Lovebug

About two months ago, my beetle bug decided to not start anymore.

My dad decided it was my battery and that it needed to be replaced.

However, my dad is notorious for not fixing things when they need to be fixed.

He puts things off until they HAVE to be fixed.

Well since I wasn't going anywhere this summer or needing my car, we didn't get the battery fixed.

And my new job working at the elementary school as the PE teacher didn't call for my car being fixed since my mother is the 5th grade math teacher there and I could just ride with her.

So needless to say, the battery never got fixed.

Approximately two weeks ago, there was a torrential downpour and the creek overflowed and flooded our yard.

My beetle bug was the only car that got caught in the mess, hence the battery not being fixed so it couldn't be started and moved to a different location. 

So my little lovebug got flooded and water got all inside the drivers side, but not the passenger side.

My two brothers tried their best to soak all the flood mud and water out of my beetle.

They did a great job, but the smell of flood water still overtook the poor beetle bug.

Today, I decided to charge the battery, drive the lovebug to the car wash, and shampoo the carpets in the hopes that it would help with the smell.

My older brother, Jonathan, helped hook up the beetle bug to my dad's car to let the battery charge.

We sat there for 30 minutes and the poor bug would not turn over and start.

We finally got the top down on the lovebug to let the smell vent out of the car, but still no start.

After 45 minutes of trying, we decided to call it quits.

My dad was not okay with this since the top was down and the only way of getting it back up was to start the car.

So my dad comes outside, hooks the beetle bug up to his car once again, and starts revving up his engine.

Within five minutes, the beetle bug starts.

I was so happy, I started jumping with joy! 

It's sad that little things like your car starting could make you so happy!

So, with my top down and my mother in the passenger seat, we headed to the car wash to wash the lovebug!

When we arrived at the car wash, we tried to put up the top so we could begin the washing.

BUT, the top would not go up! 

We were stuck with the top down.

We decided, why don't we just drive over into town and get a new battery put in.

My dad kept putting it off and putting it off, so we decided to take matters into our own hands.

We drove over to the shop, City Tire, and my mom walked in to ask if they could perform the task of changing the battery.

They said they could and the manager walked outside to take a look at the bug.

The minute he walked out, the man asks, "How's that boyfriend of yours doing?"

I was a little surprised for a couple of reasons...

1. Who are you, because I don't know you?

2. How do you know my boyfriend?

I responded with, "He's doing fine."

He then asked, "Did he end up getting drafted?"

And I think to myself... How do you know who my boyfriend is????

I said, "Yes, by the Twins."

He proceeded to ask where he was located, how he's liking it.

I answered all his questions, but was a little reserved by this man's knowledge and curiosity of my boyfriend.

I walked in the building with my mom as the man took my beetle around back.

I asked my mom who the man was and how he knew about Taylor.

She said, YOUR DAD!

My dad has obviously been chatting about Taylor to the working men of City Tire {his office is right across the road from them}

After sitting in the waiting area for approximately ten minutes, the manager walks out to tell us some interesting news...

"Your battery had a bolt loose, making it unable to start."

My mom said, "Are you kidding me? That's it! I'm going to kill John."

The manager then said jokingly, "I'll just bill John for this inconvenience for you both."

As we stood up to walk out, the manager asked me when the ceremony was.

I was confused by his question, I had to ask what he was talking about.

He said, "The ceremony. When are you getting married to Taylor?"

I replied, "You gotta have the ring first. Still waiting on that!"

Now that the lovebug's battery was fixed, my mom and I decided to go back to the car wash and try it once again.

We pulled into the car wash and tried once again to put the top up...

IT DIDN'T GO UP!

I was so frustrated!

So we began driving back home.

I decided to try the top one more time before driving all the way back home.

I pulled off into the bank parking lot and tried the top one more time.

IT WENT UP!

And back to the car wash we went!

We started rinsing off the car, and the water pressure stops.

REALLY?

