am feeling more like myself and am excited about all the goings on! I will be better about photos in my next post, but it is too much of an ordeal for today. Much love to all!
xoxo.
