The Inglorious Mac-Munsons...PLUS 1!!!

Oooo, baby, baby! ... A Story of Gestation

2011-11-08T17:15:00.007-06:00

Many of you have probably been informed, months ago about changes and developments in the land of Munson. But in case you have not, let me update you on the most important of changes.

Yes, in December of 2010, JR and I moved to Salt Lake City for Jr's work. Because we weren't very rich and didn't know the area all that well, we decided it would be best to move into a cheap (but not scary) place to save money and buy time to look for a more permanent residence. A basement apartment in the heart of Sugarhouse seemed like the perfect fit...for now.
In March of 2011, Adriane started working full time at a Career College downtown (near JR's work). It was the best of jobs and the worst of jobs all at the same time, but she loved the rush and interesting visitors she encountered daily!
In June of 2011, with the help of their all powerful realtor and Aunt Sally, JR and Adri bought a lovely little house on the edge of Cottonwood Heights. It had everything they needed, including a cute big backyard for their doggy to play in. And all this for just about what they were paying for their basement apartment and sardine can of an apartment in San Diego. Woah! Amazing.

A few weeks into the process of buying this lovely little starter home, Adriane wasn't feeling so well. So she went to her Dr. for a check up. This checkup revealed that she had an alien substance growing in her belly! Yep. You guessed it. She was 5 weeks pregnant! Holy fatted calf! We were told we couldn't have kids at all. Guess those Texas Dr's don't know everything!

As the months wore on, the move from Sugarhouse to Cottonwood Heights. We had a bit of help, but JR had to do most of the work as Adriane tried not to throw up on everyone!

Summer came and past, and the Salt Lake City Munsons slowly, but surely moved into their new house. They were blessed with a few breaks and visits from their favorite parents and parent in laws. But it was mostly hard work for the couple: Settling into a new house, working full time, entertaining themselves and a crazy mutt and pretending to be adults!

Work became more and more difficult for the baby incubator (Adriane), and she got sicker and more exhausted with each day. Finally, she got sick of visiting multiple medical specialists, falling asleep at work, crying over spilled milk and throwing her guts up at work. So with the encouragement of her OBGYN, Adriane sadly resigned from her job in October 2011.

It was a big change, but so nice to be able to sleep the 16 to 20 hours her and her stubborn little fetus' body craved! Now that she has time to rest and nest at home, Adriane is much less violently pregnant!

Actually, I'm kind of enjoying this whole growing another human. We have found out that we are having a baby girl and are convinced that she will have huge eyes, blonde curly hair and cute chubby cheeks. All I know is that she is going to be a firecracker with endless energy! She is reminding me of this with her utero gymnastics as I type.

We've been getting the house ready for the transition. There are so many things that you need to purchase and get ready for another life form. Like what color the nursery should be, what clothing she will need and (JR's focus) what Star Wars memorabilia she will have in her crib.

With that said, I leave you with this: we will try to be much better about updating our friends and foes that read this blog with baby Munson information and fun, pointless facts about our lives as pretend Adults.

Thank you for your time and attention. We (JR, Adri, Bea Bea and Baby Munson) are grateful for your concern and the time you've wasted on us!

Necessary Updates....Oh So Necessary

2011-06-22T19:17:00.006-05:00

Wow! So I see we've been major slackers as far as the blogging goes. We have pretty good excuses this time. Jeez! Since the last blog we've posted, the following has occurred in the land of the Munsons....

In late November, early December of 2010, we moved from McAllen, Texas to a little basement apartment in Sugarhouse (Salt Lake City, Utah).
On December 3, 2010: my brother Nat got married to the most amazing woman in the world! Her name is Ayumi & they met in Paris. They're pretty much the most amazing couple I've ever met.
Meanwhile, JR has been working with his awesome new job in a secret office in SLC. He loves it!
In March of 2011, I got a job with an awesome career college in downtown SLC. It's the first REAL job I've had since I graduated college in 2008.
In May/June 2011, we worked with my Aunt Sally and bought a house!!! It's a cute little 4 bedroom split level in Cottonwood! Bea Bea will love it!
And last but not least, on June 9, 2011....we found out that we are PREGNANT! Baby is due Feb. 3, 2011.

Holy macral! But that's the update. More to follow soon. Have to move now!

"FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!"

2010-10-20T12:11:00.007-05:00

Moving can be a very boring, tedious process. Not much mental stimulation, just organizing and trying to see how much you can stuff into one box or another.

