Transient Xpress

Dignified Transfer

2011-08-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

Dignified Transfer. Bringing home the remains of our fallen military. It's one of the best (and only) things we can do for those who have given us their ultimate sacrifice to insure our freedom. And it's a small token of appreciation, of respect and empathy, to show the families of our fallen.

I'm humbled by the 30 bodies being flown into Dover AFB this week after the helicopter crash in Afghanistan last Friday. In-your-face proof that my freedom, our freedom, has a heavy price. Their sacrifice falls on a grateful heart.

I'm saddened by the almost constant flight of helicopters and jets over my house, bringing Generals and other dignitaries to Dover in preparation for the arrival of the fallen and their families. Did you know every single body is received by active duty airmen, sailors, or soldiers and a General from their specific branch of the military? They're transferred to mortuary services, cleaned and prepared, and flown home with an active duty escort to be buried. If you haven't seen Taking Chance you should. It chronicles such a trip home and highlights the truth that the loss of a warrior is not just a family's loss, but a nation's loss.

I'm heartbroken for the families whose lives will never be the same. Parents, siblings, spouses, children, all gathered on the tarmac as their loved one's remains are carried out of the belly of a plane, draped with an American flag, carried by the somber white gloves of comrades. Their sacrifice is just as great.

I'm proud to be part of a military community that takes such care in dignified transfer, proud of my husband who is playing a small role in the supervision of tomorrow's homecoming, proud of his commanders who have spent all their time and energy since Friday planning the most appropriate tribute to our fallen and their families. It's the least we can do to show respect. Notice here, on the left, how often dignified transfers are still happening, and see below what care is given to each.

I don't write this to spark political opinion or debate over the war. I write this to convey my profound sense of gratitude to those who have served, are serving, or will serve me . . . you . . . the nation. I write this to take ownership of my freedom. For their sacrifice is not lost on me.

Miles for Minutes

2011-06-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

No apologies this time for my month-and-a-half long hiatus. Just acceptance of where I am. Right here, right now. That's what I'm learning from yoga these days. Acceptance. ;)

I'll get into the reason for my absence later. I just wanted to take this moment to share with you what Scott and I did yesterday. We have been loving the warm, sunny days of this Delaware Spring. There has been much sunbathing (for me, anyway), walking the dog, leisurely reading on the deck, and motorcycle riding. Yesterday we participated in our first charity motorcycle ride in an effort to raise money to buy phone cards for troops overseas. It's called Miles for Minutes.

We've never ridden in a pack before, but we met up with some other Air Force bikers to ride up to the rally together. There were almost 20 of us, riding two bikes to the width of the lane, and the attention we drew was comical. Sounded like thunder rolling down the road. Every IHOP and Waffle House we passed was full of families stopping in the parking lot to watch and point. Little kids in the back seats of the cars we passed were smiling, wide-eyed with excitement and waving. Yes, I waved back. I'm not too cool for that. I just pretend to be a bad-ass biker mama. Trust me, I don't even come close to it (as I witnessed at the rally). And I'm okay with that.

When we arrived at the rally I was stunned at the number of bikes.

Remember, we're in lil' ol' Delaware. And I didn't see many out of state bike plates either. About 600 bikes took the the road, escorted by police! And I thought 20 bikers drew a lot of attention. Ha! We were closer to the back of the pack, but we couldn't see the beginning or the end, not even when we hit several miles-long straight-aways on the highway. Sadly, my phone video doesn't do the sight justice, but at least you get the idea. Can't see it well but the entire length of our lane behind us is filled with bikes.

Those guys right behind us were truly bad-ass. They had custom made choppers and oozed cool from every pore in their body. We, on the other hand, are total posers. Evident by my constant picture taking and recording. I screamed Rally Virgin. It was awesome. Sadly (or maybe not) I did not get any pics of the bad-ass biker mamas. I think that would have crossed the Rally Virgin line. But know that I spared you many saggy boobs and nipples. Someone should design a Harley Davidson lingerie line. Bras. Get some, ladies. Just sayin'.

In all, it was a fantastic day. Virgins and veterans, bad asses and posers, all coming together for a good cause and good fun. While war seems to be the norm for our nation these days, it's nice to know that folks are still thinking of the troops who protect our freedom. Thanks to Miles for Minutes the troops will be making extra phone calls home to talk to their loved ones. Next time you see a veteran (active duty, guard, reserve, retired, male, female, young, old, etc.) tell 'em, "thanks for your service." You have no idea how meaningful those four words are to them and their families.

We're Famous!

2011-05-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

All along the Tail of the Dragon there were tents set up with photographers at them. After passing the first two, I finally caught on and realized they were selling their pictures online. So by the third tent I got a little smart. Check us out at the link below. It's the first picture in a series of 12 of us. If you flip through all twelve quickly it's like watching our ride in slow motion. ;) Fun!

http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=0QAK00XL020294&po=294&pc=303

We slayed the Dragon!

2011-04-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

Destination: Tail of the Dragon

Where: Deal's Gap, NC

Stats: 318 curves in 11 miles

Sometimes words can do no justice. Take a minute and a half and watch this video to get a glimpse of the madness!

Hiking and wildlife and BEARS, oh my!

2011-04-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

In an effort to catch you up on the last two days of adventures I'm giving you the shortened version of our multiple jaunts. While this trip is a motorcycle trip, we can't help but get off the bike to stretch our legs and take in the awesome scenery.

View from Clingmans Dome: Elevation 6,643 ft

They truly are smoky-looking mountains. We rode to Clingmans Dome (third highest point east of the Mississippi) and parked the bike. To get to the observation tower, which boasts 360 degree panoramas, we hiked half a mile. No big deal, right? Wrong. I was panting after the first tenth of a mile!

The parking lot we hiked from is located in the center of the above picture. Half a mile doesn't sound very far, but a very steep hike and thin air makes this a workout! But totally worth it. :)

Since we're in the mountains, surrounded by national parks and forests, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to see some wildlife. We ventured out to Cades Cove. There are never any guarantees that you'll see anything, but about half way through the 11 mile scenic loop we came across these little guys hidden in the brush.

Clearly these deer are used to seeing people. Or it could have been Scott's deer calls, which he learned from his Aunt Joy. "Here deer! Here deer!"

They could have cared less that we were there, as long as we didn't eat their grass. This guy was so comfortable around us he proceeded to relieve himself right there! Don't worry, I didn't catch that on film.

We were happy to see some sort of wild life because this scenic loop was a one lane, one way road. And everyone was crawling at a snail's pace to try to see something. Anything. Even dumb birds! We were hoping to see one of the 1,500 black bears we read about on the web and in the local maps and guides, but it wasn't looking good. Until we rounded a corner and saw this...

I'm guessing he's about two. Not really a cub, but not big enough to be scary...

until he looks you in the eye and starts walking toward you with his sharp claws clicking on the pavement. Then the mom next to you tells her kid in a panicked voice to, "hurry up, get in the car," and you realize you don't have a car to get into. Stupid motorcycle.

Guess we didn't look that appetizing. AWESOME!

Next up . . . Dragon Slaying! Stay tuned.

Smoky Mountain Adventures

2011-04-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

The adventures began yesterday. The Weather Channel said Tuesday and Wednesday would be full of thunderstorms that seem to be sweeping through the nation right now, many of them severe enough to bring hail and tornados. So rather than sit in the hotel room all day, or ride the motorcycle in the rain, we decided to go exploring in the car. Sadly, the rain never came, and still hasn't another day later. Wish we had been on the motorcycle! Oh well. We made up for it today.

Yesterday's destination: Fontana Dam.

This dam is an awesome sight. Built in the 1940's, it now powers much of the Tennessee Valley. It's opened in the fall to drain Fontana Lake by as much as 50 feet in preparation for the rainfall of Winter and Spring. You can walk or drive across the dam to enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where nature trails abound. Based on the rain prediction we didn't bring our hiking shoes. We'll have to try hiking again later in the week.

Lake Fonatana is beautiful in itself; the bluest water surrounded by lush mountains. We were so happy the sun came out to shine down on this slice of Heaven.

We hopped back in the car and traveled along the Nantahala River. The winding mountain roads were so fun to travel. Every few miles the trees along the road would open to a sweeping view of the mountain range. And the river offered quaint scenery and little surprises like this suspension bridge.

Only four people are allowed on the swaying bridge at a time. Fortunately, we were the only two around. Scott tried his hardest to sway and shake me to fear. Little does he know my hometown has a larger, higher, swingier bridge than this. Ha! I laugh at your silly attempts to scare me!

And I was thankful I grabbed my camera again. Doesn't this look like a Bob Ross painting? "Happy little trees..."

So pretty up here! I'm off to dinner, then to load and edit pictures from today's motorcycle ride. I'm excited to share more of our Smoky Mountain Adventures with you. Stay tuned...

Much Needed Break

2011-04-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

It's been five weeks since I last posted. I can hardly believe it. But I threw myself into school work and never looked back. Until now. Because it's SPRING BREAK! Wahoo! Usher in the warm weather and margaritas!

I'm thankful for the distraction school offered, but last week I saw how badly I needed a break. We were dog sitting for my cousin and his wife. We drove two hours to Baltimore to drop Bailey at home. His mamma and daddy would return later that night. I opened my purse to pull out my keys that had their house key attached and my stomach dropped. The keys were back in Delaware. Two hours away. And my cousin was still in the air and couldn't be reached. Oh. Crap.

It gets worse. There were multiple things throughout the day that should have set off warning bells for me. The feeling that I was missing something when I packed up Bailey's bowl and toys. The fact that I was so dead set on remembering to put gas in my car. Scott recommended taking his car that was full of gas so we didn't have to leave earlier. We were already running behind as it was. "Problem solved," I thought. Not once in these situations did I think to remember my KEYS. Now I'd have to return to DE with Bailey (which was actually a plus because he's such a great puppy) and figure out when I could return him later in the week....OR make his poor, vacation-worn parents drive four hours round trip because of my stupid mistake.

Fortunately, things worked out. After eating dinner on Panera's patio, where we could sit with Bailey the Beagle and give him water, we looked up my cousin's flight status. They had landed! And they had a spare key! Once we retrieved it we made sure Bailey was settled in. The day was saved! But I definitely needed a break for my brain. I'd been on autopilot for too long.

I can't even count on both hands how many similar incidents there have been recently, though they were much less detrimental. Scott is pretty certain I have early onset Alzheimer's. Feels that way sometimes. I honestly don't remember conversations he says we've had. Kinda scary! So my brain gets a much needed break next week. I will be studying daily because we come right back to finals week, but at this point it's just review, no new information. We're packing up the motorcycle and hittin' the open road. Off to Tennessee to ride through the Smokies. Smokies by day, study by night. I'm sooooo looking forward to the break. Let's just hope the weather holds. I'll be sure to post pics and stories of our travels here.

Sour Grapes

2011-03-16T04:27:00.000-07:00

That's how I feel. Sour. Last night we found out we're not pregnant. This round of IVF was unsuccessful. We knew this could happen, but sometime in the last two weeks I convinced myself it was okay to be hopeful. It wasn't. Hope allowed me to talk myself into pregnancy symptoms; nausea, dizziness, hunger, exhaustion, frequent visits to the bathroom. I had these feelings, but I suppose the nausea was from taking meds on an empty stomach. The dizziness was a side effect of my annual spring sinus issues, hunger from being busy and forgetting to eat, exhaustion from a heavy class load and not enough sleep, frequent bathroom visits because I was drinking a lot of fluids to keep the hunger at bay until I could get home to eat. I feel. So. Stupid.

I don't regret our decision to share this journey with everyone because your prayers and thoughts have kept us sane through the process. But in this moment I understand why so many people keep their fertility struggles a secret. Because what do you say now? Besides, "I'm sorry" everything rouses an anger in me I'm not used to feeling. And there's nothing you can tell me right now that I haven't told myself over and over for the last three years.

1. "God has a plan". Good for Him. Do you think He could give me a glimpse of it so I can get on with life? My prayers have gone unanswered for three years. I really thought this would work. Things were lining up so perfectly I truly believed this time it was God's plan. Wrong. Again! I've never felt so far from God, and it makes me angry.

2. "You just have to be positive/hopeful/relaxed." I've done that for three years and look where it's gotten me. Absolutely nowhere. I've said it before. Infertility has taught me there is a very fine line between hope and insanity. Hope can take you very far, but when is it too far? In fact, an old boss of mine told me the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different result. No shit! I am dancing on the line right now. I am struggling to answer the question of, "when is it too far? When is it enough?" I'm so tired of being disappointed. I don't want to feel like this anymore.

The danger in writing this is that I push people away. Please understand that I am upset with the circumstances, not with the people who are saying these things. I know they are trying to console me. And that really does mean the world to me. I have the best family and friends! My point in writing this is just to be honest. It sucks! Plain and simple. Do you remember in Pretty Woman when Vivian gets to Edward's room and is laying on the floor watching I Love Lucy reruns? In the rerun they're crushing grapes the old fashioned way, running around in a barrel barefoot. I feel like those grapes. Crushed under the weight of Infertility's big-ass foot. Will I be okay? Absolutely. Just gotta work through the dark place right now.

Will we try again? Yes. We have one more embryo that was frozen. But for now we are pulling back a bit. It'll be some time before we try again. And before you say it...who knows, we may get pregnant on our own between now and then. Wait. Maybe I should let you say it. From your lips to God's ears. Cause apparently I'm not being loud enough. Ha! Gotta find the humor somewhere.

Thank you all for your support in this. It really has made us feel very loved, and very lucky to have that love. Silver lining!

Positivity

2011-02-24T15:12:00.000-08:00

Today was an important day. After 11 days of stimulation my eggs were prime for retrieval. They retrieved 8 eggs this morning. Besides cashing out on the couch for a few hours, I feel great. In fact, besides occasional nerves, this process has been quite easy for me . . . so far.

X Factors:
1. Everyone warned me I'd be an emotional roller coaster on this journey. I've teared up once, when I was telling Scott how proud I am of him. No sadness, anger, or frustration on a normal level, let alone an amped up level.

2. I was expecting to look like a drug addict with all of the shots I was giving and the blood draws I was getting. Besides vein bruising on my arms the last couple of days, all looks good.

3. I expected Scott to jam the 2 inch needle into my derriere and hit my sciatic nerve when he gave me an injection, but he didn't. After pricking his own finger (he was a lil' nervous) we switched needles and he did an excellent job. Hurt less than my tummy shots.

I've been told by a dear friend that I'm a very positive person. Though flattered by her observation, it took me a while to really accept that because I'm a bit sarcastic. But I believe her now. Sarcasm isn't necessarily cynicism, which still allows room for positivity. I don't know where my positive attitude comes from. Inherited? Learned? Concsiously chosen? Maybe all of those. But I know that it's helpful in times like this.

So, I'm cautiously optimistic about our 8 eggs. Hopefully most of them, if not all, fertilize and begin to grow into embryos. Our embryo transfer is set up for next week (and they won't transfer more than two, though likely only one), and a few weeks later we'll find out if we're pregnant. It's all a bit surreal, but exciting too! Thanks to all who have sent well wishes, thoughts, and prayers. I think it's helping. :) We've done all we can and there's some peace in that. But no doubt the nerves peek through at times. Thank goodness for wonderful friends and family who support us. Sending love back to ya! :)

Drug Lord

2011-02-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

I'm just sayin'.

Have you ever seen so many drugs and needles for one person? The IVF journey began a week ago. Mostly I'm excited, but a little nervous at times. Like the first time I "shot up". And at the beginning of my daily monitoring appointments before I see how many new follicles have appeared on my ovaries or how much they've grown. It's all so surreal.

Can I tell you how much of a dork I am? I recorded myself giving my first shot! And worse, I can't stop watching it. It's so funny to me. I was so worried about how it would feel and it was nothing. There will be bigger needles that I'm sure will hurt, but for now it's all good. And completely worth it if our almost three year wait for a baby is over at the end of this process. And worth it even if this doesn't work. Because then we'll know we tried everything we could and can move on. But just in case, say your prayers, meditate, do your fertility fire dance, cross your fingers . . . anything. Please just keep us in your thoughts.

Like A Virgin

2011-02-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

I've been singing Madonna's hit song for weeks.

I made it through the wilderness
Somehow I made it through

That's how I feel about my exam marathon that started the first week of February and was compounded by a sneak-attack, ninja sinus infection. Whew! It started with my Anatomy and Physiology lab practical, and a runny nose. One wrong, which I would have argued if I didn't have three more exams to rush home to study for. No, I was not cramming. I had studied for days prior to this. I just wanted to be overly prepared as these exams were the first ones of the semester. Though my professors told us what to know, I wasn't sure how they'd test for comprehension. I may be able to match words to a diagram, but to think of all the anatomical terms of the body on my own would require more work. That's what I was preparing for. And having metric conversion charts at work to reference is one thing, but being tested on conversions would require me to memorize them. That's what I was preparing for. You get the picture.

Thank goodness I did go home to continue studying because the next day I was rocked with a full blown sinus infection. So congested I couldn't breathe, yet my nose was running like a raging rapid. Itchy eyes felt like sandpaper, yet they were watering like a garden hose. Head pounded with pressure, yet I was dizzy like a merry-go-round addict on the playground. I reviewed flash cards and notes. That was all I could muster. It would have to do. Wednesday I attended class high on Benedryl. I focused as best I could for my Chemistry and Anatomy exams and hoped it was enough. Thursday I sat in front of my computer, feeling a little better. It was time to take my Math test online. It took me longer than I expected, but I believe that was due to having to show my work. Not complaining about showing my work, but it was akward to have to type it out rather than write it out. I felt good about my answers. The great thing about online tests is you get your score instantly. One wrong, 96%. I'll take it!

Turns out I got an A on all four of the exams that week. Fab-u-lous, considering I was sick or high on cold medicine! The following week (last week) I had another Anatomy and Physiology exam (they never stop) and a Psychology exam. I'm proud to say I earned more A's. But this week, the joy of straight A's turned into pressure. I don't want to ruin the streak! Hopefully it worked out in my favor for this week's Chemistry exam,

So, you can see why I feel like I, "made it through the wilderness". Although, I'm technically not out of it. Another Math exam and lab practical next week. Jeez Louise! Off to study. Again.

DC Recap

2011-02-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

I was excited for the girls' weekend in DC a few weeks ago. But I never would have guessed how much I'd love the city. I promised you a recap of the trip, so here's a quick one because I've got lots of other things to blog about this week. Seems like feast or famine around here. Sorry. That's life sometimes.

