Justin and Corrie

Lookit

2008-09-30T14:11:00.001-07:00

Hey, I'm starting a new blog. I guess I should create it before I post this. Okay, I'll be back...

Throwdowns, crotch kicks, and crying fits

2007-09-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

So. I'm a teacher. The title of this post references things that have actually happened in my classroom since the first of the schoolyear.

For those of you who may not remember, I'm teaching 7th grade math and 8th grade Geometry. Do you remember what 7th grade was like? These kids are squirrelly!! Many have issues with authority and structure, probably due to their home situations. Our school is largely low-income, minority kids, and I have to admit, that takes some getting used to.

Teaching is, by far, the most difficult job I've ever had. There's just so much planning that goes into it! I never feel completely prepared, and that bothers me. It's like you could work 24 hours a day and still find things to do.

Classroom management is a struggle for me... I don't want to be mean, but sometimes I have to be in order to get the point across. I had to go in this week and really lay down the law, because it felt like my authority was quickly slipping away.

I don't know, folks. So far, this isn't fun. It's stressful, it's more hours than you would expect, and when I get home, I am EXHAUSTED. I kinda like a job where I just get left alone to do my work, and then go home and do whatever I want. Teaching does not fit that mold. I know it's early to be having second thoughts, but I can't help it.

Okay, more typing later.

Easter Fun!

2007-04-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

I know, Easter was a long time ago. HOWEVER, you just thank your lucky stars for these pictures, late or not. Because you know you love pictures. Mmhmm.

Bella got some bunny ears, which I hijacked to place on my poor unsuspecting husband. What do we learn? Never go to sleep first.

Here's Shane, Karen, and Bella! We spent Easter time with them this year, and Bella and I both had our first horse rides! Good ol' Oreo. He's a very friendly horse, thank goodness.

Perfect

2007-04-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

I love music. I hope you do too.

I don't often hear a song that I really connect with; the music industry sure is pumping out a lot of junk here recently. However, there's this song that I can't stop listening to. It's called "Homebird," and it's sung by Foy Vance. Have you heard it? It's perfect. Seriously, I cannot think how you'd improve it. It makes me stop. Stop and listen.

It digs into my heart and lights me up and I feel it all over. It makes me warm and gives me chills and it feels like a memory of a place I've never been. Sometimes it brings the tears to my eyes, as good music tends to do.

So as I sit here at my desk, the tears burning my cheeks, I thank God for music. And I cannot help but be angry at Him. Why did you give me this love but not the talent to match? Selfish. Selfish.

2007-04-09T07:37:00.001-07:00

Here I sit, brokenhearted.
Tried to blog,
but only farted.

Finally Friday

2007-01-19T10:11:00.000-08:00

This has been a long week.

We had some crazy weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, complete with ice and road closures and such. Houstonians DO NOT know how to handle real winter-type weather. I even got to stay home from work on Wednesday! Poor husband did not.

So then on Thursday, my entire department got called in for a mandatory meeting. I assumed that it would be about the weather, and how to code in our time off for Wednesday, etc. I was wrong. Apparently, our company has decided to shut down our service center, in favor of a mix of centralization/outsourcing. So the announcement was that we'd all be losing our jobs within the next year.

This was a total shock; we had not heard a single rumor! This is even more surprising, considering that nearly all my coworkers are female, and the rumor mill works OVERTIME around here generally.

So my last day will be August 15, 2007. I've never been in this situation before: knowing exactly when a job will end. I'm not that upset about it, honestly. I had never intended to stay in this job for very long... but I had intended to stay for a while longer. :)

I dread jumping back into the job search process. Justin and I talked last night about how frustrating it can be, especially when you aren't able to clearly articulate your job objectives, which I'm not. I don't really know where to start.

I'd appreciate your prayers... also, if you have any contacts or ideas for me, throw them out there!

Love, Corrie

The people have spoken...

2006-12-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

let the blogging begin.

