Getting Ready for the Holidays!

I have not been writting lately because LeeAnn and I have stayed busy, since our trip to Orlando, FL. So that trip was very much needed and appreciated. Not much to talk about really... not much has happened. We did get a book shelf from my manager at work. I bought it for $30. It makes our apartment look very different. We used to have books on the floor along the wall under the window, but now they are on the shelf and organized. My work schedule is allowing less free time for me as Chrismas approaches. People are going to be shipping boxes and gifts like crazy at the UPS Store. I don't mind working more hours. I just wish I was let out of school a week or two earlier. My last day of class is December 17th. So I gotta hang in there until then. But it starts up again around January 10th. LeeAnn is going to be busy at the hospital. We are thankful she gets thanksgiving off. We have plasn to get family pictures for the holidays. That will be fun. What a holiday without a family photo.

A Much Needed Vacation! Universal Studios Orlando

LeeAnn and I decided we needed to take a vacation during my fall break from school, and originally we had other plans but they fell through so we ultimately chose to head south towards Orlando, Florida in 70 Degree weather and stay at the Wyndham Hotel Resort, which is about 6 minutes away from Universal Studios on International Drive. We had bought our tickets to the park in advance online and also we made reservations at the Wyndham Hotel. Wow the trip was amazing. The drive was bad at all. It only took about 10 hours to get their and 9 hours to drive back. We were lucky enough to beat the traffic in Atlanta, GA on our way back. But LeeAnn and I had a blast. This trip gave us some time to spend together before heading back to our busy working schedules. The Weather was great and the timing was perfect because there was hardly a crowd at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks. We didn't have to wait so long in line for all the attraction and we got to do everything that we wanted while we were there for 2 days. If we ever decide to go back we would have to go around this same time of the year.

We Care For Kids Day!

So a little over a week ago LeeAnn and I got to participate in an activity in Nashville carried out by Vanderbilt Children's hospital where she works. I am a little behind yep. So sue me. No not really. Please don't. I have just been busy living my life, with school and work and then this past weekend I finally got to watch all sessions of General Conference unlike the last 2 times because I had been busy with things and even because I was yarkin' my brains out last time. I really enjoyed the talks I got to listen to. They were really motivating and inspiring. Well anyways back to the subject that is relevant to the title of this blog. So several months ago LeeAnn told me she had to participate in some event for her hospital in Nashville where she works. Then she asked me if I could help her with certain things she would be incharge of for her ECMO team booth. Then as time got closer and closer to this date the Activity was gonna be held she suddenly started to remind me of the We Care for Kids Day activity by the hospital. Only this time the closer we got the more demanding her reminders were. Not was I being asked, but she would tell me that I was gonna help her on that weekend. Then of course a day or two before she said I was gonna "Man the Piñata Station". I didn't mind helping out and doing this for her. After all I was just gonna be there holding a paper mache bucket full of candy up while making sure the blind-folded kids hit the piñata and nothing or nobody else. So we get to the hospital and unload to set up the boxes full of items we would use for the station he had to do. So I went and parked the car afterwards but when I got back LeeAnn had already taken care of it all. She put up the signs she had made with mom and she got the face-paint out ready to dooble on the kids' faces. I was lookin and thing of something to do to help and then it came to me....I finished my TacoBell lunch....Well there is truth to that but I did help out more after I finished eating. As soon as the event started kids just crowded around to get their faces painted and I was getting excited cuz I was going to see these kids pound away for a little bit of candy here and there. I jsut had one problem. None of the kids were interested in breaking the paper mache for candy at the time they just wanted face painting, and I couldn't really find the blind folds so I made myself useful in another way. I took pictures of the kids having fun. Unfortunately later on I had to leave early to attend some other errands I had previously committed to. But it was fun, and LeeAnn got to show her Artistic Skillz, so she had fun.
So check out the pictures.

He was having a blast in the play-doh.

This girl wanted something on both sides of her face. So she put her to work.

Rainbow faces....

my gues is a panda-kitten.....

