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Thanx for visiting!
~M & J
Thursday, August 14, 2014
We've Moved!
Thanx for visiting!
~M & J
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Netty's August fun
Well, I have spent August doing one of two things...packing or going places.
HAH and I spent the weekend of 8/17 doing some local Seattle attractions. For example, I have lived here my whole life and had never done the Seattle Underground Tour! That was a lot of fun, and it helped that we had a great guide.
Next up was a ride up to the observation deck of the Smith Tower. That was a great view...to see a 360 degree view of the SoDo district and such. We had lunch appetizers at Pacific Place and roamed around there and Pike Place Market for a bit before we checked into our hotel. We had an outfit change and headed back to the market for dinner at Matt's at The Market. That was a tasty experience - so glad we tried something new. Bonus was having a window seat to look out over the sound and the market sign.
Sunday we were up and adam to head to Freak-mont for a view of the Troll, a little breakfast and a walk through the Sunday Market there. While there HAH made my day and helped me find the JP Patches statue!
Besides the fantastic weather for our weekend, that was a major hi-light for me!
Next escape found JAZ and I taking a road trip to the Okanogan Valley's Lake Osoyoos to stay a couple days with one of her co-workers and his wife at their lake house. It was such a great time from beginning to end. Mr. & Mrs. Mendy are the hostesses with the mostesses! We arrived Wednesday evening. That night we checked the weather report and decided to use Thursday as our chillaxing day. After a breakfast first for me, scrambled eggs with shrimp from dinner (so glad I tried it), we didn't leave the house the whole day. The four of us laid out in the sun, read books/magazines, floated out on the water and took a trip in the boat to take in the sights around the lake. Dinner was grilled-smoked salmon and grilled vegetables. Another first for me - grilled broccoli! I generally prefer the stems of the broccoli, not the trees...but it was yummy! Friday we crossed the Canadian boarder and spent the day wine tasting up and down the valley.
I ended up bringing home seven bottles of wine - and I am not even a big wine drinker! JAZ and I reluctantly left the Mendy's Relaxation Station on Saturday morning with an invitation to return next summer. Can't wait!
M comes home this Monday! Then it's balls to the walls with him packing up his garage and me finishing up in my closet and the rest of the little things, i.e emptying couple junk drawers, the linens etc. Still waiting on the contractor to complete the to-do list - the back-up guy will be here tomorrow to get started on the mudding and taping. Hopefully we can make some serious progress so we can get the Valley of Maples house on the market ASAP.
HAH and I spent the weekend of 8/17 doing some local Seattle attractions. For example, I have lived here my whole life and had never done the Seattle Underground Tour! That was a lot of fun, and it helped that we had a great guide.
Next up was a ride up to the observation deck of the Smith Tower. That was a great view...to see a 360 degree view of the SoDo district and such. We had lunch appetizers at Pacific Place and roamed around there and Pike Place Market for a bit before we checked into our hotel. We had an outfit change and headed back to the market for dinner at Matt's at The Market. That was a tasty experience - so glad we tried something new. Bonus was having a window seat to look out over the sound and the market sign.
Sunday we were up and adam to head to Freak-mont for a view of the Troll, a little breakfast and a walk through the Sunday Market there. While there HAH made my day and helped me find the JP Patches statue!
Besides the fantastic weather for our weekend, that was a major hi-light for me!
Next escape found JAZ and I taking a road trip to the Okanogan Valley's Lake Osoyoos to stay a couple days with one of her co-workers and his wife at their lake house. It was such a great time from beginning to end. Mr. & Mrs. Mendy are the hostesses with the mostesses! We arrived Wednesday evening. That night we checked the weather report and decided to use Thursday as our chillaxing day. After a breakfast first for me, scrambled eggs with shrimp from dinner (so glad I tried it), we didn't leave the house the whole day. The four of us laid out in the sun, read books/magazines, floated out on the water and took a trip in the boat to take in the sights around the lake. Dinner was grilled-smoked salmon and grilled vegetables. Another first for me - grilled broccoli! I generally prefer the stems of the broccoli, not the trees...but it was yummy! Friday we crossed the Canadian boarder and spent the day wine tasting up and down the valley.
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| Lake Osoyoos |
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| JRR, JAZ, Mrs. & Mr. Mendy |
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| Hidden Church grape cluster |
I ended up bringing home seven bottles of wine - and I am not even a big wine drinker! JAZ and I reluctantly left the Mendy's Relaxation Station on Saturday morning with an invitation to return next summer. Can't wait!
M comes home this Monday! Then it's balls to the walls with him packing up his garage and me finishing up in my closet and the rest of the little things, i.e emptying couple junk drawers, the linens etc. Still waiting on the contractor to complete the to-do list - the back-up guy will be here tomorrow to get started on the mudding and taping. Hopefully we can make some serious progress so we can get the Valley of Maples house on the market ASAP.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Movin' and Groovin' our way to the 406
Big news from the Valley of Maples! If you haven't heard thru the grapevine or been of Eff-book yet....M and I are going to be moving to the 406! Hopefully before the end of the year. All depends on the selling of the Valley of Maples house.
Believe me when I say this, buying a house was NOT on the to-do list when we went back there for a little week of vacation last month. With that being said, we had been driving around the Bitterroot for the last couple years looking at For Sale signs and checking things out for a house that would meet our list of must-have's: ranch style, acreage and a shop. To make a complicated story short, we found our agent via a happy accident on the web and she steered us to THE house by way of a fellow co-worker's listing. Needless to say, we fell in love! Even more in love when we crunched the numbers and talked to the bank and found that this could be a reality. We looked at the house on a Wednesday, made an offer Thursday morning and signed the counter offer Thursday afternoon and started the ball rolling.
We came home to the Valley of Maples and had some decisions to make...do we rent or sell. Let's sell. Selling kinda scared us since we knew we had the bar as our LAST room we needed to do something with. It was the last room in the house in the original condition from when M bought it 18 yrs ago. Picture wood paneling, nasty carpet, and a bar with a countertop that was reminiscent of the old Wendy's restaurant i.e. old newspaper ads. Not to mention the bar had become our catch-all room...if company was coming that's where stuff was put and forgotten. =) So Galvin (realtor) and Phat Carl (contractor) came over and gave it a once over. All in all - each gave some great feedback for our to-do list before it's listed. In fact, Galvin was the smart one that told us to change the bar into a family room. M and I had been killing ourselves thinking we had to keep it as a bar and if so, then what type of cupboards and top were we going to use etc, etc. Insert forehead slap here - why didn't we think of that oh-so-many years ago?
We made good use of M's last two weeks at home by demo-ing the bar and taking down and packing up the office, then packing up his closet and having him take down anything that required the use of a power tool, since he does not trust me with them. When he left on Monday, all I had left was to pack up this kitchen, my closet, and the master bathroom. Not bad for having a little over a month until our expected closing date of mid-September.
We are very excited to start this next chapter in our journey! We'll have an extra bedroom in the new house, so if your find yourselves rolling thru Missoula, give us a shout-out! We would love to have you come by and visit.
We came home to the Valley of Maples and had some decisions to make...do we rent or sell. Let's sell. Selling kinda scared us since we knew we had the bar as our LAST room we needed to do something with. It was the last room in the house in the original condition from when M bought it 18 yrs ago. Picture wood paneling, nasty carpet, and a bar with a countertop that was reminiscent of the old Wendy's restaurant i.e. old newspaper ads. Not to mention the bar had become our catch-all room...if company was coming that's where stuff was put and forgotten. =) So Galvin (realtor) and Phat Carl (contractor) came over and gave it a once over. All in all - each gave some great feedback for our to-do list before it's listed. In fact, Galvin was the smart one that told us to change the bar into a family room. M and I had been killing ourselves thinking we had to keep it as a bar and if so, then what type of cupboards and top were we going to use etc, etc. Insert forehead slap here - why didn't we think of that oh-so-many years ago?
