Oregon Jamboree

The Oregon Jamboree is a country music festival that is held at the end of July/beginning of August. It is run entirely by volunteers who do everything from help the band, to pick up trash, to serve beer and break up fights. This is my second year volunteering at the beer garden - last year I took orders, this year I poured. It was pretty fun! And I got Alex to join me, though I can't speak for how much fun he had.

Big acts: Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert

I got to see a little bit of both their shows. They were excellent in concert, as well as most everyone else (save Julianne Hough - blah!).

So, after my shift at the garden, I run out to catch the last part of Keith Urban's show. I'd been singing along all night. I was pumped. I so run up as far as I can before I hit a sea of chairs. They yell at me, telling me I can't stand in the walk way, so I hop over the rope. I start recording...



Then they want to kick me out. And here's why...



It was freaking amazing. Doesn't it look like I touched Keith Urban's.. something! I don't know what it was! Oh, I tell you.. I was totally pumped after that... Could not have beat that. Not even front row seats.

The next morning, we went to breakfast.

On the way, we found the Sweet Potato Queens

Issac's SIDE of Pancakes.

And then Sunday, Miranda Lambert played. I was also very excited about this performance, and was preparing myself to meet her should she enter the beer garden during the volunteer party.

And after she was done, and everyone was clearing out, we were reminded of some fine folk we served this weekend. "Want me? Stand in Line." And "Mr. Right. Mr. All Night."

"Want me? Stand in line."

"Mr. Right. Mr. All Night."

So, another fun year at the Jamboree. Not as fun as last year - people just weren't as crazy! Next year though, I think we'll take a break from diving in the Caribbean to come up and serve the good people of Sweet Home again.

so we're leaving after all

Well, July totally flew by!

Since the last post, we've obviously had our anniversary. We went to Spirit Mountain Casino to have a nice buffet dinner and spend our money on slot machines and the tables. I will just say this for the record, I am a much better gambler than Alex. I lost no money, maybe even made some. Alex, on the other hand, should probably stay away from the blackjack tables. Just sayin'. It was really fun though. And hey, I think it's really the most creative thing for our "paper anniversary".


I also found a really sweet job opportunity when I was wondering around Craigslist late at night. The post was for a couple teaching positions at this school in Honduras. I decided, what the heck, since it didn't look like the Peace Corps is going to be an option for us in the near future. The lady, who we come to find out is Hailey, a twenty-something who went to Honduras for this same position in 2008-2009 school year, emails us back and says that she thinks we'd be a good match, etc. We are obviously stoked, and we're like, yes we want to do it! She asked us many times if we had any questions, but we couldn't really come up with any at the time.

Leave it to dad to bring me right back to reality. He starts asking the tough questions, like how much money are we going to be making, how do you know it's not a scam, do you need a visa, are they going to send you more information, is there any training, is there any guarantee that you will actually have a job when you get there? Well, shoot, I have no idea!! So, we call back and get our answers.
-Private school in San Marcos, Ocotepeque, Honduras called Green Valley Elementary
-We'll each be making about $300 US Dollars a month, which Hailey assures is more than enough to live on
-We will be creating our own lessons for kids from kindergarten to second or third grade, is our understanding, but we'll know more when we actually get there
-We don't need visas, though we can get them if we want; really, we just need to leave the country for a couple of days every 3 months
-We can defer Alex's loans due to financial hardship when we get there

I know it's not a lot of information, but we feel good about it. They're not asking us for any money. The worst that would really happen is that we get there and we don't have a job and have to come back home. Well, not the WORST, but, you know.
It sounds like we have a couple of people planning on visiting us already. Juan Carlos, our wedding photographer, has family in our town and says he will be stopping by in September. Tio Ruben said he will try to make it down sometime. And English said he will bring his girlfriend down around Valentine's Day. So, it doesn't sound like we'll be lonely!

So, thus far, we've sold the car, taken care of all the loans, got my passport, paid our bills, booked our flights and hotels. Now, we just need to pack up all of our stuff and put it somewhere. But the real challenge is going to be deciding what to bring, and trying to fit it all into one bag each. That ought to be an adventure!

