It’s a Numbers Game

Hubs decided to apply for SLU law school a few months before the application was due.

I was so proud of him – he spent so much time researching the programs and loans and everything law-school related. He came up with spreadsheets and time tables and calendars. He was so ready!

Although applications were accepted beginning in September, he was still working on getting everything together in the package. There was a lot of paperwork, but more importantly he was working on securing recommendations.

Once we knew that he had some references to write him a letter, hubs sent in his application and then we waited.

It seemed to take forever.

Literally, we only waited a month or two – even now, it’s giving me a stomach ache to even think about the time we spent not knowing what our future would hold.

Every day, hubs would check the mail for the favorable 8x10 mailing package or the dreaded little envelope. For weeks, there was nothing!

Then one day, hubs got the mail that day and lo and behold, an envelope from SLU Admissions! A huge envelope that was heavy and that probably meant good news! However, the saga was not over…

I love sales

Instead of driving all the way out to St. Charles this morning for Costco, we decided to hit up Old Navy on the way home from our errands. Costco always has great deals on clothes, and we needed some new stuff for our trip to Disney next week (less than 8 days ‘til we’re in the land of the Big Mouse!).

Old Navy has the BEST deals this week – until tomorrow, I’m pretty sure.

Hubs got a pair of reversible shorts – blue plaid and solid blue – for $30. Ok, so those weren’t on sale. But if you think about it, reversible shorts means you get at least two outfits out of it. So really, they were $15/outfit. I think that’s pretty neat!

I also convinced him to pick up a pink polo – it just looks so preppy! I love it. He got another polo, too, to round out the outfit with the plaid shorts. Those shirts were only $10/each. How can you beat that?

I picked up two flip flops for $5 and two t-shirts for $5/each. I love sales!

The funny thing is, I found a bunch of summer clothes when I cleaned up the master bedroom. That should teach me to go shopping before figuring out what I need.

Getting into law school was easy… the hard part is paying for it*

I have no experience with loans.

There, I admitted it to the world.

But seriously, my parents were able to gift me my college education with no doubt. Four years in a private Catholic university and I was sent out into the real world with no thought as to how most of the rest of the world got thru the college experience.

BOY. Was I in for a surprise.

When Mike told me that he wanted to go back to law school, I was really nervous but still excited. He had made a decision – the first big one of our marriage – and I was going to be supportive.

But I had absolutely no idea how we were going to pay for it.  In fact, I still really don’t have a clue.

That’s where a whole bunch of research comes in. I hope to figure it all out and send hubs to school without going into the poor house! It’s gonna take a lot of work… but he’s worth it. :)

*This blog title is being posted under protest by the husband. Mike CLAIMS that it’s a bunch of hooey – he said it was actually hard to study for the LSAT, sit thru a four hour test, and then wait endlessly for the result. I can’t even remember my last test. WHATEVER.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Since I graduated from college in 2006, I’ve been in four productions for local theatrical companies.

I started out with a small Illinois company that played out of a winery. That was a world premiere of a new play. I actually really enjoy new plays because there is no other performance to look to – you really have to dig into the material and figure out what the playwright wants to know in order to figure out the character.

I did another world premiere for a  professional company, First Run Theatre. They exclusively produce new shows to give the playwrights a chance to see their show live! That was the first time I got paid to act. What an amazing concept! Cashing that check was amazing. :)

So last weekend I closed my latest show, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at a community theatre. I played Mrs. Beaver!

I auditioned in mid-April and when I left the theatre at the end of the night, I knew I had bagged the part. I went there specifically to read for the White Witch but something told me to read for another part. There’s always a reason!

This is community theatre, so everyone pitches in on every part of the production. Even though I was an actress in the show, I decided to volunteer myself and hubs to help build the set and hang the lights. We both have experience and thought it sounded like fun!

So a few weeks later, we moved into the theatre and added costume and lights. And then it actually becomes a production. It’s an awesome experience.

That’s Mr. and Mrs. Beaver in full costume and make up onstage. So much fun!

Acting Adult – A Learning Curve

This whole crazy adventure began in college. That’s when I realized I wasn’t going to be a kid all my life. I was going to have to grow up, get married, and get a job! I wanted a lot out of my life and career, but I wasn’t quite sure what it was. Acting, events, cruise director, there were a ton of options.

I met this kid the first weekend of school -

This was our first picture as a couple.  I ignored him for a few years before giving him a date our senior year. It stuck and we’ve been together almost four years now, and married for two of them.

We met while I was an events planner in college and studying to be an actress. I was in a few shows, including My Fair Lady:

See the lady in red and black on the far left? That’s me!  That’s the only non-singing part in the musical. Did I mention I’m a non-singing actor?

Here’s a better one -

Gotta love those costumes. That might be one of my favorite parts of acting. :)

So after my college career, it was a wedding -

A honeymoon in Paris -

And planning events in the real world.

Two years later and here we are. I hope to show off my adventures – in the theatre and this real world in my medium-sized Midwestern city.