We made good use of M's last two weeks at home by demo-ing the bar and taking down and packing up the office, then packing up his closet and having him take down anything that required the use of a power tool, since he does not trust me with them. When he left on Monday, all I had left was to pack up this kitchen, my closet, and the master bathroom. Not bad for having a little over a month until our expected closing date of mid-September.
We are very excited to start this next chapter in our journey! We'll have an extra bedroom in the new house, so if your find yourselves rolling thru Missoula, give us a shout-out! We would love to have you come by and visit.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Aloha Friends!
Wow! Well let's start the post with a re-cap of CDA's FANTASTIC 4-Oh! Birthday Bash in Hawaii why don't we....
5/28...CD, JD, Stephus and I were on the same flight to start the party. That was a lot of fun at 9 a.m. in the morning. I am sure the seatmates surrounding us had no idea what they were in for for the 6 hour flight. I was just ecstatic that one of the e-books I had pre-ordered became available for download prior to the flight - so that kept me entertained.
Landed in Honolulu around Noon and promptly located a taxi to take us to the Park Shore Hotel in Waikiki. Once checked in we were on the hunt for lunch and to wait for the Rents and the RT Baders' arrival later that evening. The McBusta's had already been there since the Friday before, staying with JoseB's family. We made arrangements to have them come get us Wednesday morning so he could proudly play tour guide of his home town of Waimanalo. It was a fun day spent in the sun and surf, and some sights of the island.
I was sharing a room with the Rent's, since I was solo for this trip. So in saying that, because I am such an early riser, I laced on my walking shoes and was able to get in some early morning walks each morning we were there. That made me feel good. CDA's bday was Thursday and I woke to a text @ 5 a.m. asking if I wanted to catch the 5:50a sunrise with the birthday girl. Sure! So met she and JD at Sbux and proceeded with the sunrise watching....only to be thwarted by the low lying clouds that morning. From there we let the birthday festivities begin...complete with meeting up with sending JD, RTM, RTB and BAB to a ukulele factory and the rest of us to hang out for some rays by the pool before we met up with Stephus, Molly and Woo for lunch. From there I headed to get a massage and they found a gun range. CAM came with me to the Spa, but played WWF and wrote our her postcards while she waiting for me since she was not booked for any services. It was nice to hang out with her. We even managed to navigate the bus and made our way back to the hotel w/o any issues.
The group event gathering for the birthday girl on Thursday consisted of an arranged five course - private party dinner at Azure Restaurant in the Royal Hawaiian. In all we had a party of 17 for this occasion. The company was great and the food was delicious. From there it was early to bed for those of us that had to be a the bus stop to catch the 6:15a shuttle for our island tour.
5/31 JD's bday and he was one of the one's on the island tour with us. He and I made a joke that we were each other's stand in spouses for the day for the photo opportunities. Our tour consisted of stops at Pearl Harbor, The Dole Plantation, then up and over to ride along the North Shore and have lunch, a stop at the Blow Hole, Hanama Bay and a quick stop on the south side of Diamond Head and then dropped of at our hotel, and that was at 5pm!
6/1...The last full day there before heading home on Sunday, we made a trip to Leonard's for Malasada's,
and then I was able to catch up with a former FMCC co-worker of mine for lunch at Duke's. Beckster and I hadn't seen each other in person since '98...but we had managed to stay connected via Eff Book. She and her hubby and two fur babies are stationed there for maybe a year or two before he is able to retire and then she wants to head back East.
So that is the Hawaii re-cap...without going into too much blow-by-blow detail... =)
June has just been me applying for jobs and getting back into the gym with Trainer Karen. Since I was nowhere NEAR where I wanted to be for the trip to the 808 (via the # on the scale), I figured it was time to re-dedicate myself. I had no excuses now since finishing school and all. This has been my first week with her, and my body is already reminding me why I missed working out!
Next Wednesday is Anniversary #9...and I was informed that my honey has made overnight reservations and that I am to pack a bag and make reservations to board the babies. DONE! I am so surprised he has had time to do this from AK since he has been working his tail off up there. I did the math and this last trip up will have been 56 days! However, it was necessary to do this long one to get him back on the right schedule for when the holiday months come up. Since he was up there for Thanksgiving last year, he will be home for it this year. The only problem this year is he will miss the first Griz game of the season, AGAIN! because is falls on the Saturday of Labor Day wknd and he is not schedule to be home until that Monday. (insert pouty lip here). The day after said anniversary is graduation! That is going to be a very exciting day for me for sure. Then I invited a couple friends to The Spot that Saturday for a very informal gathering to celebrate. Should be fun.
MER will be home for July and the month is already filling up...trip to the 406 and then the 208 from there for some fishing on the Clear Water River with the EL Wildey's. My MT sista, her son and Trucker Joe are coming over to play tourists for a couple days....then we will be getting ready to pack MER back up tot he 907.
Mahalo!
5/28...CD, JD, Stephus and I were on the same flight to start the party. That was a lot of fun at 9 a.m. in the morning. I am sure the seatmates surrounding us had no idea what they were in for for the 6 hour flight. I was just ecstatic that one of the e-books I had pre-ordered became available for download prior to the flight - so that kept me entertained.
Landed in Honolulu around Noon and promptly located a taxi to take us to the Park Shore Hotel in Waikiki. Once checked in we were on the hunt for lunch and to wait for the Rents and the RT Baders' arrival later that evening. The McBusta's had already been there since the Friday before, staying with JoseB's family. We made arrangements to have them come get us Wednesday morning so he could proudly play tour guide of his home town of Waimanalo. It was a fun day spent in the sun and surf, and some sights of the island.
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| McChicks in Hawaii
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| view from of Diamond Head from the Diamond Head Suite at the Park Shore |
5/31 JD's bday and he was one of the one's on the island tour with us. He and I made a joke that we were each other's stand in spouses for the day for the photo opportunities. Our tour consisted of stops at Pearl Harbor, The Dole Plantation, then up and over to ride along the North Shore and have lunch, a stop at the Blow Hole, Hanama Bay and a quick stop on the south side of Diamond Head and then dropped of at our hotel, and that was at 5pm!
Stand-in Spouses for the day - JR & JD
The whole day was a ton of fun and we had such a great group on our bus. Not to mention our tour guide....so knowledgeable with the history and legends of Hawaiian folklore. He was Awesome! We celebrated JD's bday at one of his favorite restaurants, Chili's! They are no longer franchised in WA, so when CD and I found one on our walk to locate an ATM, she KNEW that would make his day. 6/1...The last full day there before heading home on Sunday, we made a trip to Leonard's for Malasada's,
So that is the Hawaii re-cap...without going into too much blow-by-blow detail... =)
June has just been me applying for jobs and getting back into the gym with Trainer Karen. Since I was nowhere NEAR where I wanted to be for the trip to the 808 (via the # on the scale), I figured it was time to re-dedicate myself. I had no excuses now since finishing school and all. This has been my first week with her, and my body is already reminding me why I missed working out!
Next Wednesday is Anniversary #9...and I was informed that my honey has made overnight reservations and that I am to pack a bag and make reservations to board the babies. DONE! I am so surprised he has had time to do this from AK since he has been working his tail off up there. I did the math and this last trip up will have been 56 days! However, it was necessary to do this long one to get him back on the right schedule for when the holiday months come up. Since he was up there for Thanksgiving last year, he will be home for it this year. The only problem this year is he will miss the first Griz game of the season, AGAIN! because is falls on the Saturday of Labor Day wknd and he is not schedule to be home until that Monday. (insert pouty lip here). The day after said anniversary is graduation! That is going to be a very exciting day for me for sure. Then I invited a couple friends to The Spot that Saturday for a very informal gathering to celebrate. Should be fun.
MER will be home for July and the month is already filling up...trip to the 406 and then the 208 from there for some fishing on the Clear Water River with the EL Wildey's. My MT sista, her son and Trucker Joe are coming over to play tourists for a couple days....then we will be getting ready to pack MER back up tot he 907.
Mahalo!
Monday, May 27, 2013
May I help you?
Oh my....I have fallen down on the job in keeping up with posts.
First off...the big news....
Ta Da!!!! I did it! And I managed to stick to my personal goal of graduating with honors! My last day of school was March 28, and the graduation ceremony will be held in June.
