HALLELUJAH!!!!!!

As I write this I am SO SO SO SO SO HAPPY!!!!!!! Let me tell you, this is a great way to start the day!!!

After filing a complaint with the Department of Business & Regulation of Florida and with the State Representative's office, it looks like that got some action. This morning I got a phone call from Ron, from the Department of Business & Professional Regulation of Florida, and was told my license is being EXPEDITED!!!!!! The guy apologized that the people
who answer the phones can't read my application to see what my maiden name was, and put the two & two together (even though the envelope from the state of DE read Christine "maiden name" "married name") .  He apologized, and asked me to fax him a copy of my marriage license. Did I mention I had just woke up 10 minutes before this happened? So I quickly got dressed, threw a hat on top of my bed head hair,  made a copy of my marriage license, and drove over to the maintenance office, to fax my marriage license. While the fax was going through, I was talking with one of the maintenance men and found out that he use to live in Claymont, DE. Small world, huh? Anyways, shortly after I got back, I received another phone call saying that everything has been processed and I should receive my license next week!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be honest, I've got the Hallelujah Chorus going through my head!!!!

I also checked the Department of Business & Professional Regulation's website, and sure enough it says approved and everything is complete!!!!

Apparently I was loading the dishwasher when I got the phone call, because when I walked back into the kitchen the dishwasher was wide open. I also received 1 more phone call from Ron (the guy who took care of my license) he apologized again, and told me if I have any future problems, to call him directly. 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!

Weekend

Saturday afternoon I cooked and took 2 lasagnas. I was taking Kevin dinner, and thought other sailors would like to eat some lasagna too, since the ship food is worse than high school cafeteria food (according to my husband). Well we didn't get any takers, so we left the rest of the lasagna that we took pieces from, and I have the other in the fridge for dinner this week. Oh well....   Kevin also gave me a tour of his ship.

Today we went to Church in the morning then I spent the afternoon getting ready for the Apples of Gold (my Bible Study) Banquet. I really enjoyed the Bible Study a lot! We've only been going to the Church for 3 months now, and these women welcomed me with open arms, which was so comforting, especially since I still am the "newbie" to the area. During the Apples of Gold program, we learned/cooked new recipes (they were new to me anyway), did our Bible Study then we got to eat what we cooked. I'm thankful that I have grown spiritually,  made new friends, and learned new recipes (Kevin is also thankful I learned new recipes too, haha)!!

Pictures from the Apples of Gold Banquet

These are the women who welcomed me or as they often
referred to themselves as "seasoned women" - love them!

Apples of Gold participants - "Appleseeds"

3/25/2011

This morning I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity Women Build and got to use a table saw to cut blocks of wood, and nail the wood into the top of the porch roof, so when they put up the ceiling, the ceiling pieces will be nailed into the blocks of wood. I didn't take pictures today, so I hope my explanation makes sense.

A few weeks ago I filled out an application for a salon receptionist at a hotel nearby. I was told that there were 9 other applications that had been turned in for the same position. This afternoon, as I was getting ready to call the state board of FL, thinking of what to say to whomever I talked to, so I would speak kind words, I got a phone call. The salon receptionist position has been filled, however they were wondering if I'd like to come in for an interview for a hostess at the restaurant in the hotel. Of course I said yes, so I have an interview on Tuesday!!! That made me really happy and got me in a better mood, before I called the state board of FL. 

So I called the wonderful state board of Florida..................................................................
I bet you can guess what they told me...that they didn't find my letter of certification. The woman I talked to even looked further for it, but still nada. She told me to fax in the certified mail receipt, so they would have it on file and so the people who receive the mail, will know. So I did as instructed, and called back to see if they received my fax, and this other lady told me "Well nothing has been posted, but it should be posted on Monday." I explained that this is the 2nd letter that has been mailed to them, and that the 1st letter was never found, and yet was never mailed back to the state of Delaware. She didn't have anything to say about that. She told me to call back on Monday. At this point I'm ready to drive to Tallahassee and look for this letter of certification myself. That would be considered volunteering, right?

Anywho, I'm still very happy that I have a job interview next week!!! I'm praying all goes well, and that the state board of Florida finds BOTH letters of certification!!!                      