The night my friend flew in we sat down with the computer and logged onto hotels.com to find a place to stay. We got a great deal on a hotel near Chinatown, just ten or twelve blocks north of the National Mall. We could walk to everything, we had a great restaurant and lounge in our lobby and tons more around the block, and the historic charm of this place was unbeatable. We even had afternoon tea!

We braved the unusually bitter temps and wind that first night and walked around the Mall to see the monuments all lit up. We couldn't get very close to the White House, but we did see a helicopter take off from the South Lawn. This sucker buzzed right over our heads. We could almost see into it. I sarcastically told my friend President Obama was in there and she should wave. She did. ;) Joke's probably on me because he probably was in there and probably could see us, though I'm sure he was too busy to notice.

The next morning we headed out for the Smithsonian Museums. Did you know they're all FREE? Cheapest vacation I've had in a long time. We started with the Natural History Museum. I loved the Oceans exhibit, including this crocheted coral reef.

Can you imagine how long it must have taken to crochet a replica of a reef? The plaque to the left told me how long, but I can't remember now. I do remember that two sisters started the project to bring awareness to the pollution and deterioration of our ocean reefs. The picture doesn't do it justice. It was impressively detailed. I also loved this big guy.

Imagine catching a glimpse of this turtle while snorkeling. It would probably cause me cardiac arrest. Unless I could ride on his back like Nemo did!

We continued on to other exhibits, including a fascinating one on human forensics and how useful it is, not only in solving crimes, but in discovering details of our history. Did you know dental decay was a major killers in colonial times? The bacteria would enter the bloodstream and reach vital organs, causing disease and death. Flossing is so important, people! We also studied a little evolution.

Yep. Pretty sure we came from apes.

We continued on to the American History Museum where I lingered in the First Ladies exhibit. Oh, the gowns and shoes and purses and fans and trinkets! I could have spent hours perusing the intricate details of dresses worn by Martha Washington, Mary Todd Lincoln, Jackie Kennedy, and more. We also browsed a pop culture section that displayed Dorothy's ruby red slippers (though the originals were silver. Did you know that?), Michael Jackson's fedora, some of the original Muppets, and ice skates, leotards, and medals of American olympians. It literally looked like my childhood on display.

We ended the day at the Holocaust Museum. Devastating, fascinating, heart-breaking, eye-opening, astonishing. I've been to similar exhibits at other museums, but this one left me drained. We began the exhibit by picking up a small booklet that included the picture and story of a Jewish refugee. With each floor of the exhibit their story unfolded until finally, at the end, you learned if your refugee survived. Amazingly, mine did. She was in her twenties when she was sent to a hard labor camp. She was freed at the age of 32, the sole survivor in her family. We grabbed a cab and rode quietly back to the hotel. After resting our feet for a bit, we ventured out for dinner at a nearby French/Belgium bistro. Best. Dinner. Ever. Our wonderful waiter made a few suggestions for local night life. We started at a pool hall in Chinatown. After my friend kicked my butt at skeet ball we headed up the street to the Irish pub where I sipped on Carlsberg beer that took me back to my european vacations. Mmmmm. It's so yummy.

On our last day we finally made it to the National Mall during daylight. Though the monuments are impressive, the grounds were not for my Vegas friend. She was shocked that it wasn't green and beautiful. Not in January. Not on the East coast. Bet she was missing Vegas right about then! :) Still, we enjoyed taking in the iconic sights with fewer crowds.

Lincoln Memorial

Hanging with Abe

Big shoes to fill. Heh.

Makes me want to scream, "Forrest! Jenny? Jenny," and run into the reflecting pool.

I told Scott if there ever is a chance we could be stationed in DC I'm all for it. I think it'd be awesome to live right in the thick of it all. Not forever, but for a couple of years. We'll see. Until then, I'll be a frequent visitor. Can't wait to experience DC in the spring when the Cherry Blossoms are blooming.

A Lesson In Juggling

2011-01-30T07:25:00.000-08:00

Clearly my two week blogging hiatus is evidence to my struggle. I was about to ramble on about my lack of juggling skills being the main X factor of my hiatus, but that's not really true. I think I've had so many things to juggle the last two weeks that blogging took a back seat. It makes me sad to say that because one of my New Year's resolutions was to blog more consistently, even if it's about nothing special. Well, I guess it's about that time . . . to start falling off the Resolution Wagon. However, rather than beat myself up about it, or give up on the resolution, I'm going to tell you how well I juggled the things that kept me from blogging and then move on like it never happened. :)

My last post, Monday the 19th (13 days ago) marked the beginning of my anticipation:

1. My dear friend from Las Vegas was flying in on Thursday for a weekend visit. Yay!
2. I needed to clean my dirty house before she arrived. And do laundry before Scott departed for a work trip the next day. Ugh!
3. I had reading and other assignments to complete for school. They wouldn't be done over the weekend with my friend in town. Pat on my back for working ahead!
4. I needed to decide on plans for the weekend. NYC or DC? Had to show my friend a good time!
5. Needed to catch up on some DVR before saved shows were erased. I know, big problem, right?

Tuesday, a day I don't have class, Scott left for his trip and I used my quiet time to read ahead in Psychology and Chemistry and complete a few assignments in Anatomy and Math. Wednesday, between classes, I continued reading ahead for Anatomy. All the while I was fitting in my almost-daily yoga classes . . . a resolution I have been very good at keeping. And so grateful for it! Suddenly, Thursday was here. I was excited for my friend to arrive. I spent the morning cleaning the house while catching up on my shows stored in DVR. You don't have to tell me I'm a great multitasker. Heh! That afternoon I drove to Baltimore to pick her up from the airport. An hour and a half later we arrived at my house practically out of breath from catching up with each other. Don't you just love that? Picking up where you left off last time you were together (which for us was 10 months ago)? We dumped her bag inside, fed the pets, and took off to a local Italian restaurant for a great dinner. I went to bed smiling about having my friend back in my company. Though neither of us misses the North Dakota weather this time of year, we are both grateful for having lived there as it's the reason we became friends at all. There's a really great story about how we met, but that's for another post, another time.

After my class on Friday morning we were free to do as we pleased. We decided on DC. NYC was too far for the short time we had. We didn't want to spend our time in the car, hoping and praying we wouldn't hit traffic. Two days just wasn't enough time for a proper trip to NYC. And DC was much closer to the Baltimore airport she was leaving from on Sunday. We booked a great little hotel about 10 blocks north of the National Mall. We walked everywhere, working off all the delicious food we were eating. We explored monuments, museums, restaurants, and bars. Did you know all of the Smithsonian museums are free? Makes DC about the cheapest city I've ever been to. It was also one of the cleanest cities I've been to. Fortunately Penn Quarter, the area we stayed in, felt very safe. And Chinatown, offering food and fun, was just blocks away. What more could we ask for? Sunday arrived sooner than expected and I was sad to send my friend home. We had a blast together. I'll give you more DC details in my next post.

So that brings us to this past week. Besides editing DC photos my friend sent me (because I stupidly forgot my camera), I was attending class and keeping up with this week's reading and assignments. My nights were filled with yoga, a military spouse get together, and studying for my three exams next week. I did manage to find an hour or so to squeeze in a pedicure which allowed me to catch up on some recreational reading, which has suffered right along with blogging. Though I'm not the master juggler, I think I did okay. Fortunately, yoga has kept me calm and centered through it all. And that's where I'm off to now. Then back home to study for my exams. Next post: DC details.

An Observation

2011-01-19T06:04:00.000-08:00

In the last week and a half I have had four people guess with the utmost certainty that I want to be a pediatric nurse. And it's not the first time that's been asked of me. When I began the nursing school journey I had family and friends guessing I'd be drawn to pediatrics. I've been told I have a pretty positive outlook on things, and I really do like kids, so the assumption wasn't from left field. But the recent inquiries by complete strangers surprised me. Two of them were nurses from my recent surgery. One was a new classmate in biology, and one was my yoga instructor. What is it about me that seems to scream pediatrics? Cuz I ain't bitin'!

X Factors:

1. I do like children. Their carefree honesty is so refreshing and their inquisitive, usually non-judgemental, minds challenge me to look at things in a different way. But I like healthy kids. Sick kids are sad, tired, and scared. While I don't mind comforting kids, I'm not sure I'd have the patience to reason with their inquisitive minds under those circumstances. Before you say it, let me assure you that I know I will have to do this with my own kids some day, but I'm thinking it's different when it's your own. I imagine you're more understanding and patient with your sick child versus someone else's sick child that you don't really know. I don't know. Just thinking out loud here.

2. With every child there is at least one concerned, scared parent. And rightfully so. What an awful feeling for a parent to know that they're love and comfort can't help their child. If they're in the hospital, then presumably there is no amount of cough syrup and cuddling that will make their child's pain go away. Holy patience, Batman! Can you imagine trying to reason and explain things to a parent(s) who is under that kind of stress?

Clearly I'm predicting patience to by my problem. Not unreasonable of me as it was one of my New Year's resolutions. I know I commonly lack it. But I'm not closing the door on pediatrics. I'll take the "wait and see" approach. If all goes well, I'll be accepted to the nursing program this summer and start my clinical rotations in January of next year. I'm excited to see what I learn from rotations. I wonder if I'll surprise myself and fall in love with the areas I'm currently leaning away from. Only time will tell. I'm just intrigued by the now common assumption of pediatrics. Gets me thinking. Makes me evaluate myself as a person: strengths, weaknesses, characteristics. Has that ever happened to you?

Addict

2011-01-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

Since the Christmas tree is gone she's made this her new hiding place. She's always in it, rubbing her chin on the cardboard. Truly an addict.

Strawberry Fields Forever

2011-01-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

So this past week the assignment for MCP Project 52 was to take a photo that depicted a song. When I opened the fridge and saw this happy fruit I couldn't resist.

Strawberry Fields Forever

The Beatles

So I really enjoy music, but I'm not a junkie. I can quickly indentify a tune, and I might know the words of the chorus, but tell you the band who sings it or sing all of the lyrics . . . forget it. I've always identified with music more than lyrics. So looking at the fruit I could hear the chorus of the song in my head, but I wasn't sure if the title was Strawberry Fields Forever, or just Strawberry Fields. After Googling the proper title I learned something else I never knew. There is a memorial in Central Park called Strawberry Fields, built in memory of John Lennon. I've been to Central Park a couple of times and I've never found this. Something to look for next time I'm in NYC. This summer I intend to spend a long weekend in the city and waste my days in Central Park reading, walking, sunbathing, whatever. It's such an enormous park I'm pretty sure I've seen less than a quarter of it.

Anyway, this photo was never actually submitted. I've been experiencing technical difficulty with my internet connection this week. It was driving me crazy! Today Scott fixed the problem, but the deadline for submissions was yesterday. Oh well. C'est la vie! On to next week's assignment: Shades of Gray.

Dress Rehearsal

2011-01-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

Monday, my first day of class, turned out to be a dress rehearsal. Why? Because today we already have a snow day. And I have only one class on Friday. And we have next Monday off for MLK Day. Talk about easing into school. It all sounds great, right? Not exactly.

X Factor:

1. Spring break, which is always over Easter, falls on the last week of April this year. Finals are the first week of May. That means all lectures and labs must be completed before Spring Break and all four of my syllabi have no room built in for snow days. It's stressing me out a little because if we have any more snow days this semester we'll be looking at rushing through materials . . . unless my profs have mercy and start to streamline the information they test us on. Let's hope that's the case. Only time will tell.

The good news is the x factors from my last post are unwarranted fears. I'm not even close to the oldest person in any of my classes, and I'm not the most vocal, the biggest nerd, or the dumbest. Can I get a amen sista? What a relief to my resurfaced teenage angst!

Today I can take the extra time off to do any of the following: clean the house, bake some sweets, read ahead for class, get outside and shoot some photos since I joined MCP's Project 52. Lets talk about Project 52 for a minute. First, I am a novice photographer. Two and a half years ago we went on vacation to St. Maarten for our 5th anniversary. While there, we used our stimulus money to buy me a digital SLR camera (a Canon Rebel xti). I know, way to stimulate someone else's economy. Anyway, I have played around for the last two years without much direction or guidance on how to take higher quality photos, but I hope this project will change that. There is an assignment each week for the whole year. Not only do I hope to learn how to see or set up better shots, I hope to learn more about Photoshop editing. I scored the newest version for a big discount on my birthday thanks to my student status!

I'll be sure to share my weekly submissions with you and would love your feedback. Can't grow without constructive criticism, right? Until then, I'm off to play in the snow . . . or take photos of it.

1st Day of School

2011-01-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

Though I'm no longer an impressionable child who wears pig tails or mall bangs, I do feel the giddiness that little girl felt each year on her first day back to school.

X Factors:

1. I'll probably be the oldest person in my classes. What on earth will I have in common with 18-year-olds?

2. It's been so long since I've taken a math class I may be the dumbest person in there! The one who asks so many questions you never get out of class early.

3. I'm having to retake Anatomy and Physiology because my credits wouldn't transfer so I may be the smartest person in there! The nerd who loves discussion so much that you never get out of class early.

Sounds like these x factors are all rooted in the fear of not being popular with my classmates. Why is it that school, at any age, throws you into this social/emotional tailspin where you give yourself and others the once-over in comparison as if this was the biggest competition of your life, but all you really want is for it to turn into a bitchin' party where everybody loves everybody else and we all raise our glass for a social when someone walks in the door because we're happy they came, no matter who they are. Oh, the teen angst returns! Fortunately, my wise 30-year-old self usually prevails with, "cut the crap! You're paying for these classes with your own money now, so get what you can out of 'em, even if you never get out of class early." Ah-hah! There's my mother in me. Practical.

So, giddy and nervous, here I go. Wish me luck!

Working Out The Kinks

2011-01-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

New Year resolutions have never really been my thing. Besides dieting and working out more, which always sounded cliche to me, I never could think of anything to resolve to do better. I always tried to do well in school or at work. I always tried to be a good person. I always tried to listen well. I always tried to think of others. You get my point. Whether I accomplished these things or not may be debatable, but I did always try. I didn't see the point in making these resolutions if they were already things I was working at. I just didn't see the point to it all. Too many things could go wrong.

X Factors:
1. What if I get bored with my resolution?

2. What if I end up not liking it or finding worth in it?

3. What if I change my mind about it?

4. All of the above really lead to the biggest X factor. What if I fail? Because I always have.

As I've gotten older and taken on more responsibilities I've seen how life gets busy and we sometimes get overwhelmed with everything on our plates. I see now the purpose of resolutions is not necessarily to do something new or better, but to regroup, redirect, or come back to something you put on the back burner when you got overwhelmed. And to do it for yourself without judgement, which seems to be my problem.

Obviously our health, like diet or exercise, is one of the first things many of us neglect. It's so easy to swing through the drive thru for a quick meal. It buys us more time to take care of other things on our plates. It's so easy to skip exercising. It buys us more time to take care of other things on our plates. But giving up one thing after another is like chipping away at the exterior of you. Before you know it you're doing things not for yourself, but because you feel an obligation to someone or something.

I know. I'm not working right now so how overwhelmed could I really be? But after moving to Delaware I dove head first into unpacking and decorating the house before our families came for the holidays. Though I enjoyed most of the process it became all-consuming because I felt like I had to make it perfect and had to get it all finished before our company came. I know these expectations were my own, no one else's, but I got to that place of doing it more out of obligation than desire. So when I decided to partake in a New Year's survey other bloggers did, I really reflected on what I could do for myself just for the joy of it. It was a no-brainer. Yoga.

Not only is yoga good for my body, but I feel so grounded when I practice regularly. My problem is that yoga seems to get put on the back burner because I can't practice uninterrupted at home so I have to go somewhere for it. If I have to travel for it then I find it very easy to make excuses not to go because I have other things I should be doing. Why is doing something for yourself one of the hardest things to stick to?

Well, here's the good news. There is a great yoga studio less than five minutes from my house. Literally. Five minutes, doorstep to doorstep. I started a 10 day trial on Monday and have gone four times. Already my body remembers what to do and is almost back to its prime yoga fitness. Best part? I've worked out all the kinks in my back and neck. And all the kinks in my mind. Here's to a new year and doing something because I want to, because I find joy in it. Did you make a resolution this year?

Prep and Recovery

2011-01-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

Didn't get around to blogging yesterday because I was taking down Christmas decorations, cleaning, and cooking. It was all in preparation for my surgery today so that I could relax on a dog-hair-free couch and watch movies all afternoon before reheating leftovers for dinner. I believe I'm coherent, but if I start to wander in this post I'm sorry. The drugs were really good.

I've been thinking about approaching my blog posts a little differently and this seems like the perfect opportunity. I call this blog Transient Xpress because of our transient, fast-paced Air Force lifestyle that is full of unknowns, or x factors. Not only do I wish to share the lastest happenings with you, but we often find the greatest joys, disappointments, and laughter in how we handle these x-factors. And that's the stuff of life, right? I want to highlight those factors more often. Point in case: today's surgery.

Hysteroscopy: code for fixin' girly stuff. In my case, removing polyps. Men, (or anyone, really) I advise you not to click on the link if you don't want the gory details. You're welcome. The purpose of having this surgery is to try to create an obstacle-free environment for an embryo to attach to and grow in once we do IVF. There's your science lesson for today, people. Moving on.

X Factors:
1. I was completely knocked out with general anesthesia. Bad for the part of me that likes to be in control. Good for the part of me who likes to have fun.

2. Because of the anesthesia I was required to have a chaperone with me to drive me home and wait on me hand and foot while I rested post-op (well, maybe not the waiting part). Scott, of course. Problem is he's working nights right now for this big inspection they're having at work. Not sure he'd be the safer choice between the two of us for operating heavy machinery in his sleep-deprived state.

So, x factors on the brain, I was a little nervous at first. Fortunately I had the greatest nurses caring for me. Further reason I'm convinced it's the profession for me. I donned my beautiful gown, slippers, and cap. When asked if my wedding band could be removed I shrugged and said, "sure. I don't care." The other option was to have them tape it up to keep things sterile in the OR. Scott snorted at my side and pouted, "you sure took that off quickly." Always the comic relief. But really, what if there was a cute doctor walking around? Keeping my options open, right? Kidding! I gave him my ring and proceeded to ball my hand into a fist, pumping up my veins for the nurse to start my IV drip. She asked if I was in the medical profession. Ha! Got 'em fooled already. I did enjoy some conversation with her and two other nurses about my schooling and what areas of nursing I might be interested in. They guessed pediatrics, anesthesia, and surgical nursing. I'm leaning away from pediatrics, but everything else sounded cool. Time will tell.

