CaseyAndKelly.Com

So today I found out (from the security guy of all people) that I’ve been extended through the 20th. I think he felt bad for me because I didn’t find out on Friday till like noonish that I had even been extended through this Friday. He suggested I just keep showign up whether I’m extended or not. So I’m not even guaranteed the whole rest of the month. I had a meeting today with the new contract administrator, she’s not much older (if any) than I am and just started last week. She asked me all of these questions about what I do, what I think should be changed, etc but was kind of clueless not having been there that long. I was patient and humored her (or was it she humored me she was talking about if another 7/11 happened) since it sounds like she’s predicting my fate with the company. So anyways just another day of getting jerked around.

Ok, I’m actually posting which I guess is a start but don’t expect anything interesting from me cause things like that just aren’t happening like that around here right now.

So my job got extended. Again. This time for a week which means that Friday is now my new last day. My boss’s boss was supposed to talk to me about salary/title change etc and the likelihood of it going permanent. Or at least that’s what he said. He said that’s why the extension is only for a week. This not knowing stuff is really getting on my nerves now. Most people are surprised I haven’t been more fed up than I am by this point but since I don’t *have* to work I haven’t really cared. I am sick of them trying to string this along and finding out on a Friday if I have a job on the following Monday!

To add more fuel to the fire, this morning my proximity card wasn’t working. And it was a new one that I got reissued last week because my other one was crapping out too. So I had to sit in the parking lot for an hour and a half waiting for someone to let me in the building because the receptionist wasn’t in yet so I couldn’t get a visitor badge. Thank God for Internet on my phone or I would have had to wait since all I have for my coworkers are email addresses. The lady that let me in was like oh we should have given you one of these phone trees. Um, yeah. So anyway, I ended up getting another proximity card which I tested and hopefully will work tomorrow. When will this week end??

We’ve been in the house for six weeks this coming Friday and have been going nonstop getting it into better shape. At the insistence of Alison and others, I’m posting some pictures of finished rooms in the gallery. We’re getting granite countertops installed in the kitchen next week but the transformation already has been pretty substantial. So take a peek and let us know what you think.

Since the end of January I’ve been getting groomed as a Contracts Administrator at ITT. I’m still working in the same department with the same people just different duties now. It’s a good thing they had the foresight to train me because the current Contracts Adminsitrator is out on short-term disability so I’ve been working crazy overtime to fill her shoes. Because of that, I’ve been extended for – say it with me now – one more month at which time it *might* go permanent. I’ll take what I can get and am hoping for the best because I just hate interviewing for jobs.

Between fixing up the house and working it doesn’t feel like we have any time to do anything. Joe’s coming out here this weekend so Casey and I both have Friday and Monday off. We’re supposed to be going skiing at Keystone and maybe to a couple of breweries so that should be fun and a nice break from everything. That’s all for now – we’re still here but as usual have been slacking on the posting, rest assured we’re still alive.

Wow, this year is just flying by. I can’t believe tomorrow will already be February. We have been going nonstop this year.

First off, Congratulations to Justin & Robin on their engagment! We’re going to have to start saving up whatever vacation time we can get for the wedding!

As I mentioned before we went to Vegas for Casey’s birthday and New Year’s with Joe and his friend which was a lot of fun. However, everyone with Casey ended up getting sick for at least part of the trip was a real drag but overall it was a good time. We stayed at the fabulous Hooters Hotel & Casino which doesn’t sound like much but Joe was upgraded to a suite so it was very spacious and had a Strip view. The gaming was pretty crappy but our new friends are the video blackjack and poker machine where we can slow play them at the bar and get lots of free drinks quickly. No, there was no wing buffet although there was the Dam Restuarant. Another nice thing about the hotel (which isn’t in a bad location either, it’s where the San Remo used to be behind the Tropicana) was that the pool and hot tub were open *and* they had firepits! I’ve been so bad about updating and posting but pictures from Vegas (although there’s not many) will be up by tomorrow.

We’re all unpacked now and settled into the new place. I ended up painting the living room and kitchen and then we’ve been doing little touches here and there like lighting and furnishing it. It’s all coming together and feels like we’ve done so much more than we probably have. I don’t plan on posting pictures until after we’ve got a room complete so for now you’ll have to look at the pics from before we bought it. 😉

As far as my job goes, this Friday was supposed to be my last day. However, I found out last week that I’m definitely staying through February and perhaps even into March or April. I’ll take what I can get since I hate looking for jobs, especially in this market. So for now all is good and we’re preparing for Joe’s upcoming visit next weekend….