M came home on April 1st...no joke! So we decided to take a couple days and head back to the 406 to check in on the folks and detour home via Idaho to steel head fish on the Clear water. Thankfully Mandy Jo was able to stay with the babies. She was a big help, especially being able to stay an extra day at the last minute b/c SOMEONE wanted to cast for one more day.
While we were away I was contacted by the Catering Events Manager at RTC asking if I wanted to come work with her for a while. I actually did my on-campus internship with her back in the fall quarter. She is a lot of fun to work with, and we have very similar work styles. Since I already had the basics down, she went to bat for me to be brought on to cover her office while she took a medical leave in May. So I filled out the paperwork to be put into the RTC system as a Substitute Admin. Which means I am in a pool of people that would be called on to see if they are available should an admin assistant call in to take vacation and someone was needed to cover for her. For now, though, I was working with CN from April to just this last Friday. I would've stayed til the end of the month; however, I had plane tickets to HAWAII for CD's big 4-Oh!
But let's finish April...before M left to head back to the 907, he had an opportunity to follow his Valley Rugby Boys to Boise for a couple games. That left the weekend open for Cowgirl and I to head up to the Vancouver, BC Expo. That was a lot of fun. Vegas had nothing on some of the attendees at these functions, costumes and all. Out sole purpose was to meet with actor Sean Patrick Flanery. He is hilarious and we have been following him on Twitter. He shares his pearls of wisdom, thoughts and opinions.
We had great weather and a great time. We definitely need to do that again!
M left at the end of the April, and I continued on with my working with CN at good 'ol RTC. Let me tell you, that woman has needed an assistant long before I sought her out for my internship. It's no wonder there are some nights she is staying until 6-7 o'clock at night. There is so much to do, know, and keep on top of for the Catering side of things. Her office is NOT one that can sit idle for any length of time, especially in regards to email and voice mails.
So, closing up on May's activities. I just bought my cap, grown and honor cord for June 27th. I spent the weekend packing for Hawaii, and getting the house ready for HAH to spend the week dog-sitting here. I thought I was going to get off easy, but 5 days before I am to leave, I had to take Maggie May to the vet to have a toenail removed. Add to that, I am told Stella has Giardia for the second time. AWESOME! Well, at least I can take care of that medication part before I leave. My problem with Maggie is trying to keep her mellow. If you have met my Maggie, you would know that that is easier said than done. When we had her fixed at 6 months and picked her up from the vet, they said, "Wow, we even gave her some medication to mellow her out, but she just doesn't do that, does she?" NOPE! They had to remove the whole nail, leaving the pink meat of the quick exposed. Ewwww....looks painful. But you can't leave her in the Cone-of-Shame un-supervised, so they say. I had to for two days until I could get my hands on one of the inflatable donut collars. Only to find out that it is not effective for her because she is so long-legged, she can still reach her exposed toe to lick it.
One more picture to share....
This is my birthday wisteria. I can't remember what birthday # I received it, but I do know that I had both babies at the time. After winterizing it for one winter, we brought it back out and planted it in the front yard by a wrought iron panel we erected for it. Last year I only had one small blooming cluster, so this year I was super excited to see this out my from window.
That's all the news for now....so excited to be headed to Hawaii for CD's 4-Oh! bday celebration. It's going to be so much fun! Signing off - I have to tear the house apart to look for my camera...
First off...the big news....
M came home on April 1st...no joke! So we decided to take a couple days and head back to the 406 to check in on the folks and detour home via Idaho to steel head fish on the Clear water. Thankfully Mandy Jo was able to stay with the babies. She was a big help, especially being able to stay an extra day at the last minute b/c SOMEONE wanted to cast for one more day.
While we were away I was contacted by the Catering Events Manager at RTC asking if I wanted to come work with her for a while. I actually did my on-campus internship with her back in the fall quarter. She is a lot of fun to work with, and we have very similar work styles. Since I already had the basics down, she went to bat for me to be brought on to cover her office while she took a medical leave in May. So I filled out the paperwork to be put into the RTC system as a Substitute Admin. Which means I am in a pool of people that would be called on to see if they are available should an admin assistant call in to take vacation and someone was needed to cover for her. For now, though, I was working with CN from April to just this last Friday. I would've stayed til the end of the month; however, I had plane tickets to HAWAII for CD's big 4-Oh!
But let's finish April...before M left to head back to the 907, he had an opportunity to follow his Valley Rugby Boys to Boise for a couple games. That left the weekend open for Cowgirl and I to head up to the Vancouver, BC Expo. That was a lot of fun. Vegas had nothing on some of the attendees at these functions, costumes and all. Out sole purpose was to meet with actor Sean Patrick Flanery. He is hilarious and we have been following him on Twitter. He shares his pearls of wisdom, thoughts and opinions.
We had great weather and a great time. We definitely need to do that again!
M left at the end of the April, and I continued on with my working with CN at good 'ol RTC. Let me tell you, that woman has needed an assistant long before I sought her out for my internship. It's no wonder there are some nights she is staying until 6-7 o'clock at night. There is so much to do, know, and keep on top of for the Catering side of things. Her office is NOT one that can sit idle for any length of time, especially in regards to email and voice mails.
So, closing up on May's activities. I just bought my cap, grown and honor cord for June 27th. I spent the weekend packing for Hawaii, and getting the house ready for HAH to spend the week dog-sitting here. I thought I was going to get off easy, but 5 days before I am to leave, I had to take Maggie May to the vet to have a toenail removed. Add to that, I am told Stella has Giardia for the second time. AWESOME! Well, at least I can take care of that medication part before I leave. My problem with Maggie is trying to keep her mellow. If you have met my Maggie, you would know that that is easier said than done. When we had her fixed at 6 months and picked her up from the vet, they said, "Wow, we even gave her some medication to mellow her out, but she just doesn't do that, does she?" NOPE! They had to remove the whole nail, leaving the pink meat of the quick exposed. Ewwww....looks painful. But you can't leave her in the Cone-of-Shame un-supervised, so they say. I had to for two days until I could get my hands on one of the inflatable donut collars. Only to find out that it is not effective for her because she is so long-legged, she can still reach her exposed toe to lick it.
One more picture to share....
That's all the news for now....so excited to be headed to Hawaii for CD's 4-Oh! bday celebration. It's going to be so much fun! Signing off - I have to tear the house apart to look for my camera...
Monday, March 4, 2013
In the final stretch
February just got away from me....so I am going to MARCH forward...
I am in my final month of school! I can't believe it! That's part of the reason Feb got away from me. I was working at an internship in downtown Seattle on Mon/Wed/Fri and a math class on campus Tues and Thurs. I was taking the bus into Seattle for my internship...which required me to catch the 5:48 a.m. bus out of Maple Valley. I must say though, thank goodness for Cowgirl and HAH. Cowgirl helped me navigate the transit when I first started out. Then HAH and I were able to carpool to work for the week her brother took off. (he is her regular carpool buddy). My last day in Seattle was last Wednesday. It was such a great experience overall. I told M I was glad I was only there part time, I looked at the experience as one that was helping me ease back into the work world, not to mention back into an office atmosphere again.
M was home for three weeks in Feb. It was nice to have him here, and I kept his honey-do list full.
Babies are good. Although we did learn why Stella had been limping lately. She has bad arthritis in her knees. The good news is, we can go the glucosamine (sp?) and anti-inflammatory route for a while until we can afford the $1500 surgery. Even with that, we were told we would have to keep her quiet for up to three months after the surgery. The bad news was I should have secured Pet Insurance when I was checking them out, as now she has a pre-existing condition and we're screwed! Dang it, Dang it, Dang it!!!!
That is all the news from us my friends. When I am not finishing up my internship hours, or in school, I am doing the job search thing. Keep your fingers crossed. I would appreciate all the good job hunting vibes you can send my way!