LeeAnn couldn't get her to hold still.

There was a crowd.

two lines for face painting.......

The face paint quickly became style for the arm

LeeAnn and mom worked on these signs...

She may not have wanted her picture taken...

DIY Bookshelf!

LeeAnn and I have books on our carpet, that are stacked against each other. We have been talking for some time about getting a bookshelf for them. Now I have looked at Target and Walmart. So I decided to measure the space LeeAnn and I would use to occupy the area for the Bookshelf we needed. If I can't find one I was thinking of making it with scrap pieces of 2x4's and some plywood.
So I made some plans for it if I can't obtain one from Target or anywhere else for a decent price. LeeAnn and I can't stand to look at these books every day sitting on the floor.

Smarter than the Average Bear

This Semester is pretty hectic. I am trying week after week to stay ontop of the schedule, and make sure my assignments are complete and that I understand all the materials for the tests. So far so good 4 weeks into the semester. I have been Ace-ing just about everything in all my classes. Now my Intermediate Algebra class is a different story. The professor for that class used to work with Rocket Scientists in Florida at Cape Canaveral. So, Why is he teaching basic Algebra in college? I don't know the answer to that question myself, but I sure wasn't too happy to listen to his lectures after the first night of class. He does a lot of the work in his head and doesn't write it out at all, when trying to explain how to solve an equation. I know Algebra isn't complicated, so it does not make sense to me that it should be taught in a sophistocated way. Well I just decided to take notes from my homework instead of taking notes from my professor's lectures. I stayed up studying for several nights and figured it out practically on my own.
So Last week when it came time for Test # 1 in Algebra I was ready to take it. But the professor wanted to review before the test and I did not want to hear him explain the problems first because that would just confuse me. Well, I got the test and started right on it. Man it gave me a head ache. I was frustrated because I didn't think the instructions were clear enough, but I did the best I could.
Last night, before I got my test back, I told everyone I probably bombed my test, then he handed it to me. I got a B on my test. What the Heck! I couldn't believe it. But hey not bad for the first test I have taken in Algebra in 5 years. So I just gotta keep studying so I can get an A+ on my next 4 tests including the Algebra Final Exam.

Whats up with the Titans Already?

Yep I am not to pleased with the way the Tennessee Titans' season has started so far. I will say I am happy with the offensive performance. The Defense however seems not so smash mouth anymore. They are good at stopping the run but they can't intercept many passes and they allow the opposing offense too many chances to progress downfield. Whats up with that?

Surely things will turn around but I will probably be the last one to know how things turn out for The Titans this year. At least some past Titans players are nominated as candidates for the Hall of Fame class of 2010.

The Nieces are growing.

While LeeAnn and I are not planning on starting a family yet, we enjoy getting to see our nieces. Last Weekend we saw Julia (our niece) and her parents, Chris and Lindsey Baker. She was walking and talking and being real fun for all of us at The Hassler Home. It funny to hear her talking and I guess as her Uncle I am being dubbed by my Spanish name,Tio Mikey, I was given, I don't even remember how... anyways. The age she is at right now, LeeAnn and I think is really cute. Julia loves her Poppi ( Terry Hassler) and her Grammy ( Vinnie Hassler) a lot. Now I could probably, and again this isn't a "guarantee" but I could probably be a good Dad. But I know I definitely can not afford to pay for a child of mine and LeeAnn's yet. LeeAnn and I can barely support ourselves as it is now. I guess when certain companies and businesses learn you have money they want a piece of it so they give you your bill and surprise you everynow and then with one bill that is just off the wall crazy that your head is spinning and you call them to make sure the numbers are right!
So Chris and Lindsey are in Cookeville, Tennessee with Julia and their dog Hershey( I hope I spelled that right), and LeeAnn and I are in Nashville so its a drive but we have managed to visit them whether we've gone to their house or seen them at Terry and Vinnie's home.
There are two other nieces LeeAnn and I visit and one of them just had her Birthday Party on Saturday. She turned one. It was funny becuase Maddie who turned one, had her birthday. Everyone was singing Happy Birthday, and Taylor couldn't stand that we were singing Happy Birthday to her sister instead of her, so she cried and cried. It was kinda funny. But what made it seem really funny was I remember a family video that my parents have of Maddie and Taylor's Mother( my sister) Keaven Neely when she was little and when everyone at the house was singing Happy Birthday to I don't remember who Keaven started crying her eyes out and pouting. Taylor is definitely her mother's daughter. I just thought that was a funny memory of my sister when we were kids. Maddie is a really cute kid. She has a pretty smile and is at a fun age now. She had her 1st B-DAY on Saturday. Taylor is real fun too. She just get shy sometimes and then she gets where she is wanting all kinds of attention. The Nieces are fun but LeeAnn especially loves buying them outfits to wear. She has good taste by the way according to some people.

