And the travel continues

So, the whole reason I was "absent" this past fall had everything to do with our travels.   This quite possibly makes me the worst.blogger.ever- mainly because I didn't share the details throughout my travels with you all and also because when I do post I don't give much incentive to keep coming back!  And now, to makes matters worse, it seems that the same is holding true for the start of 2014.  Please know that I'm not at all complaining about getting to travel, getting to visit both new and familiar destinations, but it certainly makes keeping you up to speed that much more of a challenge.

At work we kicked off the new year with three back to back meetings, with travel required for two and hotel stays in Norfolk for the other.  In a nutshell, I ate hotel food and a full three meals a day for three solid weeks.  Ugh.  I was home for a day before driving (well, riding) to Richmond and then for a full two weeks before heading to Washington D.C. and then a surprise, last minute work trip to Cabo (with Jake as my guest!).

In between and during those trips my Dad, Mom and Jake celebrated birthdays; my sweet cousin, Claire was showered with gifts and well wishes for her upcoming wedding; I hit up a Shake Shack; our super close friend, Matt moved to Florida; I read the Divergent series (and saw the movie); added some blonde highlights; and I started planning out a few home projects I hope to accomplish this year.  And by planning out, I really mean creating boards on Pinterest and obsessively pinning to them all the while planting seeds of my wish list in ordinary conversations with Jake.  #hesontome

I've officially set calendar reminders to try and get into the habit of posting more regularly, so keep checking back and I promise I'll give it my best shot.  For now, below are a few photos to show how 2014 has kicked off!  How has your year looked so far?  Any travel plans?

 

Fall Travels

Where did Fall go?  Since the end of October I've been lucky enough to travel to Louisville, KY; Las Vegas; Key West; & Hawaii.  Yes, Hawaii... more on that later.

Las Vegas was for work, but fun all the same and Louisville and Key West were for weddings.  One wedding felt country with touches of Fall and an intimate dinner as the reception.  The one in Key West was quite the opposite- with the rehearsal dinner on a sunset cruise and the wedding and reception on a dock with dancing, a guacamole station, and plenty of margaritas.  Each was perfect for the couple and so much fun.  But between these trips and other things over the past few months, the season flew by and before I knew it we were kicking back on a beach enjoying a big kid vacation in Hawaii.

I'm going to designate a separate post to that trip because there are just too many details (and photos) to share.  For now, here are some pics from my travels leading up to our vacation in paradise.

Did I lose you?

It's been over 4 months since my last post and I've got nothing to really explain it other than life... which also is happening for everyone else, including the most popular bloggers.

Truth be told, I've considered starting a new blog or just redesigning this one and changing the name (esp since I don't have a matching url) and while that debate has been going on in my mind I've avoided putting any time or effort into it as it currently stands.  Big mistake.  I mean that certainly isn't the way to build suspense for a new look or name... and it's not helping my cause with gaining or keeping followers either.  Basically, I did not choose wisely and I'm sorry.

So, what's been going on since March?  A lot actually!

1. Jake and I traveled to Cancun on a trip for my work and it was amazeballs (yes, all one word).  It was really nice because even though we've taken trips together we don't splurge the way you can when the majority of your costs are being covered.  That nicety allowed us to spend our own money on excursions, which were so much fun, and other little things we wanted to do... like be total tourists and purchase photos from said excursions.

couples swim with dolphins

networking reception

view from the balcony

2. I traveled... a lot.  In addition to Cancun, I visited Savannah for my Mom's 50th birthday; Salt Lake City for SNAP! a blogger conference (as a sponsor, not a blogger); San Diego for our largest event of the year; and Atlanta immediately after for the Homes.com & ForRent.com Crafting for Charity event.  It sounds like a lot and it felt like a lot up until I hit my bed after the very last trip was over (and even a bit after that).  Don't believe me?  Take a look for yourself!

park in Savannah

fun closing party at SNAP!

