Foreign Money

So, hopefully this little story from today might bring about a smile or two from the greater world?!

So, a few weeks ago my parents were helping me clean up my place (clean out a lot of my hoarding tendencies?!) before my marriage and we located a Russian ruble! This was momentarily exciting, so my mom suggested that I bring it down to the bank to deposit it into my account. I'd put it aside in my wallet, not really paying much attention to it, but now that I'm on my own form of "lockdown" I noticed it lying in my wallet, so I took the walk down to the bank to take care of business...

The banker was extremely friendly and was very willing to help. She looked down at my foreign money and politely asked me where it was from. Well one thing that I didn't lose from my traumatic accident was the ability to read the Russian alphabet! So, I smiled and told her that it was Russian. She typed into her computer and told me that unfortunately they don't accept Russian rubles at the bank, but smiled and told me to go to Travelex in San Mateo, whenever they're open...

So, when I got home I tried looking up Travelex, but then while I was on Google, I simply searched how many US dollars the Russian ruble was worth... LOL!!!! I started silently laughing at myself when I learned that my 5 Russian rubles were worth $0.064!!! 😱 So, that's my funny story for today March 24, 2020. Guess my adorable little nieces Collette and Amelia will have some more foreign money to play with... I was tempted to laminate it before I sent it to them, but even that would cost more than they money is actually worth!!

My true hope is that Collette and Amelia will realize that THIS money was actually acquired and potentially spent by their aunt Jamie while she was in the Peace Corps, but that's unlikely, so WHATEVER!! Have fun cuties!!

SERIOUSLY?!

So, I'm finally getting married and I'm quite ECSTATIC about it all and then I'm sorry, but what has to happen in MY year?!

This bride did not give the coronavirus (COVID-19) permission to crash my year!!!! But, clearly it wasn't listening to my demands/requirements!!! ARGH!! So, you best be believing me when I claim that I intend to bombard God with my frustrations and pray that the coronavirus says (a VERY welcome) goodbye BEFORE September 26!!!

All thoughts/comments/concerns are welcome, I'm certain that practically the entire world is suffering through this same situation. I believe the key is to remain gracious and respect that everyone is dealing with the exact same situation and no person stands above these catastrophic health concerns (not even other countries because this disease came from a different country, so unfortunately it appears to be world-spread).

**tears of frustration/concern**

Our Engagement Photos

We had our engagement photos taken on Sunday... such an absolute blessing to meet our wedding photographer(Dana Muse) before my "special day"!!!

Dana Muse has agreed to be our wedding photographer and we met with her last weekend when she took these engagement photos... SHE WAS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE and I'm excited that she'll be our wedding photographer because she was excellent at what she does and a genuine thrill to be around. (Felt like a photographer wasn't even present)

I'M GETTING MARRIED!!

Well hello everyone! I'm not certain who is even following this blog, but I've got some pretty exciting news to share!!😁 On December 27, 2019 Charlie took me on a drive to Pescadero (which is where my former personal trainer Jen had suggested we visit some day). As we were driving along Highway 1 by the coast, at one point he saw a pretty view of the coast just off the highway so he pulled his car over on the side of the highway. I got SO excited to capture the beautiful views of the coast that I just began snapping a few images from my phone, Meanwhile, Charlie was simply standing behind me... At one point I turned around to smile at him and he was on the ground. I dismissively asked him if he was ok, to which he replied that yup, he was fine. So, I turned back around and continued taking photos. When I glanced back his direction a second time he was on the ground again and I was concerned... UNTIL I realized that he was down on one knee!!

 So, after a couple of minutes of excited bliss, we continued on our way to Pescadero. Once we arrived in downtown Pescadero, (where I was in such an excited bubble) we asked someone if they would take a couple of pictures of us...

So, it's been a couple of months and  I'M ECSTATIC!! We've already chosen the location where we'll be married and we've determined our wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearer, etc.) This is my first attempt at updating people about my current life situation... We had our engagement photos taken this past weekend by our wedding photographer (who happens to be friends with Charlie's mom/family) and it was SO EXCITING to meet my wedding photographer for the first time!! God seems to be looking out for me recently because (unfortunately) I had essentially given up on the idea of a marriage because I figured that I was now an overly complicated package (what with my fabulous traumatic brain injury and all). But, God sent me Charlie and I feel like a quite happy and content individual at the moment!!

I will probably post some of our engagement photos later, but this is my first attempt at advising the world of my happiness and of my fabulous engagement!!!

Updated Life

OK, so I began working at Lucky's (a grocery store) bagging groceries for the customers. My official title is "Service Specialist". Because of my "fabulous" traumatic brain injury (TBI) I have requested that I only work 4 hour shifts, which successfully tires me out. This has become quite manageable for me and I've actually grown to enjoy my work. Recently I had spoken with our store manager about possibly transferring to the grocery store in San Carlos, so that I might actually be able to walk to work instead of relying on the buses. I filled out the form and was ready to turn it in, but then our manager went on a long vacation away from the store so I never officially turned it in. Now, I feel as though God was looking out for me, because I've grown VERY familiar with my current store and I feel pleased that I am now quite aware of where certain items are located within the store. If I transferred to the other store I wouldn't know where anything was and I'd essentially be starting from scratch all over again. My brain simply couldn't handle beginning the process all over again!

Also, one of the head employees at the store was there when I began my training program. I would update my mom about how work was going and update her on my energy levels and all of that. When the training process was over and I was officially explaining my opinions and reviews of the process and discussing my potential plans/desires for future employment my mom interjected that she would truly appreciate it if I could be located wherever Monika was (the cashier that I had raved about enjoying and trusting). So, I was placed back at the original grocery store that I had trained at and Monika, who I still seriously enjoy and trust, is oddly my new boyfriend's mother. Thanks for looking out for me God!

So I'm feeling quite happy and pleased with life, as well as feeling significantly grateful that I could find myself in a situation where I feel extremely loved and valued. Here's to hoping and praying that my life continues to improve, or at least feel like it's improving!!

Return to the working world

So, we began our search for a job for myself around this past January, and as of this past week I have officially been hired. It feels a little bizarre and unfamiliar to me because I haven't held a job since I was in the Peace Corps (which unfortunately for me, held some quite drastic/traumatic results). So, tomorrow I will begin my new job at a grocery store, simply bagging customers' groceries and making sure the store remains neat and tidy.
I'm surprisingly excited, but I've been forewarned by family that it will potential wipe me out energetically. So, let's pray that I can manage to have a positive time and be a positive influence on the people around me without becoming an empty shell of the individual that I currently am.
So, here's to my new adventure!!

Drastic New Haircut

Alright, so I had my haircut on Friday (10/13) and I was feeling adventurous, so I decided to get rid of a lot of it. Now, I have naturally curly hair so having chopped it all off (well, let's be honest- I didn't choose to have it shaved off again, once is more than enough for me on that count) results in my curly hair bouncing up close to my ears! There are definitely many advantages (like, it doesn't take me ANY time to do my hair) but I'm still having those occasional habits of just wishing that I could be lazy and throw my hair up into a ponytail. Hmm, not so possible anymore. Well, technically it's possible, but a lot of my hair doesn't want to remain in the ponytail and ends up falling down around my face. Well, looks like I'll be shopping for some fun and cute thick headbands to decorate my new "-do".