What would YOU do to support your family?

i though this was an amazing story

I met an amazing woman on the Oprah show yesterday that really make me think about how messed up our society can be sometimes.

Her name was Marian and she is a single mom of 3 children. She has a bachelor's degree from Clemson in Hospitality and Tourism and worked in the field for many years. When her husband left her and did not provide child support for the three children, she was forced to take on another job, besides her tourism job and she still was not making ends meet. She was scraping by on the "wing and a prayer" and hardly got to see her children.

Her financial situation was horrible, but she knew she must work and did not want to be one of those mothers that took advantage of the welfare system.

Well, one of her friends told her about an upscale gentlemen's club in Atlanta that paid very well. She battled with the questions (should I do this? is it right? what will people think?), but because she was desperate to support her family, she decided to give it a try. Having a killer body for a 41 year old definately helped the situation, haha.

GET THIS... now she works 3 nights a week, she is at home when her kids wake up and she sees them off the school. Then she goes back to bed for a little bit, works out, does some housework and runs errands, picks up her kids from school, helps them with homework, fixes dinner, puts them to bed and then goes to work from 8 p.m. to about 4 in the morning. She has more MONEY than she has had in a long time, actually has a savings and a life insurance policy. She has MORE TIME with her kids and, I have to say, she looked like a fantastic mom. Of course, she worries all the time what people think and her 13 year old daughter said she is proud of her mom and knows that she is doing what she can to be available to her kids and make a living. She was a little shocked when her mom first told her, but now she understands and doesn't care what anyone says or thinks.

NOW, I am not saying that I could do this, nor would I want to (or be able to with my fat ass), but I gotta give the woman some credit! She IS working, she IS making ends meet, she IS being a fantastic mom to her three kids and she IS educated.

This just goes to show that there is seriously something wrong with our society. That to be able to WORK and make money to support a large family you are forced to work in environments that you never intended, or achieved a college degree to do. I really thought she was a remarkable woman who was a great mom, well educated, but happened to be a stripper named Charlie 3 days at week. Whatever works! I would rather slip a $20 into her G-String than support some low-life, lazy person on welfare. But, this is just MY opinion. I welcome all of you to share yours. :)

Here's the link for the story if you want to know more
http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200802/20080227/slide_20080227_350_108.jhtml

Down with the sickness

what hubby gets, the wife gets too

So, Jared is feeling a little better, but is on his way to the doctor right now to get checked out. But now I AM sick! I don't think it is the same thing he has because my cough is not near as bad, but I am achy all over, my head is so congested I can barely lift it, my nose is red and peeling from blowing it so much and I have been running a fever all day. I hate this crap! It is probably the flu, but I get some killer sinus infections too, so it could be that.

So, Mr and Mrs Sickness will be couped up in this house all day with our nasty germs! Our coffee table looks like a tornado went through a pharmacy... kleenex, cough drops, cough syrup, Nyquil, Sudafed, water bottles and cups of juice. It is actually pretty pathetic! I just hope no one wants to look at the house today cause its gonna take all the energy I have to get this place cleaned up.

Sniffle, Sniffle, Cough, Cough

he's got new eyes, but now he's sick

Yesterday was an interesting day. Jared went in for his Lasik eye surgery and he went without me because I couldn't take off any more work. It's actually a good thing I wasn't there because he said the surgery was dreadful.

He woke up the morning of his surgery with a bit of a cough. He said it took everything he had not to cough while the lasers were on him. The doctor kept telling him to lay still, but Jared had a very hard time doing that, bless his heart. To make matters worse he very much disliked the clamps that held his eyes open and his right eye started to bleed during the procedure. The doctor told us today that the bleeding is quite uncommon, but not detrimental. He said that because Jared had worn contacts for so many years and had a bad astigmatism on both eyes that it causes the blood vessels to rise to the top and when they peeled back the flap on his eye to operate, it caused the bleeding. GROSS! I am sooo glad I didn't see that! Anyone that knows me knows that I do not like blood, needles, anything to do with a hospital. So, I fear I would have been passed out on the floor if I saw blood spewing from his eyes!

Needless to say after all that, Jared tested at 20/25 vision in both eyes today!!!! So, we were happy to hear that. Doctor said it should get even better and since Jared is sick, that might be part of the problem.

