Fire! Fire!

That is what I experienced today.

We had a pulled fire drill about six weeks ago.  The construction company building the new Phillip Morris thing has a parking lot across the street that we are supposed to be able to use in the case of a fire.  They wouldn’t let us in, so I figured that when it went off today – it was a practice one – to make sure that the parking lot thing was cleared up for the real deal.

Nope.  Four trucks and a fire chief later, they were putting ladders up.

I had my purse, but since we park in a deck – I wouldn’t be able to get to my car anyway.  I didn’t have my books for school, either.

What a day…

Luckily – it was nothing serious.  Of course, as I write this there is still a team of firefighers downstairs with our B&G and security staffs.

Yipee!!

How many people are named Evelyn Cronin?

According to that thing on my brother’s website – 29.

How many people named Evelyn McCrickard?

According to that thing on my brother’s website – 0.

Oh well…I married the world’s most wonderful man (sorry Warren & Dad).

Now, since McCrickard isn’t even in their database – Warren’s results may be a little skewed…

 

So, My Little Warren is a Husband…

What a strange thought for me.  He’ll wake up each morning and have Rachel there beside him.  They’ll have to decide if they’ll brush their teeth together or one at a time (easy decision if you have two bathroom sinks).  He’ll have to ask permission to do things that, before, he just did.  Like running to the store for milk.  Granted, he won’t need permission to do so, but he’ll have to say, “Hey Rach, I’m running to the store.”  Meals won’t be eaten alone as often.  Saturday mornings will become easier – they’ll get to start off in the same location.  Weird.  The kid who was a ladies man in his own mind – is Rachel’s man.  I like it.  Being married to Jeff has been so much fun.  We had dated for a L-O-N-G time before getting hitched and even though we knew each other well, there are things that come out when you are living with someone that you just don’t see when you’re dating.  Jeff and I had even taken vacations together throughout our relationship – there are still “surprises” when you live with someone every day.

I’ve actually been highly emotional over the whole thing.  It started while Heritage (a singing group from Warren’s Milligan days) sang.  They were outstanding and suddenly the whole thing hit me!  Those of you at the wedding got to watch me weep through Rachel coming down the aisle and the father’s prayers.  Mom waved a tissue at me to see if I needed it.  I did, but how on earth was she going to get it to me.  I was up on a step – there was no way to sneak it to me.  Now, I had enough cleavage in my dress to have crammed a few down there, but did I think of that?  NO!  Stupid.  I was emotional watching them dance their first dance and watching he and mom kick off their dance, the Electric Slide.

Well, it’s been three weeks of emotional roller coaster, too.  First, my grandmother went into the hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 26.  It was scary.  She’d been in shock – one of the worst things medically.  Had she been six hours longer before getting to the hospital, the doctor wasn’t sure she would’ve lived.  Then, that Wednesday night after my mother and I visited, she had a pulmonary adema – a blot clot in her lung – that sent her into shock again.  They nearly lost her early Thursday morning.  That Sunday, Jeff and I went to visit her in the hospital.

Later that day my friend’s grandmother had an aneurysm burst in her brain while driving, became discoherent, and went into a large intersection here in Richmond.  She was hit and sustained very serious injuries.  We received news on Monday that she had passed away.  It’s been less than two years since my grandpa died and almost three years since Jeff lost his grandfather.  Those wounds are still raw and often bring tears, so we were very concerned about our friend, but have tried to give her space and let her know that we’re here if she needs us.

While at Warren’s wedding, my parent’s received word that people whom Warren and I were very close to some years ago had been in a serious car accident.  They kept that news from us (Warren will be told when he returns from his honeymoon) so that it would not overshadow the weekend.  One of those people was killed, one had a pelvis broken, and one (Warren’s age) remains in a coma.

I called Warren’s cell yesterday morning just to leave him a message for when he gets back.  I couldn’t make it through it without crying.  I’m so proud of that kid.  He’s out in Hollywood and enjoying it.  His friends from CA at the wedding were great.  I really enjoyed seeing Warren dance with one of those guys!  Anyone who knows my brother knows that he’s got soul coming out of him from somewhere.  *He even stepped with the step team when he was in high school.*

The come “home” overnight tonight.  They land in CA around 2 a.m.  I can’t wait to hear all about their trip!  I can’t wait to see pictures!  I can’t wait until they come in December and stay a couple of nights with Jeff & me.  It is going to be SO MUCH FUN to be able to hang out as the four of us.  I just keep thinking that is so cool that our kids will only know us with our spouses.  They’ll hear stories of me prior to Jeff and of Warren prior to Rachel, but they’ll only be stories.