Loads of Laundry, Homework, and Terry Hassler's Birthday

This weekend has been just as busy as during the week. Between working at the UPS STORE (....By the way I was thinking of including a blog on some of the wierdest stuff I have had to pack and ship in the 8 months I have worked here.) and LeeAnn working 3 to 4, 12 hour shifts a week. Going to school at Volstate fulltime, and still having time enough to spend with my wife and our families. I am having to play catch up in school with my homework, but things are looking good and on the upside. I was thinking about how much I appreciate the experiences I have had good and bad this past year, while a song came on the radio by the Zack Brown Band, There is a phrase in this particular song called Toes, that is spanish and it is...Adios and Vaya Con Dios. I just have this feeling like things are gonna work out and I got nothing to worry 'bout. Of course I gotta be responsable in various areas of my life but as long as I let everything happen the way its intended, and I do my part, things will continue to fall into place. I probably have put too much emphasis on making sure everything that occurs in my life is picture perfect, but I had everything planned in my life before I came back from Chile back December of 2007. Things havent happened exactly as I have planned since returning home from my mission, but I don't regret the way they have turned out. I have learned valuable lessons and I have been blessed with many opportunities of which I have taken advantage of. Meeting LeeAnn AND Marrying her is the best thing that has happened to me since returning from my 2 year mission in Chile. Because of her I have gained a greater appreciation for education. These days if you want to put food on the table and survive financially it seems a bachelors degree is a minimal requirement. I am going to get a BA in Land Development and obtain my Contractors license, as I have mentioned plenty of times. I am stoked. But I will never let go of my lifetime hobby and love for music, and drumming. I enjoy playing, its what helps me to show more personality when I play the drums. Musically its how I socialize. Lastly LeeAnn and I went to her parents on Sunday and celebrated her dad's Birthday. Happy Birthday Terry!

Cool Ukulele Duet I found...

We're Still Living and Breathing

Well LeeAnn and I went to Wicked and after me trying to find a parking spot in Downtown Nashville and getting honked at...Well Wicked was a great Musical, just as good as good as the one on Broadway in New York City. It did seem to go by a little quicker than I expected. After that, LeeAnn had to go back to work on Thursday and I have had to go to my classes. Intermediate Algebra is the worst because the Professor does not show his work when he shows us examples of equations. So I am gonna have to do the work and just teach myself because this guy isn't giving me my moneys worth. All the homework has to be done online too. Well thats just college. And to finish it all off, The Titans lost their season opener against the Steelers. What a nerve pinching game it was. It was really a good game but the Titans really messed up more than they should have. Its all good though. That was jsut the first game of the season. But LeeAnn and I are still livign and breathing, we are doing good.

Wicked Preview...

Less Is More!

LeeAnn and I are getting busy this fall. She is working just as often as before. But I am not aimlessly wondering around the apartment after work at the UPS Store, anymore. I got classes four nights out of the week. So we are appreciating more the less time we get to be together. Its good, of course, that I am continuing my education. after this semester I have 2 more semesters till I can transfer to MTSU to get my BA in Land Development and get my Contractors license. So I still have a while but I am on the right track. LeeAnn and I, like I said, are not able to spend as much time together as before, so we just so happened to have a night this coming week when we are gonna see Wicked at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. That will be cool to see together. Anyways, this will make us appreciate more the little time we spend together.