So, now here I am, curled up on the couch, watching tv and Jared is sleeping for the third time today. Poor guy is really sick and he can't even have fun and try out his new eyes. He does look real cute without his glasses. I almost forgot what he looked like without them cause it has been so long. I think once he gets well he will appreciate them, but right now he is enjoying watching the back of his eyelids. :)

Yep, I'm a copycat too

just call me a computer dork

So I made a "glog" too cause I wanna be just like Julie and be a computer dork! haha. Just kidding! It was actually kind of fun. Check it out! http://stacy1981.glogster.com/glog-210/

Yes, I am a chicken!

so I don't like to drive on ice, so what?

Ok, those of you who know me know that I am kind of a chicken when it comes to driving. I've had too many close calls, a few wrecks, a speeding ticket and I have absolutely horrible night vision, which makes driving a real challenge for me sometimes. I don't pass unless I am completely sure there are no cars coming, I follow the "five to seven miles over" rule for speeding and I try not to turn left onto busy roads very often. This cautious attitude annoys my fast driving, sharp turn taking friends (a-hem Marla) :) But, I do it anyway cause deep down I have this fear of being in a horrible car wreck. I know it is weird and everyone worries about it once in a while, but I can see it happen and it is the same way every time. It just really freaks me out.

Well, when it is icy or snowy, I become an even bigger chicken. I just get flat out scared and refuse to drive on it. This morning I was supposed to take Jared to work since he has his eye surgery and he cannot drive afterwards. Well, as I was getting ready this morning I could hear the ice hitting the window and my blood pressure began to rise. Not only did I have to take him to Pittsburg (20 miles away), but then I had to drive to Greenbush (30 miles from Pittsburg).

Needless to say, Jared ended up taking me to work and he wasn't happy about it. He said, "You are gonna have to learn how to drive on if you want to move up north". Well, not really cause I will just get him to do it or I will take public transportation. Problem solved!

Are we clear? Yes. ARE WE CLEAR? Crystal!

it's all about the lasik eye surgery

I really don't have too much to talk about today, but I wanted to let everyone know that Jared will be having Lasik Vision Correction tomorrow afternoon! We are very excited about the possibility of perfect vision and the cost savings of not having to buy glasses and contacts anymore. So, please keep Jared in your thoughts and hope for some Crystal Clear vision! He is super excited about it!

Good jobs are hard to come by

i'm gonna really miss this place i call work

So, I am in Topeka again for yet another training. Usually I moan and groan about how much I DON'T want to be here, but this training is different. It is different because I realize that it is one of my last ones with these great people I work with across the state of Kansas.

I am a lucky girl to have found such a great job where I get to work with amazing people everyday. Not only that, but I get to make a positive impact on youth in the southeast Kansas area! It is an awesome opportunity to make a difference, do something different everyday, gain valuable skills and meet new people.

Leaving these people, the youth and this job will be extremely difficult for me. Will I find a job that I love this much in Indiana? Will I find co-workers that are as fabulous as Misty, Amanda and Lisa? Will I work with people across the state that are as awesome as Brenda in Salina, and Janine in Olathe, Heather in Hays and Max in Topeka? These people are irreplaceable in my eyes. I have learned so much from them and now I can only hope that all that knowledge will come in handy when choosing a new employer, new co-workers and a new career, possibly.

I will just work my resume magic and pray that someone will want me, put up with me and love me as much as all these great people have for the past 3 years.

Heading back to Kansas

whew, what a trip

Jared and I are heading back to good ole Kansas tomorrow after our long weekend in South Bend. We had a great time and I think we are really going to like this place.

We found an apartment that is close to all the shopping and restaurants (which I will love that). It is kinda small, but it had 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, just like we wanted. It was also newer and updated a lot more than most of them we looked at. The complex is called Runaway Bay, but Jared kept calling it Mandalay Bay, haha. I wish we were in Vegas... at least it would be warmer. The weather really wasn't too bad while we were here. There was still snow on the ground when we got here but the sunshine yesterday and 50 degree temperatures today has melted most of it.

Last night we had the most delicious steaks at the Texas Land and Cattle Company Restaurant and then we ventured to downtown South Bend to RumRunners Dueling Piano Bar! It was a blast... I can sit and listen to the dueling pianos forever, I just love it. Of course, we got a little tired of the "You're not in Kansas anymore" lines from everyone. GET OVER IT PEOPLE... THAT MOVIE IS FREAKIN' OLD AND WE GET TIRED OF HEARING IT! :)

So, anyway, we had a great time and we started to feel like we were learning our way around pretty well. It helped that we had a GPS system that we borrowed from Hicks.

Here's a photo of one of the apartment buildings in our complex. This is looking from the clubhouse across the pond. Jared and I are pumped that they actually let you fish in that pond in the summer!

This is an upclose photo of the building we will be living in.