So, while we waited for the doctor Scott pulled out his phone for us to play Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. I kept telling him to go to the car and sleep. He came home around 6:45 this morning and slept until 8:15 when we had to leave for the hour drive to my surgery. He slept some on the car ride, but nothing substantial. Could we screw with his circadian rhythm any more? At least he could sleep in the car while I was in surgery and they'd call him when I was done. Such a trooper. And the fact that he knew I needed a distraction like a game while waiting exemplifies his concern and care for others. He's my guy! We won $30,900 in Wheel of Fortune just as my nurse anesthetist, Anne, arrived for pre-op questions. She asked if I'd split my Wheel of Fortune winnings with her. I said only if the drugs were good. They were. Too bad my game winnings weren't real.

She said my doctor would be with us shortly. A few minutes later, Scott asked, "where's Dr. Kevorkian, already?" Whaaaaaaat! Wait. Did someone give him my drugs by accident? Poor, sleep-deprived Scott. A minute later Dr. Kovalevsky arrived to ask if we had questions. Let me digress for a minute.

Dr. K has been a dream to work with. This man understands our need for as much information as possible and is happy to educate us. We never feel rushed. We never feel pushed. He communicates pros, cons, and options so flawlessly that I never have questions when he asks for them. Best of all, he always looks us square in the eye and speaks calmly and slowly. You know that he is completely present with each patient he consults. It gives me such confidence in his care and our ability to make decisions that we feel are right for us. Today was no exception.

As I layed on the operating table after leaving Scott I felt very comforted by Dr. K's paternal touch (though he's maybe only 15 years older than us) and Anne's sarcastic humor. She warned me to be ready to pay up. Then the drugs kicked in. Whoa mama! She was right. I remember saying, "there they are!" Dr. K. asked how I felt. I said dizzy and heavy. Next thing I knew I was being woken up by nurse Stacy in the recovery room. I asked if Anne was around so I could pay up and explained our inside joke to her. All of a sudden Scott answered from my other side, "we know. You've told us three times." Uuuhhh . . . yeah. So I told him about the drugs while Stacy grabbed some water and cookies for me. I asked Scott what other conversations we'd had, what time it was, how long had I been out, what time was my surgery finished, and what time did he join me in the recovery room. I don't remember all the answers. I just remember feeling like a colossal idiot. I had NO concept of time and no recollection of the first two times I shared my not-so-funny-anymore inside joke. That's where the control freak in me gets frustrated . . . or giggly when under the influence of good drugs. I'm still giggling about it as I type this. Will these drugs ever wear off? Kidding. I think.

The good new is Dr. Kevorkian never showed up, I feel great (though tired), polyps were successfully removed, and we were home in time for Scott to get three more hours of sleep. He's going on only five for the day. Poor guy.

So, one more thing checked off the list on the journey to parenthood. Relief. Especially since I go back to school on Monday and will be experiencing a whole new kind of stress. But mostly I feel excitement on all fronts.

The City That Never Sleeps

2011-01-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

I love New York. The first time I visited the city was about six years ago. I love that we now live only three hours away. Can you say road trip? Or train ride? We planned to go Christmas weekend to see a show and catch the city all lit up for the holidays, but the Nor'easter thwarted our plans. We were able to exchange our show tickets and hotel room for a different weekend, but we had to attend the same show and Promises, Promises was closing January 2nd. We figured a hotel room would be impossible to get on NYE and the show was off for the holiday, so we settled for New Year's Day. We drove ourselves rather than taking the train. What a trip! Scott now considers himself a New Yorker when it comes to driving in Manhattan. Baptized by fire. Actually, I believe he was initiated into the Manhattan Driving Club when a cabby brake-checked him . . . big time! We still have ND plates on the car so I'm sure he was thinking, "%*$#ing tourist!" Scott thought it was hilarious. Meanwhile, my eyes were darting through traffic looking for a cop to see if we'd be fined $350 each time he honked at a pedestrian or a cabby. Did you know that there are fines for honking in the city? Signs are posted here, but I'm guessing they're minor suggestions rather than hard fast rules. I'm just saying.

Anyway, once we settled into our hotel we took to the streets. We were right in the heart of Times Square. Stepping out of our hotel you could feel the buzz of energy from thousands of people taking in the sights. We headed toward Rockefeller Center for some ice skating, stopping occasionally for a touristy shot.

Times Square declaring the New Year

ABC Studios, Times Square

Festive Radio City Music Hall

We reached the giant Christmas tree only to find that the ice skating line was gigantic. Uh, no thanks. Maybe next year. There's too much to see and do in NYC to want to stand in line for hours just to ice skate with about 200 people for 30 minutes. But we did stick around and watch for a while.

It really is a magnificent tree. I wonder how many strands of lights they use? We continued on to 5th Avenue to check out the famous holiday window displays. There were some fabulous ones, but I was more intrigued by the storefronts dripping with lights and decorations.

Fendi

Who wouldn't want Cartier tied up in a bow?

The other thing I love about New York (or any metropolitan area) is the clash of old and new. I love gothic church spires framed against the sleek design of a corporate office building. I wish I could travel back in time to when the church commanded the skyline, find a perch atop the spire, then press fast forward and watch the city grow around it. I might pause with each passing decade and check out the fashions of the times too. Afterall, trends are set in the city, right?

Fifth Avenue led us right to Central Park. I cannot wait until the summer so I can ride a bike through the park and stop for a picnic or to read a book. Sounds cheesy, I know, but I don't care. I love the idea that you can escape the city for a few moments while you're still in the city. But Central Park at this time of year was fun. Everyone was laughing as we all slid along the not-yet-shoveled paths in our fashionable shoes with little traction. There was sledding, ice skating, and horse drawn carriages. Runners, strollers, and snow ball fights. And there were snowmen.

Big Snowman

Lil' Snowman

No ice skating here, but a lovely view.

As we left Central Park we found Broadway and headed back toward the hotel. We stopped to eat at a cafe across the street from this famous show.

And just down the block was our show. I love the art deco sign on the Broadway Theater. So classy.

If the show hadn't closed this past weekend I would tell you to hurry and buy tickets. It was wonderful! Sadly, Kristen Chenoweth did not perform at our show. Her understudy was great, but I can't help feeling like I missed out. Love her. Sean Hayes was fantastic. Molly Shannon was phenominal! Comic relief at it's best. We lingered a while in Times Square before calling it a night. All day as I passed countless street vendors I inhaled the scent of roasted chestnuts or hot dogs and my stomach pleaded for a delectable treat. I finally gave in around 11:30 pm and shared a fat pretzel with Scott.

The next morning we found a great little deli around the corner from ABC Studios. We ordered bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches to go. Why is it that eating your breakfast sandwich out of tin foil as you walk the streets feels so urban? I guess it lends itself to the "hustle and bustle" atmosphere. As if we had so much to do we couldn't even take the time to sit down for breakfast. Oh well. I'd rather be outside enjoying the sights than sitting in a hotel restaurant eating a continental breakfast. Besides, this was the day all the excitement occurred. Guess who we met?

BARBARA WALTERS! Okay, fine. She's a fake. A phony. A wax replica. Pretty good though, huh? Madame Tussauds was better than I expected. If you ever have the chance to visit, look for Susan Sarandon and Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne. Those figures look so real. I didn't get photos of them because there were so many people next to them. But here are some of my other favorites.

The Clintons

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He's a giant!

Al Roker and Matt Lauer

We had a fun time "meeting" countless celebrities. A fun place to see, especially if you're ever in the city on a rainy or sweltering day. We left the city after lunch and headed back to Dover. We ran into a bit of traffic in NJ, which reminded me that the train is really worth it! No need to pay attention. Just bring a good book and enjoy the ride. Next time. Which may be in February. Yeah. I think I could handle monthly visits. Until next time, NYC!

New Year's Survey 2010

2010-12-31T06:25:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite bloggers does this survey each year. I'm doing it this year because I thought it would be a nice way to reflect on 2010, which flew by!
New Year's Survey 2010
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Learned to operate a riding lawn mower, a snowblower, and a sewing machine. I aced two college courses nine years after graduating from Michigan State. But I'm most proud of learning to drive a stick. I heard only 1 in 16 Americans knows how.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 
Never been one to make resolutions, but maybe this year is a good time to start. I'll aim for yoga consistency, 3 times per week. It just does such good for me. And straight A's in school. It's so different to be a student at this age. WAY more fun.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 
Yes! Baby Kate arrived in August, the daughter of one of my old neighbor boys. He was my first kiss. I was in elementary school and was imitating what I saw on my mom's soap operas. Sometimes I can't believe we're old enough to be parents. Baby Savannah arrived in September. She's the daughter of dear friends we were stationed with in ND. Both girls look a lot like their daddies!
4. Did anyone close to you die? 
My mom's cousin. We weren't exactly close to him, but the loss adds to the tragic road their mother (my I-think-98-year-old great aunt) has endured. Lost the first of her five kids to a drunk driver when he was a teenager. Lost her husband to cancer in the late 70's. Lost another son four years ago due to complications following a brain injury that occurred when he fell down the stairs. Lost another son to cancer a year and a half ago. Lost her last son this fall after he collapsed for unexplained reasons and went into a coma (Heart? Brain? We'll never know). Only her daughter remains. I marvel at the strength of this family, my great aunt, my second cousins, and I can't help but wonder why they've been tasked with such a heavy load. I admire how gracefully they've handled it all.
5. What countries did you visit?
No foreign countries, but saw much of this country! Hit the open road when we moved from North Dakota to Texas (just for the summer). Visits to OK City, Dallas, Houston, and Altus, OK. Packed up in the fall and road tripped to our new home in Dover, DE with pit stops in Michigan and Ohio to see family. Total miles logged? Thousands, I don't really know. But books on tape were my savior!
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Patience! This year's extended state of domestic limbo did a number on my nerves! And bullying secondary education institutions into accepting old college credits is exhausting! More so when it doesn't go your way.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January, when I decided to go back to school for nursing. June, when I moved away from dear friends and neighbors in ND. I went kicking and screaming to that state. Who knew I'd end up loving the experience and the people? July 30th, my golden birthday! Scott threw me a fabulous surprise party to ring in a new decade of my life. Thanksgiving, when both of our families traveled to our new home. Nothing cures the chaos of holidays like the sound of laughter from crazy games of Uno!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working full time while going back to school. I accomplish so much more when I'm busy . . . like straight A's!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Blogging consistently! Working on that.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. But this reoccurring ankle soreness when I try to run is driving me nuts. I'm only 30. Am I really going to be stuck with low impact cardio the rest of my life? Lame. Probably need to think about seeing a doctor for it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Acura TL. Forced me to finally learn to drive a stick. And my Calvin Klein underwear. How does that man know women's bodies so well?
12. Where did most of your money go?
School. College is expensive!
13. What did you get really excited about?
A career change that would work with our mobile Air Force lifestyle. An aggressive course of action for starting a family, cause I'm tired of waiting. Decorating a new home and sharing it with family (see this, this, and this).
14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
If I Die Young by the Band Perry. I know it sounds morbid, but it makes me remember that life is short and I should talk less and do more, no matter how scary things seem (like changing careers). Also, F**k You by Cee Lo Green (or the kid friendly version Forget You). Makes me laugh and I can't sit still when I hear that song. Have to shake my tail feather!
15. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
– happier or sadder? Happier.
– thinner or fatter? Thinner. Stress does wonders for my figure.
– richer or poorer? Poorer. No job for me and school starts full time this month. School = bills!
16. What do you wish you’d done more of? 
Motorcycle riding. Texas was too damn hot for long rides!
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Complaining. Mostly it was about frustrations over starting a family. Truth is, I got tired of hearing myself talk about it. I can only imagine how awkward it got for others to hear. Besides, there's always someone worse off than you, right? Get over it and get happy (at least that's what I try to do).
18. How did you spend Christmas?
Just the two of us. In our PJs. All day long. Perfect!
19. What was your favorite TV program?
GLEE!!!!
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Didn't read as much as I would have liked. But got into historical fiction and loved Nefertiti by Michelle Moran.
21. What was your favorite music from this year? 
I'm not a music junkie. I just love songs I can shake my bootie to. Although, I reconnected with Joan Jett this summer and I crank her up when I'm cleaning the house.
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Despicable Me. Funny. I know I saw some good ones this year, but that's the only one that really sticks out. Movies seem to be pretty predictable nowadays, but still enjoyable. Oh! The Last Airbender and Inception were pretty great. Can't wait to see Black Swan! Missed Social Network, but looking forward to that too.
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
A keg stand! I turned 30 on July 30th. Golden.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting pregnant. Two and a half years is a long time to wait. Whew! But we're hanging in there.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Damn sexy! Ha. Kidding. I would say I've always been modernly classic in terms of wardrobe. But this year I tried to funk things up a lil' bit. Mostly with accessories and layering. Mission accomplished when an old friend noticed the changes and complimented me on them.
26. What kept you sane?
Cheesy as it sounds, my hubby. His sarcastic, and often childish, humor cures any ailment! So lucky.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
The only constant is my life is change. I knew this already (as my blog is named for it and kinda base on that theory) but it was so evident this year. Sorta became my mantra and helped me be more patient and enjoy the process and the growth that comes from change.

Creature Comforts

2010-12-30T05:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the Nor'easter we postponed our NYC trip until this weekend. We'll leave on Saturday, New Year's Day, and return on Sunday evening. But because Saturday is a holiday we have to drop Alley off at the kennel on Friday morning. And because the kennel is closed every Sunday, we can't pick her up until Monday morning. This was the same procedure we went through last weekend with Christmas, only we never left town. Poor Alley. She does very well at kennels (as far as we know), but this kennel doesn't offer the creature comforts our old kennel in ND did. They have spacious, indoor/outdoor kennels, but they don't provide beds like these the way our old kennel did.

They don't provide play groups either. S'okay. She's not the most involved participant in play groups. She prefers to observe and herd ( I think it's the Blue Heeler instinct). But as this will be her second long weekend in a row at the kennel I thought she might want a comfy bed for her stay.

We bought Alley a doggy bed years ago when we first got her, but she wanted nothing to do with it. Why would she when her daddy let her up on the bed and the couch basically from the start? In hindsight, no regrets about that. She's the best cuddler! But maybe she'd like to have a bed at the kennel. If nothing else it will smell like us and be a comfort to her emotionally, if not physically.

Let me stop here and say that I am completely aware of how this post is sounding. I know, she's just a dog. But really, she's our baby! She is our first. And who knows if we'll ever have actual kids. So I'm going to dote on her as much as I please.

Now, prepare to roll your eyes even more. Not only have we given her a bed for her kennel stays, but I actually made it. Yeah. I hear the laughter coming all the way from my ND friends. But it's because I'm bored. Because I'm not working and have the time. Because school hasn't started yet. Because I have cabin fever and need something to do. I googled "how to make dog beds" and found this. And I consulted YouTube for a video tutorial. So here's what I ended up with. She's warming up to it.

But as I mentioned earlier, I'm sure this bed will be for the kennel only.

Nor'easter

2010-12-29T07:14:00.000-08:00

Thankfully, we kept our shovel and snow blower from North Dakota. They came in handy this weekend when the much anticipated Nor'easter dumped 8 inches of snow on us. The 50 mph wind gusts didn't help road conditions either so we postponed our NYC trip until next weekend, then headed out into the wind to combat the snow. Felt just like North Dakota, but a little warmer. Scott snow-blowed the driveway and walkway while I shoveled the back deck. The snow had drifted right up to the back door, and I knew Alley wouldn't go outside if she had to jump over a drift to get out there.

So a path to the yard was shoveled for Alley's potty breaks. I continued shoveling the entire deck . . . until this happened.

Turns out the handle is not ergonomically designed to reduce stress on your back, or whatever. Actually, the arm was bent during the move this summer and the combination of heavy snow and the occasional force of running into a lifted nail compounded the problem. What's the big deal, right? Alley's path to the yard was cleared and the rest of the snow will melt. Yeah, no problem here. Except that snow = yard in her mind, no matter where it is.

Gross. Don't eat yellow snow.

Santa's Lil' Helper

2010-12-28T05:57:00.000-08:00

Frosty loves eating ribbons . . .

and opening presents . . .

Sadly, no pictures of Alley this year. We took her to the kennel on Christmas Eve in preparation for our overnight jaunt to New York City on Sunday. It never happened because of the Nor'easter that dropped almost a foot of snow in our area, and 18 inches in parts of New Jersey and New York. Good thing we kept our snow blower from North Dakota.

The Greatest Christmas Gift

2010-12-26T19:21:00.000-08:00

He told me it was the best dish I've ever made. And he's picky.

Here it is. I used chicken and two frozen deep dish pie shells. Semi-homemade. It's how I roll.

Xpansion

2010-12-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about this post for weeks. No, I'm not announcing a pregnancy. But I figured it was time to open up a little more about this. The tricky part is how. I do not want this to turn into an infertility blog. I find many of those sites overwhelming as they chronicle the ups and downs of trying to start a family. I've been feeling those ups and downs myself for the last 2 and 1/2 years, and reading about similar journeys of others can compound my own feelings immensely, causing me to wallow in self pity. And the acronyms on those sites . . . WTF? Heh!

Seriously, though, they're so hard to follow sometimes because I'm constantly trying to decode what the person is saying: TTC, IUI, IVF, ART, RE, etc., etc. Having said that, I will concede that it's comforting to know others share your struggles, and that can be a benefit of reading infertility blogs. I guess I just prefer old fashioned discussion when it's possible. But here I am, writing instead of discussing. See? I can make myself crazy when left alone with my thoughts!

So writing this on a public blog is the easiest way to share with the masses without putting this in a Christmas letter. "We're still not pregnant, but Merry Christmas anyway." Can you say awkward?

We have been trying to "Xpand" here at Transient Xpress. This month marks 2 and 1/2 years. We have tried a lot of boots-knockin', temperature and menstrual cycle charting, diet and vitamin enhancing, "just relaxing", and artificial insemination (clinically called Intrauterine Insemination, or, IUI). No success. Turns out, because of both male and female factors, we have less that 20% chance of getting pregnant through artificial insemination (IUI), and even less chance of getting pregnant naturally. What can I say? We're a team in every aspect of our marriage. Heh! I'll spare you most of the details, but if you or someone you know is interested I'm more than happy to share one-on-one. Like I said, there's comfort in knowing others struggle too, but not everyone wants the details and I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable here. I can hear butts shifting in seats already. Okay, I'll move on.

