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!
Friday, August 24, 2012
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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