Mom decides to start the foam brush because she wanted to get her moneys worth since there was still $4 left.

We switch over to the next car wash, only to find that the water isn't working in that one either.

So now we are stuck, with pink soap suds all over the lovebug. 

There is only one other car wash in the area, down in West End.

So we drive down the road, pink soap suds and all.

We get the bug all rinsed off and as clean as possible and head back home.

After a long day of running all over the place, the bug was finally cleaned and my battery was fixed! 

Patience is a hard thing to learn.

And that is definitely what I learned first hand today.

Patience.

Until next time...

 

New Job

Today I had to run over to Pikeville to finalize my substitute teaching papers.

I'm pretty sure I filled out at least 15 different forms in which almost all asked the same questions.

Date of Birth:

Full Name:

Social Security Number:

Address:

Gender:

Signature:

 After all the forms were completed, the lady asked for my drivers license, social security card, and a voided check.

Of course, I only had one of the following - my drivers license.

I have never carried my social security card, nor had any idea where it was.

And checks - who carries checks these days?

I can't even tell you the first time I wrote a check, if ever!

I told the lady helping me that I didn't have the social security card or a check.

She was furious and kept watching the clock since it was almost her lunch time. 

She said I could just bring those back later, but that I could not get paid until doing so.

From there, we began the finger printing process.

The lady seriously gave me a 10 minute overview on how to make the perfect fingerprint.

Then she followed by making me practice multiple times.

 

Start on the side of your finger.

Now tuck in all other fingers not being used.

Don't put too much pressure or the print will be smudged.

Don't put too little pressure or the print will not come out correctly.

Now roll the finger all the way to the other side.

Do not lift the finger or the print will be ruined and the sheet will be void.

 Now you try, starting with your right thumb.

I slowly tapped my thumb on the ink pad.

The lady screams, "ROLL YOUR THUMB! START FROM ONE SIDE AND ROLL TO THE OTHER!"

So I roll my thumb as she so carefully explained on the ink pad.

I transfer my thumb from the ink pad to the paper.

"TUCK IN YOUR OTHER FINGERS! YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT."

My hands start shaking, but I get the thumb print down.

"GUESS THAT WILL HAVE TO DO. ONTO THE NEXT ONE. RIGHT INDEX."

The yelling at me continued through all 10 fingers.

After the prints were complete, the lady said she was dissatisfied.

"I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND REDO THESE, BUT I'LL SEND THEM OFF ANYWAYS."

I wanted to tell this woman off. 

If she didn't yell at me the entire time while I was trying to make the prints, maybe I wouldn't have been so shaky.

But I resisted and thanked her for her help and left the building. 

I called my mother after leaving to ask if she knew where my social security card was at.

She gave me directions to call my father, because he was home for lunch and could lay it out for me.

So I called and explained the situation.

My father searched and searched, but couldn't locate the card.

We decided the solution would be to just reapply for a new card.

The downfall, I can work, but I cannot get paid.

And my new job begins on Monday, August 13th.

My new job is a full time substitute for P.E. with elementary kids, grades K-5.

I will be working Monday-Thursday from 8-4 playing games with little kids.

I get to wear workout clothes and hair in a ponytail and get paid.

What more could I ask for?

My father isn't very happy about the new job.

Mainly because I didn't get into pharmacy school this year.

And he's afraid I'm going to enjoy being a teacher way too much.

He should be afraid though.

I wanted to be a teacher when I first began college and he told me I wouldn't be able to support myself with that career choice.

My entire family consists of teachers.

My mother is a 5th grade math teacher.

My aunt is a guidance counselor of an elementary school.

My other aunt is a high school biology teacher.

My grandmother was a high school english teacher.

And my other aunt was a college english professor.

So, I come from a long line of teachers!

In a way, I agree with my father.

I know that living off a teacher's salary alone would not be sufficient to live my life.

There would be a constant worry with money.

Being a pharmacist would make life a little easier, money wise.