We started consulting with a fertility clinic here in Dover in November. I have been so relieved by how personal our care has been. We are grateful to finally have some answers and a clear course of action. We have decided, with the help of our doctor, that IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is our best option for having a baby of our own. Yes, we desire to try all we can for our own biological child first. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, it's just how we feel. If we have no success with IVF, then yes, we would consider other means of becoming parents, including adoption and surrogacy.

Through a battery of base-line testing and blood work I learned that I no longer have immunities to the German Measles and the Chicken Pox. Though easily corrected, it means having to wait a few more months before starting IVF because the Chicken Pox vaccine is a two-shot series. I'd like to go on record here and say I got jipped! I had the Pox as a kid and it ruined my Niagara Falls vacation! And for what? Crikey. And I was vaccinated for the measles too. My doctor says some people lose immunities over time. Great.

Anyway, the vaccine process in under way and the next step is for me to have surgery to remove some polyps they found during base-line testing. A month after the surgery we can try our first (and hopefully only) round of IVF.

I suppose my motivation for writing about this is two-fold; support and education. As we venture down the road of infertility I have found great comfort and support in talking to other infertile couples and would be happy to offer that to others. Our stories are all so similar, yet different in the personal details. I'm learning that fertility issues are a very common thing. I think people used to be more embarrassed to talk about it than they are now. But thanks to reality TV shows like this and blogs such as this, issues are being brought to light and a dialogue can begin resulting in education of the masses and empathy for all sides of infertility arguments (Yes, fertility can be a hot topic. Here's one example argument).

So, if you or someone you know may want to talk/share with me please pass my name along. I'm totally open to that. Otherwise, I encourage everyone who is touched by infertility (directly or indirectly) to educate yourself, listen, and be sensitive to others' opinions. You don't have to "say the right thing", just be there to listen like so many of our friends and family have. It reminds us how lucky we are, even when things aren't going our way. Meanwhile, please think of us, say a prayer, or do your fertility dance around the fire in the next few months as we proceed with IVF. Hopefully Transient Xpress will have a new transient to blog about in the next year or so.

Thanksgiving

2010-12-20T07:01:00.000-08:00

I have no pictures of Thanksgiving. I was too busy cooking and playing hostess with the mostest.

But this Thanksgiving will go down as one of the best holidays I can remember. First, I was proud to have finished decorating our new home and couldn't wait to show our family. They loved it. Second, we almost never had visitors in North Dakota so we were thrilled our families came out to visit us here so soon after we moved in. Third, our families have fun together and enjoy each other (all 15 that were present). No need for us to entertain them. Fourth, everyone was so eager to help me with kitchen duties that I was able to mingle and even get off my feet for a while. Couldn't have been more perfect.

Having said that, let me now give full disclosure. The morning the last family members left we were still in our pajamas . . . and we never got out of them. The dog and cat passed out for the entire day, and we never left the couch, except to eat leftovers. So, what I can share with you about Thanksgiving (since I have no pictures) is my menu. Don't you just love eating yourself into a coma and grazing on leftovers for days to come?

Turkey - made in the greatest turkey fryer ever!
Stuffing - Sadly, Stovetop. I didn't have it in me for one more homemade recipe.
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Acorn Squash
Corn Casserole
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie

What was on your menu? Or what are you planning to make for Christmas? I just love me some good holiday cookin' and bakin'! Speaking of baking . . . shout out to my old coworkers who just had their annual cookie exchange. Wish I could have been there!

Like A Moth To A Flame

2010-12-17T05:06:00.000-08:00

She is mesmerized! And she loves the heat.

If she's not under the tree, she's here.

We've affectionately nicknamed her Christmas Kitty.

Education

2010-12-15T06:43:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of catching you up from November's happenings (since I posted only once that month) I feel it's important to fill you in on my education plans. I talked about it a little bit here, but now, almost a year later, I'll give you the rest of the story of my journey to nursing school.

Last spring I aced Anatomy and Physiology I and II. I was so proud. They were accelerated courses that crammed 16 weeks worth of work into just 8 weeks. It was perfect for me because I'd have both prerequisite courses under my belt at the end of the semester to be able to apply to nursing schools. Then we learned we were moving to Dover and things got a bit more difficult. I had been looking at accelerated Bachelor of Nursing degrees that give students who have a degree in another field prerequisite credit for the studies they've completed. With just A&P and a microbiology class to take I'd be able to apply to these accelerated programs and finish my BSN in just 18 months. Perfect, considering we never know how long we'll be living somewhere. Dover has no accelerated programs. The closest school that offered such a program is over an hour north . . . on tollways. Talk about expensive and time consuming. I'd be commuting so much I'd never see my husband and critters! This was not really of interest to me.

There are a couple of schools in Dover that offer four year BSN degrees. I inquired about their programs hoping credits from my first degree would transfer, allowing me to cut the four years in half. Both told me that even with credits from my previous degree (which wouldn't all be accepted as they were nearing the "over ten years old" mark) it would still take me a minimum of five semesters to complete the BSN, and many of the courses were NOT offered in the summer, which could have sped up the process. Again, not a smart choice for me as we aren't really sure how long we'll be stationed in Dover. So my last option was a technical college that offered an Associate's degree. The good news is that you can be a registered nurse with just your ASN. With prerequisites completed, this program is just four semesters. This looked like the best option for me. I could finish the degree in our time here, go to work, and if I wanted more of a challenge or more opportunities in nursing I could complete my BSN quite easily as there are many local and online RN to Bachelor programs, as well as RN to Master programs.

Then the drama began. I'll give you the very short version. This ASN program has more prerequisites than Harvard Law School! And they are sticklers about transferred credits being less than ten years old, even though they led to a completed degree! I have tried everything I can think of to skip over some of the prerequisites, but the truth is it won't put me ahead of the game any sooner because of when classes are offered and how soon I could apply to the clinical portion of school. Thus, I've been reduced to taking a 100 level math class that no other college in the country has heard of (nor have any nurses I know ever heard of it), Anatomy and Physiology I and II again because my classes in North Dakota included virtual labs instead of "wet labs", and the 100 level chemistry class that is a prerequisite for their A&P courses. Crikey!

I think I'm over the anger of having to jump through hoops because this school is truly my only option here. And I just feel this sense of urgency to bite the bullet and get it done now. We are trying to start a family, and if I'm not enrolled in school before that happens then I think I could easily throw in the towel and stay home with kids. Though it would be a privilege to stay home with babies, I also fear that I would later regret not chasing this dream. And being home without a job since we left ND has not been that fabulous. I crave interaction with peers and challenges for myself. And honestly, I hate that Scott comes home every day and asks what I did. You can only hide behind the "I'm interested in your day" curtain for so long. I know he's really making sure I don't sit in front of the TV all day. I suppose I'd do the same thing, but it's not appreciated when you're on this side of the fence.

So . . . class begins January 10th. I got into all the classes I need in order to apply to clinicals at the end of this spring. If accepted right away (which I pray is the case!), then I'll start clinicals next January. That leaves me the fall semester to finish up prerequisites needed for clinicals, but not needed for the application process. Confused yet? Yeah. All this for an Associate degree. Oh well.

Anyway, frustrations included, this still feels good, probably because I want this so badly. Maybe I'm crazy. In any other aspect of my life I would have taken the five BIG roadblocks I've encountered as a sign that this wasn't meant to be. So it begs the question, am I determined? Or insane? S'okay. I can handle it. I think I'm comfortable with either label.

Minimalist

2010-12-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

That's what I am when it comes to holiday decorations. I'm hanging on to that expression as an excuse for my pathetic display. But let me show you why I'm a minimalist.

Every morning I wake to see this. A certain kitty, who shall remain nameless, loves to hide under the tree. I think it brings out her wild instincts because after a good nap she wakes up ready to stalk her prey from under the cover of the branches. She digs at the tree skirt, bolts to another room, then charges back under the tree and rolls around and digs some more. She even pounces on the skirt. Now, imagine what she'd do to the ornaments if we hung them. It ain't pretty! Many a bulb have met their fate sooner than necessary thanks to her climbing.

So besides lights and an angel topper, we leave the tree alone. We have stockings and candles too, but that about covers the Christmas decor. Pa-Thetic! Definitely working on that this year. Waiting for the end-of-the-season sales. Until then, we'll just enjoy the colorful glow.

Operation Home Decorating: Dining Areas

2010-12-09T07:08:00.000-08:00

The last area of the house that required a lot of work was the dining room. It needed so much work because we've never had a formal dining room before. We were starting from scratch.

We started with this very empty, very red room. But the red was more of a dark salmon color that I wasn't so crazy about. I could already see the nightmare I'd have trying to match curtains or something. So after much thought, discussion with Scott, shopping, sewing, and wood working we came up with this.

I love how the two-toned gray walls really open up the room and make it feel bigger. Scott was a little worried that it would be boring, or worse, "goth" because I wanted black furniture to go with it. I assured him the fabrics I ordered would be bright and cheerful. I love the mix of coordinating fabrics in this room. I found them all online at discounted prices. Because I wanted the fabrics to stand out I decided to go minimal on the walls with simple candelabra. The best part is that I can change out the candles for different scents and colors depending on the season. See the curtains up there? I sewed those. Yep! Couldn't find any in stores or online that I was really happy with so I finally learned how to use my sewing machine and made these. I love them. It's a black and white floral pattern with a bright green bird thrown in there sporadically for a splash of color. They have a bit of a retro feel to them that I like. Very eye catching, I think.

The other fabrics showcase more of the chartreuse green. It works well with the black furniture and keeps it from getting "goth". Example:

This large black bar gets a colorful lift with a table runner I made. And the tassel is sewn INSIDE the runner. Oh yes I did! Martha friggin' Stewart if I do say so myself.

But even better than me "rivaling" Martha with my sewing and colorful fabrics is the fact that Scott made this bar/storage unit himself. He drew up the plans, built it, and painted it in four days. He amazes me. We just couldn't find anything we loved in the furniture stores that wasn't gargantuan in size, so he decided to make our furniture instead. It was cheaper too. Lord knows he loves a good deal. He also made the dining room table which includes a removable leaf. He rocks!

I love that Scott paid attention to details. He beveled the edge of the table top and even included trim on the table apron. If you noticed, that checkered trim matched the trim on the bar piece. Even the legs of all the pieces coordinate.

The chairs were purchased online. Actually, the table and bar came to life after we bought the chairs. We liked the legs on the chairs and decided that coordinating with those would be a good way to tie all the pieces together. The chairs originally came with cream fabric seats. I recovered them with the chartreuse fabrics I bought and loved the outcome. Solid green on the ends, alternating patterns at the rest of the table. See?

And again, I made some simple table runners to break up all the black. This is probably my favorite room now because so much love and effort went into it by both of us. Perhaps this furniture will take residence in our children's homes someday. True heirlooms!

Just off the dining room is the eat-in kitchen.

This space was pretty great to begin with. But the blank wall on the right got a face lift.

These vintage ads came from a calendar I used two years ago. I loved the bright colors and the fact that they all advertised food and beverages. Perfect for the kitchen, don't you think? So I cut out the pictures and took them to the Arts and Crafts center on base to have them framed.

These two pictures hang on an opposite wall leading to the dining room. With all the pops of color I think it coordinates well with some of the serving pieces I have on display.

My mom got me the bowl and platter above on a trip to Arizona. They're hand-painted with colorful peppers and bottles of hot sauce. Caliente!

So what do you think of our dining areas? I was going for bright, cheerful, and personal. Hopefully you agree.

Operation Home Decorating: Living Room

2010-12-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

I'm finally happy with the living room. It has been the cause of a marital chess game. Did you know I don't like chess? Correction. I don't even know how to play chess! The only before pics I have are from the week we moved in. Sorry for the clutter.

Before...

After.

You can see we added a leather recliner. I love that it's not super-sized, yet it's not dwarfed by the sectional. Hard to tell, but it's a rich chocolate color that compliments the warm tones of the paint and the sofa. But with all the neutral colors in the room I was looking for a pop of color to add somewhere.

Before...

After.

The pictures on the wall are photos I've taken. Well, one of them is.

I took this photo last year on our trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota (read about it here and here). This is in Badlands National Park, and I promise you I did not over edit this picture. There really were no clouds in the sky and it really was vibrant blue. I loved the contrast between the blue sky and sandy rocks. So how did I get it on canvas?

There are many art/photography websites that will upload your prints and turn them into a canvas for you. I used this one. See the corner? That's called "gallery wrapped." What do you think? Gallery worthy?

It took a while to get to this. Thus, the marital chess game I was talking about. After HOURS of scouring the internet and local stores for artwork that was large enough for the wall and had a pop of color (I even considered painting something myself and I've never even taken an art class), I begged Scott to tell me what he wanted. He was vetoing every suggestion I made, so I threw up my hands and said, "enough". He was all about cheap. We (okay, maybe just me) had been spending quite a bit of money on curtains, linens, new furniture, etc. He was having heart palpitations every time he checked our bank account online. I assured him the spending would be over before Thanksgiving when our families came, but he wasn't soothed. I showed him the personal photo canvas option. He liked the idea of our own photos on display, but he didn't want to spend more money. He suggested I paint something on my own. It would be cheaper, yet personal. Problem was he had more confidence in me than I did. But I was willing to play along. Here was my inspiration.

These pillows came with us in the move and I love the bright colors, especially in the very neutral living room. From this pillow, I came up with this.

It was just okay. Looked kind of cartoon-like to me. But Scott kept going on about how awesome it was. I was skeptical that his praise had more to do with the cost of the art rather than the quality of it. I talked myself into hanging it. I was pretty sure it would grow on me.

After a full week on the wall I still hated it. I ordered the canvas and prayed it would come in time for Thanksgiving. Scott was not thrilled, especially since he voted for a different picture to make into a canvas. Checkmate. I was sick of this game. I'm glad I followed my instincts, and thank goodness it arrived before Thanksgiving.

The photo on the other wall is actually four separate photos put together to make a 180 degree view of Dubrovnik, Croatia. In my last post you saw a painting of Dubrovnik in the guest bedroom. Thanks to my brother-in-law's handy work, this real life shot brings my memories back to life. I believe the four originals were taken between my camera, his camera, and my sister-in-law's camera. A joint masterpiece and a wonderful family trip that was so much fun!

Okay, let's go back to a before shot.

See those small tables by the sofa? Target special from about eight years ago. I think they still carry them, but I was tired of them and wanted "real" furniture. Adult furniture. And something that didn't look so puny next to the sectional. We ended up with a set of tables from Ashley Furniture. A square coffee table and coordinating sofa and end tables. Check this out.

Scott's first comment was that the table was too big. I think he was just used to the puny Target stuff. I love how this fits perfectly in the L of the sectional.

Each of the four sides looks the same, which makes this the perfect table for entertaining. See?

No need for coasters when you pull this baby out. And of course the drawer next to it provides plenty of room for storage.

Other things I like...

That lamp. I love the three shelves for displaying keepsakes. Here's what I've put on them.

This was THE first photo snapped of us after becoming husband and wife, right after the ceremony. My brother-in-law was behind us and asked the newlyweds to turn around. And it's housed in a Tiffany frame I earned for my sales when I worked for Clinique. I kinda love that the few designer items I have, like this frame, all come with a story. Lord knows my husband could care less about designer things, so I've learned to cherish the ones I get.

These books are priceless to me, no matter how beat up they are. The top one is the book in which my Grandpa's POW capture story is written, Through The Eye Of The Needle. The bottom one was given to me by my Grandma. It's the 1940's edition of The Air Force Wife. It was hers, and she passed it on to me when I married my Air Force man. Certainly customs have changed over the years, but flipping through the pages of this book is like stepping back in time. I love it.

I also love my fireplace mantle. This is the perfect spot to display my treasures or holiday decorations (please excuse the cartoon decolletage).

On the right is one of my favorite pictures ever. It was taken about five years ago at my cousin's wedding reception. My grandma, me, and my mom. Three generations of strong women. Sadly, my Grandma passed away two years ago. It amazes me that two years later I miss her so much it can still bring me to tears at times. She was wonderful.

In the middle of the mantle is my North Dakota treasure. A gift from coworkers, and the lovely photography of a dear friend. The Farmer's Market, my favorite restaurant, my old house, the school I worked at, and the reason we moved there... the air base. For a girl who went kicking and screaming to ND, I sure have come out the other side a convert. I miss my friends and neighbors very much. So many great times there!

And what would a mantle be without pictures of your kids? I'm realizing that I don't have a separate picture of my kitty framed. There are some good ones, so I just have to get it done. But this picture of Alley was taken just a couple weeks after we got her. The tips of her ears had just straightened up at this point, though the one on the left took a little longer. It's like her ears were winking at you! I loved this look on her.

I've always known this, but walking you through my decorating decisions solidifies it for me; memories are what make your house a home. Though we have few memories made in this house, it's still our home because we brought so many memories with us and have displayed them for all to see. I hope you can say the same for your house.

Operation Home Decorating: Guest Bedroom

2010-12-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

There's a lot to cover in my home decorating adventures. Thus, the first of multiple posts on Operation Home Decorating.

Suggestion. If you want to keep your sanity do not volunteer to host you and your spouse's families for a holiday just two months after moving cross-country to a new state. Then again, sanity-free can be fun! The mad dash to furnish and finish decorating the house before Thanksgiving will go down in history as one of the craziest times of my life. Self induced, of course, because I suffer from mild decorating OCD. To the point that I learned how to use my sewing machine one week before Thanksgiving to sew curtains, valances, and table runners for the dining room. But that's for another post.

This post highlights the Guest Bedroom, formally known as the very blue room.

Blue walls, blue bedding, blue pictures. Oy! So it became this.

Doesn't it look bigger? And it feels so much warmer. Remember the headboard? Let's take a closer look at the details of the room.

Remember this beauty? She's been accessorized. I went with some twiggy, potpourri things in a bowl for a natural element and a vintage picture of my Grandpa for a personal touch.

Remind you of someone?

I love that a picture of my Grandpa, taken before I or my mom was a glimmer of a thought in his mind, can remind me of my brother. Is it possible to feel your heritage?

So the dresser finally got a partner. Also an antique store find, though it's transformation was not logged. This guys sits next to the bed.

I like the detail at the bottom. Sadly, the holes that existed for the hardware were too far apart for me to match it to the dresser. But these handles work fine and the brushed nickel matches well. Can't sweat the small stuff.

Another coordinating factor. The shelves.

Mostly filled with candles, except for this hand painted picture of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Bought this seaside while there in 2005. I love the colors and love the memory. Another personal touch. I'm finding that's important to me as I get older. Being surrounded by familiar things. Speaking of familiar...