XOXO ~ J
I am in my final month of school! I can't believe it! That's part of the reason Feb got away from me. I was working at an internship in downtown Seattle on Mon/Wed/Fri and a math class on campus Tues and Thurs. I was taking the bus into Seattle for my internship...which required me to catch the 5:48 a.m. bus out of Maple Valley. I must say though, thank goodness for Cowgirl and HAH. Cowgirl helped me navigate the transit when I first started out. Then HAH and I were able to carpool to work for the week her brother took off. (he is her regular carpool buddy). My last day in Seattle was last Wednesday. It was such a great experience overall. I told M I was glad I was only there part time, I looked at the experience as one that was helping me ease back into the work world, not to mention back into an office atmosphere again.
M was home for three weeks in Feb. It was nice to have him here, and I kept his honey-do list full.
Babies are good. Although we did learn why Stella had been limping lately. She has bad arthritis in her knees. The good news is, we can go the glucosamine (sp?) and anti-inflammatory route for a while until we can afford the $1500 surgery. Even with that, we were told we would have to keep her quiet for up to three months after the surgery. The bad news was I should have secured Pet Insurance when I was checking them out, as now she has a pre-existing condition and we're screwed! Dang it, Dang it, Dang it!!!!
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| My baby peanut |
XOXO ~ J
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Wrapping up December
Where do I even begin to start to recap the last 2 1/2 months? I apologize for that peeps.
This quarter has been fun. I must say, for as much as I was complaining about my summer quarter class schedule (being on campus from 8a - 5:30p) - I am soooo glad I did! Doing that allowed me to concentrate on my Psychology class this quarter. Then left my last general education class, math, for my last quarter. My on-campus internship has been a blast with the catering department. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes there at Renton Technical College with the on and off-campus catering events and such. I don't think a lot of students are aware of that aspect. I wasn't until now.
M came home for the month of October. Just in time to spend most of the month over in Forks for fishing. Unfortunately, with the extremely dry summer we had this last year, that made the salmon run three weeks BEHIND our annual Roberts' Sibling Weekend. The only one who caught anything was EW. However, it still was an enjoyable weekend with everyone! We already have our eye on a new rental location for 2013. The other news for October....I received a 98 on my mid-term for Psychology! I was one of four individuals that got over 95 and one of 10 who overall got over 90%. I have really enjoyed this instructor, and have encouraged another one of my classmates to take his class next quarter.
I sent M back up to Dutch for November and pounded out the school work and incorporated morning workouts into the routine with my classmate KC. She too, lives here in the Valley of Maples. KC started a quarter after I did and will be finished at the end of June. Turkey day was spent up in Coupeville with the G's. Even got to see my long lost cousin AJG III. Yummy stuff....especially the stuffing!
M followed a boat down from Dutch and was here in Sea-town this last week, but left today for CAT school in Peoria this week. He will be home Friday, and I will be out of school until 1/2/13. Oh my goodness! I will be able to spend time with my DH? That will be the best Christmas present this year! Added to that, we will be spending Christmas week in the 406. Which will be long overdue - since we did not get over for either big holiday last year. And I have to brag...but can't post pics just yet, but I did really well on gifts this year! Stay tuned! (wink, wink)
Signing off, have to feed the babies and head off to the 'Rents for Sunday dinner.
This quarter has been fun. I must say, for as much as I was complaining about my summer quarter class schedule (being on campus from 8a - 5:30p) - I am soooo glad I did! Doing that allowed me to concentrate on my Psychology class this quarter. Then left my last general education class, math, for my last quarter. My on-campus internship has been a blast with the catering department. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes there at Renton Technical College with the on and off-campus catering events and such. I don't think a lot of students are aware of that aspect. I wasn't until now.
M came home for the month of October. Just in time to spend most of the month over in Forks for fishing. Unfortunately, with the extremely dry summer we had this last year, that made the salmon run three weeks BEHIND our annual Roberts' Sibling Weekend. The only one who caught anything was EW. However, it still was an enjoyable weekend with everyone! We already have our eye on a new rental location for 2013. The other news for October....I received a 98 on my mid-term for Psychology! I was one of four individuals that got over 95 and one of 10 who overall got over 90%. I have really enjoyed this instructor, and have encouraged another one of my classmates to take his class next quarter.
I sent M back up to Dutch for November and pounded out the school work and incorporated morning workouts into the routine with my classmate KC. She too, lives here in the Valley of Maples. KC started a quarter after I did and will be finished at the end of June. Turkey day was spent up in Coupeville with the G's. Even got to see my long lost cousin AJG III. Yummy stuff....especially the stuffing!
M followed a boat down from Dutch and was here in Sea-town this last week, but left today for CAT school in Peoria this week. He will be home Friday, and I will be out of school until 1/2/13. Oh my goodness! I will be able to spend time with my DH? That will be the best Christmas present this year! Added to that, we will be spending Christmas week in the 406. Which will be long overdue - since we did not get over for either big holiday last year. And I have to brag...but can't post pics just yet, but I did really well on gifts this year! Stay tuned! (wink, wink)
Signing off, have to feed the babies and head off to the 'Rents for Sunday dinner.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Fun in the 406
I had such a great time with my MT sister and friends last weekend. We did the Rivalli County Fair on Friday:
Griz game on Saturday:
and the Route of the Hiawatha on Sunday.
For those of you that like to ride bikes, of the pedaling variety, I would encourage you to do this route/trail. You can even rent a bike if you so desire. But I would recommend you bring a gel seat cover if you are going to do that. My who-haw bones were sore for a couple days afterwards. You can find info on-line (http://www.ridethehiawatha.com/) , but let me give you the cliff-note version....it's part of an old railroad line that goes from ID to MT, most of it being on the ID side. You can start from either end, and there are shuttle buses that run from top to bottom to deposit you from whichever end you started from. We started at the top on the MT side, going through a 1.7 mile long tunnel. A headlamp/bike "head lite" is required. From there is really all down hill, you basically coast for 15.5 miles. The scenery is beautiful and they are 47 informational signs along the way, so you can stop and take your time to read some history lessons.
I left early Monday morning in order to get a head start on the Labor Day traffic goers....so glad I did too. The Vantage Hill was busy and everyone was jockeying for position. I got home, unloaded, decompressed, then headed into Seattle to pick up the 'Rents from their little week of boating with TSY. The good news is #1) I did not have to read any headlines that stated, Wife kills husband and throw overboard in Desolation Sound and #2) they are still married! They are gearing up and getting ready to hit the road this month for their road trip to Hershey, PA for the Swap Meet to beat all Swap Meets. They are expected back around Thanksgiving. I think they are getting the hang of this retirement thang!
MER is plugging away up in Dutch. They are super busy up there right now. Hopefully he will still be able to get to his week of training at the end of the month. If not, he tells me he might be doing it in December. Per the usual, we are in a wait-and-see- holding pattern.
I am getting ready to head back to school here in a week. For those of you who are not on Eff book, I am happy to report that I managed to meet my personal goal of staying the the Honor's List with a summer quarter GPA of 3.73. If I can manage to do that again for my last two quarters, then I will graduate with Honors! Hmmm....why couldn't I have been this motivated in high school? Ha ha ha!
There ya go peeps....catch ya later!
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| So glad I was "tall" enough for this ride! |
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| MT Sister |
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| JRR & LW at Washington Grizzly Stadium |
and the Route of the Hiawatha on Sunday.
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| Having group fun with the crazy glasses at the 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar |
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| The MT side starting point...1.7 mile long tunnel |
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| MT Sister & Jer |
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| Oops...the sign said Foot Traffic Only Jer! |
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| I was imitating the Line Nazi - "GET IN LINE if you're going to catch the shuttle!" |
I left early Monday morning in order to get a head start on the Labor Day traffic goers....so glad I did too. The Vantage Hill was busy and everyone was jockeying for position. I got home, unloaded, decompressed, then headed into Seattle to pick up the 'Rents from their little week of boating with TSY. The good news is #1) I did not have to read any headlines that stated, Wife kills husband and throw overboard in Desolation Sound and #2) they are still married! They are gearing up and getting ready to hit the road this month for their road trip to Hershey, PA for the Swap Meet to beat all Swap Meets. They are expected back around Thanksgiving. I think they are getting the hang of this retirement thang!