Check out my photo website (there is a link on the left) for some pictures from the wedding weekend.  Sorry, none of the wedding or reception.  There are some of Rachel in her gown including some funny video footage of her when getting ready.

I almost forgot!  I must mention that I finally met Aaron Gilley (see link to left for Gilley920)!!!  Warren introduced him to Jeff as the man I’m having an online affair with!  Ahh!  I love reading Aaron’s blogs & it was great to meet him in person!  He’s such a cutie-pahtootie!  He also sings BEAUTIFULLY! 

 

Way Too Much Going On

1. Losing My Job (for a day) – Tuesday, Aug 22

So, one of my co-workers took it upon herself to report to the VICE PRESIDENT of JSRCC that back in April, I said the “n” word in a conversation.  I did not call anyone this word, but I used it in a quote.  Hmph…  Not true.  I remember the conversation word for word.  I did use the quote this person accused me of, but I left the one curse word in the quote OUT and it was the “B” word, not the “n” word.

Anyway, since I am a “wage” employee I have NO RIGHTS to a “fair trial”.  Instead, the VP and Human Resources informed my boss (who loves me) that she had to “let me go”.   Needless to say, my boss had to tell me about the situation on Tuesday morning when I came in then send me home.

I was a WRECK (understatement of the year) and called both my daddy and my momma to cry about it.  I waited to tell my husband (who was hard at work) until I had a little more insight into what was going on and I wasn’t sobbing and speaking incoherently.

In the end, I got my job back and more.  I got another position Harriet (my boss) offered me two weeks ago – a position I am creating as we speak.  Interesting enough, the co-worker made this claim against me within a day of Harriet offering me the better position and a move to the Downtown campus.  Very interesting.  Another bonus – I am close to the assistant VP under the VP that was going to fire me and he came to my defense full force.  I love that man.

I didn’t click with this co-worker anyway and was looking forward to the move away from her.  I am going to MISS TRUDY!  My other co-worker with whom I shared a work space & whom did my bridesmaids bouquets for my wedding.  Tru and I will stay in communication via email, phone & lunch dates.

2. I’ve moved to the Downtown Campus of JSRCC – Wednesday Aug 23

I really LOVE my new space.  It is SO MUCH FUN to have an office space all to myself (again, though, I will MISS TRUDY).  I’ll take pictures and put them on myphotoalbum soon (see link to left of post).  I have pictures, I have a fish tank, I have two phone lines, a fax machine, a NEW color printer, and a huge printer for my b&w printing.

Parking can be a pain – one deck, very full all of the time, and very little on street parking thanks to two other decks going up on either side of our campus – one for VCU and one for the BioTech center for Phillip Morris.

3. I’ve started back into classes – Thursday, August 24

I think I want to go back to being an undergrad.  Graduate Level classes at VCU are offered at 2:00 p.m. and later.  Ugh!  I’m glad that Jeff bought me parking in the deck near my buildings, but still – I hate attending class in the late afternoon/evening.  Thursday was the first day of classes.  I have Analysis I – Math Education on Tuesday & Thursday from 2:00 – 3:15.  Then, on Thursdays I have History of Mathematics from 4:00 – 6:40.  This past Thursday, I attended my Reading Instruction in the Content Area at 7:00 p.m.  That one doesn’t meet again the entire semester – it is now totally online.  Which is good, because walking to my car Thursday night was NOT fun.  I hate being on the VCU campus after dark.  I simply do not feel safe.

Today, I am going to my M/W Modern Geometry class from 5:30 – 6:45.  WHAT A SUCKY TIME!!!!  Therefore, I’m not going into work until close to noon so that I can leave work and go to class.  I thought about working this morning and coming home mid-day, but that would be wasteful of gas.  Oh well, Mondays will be time to get homework done without neglecting my hubby.