I call this the Heritage wall. I found all these coordinating, vintage looking frames at Michael's. One of their infamous 50% off sales. Some of the pictures were already matted, some needed matting, and some didn't. I like the mix. These are our grandparents. Even though Scott no longer flies for the Air Force both of our Grandpas did so we loved being connected to that, and them, through this wall.

My mom's parents on their wedding day. I love that this artistic shot through the back of the getaway car was taken in 1945. Edgy for the era? I like to think so.

My beloved Grandma, years later. She was a teacher and had gone back to school for her Master's degree in the 60's. This was her graduation picture. Her hair. Her skin. Wow. Oh! And looking at this photo is like looking at my cousin Emily. Wish I had a picture of her to show you. Again, that familiar feeling. Awesome!

Scott's Grandpa in his pilot school graduation picture, and receiving his Flying Cross. He was a great pilot, but sadly, he lost at least three radio operators in battle during WWII. Experiences that shaped who he is today. Oddly, our grandpas achieved similar awards for their heroism during the war. Scott's fought in Japan, mine fought in Europe. Both received Purple Hearts. Their stories are treasures. I could write about them for ages. Fortunately, my grandpa's POW story was published, and Scott's grandpa recently taped an interview recalling his experiences. Priceless treasures.

So there you have it. A room full of familiarity, personal touches, texture, natural elements. I'm no designer, but it feels like home. And that's what matters. It's ready for visitors!

Kitty Tree

2010-12-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist. This will be her spot for the next month. Our bed will be colder at night, but she's in heaven! Operation Home Decorating delayed for a day, but for good reason.

Girls' Weekend

2010-12-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

My dad recently sent me a hokey chain email that described how people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Hokey as it was, I'm still thinking about how true it is. Meet the girls of my twenties.

Aren't we cute?

Moving often (whether it's me or them) lends a hand to losing touch, and we sometimes do for a few months. It ebbs and flows. But Big Red there is the rock. She's petite, but a force to be reckoned with. The glue that holds us together! Last month we all met up in St. Louis where our love affair began. We traveled back in time over wine, Mexican, and shopping. We were pretty fresh out of college back then, working for the same company, all newlyweds or engaged, and looking for fun. Boy did we find it. Margaritas pretty much weekly, relationship counseling, bachelorette parties, float trips, and "professional" development to boot. And today we find fun in much the same ways, though it's not as frequent and happens often over the phone or on annual trips like this. Still, cool.

There were two more in the original group who I'm still in touch with, but the others aren't. Scott always tells me I was the glue of the original group. A different bunch of personalities who shared one common thing: a friendship with me. I'm gonna take that as a compliment that says I'm relatable to all personalities? Whatever. Perhaps they were "reason" friends for each other, filling a need in their lives at that time. For me, these girls started as "season" friends as they supported me (and I them) through the beginning of my grown up years. But I love that we can reconnect any time and fall back into the swing of things. In fact, I think that makes them "lifetime" friends. We constantly are depending on each other for support. We've grown alongside each other. Instead of bitching about our bosses or fiances (at least not as often), we share experiences and dreams for the future: buying homes, starting families, vacations, new jobs. We cheer each other on through difficult times. We call to share funny stories or experiences that remind us of our earlier days together. It's so comforting it feels like snuggling in a warm blanket. I love these girls. And the greatest thing for me is that I have friends like this all over the country! Some are there for a reason, some sustain the season, and a select few will be there for life.

Punkin' Chunkin' 2010

2010-12-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

The first weekend in November we invited my brother to spend the night with us in DE for the World Championship Punkin' Chunkin' competition just south of Dover. I have loved living near my brother for a change (down the road in Baltimore, MD) but it was temporary. Tuesday his company transferred him to Seattle. We knew it was coming, so we used our time together wisely, and Punkin' Chunkin' was part of that. My cousin Matt and his wife Amy also live in Baltimore and decided to join us.

We began the festivities by supporting Matt in his bike race on the north end of the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) peninsula. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised at how often we could see Matt and cheer him on. The course was roped off in a state park and you could run across the racers' path at your own risk to get to other viewing areas. It really wasn't that risky. :)

Matt's the one in white. Can't see it well, but it's a Storm Trooper jersey for the Halloween season. :)

I've always thought of Matt as athletic, but holy buckets these riders were tough! Talk about endurance. The race lasted around 45 minutes and was full of obstacles, natural and man-made.

Oh, and it had rained the night before so some areas were nice and muddy.

Yep. Half his tire is in the mud. Just look at his quad muscle. Crazy!

Hats off to Matt and all the riders for a job well done. As we waited for Matt to cool down Scott snapped a couple of photos of Grant and myself. I knew I wouldn't see him again until Thanksgiving, and that would be the last time before he moved. Thank goodness for great pics. Seeing my brother laugh makes me so happy!

Finally we headed down the Delmarva Peninsula to drop Bailey Beagle (Matt and Amy's dog) at our house to play with Alley. He'd had a hard morning cheering on his daddy!

Then on we drove to Punkin' Chunkin'. We knew we'd be catching the tail end of the competition for the day, but there were many other things going on: concerts, concessions, Miss Punkin' Chunkin' Pageant. It was gonna be great. Forty-five minutes later we were at the end of a VERY long line of cars that the GPS indicated was still three miles from the event! Only certainties in life are death and taxes...and event parking madness. After 25 minutes and only 6 car lengths we called it quits, pulled a U-ey, and headed to the Dogfish Head Brewery in Milford. Best decision EVUH! Greatest beers (like, 32 microbrews or something) and fabulous food. I recommend the crab cake sandwich with the Odd-Umm beer (only available in the fall). Amen. That night will go down in history as one of my faves with my family. Laughed until I cried! And how smart of Dogfish to put their merchandise stand right outside the bar's doors. This drunken crowd scored lots of swag (Or not, since we paid for it and swag is technically free stuff. Whatevs!).

The following morning we made the drive back to Punkin' Chunkin', sans Matt and Amy as they headed back to B'more the night before. We were determined to see chunkin' greatness. We arrived as the air cannons began competition. How impressive! The power of these machines was incredible. Some of them chunked so hard they made "pie", where the punkin' explodes on launch, resulting in a score of 0. If pie was avoided, all eyes were in the sky, searching for the spec that was the punkin' (never did catch one on film). Height, speed, distance. All were impressive!

As the morning ended we took a lunch break in the car with some fries and funnel cakes. Yep. Healthy. We rejoined the crowd at the catapultes just in time to see Jamie from Myth Busters. He and Adam were hosting as the Science Channel taped the events. No, we didn't make it on TV. At least that we could tell. We were in the back of the crowd where it was easier to see launches and spot punkin's. My only regret is that we couldn't see the spotters in the field that came thisclose to getting creamed by the runaway punkins! Heh.

But let me tell y'all, THESE machines are where it's at! They may not launch as high, as far, or as fast as the air cannons, but the craftsmanship and engineering involved is fascinating! Scott was drooling. I literally could see the wheels spinning in his head. Don't be surprised if he winds up IN the competition next year.

I'm so glad we went back the next morning. Chunkin' weekend may be my favorite one since moving here! Check out the details here, or watch the Science Channel to see punkins fly!

Happy December?

2010-12-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

Already? December? Clearly the calendar is wrong. It can't be December 1st because that means I posted only one measly entry in November. Oh wait. That's true!

I don't even know where to begin, except to say that so much happened last month I rarely found myself with a free moment to blog. And when I did find a free moment it generally was used for sleeping or eating, though neither was pleasurable. Strictly necessary. Still, that feels like a cop-out. The point of keeping a blog was to keep family and friends updated with my life. If I don't do that, what's the point of continuing the thing only to do a half-assed job of it and feel guilty about it? I think I get too wrapped up in doing a post "justice" and really explaining the details when I could just spew the information and let you make sense of it on your own sometimes. After all, that's often how face-to-face communication works anyway, right? Thing is, I enjoy writing when I make the time for it. That's always been my problem...making the time for it.

Clearly my approach to this sucks. I'm going to be thinking long and hard at how I can do this better because I DO enjoy it and think it can be a helpful tool for frequent movers like us to keep others in the loop. Until then, I will dedicate the next few posts to catching you up on November's happenings:

1. World Championship Punkin' Chunkin' (as seen on the Science Channel)
2. Operation Home Decorating (in time for Thanksgiving)
3. Girls' Weekend
4. Education
5. Xpansion
6. Thanksgiving

I'm going for it...DAILY POSTS! Hellz yeah! Stay tuned....please? I promise I won't leave you this month.

Call Me Martha

2010-11-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart, that is. 'Cause I'm pulling out all the creative juices I can muster for the guest bedroom. I showed you the refinished dresser I found at a used furniture store. I loved the finished product, but I'm learning that making a house feel like a home means each room should have a comfortable, lived-in quality that makes you want to spend time in it. In short, one piece of furniture isn't gonna make the room. You need layers, color, texture, etc.

(How fitting that as I type this GMA is featuring designer Jonathan Adler in a segment about creating happy spaces in your home. I look for inspiration from anything, anyone, or anywhere. This guy rocks.)

So I was thinking about texture in the guest bedroom. What could I do? I was fishing around on some design blogs and got an idea. Here's what I created.

Can you guess what it is?

I searched high and low for texture. Fabric stores, retail stores. You name it, I went there!

In the end, the fabric came from a very unlikely source.

But once I got the fabric, this project took no time at all. Grabbed my staple gun, some foam and quilter's batting and got to work.

Yep, it's a shower curtain. Why? Because I couldn't find anything I liked in stock at the fabric and retail stores, and I didn't have time to order and wait for the fabric I did like. Besides, I think this looks kinda nice all finished. It'll be even better once I attach it to the bed. :) Hello, big hotel-like headboard!

Granted, this is a basic exercise in texture, but you get the point. Right? Just call me Martha.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-10-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

One year ago today I published my first blog post. Postings have been sporadic at best, but I've enjoyed the ride thus far. I realize I'm posting this so late that it will no longer be the anniversary by the time anyone reads this, but I don't care. At least I'm getting it done. And the last hour of the day is as good as any to celebrate!

Anyway, this has been a great way to keep family and friends posted on all that's happening with us as we move around. I find it fitting that I started this blog in the fall, as leaves are changing. After all, this blog has been a diary of changes in our lives. Thanks for following along!

Back in my first blog post I talked about missing the bursts of red and orange in the fall colors up in North Dakota. This year, out east, the story is much different.

Last weekend we went to a boat show in Annapolis, MD. What a charming little city! I instantly fell in love. To add to the charm, we toured the Naval Academy and caught glimpses of fall everywhere we looked.

Every time I see turning leaves I think how they've basked in the sun all summer. The glowing golds and bursts of orange are like a tan, telling the leaves' story without words. I guess that would make this next one a farmer's tan...

Sitting under this gem, I felt like we were being shielded from the sun. Well, we were. Sort of. But rather than being kept in the dark we could enjoy the light through the bright leaves.

A golden canopy. Aaaahhh, I love fall. What a great time to celebrate changes... and an anniversary!

Home

2010-10-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted because I've been focusing on decorating our house and cataloguing/photographing damaged items from our move, but that's another story. If you saw the pictures in this post, you know our house was move-in ready. Yet, no matter how often we move, I always forget how much time the little tasks that make a house a home can take.

To make this house our home I started in the guest bedroom. Why the guest bedroom when we don't live in it? Because we're having a boat-load of family here for Thanksgiving and some of them will stay in our house. We needed furniture for the room, as all we had was a bed. We sold our cheap Target furniture before we left North Dakota. A few weekends ago we went to an antique/used furniture store down the road ten minutes. Scott was very skeptical about buying other people's "junk". But he soon came around as we browsed beautifully crafted, functional furniture from the early 1900's. We were awed at the craftsmanship of real (not pressed or veneer) wood furniture and realized the tremendous amount of work that went into these items when power tools didn't exist. We were further intrigued by art deco furniture of the 50's and 60's, the smooth, curved lines that defied conventional furniture of the time. All the while I was thinking that these pieces of furniture had taken up residence in a home long ago. What was their story? How did they end up in this shop? How many dinners had been hosted at these tables? How many kids' rooms had the dressers lived in? How many times had they been scratched, dented, or painted? Who restored them to their original beauty? It was fun, to say the least. We also played a game called, "Guess How Much." We were pleasantly surprised when most of the items were cheaper than we expected.

Eventually we got back on track and began to look for a dresser and nightstands for the guest bedroom (and kept an eye out for a dining room table for Thanksgiving, too). We scored this dresser, which was restored but was in so-so condition. I knew I wanted to paint it, and Scott didn't mind (though refinished dining tables were another issue).

I found some online tutorials for painting wood furniture. After sanding off the layers of poly finish I applied several thin coats of primer, then paint, to the dresser and all of it's additional pieces. It took me the better part of three days. I was juggling errands in between coats, which may or may not have distracted me. ;) Anyway, this is the finished product.

I love it! It feels like your favorite pair of jeans. Worn, comfortable, cozy. I even like the imperfections in the wood (which you can't see here) and on the mirror. Makes it feel like an heirloom. And did you notice the paint color on the walls? A lot different than the original blue. Scott was skeptical of the beige, but he loved the finished product. Like the dresser, the walls took multiple coats of primer and paint. My shoulders were sore for the rest of the week. Worth it though. You'll see when I'm finished. Still have to find night stands and a headboard for the bed.

The best find at the antique store was the cedar chest we put in our foyer. Scott tells me at least twice a week that he loves it. It may be our favorite furniture item in the house. Just look at the details.

And who doesn't love the smell of cedar? It reminds me of heirlooms and family history. I would bet that the smell of cedar immediately triggers a memory for you too. Anyway, here is what the foyer looks like now.

I love the three wall hooks. Pier 1 Imports (my favorite store) for just $7 each. I love that they look like antique door knobs.

I realize it sounds like I'm going antique crazy, but I assure you I'm not. You'll see as I finish each room and show you the final product. I think we mostly have casual living furniture with a sprinkling of antiques for character. But I'll let you be the judge. More soon.

Warrior Dash

2010-10-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we rode the motorcycle to Quarryville, Pennsylvania. We are loving the hills and the scenery on the East coast. We didn't have that in North Dakota. But better than scenery we have my brother close by in Baltimore. For the two weekends we've lived on the East coast I have seen him both. It's so much nicer than seeing him only once or twice a year!

So our trip to Quarryville, though beautiful and scenic, was to cheer on my brother and his friends as they competed in the Warrior Dash. I had never heard of this event, but soon learned that it's huge and awesome! I packed up my camera, and we rode off into Pennsylvania.

Upon our arrival I gulped at the chance of finding Grant. Hundreds and hundreds of racers and fans sprinkled the sprawling hills of the state park, encompassed by the starting line and the finish line. I was looking for an average size man in blue shorts and a sleeveless red shirt. Ugh!

We had 45 minutes before Grant's heat so we decided to take our time and take in our surroundings. So many muddy, costumed, drunk people. How would we find him? Low and behold, I spotted Grant just a few yards away. What dumb luck! He introduced us to his friends and then they lined up to start the race.

At the starting line I once again thought finding Grant would be hopeless.

The Warrior Dash website said there could be up to 500 people in each heat, and I was sure Grant's had at least that many. But all of a sudden, like a laser beam on a target, a red shirt appeared in a sea of gray.

What dumb luck! I love his smile! That's about how excited I felt at finding him in the crowd. Anyway, the race is a 5k with obstacles. Grant estimated 30 minutes for the run. But seeing as he was closer to the middle or back of the pack, I thought it might take him longer if he had to wait for those ahead of him to complete the obstacles. I just wasn't sure what to expect. While waiting, I switched to my zoom lense and Scott and I grabbed a sandwich. Again, we took in our surroundings.

Yeah, that's a puppy in the baby sling. I loved it! There was beer, music, beer, dancing, beer, racing, and beer. Who wouldn't want to do this race? Oh, wait!

Swimming in mud might be a reason not to race.

And jumping over fire might be another reason not to race. And we couldn't see the other obstacles, but from what I hear there are many more reasons not to want to race: fear of heights, lack of balance, lack of upper body strength. Or how about just plain old fear of looking like an idiot?

As we pondered these things I kept an eye on my watch. Twenty minutes after the start I headed to the finish line. I wanted to get in a few practice shots before Grant and his buddies crossed the finish line. While I experimented at the finish line Scott watched at the mud pit to spot Grant. He would call me when he spotted him so I could try to pick him out of the muddy crowd. Ugh! Slim chance, but I gave it my best. I watched for a few minutes, and all of a sudden Grant came up from behind me covered in mud.

"Did you get me," he asked. You've GOT to be kidding me! I missed it. I was so bummed, but Grant could see how hard it was to recognize the muddy people. "Oh well," he said. He wiped his face off and sat on the grass to wait for his friends to finish.

Tired? Yes. But never too tired to flash that brilliant smile.

And why not? He had much to be proud of. He was one of the fastest racers in his heat! Right on bro! Thankfully, he helped me spot his friends.

Proud Warriors! They rocked it and had a blast doing so. Scott and I are considering doing this race next year, but we're definitely bringing goggles! After the race it was shower time, because this isn't something you want to deal with for long.

I thought showering was gonna take a while.

But this line was taken care of in no time. Why? Two words.

Fire. Hose. Genius, people! "I'm a maniac, maniac on the floor!" Tommy Boy anyone? Once everyone was "clean", we headed to the beer tent. Racers got a free one. Cheers!

And to top it off, the Warrior Dash folks clean up and donate your muddy shoes to people who have none. Awesome!

Editing these pictures was so fun. I giggled a lot. And what did I notice while editing?

See? Right there. On the left. Hi Grant! What dumb luck!

Whew!

2010-10-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

Whew! We've moved in to our new house. Whew! We've finished unpacking. This girl is pooped! Wanna see where we're living?

I just love this house. It's the perfect size for us and has all the upgrades you could want since it was the model home for our neighborhood. Let me give you the grand tour.

This is the front entrance. The foyer is very spacious so one of the first pieces of furniture we bought was the cedar chest you see on the right. We bought it at an antique furniture store for a bargain. I'll do a close up on it later for you. Right now I just want you to see the lay of the land. The open doorway on the left is the master bedroom. I'm in love with it!

No, I did not make my bed for you, or tidy up the pillows, or put away the drill and nails for hanging pictures. Again, lay of the land only. I"ll post before and afters when I'm done, and then you'll get the tidy version. Anyway, this master suit fits all of our bedroom furniture and old living room furniture. It's like an efficiency apartment it's so big!

And, alas, we're sharing a bathroom again.

We haven't had double sinks for so long! And, hello? Jacuzzi tub anyone? I can't wait to jump into that baby! This room will get new paint. I don't mind the light blue, it just doesn't go with our stuff. Okay, moving on. As you leave the master suite and return to the foyer you see the living room.