Being that I naturally day dream, I tend to let my mind wander as much as it pleases. Most of the time I end up thinking about food, or where I would like to eat this food? I haven't always been so obsessed with food. I liked it, and I ate it. But I didn't fantasize about the food I was craving on a constant basis. "Why would you care so much, Adri?" you might ask. Well, in the Spring of 2008, I was ultimately (but questionably) diagnosed with GERD (Gastroesophogael Reflux Disease), Lactose Intolerance and severe allergies to Strawberries. Not that you need to know my medical history. This just means that there are a whole lot of foods that I can't eat. The long list of things I CAN NOT CONSUME include (but are not limited to):

Tomatoes
Fried or Greasy Food
Chocolate
Mint
Citrus
Strawberries
Dairy Products ( I can have a little if I take a Lactose pill or 2)
Carbonated drinks (especially Colas)
Caffeine (no big deal)
Alcohol (even less of a big deal to avoid)
Spicy foods (which I've always hated to begin with)

Maybe it doesn't sound like a lot of food to avoid, but one or all of these delectables are ingredients in most of the food I know and love. Sometimes I crave the food I can't have so intensely that I make JR get whatever I want to eat and I take as many bites as I can before I start to feel sick! My lovely human trash can of a husband simply eats what I can't finish (that, my dears, is true love)!

I'd have to compare my relationship with food to a tumultuous (even abusive) relationship.... you know it's bad for you, but you just can't live without it! Sometimes it feels like prison! I'm eternally stuck in a medically enforced diet! I miss food so much!

Among the food I miss and crave the most are:

LASAGNA!
(Tomato sauce and cream make it doubley difficult to even attempt to enjoy!)
ITALIAN FOOD!
(As you see from reason 1, most all Italian Food is greasy, tomato or cream filled. I think I miss Lasagna and Ravioli the most!)
MEXICAN FOOD!
(See reason 1 and 2)
ENCHILADAS!
(I especially miss the sauce and gooey cheese!)
ACTIVA YOGURT!
(I'm not a yogurt fan, but it tastes so smooth and really works like it claims to work...if you know what I mean!)
ICE CREAM & FROZEN YOGURT!
(Most fervently, I miss: Thrifty's Chocolate Malted Crunch and anything from Yogurt Mill in El Cajon, CA!)
FRENCH FRIES, TATOR TOTS AND MOZZARELLA STICKS!
(Basically any of those fried, fattening side dishes that no one in their right mind should consume)
KETCHUP!
(I used to put it on anything I could get away with!)
FRY SAUCE!
(It's a mainly Utah invention, consisting of Ketchup, Mayo and some other mystery spices that make it irresistible. Best place to have Fry Sauce: Hires Big H in Salt Lake City. Enjoy it for me, won't you!)
RANCH DRESSING!
(If I could, I would put it on anything and everything! Don't judge me! I still sneak it every now and then.)
BURRITOS!
(Not the spicy ones, but the truly delectable ones found only in California!)
BJ's RESTAURANT PIZZA!
(I'm not a pizza fan, but their's is beyond amazing! Oy!!!)
CHOCOLATE AND MINT!
(Who would have thought that something so loving would hurt so much! I still eat it, but in small shots!)
MACCARONI AND CHEESE!
(Not the Kraft-in-a-box sludge, but the oooey gooey crap that you find at questionable buffets! Who had the best? By far- Hometown Buffet! Nasty, I know. But a girl can dream, right?)
CHEESE OF ANY KIND!
(I was a cheese and dairy fiend before I became lactose intolerant. Who wouldn't be. It's everywhere in our culture. Damn you, stomach!)
GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES!
(I used to eat them on cold days with Tomato soup. Mmmmmm! I can almost handle them now, but I have to use veggie or tofu cheese and be sure not to use too much PAM or butter.)

Now that I sound like a guilty former fat kid, tell me your foodie guilty pleasures!

Fun Dressing Up Those Who Can't Control Their Wardrobes!

2010-09-14T11:24:00.006-05:00

I know that you may think this is ridiculous, but we are going to get Baby Bea Bea a Halloween costume! Here are some links to the silliness we want to put Bea into! Let us know which ones you like best (or ignore it, you know...whatever)! Hooray for Halloweenies! Favorite Holiday ever!!

Bumble Bee
Bee (w/ no head)

Yoda

4. Princess Leia

5. Darth Vader

6. Indiana Jones

7. Super Man

8. Wonder Woman

9. Batman

10. Clearance Batman

11. Snow White

12. Skeleton Dog

13. Pirate Doggy

14. Grapes Dog

15. Tutu costume!

16. Bat Wings (only)

17. Angel Wings (only)

18. Hula Dog

19. Flapper

(This last one is not a costume we will get her, but I just wanted to share this horribly depressed dog in a pumpkin costume with you. What horrible parents!!)

