For Thanksgiving Gerrit and I traveled to Charleston to be with his family. His grandparents live there, and we were also joined by his parents and brothers as well as his aunt and uncle and cousins. His grandparents' house backs up to a beautiful reservoir (complete with alligators!), and the weather was beautiful so we spent a lot of time on the back porch.
Thanksgiving day was full of cooking and then eating and then going to see Harry Potter. Then more eating (although I think dinner for most of us was Brownie Trifle). So that was nice and good family time and everything.
But then on Friday was the most important event of the week. The Iron Bowl. And in Gerrit's family this means rivalry (his brother goes to Bama). I have to say, I was more sad to be apart from my family on this day than I was on Thanksgiving (Auburn football makes me miss them!) At first we all started out in the same room watching it. But after the start Auburn got off to, I had to go to another room to watch it. Not that anyone was being mean. More like I wanted to experience my misery alone and be able to talk to the television by myself. So Gerrit and I went back to another room to watch the game. And then I witnessed the most amazing comeback I have ever seen. I really still cannot believe that we won. There are no words really, except WAR EAGLE.
Now we are back in Houston for awhile, trying to get into the Christmas spirit (although it's hard being so far away from family and in relatively warm weather). But we will get to go to Huntsville soon, and we cannot wait to see our family and friends!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
A Huntsville/Auburn Vacation
About a week and a half ago I got to go visit my family in Huntsville. Sadly, Gerrit had to stay and work. But it was a WONDERFUL time in Huntsville. Fall temperatures, fall colors, etc. I got in on Wednesday night, and my mom and I spent Veteran's Day running errands and baking for the weekend in which we went to Auburn for the Auburn vs. Georgia game. That was also wonderful. We tailgated, I got to see lots of friends and my brother and my grandfather, and I went to the game with my dad. Also my mom and I met Sister Schubert. On Sunday we had dinner for my mom's birthday with my dad's side of the family, and then on Monday we went out to eat for my mom's birthday. On Tuesday I had to return Houston and was very sad to leave, but very happy to see Gerrit.
Now this week Gerrit and I are off to South Carolina to spend time with Gerrit's family for Thanksgiving!
Now this week Gerrit and I are off to South Carolina to spend time with Gerrit's family for Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Work
Hello, my name is Gerrit and I still live here, despite my lack of posting in recent months. I could blame work, an exciting football season, or a plethora of other things... but instead I'll just update you on what's been going on lately.
Work.
It's probably what most of you are interested in hearing about, being as I've yet to talk to some of you about my new job.
I'm on a project that's fairly unique, actually. I'm on a two man "Knowledge Management" team, and in short my job is to tell people where to put their files so they don't get lost to the ages when they retire. There's lots of new changes coming software-wise for a lot of the people I work with, and the majority of my time is spent teaching people about the new software and how they will use it to store information effectively. When I describe it like that, it sounds pretty dull... but I can promise you that this job fits me quite well because of the amount of personal interaction it requires. It also presents me with lots of "face time" as I network with people constantly (positioned both above and beside me organizationally).
The fun thing is I get to test the limits of this new software, seeing what it's capable of and finding out all the cool features so I can teach other people about them.
Next year, I might be doing some traveling to some pretty cool sounding places to help train people there on this new software... but specifics remain to be seen.
Anyway, just wanted to catch everyone up on what it is that I do :)
Work.
It's probably what most of you are interested in hearing about, being as I've yet to talk to some of you about my new job.
I'm on a project that's fairly unique, actually. I'm on a two man "Knowledge Management" team, and in short my job is to tell people where to put their files so they don't get lost to the ages when they retire. There's lots of new changes coming software-wise for a lot of the people I work with, and the majority of my time is spent teaching people about the new software and how they will use it to store information effectively. When I describe it like that, it sounds pretty dull... but I can promise you that this job fits me quite well because of the amount of personal interaction it requires. It also presents me with lots of "face time" as I network with people constantly (positioned both above and beside me organizationally).
The fun thing is I get to test the limits of this new software, seeing what it's capable of and finding out all the cool features so I can teach other people about them.
Next year, I might be doing some traveling to some pretty cool sounding places to help train people there on this new software... but specifics remain to be seen.
Anyway, just wanted to catch everyone up on what it is that I do :)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Family Visits and Football
At the beginning of this month we were so so happy to have our families visit us (minus 1 of Gerrit's brothers and my brother who are at school).