By the end of this week there will be a leather recliner in place of the vaccuum cleaner, and Alley's crate will be in the basement, probably replaced by a large plant or something. Like the TV? We bought that from the owners. Scott's totally in love! The room opens up to the left where our sectional couch is located, and on the right is the eat-in kitchen.

We have so much cupboard space and it all comes with the roll out shelves. Love that. There are granite countertops, and of course, stainless appliances. But, the fridge is that imitation stainless I've been seeing a lot more of. To be honest, I really like it. No fingerprints! Less to clean. Amen. From here, if you turn to your left you see the formal dining room.

I've never had a real dining room and I'm pretty excited. As you can see, we need furniture. Before Thanksgiving. Because 18 people will be here. Have mercy. This room will also be getting new paint. I'm not a fan of this red, mostly because it's more of a dark salmon color. Some days it looks pinkish, some days orange, but never really red. We'll see what inspires me for this room. Now, keep turning left and you'll see the sunroom, which is a pool room.

We bought the pool table from the owners. Scott's totally in love! So is kitty. Thank God for plastic covers. The walls behind me to my right and left are all windows. There's so much natural light in this house. It makes me very happy! So much better than the dark, cramped, ghetto box we spent the last three months in down in Texas. This room might get paint. It's sorta the last room on my list. We'll also hang a TV in here. It will be the fun room when we have guests over. Now, if you go back through the kitchen and living room you'll find the guest bedrooms on the other end of the house.

This room is being used as an office, and Scott's man cave. He plays his video games on this TV. We've ordered a sleeper sofa for the wall that is now occupied by the recliner. More room for overnight guests. Yeah!

And this is the guest bedroom. We just bought an antique dresser and mirror for this room, but I need to sand it down and paint it. This room will also get new paint on the walls. It's very blue right now. Again, we'll see what inspires me here. Finally, we end our tour with a trip outside.

We have a great, spacious patio for entertaining, and a ginormous, fenced-in back yard for Alley. She loves it!

Seriously, you could play some serious football back here! So that's our new house. Can't wait to show you the finished product. Visitors Welcome!

Smells

2010-09-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Air Force life has provided us the wonderful opportunity to see places we wouldn't have thought to visit. It truly is one of the "pluses" to being in the Air Force. We have wonderful memories from each place we've lived; people we've met, places we've gone. But it seems to me that I often search the index of my brain looking for those memories because someone has said something that reminds me of them. However, this week I've chuckled at how certain smells of my home state instantly transport me back in time to relive memories; no index search needed. What can I say? I love Fall.

I have always said that I don't miss Michigan all that much, but I do miss the smell of seasons changing. I know it sounds weird. I can't explain it. But I promise you no matter where you live it happens, though I have yet to find another state where it happens with every season. Wouldn't you know my favorite smells come with the onset of Fall, and here we are in Michigan to experience them!

First, there's the crisp, cool air. Yes, that's how the air feels, but I think the drop in temps and humidity allow my nose to pick up distinct scents. It's like baking desserts. If you eat them warm there's a fullness of combined flavors in your mouth. If you let them cool completely, or wait until the next day to eat them at room temperature, you still have a combination of flavors but you can more easily pick out certain ingredients used. That's what Fall smells are like to me.

There's almost a savory smell to the leaves as they turn colors; a saltiness that, when burned, releases pungent aromas worthy of a Texas smokehouse. This smell transports me instantly to my childhood home. We had an enormous cotton wood tree in the yard and my brother and I would jump into the piles of leaves raked by my parents.

We went apple picking in an orchard this week and I was bombarded with memories of Uncle John's Cider Mill.

My family and our neighbor family would always drive to this cider mill and pick pumpkins to carve for Halloween. One whiff of apple cider donuts, or a sip of cider itself, and I'm eight years old again, competing with the boys to find the biggest pumpkin of the group. It didn't work so well when we had a "you pick, you carry" policy! Fortunately, my mom's persuasive powers led me to the "cute" pumpkins which were inevitably shorter and rounder than the boys'. We always finished our trips with a gallon of cider to share and a variety of donuts to dunk; pumpkin, cider, and cinnamon and sugar.

And who could leave a cider mill without picking apples? I don't remember apple picking as a kid. I was probably too short to reach them and therefore not into it. But now that I love to bake, apple picking is one of my favorite things to do. I love the tractor ride out to the orchard, the smell of it's engine working hard to deliver it's riders to their destination.

This smell transports me back to Belleville, Illinois, where a certain newlywed couple visited their local orchard and could be seen snuggling on the tractor ride to thwart the brisk bite in the air. After picking, we hurried home to assemble everything needed to make caramel apples. The melting morsels filled the house with a sweetness that lingered until we'd trade in for the salty smell of baked pumpkin seeds.

I'm amazed how my sense of smell seems more powerful in recalling (actually, reliving) my memories. And of course, there's always the enjoyment of new memories like this.

Sneaky sister-in-law. Did you pay for that apple? Caught! Red, er, green-handed!

Rest for Weary Travelers

2010-09-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Our three day journey to Michigan ended at my mom and step dad's house. I love this place. It's quietly tucked away under a tunnel of trees on a road called Idle Ease. How fitting. Life in this house indeed feels idle and easy. The panoramic view of the lake from the couch in the living room lends itself to quiet reflection and relaxation. The gorgeous Michigan summer is fading, and with it comes cool temperatures and light breezes soft enough to rock you to sleep on the patio; the hum of motorboats in the distance encourages your slumber.

It's a place where neighbors are family and dogs roam free to chase each other up and down the beach, stopping only to catch their breath or grab a treat from those who offer. A leisurely walk around the lake affords you the opportunity to meet countless snow birds soaking up the treasures of nature. You may even catch a glimpse of the "Witch of Streeter Beach", otherwise known as Joy. She's been on this lake for...ever. She knows everyone and can tell you the latest happenings around the block. Perhaps her constantly shaded eyes provide the mystery that keeps the witch legend alive for the youth of the area.

No doubt we've been soaking up the quiet life on the lake. It's provided us great rest in the middle of our travels. We're sure to have the energy for whatever comes our way as we continue to visit family before trekking to Dover. Here's a taste of what we're enjoying now.

Pack 'em up, move 'em out!

2010-09-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

It's that time again folks. Transient Xpress is chuggin' toward the next stop! I've said it many times, but it's true; the only constant in our lives is change. I believe it so much that it's my blog tag line, or whatever you wanna call it. The good thing is that no matter how uncomfortable transition is we always grow from it. How have I grown?

Well for starters I may be the best packer in the United States. Actually, scratch that. There are probably more military spouses out there that can do it better than me because they also have kids to pack and they've moved more times than I have. That would be an awesome competition though. Championship Packing. Go military spouses!

I've also grown to know myself better, and be confident in who I am. Here's an example. It might rub you the wrong way, but that's not my intent.

There are people you meet along the way that you know you'll keep in touch with, and those you know you won't. You may not discover it right away, but over a few weeks you'll learn who will last. I'm not saying I dislike those I don't stay in contact with, and I'm not saying that keeping in touch means regular contact. But some people are worth the investment and some aren't. For me, that's strictly based off of the connection we've made. I may like a person very much and enjoy their company, but if they don't fill some sort of need I have, and I don't fill a need they have, then chances are we won't stay in touch. Because I move so often I think I'm faster at recognizing who will last and who won't. Capiche? No? You want examples? Okay.

In Illinois I made four very dear friends. We all had recently graduated college, were starting our first jobs at the same company, and were newlyweds or engaged. We filled each other's need for camaraderie. We navigated transition into marriage together. We navigated transition into the workforce together. Now, I'm still in touch with all four women, though the four of them don't all still hang out. Get it?

In North Dakota my coworkers were once again my social network. I was comfortable as an adult in the workforce, but I learned so much about communication with others due to the numerous people I worked with and for on a daily basis. A high school student thinks and communicates much differently than a coworker who is near retirement. Multiple heart-to-hearts with my coworkers of all ages led to an understanding that differences make the world interesting and provide for a lot of growth if you're willing to compromise. Serious growth happened there.

I also had two groups of girlfriends in ND that filled my cup. Air Force spouses who could commiserate with me when Air Force demands infringed on my daily life, and an eclectic group of women (single, married, kids, no kids, twenty-something, forty-something, etc.) who leaned on each other for support in all aspects of life; the ETC, as we so lovingly called it. And no, I won't tell you what it stands for. It's a secret. Tee hee! The point is we needed each other for various reasons.

Like I said, the connections made determine if the investment is worth while. So imagine my surprise at forming some good connections in just three short months in Texas. Good enough that I'll really miss these people. Sorta sad, but very cool.

I am actually very excited to move to Dover. It's been the final destination all along. This pit stop in Texas just added to the adventure. I'm excited to move into our new house and sprawl out! Lord, do I want to have space again! And lots of windows to let in light! Amen. So today we pack the car and trailer, and I will be thrilled to have a place to sit for our last night in the ghetto box.

At least we still have room to walk through, but Lord I can't wait to have more space! Amen. Tomorrow we drive off into the sunset and into a week of visiting family in Michigan before reaching Dover. I will do my best to keep up with daily posts so you can see how truly transient we are. Ready? All aboard!

Identity Crisis

2010-09-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

For anyone reading this blog who's known me for at least a year you know my hair is very dark brown, naturally. Truth be told, it's probably salt and pepper by now because I'm getting so many gray hairs. Seriously. I'm only 30. It's pretty ridiculous.

Almost one year ago exactly I was headed to Minneapolis with friends to meet the Pioneer Woman at her Mall of America cookbook signing. In fact, it was the subject of one of my first blog posts. During said meeting I was horrified to see how noticeable my gray roots were in pictures. Please observe.

First picture, not so bad thanks to the lighting. Second picture? Either that's a very wide bald spot where my part is, or it's gray roots. I wish I could say it was the former.

Let me also tell you that to avoid such follicular faux pas as demonstrated above, I was at the salon every five weeks for a touch up (much to my husband's dismay). I decided to take charge. I asked my wonderful hair stylist what we could do. She suggested gradual additions of highlights, and a slow progression to lighter overall color as well. The result was this.

Subtle, caramel hightlights and a redder undertone all over to warm it up. I really liked it. But I did notice that my hair felt more coarse with each addition of highlights. I could handle it though. I was now able to wait six or seven weeks between salon visits. And it was as fun look. Eventually this look turned into this.

Ummm. Who is this blonde girl? And what happened to her silky locks? They were FRIED, I tell you! FRIED. I could no longer run my fingers through my hair. No matter how much product I put in there (dry, wet, pre-styled, post-styled) I couldn't get my hair to feel silky like it once had. The shine was gone. What about the gray hairs I was trying to hide? They were no longer a concern because I was so light that my dark roots stood out. I had the complete opposite problem to deal with now.

The straw that broke the camel's back was our visit to Six Flags last weekend. Scott caught a glimpse of my roots in the sunlight and gasped in horror. "SEE," I said. "I told you it's necessary to visit the salon so often!" For the first time he agreed with me. The blonde wasn't working well enough to be worth it. I missed my dark hair, and so did Scott. So yesterday I had this done.

Goofy picture, but you get the point. The funniest part? I thought I would love it. I really like it, but it's almost like I forgot what I looked like this way. Who am I? Why does dark hair make me feel so grown up? Can you say identity crisis?

I'm a pretty confident woman, and I don't need others to compliment me if I'm happy with how I look. But when you don't know who's looking back at you in the mirror it's nice to have some sort of affirmation. Fortunately, Scott loves it! Proof? Today he said, "I'm probably gonna regret saying this later, but it's worth the more frequent salon visits if you keep it dark."

Booyah!

Lucky Seven

2010-09-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

Lucky to be leaving Texas in seven days!

Dear Texas, you've been good to me this summer (minus two straight weeks of century temps in August, but I'm willing to overlook that). Your people are pretty nice, though I wish they'd use cruise control while driving, and your sunshine is abundant. Thank you for that. I'll miss it. But I won't miss your prickly grass full of burs. Ouch! And I won't miss your gigantic crickets and beetles (everything's bigger in Texas, right). And I won't miss sweating on my walk to the car. And I won't miss the tiny ghetto box that seems to be closing in on me by the second. Probably because I see an end in sight and it looks like a three bedroom, three bathroom house with a walk in closet. Amen.

I will miss the great little sushi place in town that I still don't know the name of. I'll miss the spontaneous barbecues made possible by your ever-present good weather. I'll miss lazy days lounging at your pools. I'll miss your best BBQ joint in town, The Branding Iron. I'll miss your delicious steakhouse, McBride's. I'll miss being so close to friends in Altus, OK. I'll miss my furry friends at your Human Society. I'll most definitely miss the Air Force friends we've made here, none of which are staying though.

Lucky to be leaving in seven days. But also lucky to have had the experiences you provided me with this summer. I feel the excitement of new adventures on the horizon, but I also feel an urgency to soak up every last bit of fun I can from you, dearest Texas. Tomorrow? Six Flags. Sunday? Shopping with Mr. Bangladesh for gifts for his wife. Next week? One last trip to Altus, The Branding Iron, McBride's, and the sushi place. Let's make it count!

Dallas Entertainment

2010-09-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

I spent a wonderful weekend in Dallas with a girlfriend and her friend. I love it when you meet your friends' friends and know immediately what each of you brings to the table in said friendships. Huh? I'm trying to say I dig my friends' friend. I would be friends with her too. Except she's deploying for a year next month. There's always Facebook! :)

Anyhoo, we enjoyed some retail therapy, juicy story telling, and ab blasting laughter. It was comforting to me as I've been missing some good girlfriend fun lately. My ND crew was always up for a good time. Speaking of them, they got together last night to celebrate an engagement. I LOVE that they called me to share in the well wishes! They're the best.

But back to Dallas. The ab blasting laughter will of course provide us with great entertainment for years to come. For example, I was highly entertained as I ate sushi next to Spud Webb, the retired basketball player. I was a fan of Spud's when he played for the Hornets in my junior high years. I had a funny story I was tempted to tell him, especially since we made eye contact a few times. But everyone and their brother wanted to shake his hand so I let him dine in peace as much as possible. But I'll tell you my Spud story.

It was the fall of 1993 and I was in the eighth grade. My mom and dad took me to a Detroit Pistons game at the Palace of Auburn Hills. We arrived early enough to watch the players warm up, though we were in the nose bleed section. My dad suggested we take a stroll around the court for a closer look. Didn't know if we could do it, but we were gonna try. No one stopped us to look at our tickets so we made our lap around the court. I was inspired by Spud as he warmed up with players that stood a foot taller than him, making just as many shots as they did. You see, I was pretty short growing up and never imagined I could play a sport like basketball. And I didn't. But I could have. Because Spud proved that. So there.

As we ended our court lap we got stuck in a line. Being a short kid, I couldn't see what the line was for and grew impatient. There were so many men in business suits, casually standing around chatting. I just wanted to get back to my seat, people! But my dad encouraged me to be patient. The line began to wind onto the court.

"Dad," I said. "Are we supposed to be on the court? I don't want to get in trouble." He looked around and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure what it's for, but lets just wait and see," he said. I was starting to grow uncomfortable. We looked like impostors. We weren't dressed up like everyone else. For Pete's sake, I was wearing a junior high cheerleading jacket. No fooling anyone into thinking I was important with that on my back! My dad began chatting with some of the men around us. I think they had us pegged, but didn't seem to mind. The best we can guess is that all these business men and women were employees of companies that sponsored the game. Our wait ended at the three-point line where my dad and I were each given a basketball to hold while we posed for a picture with two women in fishnet stockings and tuxedo tales. Yeah, we're kind of a big deal!

After having their picture taken, everyone was shooting their ball. No one was making it. I took my shot from the three point line. No good. Pathetic, really. My dad offered me his ball and pushed me to the free throw line. I was embarrassed at this point because the stands were filling up as the game was to begin soon. I already airballed it once! Like, badly. The pressure was on. So I lined up my feet at the free throw line, squatted, aimed, and shot (with a little jump, of course). Swoosh! And the crowd went wild. Seriously! The team benches, full of coaches at this point, were high-fiving me. Fans were clapping and cheering. Why? Because this shorty little girl made a basket, and it was the first one in the long line of grown men who had attempted it. Score!

The next day at school a friend of mine said he saw me make a basket at the Pistons game. What! This story was getting better by the minute now that I had a witness! He told me Spud Webb was still warming up on the court and turned to see why everyone was cheering. Spud saw me high-fiving the coaches. Yeah, I'm kind of a big deal!

So there's my story that I didn't share with Spud this past weekend because I wanted to let him dine in peace since no man in the room was passing up the chance to say hello to him. I was entertained by Spud's charm. He moved in on this table of young women, probably in their mid-twenties. Honestly, I was kinda weirded out at first because I didn't recognize him. Just thought he was mackin' on the honies. Which he was, but it was easier to understand the girls' interest in him when I realized who he was. Anyway, I watched as he played a totally different game than basketball. Let's just say it ended with him ditching one girl for two others, and all three of them probably were in diapers in 1993! I will laugh about that for years to come!

Letting Go

2010-09-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hopefully you didn't look at today's title and bail on me without reading. Not to worry. I'm not getting poetic or reflective on you today. I'm talking about letting go of these lovely darlings. (Please disregard my old, beat up dancer's toes. Too many years in toe shoes.)

Our love affair has lasted for two summers. I wear these daily! They go. with. everything. Everything! They were the perfect bargain too! I love Targe`.

But alas, their time has come...

See how the bronze finish has almost completely worn off the strap? Poor baby looks like a descaled fish. The other areas of wear and tear?

My old, beat up dancer's toes have permanently indented the insoles. Again, descaled fish. I'm sorry my loves! Now, let's flip them over for a look at the real damage.

Gasp! I know! Can you see it all? Four, count 'em, four layers of the sole walked through. If I didn't know I wore them every day I'd say my big toe weighed a whole ton! I took them to a shoe repair shop to see if they could put on some new soles. They could. For forty dollars. I paid twenty for them. I was seriously considering getting new soles put on. Yep. Pathetic.

So I decided to think about it and take a spin around the mall. I've been looking for a replacement all summer and haven't found one. I like that they're flats. I like that they're shiny and have pizazz. I love that they go with everything. How would I ever find a replacement?

Ta-daaaaa! I love them! They're flats. Yes, they're even shinier and pizazzier, err, whatever. But they'll go with everything. And I'm not afraid to shine! And? They were on sale for forty dollars. No new soles needed!

Pretty little ankle strap. Looks familiar. But not descaled. Score.