Phew! I know it's not vital information, but sometimes it's amusing to dress up those who can't control their wardrobe! *Watch out, JR! You're next!*

Love,
your favorite Adriane

Mac-Munson Prayers Answered

2010-08-31T08:42:00.003-05:00

Good day Friends and Familia (note the only Spanish I have learned in my stay in Texas),

Many of you have heard the good news, but we wanted to make sure you all are in the loop.

We have been lucky enough to move to a little town near the border of Texas and Mexico. JR got a job with the FBI in May of last year, but I (mainly because I don't speak a lot of Spanish) have been unable to attain employment. We had been trying to make the best of our situation, so we got a little puppy whom we named Bea Bea (so cute!). But despite Bea Bea's entertainment, we were still having a difficult time fitting in and enjoying our new home.

On August 19th, all this changed.....JR was awarded with a promotion and a job (with the FBI still) in SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH!!! We're moving there in the end of October!

So to all of our Salt Lake homies, "Hooray!" and "we'll see you soon!". To our San Diego comrades, "this finally means we can actually drive to see you whenever we want!"

We're Pretty Excited!

Fun with Our Bea Bea

2010-07-29T16:11:00.012-05:00

Since we have a little ol' Mac and an adorable little ol' monster named Bea Bea, we decided to use both to capture the fun times that are now in the Munson home!Enjoy!!

*Drum roll* TA DA!!

We all likes what we see!

We all tried out our best Jay Leno impersonations. Bea Bea was slightly embarrassed.

Here's Bea Bea, our psychedelic hippy puppy!

ALIENS! They're now breeding puppies!!

"Oh no! Not again!"

Aaaaak!

The PREDATOR family: signing off!!!

Our Opinion of Now Living in the Arm Pit of the United States

2010-07-29T16:05:00.003-05:00

Many of ye readers have realized this from reading past blogs or speaking to the horses' mouth that JR and I have recently moved to a little city in a big state, only a few miles from a wee country we all know as Mexico. The name of that city shall remain anonymous as to not offend any of its residents. Sufficient to say, it is commonly referred to in the Munson household as Texaco or the "Arm Pit" of Texas.

We've been here since May and I think I've been able to gather a fairly decent assumption of the land we must now call home. As all places one must live, it has its Pro's and Con's. Since I'm a list person, I figured the best way to describe how we feel about our new situation is to write a Pro and Con list of sorts.

*Please note while reading this, that I am naturally a cynical person, but for the sake (and sanity) of my dear husband, JR...I will try to be as fair and positive as possible!

To get the "negativity" out of the way, let's start with the CON'S of living in South Texas:

"Cooooooooooooooons!" -JR's homage to Star Trek 2, The Wrath of Khan

1. STRANGE, OFTEN ABRASIVE CULTURE

-Since we live in south, South Texas, we are very close to Mexico. Thus, the population is

mostly Mexican (90-97% in our county). This is not at all a BAD thing. It's just very strange being the minority and having to deal with all the backlash that can come with such a foreign status (see reason #2 & 4).

2. ODD, SHIFTY EYED AND EVEN DIRTY LOOKS WE GET FROM PASSERS BY

-I have a suspicion (whether founded in fact or otherwise) that this is not only because we are not Hispanic in culture, but because we are unlike any "gringos" many of these residents have seen before.

-Think about it. It can be kind of jarring to see a white, blonde guy with camo shorts walking next to a pale red head with strangely uncooperative hair. How dare they be different?! This possible reaction could explain why I got BODY-CHECKED (not checked out...the hockey term referring to being slammed into a wall by an opponent's shoulder). This happened the first time JR and I went to the mall and I accidently got in the path of a 6'2'' beast of a man.

3. SHADEY AND HORRENDOUSLY INCOMPETENT LANDLORDS

-This is a horrifying and tragically long story. Let me just sum it up by saying this:

When we chose our duplex, we did so because it looked nice on Craigslist and we expected it to be nice and ready by the time finished out 27 hour, 1500 mile move.
After getting the keys and signing the papers for our place, but not being able to find the complex on our GPS and wondering for about an hour, we opened the door to our abode to discover that the place (1) had not been cleaned in any way and (2) had cockroaches (3) someone had left a giant poop in the toilet.
The landlord's excuse: "you were supposed to have the electricity turned on before we did anything". Sounds reasonable until you look at the facts: The Electric company that services our entire complex ONLY allows you to turn on service IN PERSON. We were moving cross country (which they knew). This makes it a little difficult to walk into a business when you are 1500 miles away! Even if we could, it takes 3-5 business days to process the paperwork...unless you bribe them with an extra $200 to turn it on by the end of the day (which we subsequently did).
Since that debauchery and blatant show of incompetence, we have been dealing with the reimbursement and sheer idiocy of these "professionals". It's gotten to the point that I have had to show them the errors of their way so many times, leading the property manager to ensue a verbal altercation with me. JR has subsequently forbade me to speak with her henceforth. Blah to her and her kin.