NEWS: We are married!! It is official. The wedding was so much fun, and not terribly stressful. Unfortunately, there was an outbreak of the plague sometime during the weekend, and at least twenty people ended up sick. So sorry, everybody! Otherwise, the wedding was great. ;)

The Honeymoon was pretty fantastic as well... we went to London and out to the Cotswolds. We could definitely live out in one of the little English villages. We stayed in the most amazing hotel: it bills itself as the oldest hotel in England, dating from 947 A.D. Can you believe that?!

Some Honeymoon highlights (I'll post pictures when I get them, no worries):

Best food - Indian food from The Cinnamon Club. Some of the best (and most expensive) food ever to enter my face.

Weirdest food - Lamb and Mint flavored potato chips. Actually mentions "lamb powder" in the ingredients.

Favorite souvenir - Lucky cat!!

Celeb sighting - Robin Williams (no kidding, we really saw him)

Creepiest experience - Visiting the dungeon at Warwick Castle. We were both very aware that people had actually been kept there and died there, and it was uncomfortable, but in kind of a good way.

Curb count - Justin hit approximately 5 curbs while driving around England. Not bad! And we never got stuck in a roundabout.

And now I'll open the floor for questions... let 'em rip!

Why are you reading this?

2006-10-19T05:32:00.000-07:00

You should immediately proceed to the link on the right that says "Emily and Richard."

Congrats, you guys, he is perfect.

And now it's time for....

2006-10-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

CORRIE REVIEWS THINGS!!

This is a new feature to our fine blog wherein Corrie talks about things and tells you whether you like them or not! If you have a question about whether you should like something, please comment below, and she'll give you your opinion! FOR FREE!!! Wow, that Corrie. All about helping people.

1. Nelly Furtado - Okay, I hated that "I'm like a bird" song from a while back, and so when I heard she had new music out, I was distressed. And lo, she gives us "Promiscuous." Oh, I hate this song. Since when is it okay to be promiscuous? I will assume that she does not know what this word means. On the other hand, "Maneater" is a pretty rockin' tune. So, you can like her if you want, but you may not purchase her CD.

2. The Transformers movie - So I thought this would just be a HORRIBLE idea. But now... well, you go watch the trailer and tell me you aren't interested!! I dare ya!! You like it.

3. Pizza Lunchables - Oh, man. I loves me some pizza Lunchables. I wish they were made with more actual food products, but they are delicious, fake substances and all. And you get to design them yourself! Yes, you like these. But not as much as me.

4. Leggings - So leggings are coming back into style. Hmm. Leggings are no good if you have any sort of hips... you look like an inverted teardrop, which is not balanced AT ALL. Therefore, you can only wear leggings if you are all straight-down from the waist. And we don't like those people. And we don't like their leggings.

5. Nickelback - This band seriously needs to TAKE A BREAK. Have they released EVERY song from their album? I may have liked them if they'd stayed less prolific. Now? Eh. You may not buy their CD either; they are too rich already. Illegal downloads only, please.

6. Fall - Oh, fall is so wonderful. Pumpkins! Halloween! Cooler weather! I'm thinking about it right now and just grinning. I want to live somewhere that gets nice and cool in the Fall, and then I can bake pumpkin pies and drink warm cider and wear scarves and go for walks to see the color of the leaves... ooh, I'm all distracted just picturing it. LOVE FALL. And now, it'll be even better, because my wedding anniversary will be in the Fall. AWESOME.

Wastin' Time, Postin' Blogs

2006-09-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

So this picture is a bit old, but I thought I'd post it anyway. Justin has since stolen the shirt I'm wearing because it's entirely too large for me, and Mom says it makes me look like a bag lady. :)

Okay, here's something I need feedback on: do shoes fit you? I am having an IMPOSSIBLE time finding shoes lately. I mean, I really don't think that they make shoes to fit my feet anymore. I know they used to... I mean, I wear shoes fairly often, and I'm sure I bought them at some point. But then when I wasn't looking, they stopped making anything I can put on my foot without experiencing extreme discomfort, nausea, or both. What is this? I WILL go barefoot if necessary, shoe manufacturers!! Do not tempt me!!

