Presents!

I don't always know what to get Frank for birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas. Nor do I think he always knows what to get me!

For his 30th birthday, he got a motorcycle in pieces. Maybe for his 40th (next year, gasp!) it'll be running.

One year Frank got me a home stereo system. Woo. Obviously he was thinking of himself when he bought that one.

One Christmas he got me a kitchen cart with a marble slab on it. I think he had me confused with Mrs. Crocker.

We've gifted electronics: MP3's, cameras (one year instead of stuff for his bike, he bought me a camera <3); last year I got him a flat screen for the computer. For my 30th, I got this laptop. Which means it's 5 years old....sigh...

For my birthday this year, I got an iTouch, which is a very meaningful gift to me, LOL!! I was very surprised, though I'm still figuring it out...I'm a PC, it's a Mac. 'nuff said. Still, having mobile internet is pretty cool - I don't have a mobile internet plan, so I get internet where it's free.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...

Frank and I haven't spent much time apart.

I bring this up now because we are apart. He's moose hunting in Nome with his brothers and my brother; after 5 days, they still hadn't killed anything and there are now 2 full days left.

Our first vacation after we got married was a "honeymoon" road trip from Portland to Disneyland. We took another trip to Oregon during the holidays, then a few more to Oregon after the kids were born.

The first trip I took without Frank was July 2001 to St. Louis for PartyLite's conference; I was gone about a week. Jessie was with my dad in Portland, I was pregnant with Joey. I was 5 months pregnant, the first time I had ever been in humidity and was away from Jessie and Frank for the first time - I was hormonal!

I did not go to conference the next summer, but did in 2003 and both kids spent a few weeks in Oregon; Frank stayed home, drove to the slope and back. In 2004 we took seperate trips again when I went to Atlanta and Frank took the kids to Nome.

2005 was our 10th anniversary and we spent it in DC and Pocono, because of the NASCAR race I told Frank we would go to if he remembered when our 10th was :). DC because of PartyLite's conference, which ended the day before the race, so we drove up to Pocono. I was not impressed. It was hot and long and pretty boring, lol.

I attended conference in 2006. Frank went to Nome because it was the first anniversary of his fathers death, he took the kids again.

I haven't been back to conference since 2006. I went to Oregon with Jon in late 2007 because our grandfather was ill; he passed away not long after Wyatt was born.

I'm about to take the kids to Oregon again. Jessie's getting a huge surprise for her 10th birthday, which is part of the trip, but all the kids are going. Frank can't take any more time off from work (it would be unpaid).

We've taken more vacations apart then together now that I put them all together...

How We Make Money

Frank is an auto mechanic, though he was doing carpentry when we first started dating (I say "dating", but we didn't really go out on dates). When that job ended, he got a job at Johnson's Tire Service and stayed for 5 long years. He went to Budget (Stanley Motors) when a buddy got a job there. By now, I was pregnant on purpose, lol. Jessie was born in Sept 99 and I had 3 months of maternity leave. Frank decided to stay home when I went back to work!!!

However, that didn't last long, but there was a job opening at my work that allowed us to both work part-time at different hours, so Frank became a courier for 9 months when he was ready to go back to working with his hands. He started working for Stepp Bros Lincoln/Mercury, but left 3 years later when the work was too slow. Somehow he knew someone at Lady's Auto and started work on March 22nd, which was the day Jessie was admitted to the hospital for what would be bronchiolitis!

The work at Lady's was not real busy, and Frank was working on all kinds of vehicles, which was not enjoyable. However, the prospect of us buying the shop AND the house on the lot was brought up. We needed $100k down, though. It put a thought in our heads about someday buying a shop.

When Chuck decided he might be closing because of overhead costs, Frank went back to Stepp Bros, who was now owned by Nye Lincoln/Mercury. This is April 2005. Two years pass and Frank is still not busy, but his buddy Jeremy from JTS is working at a busy shop: L&M Motors. Frank works there for a year and a half before moving along after not being treated fairly and yet again: lack of work.

Frank is back a dealership, which is where he feels comfortable. Lincoln/Mercury was bought by Kendall of Oregon, but after 8 months, they closed L/M and Frank becomes an employee of Toyota in their "options" department, installing post-factory add ons. It's fairly simple work for a guy with his experience. One plus, since he's also working on traded in vehicles, they have to be stripped of post-factory add ons (ironic, huh) and he keeps what he wants. He was one course away from being a master mechanic, a course that was scheduled within 2 weeks after L/M was closed.

When I moved to Anchorage, I was going to go to UAA, majoring in Accounting. After I got pregnant with the baby that was not to be, I decided I wasn't interested in college. I found a job at a credit union where my parents had been account holders and I still had an account that was set up when I was about 6 months old: Frontier Alaska State Credit Union, a teachers CU. I started as a part-time teller in August 1993. I became full time, did many other jobs from answering the phone, to member services, quasi teller trainer. I landed a job in the accounting department, handling member phone calls, ATM cards, running checks, ACH postings, Fedline activity. I really enjoyed this position. In Sept 95, FASCU merged with FedAlaska Federal CU and became Credit Union 1. I was lucky enough to keep my job in the member accounting department. I eventually became the Asst Manager of the Member Service/Automated Services Dept.