4. MANY RESIDENTS TEND TO EITHER IGNORE US OR ARE POSSIBLY PREJUDICE

-As you have seen from example 1 and 2, we have not had the best reception from the

people that share this city with us....and even some of those in our Ward. Like the county

we live in, our ward is 80-90% Hispanic. Neither JR or I have any Hispanic heritage and we don't dress or act like any other white people in this area. This is met with subtle hostility or ... nothing at all (as in we are completely ignored). If you're not a part of the in crowd, you're not worthy of their time I guess.

-This also is a problem when searching for jobs. I have found that if you do not have a Hispanic last name or if you don't speak Spanish, or if you don't know somebody, you are looked over or denied employment. I'm not being prejudice myself. This is just a clear fact that I (and others) have observed.

5. ADRIANE DOESN'T WORK AND (FOR THE LIFE OF HER) CAN'T GET A JOB

-This may be because I'm a gringa. It may be because I'm not from this area. It may be simply because there are not many jobs to be had. All I know is: All free time and no work makes Adriane a dull girl!

6. ADRIANE = NO JOB ... BORED AND BORING

-I SPEND WAY TOO MUCH TIME WATCHING CRAPPY TV

*See above example's reasoning

7. VERY LITTLE OR NO CREATIVE OR ARTISTIC CULTURE TO SPEAK OF

-I have yet to find a Theatre that is not at a University or Community College, has open auditions and speaks or performs in English.

- I don't even know if there's a film industry out here at all.

8. NOT A HELL OF A LOT TO DO AROUND THESE HERE PARTS

-We live in a small town/city in Texas. Enough said.

9. FAR AWAY FROM ANYTHING INTERESTING

-I am not prejudice against Texas or Mexico, but I am not a fan of how far this town we live in is from any interesting city or area of amusement. San Antonio is 4 hours or more away, Austin = 5-6. You get the picture. All I'm saying is that I would like to live in a place where I can get to something of substance within an hour or so of travel.

10. THUSLY, EXPENSIVE TO FLY OR TRAVEL

-Since we live in a small city, there aren't a lot of ways to travel that aren't horribly expensive. For example, a flight from here to Salt Lake is $300-$400. Looks like won't be visiting until we win the lottery.

11. LACK OF FRIENDAGE

-NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO GET TO KNOW US BECAUSE WE ARE "DIFFERENT"

-As I said before, if you don't already know someone or have that special something, it doesn't help in the friendship search.

12. CLOSE MINDED, CLIQUISH CULTURE

-I've found that if it (or a person) is not something that someone who was born and raised here is used to, they have no interest in experiencing it. They like what they're used to and how they're used to it.

13. WORST DRIVERS (AS A WHOLE) IN AMERICA!

-I had pretty cheap insurance before I moved here. No tickets, no accidents...nothing that would substantially raise my rates. But as I tried to change my address to this new Texas address, the insurance company informed me that I would be paying nearly triple what I was in California. "WHY?!" I asked the insurance person. "Because the accident rate in

your new city is so damned high," she tells me. But why should I pay for these reckless driver's habits and mistakes? Because that's just the way it goes I guess. Boo to that.

14. MO' MONEY = MO' PROBLEMS

-Although we earn substantially more than we did in SD, and the "cost of living" is much less out here....being grown up and having to pay back all your loans and all your bills can cost quite a lot. Especially when you live in the hot, hot south and you must run the air conditioning at least 24 hours a day (our bill last month was almost $200)!

15. NO COMI-CON

-Both JR and I lament this deeply.

16. BAD COLOR TEMPLATES!! (Meridth would cry if she came out here and beheld the madness!)

-Everyone in this area of the country tends to choose a very muted, desert pallet for their homes, appliances, furniture,

even clothing. But then they try to spice it up with putrid browns or oranges!

For instance, there's a house down the street with blonde/light tan bricks and an ORANGE trim! I want to vomit every time I pass it!!

17. HIGHER COST OF FOOD...FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT DEEP FRIED IN FAT

-Even though we live close to Mexico (where there are a great deal of wonderful farms that produce, well, produce) most of the fruits and vegetables are shipped in from dear old California! Ironic, eh?

-The only cheap food around here is fried, greased or comes in a bag, box or can.