MER is plugging away up in Dutch. They are super busy up there right now. Hopefully he will still be able to get to his week of training at the end of the month. If not, he tells me he might be doing it in December. Per the usual, we are in a wait-and-see- holding pattern.
I am getting ready to head back to school here in a week. For those of you who are not on Eff book, I am happy to report that I managed to meet my personal goal of staying the the Honor's List with a summer quarter GPA of 3.73. If I can manage to do that again for my last two quarters, then I will graduate with Honors! Hmmm....why couldn't I have been this motivated in high school? Ha ha ha!
There ya go peeps....catch ya later!
Friday, August 24, 2012
July-Aug 2012
Alrighty then! I have some breathing room now that my summer quarter is finished and I can finally post an update.
M and I had a great time in MT for the Victor All-Class reunion. The weather was very warm, but beautiful. It appeared to me that there was a great turn-out. But I wasn't from there so not sure. What I can tell you is that a good time was had by all on Friday and Saturday night. Especially Saturday night, huh LW? (wink wink) Thank goodness I had M looking out for me. Apparently we left BEFORE all the fun started at midnight with karaoking. Oh, and I was repeatedly told by many of M's female classmates that I married the nicest guy.
I ended up flying home Sunday of that weekend to I wouldn't miss any school. M stayed on for another week to visit with friends and spend some time helping his dad out.
Other than that, we have just been hanging out here in the Valley of Maples. M was so excited that he was actually home for the Sportco Tent sale this time. I was happy I went with him, because I found a new pair of Teva sandals on sale.
M left last Sunday and will probably be home around the first of Oct. Then he will have the month of October off to fish his little heart out! We have made plans with the siblings and spouses for another fishing weekend in Forks.
I only have two quarters of school left in my program. The light is starting to become brighter at the end of the tunnel. I will have an on-campus internship this quarter, and I took the bull by the horns and lined that up with back in May when I thought I was having to do that during the summer quarter. That plan went out the window with the budget cuts we were told about a month before the spring quarter was to end. So frustrating! But not half as frustrating for me as it was for the ladies who were saposed to have been finished with the summer quarter. So I will be working with the Catering Dept for the fall quarter. Now all I have to do is get my off-campus internship lined up. I have a couple of leads provided by my instructor from a couple of people that have gotten in touch with her. That is what I will be working on during this break.
This weekend is a Harley is coming up from AZ for a little Cart Spa party that Cowgirl lined up. We are going to get pedicures at a little place in Seattle that has a "Party room" so that we are all together! Then we will se where the day takes us. Before we meet up for that I will be taking my older twin, CAM and Izzy to Kenmore air where they are going to takeoff and meet up with the gruesome twosome, RTM and TSY on the Knotty Girl.
NEXT weekend is the home opener for the GRIZ!!! I am boarding the babies and heading over Friday. Bummed that M won't be making the trip with me...but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do when it comes to Grix Tix! Sorry Honey! (not)
Take Care y'all!
M and I had a great time in MT for the Victor All-Class reunion. The weather was very warm, but beautiful. It appeared to me that there was a great turn-out. But I wasn't from there so not sure. What I can tell you is that a good time was had by all on Friday and Saturday night. Especially Saturday night, huh LW? (wink wink) Thank goodness I had M looking out for me. Apparently we left BEFORE all the fun started at midnight with karaoking. Oh, and I was repeatedly told by many of M's female classmates that I married the nicest guy.
I ended up flying home Sunday of that weekend to I wouldn't miss any school. M stayed on for another week to visit with friends and spend some time helping his dad out.
Other than that, we have just been hanging out here in the Valley of Maples. M was so excited that he was actually home for the Sportco Tent sale this time. I was happy I went with him, because I found a new pair of Teva sandals on sale.
M left last Sunday and will probably be home around the first of Oct. Then he will have the month of October off to fish his little heart out! We have made plans with the siblings and spouses for another fishing weekend in Forks.
I only have two quarters of school left in my program. The light is starting to become brighter at the end of the tunnel. I will have an on-campus internship this quarter, and I took the bull by the horns and lined that up with back in May when I thought I was having to do that during the summer quarter. That plan went out the window with the budget cuts we were told about a month before the spring quarter was to end. So frustrating! But not half as frustrating for me as it was for the ladies who were saposed to have been finished with the summer quarter. So I will be working with the Catering Dept for the fall quarter. Now all I have to do is get my off-campus internship lined up. I have a couple of leads provided by my instructor from a couple of people that have gotten in touch with her. That is what I will be working on during this break.
This weekend is a Harley is coming up from AZ for a little Cart Spa party that Cowgirl lined up. We are going to get pedicures at a little place in Seattle that has a "Party room" so that we are all together! Then we will se where the day takes us. Before we meet up for that I will be taking my older twin, CAM and Izzy to Kenmore air where they are going to takeoff and meet up with the gruesome twosome, RTM and TSY on the Knotty Girl.
NEXT weekend is the home opener for the GRIZ!!! I am boarding the babies and heading over Friday. Bummed that M won't be making the trip with me...but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do when it comes to Grix Tix! Sorry Honey! (not)
Take Care y'all!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Picking up the pace
Wow...I always forget how busy June and July are.
Last weekend (6/30) there were two weddings we were invited to. One in Seattle and one in Montana. I was so bummbed I was not able to attend the one in Montana for our niece Kayla but I had summer quarter starting that Monday and M was in AK. Thank you to cousin Rita for sharing pictures. The bride looked beautiful, and I don't think you could've wiped the grin off the grooms' face all day!
The wedding in Seattle was for a family friend of ours. One of my dad's oldest friends', Don - his daughter Cindy. The weather gods were with them and held off the rain for the couple of hours they needed for pictures and the ceremony. Cindy made for a happy bride as well.
I don't know why, but I was a complete emotional ball-bag at Cindy's wedding. I heard the music and saw her getting out of the Woody and lost it! Poor Don saw me and told me to stop before he started! =) Weddings always get me. I was talking to a friend and I think I figured out the reason why. I see these two special people coming together, looking into each others' eyes and I want and hope, with all my heart, that they have what M and I have! Crazy I know! But I can't help it!
Monday was the start of the summer quarter for me. I know, how crappy to start the quarter ON your birthday! But it was a good day overall. Ending with an enjoyable dinner with friend HAW...oops, correction, she is now HAH with the last name back to her maiden name after Brianna-Banana turned 18 last month! Back to the topic of school....I think I have my work cut out for me with my Speech and English classes. Basically a full 12 weeks worth of work crammed into 6 weeks. And due to budget cuts at the school they limited the some of the time slots some classes were offered. Because I don't trust myself doing the on-line thing, I chose to attend classes on site. And the way my schedule worked out I am on campus from 8a to 5:30p! That is making for some loooonnnngggg days! I am especially struggling to stay awake in the English class. The instructor is great and entertaining, it's just the topic and time of day for me.
Looks like M won't be back in the Evergreen State until late July, to which he will have just a couple days at home before we head back to Big Sky Country for the Victor High School All-Class reunion! He is so excited for it! As am I, to be able to see my MT-sista and put faces with all the names I have heard in the various stories over the last ten years. I will probably leave M back there and fly home due to the school schedule. And he wants to take the drift boat back and practice with it on the rivers there. Plus it'll be good for him to spend some time with his folks, since we usually get back there for at least a week in the summer and didn't get to last year with the birthday party happenings job lay-off thang!
That's all for now folks!
Last weekend (6/30) there were two weddings we were invited to. One in Seattle and one in Montana. I was so bummbed I was not able to attend the one in Montana for our niece Kayla but I had summer quarter starting that Monday and M was in AK. Thank you to cousin Rita for sharing pictures. The bride looked beautiful, and I don't think you could've wiped the grin off the grooms' face all day!
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| Mr. & Mrs. Hash |
The wedding in Seattle was for a family friend of ours. One of my dad's oldest friends', Don - his daughter Cindy. The weather gods were with them and held off the rain for the couple of hours they needed for pictures and the ceremony. Cindy made for a happy bride as well.