Merry Christmas! We wish you all Christmas blessings and tidings for a very happy and prosperous new year!

The governor of Colorado has declared a state of emergency and El Paso County (where we live) has been declared a “distaster area.” Fun times.

I made it into work this morning despite the fact that all the school districts in the county were closed. At 9:30 I decided I’d better head back home because the area we live in (Briragate) was getting the brunt of the storm. It took me 45 minutes to go 10 miles. There was zero visibility and most of us were driving with our flashers on and even then it was hard to see. The winds were blowing and I had to stop at one point, almost being knocked over, because ice was building up in my windshield wipers and I couldn’t see. There are roads (major and minor) around Colorado closed tonight (some have reopened) but jokers are out there still speeding down the streets.

The storm is expected to last another 12-18 hours. USPS shut down today so you *know* it’s bad. So much for rain, sleet, snow, or shine…

It’s been a whirlwind here lately. in the last two weeks we’ve seen 24 houses but after three visits to one property, our new house is under contract. It’s a corner lot on a cul-de-sac in Springs Ranch backing to county-owned open space. There are pics posted in the gallery so take a peak when you get a chance. Tomorrow we’ll be scheduling the inspection and to give the VA enough time to process all of our paperwork, we won’t be closing until January 19th.

Nicky and her family just arrived tonight to spend the week. Casey and I don’t have any time off but hopefully we’ll be able to get some visiting after work. Tuesday afternoon is Casey’s work Christmas party so that should be interesting. Since Nicky and family won’t be here this weekend we’re celebrating Christmas early on Friday at Buca di Bepo in the Pope Room. Good times.

In case I don’t post again, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone! We’re so blessed to have made it through another year happy, healthy, and loved.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and Happy Birthday Nicky!!! This is coming live to you from Missouri as we just watched a gaggle(?) of turkeys on the dam of the pond outside. We hope everyone has a great day, full bellies, and counts their blessings.

We’re watching ‘Say Anything’ right now, thus the title. I love this movie and I love me some John Cusack. Casey loves him some John Cusack too but in a strictly hetero way of course. 😉

I’m posting some long overdue pics in the gallery so pop on over and take a look.

As much as I despised the body style of the FX since I first saw it, over the past couple of weeks I’ve grown to love our new car! It’s the first new car that either of us have ever had so it’s even more exciting! We still have to take our security agreement over to the dealership so the finance guy can stop bugging us and we can get our title.

The new job’s going well so far besides the dry hands and papercuts. I’m learning new stuff every day and depending on how the job turns out, may even get a clearance. While I wasn’t sold on this type of job at first, living in this city I’m in a pretty good position now. I’m staying busy and was even approved for overtime so I’m trying to make the most of the position while it lasts (right now it’s only through the end of the year). There’s been lots of talk of trying to keep me on full time if the budget allows in the new year but I’m still looking nevertheless.

We saw The Prestige two weekends ago. It’s one of the few we’ve seen lately that’s been worth anything and keeps twisting till the end.

VOTE!

So where to begin. We have moved back to Colorado, this I’m sure most of you that still read the site know by now. I’m working at HP, finally. I suppose it only took 5 years or so to get a job with them. So far things are good, I will start my first on-call rotation this Friday, and I’m a little anxious about it, but I’m sure everything will be fine. HP has thus far given me a nice new laptop, a full MSDN account, a new Blackberry of my choice, and a whole host of other things, of course they may just be buttering me up for when the shit hits the fan.

Kelly and I are getting a new car tomorrow. We ordered it last week and it should arrive here in the Springs this evening or tomorrow morning.

We are also starting to look at purchasing a house here shortly, the housing market here in Colorado is tame in comparison to Washington DC and Los Angeles. Plus now that we know the ins and outs of VA Loans we are all set.

We had a blizzard here last week, nearly 18 inches of snow dropped on us, and then the very next day it was in the high 50’s. The weather is very fickle here, something I kinda forgot, even though its only been three years since we lived here.

I figured I would have more to say, but I’m kinda at a loss right now.