putting the finishing touches on the booth 

trip to the San Diego zoo after a long week

After photo from the Crafting for Charity event in Atlanta

3. My inner DIY-er was uncovered.  I've always enjoyed artsy projects but working on the dining room redesign for The Nicholas House during the Crafting for Charity event really exposed the joy of it.  It doesn't hurt that Beth Hunter from HomeStoriesAtoZ asked if I was a DIY-er because she thought I was a natural... but seriously, she told me in Atlanta and made the same comment on her Crafting for Charity post.  Needless to say, I finally came home and started looking at every room like a potential project.  What's on my list? Replacing the kitchen tiles to start, adding hardware to our guest bathroom, freshening up the master bath, and renovating the laundry room.  I'm sure theres more but that's what first comes to mind.

I know that's only a list of three update, but it will have to do for now. #babysteps

Oh, well I guess #4 could be that I started regularly inserting hashtag into both verbal and written communication. #bettergetusedtoit

Cookie Monster

In case you don't already know this about me, I love sweets.  I love them in the morning and in the afternoon.  I love them in the evening and underneath the moon (if you didn't start singing Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink in your head just now get lost).  But it's true.  I really love all types of sweets and I sort of wish I didn't.

I don't think the issue is that I enjoy sweets, lots of people do.  I think the issue is that I crave them... like all the time.  Lazy Saturdays are just better with some homemade chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk in hand.  And those stressful days at work, well it's nothing that a little cupcake can't take my mind off of for an hour or so.  Do you see how this is dangerous?  I mean it would be nice if I had different cravings and really loved fruit or something healthier... but I don't.

I'd like to blame part of this on my mother who started this infatuation of mine at a young age.  I mean look at me?  I've got Cookie Monster clothes for my formal Olan Mills photo.  Talk about commitment.  Not to mention that my mom also loves sweets, with most her dinners in college consisting of a pack of Reese's cups and a soda.  It's clear where I get it from.

Ugh.  I need to get this under control.  With our trip to Cancun less than 3 weeks away, I'm making changes (at least temporarily).  That's right, I've given up sweets from now until our trip- eek!  I genuinely hope I can go without but it's going to be hard.  Pathetic, I know, but at least I'm honest.

Wish me luck, I'm going to need it.

I'm not sure what I expected

I don't know exactly what I expected our time here in Haiti to look like because there were so many questions as to exactly what we'd be doing, but knowing how emotional I am, I should have known that this trip would pull at the heart strings.

They hadn't even finished unloading from the bus when I pulled my sunglasses down to hide the tears.  It only took a few minutes to know for certainty a couple things.

1. They are thrilled to be at Camp Jake... a majority of them for the second time.
2. There are a lot of them and with that a huge range of handicaps.  There are several blind and deaf campers as well as a fair amount in wheelchairs, all with unique stories and needs.
3. They love, love, LOVE each other and care for each other well.

I could honestly talk about the first day and some of the campers we've learned the stories of for awhile, but in effort to make sure I actually keep up with the posts I'm not going to put every detail onto these pages.  I hope to share enough to let the family and friends supporting us from home feel connected to us and what's happening here.

Today was a total whirlwind.  It was emotional, it was fast paced and slow moving all at the same time (I'm learning about Haitian time and how to tame my Type A tendencies quickly), and it was intense.

Getting 45 campers into their rooms across two floors (some in wheelchairs) was tough.  Helping to get them seated and fed was also tough.  But getting them into the water to relax and swim which they don't have the opportunity to do at the orphanage was easy.  Getting them to grab instruments and participate in creating music (for a couple hours) was also easy.  The best part is that the music came as a plan B for tonight's activities... only when our French dvds wouldn't play on the American dvd player did we have a change of plans.  Regardless, it didn't make much difference.  On a whim a few of the musically inclined counselors started playing the guitar and drums at the end of dinner for fun and that quickly transpired into a camp-wide activity that only thunder and lightning could out a stop to.