We will have internet down there, though it may be in the form of an internet cafe. I will do my best to keep this blog updated, at least once a month. And we'll definitely return e-mails.

Oh yeah, departure date is August 22,2010. We leave Florida at 11pm.

Anniversary

Can you believe it has been a year since we all got together and had a wedding day?

In two days, it will be our anniversary. Married for one year.

There have been some things that have changed dramatically, some that have stayed the same, and some that we are trying our best to change ourselves. I'm not sure anyone does, but I didn't realize when I was preparing for our wedding day how hard it was going to be for us. I assumed it would be difficult; everyone says it is. I didn't think we would struggle nearly everyday, though.

I have been telling everyone this month that I think we're doing really well for all of the traumatic events we have been through this year. Anyone in our position would have a difficult time on their own, much less trying to make a new marriage last. I believe this in my brain. But after the words come out, I don't feel it in my heart. I think this happens because I'm always pushing for each of us to be better and, for us to be better as a couple, I don't want to put the blame on anyone, or anything, but ourselves.
And I think I also just know that it isn't all related to the things we've experienced; some of it has to do with our personal problems that become the other's problems. I think this is the hardest thing about marriage. Things will come up that have nothing to do with you, but everything to do with that person's past, insecurities, or any other personal bull, and you have to somehow deal with it. Sometimes it will be to take a passive approach and allow that person to work through it on their own. Or, they may ask for help, or you may offer it. And, it is the time, effort, pain, irritation, and impatience that wears on your relationship and causes you to wonder if you can even help or want to deal with the situation anymore.
This is the hard part. At least for me - I won't speak for both of us. And, I must clarify, this is not necessarily about me dealing with his issues. This is also relates to how I deal with my own issues and how it wears on me, and thus the relationship.
I hope, and I think it probably does, this relates to all marriages and I'm not just speaking in general terms for nothing. Mostly, I wrote this because I have been seeing and hearing a lot of lovely stories about how everyone's marriages are so perfect, they love each other so much, they are having a baby, they are buying a new house, etc. Well, I think that's great, and I am envious, but I think it's important to share about the hard times, too. Not everyone's life is peaches and sunshine and cute, giggling babies. Sometimes life sucks and sometimes marriage is really hard. That's where we're at, and I just want others to know that they're not alone in the boat. It's not so much a misery loves company thing as it is wanting to feel normal in a time when those around you seem to be doing well and you're not having such a great week, month, year, etc. That's all.

Peace Corps Update:
I received an email earlier this week letting me know that my "tool kit" had been updated. This is really just a webpage that lets you know what you have turned in, what has cleared, what hasn't, and your holds. So, this update was to let me know that I have a medical hold, which is normal, because my medical papers are under review. I also have a financial hold because I have a loan on my car, which I will have to sell in order to have the hold cleared. I will not be doing this until I get an invitation and accept the challenge.
Alex and I have not decided if we will accept an invitation if it comes for the August depature or not. I mean, for a while it was "I don't know if we will"... and then it was "We're definitely not going to go in August". But, we are really comin up on some hard times (financially) here and if we can't find full time jobs, I don't see another option. And no, moving back in with the parentals is not an option.


Back to life.
We're not entirely sure what we're going to be doing to celebrate our anniversary. We've gone through a host of ideas from going to Vegas (finally!) to Seattle, to just dinner, to the casino for the buffet and gambling. I think that the casino would be the most fun, and the chance to win some money is an exciting idea. But, with Alex's hours being cut 30% this week, I feel like it's a bad idea as we should save our money so we don't die (i.e. starve, fall behind of any bills, etc). Though, we hardly ever go out, and I feel like we need to do something fun, just the two of us.
Also in the works: trip to idaho, seattle, vegas, roatan. these things will happen, though I have no idea when. Idaho is in July for sure. All others are up in the air.
Maybe we'll win some money at the casino... dreams...

Now, back to reality: work. but first some food and a shower.