The Early Birthday Party!

Our parties may not be big or luxurious, but they are memorable moments we are creating between the two of us. Yeah, I had to drive to Smyrna back in July to see my wife on my birthday, but hey it was worth it. I also worked on my birthday. I gotta have money even though my birthday is a special occasion. Well I wanted to do good for LeeAnn's B-day. She had to work the night before her birthday so she was in on the 25th of August and I was out donig some last minute preparations for her golden Birthday. I had never heard of that but I guess that is because I had my golden birthday early in my life. My birthday is on the 2nd so my Golden Birthday was when I was two for those who are less informed like myself. Well so She was gonig to have her B-DAY and I was getting 26 things ready for her. I bought 26 balloons, and blew them full of air till I almost passed out. Then I got her 26 roses, and I got her 26 fruit roll-ups. Then came the big present, she was asking for an IPOD NANO, so you can only guess what was in the big gift bag with her birthday card, along with a $ 25 GIFT CARD for ITUNES. ( Sorry but the gift card doesn't come with $26, that would have been cool though.)
I had even gotten up early to cook her breakfast from when she got back from work. She really appreciated it. I wanted to take pictures but I decided not to at the last minute because she had had a rough night at work, and I remember her telling me about a patient she had in her unit at the Hospital that was really sick and was expected to die. And even though my wife has been working in the hospital for 4+ years it doesn't make the deaths of her patients any easier for her to take. I just wanted this Golden Birthday Party to be between me and her. So no pictures. But Hey she Loved it! She ate the pancakes with peaches and strawberries. and whipped cream.

Modern Drummer Web Log: MD Online Blog

Modern Drummer Web Log: MD Online Blog

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Alot Going On In August

This month has been and continues to be a month of action packed happenings. There is something going on everywhere with everything and everybody. From School starting to the NFL Preseason. Oh and Birthdays, I guess August should officially be known as the baby boomer month. A good 85- 90% of people that I know have had or will have a birthday this month. And my wife is "celebrating" her birthday on the 26th. So in a week I will surprise LeeAnn with her B-Day present. That will be fun! I hope to take her out to eat also, we will see though if my bank account allows that, after the car payment, car insurance, and other bills are paid. LeeAnn actually needs some relaxing time because she works her tail off trying to save lives at Vanderbilt Childrens 3-4 nights a week and then comes home stressed from work, so I may try to get her some time for herself at a spa or just somewhere to chill.
Ben, Jared Hassler and my mom-in-law,Vinnie have all had Birthdays this month. My brother Kyle's is today, and Keaven, ( my sister) is also having hers. Titans training camp has been a fun experience going and watching the players practice. But I got a football a month ago to get signed and so I already have 4 Pro-Bowlers signatures and many other autographs. Some of which include, Chris Johnson, Cortland Finnegan, Michael Griffin...Also I have Rookie Kenny Britts Autograph. That has been fun. I just hope they follow through this time with their goal to go to the superbowl this year! I am still teaching Primary this year in the Old Hickory ward. LeeAnn teaches in Relief Society every now and then. I have been getting more hours at The UPS STORE which is good. Aint nothing wrong with earning more money. And I applied for a Student Loan to finish up my time at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, So that I can transfer to MTSU in about 3 more semesters and get my BS Degree in Land Development and get my Contractors License. I plan to manage and work with hispanic construction crews. I would love to use spanish in my job, which I do at the UPS STORE, but not as much as I'd like. LeeAnn has been lookin at a house she wants down the road from us that she saw on the internet, but we drove by it on Sunday and we both were not pleased with the space or lack thereof. Not that we need a lot of space but paying the price it was listed for, for the space it provided didn't seem reasonable. And it looked better in the picture so we continue lookin at Houses. LeeAnn has mentioned going back to school for her GRE. And so she can teach nursing. What I am stoked about really is all the possibilities we still have at our fingertips. I don't feel trapped and I think that is a good feeling to have.