18. DON'T LIVE BY ANY FAMILY

- Though they and we drive each other crazy, we miss the entertainment that they bring. Sad days.

19. HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR TO TRANSFER

-JR has a probationary period of a year until he can transfer in his job. Boo.

Now that we have those blunt and honest facts out of the way, lets look on the bright side of life (as Monty Python might sing). The PRO's of living in Texaco, oh Texaco.....

1. JR HAS A MEGA GOOD JOB!

-As stated in previous blogs that JR got a job w/ the FBI. JR is not an agent, but he's important. I'd say it's a pretty big deal and we like it a lot!

2. WE CAN HAVE PETS HERE...

-THUS WE CAN HAVE OUR BABY PUPPY BEA BEA!

(See picture to the left...)

3. WE FINALLY HAVE REAL MEDICAL INSURANCE

-You probably already know this, but I have a little thing called GERD. It will be wonderful to find out the rest of my and JR's ails and finally be able to do something about them!

4. REAL MEDICAL CARE

-Because we finally have real insurance through JR's job, we can go to real Dr's! No more clinics with untrained nurse hands.

5. CAN AFFORD MEDICAL CARE

-Though we don't make the most money in the land, we have just enough to meet our needs and pay our medical bills!

6. CHEAPER LIVING EXPENSES:

-HOUSE

Unlike the land of San Diego, South Texas has very cheap housing prices. Why for what we were paying for a 400 sq. ft. apartment in the ghetto of San Diego, we're getting a 1000 sq. ft., two story duplex in a "gated" community.

-GAS

In opposed to San Diego's astronomical $3-$4 per gallon, we're only paying $2.50 tops (per gallon) to fill up our humdingers!

7. DON'T LIVE BY FAMILY

-Live far away enough from family so that we can still have healthy, loving, distant

relationships....or so they don't hate us anymore than necessary!

8. CLOSER TO THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FESTIVAL

-This is an amazing music, art and all around phenomenal festival and I'm excited it's only about 4 or 5 hours away!

-P.S> Did I mention that MERIDTH GIMBEL'S art is going to be featured at said festival!! (See her blog for all details)

9. MET ONE SET ON INTERESTING PEOPLE

-Although we haven't found a culture or many residents that appreciate our unique contributions to society, we have found an intelligent and amusing couple that has become probably our only friends in our new home.

-Their names are Alex(andra) and Darrin. They're funny, extremely brilliant, enlighten and enlightening. And I think we appreciate them in almost a fan (but not creepy fan) sort of way!

10. DIA DE LOS MUERTOS WILL BE CELEBRATED

- I've never had the pleasure to celebrate this beautiful holiday, and I'm very much looking forward to a culture that endorses it fully!

11. "ALL THINGS ARE FOR YOUR OWN GOOD...."

-D&C 122:7-9

Though we may not have been thrown into the pits, neither are the jaws of Hell gaping after

us, I think this scripture and its sentiments still apply!

Bea Bea: Mommy's Little Monster

2010-07-10T22:27:00.009-05:00

As promised, we have vowed to add more pictures of our little puppy dog of doom!

So here:

This is what our little Bea Bea looked like in the beginning. Meek and timid...this didn't last long...

Then she learned how to play....

...and chew (we're afraid she might be a bit of a cannibal zombie)!

Sometimes she likes to eat lobsters!

But that's ok....we really like her anyways!

Much sanity and love,

The Munsons

A New Edition to the Munson Clan!

2010-07-07T12:46:00.002-05:00

As you can see from the title of this Blog, the Munson Clan has a brand new member.

On June 19th, 2010...Aunty Adri and Uncle JR became the proud parents of Miss Bea Arthur!
Now, you may be asking yourself, "Isn't Bea Arthur my favorite Golden Girl? ... More importantly... isn't Miss Bea Arthur *gulp* deceased?!" Well, yes dears...but we have become the proud owners not of any non living Bea Arthur material, but a disgustingly adorable Welch Corgi, Beagle, Chihuahua mix...NAMED

Miss Bea Arthur (AKA Bea Bea).

"What's that you say?!" A dog. We have adopted a dog! (You really need to work on your listening skills.) It is true. We are the proud parents of one Miss Bea Bea. She's quite often a terror of a dog, but that just means she'll fit in just fine at the Family Reunions. Hopefully those reunions come soon. We would love to show her off. For now, we'll just share pictures and videos of her fantastic antics. Enjoy!

*Post Blog Note: We share this with you mainly just in case we have no human offspring. We didn't want to miss our opportunity to post on this blog about one of our own!

Oh What Horrible Bloggers We Are!