Buddy

Buddy is now 6 months old!!! He is getting so big!!

Videos

Oh the life of a cat...

Wednesday

I can already tell that I am going to sleep good tonight. Today I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity Women Build, and today I got to shingle a roof!! Yes Mom, I wore sunscreen and re-applied it. When I first got on the roof, I wasn't too sure that I should be doing this, because I've never been on a roof for a long period of time, and I always have that fear that I'm going to fall off the roof. I decided that as long as I was squatting or sitting on the roof, I'd be alright (luckily it was just a 1 story house). Once we got started, I actually enjoyed it. Who knew using a nail gun and occasionally a hammer, could be so fun!! See Kevin, aren't you proud, I'm using tools!!! The sun started melting the tar/glue stuff on the back of the shingles, so we had to make sure we didn't lay shingles we weren't using down on the roof. After wards some of the women went out to lunch, I tagged along too. We went to a seafood restaurant called Safe Harbor. I got the shrimp basket, it's the best shrimp basket I've ever had because it's not super breaded. Mayport is known for it's shrimp. Also the city of Mayport, is basically 1 street. The city (according to the post office) for people who live on the Navy Base is Jacksonville, even though it's called Mayport Naval Station. Strange, no?

The shingles I nailed in

Also the state board of Florida is telling me to call them back on Friday to see if my letter of certification is in the system. I told them that I had it sent certified mail, so they wrote that down in their notes (that's what the lady told me anyway), which hopefully they also wrote "Find before Friday!!" 

Cosmetology License Drama

     As most of you know, for the past few (and by few I mean 4-5 months) months I've been trying to transfer my cosmetology license from the state of Virginia to the state of Florida, and I've learned that the state of Florida does not like people from other states coming and "taking jobs away from the Florida natives." This process began by me calling the state board of FL and being told to print out an application (and let me tell you, there's more than 5 applications on their website), mail it in, get a letter of certification from the state in which I am currently license (which would be VA), and take their 4 hour HIV course, and mail in the certificate from the course. Well I did these things, called FL back to find out that the application, that I'd been told to fill out, was the wrong application and I needed to mail in a fee of  $105.00, and needed the letter of certification from the state that I was originally licensed....why didn't they tell me that the 1st time I called? So I contacted the state of DE to mail the letter of certification on the state of FL, paid the fee and took the 4 hour HIV course. So I called the state of FL to see if they had received the fee, my certificate from the HIV course, and the letter of certification from DE. They had received all but the letter of certification from DE, but continued to tell me to check back the next week, because it may take a week to be processed into the system. So I continued to call FL back, and they still never received the letter of certification. Eventually it reached a month from the time DE mailed out the letter. So I called DE back and they said that they could mail the letter of certification to me and then I could mail the letter of certification to the state of FL myself. So they mailed out the letter of certification to me, and a month later, I never received it. So I called DE back, and said I never received the letter of certification. Then they questioned me about the letter of certification they mailed to FL. I told them what FL tells me,"We have not received it. If we had received it, it would be scanned into our system and we would be able to pull it up on our computer."  I really wish DE and FL would call each other so they can figure that one out, instead of me being in the middle of that. Oh did I mention I had to pay a fee to get this letter of certification mailed to FL?? While I was still on the phone with DE they tell me that the letter they had sent to me, was returned and said "Undeliverable." DE also said the letter was mailed out to me February 11 and they received it back March 1st. Which I still do not understand because we get mail every other day, and why the heck would it take that long for mail to get returned?
     Anyway, so I asked for DE's fax number, and sent them a copy of my address from a bill that was mailed to me. Then I received the copy of the letter of certification the next week. Thank You DE!!!! I was not allowed to open the letter of certification, if I did I would have had to pay a $300 fee!! So I went to my local post office, mailed this magical letter of certification,  certified mail, so someone has to sign for it. I was given a tracking number, and have been tracking it daily (this was just last week 3/14-3/19). Well the letter of certification was delivered March 17th, 2011 at 7:57AM. So I called the state board of FL this morning, and the woman told me "Check back on Wednesday because it may take a week  for the letter of certification to be processed into the system. 

*SIGH* 

So the waiting game continues.....