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| Don walking Cindy down the aisle. |
Monday was the start of the summer quarter for me. I know, how crappy to start the quarter ON your birthday! But it was a good day overall. Ending with an enjoyable dinner with friend HAW...oops, correction, she is now HAH with the last name back to her maiden name after Brianna-Banana turned 18 last month! Back to the topic of school....I think I have my work cut out for me with my Speech and English classes. Basically a full 12 weeks worth of work crammed into 6 weeks. And due to budget cuts at the school they limited the some of the time slots some classes were offered. Because I don't trust myself doing the on-line thing, I chose to attend classes on site. And the way my schedule worked out I am on campus from 8a to 5:30p! That is making for some loooonnnngggg days! I am especially struggling to stay awake in the English class. The instructor is great and entertaining, it's just the topic and time of day for me.
Looks like M won't be back in the Evergreen State until late July, to which he will have just a couple days at home before we head back to Big Sky Country for the Victor High School All-Class reunion! He is so excited for it! As am I, to be able to see my MT-sista and put faces with all the names I have heard in the various stories over the last ten years. I will probably leave M back there and fly home due to the school schedule. And he wants to take the drift boat back and practice with it on the rivers there. Plus it'll be good for him to spend some time with his folks, since we usually get back there for at least a week in the summer and didn't get to last year with the birthday party happenings job lay-off thang!
That's all for now folks!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Happy Father's Day RTM!
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| L-R: SEB, GJAB, CDA & JRR |
We had a LivingSocial coupon to use at Yen Lui. So we coordinated our schedules and found a date that would work and made the appontment. Out of all the pics taken, this was the best one. CDA gave her blessing and I had it framed thru Costco for RTM for his father's day gift. And a smaller one was given to Papa Pete for his mantle.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
June Showers bring...
more showers, at least it has this past week. What crazy weather lately. One more reason I am sooooo happy not to be auditing in the elements any longer.
Where did I leave off? Oh, doing the stair climb for Leukemia and getting ready to leave for TX.
The Stair Climb was great. I am proud to say I completed the climb in 33 minutes! One thing that managed to surprise, and bring me to tears, was the pictures posted on the stairway walls, saying something along the line of "You're climbing in memory of..." So I'm headed up and up, and I get to floor 51, and I come face to face with a picture of someone I knew! His name was Al Leise. He was an usher at the Key Arena when I first started going to Thunderbird Hockey games. He was a great guy. Always ready with a joke and a smile. You could even find him working at Safeco Field during Mariner's season. I always looked forward to hockey season when I would see him. At some point in the last year or so I had heard Al passed away, through the Seattle Thunderbirds oganization, but did not know the cause. I was shocked, and moved to tears! Needless to say, the rest of the climb was emotional for me! I am going to try to recruit a partner for next year.
Trip to TX was fantastic! The weather and the getaway was just what I needed to recharge my PNW batteries. Lots of catching up and relaxing with OC and Biggin' for the first leg of the trip. Even attending a San Antonia Rampage hockey game. I might have even recruited them into getting season tickets!
Got in some girl time, walks with the dogs, and shopping in San Marcos and at El Mercado. It was much needed. Hopefully they are able to make good on some drunk promises to come up this way next year for July! (wink wink)
After leaving San Antonio, I headed up to Ft. Worth to see Rick and Philippe. Rick was a former co-worker of mine from FMCC. Another great time was had with them. We went to Fort Worth's Kimball Art Museum to tour through The Age of Impressionism exhibit. Wow! There were some great painting there. Afterwards they took me to the Fort Worth Stockyard for the running of the Longhorn bulls. I even had my picture taken while sitting on one of the Longhorns. I would NOT want to make one of those guys mad! There is so much history there. We ended up just having a relaxing evening at home that night before taking me to the airport the next day. Next to seeing good friends, the second best part was being bumped up to First Class for the flight home!
That update takes us into April...starting my spring quarter on 4/2. I didn't believe my instructor when she said that we were going to be so busy that it was going to seem like we didn't even have a spring break! Boy, was she right! We were made aware of an opportunity the school was having as an Open House event in May. And my instructor wanted to incorporate this opportunity into her lesson plan for this quarter. Essentially it was an All-day, Campus wide Open House open to the public to come by and see what programs the school has to offer i.e. the culinary program, the nursing program, massage therapists, Certified Office Professional program, just to name a few. So that took over most of our time for April until May 17th, organizing meetings, agendas, taking meeting notes, making a logo, assignment tasks for students to do day-of, all to promote the COP program. I must say, I think our class did a great job! We received lots of compliments on our organization skills for how we had the room laid out, and on the YouTube video we made showing the skills we have learned and that the program offers. I was even featured in the video on a little piece on my 10-key skills. We had another student demo her 90 WPM skill, and then had some of the other students give testimonials to the benefits and skills they have learned thus far.
During all this, M was in and out of CA, AK and WA. The good news, we got to spend a whole 10 days together in May. Even making a trip down to OR to visit the Hoffman's to celebrate Ashley's graduation from Univ. of Phoenix. We finally got to meet our great nephew, Ben! What a cutie pie! Turned right around and drove home to meet the McL/Busta/Alvarez bunch at RTC for Mother's Day Brunch. I am told GJAB is STILL talking about the three cheese tortellini from that brunch! Not surprising really since the little munchkin could probably eat her weight in cheese any day! If I get the internship I have put in for at the school for the Catering Director in the fall quarter, maybe I will ask her for the recipe. Then again, I told Ama that she could probably just cook the Bertolli cheese tortellini and make her own white sauce and GJAB would never know the diff.
On the M front....he is expected back home tomorrow. Just in time to buy a new lawn mower to replace the one I broke last week, in the middle of the back yard mowing. I MIGHT have gone over too many mole hills. And it MIGHT have been the blade replacement job I did on it last. The local repair shop down the street thinks I bent the shaft. But in my defence, the lawn mower was a 1998! It had a good life for this long. The repair guys were impressed it was that old. M even managed to be sent down to Panama City this last week, for the same customer he has been currently working with in San Fran. One of their boats was having problems. So M text'd me last Sunday while I was at the 'Rents, wanting me to tell RTM that at he'll "be getting paid for his trip thru the Canal." To which RTM wanted me to relay back, "Good for you, but how many bars do you get to enjoy on your boat?" All in food fun you two.
Oh, one more thing...last Tuesday, June 6, was my One year Anniversary of getting laid off. What a blessing it has been, giving me the opportunity to go to school, and not be stressed out any longer. A big thank you to ALL my family and friends who have supported me over this last year! And especially a BIG kiss to M for being my biggest cheerleader and rock of support!
This should bring us current! Stay on the look out after NEXT weekend...might have a picture of the McChicks to post. Can't post now, have to wait until RTM gets his Dad's day gift first! And will have lots to update re: graduations, births and weddings - Oh My!
TTYL~
Where did I leave off? Oh, doing the stair climb for Leukemia and getting ready to leave for TX.
The Stair Climb was great. I am proud to say I completed the climb in 33 minutes! One thing that managed to surprise, and bring me to tears, was the pictures posted on the stairway walls, saying something along the line of "You're climbing in memory of..." So I'm headed up and up, and I get to floor 51, and I come face to face with a picture of someone I knew! His name was Al Leise. He was an usher at the Key Arena when I first started going to Thunderbird Hockey games. He was a great guy. Always ready with a joke and a smile. You could even find him working at Safeco Field during Mariner's season. I always looked forward to hockey season when I would see him. At some point in the last year or so I had heard Al passed away, through the Seattle Thunderbirds oganization, but did not know the cause. I was shocked, and moved to tears! Needless to say, the rest of the climb was emotional for me! I am going to try to recruit a partner for next year.
Trip to TX was fantastic! The weather and the getaway was just what I needed to recharge my PNW batteries. Lots of catching up and relaxing with OC and Biggin' for the first leg of the trip. Even attending a San Antonia Rampage hockey game. I might have even recruited them into getting season tickets!