2010-07-02T19:35:00.007-05:00

It seems that JR and I have come to loath writing on this blog just as much as we do cleaning up dog poo. So, in order to convince myself that writing a blog about my dear little family could be somewhat enjoyable, I've completely overhauled it with bright colors and flashy pictures or gadgets. This, dears, is mainly to assuage/satisfy my raging ADD.

So now that our Adriane Mac & JR Munson blog is up to my standards of flash and glamour, I feel adequately prepared to update you on the lives of your favorite couple to date.

Since our (my) last blog post on the 24th of May, more than one year ago, a great many things have changed, blew up in our face and blossomed into beautiful bouquets of figurative flowers. Let's see if I can remember everything, shall we?

* ADRIANE:

1. During the summer of 2009, I was still stuck in a slump of temping occasionally for random companies in San Diego. I was under the employment of 4 Temp companies, but only worked (here and there) with one. For a College Graduate and go-getter, it was infuriating and horribly depressing! But I did like my case manager at the Temp firm. She was pretty nice.
2. Adri was also a part time Children's Acting & Improv. teacher at the local community center. It was a job she had fallen into after working at the Center as a Camp Councilor. That job thoroughly sucked, but she became professional friends with the Performing Arts Manager. When the Center needed a new Acting Teacher, she came to Adriane. Their schedules conflicted for a semester or two, but in January of 2008, Ade was hired.
Adriane loved teaching those classes and the kids she taught, but felt horribly inadequate. "I wasn't a professional actress! Sure, I'd studied it in school, but books do not a fabulous actor make. I knew one thing: how to have theatrical fun! So I just accepted that, if I wasn't the most experienced or professional Acting Coach, I could help the kids fall in love with Theatre and Acting as much as I had.
I only taught 1-4 times a week, but as the months and years went on, I felt the need to expand my professional resume (in and outside the Theatre). Unfortunately, there was not an opportunity to do so at the Center. So, after about a year and a half, I had to resign. You see, by April of 2010, I had obtained a somewhat full time job (which I will explain later about) that prevented me from being able to teach when they needed me to. It was a sad choice, but a necessary one."
3. Adriane spent most of her time from May to October 2009 (actually, from June 2008 on) looking and applying for full time jobs. Oh, she applied nearly everywhere (within reason)! And she got a great deal of interviews, but the response was always the same: "Oh dang! All the funding we had to hire you is gone! What with the RECESSION and all..." , "You're qualified, but we found someone with a Masters who is willing to work for less than you. Sorry!" , "You're TOO QUALIFIED!" or simply...no response at all (despite having a good interview).
Everyone blamed this on the Recession. I'm sure that's a great deal of it, but a lot of it was, employers were using job seeker's desperation for employment & blatantly exploiting them. If I had control over this existence, I would line up all of the Bureaucratic bigwigs, and punch them square in the face!
4. Finally, in October of 2009, Adriane got a lucky break! An old boss of her's (from an after-school care company she worked for in 2003-2006) called her up and told her that there was a Substitute Lead position available, and she wanted Adriane to apply! What a deal! So, I went in and interviewed with all my old bosses. This was much more stressful than
I had expected. I was in the running for the Substitute position and a full time position with an Elementary site. I was very much hopeful for the latter....especially since the Sub position was at a Jr. High!
Nevertheless, a few days later, I was offered the SUB position at the JR. HIGH. It was an indefinite period of time, which is great, but that also means I could stay a sub for as long as they wanted.
But I began the job at one of the more well off schools in the county. I thought that meant the kids would be better behaved. No! This just means the problem children were just richer and more spoiled!
But it was the only full time job I had, so I gave it everything I had. Which was what the program needed. I came into a program that was going to hell in a hand basket! The former Lead had been on maternity leave for a few months only to come back and be transfered. She was also a very laid back personality, so most of the rules were not being enforced...and the kids were running a muck!
Then there was the staff. For a site of 50-100 hormonal teenagers, I had 2 laid-back (aka: lazy) staff and an Assistant who hated children (and eventually hated me)!
October to June of 2009/2010 was by far, the hardest professional period of my life! I had to completely revamp the rules of the site, enforce them with no support of my staff, babysit the kids & the staff and deal with misbehaving students/staff and parents. But I forced myself to take one day at a time and make it a point to notice the good kids and the positive aspects of my job or site. Along with that coping mechanism, I heavily relied on the support of my supervisor, Nicolle. At times, she was the only reason I did not quit on the spot! She was the best boss I ever had the luck to work with and we really became good friends (at least in my opinion)!
As the school year went on, I learned to ignore my staff's negativity and tried to appreciate every kid in the program. Even the trouble makers. By May, I loved my job and the kids that made my day worth while. The only thing I still hated about my job was that I was STILL technically a "Substitute" Lead. I did everything a full time Lead would do (including putting in hours upon hours of overtime that I did NOT get paid for). I also worked my kiester off to make that program as fun for the kids as possible. I seriously put my heart and soul into it (as cheesy as that sounds). But I was not getting paid the benefits and status I so earnestly deserved. The supervisors supported me becoming full time, but the issue was (as always is in a school system): budget. They simply didn't have enough $ to hire me full time. But I kept asking for it.
Finally in April, after jumping through all the hoops they asked me too, I was re-interviewed for my job. Come end of April, I was OFFERED MY JOB FULL TIME!!
5. I was ready to accept the position, and did....for a day. Then JR was called and offered a full time job with the Government! (See JR's section). You can see why we went with JR's job offer over mine, right? (I'm not always sure I can either! JK!)