Completely wiped out

we made it to South Bend

Jared and I made the voyage from Girard to KC to Chicago to South Bend yesterday. The plane ride itself was relatively short, however its the drive to KC (2 1/2 hours) and the drive from Chicago to South Bend (1 1/2 hours) that killed us. (Plus, I haven't been feeling too good for a while now. I keep taking meds for sinuses, but it is not helping.) We were so tired I bet the people at Olive Garden thought we were a bunch or hoodlums in our windpants and sweatshirts! It was really difficult for us to get excited about ANYTHING last night. We passed by the Notre Dame campus and we both said, "well there it is" with little or no emotion. Everything was covered with snow also, so it was just hard to see and take everything in.

After a good night's sleep and a hot shower, we are slowly regaining our momentum! We will be scoping out apartments today, so that will be exciting. We saw a few of them last night as we were driving around and they looked promising. And it helped that a few of them were right by the Old Navy and Kohls... at least it MY eyes that's a great location.

Once we find an apartment, we will have a nice dinner tonight (our belated Valentine's Dinner) and then hopefully find that Karaoke bar that I found online last week! haha Wish us luck!

Happy V-Day everyone!

so busy, i forgot all about valentines day

Can you believe it? Stacy Birk, the girl who LOVES Valentines Day, forgot all about it this year. Can you blame a girl though? We've been so busy with preparing for this huge move that all my life has consisted of is houses, apartments, resumes, airplane tickets and rental cars!

Of course the one year that I forget and don't have time to get Jared a card, he gets one for me and puts it in my car for me to find this morning. Super sweet... it played a Tim McGraw song (his Greatest Hits CD was all we listened to the first 6 months we dated). But it made me feel like the worst wife in the world, haha. Especially since this is the first v-day since we got married.

I may have to slip into Wal-Mart on my way to a meeting later and try to find one for him. :) I'll let you know how it turns out!

On another subject, this will probably be my last post for a little bit, unless I get a wild hair and take my computer to Indiana. We are leaving for South Bend tomorrow and we will be back on Monday (then I will go straight to freakin' Topeka for a training, YUCK). It should be fun and I will let everyone know all about it when we get back.

Have a great Valentines Day and weekend everyone!!!

WOW, that was fast!

all I've heard from Jared today is "I told you so"

WE HAD AN OFFER ON OUR HOUSE TODAY!

It was the first person to look at it and it has only been on the market for about 5 days! It is contingent on her house selling, but its a great offer, so we will wait it out and see! We are excited and a little overwhelmed that it happened so fast. We just hope it all works out. Keep your fingers crossed!

Happy Hump Day

just a simple, little blog

Not much to say today other than we have our first people looking at our house today! YAY! It has been on the market for about 4 days, so I thought it was great to have lookers already! Anyway, I took the advice of some fellor bloggers and checked out two photography websites, onexposure.net and flicker.com (which I have used flickr before). I found some cool photos and just thought I would share a few that struck my fancy. Have a wonderful day everyone and stay warm!

Brrrrrr... it's gonna be cold

my oh my, it has been cold in Chicago

I watch the weather every morning and groan about the windy, frigid, snowy conditions that have plaqued Chicago and the Indiana. Jared and I have planned a trip to South Bend this weekend to check it out, look for apartments and just learn about the place that we will soon call home. I am excited about this trip, but watching the weather just makes me dread it. However, I have been doing a little research on the South Bend area and they do have 3 cab companies and a bus service, so I figure I will be using those means to get to work on icy or snowy days, haha.

Anyway, I have found some fun things for Jared and I to do on our trip up north. Of course, we will have to go visit the College Football Hall of Fame! I am actually excited about this... I think it will be kinda neat. We also hope to go walk around the Notre Dame campus, but that will depend on the weather. I found an awesome place that does Karaoke on Friday, Satuday and Sunday nights, so they will get to hear my rendition of Queen's "Bohemian Rapsody" before I even move there, haha. Of course there is a lot of shopping and nice restaurants, so we should have time to do that as well. But our main mission is to find an apartment. We found one online that sounds great for us. I was sold on the indoor pool, tanning bed and fitness center!

I also hope I have time to stop by the Alcohol and Addictions Resource Center (AARC) in South Bend. I have talked with the Executive Director and the Prevention Specialist over e-mail about jobs in prevention. They are more of a treatment center, so there wouldn't be a job for me there, but they have agreed to meet with me and talk to me about the area and different opportunities for employment. That really excites me! I have also talked over e-mail with the director of the Afternoons R.O.C.K. after school program. She said there may be an opportunity for me since I am a Certified Prevention Professional now. However, it would be part-time. So, I feel good that I have at least made some contacts. I think my networking skills will come in handy!

