New Year, New Decade, New Goals

Two Thousand Ten.

The answer to: "What do I want to do?" is lingering, and not just what do I want to do this year, but this is the beginning of an entirely new decade. Who do I want to become as I enjoy my twenties and start my thirties. But enough about age and time, lets talk goals, dreams, aspirations and possibilities!

Topics of interest:

• Travel
• School/Career
• Personal - "Jonathan"
  

Travel
Where do I want to travel to? How often do I want to travel?

At this point in my life, no matter where I choose to go, it's PERFECT because I really have not gone out much. With that said I would love to bullet some points of interest, some even considered part of the new seven wonders.

• The Great Wall of China, China
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Chichen Itza, Mexico
• The Roman Colosseum, Italy
• Taj Majal, India
• Visit Pyramids and ride Camels, Egypt
• Empire State Building, Time Square, Niagara Falls, Statute of Liberty,New York
• Japan, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Greece, Spain, France, Bermuda, Bahamas and a handful more, with JONATHAN!

School
How long do I want to work before I apply to grad school? What kind of graduate degree/s do I want to pursue?

I just graduated from the number one public university in the country this past year and I already want to start thinking about grad school, especially if I want to get a jump start on my career before we start a family. Jonathan and I have discussed going to school at the same time, going to school at different times and we have tried to think of the possibilities so that we still have income coming in and have a place to live. If anything I would probably think that he would go first or that we would go together. He's thinking apply this year to start in 2011, I'm thinking of starting in 2012 because I would love to be married and have a home by the time I go back to school.

As of last year I wanted to pursue a JD/MBA program, right now I'm just thinking MBA, but Jonathan also mentioned going back to school and getting an MA in Education. Getting the MA in education wouldn't be a bad idea for a couple of reasons, when I have a family I might want to go into teaching since the hours would be more family-friendly and I would have vacation around the same time as my kids, but do I want to teach high school? Community College? I DON'T KNOW. I hope to grasp a better idea as time continues. But I'm definitely going back to school. I MISS SCHOOL!!!

Personal
How much money do I want to save to buy a house? How much money do I need to save to have the wedding of my dreams?

I would of course need to save some money every year to be able to travel to every place I named above. Regarding a house and a wedding, Jonathan and I have had a number of conversations on both topics and we are confident we can both save enough to have a nice house and a fun and memorable wedding. Regarding the wedding, we have split ideas on number of guests and venues, but I still don't have a ring so these things still have time.

I really wanted to buy a house this year to qualify for the $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers but family comes first and if my parents need my help here, I will save my money and buy a home later.

So by the end of this decade, you will see Nancy with at least one graduate degree, with lots of pictures and stories from all the places she visited, she will most likely be married and have a house or two.

First thing to check off : Costa Rica Trip in March 2010!

10 Most Memorable Events from 2009

Revised

1. My Graduation in May
2. Grandpa's Death in February
3. Grandma's Death in December
4. Heart Surgery after my 22nd birthday
5. First family vacation in over a decade
   
6. Obama became the first black president
7. Gay marriage was banned
8. Got my first car in March
9. Started my career in August
10. The Swine Flu N1H1 Influenza started, killed and threatened thousands
    

Remodeling My Room Pt 2

On Thursday night my parents and I went on a little field trip to Nader's La Popular just to look at bed frames and I ended up buying one! It caught my eye right when we walked in. It is a simple dark wood queen headboard. My dad built and fixed the bed frame Friday night and I got to sleep on my new bed when I got home from work that night.

Things left to do:
Paint the room
Sand the night stand and stain it to match bed frame
Buy big frames
Buy alternative down comforter
Buy duvet

We'll see how money flows and how quickly I can get this done.

Jon's Poem

"I insist my love is endless
and when we kiss
we experience bliss"

Jonathan the FSO

Yesterday night Jon came over to spend the night and as he was kissing my neck I began to cry. Tuesday was Jon's last training session and today is his graduation. As proud as I am of him for getting placed as a Financial Services Officer and everyone fighting to have him at their branch, I am also very sad.

Because he had training every week or every other week in LA, I was able to at least see him then. But now that he is placed and the training is over, I don't know that I am going to get to see him that often. Especially with my crazy schedule and his branches wanting him to work on Saturdays. Arrrrggg

What can I do? I don't know how many weekends I'll have off and if he'll be off those same weekends as well. I'm just really bummed at the way 2009 is ending. Things are not happening the way I wanted them to end, but I guess everything happens for a reason - I just have to wait and see what that reason is. As for now, today is my only day off this week and I won't be off again until next Thursday. I can't wait for the holidays to be over.

P.S. At least we'll be able to spend part of Christmas together.

Remodeling My Room

Since Jonathan and I decided to live at home with our parents for another year, we decided to go ahead and buy what we wanted/needed to be comfortable in our "room". I want to paint my room and buy a queen size bed, Jon wants a new 42"+ TV.

On Saturday my mom found a mattress factory in the pennysaver and my parents went to go look at it. Their prices and quality were amazing. I ended up ordering a custom made queen, double sided, firm, orthopedic mattress with 25 years of warranty for only $330. The place looks like a hole in a wall place in L.A. but it is 100% legit. I think they may even be a distributor to furniture stores and department stores. For anyone looking for a mattress, the place is called: Dream and Rest Mattress, it's at 5901 S. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles Ca. 90044.

Now I'm in the process of looking for a headboard. My dad says there are a lot of places in L.A. where they make furniture and we might even be able to custom order one if we don't find something I like. Hopefully we're able to find something soon, I really want a bigger bed soon. My dad is going to build the bed since we want to keep the rolling bed underneath my bed.

I want a headboard similar to this one, I already have my big pillows, I need to buy an alt down comforter, a duvet, bed skirts, sheets, pillow cases, etc... I pretty much still need everything, except the mattress!

Good and Bad news

I feel like I'm slowly making progress at work. I have been there three weeks and I feel like I have been there forever. Every day I tackle something new, something physical, so many things unexpected, it's like everyday is a new a week.. or even a new month. At least I don't feel as overwhelmed as I did toward the beginning of last week. I have gotten organized, I am beginning to meet some goals, I've been making headway with staffing, attendance, and communication with my team.

When good things happen, there is always that little something that makes you still worry. Well this week it wasn't something little, it was something big. My dad found out his company is moving to Arizona and he, and all my uncles and cousins who work there are losing their jobs of 15, 20, even 30 years, within months. My parents are beginning to plan, cut back, and hold off on things. It was a little depressing because it's the holidays and they just spent so much money on Angel's and Evey's Christmas presents on Black Friday, and my dad finds this out last Monday (The Monday after Thanksgiving). I am so thankful to God that it is "just" that. When my mom started the conversation on Monday night, she scared me, needless to say that I am very thankful that both of my parents are healthy, that my brother and sister are healthy and that my boyfriend and his family are healthy. There are just so many new cancer and N1H1 cases everyday that it is becoming scary.

The economy is wearing a lot of industries out, the housing market is still low, and even though it is a good time for us to buy a home, we're going to have to wait. The economy needs to improve, please improve. I hope my dad finds a job soon. They were really worried about health insurance and Angel. I was shocked that I didn't panic or worry as much as I would have when my mom told me, I guess in part I was a little relieved to hear my parents were healthy and I was relieved because it's something I can definitely help with.

I love you papi. I'm sorry your job is ending but we are all here for you and we will all support you and take care of you!