Dillard's. Gianni Bini. He's the man. Amen.

Letting go is easier when you have something to look forward to. :)

Best Friends

2010-09-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

I've made it seem like the pool was the best part of house sitting. However, after a visit back to our friend's house last night for dinner I realized there was something WAY better that came from it. A friendship that will never be broken. A friendship grounded in common interests, acceptance, and trust. A friendship that thrives on a genuine, unconditional love for the other.

They were so happy to see each other again! They fell right into their routine of chasing one another around the coffee table, competing for table scraps, and barking at potential intruders on the sidewalk. They had so much fun it often resulted in this:

Don't worry. They were supervised. No hanky panky going on here. Pure, unbridled exhaustion is all. After rising from their naps it typically started all over again. How would it start?

Squirrel patrol. I wish I would have gotten video of these two when they finally spotted a squirrel. Radar would hear it (hence, his name), take off toward the tree, and Alley would follow blindly, barking all the way because Radar was barking and she'd hate to look like she wasn't on top of things. She usually figured it out by the time they got to the tree and would jump with all her might to get close to the taunting varmint. Poor thing doesn't realize she'll never be able to jump into the tree. I love her for trying!

They truly are partners in crime. I knew Alley would miss Radar, but I had no idea it would be this bad.

Oh, how she mopes! Perhaps they're more than friends. Radar and Alley sittin' in a tree, errrr, barking up a tree....

Barefoot Contessa

2010-09-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

I love Ina Garten's cooking show on the Food Network. She has wonderful recipes! But this post it not really about the show Barefoot Contessa. It's about my recent barefoot cooking!

I must say that during our house sitting adventures I was thrilled to have a full kitchen at my fingertips. I most definitely made use of it. And you know I was barefoot the whole time. And wearing a bathing suit. Because I could jump in the pool while my concoctions simmered, sauteed, grilled, or baked.

I made stir fry, pizza, salsa, pancakes, cupcakes, and strawberry shortcake (without the twist). Most of it from scratch. The best thing I made? Lord have mercy! It was this:

Yes, the biscuits are well done, but not burnt (trials of cooking in an unknown oven for the first time). But it didn't even matter. They were firm on the outside (not crunchy) and so soft on the inside! It was like biting into a strawberry soaked, sweet pillow of tasty goodness! And how can you go wrong with homemade whipped cream. Don't hate on me Cool Whip lovers! You just can't top the creamy fullness of the homemade variety.

Summer is coming to a close, but it's not too late to try this delectable dessert. And I wouldn't mind trying it with the twist of balsamic vinegar, but it'll have to be when the hubby's not around. At the very least, you must go to Tasty Kitchen and browse the endless culinary wonders of this cooking community! If I ever get my act together I will share some of my own recipes on this site. Go forth! Fill your bellies with deliciousness!

Swim Lessons

2010-08-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about house sitting was having access to our own private pool. I would spend about an hour sunbathing every day (rough, I know) and the only thing that made the Texas heat bearable was the fact that I could jump in the water any time. No lifeguards to tell me to clear the pool, no kids running around or splashing me, and the extra special bonus of no pee in the pool.

Scott would always join me once he was home from work, and he was determined to get Alley in the water. I'm not sure I mentioned this, but when we went to Lake Texoma Alley walked out onto the front edge of the pontoon boat to sniff around. She found herself in a predicament when she tried to turn around and realized the edge wasn't wide enough to do that. Like the wonderful pet parents we are, Scott and I stood there smiling, watching her think it through until she decided to go for it. Sure enough, she fell in. She quickly resurfaced, slapping her paws on the water in an attempt to swim to the boat. Her frantic efforts caused her to swim under the boat, but luckily Scott grabbed her harness and pulled her out. Can you say traumatic? Besides that, she is a Blue Heeler, known for herding cattle. She likes land, people!

I pleaded with Scott, "just love her for who she is! Stop trying to make her into a water dog." My breath was wasted.

Fortunately, he didn't just throw her in, he carried her. She was calm as he held her to his chest. But as soon as he would make space between them she would cling to his arm for dear life (thus, the reason for wearing a shirt). The closer her face got to the water, the tighter she clung.

I'm not sure he ever got her to paddle on her own, but eventually she relaxed enough to stand in belly-high water on the pool steps. Stressful, but refreshed. All the while Radar was watching at the edge of the pool. He didn't jump in that day, but he would eventually.

Having tormented the dog for long enough, Scott let her go and enjoyed the water on his own.

Oops, I did it again!

2010-08-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

Another two weeks have passed with no updates. As they say in North Dakota, UFF-DAH!

If I had any regular blog visitors I've certainly alienated them by now, and I won't be gaining more until I find the discipline to regularly post. I can just hear my mom saying her standard line, "quit fartin' around and do something!" What's that saying? When you have less to do you do less? Well that perfectly embodies the last month for me. There is much to talk about though, and I'll be doing that this week.

First up, our recent sanctuary!

In my last post I told you how excited we were to be house and dog sitting for a friend here in Texas. She was previously stationed in North Dakota where we met her, and she showed up here in Texas about a month after us, but she is stationed here for the next two years. She recently went on a 10 day trip for work, and rather that put her dog in a kennel so soon after moving into her house, she asked us to watch him. Meet Radar.

He is a two year old, 75-ish pound German Shepherd who is so loving and quite the protector! He slept in the bed with us, along with our own dog and cat who we brought along. At least once every night he would run through the house barking at noises he heard outside. If he were my dog I'd never be scared to be alone again. You would think being woken up by barking in the middle of the night would be annoying, but somehow it was comforting, probably because he would settle back down quickly. Alley, on the other hand, would lift her head to watch Radar leave the room, then plop it back down on the bed with a sigh and close her eyes again. Real nice! Radar loved us all before the sun set on our first day together, and he was going to protect us no matter what threatened our safety. Even if it was only the wind. :) Radar seems the perfect name! He loves walks, belly rubs, playing in the back yard, chasing squirrels, swimming, and sunbathing. I loved my mornings with him. I would sip coffee and swing while he and Alley came out to sunbathe near me. This was our favorite spot:

We'd watch the ducks on the lake and breathe in the warm morning air. Often times I would read a book or magazine out there. I tell you, it was heaven! Scott and I so appreciated our friend opening her house to us. There was so much room to move around. I even had a full size kitchen at my fingertips...with drawers! So much nicer than our ghetto box of a room on base. We have three weeks left in Texas and we are so excited to move on to Dover...to a house...with a real kitchen...and a yard. It's the simple things in life, ya know? But we'll enjoy the rest of our time here because I think we'll both hit the ground running when we get to Dover. Scott will be working hard at getting acclimated to the new job, and I will be job hunting.

New Development: I am putting a hold on plans for nursing school while in Dover. It's a very long, dramatic, drawn out story that I"ll probably tell you soon. But for now, we'll just say it wasn't meant to be in Dover. I believe the time and money one spends on their education is very valuable and should be treated so by the institution who is taking them. So, I'm determined to enjoy my last weeks here before I jump into the grind of job hunting in Dover. Though I must admit, it's kind of exciting to start looking and revising my resume. Must be a product of my previous job as a Career Coordinator. :)

So, the agenda for the next few weeks:
1. Get back to a regular workout routine
2. Resume volunteering
3. Finish scrapbooking (a beast of a project, worthy of it's own post soon)
4. Finish summer reading
5. Tinker with job hunting and resume revisions
6. Learn more about Photoshop editing
7. BLOG REGULARLY!

What loose ends of summer do you need to tie up?

Lazy Days of Summer

2010-08-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

My lazy days have been these last two weeks. I seem to have ditched blogging, baking, and volunteering for sunbathing and summer reading. But I can't sunbathe too long before I'm drenched in sweat due to the steady century temps we've experienced. A dip in the pool cures the sweat fountain, but before long I'm pruned and tired from treading water. Nothing like a warm shower and clean clothes to make you feel refreshed after that. Then I plop down on the couch and read...and read, and read, and read.

It all sounds innocent enough, but I think I've inadvertently caused myself to go a little stir-crazy! I'm getting sick of this little room we live in. I like to be outside, but only if I can be near the pool so I'm not constantly sweating in this crazy heat! And I'm convinced Alley and Frosty are plotting their escape from this room every waking minute. I used to be able to let Alley out without being on the leash to go to the bathroom. But now she ignores me and chases squirrels, birds, and jack rabbits. I used to be able to temp her away from those distractions by asking her if she wanted a treat. Now she doesn't even look at me when I say that. She's like a teenager! Needless to say the leash has made a comeback.

Frosty has always been an indoor cat, but now she waits by the door and races out every time we open it. She loves to throw herself on the ground and roll around on the warm cement. She's started marking the brick wall outside our door, as if to remind herself how to get home in case she changes her mind after escaping.

Alas! There is good fortune on the horizon. After moving into our ghetto box we ran into a friend from Grand Forks who has moved here to TX for a permanent assignment. She rented a house off base in a lovely neighborhood with a small lake, lots of trees, and hills. She even has her own pool! Last week she asked Scott and I if we'd like to house sit for her and her dog Radar as she's going on a 10 day trip for work. Let me think......uh, YES PLEASE! So tomorrow we'll pack up a few bags and the girls and head into town for a little retreat. We can't wait to spread out! And swim!

Another bit of good news is that the Humane Society has reopened. I don't know that I've ever talked about my volunteering on this blog. Back in July I started volunteering a few times a week at the local Humane Society. I love animals and love walking the dogs and cuddling the kitties. It feels good to give them love and attention while they await adoption. Two weeks ago they temporarily shut down to the public due to an outbreak of the flu. They opened again this weekend and one of the classes behind Scott's went there to volunteer. I told them to look for my girl Wilma.

She's so precious! Such a cuddle bug. Imagine my surprise when our friends told me the Humane Society isn't sure what to do with Wilma. They can't figure out why she hasn't been adopted and apparently she's been there for a while. If I could adopt her I would, but we're not allowed to have any more pets in our ghetto box. Besides, we don't have the room. We also have no room in the cars to drive another dog cross-country when we move to Dover. I'm sick to my stomach over it because the first dog I fell for the day I started volunteering was put down less than a week later. Granted, he was sick and in really bad shape. But Wilma is completely different! She's healthy, happy, easy going, and a total lover. I'm not sure what to do to find her a home, but I'm gonna try. Let me know if you have any ideas. Cross your fingers and say a prayer for lil' Wilma. Anyone would be so lucky to have her!

I'm off to volunteer now. I can't wait to give Wilma a big hug. I've missed her. I will keep you posted on her story.

Golden Birthday

2010-08-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

It happened on Friday. I turned 30 on the 30th! Let me begin by saying I have never felt better in my life! I'm happy, I'm in great shape, and I feel very loved by so many people who wished me well with phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, text messages, and hugs. As I stated on Facebook, I wish I could turn 30 every year!

I was surprised with a BBQ in my honor, or more appropriately, in memory of my youth. Regardless, there were about 40 friends there, new ones and old ones. We played horseshoes, football, and volleyball. We ate burgers, brats, cake, and cupcakes. We told stories and laughed the night away.

Now, let me show you how fun it was, because my words could never do it justice! It was hard to pick just a few pictures!

"Here Lies My Youth"

"Friday Night Lights"

A Dunkaroo...just ask a recent college grad like this crazy guy!

"Drunken Philosophy"

This man is the greatest husband. I'm so loved and spoiled, and I couldn't be more thankful for him!

Ode to Dane

2010-07-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Dana, a truly beautiful name.
But to me she's always been known as "Dane."
A shared birthday party over 20 years ago
Is where our friendship began to grow.
It blossomed with Barbies and Little House on the Prairie
And made it through nails that broke skin when we weren't sharing.
As time moved on, so did we in age
And we raced home from school to watch soaps like GH.
Through high school and boyfriends we worked out some kinks
And laughed 'til we cried at "Pew, I farted. It stinks!"
We laugh now at a broken Christmas sleigh,
But we were sure it might send us to an early grave.
Spring break in Florida provided us a beautiful tan
And gave new meaning to the American Flag.
Then off "Dane" went to Ferris State
Where soon she would have a very meaningful date.
His name was Shawn and he wooed her well.
A phone call from her told me in love she fell!
A tearful song at a beautiful wedding
Showed me and the guests I was afraid of things changing.
But lucky was I that Shawn loved her so much,
He happily endured phone calls and sleepovers and such!
The loving couple moved back to her hometown
And prepared for an important job she'd have now.
First Ross, the namesake, then Brady the babe,
And all of a sudden I knew a new Dane.
Loving mother and wife to her boys' dad,
She truly is the sister I never always had!
A beautiful woman, so grown up is she.
Just "Dane" is what she'll always be to me!

Happy, happy birthday Dane! I love you!

Texan Top 10

2010-07-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Could it be? Has it really taken only five weeks to become a Texan? Please observe:

10. My shoulders are a beautiful golden brown that I haven't seen since high school spring break trips.

9. My eczema has vanished, thanks to the humidity. Oh happy day!

8. My nails and hair are growing like weeds, thanks to the humidity. Hoorah! (Who knew I'd one day be grateful for humidity?)

7. My bruise-proned skin heals much faster with the greater intake of Vitamin D from the sun, or so I'm assuming. (More on bruises next time.)

6. "Y'all" has been popping up in my vocabulary much more frequently.

5. I can now understand the lazy drawl of two old men fishing together and translate the conversation for Scott who constantly asks, "what was that?"

4. I no longer check my sheets or shoes for spiders. Takes too much effort when I know a poisonous bite can be combatted in minutes with a drive to the nearest hospital and a dose of antibiotics or whatever it is they give you.

3. I no longer engage in the constant wiping of sweat off my brow or back. Either I'm not sweating as much, or I just don't care. Let it roll. Otherwise, I'll work up more of a sweat trying to wipe off what's there!

2. I wear pants when it's less than 80 degrees out.

1. I have blonde highlights in my hair. However, this has much more to do with hiding my abundant gray hairs (No joke, y'all!) than with wanting to become a Texas blonde. Guess it comes with turning 30!

And the countdown to 30 is on! One more week, y'all! (See, I'm totally a Texan. Heh!)

Bocce and Cobbler

2010-07-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the great thing about being with Scott for his summer of training. It has been our experience that the Air Force tries to cram one month's worth of education into three months. No, I did not mistype that. His work days are short, and he's often released early. I suppose the assumption is that the students will be spending their time wisely by studying after their early release. Rarely is that the case for Scott, though I'll attribute that to his mega-brain and affinity to osmosis. Boyfriend learns quickly and retains well. Unless he's listening to me, of course.

So these shorter hours allow us to enjoy a lot of time together, and enjoy time with classmates and friends. I briefly mentioned Scott's classmate from Bangladesh in this post and was excited to document some of his "American firsts". Last night we introduced Mr. Bangladesh to Bocce Ball.

Paul, the quintessential teacher who I'll introduce you to later, explained the rules and the game began. If you've ever played Bocce you know that grassy terrain can be deceiving, especially when the grounds crew is behind on mowing! It can make for dramatic games I tell you.

We have some serious competitors here. "The Teacher" was sure to measure the distance of the balls to make sure points were awarded accurately. His is a very scientific method of measurement using his feet.

While the games continued we grilled a feast of chicken and veggie kabobs, and ended with homemade Blackberry Cobbler a la Pioneer Woman.

I think Mr. Bangladesh liked Bocce fine, but I know he liked the food!

Recap

2010-07-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

I'm recapping our 4th of July weekend. Old news? Yes. But I've been busy bullying a certain post-secondary education institution into transferring previous college credits and waiving test score requirements to allow me into a 100 level math class! But that's another post for another time.

I want to share with you my 4th of July fun. As you know, a hurricane thwarted our plans to visit San Antonio so we decided to head north to Oklahoma City. We love this city. It's where we got engaged. It's home to a minor league baseball team with a beautiful stadium. It's home to Toby Keith's bar (which we haven't been to yet but hear he frequents often). It has the trendy Brick Town area that we love to walk around. It has Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse where I once ate the best steak of my life! And it has Nonna's Restaurant where we happened to eat the best strawberry shortcake of our entire lives that very weekend! It almost feels like home.

I would love to show you pictures of everything I mentioned above, but I left my camera at the hotel because it was pouring rain. Maybe next time. So, because of the rain the baseball game was delayed, which meant the fireworks after the game were delayed. We decided to eat a relaxing dinner at Nonna's Restaurant. It's wonderful. Great food. Lovely ambiance. Knowledgeable wait staff. And as I mentioned earlier, the best strawberry shortcake I've ever eaten. We then ran to the movie theater down the block and bought tickets to Toy Story 3 in 3D. Cute, but seriously Hollywood, 3D ain't all that. I suspect you're into it all of a sudden because you can make more money off me by charging $3.50 extra per ticket for those ridiculously uncomfortable glasses we have to wear. Joke's on me I guess.

Anyway, we came out of the theater ten minutes past 10pm. Just in time for the fireworks if they weren't delayed, or plenty early if they were delayed. But wait! What did we see? Huge crowds LEAVING the stadium. The fireworks were over! Yep. We missed them. Happy 4th of July anyway! Oh well. You know you're old when you aren't dissappointed about missing the celebration and all you can think of is getting back to the hotel to crawl into this heavenly bed...

Hello lover! I'll never leave you!

The next morning I was able to snap a few shots of the area from our hotel room. We had a great view of Brick Town...

And when the weather cleared up I ventured out to capture a photo of this historic train station. Can't you just imagine it bustling with travelers back in the '50s? I love it! Always have, ever since I noticed it on our first trip to OKC way back when.

Before heading back to TX we decided to visit the National Cowboy Museum. It's one of those things we've passed often and always said, "we should go there sometime." No time like the present. Though small in size, you could spend an entire afternoon looking at everything. It pays tribute to the expansion of the American West. There are art galleries with paintings and sculptures...

This is one of four of Wilson Hurley's Windows to the West Triptychs. Hard to capture, but it felt like I was literally looking out the window to the California coast line. Truly awesome. Each triptych is composed of three panels. The center one is 16' x 16', and the others are 16' x 10'. HUGE!

The museum also has expansive grounds that are beautifully kept...

and sprinkled with numerous memorials paying tribute to famous rodeo bulls and horses of the past.

And how can we talk about the American West without mentioning Buffalo Bill? This statue is so large you can see it from the highway! This is what always prompted us to say, "we should go there sometime."

What really impressed me about the museum were the thousands of artifacts that have been preserved and displayed. Here are a few of my favorites.

