A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Digital ecard made with Smilebox

Decisions Decisions...

Ok. Just returned from visiting Central Michigan University. Small town for sure... (good thing I have El Dogg experience) small school, small Psychology department. Juandre enjoyed the visit - liked a couple of the faculty members, liked a few aspects of the program.

So, now we're finished visiting all of the potential places. I've begun looking for jobs anywhere we might move. My current employer was not as favorable in allowing me to keep my job and work remotely, (don't get me started on THAT topic) so I have freshened up the resume and search the internet every day...

We plan to make an announcement about the chosen school shortly, so in the meantime...stand by!!!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Juandre and I celebrated our 1st anniversary on March 14th. We had a delightful day at the Indy Zoo and then topped it off with a fabulous dinner.

Juandre and I petting the sharks at the zoo.

Ha! Look how rosy my cheeks are! Damn wine!

My nephew's birthday

OK. OK. So, I don't REALLY have a nephew...but Molly's dog, Homer turned 1 today!

How cute is his pic from Doggy Day Care???

Romancing with Roses...

Kudos to the hubby today...

A gorgeous foreigner showed up at my work with one white rose nestled inbetween the red ones.
Juandre brought flowers for the week leading up to our anniversary. He wanted me to enjoy them for the entire week leading up to our 1-year.

Very creative - the white rose stands for our first year together. He rocked today! Just had to share!

The Peacock's Future

Ok. The main reason I started this blog was to keep everyone informed of our future plans.
Here's the latest info to this point:

Juandre has been accepted to the Industrial/Organizational Psychology PhD programs at the following schools:
Central Michigan University
University of Oklahoma
University of Tulsa (Masters' program only)
Florida Institute of Technology

We visited OU last weekend and we both really enjoyed the campus, faculty and program. I was also very fortunate to have started looking for jobs prior to our visit and had an interview while we were down there. I've not heard back yet, so I will not share any details until something happens with it.

We visit Central Michigan March 19th. I have not been able to find any jobs to apply for, let alone get an interview anywhere in Mount Pleasant, Michigan! I've been telling people the location of this school is in 'the Middle of the Mitten' - as it is literally in the middle of the state (and NOWHERE). But, we've got to give all programs a fair evaluation, but obviously me having a job is a huge piece of our decision puzzle.

Tulsa is out of the question as Juandre is not interested in entering a Masters' program at this time. After 2 years, he would have to re-apply and go through this same process again to get into the PhD program and it's not guaranteed. So, why create extra work and effort if other schools have accepted him directly into their PhD programs?

And Florida Institute of Technology...well, this school unfortunately does not offer tuition remission or stipends to its students. :( We should have known that before applying, but someone I know went through this same program and the chance of interning at Disney were a couple of persuading factors. Unfortunately, the school is private and extremely expensive. Hard to choose a school that will pile up debt while 2 others want to PAY Juandre to come to school...

Anyone reading this post...pray for my job to come through and pray that we are guided to make the best decision for ourselves in where we truly belong.

Reconnections...

For anyone who thinks about that long, lost friendship that once was...
For the grudge you hold regarding that silly, petty argument...
For the time that's been wasting while both breaths were being held...

Life is too short for it not to be filled with the love of as many friends as possible.

I had the opportunity to reconnect with a long, lost friend tonight. It made me realize how selfish and foolish I had been, letting so many important life events pass by without sharing them.
Nothing felt better than hearing that laugh on the other end of the phone. One I knew so well from before, yet allowed it to disappear from my life. I found my friend again, this time for good.

So for anyone who might be in the situation I was, please let me be the one to tell you to make amends. Nothing is beyond being passed off as 'trivial' in the grand scheme of things. Reconnect. Reach out. Resume the friendship you once had.

And for my 'new friend' - you know who you are - thanks and I love you!

I need to talk about how much I LOVE my alma mater. KU basketball is my favorite season, with fall coming in a close second.

What about the Shutterfly account?

Molly posed a question to me - "How is this different than your Shutterfly site?"

Good one. Yeah...the Shutterfly site is where I currently store the photos of Juandre and I's lives. The blog is really for my story-telling, since the shutterfly site doesn't really have a place for this without pics. (Maybe I just wanted to be cool and own a blog, ok?)

Speaking of...I will have new pics to upload from our trip to the Grand Ole Opry a few weeks ago. I should be able to get them finished tonight.

That's right. 2 sites from us. Depends how you want your updates...pics or no pics.
The shutterfly site is http://juandreandjeniferpeacock.shutterfly.com

Beginning da Blog

So...

I've just realized that there are too many people to keep continually updated on our lives.
This way, I can ramble on about our stories ONE TIME and ONE TIME ONLY!!! :)

Thanks to my dear college roomie, Jenny, who also gave up trying to keep all of her friends and family updated (way to give in!)

As I write this, Juandre is rolling his eyes and saying that my blog is dumb. Well, I'll show him - he's not getting the address!

Stay tuned for the Peacocks adventures - a new school, a new job, and new phase in our lives - coming soon!