And I would always have a job.

That job security is a major factor.

And I like the job of being a pharmacist.

I worked in a pharmacy for the past 6 months as a pharmacy technician and loved my job.

It was something that kept my interest all throughout the day.

And something that I want to learn more about.

I know my father is disappointed in me for not getting accepted this year.

I've heard all the put downs from him.

But I've learned to let it go in one ear and out the other.

I'm working on improving my PCAT score.

I've been studying now for a week and plan on retaking the exam in late September.

I know it's gonna take hard work and that's what I will do.

I will put in the hard work and reapply and see what this next year holds.

Until then, I'm gonna enjoy my job working with the kids for the next year.

I know the good Lord will lead me down the correct path.

Whether it's pharmacy school or becoming a teacher.

In the end, everything will work itself out.

I have faith.

Until next time...

"The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise the LORD that seek him; your heart shall live forever." -Psalm 22:26

 

Support System

Taylor pitched his third game with the Beloit Snappers tonight and put up his first W!

They are the Low A minor league affiliate to the Minnesota Twins located in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Taylor was called up on July 23rd and flew out July 24th from Elizabethton, TN {the rookie affiliate}

 It all happened so fast.

I was on vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC with my family and Taylor had an off day coming up on the 25th.

We had made plans for him to come down and spend a day on the beach and see the family.

And of course, he gets called up and it ruined our plans of seeing each other.

I was disappointed but so happy for him at the same time. {more happiness than disappointment}

I knew deep down, I wouldn't be seeing him again until the off season. 

But I kept my emotions together and stayed positive because this promotion was vital in Taylor's career. 

As soon as Taylor arrived in Beloit, the team set him up in the team hotel for one night.

They were beginning a 6 day road trip the following day, so there was no sense in arranging housing just yet.

Taylor met no one on his new team until the next morning when loading the bus.

The pitching coach informed Taylor that he would be starting that Friday, July 27th.

I found it crazy how they just threw him in with no practice with this team or anything.

But to Taylor it was just another ballgame, another day living his dream.

I couldn't have gotten through the stress and anxiety without my family and baseball girlfriends/wives.

My parents haven't always been the most supportive group with Taylor's career choice.

Don't get me wrong when I say this.

They love Taylor.

They think he's a wonderful guy and perfect for their little girl.

They're afraid of how unstable professional baseball is.

They're afraid of the distance and their little girl being alone a lot of the time.

And they're afraid of me being too far away from them when I take Taylor's last name.

BUT, I have seen a change in them ever since Taylor began his professional career.

Taylor's first game with the Elizabethton Twins, my family sat with me in the living room listening to the game on the radio.

My parents drove me out to Elizabethton, TN to see Taylor and watch him pitch one of his games.

Every game, whether my parents listen or not, they always ask how he performed.

They want him to succeed.

Onto the baseball girlfriends and wives.

99% of these women, I have never met. 

However, they have become more of a friend to me than any of my actual friends.

A girlfriend of one of the UK alumni pitchers added me to a group on facebook called the MiLB Wives and Girlfriends group.

It's a private group that you have to be invited to in order to join.

On this page were over 1000 women who are supporting their men through their baseball careers.

Women who were going through the same problems and troubles that I was only beginning to encounter.

Women with wisdom on the subject of baseball and the minor league ways.

From there, I was added to the Twitter group for the MiLB Wives and Girlfriends.

I went through the entire list and followed each and every one of the girls I could.

I have never felt more welcome from a group of girls in my life.

I was a bit shocked by how nice and warm all the girls were to me.

They didn't know me.

They had no reason to be nice to me.

But I decided to open up and give these girls a chance since they were for me.

The support and friendships I have developed with these women is something I will always be thankful for.

These women are true followers of God and help others everyday of their lives.

Women who I truly look up to and hope to be as successful as one day.

I'm so happy to have found these women and be able to call them my friends.

Until next time...