That was a good rant. I feel better.

Today I had a manicure during my lunch break. Ladies, if you get the chance to do this, I highly recommend it. The only downside is that it's really hard to go back to work after you're done. I'm debating right now on whether I can escape from the office early and manage to avoid detection. After about 5:30, it's just me, my boss's boss, and the lady who talks to herself. I don't know her name. But she talks to herself NON-STOP. Including during potty visits. Yeah... that's awkward.

Quick info about the wedding

2006-08-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hey there. Answers to some FAQs:

Hotel: We have a block of rooms at the Staybridge Suites near the Galleria. Tell them you're with the Tyner-Taliaferro wedding. I think there may be a special rate or something... not sure.

Registry: We have registered at Neiman-Marcus, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dillard's, and Walmart.

What else have people needed to know lately? I'm blanking out.

Oh yeah, one more:

Cheese: I want some.

And you may ask yourself, "How did I get here?"

2006-08-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

So I'm having one of those days when I seem to be a little outside of myself, watching my life and being generally confused.

I just had my mid-year employee review here at the insurance company where I work. I did well (yay), but I'm sortof shocked that I even work here in the first place. How did I get here? High school: "I want to be in music or science." College: "Engineering will be good... I like math. And I want to make money." Later college: "Engineering is awful. What was I thinking?" Nextel: "Uggghhhhhhhh." Marcus Evans: "I work for the devil. Time to cut and run." And now I'm here. It's just very confusing to me sometimes. I could never have predicted it.

So what's next? I have no intention of working here for life... I don't think I could work anywhere for life. I want to go back to school, but I'm not sure if it's for the right reasons. I mean, college life was pretty awesome, and it's only natural to want that environment again. But the classes? Well, I'm not sure about the classes. And what would I study?

You know how dogs get real excited and start running around, and then they hit some tile floor and can't stop, but they try to put on the brakes anyway, and then SLAM! they hit the wall or the fridge? Yeah, sometimes life feels like that. Like a dog with no brakes.

Smartest girl in the world!!

2006-08-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

Check it out, I added links to other blogs! Minor victories are good for the ego, yes?

I do not feel well today; I think I may have a cold. For this, I blame my mother who said, and I quote, "You haven't been sick in a while, have you? Probably because you're exercising." DANG IT. She spoke the words, and my sinuses said, "OH YEAH! We're supposed to be making way too much snot! Let's get to work, fellas!"

I don't know why my sinuses are male. Just made sense that way.

So, today, I would like to tell you some things you may not know about me. And since Justin is not here to defend himself, I'll tell you some things you may not know about him as well. (heh heh, that'll teach him to forget the blog password.... heh heh heh)

Me: I have a giant liver. I know because a surgeon told me. It is true.

Justin: Always says hello to the cats when he comes to visit. In Spanish. "Hola, gatos!"

Me: I am scared to death of eyeballs, but not public speaking. So I could make a speech about eyeballs to thousands of people, as long as I didn't have to touch said eyeballs. Uhghghghghghghghghghghghgh.

Justin: Will change the direction of the toilet paper roll if it is "wrong."

Me: Didn't know there was a right and wrong way to hang the toilet paper roll. (Sidenote: I was apparently doing it "wrong." It has been changed.)

Justin: Freezes leftover pizza. Do other people do this? You should! Then there's always pizza!

Me: Have really flat feet that make suction cup noises on tile. (Freaks Trey out, haha.)

Justin: Is probably working really hard right now.

Me: SHOULD be working right now...

On that note, I'd better make like eggs and scram.

Ok, ok, I hear you....

2006-08-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

I stink at blogging. All right. I had originally intended to write about wedding stuff only. However, I am SO tired of wedding stuff. So now you get ramblings, woohoo!!

