Checking out

I'm leaving blogspot to move to shutterfly.  please catch me at:

http://nusbaumfamilyphotos.shutterfly.com/

I can post unlimited photos and videos, and still maintain a blog on this site.  It's just a bit more user friendly for what I want to do.  I'll still check back in at blogspot to follow my people :-)

C

What a Wonderfall thing this is

I never used to get so excited to say goodbye to summer, but over the past few years I get nearly antsy about it.  Fall brings the cool but comfortable weather, the beautiful foliage, and for me, an altogether warming feeling when I think about the holidays around the corner, celebrating my anniversary with Eric, decorating my house for the season, and the smell of spiced pumpkin candles that I light in my house. 

Of course this fall will be different than the rest, since I will be on the path to finding my new self.  I'll be taking my realty classes in preparation for my licensing exam next year, laying out some more groundwork on what I'm calling IdyByt Designs, LLC, and getting caught up on housework:  Painting the office, finishing some furniture pieces, maybe tiling the basement (we'll see...).  This is the time I need to think on what I should be doing in my life.  I have a heart for volunteer work, too, that I haven't had the time to dive into.  Plus, I'm going to revisit learning the guitar, and visit learning how to play a pan flute.  I'm just really excited about what's around the corner!

Immediately around the corner we've got: 
Mike and Katherine's engagement party
Day out with mom - lunch and trail riding
Smith Family Camping
Cox Farms/Fall Frenzy!
BOSTON!! (7 year anniversary :-))
Maddy Birthday
Halloween

Bring it on, fall, bring it on.

It Is Time.

After a heck of a lot of soul searching, earnest prayer, and open communication with select few individuals, I have decided to make a huge change in my life:  pursuing a different career.  It's not that I don't like what I do.  It's just that I don't think I want to do this for the rest of my life.  The key word here is 'think.'  As in, I'm actually not sure whether or not business operations is my calling.  It could very well be.  But there is this deep yearning inside of me that is calling me away from this work, at least for a time.  I want something more interactive, more social.  I want to do something that will bring joy to people! 

But I'm scared.  How do you walk away from something that has been such a vast part of your life for so long (8 years!)?  To try something entirely new and unproven to you, to take that risk?  Imagine wanting to jump off the high-dive for so long, and then you finally muster the courage to climb that everlasting staircase up to it.  When you're on the tip of the board, this is like sucking in your breath before taking the plunge.  Scary, yes . . . but also exciting! 

So, I've drawn that breath . . . and resigned from my current job.  Now I just have to take that plunge and put my own self on the line:  my artwork.  My goal is to  create an LLC to design and paint murals for children.  I am going bigger than just residential -- I will be reaching out to churches, daycares, hospitals, etc -- any place that might have a place for children.  I know the competition in this area is very weak, mostly just focusing on textured wall design as opposed to mural art.  I am currently working on rate structure, and also trying to pin down a name that captures the essence of what I'm trying to do :-)  Naming things is very hard, apparently. 

Well, there you have it.  Wish me luck :-)

Reading the Bible

Bible study begins with reading. Yet, quite frankly, a lot of people never get to that point. At best, they nibble at the text. They may read books about the Bible or devotional materials loosely based on it, but they don't read the Bible itself. Good Christian books and magazines that supplement your Bible reading are fine, but there is no substitute for reading Scripture.

. . . I whole-heartedly agree, and this is definitely something I'm guilty of.  I tend to do Bible study guides that ask questions regarding certain bits of scripture, but realized recently that reading a bit of scripture here and there, without context, can actually be rather confusing. 

My heart wants to get better at reading the Bible.  My mind wants to get better at it, too.  So why then is it so difficult?  What is it that's keeping me from being able to sit down and indulge myself in THIS 'good book?'  I hope I figure it out, and hurdle that obstacle, so I can finally digest what my Lord has been saying for centuries.


Reading excerpt taken from Grace to You:  http://www.gty.org/Resources/Positions/P16

And Today, I felt an Earthquake

That's about it, really.  I just felt I had to record it for posterity. 

5.8 magnitude
Felt from Connecticut to S. Carolina

I'd describe it as . . . a blank moment prior to recognition, then uncontrollable rumbles that go through your body.  When it was over, I still felt shaky.  It's weird to not have control.

I'm So Dizzy, My Head Is Spinning

Last night Eric and I watched Hitchcock's pscyhological thriller VERTIGO starring James Stewart.  This is a must-see if you like psychological (not gory, in-your-face) thrillers.

First of all, Jimmy Stewart is awesome. 

Second of all, everything is so wonderfully subtle.  It's like the oh-so-slightest shift from what would otherwise just be considered 'ordinary' that creeps you out.

Third of all, the plot is unique enough to still be considered interesting.  It's the type of plot where you're left guessing at every turn and never have enough to 'just know' what will happen.  You can make a lot of guesses, and some of them might pan out in general, but it's nearly impossible to know exactly what will happen.

So, go and watch :-)

Wait, the countdown already began?

Yeah, we leave for the beach in a day and a half.  Saturday at 5:30am, we're outta here (Eric will say 6.  I say, we'll see.)

Ordinarily I would have had some sort of countdown, but really July has just flown by.  Yes, I know, like I say every month.  I think that's what happens if you just stay busy.  I'd say I'm seldom ever 'bored' anymore.  There is always something to be done.  And if I'm too lazy to do something worthwhile, I'll just go to sleep.  It's just that easy.

I figured my ABBA kick would have been long over by now.  It's not.  Did you know they actually have a ton of songs?  Not just Dancing Queen or Mamma Mia, as I had originally thought.  My interest started to take flight a few years ago at Maryland States when I first heard 'Take a Chance On Me.'  That was my power song that whole weekend, and Eric and I took first in one of the events.  Then it's just been gaining traction ever since.  Now I don't even mind watching the Meryl Streep movie version.  I've seen Mamma Mia! live at Wolftrap.  I own an ABBA Karaoke CD.  They play on loop on my iPod.  Seriously, it's getting ridiculous, but I now celebrate their entire catalog.

. . . Yay, Office Space!

So we made the leap to yuppiedom and actually hired a cleaning crew to come once a month and clean up our house a bit.  We had touched upon this idea back in Q1 but couldn't find a cleaning crew to our liking that seemed like a cost benefit rather than just a huge expense.  But recently I received an email from a lady with M&WR.  They charge $65/hr for a team of 2 workers, and whatever they can get done in that hour is what they do.  You can specify...so, Eric and I said to focus mainly on the floors (those of you who have ever been to our house know exactly how cat-hairy the place is) and if after the floors are done there is any time left, to spot clean bathrooms.  Well, we got home on tuesday to fabulously clean floors, all of our trashcans emptied out, our beds made, and our master bathroom scrubbed down.  So, these workers are quick, thorough, and work for a cost I can appreciate.  I'm very happy with their first job.  Can't wait until 8/19 when they come around again!

I've got my room booked at the Johnny Appleseed inn down in New Market.  I think it's really like a Quality Inn or something like that, but I just call it the Johnny Appleseed.  This, of course, is for the RT 11 YARD CRAWL!!  I think I'm going to make my mom, aunts, and me shirts :-) And Michelle if she comes along.  Can't wait :-)

Tonight is CARCASSONNE!  The final playing before the beach.  My last chance to nail down this whole farming thing.  Bring. It. On.