June and beginning of July

Excuse the small caps on some of my sentences.  I am using Kirks computer and it does not do caps on some letters.

A week after Kirk arrived we had some problems and had to return home.  Too much to go in to now and not sure that I really want to relive it at this time.  maybe sometime in the future.  Lets just say it was an eye opener for us both and we have some tough times ahead of us now.  I was returned to my home office and will soon be joining the unemployment line, along with the millions of others across this country. 

even with everything that has happened and what we are experiencing now, we are in high spirits.  while it is stressful, we are both trying to be very positive and know that the future hold some amazing things for us.  I told Kirk before that we we can just get through this together then we know we will be stronger together and last a lifetime.  So far that has held true and we become closer each day.  I did not think that was possible as we were already meant to be together, but it is.  what a wonderful feeling.  Also to have someone stick by me in this turmoil and support me - well....that just speaks volumes of his love for me - and my love for him.

So now we are back in Houston for a bit.  we are still planning our wedding since we already have it paid for, but the plans seem to change on a daily basis.  we can't get a refund so we are going to go for it, but as cheaply as possible.  Later on in life we will have what we need and be able to travel then.  The wedding went from Greece to New York.  we would still love to have it in NY but funds are limited and we would not be able to do all the things we want to there.  Now it is looking like a possible cruise out of Galveston and then up to Pennsylvania to meet his family.  Here it is almost a year since we started dating again and I have not even met his family.  Seems strange to have not had the pleasure of meeting them before i make them my family for life.  But I guess that does not matter since Kirk is the most important part of my life.  I know that I will love them and hope that they love me too.

Kirk gave up everything for me to come to Dubai.  Now it is my turn to return the favor.  Our goal is let him find his dream job and I will go with him wherever that takes us.  If he is able to get a job overseas, then I have my choice of where to live in the US.  If he gets a job in the States, then I will join him there.  my career is very general so I am able to get a job anywhere, while his is very specialized.  we need to go where his work takes us.  And I think it is time for me to change my career and finally do something that makes me happy.  Time to start soul searching.  Someday, our plans are to buy a piece of property and raise animals.  we talk about having a kennel and also a horse boarding stables.  we also want a few cattle - but we have mixed ideas on that.  I want pets, he wants beef - if you get my drift.  right now it is a dream that will hopefully come true in the not so far future.  we are playing the lotto now ; )

As far as a stable place to live, well that has yet to be seen.  we are staying at one of his friends houses right now but that will end in less than a week.   It is too unstable here and not a good environment for us.  And unfortunately it is one of those times when you learn who yours friends really are.  we have had a few offers from family to help get us back on our feet.  Looks like within a month we will be taking someone up on that offer.  For now, we have a friend that has offered us a house to stay in for free.  It is empty and on the market but has not sold.  He believes it has a better chance of selling if there is someone living in it.  Of course we would pay the utilities.  It would also give us time to put everything large that we still own here up for sale.  Our new car - which I will tell you about next - does not have a tow hitch and it would be too hard on the transmission to haul anything across country.  we have a 4 year old fridge, brand new washer and dryer, chemistry table, new pool table, etc.  Craigslist here we come!

we have been back a week exactly yesterday.  Our first goal was to buy a used car so that we were not relying on anyone to tote us around.  After 3 days of searching we were about to give up and buy the lemon that seemed to be the best deal out of everything we saw.  I can't believe how people trash their vehicles around here and how much they want for them.  we were starting to think that we would have to finance a newer vehicle.  Just before we put in an offer for a 2000 Jeep Laredo that was beat to heck, we decided to look at just one more Jeep.  we were both so discouraged by this time, it couldn't hurt to just take another hour to look at another pile of junk.  The minute we saw the 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport we knew we had made the right choice to wait and before even test driving it we were ready to call the other dealership and tell them no thanks.  It is hunter green and in very good shape with 104,000 miles on it.  The interior was so clean and in great shape - it looked almost brand new inside.  The outside has a few dings and scratches, but that is to be expected of a 10 year old car.  It drives great too!  even has a brand new a/c unit.

Driving it home though, the check engine light came on.  we are not worried about it but before we make any long hauls across the country we are going to take it to have the engine fully checked and also have the tires replaced.  It will need a little tlc, but both of us take really good care of our vehicles so we don't mind.  we just want something that we can rely on and know that it will get us where we want to go.  we are both very comfortable with our first large purchase together....and we were able to get a great deal on it with cash down and no payments.

Oh - yesterday we found out that our hunter green Jeep used to be red!  A few scratches on the front grill revealed her true color!

I have some pictures from our last day in Dubai that I will put up later. 

This blog now will become our blog for all of the adventures to come...including all the trials of being unemployed.