*JR:

1. From May 2009, JR admits:
"My memory has gradually been deteriorating, but I recall my last summer being pretty routine. I would watch television, and go to work at a fairly smarmy TV station. I was selling most of my valuables to pay for a new camera that I would get later.
In the Fall of 2009, I finished my last semester at SDSU. My favorite class was not actually a class, but a TA opportunity for Rich Underwoods Cinematography class.
I also made my Senior film "Zombie Musical", which like many great films, is still being worked on.
I finally quit working for the lame-o KUSI news in October of 2009 and began an Internship with the San Diego Department of Child Support services, as their sole videographer and editor. That job was great and didn't last long enough. After a dozen projects for my video reel, my time was over.
In March, 2010, I was notified that the FBI was doing a background check on me and that I was a desirable candidate in about 7 different cities. By May I was offered jobs at 3 of those sites on the same day (and 1 day after Adri finally got offered her job). Alaska, San Francisco and San Antonio (McAllen, TX) were the 3 I had to choose from.
We decided that instead of snowing below zero weather and dark months out of the year that we would go somewhere warmer, no not the beautiful bay area, instead we went to the arm pit of the US, South Texas. I started my job in May and am happily working hard to implement my cinematography/photography skills on the evidence team. Its a good trip and I look forward to more adventures."

*The Mac-Munson Unit (as a whole):

1. JR & Adriane both worked hard on getting full time jobs upon receiving their Bachelor's degrees from SDSU.
2. They were both rewarded for their months of hard work with job offers...on nearly the same day...in 4 different cities.
3. Due to the fact that JR got several job offers from the FBI, we chose to take the McAllen, Texas position, assigned to start May of 2010.
4. Adri worked her tail off to prepare her after school site for a new Lead or substitute, before they moved. They only had 4 weeks to move cross country, so expectedly, JR and Adriane did not sleep very much during that time.
5. The move was somewhat traumatic as it took 5 hours, one hotel and several calls to the new ward (who had offered to help us move in) more than we expected, to get from San Diego to McAllen.
6. After that hellish drive (luckily meeting JR's Mom on the way) we finally got to McAllen....only to discover that our more than incompetent Landlords had not cleaned or de-cockroached the apartment. Their excuse? "We were going to do that when you turned on the power and water" (which, because we had moved to a po-dunk town, we could only do IN PERSON, when we got there). But even though the Landlords had rented this place out for many years, they still did not know that. It's called: negligence and stupidity. But that's what we've come to know from the people of McAllen.
7. Since then, we have continuously fought with the Landlords to get a fair deal on our somewhat shadey living situation. But after a month or so of settling in, I think we've begun to accept and even like the place.
8. Our occasional happiness and contentment with our new home is largely due to the new addition we have brought into our family...namely Miss Bea Arthur (aka: Bea Bea). We adopted an 8 week old Welch Corgi, Beagle, Chihuahua mix of a dog, and we're quite pleased with our decision! (But that story deserves a blog entry of it's own!)

So that's what's happened with us in a nut shell. Our situation & lives have completely changed, but I guess we plan on making the best of it. If not, we at least plan on documenting our fine tuned frustration on this newly improved bloggity-blog.

Ciao for now, bellitas!
-The Munsons-

You think your family is akward....

2009-05-24T00:51:00.000-05:00

Oh my heavens, I thought my family was a little...OFF. I can rest easy: we are quite normal compared to some.

Case in point: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

Updates Long Overdue

2009-05-23T20:24:00.000-05:00

So it's been quite a few months since JR or I have blogged (JR or I meaning just me). I guess you're supposed to use these blogs to keep readers up to date on the subjects of such blogs. Apparently I'm not doing such a great job at it.