After leaving San Antonio, I headed up to Ft. Worth to see Rick and Philippe. Rick was a former co-worker of mine from FMCC. Another great time was had with them. We went to Fort Worth's Kimball Art Museum to tour through The Age of Impressionism exhibit. Wow! There were some great painting there. Afterwards they took me to the Fort Worth Stockyard for the running of the Longhorn bulls. I even had my picture taken while sitting on one of the Longhorns. I would NOT want to make one of those guys mad! There is so much history there. We ended up just having a relaxing evening at home that night before taking me to the airport the next day. Next to seeing good friends, the second best part was being bumped up to First Class for the flight home!
That update takes us into April...starting my spring quarter on 4/2. I didn't believe my instructor when she said that we were going to be so busy that it was going to seem like we didn't even have a spring break! Boy, was she right! We were made aware of an opportunity the school was having as an Open House event in May. And my instructor wanted to incorporate this opportunity into her lesson plan for this quarter. Essentially it was an All-day, Campus wide Open House open to the public to come by and see what programs the school has to offer i.e. the culinary program, the nursing program, massage therapists, Certified Office Professional program, just to name a few. So that took over most of our time for April until May 17th, organizing meetings, agendas, taking meeting notes, making a logo, assignment tasks for students to do day-of, all to promote the COP program. I must say, I think our class did a great job! We received lots of compliments on our organization skills for how we had the room laid out, and on the YouTube video we made showing the skills we have learned and that the program offers. I was even featured in the video on a little piece on my 10-key skills. We had another student demo her 90 WPM skill, and then had some of the other students give testimonials to the benefits and skills they have learned thus far.
During all this, M was in and out of CA, AK and WA. The good news, we got to spend a whole 10 days together in May. Even making a trip down to OR to visit the Hoffman's to celebrate Ashley's graduation from Univ. of Phoenix. We finally got to meet our great nephew, Ben! What a cutie pie! Turned right around and drove home to meet the McL/Busta/Alvarez bunch at RTC for Mother's Day Brunch. I am told GJAB is STILL talking about the three cheese tortellini from that brunch! Not surprising really since the little munchkin could probably eat her weight in cheese any day! If I get the internship I have put in for at the school for the Catering Director in the fall quarter, maybe I will ask her for the recipe. Then again, I told Ama that she could probably just cook the Bertolli cheese tortellini and make her own white sauce and GJAB would never know the diff.
On the M front....he is expected back home tomorrow. Just in time to buy a new lawn mower to replace the one I broke last week, in the middle of the back yard mowing. I MIGHT have gone over too many mole hills. And it MIGHT have been the blade replacement job I did on it last. The local repair shop down the street thinks I bent the shaft. But in my defence, the lawn mower was a 1998! It had a good life for this long. The repair guys were impressed it was that old. M even managed to be sent down to Panama City this last week, for the same customer he has been currently working with in San Fran. One of their boats was having problems. So M text'd me last Sunday while I was at the 'Rents, wanting me to tell RTM that at he'll "be getting paid for his trip thru the Canal." To which RTM wanted me to relay back, "Good for you, but how many bars do you get to enjoy on your boat?" All in food fun you two.
Oh, one more thing...last Tuesday, June 6, was my One year Anniversary of getting laid off. What a blessing it has been, giving me the opportunity to go to school, and not be stressed out any longer. A big thank you to ALL my family and friends who have supported me over this last year! And especially a BIG kiss to M for being my biggest cheerleader and rock of support!
This should bring us current! Stay on the look out after NEXT weekend...might have a picture of the McChicks to post. Can't post now, have to wait until RTM gets his Dad's day gift first! And will have lots to update re: graduations, births and weddings - Oh My!
TTYL~
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
MARCH-ing into Spring
Ha ha ha...I crack myself up! I think the title of this post is the most creative I've ever been for a title!
So...what's been happening here you ask? Tomorrow is the last day of Winter Quarter! Yahooo! This was a busy one and Spring looks to be along the same lines. As I mentioned in last month's post...that PowerPoint project sucked my brain right out. But I am glad I did it. I think I will be getting my grade on it tomorrow. Hopefully the fact that my classmate, and partner in crime TK, and I will have earned some extra credit for bringing in coffee and munchies for our presentation. And that that will help offset any of the list of presentation requirements that I overlooked or failed to include. (smile) After watching the other presentations the last two days, I have a whole new appreciation for anyone that puts one together.
We have been having some more wacky weather here...day two of Spring and I woke up to snow this morning. But I am not focusing on it becasue I already have one foot out the door in preparation for Monday when I wing my way to TX to see OC, Biggin' in SA and Maha in the Big D. Unfortunately I am making this trip solo as M is in San Fran for work on an extensive engine overhaul assignment. Once that is done (April) he will be heading up to Dutch and start the rotation. But per the norm...nothing is set in stone. As it has been for the last 10 years. My mantra is, "Be positive and flexible" when it come to CAT.
Before I leave I signed up to so the Big Climb for Lukemia on Sunday. I am doing the non-competitive leg, where I will climb 75 flights of stairs for "fun". I have done this a couple times a few years back. I think this is a great cause. Plus I used it as a motivator during my Biggest Loser Challenge I participated in at my gym. The challenge is over and it was determined I won! I was able to acheive my 6 week weight loss goal! I won 4 training sessions with my trainer. She was awesome and really helped me get back into the gym swing-of-things. I have decided to continue with her services upon my return...but have also told OC that it is not an option to eat my way from one end of TX to the other and unravel all this hard work I did. I am liking the fact that I was able to move my belt one notch in.
One little peice of useless trivia...this April 2nd will mark the 10yr Anniversary that Mark and I deemed ourselves an official couple! =) I think I'll keep him! <3
So...what's been happening here you ask? Tomorrow is the last day of Winter Quarter! Yahooo! This was a busy one and Spring looks to be along the same lines. As I mentioned in last month's post...that PowerPoint project sucked my brain right out. But I am glad I did it. I think I will be getting my grade on it tomorrow. Hopefully the fact that my classmate, and partner in crime TK, and I will have earned some extra credit for bringing in coffee and munchies for our presentation. And that that will help offset any of the list of presentation requirements that I overlooked or failed to include. (smile) After watching the other presentations the last two days, I have a whole new appreciation for anyone that puts one together.
We have been having some more wacky weather here...day two of Spring and I woke up to snow this morning. But I am not focusing on it becasue I already have one foot out the door in preparation for Monday when I wing my way to TX to see OC, Biggin' in SA and Maha in the Big D. Unfortunately I am making this trip solo as M is in San Fran for work on an extensive engine overhaul assignment. Once that is done (April) he will be heading up to Dutch and start the rotation. But per the norm...nothing is set in stone. As it has been for the last 10 years. My mantra is, "Be positive and flexible" when it come to CAT.
Before I leave I signed up to so the Big Climb for Lukemia on Sunday. I am doing the non-competitive leg, where I will climb 75 flights of stairs for "fun". I have done this a couple times a few years back. I think this is a great cause. Plus I used it as a motivator during my Biggest Loser Challenge I participated in at my gym. The challenge is over and it was determined I won! I was able to acheive my 6 week weight loss goal! I won 4 training sessions with my trainer. She was awesome and really helped me get back into the gym swing-of-things. I have decided to continue with her services upon my return...but have also told OC that it is not an option to eat my way from one end of TX to the other and unravel all this hard work I did. I am liking the fact that I was able to move my belt one notch in.
One little peice of useless trivia...this April 2nd will mark the 10yr Anniversary that Mark and I deemed ourselves an official couple! =) I think I'll keep him! <3
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Catching up
Hello friends~
I am running a little behind lately. I started off with really good intentions for this school quarter...but I have managed to have more on my plate than I anticipated. I have a PowerPoint project due in 4 weeks and it has to be done on something business related while completing a large list of requirements that I will be graded on, i.e. embedding a hyperlink, changing a gradient fill, adding a chart or graph...etc.... ugh! I struggled with this until, with the help of Mark and two of my classmates, I have come up with creating it on packing for business travel. Something I have/had a lot of experience with in my former work life. Combined with this quarter's business math, keyboarding, English, PowerPoint and outlook classes...it's been crazy. Adding to that, I have enrolled in my gym's 6 week Biggest Loser Challenge. Logging the food, getting in 5 workouts a week, and going to school....crazy!