I'm doing my best to continue to be patient, and to keep myself occupied until Wednesday.
However I have a feeling they're going to tell me, "Check back next week."

Spring is Here!!

Melissa and I got our FREE Water Ice from Rita's!!! This was the 1st time Melissa

had Water Ice and I feel honored to be the person to introduce her to it. I told her

that the best part is that it's free, in case she didn't like it....however I believe

she liked it.

Melissa had Mango & I had Mint Oreo Cream Ice


Hope you all enjoyed your 1st Day of Spring!!

Happy 1st Day of Spring

Just a reminder to get your FREE Water Ice at Rita's Today!!! 

Volunteering

Friday I volunteered at the houses that Habitat for Humanity are building. Friday I helped dig holes for 3 signs, broke down cardboard boxes, and helped unpack appliances for the houses. I also got to meet some of the future home owners. That felt rewarding, knowing that I helped out with their house. I also got invited to go to one of the house dedications coming up in April. 

2 of the signs I dug holes for

I'm wearing my Habitat for Humanity Women Build shirt

This morning Melissa and I volunteered with the St. John's River Clean-Up @ Riverside Park.

We picked up trash all over the park.

We got a free t-shirt and free food for volunteering!!  :)

Tonight I'm hanging out with the girls from our connection group (sunday school).
We're making pizza for dinner and watching a movie.


Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!!

Continue to Pray for Japan

Habitat for Humanity : Women Build

Today Melissa and I volunteered at a construction site. The house (technically it's 2 houses) we started at was already fully built, so we did some landscaping. We helped spread some dirt and put down sod in the backyard and sides of the house. That's right, I got dirty!!! There are also other houses being built on the street. There were 2 college groups that came to help build the houses on their spring break. I thought that was really neat! Melissa and I enjoyed volunteering today!!  In fact, we are volunteering again Friday morning. :)

The houses we did the landscaping for

Sod in backyard

P.S. We got a free Women Build t-shirt!! :) 

If you would like to help Japan

My friend Melissa and her husband (who is in the Navy) were once stationed in Japan, and received a message from one of their friends. Melissa posted:

This is from My friend Bridgette:
Please consider helping these people in need! If you would like to know how to help in the relief efforts, please see the details below. Please pass this information on to your families, friends, schools, churches and businesses. The people of Japan need to know and see the love of God and you can help make that happen!

This is all voluntary and if you would like to contribute, I am sure anything you can would be greatly appreciated by those effected.
They really need :

1.Food (instant foods, dietary supplements, baby food, water)
2.Warm blankets (The northern part of Japan is still really cold now)
3.Clothes adults and children (coats, sweaters, jeans, gloves, hats, underwear, etc.)
4.Baby clothes, and DIAPERS!!!!


Attn: Earthquake relief supplies
Miyagi Prefectural Office
3-8-1, Honcho
Aoba-ku, Sendai city, Miyagi
980-8570, JAPAN

Attn: Earthquake relief supplies
Iwate Prefectural Office
10-1 Uchimaru Morioka city, Iwate
020-8570,JAPAN

Attn:Earthquake relief supplies
Aomori Prefectural Office
1-1-1 Nagashima, Aomori city,
Aomori, 030-8570, JAPAN

Attn:earthquake relief supplies
Fukushima Prefectural Office
2-16 Sugitsuma-cho, Fukushima City
960-8670, JAPAN

Drag Race

Welcome to my new blog. I got tired of continually deleting pictures, and that kind of defeats the purpose, so this is my new link!!  :)

Today Kevin took me to Gainesville to the Gator Nationals Drag Race Competition. It was my first "real" drag race competition. As Kevin says, "It was the first time Christine got to see the big boys race." 

Looking towards the starting line

The 1st "Big Boys Race"

You know the feeling when you're watching fireworks and you can sometimes feel the vibrations in your chest? Well this was just like that, but with way more vibrations in the chest, and way louder than fireworks too!!! Thank goodness I had earplugs!!! These cars were hitting 300mph in 4 seconds!!!!!

The Hillbilly Car

Yes, that's a port-a-potty on the back of it.

Kevin & the back part of the Hillbilly Car

Hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!!
Hope you have a great week as well!!


P.S. I still have my other blog so you all can see the pictures and read about
our adventures so far.