Gerrit's parents and brother got here on the first of the month and we spent a great weekend with them. We mostly just relaxed and hung out, watched football, drove around the city, did a little shopping. Also the weather was really lovely while they were here, and it has not been as good since they have left. :(
After they left on Monday, my parents got here on Wednesday and stayed through the next Monday. We did lots of relaxing, shopping, going out to eat, etc. We also went to the Houston vs. Mississippi State football game to cheer on on Bulldogs (although I admit my dad and I were glued to our phones for much of the game nervously reading the play-by-plays of the Auburn game). The game was definitely interesting. First of all, student tickets to the game are free, and there were signs around campus trying to encourage students to show up at the game. That should tell you a good bit right there. There was virtually no tailgating until you got to the stadium parking lot. And as we walked by the library there were lots of students going in and out studiously carrying their backpacks. On a football Saturday. Also, during the pregame show, with about 20 minutes until the game started, the stadium was still about half empty. It filled up when the game started, but didn't seem to stay that way for long and was almost completely empty by the end. Mississippi State won by a pretty good margin, which was good. I know Gerrit was glad to see his team win in person. It's the only football game he's going to get to go to all year.
I, on the other hand, am going to get to go home in November and go to the Auburn vs. Georgia game! (Oh, how I have missed you Jordan-Hare!) I'm extremely excited about this because I will get to finally feel some fall weather (it is 88 degrees here this week), spend time with my family (who I miss all the time) AND see my Auburn Tigers play in person! And celebrate my mom's birthday by walking our crazy dog Bo around the Botanical Gardens Christmas lights. It should be pretty exciting!
Gerrit's parents and brother got here on the first of the month and we spent a great weekend with them. We mostly just relaxed and hung out, watched football, drove around the city, did a little shopping. Also the weather was really lovely while they were here, and it has not been as good since they have left. :(
After they left on Monday, my parents got here on Wednesday and stayed through the next Monday. We did lots of relaxing, shopping, going out to eat, etc. We also went to the Houston vs. Mississippi State football game to cheer on on Bulldogs (although I admit my dad and I were glued to our phones for much of the game nervously reading the play-by-plays of the Auburn game). The game was definitely interesting. First of all, student tickets to the game are free, and there were signs around campus trying to encourage students to show up at the game. That should tell you a good bit right there. There was virtually no tailgating until you got to the stadium parking lot. And as we walked by the library there were lots of students going in and out studiously carrying their backpacks. On a football Saturday. Also, during the pregame show, with about 20 minutes until the game started, the stadium was still about half empty. It filled up when the game started, but didn't seem to stay that way for long and was almost completely empty by the end. Mississippi State won by a pretty good margin, which was good. I know Gerrit was glad to see his team win in person. It's the only football game he's going to get to go to all year.
I, on the other hand, am going to get to go home in November and go to the Auburn vs. Georgia game! (Oh, how I have missed you Jordan-Hare!) I'm extremely excited about this because I will get to finally feel some fall weather (it is 88 degrees here this week), spend time with my family (who I miss all the time) AND see my Auburn Tigers play in person! And celebrate my mom's birthday by walking our crazy dog Bo around the Botanical Gardens Christmas lights. It should be pretty exciting!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Quick Update
We have been so horrible about keeping up with this! We must get better! But we have really been quite busy continuing to feel settled here in Houston. Pretty much everything is unpacked and in it's place by now. We still have some furniture pieces we want to get (our TV is still on the floor) and a huge stack of pictures to decide where to hang. But mostly everything has come together!
Gerrit has started his job and he is loving it! It really is perfect for him. Basically his team is a liaison between the computer engineers and the rest of the company that needs to learn to use what the computer engineers have been working on. He also works with great people, and that always helps.
Our exploring of this city has been somewhat limited. We've done a couple a things, been to a couple of restaurants, and a couple of churches (we think we finally might have found a good one). On weekday evenings we have been relaxing (and watching way too much 30 Rock), and we have also been really good about going to the fitness center here at the apartment complex. Also, Saturday would be the perfect time for Houston adventures, but honestly...why would we get out of the house when there is college football on all Saturday?? haha :)
The next week is going to be very exciting here. Tonight Gerrit's parents and youngest brother are flying in to visit us for the weekend! Then they are leaving on Monday to go visit more family in Texas, and my parents are going to be here on Wednesday! I am so very excited to see everyone...we have missed our families so very much!
Gerrit has started his job and he is loving it! It really is perfect for him. Basically his team is a liaison between the computer engineers and the rest of the company that needs to learn to use what the computer engineers have been working on. He also works with great people, and that always helps.
Our exploring of this city has been somewhat limited. We've done a couple a things, been to a couple of restaurants, and a couple of churches (we think we finally might have found a good one). On weekday evenings we have been relaxing (and watching way too much 30 Rock), and we have also been really good about going to the fitness center here at the apartment complex. Also, Saturday would be the perfect time for Houston adventures, but honestly...why would we get out of the house when there is college football on all Saturday?? haha :)
The next week is going to be very exciting here. Tonight Gerrit's parents and youngest brother are flying in to visit us for the weekend! Then they are leaving on Monday to go visit more family in Texas, and my parents are going to be here on Wednesday! I am so very excited to see everyone...we have missed our families so very much!
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