Ok, enough babbling for now! Here's the picture I was trying to download yesterday from our weekend with Marla and Jeremy. ENJOY!

We go together....

like ram-a-lam-a-lama ka-ding-ga-dee-ding-de-dong

I felt a lot like Frenchy at the very end of Grease this weekend, "Oh, look, the gang's back together!" And that we were!!!!

Marla and Jeremy came to good ole' Kansas this weekend to pack up Marla's house and move everything down to Aiken. Not only were they here, but Adam and Brandi came to town from Wichita and everyone met up at Chatter's Friday night to celebrate Marla's birthday.

Everyone was there from the ole' PSU gang, to my new Girard friends, to the Burlington Crew, the Greenbush girls and my best girl Sherry that I grew up with in El Dorado. I couldn't have asked for more, except maybe Shawna, Chet and Julie and Brian and Jessica, Holly and all my Wichita gals... to name a few! haha. Jared had the time of his life with Adam and Jeremy. These guys have been best friend since they were crawling, so he just loves hanging out with them and I know he will really miss being able to see them, and the rest of his Burlington Boys.

As I grow up and get older, these times when you can get everyone together are so much more meaningful. Especially now, with Indiana just months away, I want to spend as much time as I can with my wonderful family and friends. I really hope I get that chance.

I will post some photos of our weekend later... right now it keeps messing up when I try to do it, stupid internet. :)

House for Sale!!!!

it's ready, the sign should be in the yard today

The house is finally on the market... I filled out the paperwork yesterday! YAY! Here are some photos of the front of the house, the living room and the bathroom! If you know anyone who is interested... send them my way! haha.

Now THAT'S a kitchen!

i think this will be the selling point of the house

Last night Jared and I finished up the kitchen and shampooed all the carpets. Man, that was gross. Isn't it funny how we get some kind of feeling of accomplishment when we see all that yucky, dirty water being sucked up off the carpet. It looks so much better and smells better too. Jada couldn't quite figure it all out. She walked on the carpet kinda weird for a while, haha.

Jared also got all the caulk scraped off the bathtub and used the Clorox on some areas to get it cleaned up. It already looks so much better and I can't wait until he puts the new caulk on tonight and I can get the bathroom all cleaned up! We still have a few things to take to storage, but this darn weather makes it kinda hard.

Here's some photos of the kitchen. I will hopefully be able to post some of the bathroom, living room and the outside soon... weather permitting.

Almost ready!

just a few more things to do before this puppy goes on the market

Jared and I have been working hard for 3 weeks to get our little house ready for sale. I am soooo particular about everything so it is no wonder it has taken so long. We started by de-cluttering everything, which was quite a chore. It's bad enough that I had a ton of crap, but when we moved Jared in last year it just added to the mess. Although we had a lot of stuff, we kept a tidy little house. But boy does it look better once you get rid of all that stuff.

All we have left to do is re-caulk around the bathtub and clean the entire bathroom from top to bottom. We also need to shampoo all the carpets (which shouldn't take long since the entire house is only 850 square feet, haha) and I need to pick up the porch and the front yard a little before the realtor takes pictures.

Here are some pictures of what I have completed so far. I don't have a wide-angle camera so the pictures are a little crazy:

(This is the back bedroom. It is a very small room, and for those of you who have been to our house, this is what I used as my closet :). We took down the clothes rack, touched up the paint and got everything outta there. It looks kinda bare, but much better than it did)

(This is the front guest bedroom. This room was the catch-all room and it was perfect for that. We cleaned it up and got everything out of the way. I think it looks pretty good!)

(This is our bedroom. It is a small room, but cozy and it is right in the middle of the house and close to the bathroom, haha. There is no closet in this room which actually makes it easier to fit furniture in.)


There you have it!!!! I will have pictures of the kitchen (the one my dad so beautifully remodeled for me two years ago) the living room, the bathroom and the front of the house very soon! We hope to finish everything up tonight! YAY!!!! Then I can finally relax a little :)

Birthdays with the Birks

another birthday for the father in law

Jared and I went to Yates Center Friday night to celebrate his dad's birthday with the whole Birk clan. It was a really good time and we rode up there with his Uncle Dave and Aunt Debbie, which was great because we never get to see them... even though they live in Fort Scott. Here is a picture of the Birthday boy about to blow out his candle.


Here is the whole gang at Smokey Bens in Yates Center! Happy Birthday Alan!