To make up for it, I'll make a quick recap on the events of the last 5 months:
First let's start w/ JR:
1. He went to school at SDSU and was crazy busy with a full load of classes, work at his shady but steady news station, and directing/producing & filming various student films.
2. JR's most involved project was a short film called Giant Robot...which was exactly that: a Giant Robot that tries to take over the city. It was amazing. Hokey, but amazing!
3. School is now over for our dear boy, and his wifey will be much less cranky. Safe haven for us all.
4. JR's getting closer and closer to graduation, so he's starting to look for grown up work (be it in film or otherwise).

Now here's the Adri update:
1. Adri was working with SDSU's Athletics Media Relations Department for a few months while a friend's wife decided to have a baby. It was interesting (mainly because she had very little knowledge about the Athletics they so focused on).
2. In that job, she helped facilitate the 2009 Women's Basketball NCAA Tournament (where SDSU came in 2nd place in the Mt. West Confrence).
3. While working a 40-60 hour work week, she was also in a play at SDSU called ANIMAL FARM. Based on the Orwell novel we've all read in High School, she played the part of Old Major- the pig, Mollie- the mare, A Chicken that gets shot in the back of the head, a Pidgeon who sings far too loudly and a snooty English Farmer that gets piss drunk by the end of the show. Stupendous!
4. She is now one of the large #'s of over qualified unemployed College Grads doing temp work to keep herself from going crazy while hunting for the ever illusive full time job.

JR & ADRIANE (The Unit)
1. They are still living in a sardine can a few miles away from a freeway, near some grass, a few buildings and a tree.
2. Adri's parents moved to Australia and are loving the Dingos and Kangaroos in their backyard. But not the Koalas or their sharp fangs. Nasty buggars, they are.
3. JR & A are currently honing their super powers and plan on trying them out on their neighbors that ghetto blast rap music at 12 in the am. (Not even the good rap either...Boo.)

Where will htey be in 6 months? No one knows. But we do know this: there will be much mayhem and distruction in the path of the Munsons as they lay wake to thier final destination.

Good night, meint lieptchuns. Have a pleasant tomorrow.

More wedding pics!

2009-01-25T23:29:00.000-06:00

MORE PICS FOR YOU TO BEHOLD.

PICTURES OF THE BIG DAY!

2009-01-25T23:05:00.000-06:00

The big day finally came!

I am just acquiring pictures of the glorious event. As I get them, I shall post them!

But before I do, I have to say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! to everyone who helped. As most every bride, I was loosing it by the end there. I couldn't have gotten everything done (or stayed sane for that matter without the helping hands of Dad, Mum, my BFF Meridth, Merina, Leslie, Valerie, Suzette, Doug, Egwart, Nat and even Radar.

You guys are my heros! Thank you for everything!

XOXO!

Adri (MAC) Munson

RSVP right here. Right now.

2008-12-07T19:40:00.000-06:00

RSVP HERE!!!

If you've come to this website to RSVP for JR & Adri's wedding extravaganza, go ahead and leave a "comment" below this blog to tell us whether or not you'll be able to make any of the ceremonies or receptions (along with how many friends or family you plan on bringing along with you).

If you are having trouble leaving a comment or just don't feel like it, you can e-mail us at
MacMunson@gmail.com or call (619)243-6319.

Luv,
The soon-to-be Mac/Munsons

(and their soon-to-be alien belly babies)

INVITATIONS + YOUR ADDRESS = Complete Joy!

2008-12-07T00:40:00.000-06:00

After long adu, the invitations are mailed and ready to send off. If you have not given us your address yet, you are a lollygagger and must be punished. The punishment will be that you will not recieve a little nugget of joy in your mailbox!

So don't delay! Send JR & Adriane your address now! (Shipping and handling not included).

INVITATIONS FINALLY COMPLETE!

2008-11-19T00:28:00.000-06:00

The invitations are finally complete and they are FABULOUS! Beyond fabulous...they are mucho perfecto!!!

Meridth the amazing used her artistic power to create the most amazing postcards and announcements of all time. I'm sorry to everyone else...my announcements very much trump yours!

Unfortunately I can not show them off, for I have been sworn to secrecy by the artist. What a teaser!!

(But don't worry. They should be found in your local mailbox ASAP!)

FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW....

2008-10-15T00:42:00.000-05:00

FOR ALL IN THE KNOW (or at least all those who want to be in the know),
ALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE UNION AND CELEBRATORY CELEBRATION OF JR MUNSON & ONE ADRIANE MCKEAN, CAN BE HENSEFORTH FOUND ON THIS BLOG.

FRIENDS AND FOES: STAY TUNED!!