I loved this guy! Yes, it's a stuffed beaver that helps explain what kinds of things trappers trapped and traders traded. But seriously! They gave him a walking stick! Doesn't he look just like the old guy from Winnie the Pooh who whistled when he talked? "Lissssssten here, ssssssssonny."

And can we please talk women's fashion of the West? I loved this stuff!

(Army Officer's Wives on the range with the regiment, late 1800's)

(Early 1900's rodeo cowgirls. Look at the purple boots with pink roses! Um, yes please!)

(Trick riders of the 1940's rodeos. Hello! Leopard boots! Somebody help me!)

(Today's much more casual rodeo garb. Barf. Though I'm sure much more functional.)

We ended our tour admiring a sculpture called End of the Trail, by James Earle Fraser. It's haunting when you realize a race of warriors vanished in the western expansion. Yet, the forward blowing wind on his back symbolizes a proud, spiritual people transforming into the next century. Man I love history!

I pondered the lives of settlers and Indians as we drove back to TX. I couldn't help but think of the hardships both endured as the West was won. Thankfully, we've come a long way since then. Certainly we had much to be proud of on our Independence Day weekend.

Weekend plans

2010-07-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

This holiday weekend is probably the only extended weekend Scott will have during his training here in TX. We were excited to take advantage of the four day weekend with a trip to San Antonio. I've never been, but I hear only great things about it. Besides the Alamo, they have Sea World, Six Flags, and several local hot spots that were recently featured on Man v. Food where this caught my eye. Cinnabon? Fogedaboutit! These suckers are 3 1/2 lbs! That's like a week's worth of breakfast!

But our excitement was soon extinguished by the rain bands of Hurricane Alex. We're feeling the effects up here in Wichita Falls so you can imagine what San Antonio (way south of us) is getting. They were calling for four inches of rain this weekend. May not sound like a lot, but for TX that merits a flood warning. The ground just doesn't absorb water down here. It can handle the occasional 20 minute downpour (much like FL weather), but the constant rain causes trouble. Here's a taste of the quick rains we've been getting. You may need to turn up the volume on this. I'm new to the whole video thing on my iPhone.

The TX version of the Bellagio fountain show from Vegas right? All we need is music! Heh.

Anyhoo, we're not going to San Antonio. Instead, we're heading up to, "Oooooooooook-lahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plains." Did you ever see that musical? It's a goodie. To be exact, we're going to Oklahoma City. We're staying at the hotel where we got engaged. Ah, memories. We'll be going out to dinner, catching a baseball game, and then taking in what should be a great fireworks display, weather permitting. However, we had front row seats to the fireworks on the Red River last year and it'll be hard to beat that. I'm hoping to get some good pics, but I need to study up on my camera a bit for the nighttime photography.

What are your 4th of July plans? Do they include good food? Fun? Friends? Family? I'm sure many of my ND friends will be going to the lake. What lake, you ask? Doesn't matter. Living on the border of MN allows you access to many of the 10,000 lakes the neighboring state boasts about. Growing up in Michigan there were two very large, very popular lakes that most people visited. If you said you were going to the lake you typically specified Higgins or Houghton. Or if you lived on a lake you'd say, "we live on Lake Whatever." The lack of specificity from my Nodak friends confused me at first. But alas, I soon caught on. It's just what people do there in the summer...go to the lake.

I digress. So what are your plans?

A Poem

2010-07-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

This handsome man came to be

In the summer of 1943.

He's driven, determined, and easy to like

And his birthday present to himself is a new bike!

Happy Birthday Dad! Enjoy your new ride you big kid!

Rejuvenated

2010-06-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

That's how I feel about returning to yoga. I used to practice at least twice a week and teach it, but a running injury last year around the 4th of July put me out for several weeks. By the time I was able to return to regular exercise we had moved from our house in town to the new house on base. There were no yoga classes for me to attend on base and because I had fallen out of practice it was easy for me to justify not spending the time to drive to town for class. I had resolved to take up practicing for the new year, but then I got on the nursing bandwagon and started taking classes at night. Blah, blah, blah.

No excuses this summer. I have NOTHING else to do. This weekend I attended a yoga class at one of the fitness centers on this base. It was good. Not what I expected. I would imagine it's probably more of a PiYo class (Pilates/Yoga hybrid), but I've never taken an official PiYo class so I'm not sure. My point is that getting even a little taste of what I used to do was all I needed to kick my arse into gear!

Today I woke up early and went to the gym. If classes are not scheduled in the group fitness room anyone is welcome to use it. I realized I would be sharing the room with others who could care less about yoga and may think I'm a Mother Earth-loving, tree-hugging yogi, but I didn't care. I knew they'd hear my deep breathing and think "Darth Vader", but I was okay with that. I was excited and happy to give my body what it's been craving for the last 11 months.

So I began my practice and here's what it went like in my head:

"I'm having trouble focusing. I wish it were more quiet. Seriously dude, your workout partner is right next to you. He'll still hear you if you speak softly." I focus my eyes on a spot on the floor in front of me and begin to zone out.

"Aahh. That's better. Inhale, arms up. Exhale, swan dive. Oh yeah, this is good. Nice job body. You haven't forgotten. Slow, graceful. Watch your breathing. Inhale, up dog. Exhale, down dog. Five deep br...what the? Another group? Yep! That's my derriere in the air. Well don't get whiplash, dude. It's not that big and scary! Whatever. Just ignore." Once again I focus on the floor and zone out for a while.

"Okay, time for balancing. Hmm. They're gonna think I'm a freak. Oh well. No point in stopping now. Okay, tree pose. Ummm....helloooo! Get your head off my mat, dude! There are three other walls you could use that aren't nearly as close to me. Oh, I see! Sit ups with a foot bar. Damn! Oh well, keep going. At least you're here doing something. Doesn't have to be perf....Are you kidding me? Where are all these people coming from? How many people have a fitness test today? Alright, I'm done. At least I did something."

At this point the 20 or so people in their fitness uniforms face the front to listen to the test directions and watch a demonstration of the proper way to execute a push up. I am all of a sudden front and center and can't put my shoes on or roll up my mat fast enough. I quietly say, "excuse me", my eyes darting to the floor while my cheeks flame red, and cut through the group to get to the door. As I leave I ask the front desk if the room is supposed to be reserved for fitness testing. He tells me yes, but when I called before going, the desk clerk I talked to didn't mention testing. Makes no difference really. It's a base facility, therefore active duty members get priority. Thankfully, the desk clerk I'm talking to now says I can use the racquetball court that's awaiting floor repairs.

Let me tell you, it was PERFECT! The room was so warm and quiet. And the floor repairs? Three or four floor planks that were damaged back in the corner. Didn't affect me at all. I finished my practice and it went something like this in my head:

"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!"

The best part? The guy says I can use that court any time I want to! He doesn't see floor repairs happening for some time. Bad for racquetballers, good for this yogi! Definitely rejuvenated!

We went to Texoma

2010-06-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Where?

Texoma! You know, the border of Texas and Oklahoma. Just like Texarkanas, the border of Texas and Arkansas. Creative or lazy? You decide.

Regardless of the name of the region it does possess a GIANT lake (12th largest in the US) that we took advantage of last weekend. The north side of the lake is Oklahoma (seen here),

and the south side is TX. We learned about it at the Outdoor Recreation building on base. Turns out Sheppard AFB has an "annex" on this lake. You can rent cabins, camper sites, or campgrounds for your tents. They have a marina, a bar and grill, hiking and biking trails, etc.

We arrived and checked into our cabin on Friday evening. I didn't take pictures of the cabin because we didn't spend much time in it, but trust me when I say we had a good laugh at the fact that it was bigger than our new digs on base I last posted about. We took a bike ride around the area to check things out, then went to the marina to see about renting a boat. Just our luck! There was one pontoon boat left and we snagged it! We tootled around the lake that night to get our bearings, and then headed in to grill some dinner.

Saturday we enjoyed the beautiful weather as Scott fished and I laid on the boat's sun pad. There was a nice breeze that kept us cool, but at some point I unknowingly sweated off my sunscreen and burned my back. Yowza! But this girl had better luck...

And Scott had better luck with fishing than I did with sunbathing...

We're told it's an Alligator Gar fish. Ugly! And it had sharp teeth too. We were excited that it was around a foot long, but then I googled it and laughed away the short-lived pride! Turns out it was a baby and will one day grow up to be this...

This sucker is over 8 ft. long and weighs 230 lbs! Krikey! Read about it here:

http://www.fishingfury.com/categories/freshwater/freshwater-species/alligator-gar/

All said and done we thoroughly enjoyed the getaway. Nothing like relaxing on the water!

Sheppard's X Factor

2010-06-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

As my blog tagline states, change involves the unknown, or X factors. Every place we've been has them. In Belleville, IL the X factor was my job. I struggled with bank sales. In Enid, OK the X factor was contaminated water. It felt like we lived in Mexico having to buy drinking water! In Grand Forks, ND it was the frigid winters. I locked myself out of the house in sub zero temperatures. Thank God for good neighbors who have family in the locksmith biz!

At Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX the X factors are numerous. There's the obvious one with heat and humidity. Average temps this week have been in the mid nineties and the humidity has lingered with the occasional threat of storms. It was so hot yesterday afternoon that sweat soaked through the rear of my shorts after hitting golf balls at the driving range for an hour. Yeah, gross! But it's better than sub zero winters in ND so I won't complain much more.

Another X factor in TX...
http://www.brownreclusespider.org/brown-recluse-spider.htm

The Brown Recluse spider will undoubtedly leave a scar, and in rare cases may cause death. Gotta check your shoes before you put them on. Yikes!

But these X factors pale in comparison to our new digs. We like to call it our cozy ghetto box. Here's the view as you walk in the door.

Yep! Pretty cramped. The plastic bins have been stored in the trailor, but it didn't open the room up any more. See our table on the left? It's pushed against the wall so only three chairs can be used. Jeez! Here's the view standing at the fridge.

It's hard to see because the lighting is so dark (even with the flash and lamps turned on), but the big chair does pull out to a single bed. Make you wanna visit? NOT! And if you stay in the same spot and turn 90 degrees to the right you see the rest of our pad...no joke!

Tiny bathroom straight ahead (and the fan is broken, Lord help us), vanity on the right...

and tiny bedroom on the left...

There is a closet opposite the bed, but you'll have to imagine it because it just took me 20 minutes to download these five pictures with the provided Ethernet. Aye carumba! And yes, that is a full bed, not a queen. Have mercy!

So Scott tells me it's all about attitude. In that case...IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT SUMMER! All kidding aside, I'm getting used to it. It makes for some good story telling and funny memories. I certainly have realized how comfortable my life is so I'm thankful for that. And spending three months here will make me look forward to moving to Dover that much more. Until then, I'm determined to enjoy my time here, and that began yesterday when I met Scott's classmates. They're great people from all over the country, including one exchange student from Bangladesh. Did you know that the US trains military members of many other countries as well as our own? This student has never been to America before, but speaks fluent English. Yesterday he tried hot chocolate, cherries, sushi, and asparagus for the first time and liked them all! I can't wait to experience my own country and customs through his eyes. I'll be sure to fill you in on those experiences too.

Texas, we have arrived. And you'll be begging us to leave once we're through with you! :)

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

2010-06-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Moving...a sweet adventure! Such excitement in the thoughts of what lies ahead. What will we see? Who will we meet? What experiences are waiting for us? We drove eight hours to Omaha yesterday. An adventure in itself as this was the first time our kitty has taken a road trip. She whined in her crate for the first twenty minutes, but soon she cuddled up and snoozed. Curiosity eventually got the best of her and she ventured out of the crate to peer out the windows. She found a comfortable home up in the corner of the rear window for a couple of hours and watched the headlights of cars and semis pass by. Sweet!

Moving...a sorrowful farewell! I left Grand Forks yesterday with tears in my eyes as I watched my town, my home, fade away in the rearview mirror. Four years of fun and friendships. How I'll miss my dear friends! Last night as I lay in bed I felt a pang of jealously rise up in my stomach, like a vine crawling up a tree, curling itself around my heart. They're lives are moving on without me. Yes, there are infinite ways to keep in touch these days, but it's not the same as seeing each other daily. And yes, my life moves on too, but I can't imagine what that looks like without these wonderful people in it daily. Sorrow!

Oh Juliet! I know what you meant when you said that!

Cue Boyz II Men

2010-06-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

Transient Xpress is on the move! The packers came yesterday to box everything up, and now we're living in base temorary living facilities (TLF). No matter how many times we move with the Air Force I never seem to get used to the bare walls and cardboard obstacle course of boxes. It's amazing how a house can look so empty even though it's littered with your packed belongings.

With every move comes the dreaded goodbyes too. I feel so fortunate to make friends everywhere we go, but unfortunate in that I have to say goodbye to people who have touched my life in wonderful ways. The goodbyes last for days. Lunches here, dinners there; awesome and sad all at the same time. Cue Boyz II Men: "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye"!

Thursday night was one of those nights. For the last year I have enjoyed the serendipitous friendship of six fabulous women, a "club" we named the ETC. I can't imagine what my Thursday nights will be like without them! After a night of gut-busting laughs (as always) we exchanged tearful hugs and I proceeded to cry all the way home while the lyrics repeated in my head as if they were on replay: "And I'll taaaaake with me the memoriiiiiieeeees....." Memories of Lynchburg Lemonades, Beer Margaritas, sore abs, and chihuahua-pee-stained curtains to name a few! And they'll definitely, "be my sunshiiiiiiiiiine after the raaaaaaaiiiiin."

Reflections such as this will continue until we drive out of town on Thursday. Can't help it. All part of the process of closure I guess. And I'll share it all with you over the next few days. Here we go....

I'm Baaaaaaack!

2010-05-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a hiatus. As I mentioned in my last post (forever ago) I had found my limits. Working full time while going back to school allowed me NO free time to enjoy things like blogging, reading, photography, etc.

Alas! That has changed. I'm proud to report that I am DONE with Anatomy and Physiology I and II and I aced them both. I absolutely loved the classes and know that nursing is the right path for me. I'm fascinated by the human body. So complex and efficient!

The last two months have brought news too. The Transient Xpress is on the move!

Dover, Delaware will be our home for the next three years. We move in three weeks, but we're going through TX for a few months for Scott's training in his new line of work. We should arrive in Dover by mid September. CAN'T WAIT! I'm excited to be back in the Eastern time zone. I'm excited to be just a day's drive from family. I'm excited to be just two hours from my brother! I'm excited for seafood, beaches, and TREES! Yes, North Dakota lacks trees. It's the Great Plains, you bech'a!

As many family and friends already know, Scott is no longer flying for the Air Force. If you know me you know that I would just tell you the whole story, right down to the fine details. But my husband is not like me in that respect. So as this is the internet and the whole world can read this (though I doubt I have any followers since my hiatus) I'll give you the short version. Scott has been battling a sensitive stomach since before I met him (12 years ago), and it seems to get worse as he gets older. He tried changing his diet, exercising regularly, sticking to a strict circadian schedule, hypno-therapy, etc. Nothing brought relief. So, over a year ago he began a journey that we knew could ultimately lead to the end of his flying days. He tried several medications and finally found one a few months ago that worked well. We're thankful for that, and thankful that many people were looking out for his best interests. But the Air Force approves very few medications for pilots, and his medication is not one of them. Once the paperwork was filed to take him off of flying status the train left the station for a new destination...Maintenance.

He is now working as a squadron commander in Maintenance. The down side...no flying. The up side...management/leadership, which is what he always imagined he'd do if he got out of the AF. He essentially manages the people that maintain the jets. We're seeing that this side of the AF allows for more leadership opportunities at a "younger" rank. Exciting!

Also exciting news is that Scott was selected for promotion from Captain to Major! I'm not exactly sure why, but when you move beyond Company Grade Officer (Lieutenants and Captains) your promotions no longer take effect immediately. Something about only being allowed to have a certain number of officers and having to wait for some to retire or leave. So, Scott is a Major Select and he'll probably "pin on" in a year. Scott was also selected for a leadership school slot. The good news just keeps rolling in. I'm so proud of him! His hard work and dedication is paying off!

Much more has happened during my hiatus, including two fabulous weddings, but I'll save that for the next post. Now, I'm off to work on preparations for the move and then I'll try to catch the practice rounds for the Air Show here on base. Yeah!

Month in review

2010-02-21T18:03:00.001-08:00

Obviously with the addition of attending class and studying in my schedule I have not managed to keep up with my blog. It's always bitter sweet to find your limits. Bitter because you can't do everything you'd like, but sweet in that you can say "no" to others without feeling guilty.

February has been full of great things though. Let me show you.

This handsome guy turned 31!

Seven days later this hot mama celebrated a birthday too! Bet you can't guess her age.

Snowfall and drifting continued. Alley can now walk over the 4ft fence!

We awoke several mornings to beautiful hoar frost. It happens when condensation, like fog, freezes to surfaces. It's really pretty.

And there's been a lot of this happening on snow days! Thankfully, those snow days afforded me extra time to study for school, resulting in this...

YES!!!

"Brett" Pulled Through!

2010-01-25T19:19:00.001-08:00

No, not Brett Favre (I live in Vikings country). Today we had a snow day. Winter storm "Brett" was almost a no show. We were under a warning starting Friday at 6pm through Monday at 6am. Saturday morning I woke to about two or three inches of new, wet snow. Enough to snow blow, but nothing fantastic. Certainly not worthy of a snow day. Almost nothing happened on Sunday, other than flurries here and there. By Sunday night I was gearing up to go back to work as usual. As I went to bed around 10pm, I noticed the wind had picked up. Still.....not enough for a snow day. Then, I woke this morning to a phone call from the school district saying school was canceled. I looked outside and was shocked to see large snow drifts in my yard and on the street. The wind was howling!

Here's the crazy thing about North Dakota. You can have the slightest bit of snow on the ground, but when the wind picks up it's all over. No travel advisories, snow days, the works! The air base was even under "Red" road conditions. In other words, no one's allowed to drive over 10 mph. Not like you could if you wanted to. The drifts are pretty deep. I guess that's to be expected when the wind gusts were over 50 mph. Sadly, I didn't get outside to take a picture for fear I'd blow away! Here's a mental picture for you. We have a four foot fence in our back yard for Alley. Today, she could easily walk over the top of the fence to the other side. She won't because she's afraid of falling in deep snow, but she could.

So with the free day off I finished my nursing school application, did three loads of laundry, one load of dishes, and vacuumed the whole house and the furniture because Alley and Frosty have been cuddling on the couch with me. They miss their daddy! So do I, though I'm bitter he's in sunny, warm Texas. Though I enjoyed the productive day off, the weather sure makes me ready to move. Our wish list includes many warm places! :)