Growing Closer Every Day!

I guess LeeAnn and I have been married now for almost half a year so it has been a crazy past couple of months but it has not been anything like what I expected. I have heard from a lot of my married friends that you never really are prepared for marriage, its just you willing to commit of yourself to another forever. What do I know about marriage? well I don't know much honestly, but I do know more than I did when I got married... though that may not be by much either. I have learned how to appreciate LeeAnn more. I like having fun with my wife. Going out to eat, Seeing a movie, those things are fun but what I can remember most from the past 6 months are the times LeeAnn and I just talked to eachother and we got to know eachother better. Just us at the apartment, talking about how our days went. When we left from our HoneyMoon in Oahu, LeeAnn was ready to get back to reality but I just didn't want to accept the fact that the honeymoon was over. I kept telling her that it wasn't. I have learned marriage is a lot of work. Its also a two way thing. It has been totally worth it. We have had some rocky moments but being able to get through those moments together have made me love my wife even more and learn to appreciate all the little things that would have gone un-noticed had I not bothered to talk to LeeAnn or pay attention to her when she tries to talk to me about her day. She is the best thing that has happened to me since I returned from the mission. I hope the 2nd half of the first year of our marriage just keeps gettin' better. This is about as mushy as I will get thought as far as the whole marriage thing. I will say though that I am the luckiest guy in the world

Music To My Ears!

I just wanted to share this funny story with everyone. I wrote a song a while back after LeeAnn was playing hard to get one night several months ago. She had been working quite a bit and wanted some time to herself. I had not seen her for a while since I was working and going to school so I was trying to convince her otherwise. She then shut the door so she could sleep and I just stood with my jaw dropped. I wanted to spend time with my wife...So to make a long story short I wrote out a song in response to the door shut in my face.
I titled it, " I want A little Less Pushin' and Shovin' and A little More Lovin' ". Sounds silly but I thought it would be a catchy name for a song.

Our Family Begins.....

Michael and I were married for time and all eternity in the Nashville, TN LDS temple on January 2, 2009. We are a little over halfway through our first year and it has been crazy. I am working at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital on nights as a nurse doing pediatric critical care and Michael works for UPS and is pursuing his Bachelor's degree. We are just "livin' the dream."

Hassler Terms...

Ever since LeeAnn and I have been dating & even after we got married, I have been geting to know not only my wife better but also the Hassler family and the Hassler culture. In the Hassler Family ( Terry and Vinnie Hassler) there are certain ways to describe everyday things in life. Stuff I grew up not knowing until my wife had mentioned them to me. Her family is southern and so is mine, but there is a culture part in her family that I find interesting. For example, the word "Waller" , was a new word I had never come across in my life untill my time with LeeAnn. She got irrated with me one day and told me to stop Wallering her. I found out through a long and "painful" discussion process that such a word meant to bother, to nag, to remain at one's side constantly in an annoying manor. I wasn't aware of myself beign guilty of any of those things. I didn't remember bothering my wife or hanging around her too much. But she sure remembers and she has this way of telling me when I am wallering her. She just looks at me and roles her eyes. Then she sighs really loud. Anyways, I also learned "Waller" was also a noun in addition to the verb and not only was I associated with the verb but also the noun version of the word. I am a waller. The definition in this form is not much different. It is basically one who bothers, nags, an annoying person who remains at one's side constantly. So anywho that is my little intro into my wife's family's culture. I can't help it if I like to play around with her though. I am like a little kid who has just been fed pure sugar when I am around LeeAnn. She makes me excited and I enjoy being around her.

The Hawaiian HoneyMoon 2009

I Want To Try Something New!

This Blog thing is new to me. And well I guess this is an effective way for everyone to get the up to date info on my wife, LeeAnn and me. I have a part time job while I am doing school full-time so that gives me some spare time to do stuf like this blog. Its going to be interesting to see the stuff that is posted on here from here on out.