4. Before all the above events…pictures on “myphotoalbum” – link on left.

Jeff and I hosted our first married cook-out a couple of weekends ago while Gabe was home from Philly.  Disclaimer of unfairness – This was a family cookout.  Jay and Mo have no family in the area, so my parents have adopted them.  They are now totally considered my family.

VBS was held at church – Jeff and I worked the Dye Shop.  It was fun, but tiring!

What else?  I don’t think I can remember it all!!!

Crazy life…Lovely life…I LOVE MY LIFE!

Music & Drama Is the Best!!!

Well, I’m back from another year of Music & Drama Camp at Oak Hill.  It was a blast!!  My campers really rock!  We work them like dogs and they roll with us and put on a most excellent show!

For those who do not know, Music & Drama is a week of church camp at Oak Hill Christian Service Camp in which we teach and take on tour a Christian Teen Musical.  It is a lot of work with very little rest, but our campers love it and return year after year.

Our campers range in age from 12 years old – 18 years old and some attend for all seven summers in that time frame.  They get to know us and we get to know them.  We build relationships with them and it is great!

This year we did a musical called “Let’s Go to the Rock”.  It came out in the early 90’s and is a flashback to the 50’s – poodle skirts and all.  The girls really got into the costumes this year since we usually have a “tour outfit” and not actual costuming.  Even we, the staff, dressed up this year.  I made my own poodle skirt (with a little help)!!!

We meet on a Saturday afternoon and teach through Wednesday.  Then we take a four-five day tour.  This year we went to First Christian in Elizabethton, TN; Church of Christ Youth Camp in Grundy, VA; Unionville Christian in Unionville, VA; Cherry Avenue in Charlottesville, VA; and ended our tour at “home” at Mechanicsville Church of Christ in Mechanicsville, VA.

Our campers practice 9 – 10 hours a day with us and are expected to learn their lines, solos, etc in their free time.  We really wear them out!!

I will have pictures from camp as well as pictures of my poodle skirt up on my photo website (link on the left of the page) as soon as I get a chance to load them onto my computer.

Miss you all!!

Missing photos from wedding are now on the professional site!

Thanks for all those who helped me figure things out that weren’t there.

There are two uncategorized (crazy friends), my shirt getting cut off of me in “getting ready”, LOTS added to the reception, and more of Jeff and I after the reception in “portraits”.

We’re up to 614 photos total!

My photographer rocked!  He stayed up all night looking for these and getting them online.

Thanks Tod O’Driscoll!!!

To See the Professional Pictures (471 photos):

Dave Matthews ROCKED!

That man is beautiful and I love so see him dance as he plays.  This is not from our concert, but you’ll get the idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT_c961r5oU

Boyd was on fire and absolutely one of the best parts of the concert.  A man with those muscles, dancing and playing his violin…amazing.

At one point, Melissa and I agreed that we are the ultimate band geeks.  When LeRoi took out the bari-sax and started playing we looked at each other and mentioned that only real men play a bari-sax standing up.

It was pouring when we got there so we were soaked by the time we got to our seats.  It was an outdoor venue (Nissan Pavilion – capacity 25,000), but our seats were under the cover – in the very last row.  Jeff didn’t realize this until we got to them.  There are 10,000 seats under the cover.  The wind was blowing for the first hour, keeping us totally drenched.  It eventually stopped, so the fronts of us dried, but our seats (both the plastic ones and flesh/jean ones) never did. 

The people on the lawn (it was a sold out concert, so that would be about 15,000) were totally soaked and covered in mud a la Woodstock ’69.  People were purposefully sliding down the hill at the front of the lawn and landing in huge streams of water on the sidewalk.  It was crazy!!!  I could suddenly tell that I had gotten older.  I was not jealous of the stripping, mud-covered fans on the lawn, however I did look at Jeff and say, “there is a tiny piece of me who thinks that looks like fun”.  As those words came out of my mouth, a young lady slid down the hill and cracked her butt hard on the concrete curbing at the bottom.  I immediately added a, “maybe not.”

It’s been about 8 years since I’ve seen DMB live and it was a GREAT wedding gift.  My hubby rocks!  We did get good whiffs of pot so our experience would be complete.

You have got to see this!

It is hysterical!

Star Wars geeks and other fans alike!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUY4vD-eMn8