Okay, I'm gonna tell you a scary bathroom story. This really happened, people! So I was in the bathroom doing bathroom-type things and playing a game on my phone, which is pretty normal for me. The door opened almost silently and someone crept in. I heard shuffling of feet and crinkling of paper near the sink area. Then it started making weird noises, almost like humming or purring or something equally disconcerting. So I peeked through the crack of the bathroom door, but I couldn't quite see the thing. All I saw were fairly small feet.... too small. "Oh mercy, it's a tiny demon wearing Keds, and here I am with my pants down!" was my first thought. The thing then entered the adjacent stall and closed the door. This stall was apparently not suitable, so it came over to my stall, where I was sitting in trepidation, and tried to open the door! "No, tiny demon, get thee hence!" I said. (I actually said, "Someone's in here" but you know what I meant.") The thing said, "Oh." The voice was creepy and childlike, like that little girl in all those movies who talks really low... what's her name? Anyway, at this point I was basically waiting for it to leave so I wouldn't have to come face-to-face while washing my hands. Finally I heard the soft whoosh of the door, and I exited, grateful to be alive after the ordeal. Then, just like a surprise ending in a horror movie, the door opened again!! AAAAAHHHHH! There was a little girl holding the door open and staring at me with crazy eyes!! "Small creepy child, why did you wait for me to come out of the stall?!" I shouted. (No. I said, "Thank you." Alas, I am too polite.) I think she's still lurking around here somewhere, waiting to ambush me. Nothing's scarier than kids.

Darn you, Blogger Gnomes!!

2006-06-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

So I keep checking my own (well, our own) blog to see if there's anything new. And then I remember that if I want to see something new, I have to actually write a post. Sadly, the Blogger gnomes will not create interesting entries at night, surprising me when I check my posts the next day. Alas. The cats also do not cook dinner while I'm at work, even though I keep hoping that they will.

The latest news is that Justin and I have done the VAST majority of our registering. We went to Bed, Bath, & Beyond last Sunday and stayed for, oh, I don't know, seven years or so. It was fun, though: we FINALLY got to use the scanner gun! The lady at Dillards totally hogged it. We were not pleased.

I am very open to suggestions regarding wedding invitations. What did you other married folks do? Where did you get invitations from? I'm just pretty shocked at the cost.

Also, I'm looking for ideas for ceremony music. Trey's playing piano, so he's capable of whatever you pick. I just don't want any of the "normal" songs, you know? Always gotta be difficult.

Ideas, please!!!

Making progress!

2006-06-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

So here's the latest wedding news: we've ordered bridesmaid dresses, the mother of the bride has ordered her dress, we've chosen a hotel for folks to stay at, and we've begun registering!

We went to Neiman Marcus to register for dinnerware... do not fear, we're not ONLY registering there. They just happened to have the dishes that we like. As it turns out, we're both pretty picky about dishes... who knew? If you want to see them, you can go to www.juliska.com. I think we'll probably register for some serving pieces too, because Justin said, "Shouldn't we register for some serving pieces?" And I said, "Oh. Yeah. Guess we should do that."

It's odd to be picking out real grownup dishes and flatware and whatnot, especially since I got REALLY used to using plastic spoons and cereal bowls for all my eating needs while in college. (Can I get a witness?)

Oh, btw, more info on the hotel accomodations later. It's the Staybridge Suites near the Galleria in case you're wondering. Must work.

2006-05-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Classiest... engagement photo... EVER!!

And, yes, that is Mr. Sanchez the Narcoleptic Parrot on my shoulder, for those of you who remember him.

R.I.P. Mr Sanchez... beloved by all, but especially the cats, who ate him.

It's like an anniversary, only different...

2006-05-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

So guess what today is!! T minus 6 months and counting...

I'm still in a bit of shock that I'm getting married. I mean, if someone had said I'd be engaged now at this time last year, I'd never have believed it. But God had plans.... secret plans... shhhh

So I'm going to try to post a picture from an email. Is that possible? I don't know. I don't know nothin' 'bout postin' no jpegs!!

Here's the first post!

2006-05-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

So here we go with the wedding blog. It seems like a good idea... the key will be updating it more than twice a year. :)