Some catching up from January....there was some wacky weather that came thru the Pacific Northwest last month. And that resulted in us getting outta Dodge before the major part hit and heading over to the Bitterroot Valley to check up on M's folks. Because of M's schedule, we didn't get a chance to get over there for Turkey wknd or Christmas, so we were due. And it turned out to be a blessing were went over when we did, so that we could accompany EC Roberts to the appointment with the heart surgeon the next day. Based on the angiogram (sp?) he had 3-possible 4 blocked arteries. The surgeon wanted to get him on the schedule sooner rather than later. He ended up scheduling him for 2 weeks out (Feb 1). So after getting some things in order back there and rallying the troops to line up some back-up for E during his recovery time, we came back home and made plans for M to fly back there for the surgery. While we were out of town we had Mandy at the house dog sitting the girls when the power went out for a couple of days. It was Friday when I got the call that she was at a coffee shop charging up her phone, power was still out and she didn't know what to do and didn't have word on an ETA for it to come back. So I made the decision to have her take the girls to the kennel for the weekend so she could at least get back to her warm apartment.
Fast forward to Jan 31 and we found out that E developed an UTI and surgery had to be postponed. M made the trip anyway, and came back next day and jumped right back into work. Only to receive a call Friday before last, for a special request for him to come up to AK to work. They needed him to do a little damage control. He packed a bag in a mad rush, in the dark, because the power went out that afternoon for a couple of hours. The good news was that it came back on that night so he could at least take a shower before leaving the next morning.
M was in Dutch for a week, came home for 36 hours and flew back over to the Bitterroot for the rescheduled surgery, yesterday, 2/14. How ironic huh?, heart surgery on Valentine's Day? =) Good news all around, surgery went well, and he was up to receiving visitors today. M is on his way back tonight and I am on my way to the gym to get a cardio work-out in before I have to pick him up.
Never a dull moment in the Valley of Maples.
I am running a little behind lately. I started off with really good intentions for this school quarter...but I have managed to have more on my plate than I anticipated. I have a PowerPoint project due in 4 weeks and it has to be done on something business related while completing a large list of requirements that I will be graded on, i.e. embedding a hyperlink, changing a gradient fill, adding a chart or graph...etc.... ugh! I struggled with this until, with the help of Mark and two of my classmates, I have come up with creating it on packing for business travel. Something I have/had a lot of experience with in my former work life. Combined with this quarter's business math, keyboarding, English, PowerPoint and outlook classes...it's been crazy. Adding to that, I have enrolled in my gym's 6 week Biggest Loser Challenge. Logging the food, getting in 5 workouts a week, and going to school....crazy!
Some catching up from January....there was some wacky weather that came thru the Pacific Northwest last month. And that resulted in us getting outta Dodge before the major part hit and heading over to the Bitterroot Valley to check up on M's folks. Because of M's schedule, we didn't get a chance to get over there for Turkey wknd or Christmas, so we were due. And it turned out to be a blessing were went over when we did, so that we could accompany EC Roberts to the appointment with the heart surgeon the next day. Based on the angiogram (sp?) he had 3-possible 4 blocked arteries. The surgeon wanted to get him on the schedule sooner rather than later. He ended up scheduling him for 2 weeks out (Feb 1). So after getting some things in order back there and rallying the troops to line up some back-up for E during his recovery time, we came back home and made plans for M to fly back there for the surgery. While we were out of town we had Mandy at the house dog sitting the girls when the power went out for a couple of days. It was Friday when I got the call that she was at a coffee shop charging up her phone, power was still out and she didn't know what to do and didn't have word on an ETA for it to come back. So I made the decision to have her take the girls to the kennel for the weekend so she could at least get back to her warm apartment.
Fast forward to Jan 31 and we found out that E developed an UTI and surgery had to be postponed. M made the trip anyway, and came back next day and jumped right back into work. Only to receive a call Friday before last, for a special request for him to come up to AK to work. They needed him to do a little damage control. He packed a bag in a mad rush, in the dark, because the power went out that afternoon for a couple of hours. The good news was that it came back on that night so he could at least take a shower before leaving the next morning.
M was in Dutch for a week, came home for 36 hours and flew back over to the Bitterroot for the rescheduled surgery, yesterday, 2/14. How ironic huh?, heart surgery on Valentine's Day? =) Good news all around, surgery went well, and he was up to receiving visitors today. M is on his way back tonight and I am on my way to the gym to get a cardio work-out in before I have to pick him up.
Never a dull moment in the Valley of Maples.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Happy New Year from Stella, Jenette, Maggie & Mark!
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What a year 2011 has been… and if you haven’t visited the
blog before, here is a little re-cap of some highlights of our year….or, if you
have the time, you are more than welcome to scroll thru the previous posts.
M:
He is still employed with NC Power Systems here in
Tukwila and has been going non-stop with work.
The only real time-off he has been able to take was a week in June for a
rugby trip to Belgium with the Valley Kangaroo boys and a few days in October
for us to do some fishing with his sisters and their husbands over in Forks, WA. That was a ton of fun and I hope we can make
it an annual excursion.
The big news on his end is he applied for and was
accepted for a position in Dutch Harbor, AK that will start in Feb of 2012. This is a possibility that he has talked
about and hoped for, for a long time. I
remember him talking about it when we started dating. Have no fear; this change does not entail us
having to move up to Alaska (sorry Chevonne).
Instead, he will be on a 30 day on – 30 day off rotation. We are super excited that this opportunity
presented itself so that we might be able to actually plan things now, like making
it to more Griz games and a few more fishing weekends over in Forks.
J:
I was able to visit the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial in
January while I was there on a week of work assignments. That was a very powerful and moving
experience for me and I am so grateful I was given that opportunity. Next up, I cashed in some air miles and was
able to take a friend to Texas for a few days in celebration of her 40th
birthday in February. It was a fantastic
trip and I can’t wait to do it again.
I was kept busy from there with lots of work trips to
Montana and Oregon and locally here until June 6th when I was let go
from my job. I must say, it has been a
BLESSING! I submitted, and was approved,
for Commissioner Approved Training so that I could attend school for
worker-retraining. I am enrolled at
Renton Technical College for the five quarter Executive Assistant Program. So with fingers crossed, I should be done by
this time next year with an AAS degree in hand.
I am loving school, and my instructors are fantastic. I have already learned so much and am very
excited for what lies ahead.
M & J:
We
turned the big 4-Oh! this summer. So we
celebrated it with a big ol’ birthday BBQ at our house over 4th of
July weekend. It was a great day spent
with lots of friends and family, complete with Elden, Judy, Laurie and Ed
making the trip from MT and Dennie, Tommy, Shelley and John made the trip up
from OR. It was the first time all four siblings had been together since 2008. I was the lucky recipient of a Memory Quilt,
put together by my hockey girlfriends with major assistance from Celeste and
Mark. Papa Pete was even commissioned to
do a square. It is beautiful and will be
treasured for a long time.
The four-legged kids are all doing well. Stella will be turning 4 in a couple of days. She is still my sensitive child, meaning when
I am scolding Maggie and even raise my voice, Stella will slink off to her
crate. Maggie turns 5 in April and is
our 65lbs lap dog. She behaves like a
two year old sometimes when I see the red droopy eyes from chasing things all
day but still wants to follow me around the house like a shadow. “Can’t miss anything. must. stay. awake.” There wasn’t any hunting action for her this
last year, but we are hoping to change that this year. Sassy-pants is still around (turning 9 in
August), but keeping to herself whenever the girls are in the house. There is still no love between them.
The house is still standing and a mole has taken up
residence in the back yard. Grrr…… We are looking forward to Mark’s 30 days off
so that we can complete a couple home projects and he can have some time to
work on the Bronco.
That’s about it in a nutshell for us. We hope this finds you all doing well and
wish you happiness and good health in 2012.
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