Then I got pregnant with Jessie. I was able to take 3 months off of paid leave, but I had no idea what was going to happen after that. My mom was working and I hadn't researched daycares, but didn't really want to go with a daycare. When January 2000 came around, Frank had decided to stay home and I went back to work, but as Financial Analyst!! This was probably my dream job, mainly because it took me away from member problems, lol. I was still a resource, though, for the auto serv guys. While I was gone, my dept had 3 people taking over my seat, which was pretty cool because it allowed three people to see what it took :) (each took one month), but gave them a chance to see from the other side.

Frank was eager to go back to work after two short months, but by that time, I was not feeling as useful as before. A part-time courier job opened (3-8PM), and I asked if my job could be part time, which they generously allowed. So, I worked 8-2, Frank worked 3-8 (mine was a higher paid job). Jessie wasn't in daycare! Frank was ready to go back to working with his hands. He is not a desk person anyway. So, I reluctantly resigned gave notice and my last day was December 29, 2000. I let CU1 know that if I ever wanted to go back to work, they'd be the first place I looked.

That same month, I attended a PartyLite party for a co-worker, with another co-working being the consultant. Knowing I was leaving, she asked about my financial prospects, which were none. I held my own party, which was successful, but my starter party was not. PartyLite received my agreement on February 14, 2001!

I was not a very good consultant, because I wanted easy money and had no friends. It took probably 3 years before I really found a comfort in doing sales. I became a leader, earned $500+ a month, but eventually I became lazy.

Joey started preschool at Anchorage Coop in the fall of 2005. I was led to this preschool because of it's volunteer obligations. I was the Fundraising Chair. He "graduated" in 2006 and I chose to stay on as their volunteer Bookkeeper because their Treasurer/Bookkeeper was moving on.

When I got pregnant with Wyatt, I really had not been doing PartyLite actively and it was an easy excuse to put it on the back burner. I was nauseous and tired. I done one home show in probably 2 years! But, I still have a website (online ordering is available) and the newsletter is sent to my list.

Now, other than during the summer, I don't know when I could have parties. I am on the board of the PTSA, APC and ACP, positions I don't always enjoy, but am proud to serve on.

Once Wyatt is in school, I may look for something that I can fill the day with partially, but I will probably spend a good chunk of time at school! I have thought about going back to school myself, but haven't looked into it.

Because of the preschool and PartyLite, I have ventured into web design, but nothing special. I have my own family website and have assisted with the preschool website.

Jamie introduced me to scrapbooking, which has become a hobby.

When Wyatt was born, we chose to use cloth diapers, and I found out how to make covers from recycled wool sweaters and bought my first sewing machine, having never used one. I have made about a dozen kuspuks as well :)

PS - I actually had to look up my dates for all of Frank's jobs. I kept a log because creditors always ask for employment history and the memory just wasn't keep track!

What I Love...

Just to be fair, I shouldn't always complain, I guess ;)

Frank is a jack of all trades, of which I think sometimes I take for granted. I assume that if it's broken, Frank can fix it. And 60% of the time he can fix it with what he already has, 30% of the time he has to buy something, the other 10% it's just not salvageable.

Even if he can fix it, doesn't mean he does...

slooow to start

This is new, so I will have to remember to post more often!

A little history:

Frank is the same age as my older brother, they went to school together and were (are) friends. But, as gross as older brothers are, friends of older brothers are even grosser! I don't really even recall Frank hanging around much, but none of Jon's friends really hung around.

My parents divorced and my dad returned to Oregon to finish his doctorate at UofO. Eventually, I also moved to Oregon to go to high school, returning to Alaska during the holiday and summer breaks. It was during one of those breaks that Frank and I crossed paths again.

We were both standing outside Glue Pot, it was after curfew (for me at least) and he gave me a ride home. I might have seen him once more before I went back to Oregon.

My mom then moved to Anchorage. Frank had also moved to Anchorage, coincidentally, and starting hanging out with Jon again. By this time, for some reason, older brothers and friends of older brothers were kinda ok...or maybe it was the money and the car that was ok. Jon was working, but when he wasn't, he was out with Frank, a few times I went along. It was during these adventures (lol), then Frank and I started becoming friendly-ish.

We officially started "dating" on July 25th 1991, the birthday of a friend of mine. I had to go back to Oregon to finish high school, but we stayed together until almost the end of school - it was hard to communicate with him, and he was still friends with his ex.

We got back together after I graduated and moved to Anchorage...he was always around, lol. (and the ex was still in town).

I started school at UAA and was pregnant soon. Thankfully it ended, and we got smarter about birth control. I started working for Frontier Alaska State Credit Union in August 1993 as a part-time teller; I left in December 2000 as a part-time financial analyst, by then it was known as Credit Union 1

We got engaged on my birthday, 1994, married July 4, 1995 in the backyard of Frank's grandpa, who performed the ceremony. Only a handful of people - a few co-workers, my parents, Jon, Frank's uncle.

Happy Anniversary

I intended to start this on July 4th, as that is the date of our anniversary, but we'll be somewhere in Kenai without internet.

Frank and I have been married for 14 years tomorrow! Some days are good, some days are fun, some days makes me think about "wedded bliss", so I decided to start blogging about it.

I won't get into details about our sex life, but I think everything else is open season :)

Gotta finish packing...