To avoid the storm we piled into our meeting space and picked the beat right up where they left off.  The most beautiful part was when the songs turned into worship music, completely at their direction.  When they started singing, "We Worship You" I honestly couldn't take it.  I teared up watching them sing those lyrics from the heart.  I know it sounds cliche, but it was anything but.  This group is faced with some hard challenges daily and despite that their faith is like a rock.  They sing with pure joy in their hearts.  It's inspiring and not something I'll soon forget... you simply can't forget such beautiful souls.

We've Arrived in Haiti

We arrived in Haiti around 2:30 yesterday afternoon after some intense traveling.  I won't go into too much detail but originally we had a 6:00am flight out of Norfolk which was cancelled (after midnight), so we rebooked a 7:20am flight out of Richmond.  Brutal, I know.  However, the other person traveling to Camp Jake from Norfolk, Kelly, was really great and recruited her Dad's SUV and generosity to get us there.  After that, everything felt into place as planned.

Once we arrived in Port-au-Prince things got crazy, which we were warned they would.  Not in a bad way, but in a OPEN YOUR EYES sort of way.  They have one carousel for luggage and then a big open area where bags just are put out for pick up.  There are so many people hoping to provide service to arriving travelers the minute you walk in.  Our group had a ton, and I mean a ton, of bags.  People brought all kinds of snacks, games, and gifts for the campers which led to over 20 suitcases for about 10 counselors.  We loaded them onto an open truck, hopped into two vans, and made our way to the Kaliko Beach Club about 2 hours away.

Kaliko Beach is amazing.  We are staying in colorful bungalows that are so close to the ocean that I could hear it as I fell asleep.  The food has been different from the states but good so far, things taste so fresh- even the juices are made on site.  Everything about where we're staying is much nicer than what I expected... which I felt weird about at first.  I guess I felt like we were coming to a third world country and it seemed odd that we'd be spending our time at one of the nicest resorts in the area.  I wasn't sure how that would help us understand and relate to the true poverty right down the road.  And then I understood.  It's not about us- it's about the orphans coming from St. Vincent's and what this experience will be like for them.  The campers that are coming here tomorrow are the ones at St. Vincents that do not have families to visit or a place to go when school is out, so they are coming here for their summer break.  Their comfort, interests, and needs are at the root of every plan in place for the next two weeks.  I have never met a group like this group.  Tom, the camp director has thought of everything.  He has purchased and planned for things I would have never thought to bring for or do with the campers that will make their time here and their perception of themselves that much more special.  I wouldn't even know where to start with examples, but I'll try.  I think as things come together and I share the stories with you it'll be easy to see what I mean.

For now feel free to also follow The Red Thread Promise's blog, as Sonya is blogging consistently from Haiti during the trip.

Counselor bungalows

View of the pool and the ocean just beyond it

sweet goodness

I'm not sure what it is (well, I do), but whenever we have people stay at our place I get crazy about cleaning.  The irony in this sudden and short lived obsession is that I focus so much on deep cleaning that I quickly tire out and don't get everything done... big and small!.  So for example, while the inside of our kitchen trash can could be completely disinfected and wiped down inside and out, I will have completely forgotten to take out the trash throughout the house.  This sort of thing carries into every room.  I'll dust the ceiling fan in our bedroom but won't vacuum the stairs.  I mean seriously.  Who is going to go in our room and run their finger across one of our fan blades?  No one.  But who will travel up and down the stairs noticing all sorts of things along the way?  Everyone.

This is all coming out now because we are preparing for our trip to Haiti and as result need to get the house ready for our Tank's sitter/our friend.  I spent hours in my room tonight and have 2 bags full of clothes for goodwill... but the laundry is still piling up, I didn't change the sheets (which was actually on my list), and I created more work for myself finding proper homes for things.

I've still got a few days before we head out.  Wish me luck to get everything done and for Josh to actually feel like the house is clean at first glance... because I already know under close inspection the most random things will pass.

wow

So much has happened since my last post (most likely because a lot of time has passed) but I'm going to do my best to bring you up to speed.  Hopefully, in the days/weeks to follow I can go into more detail on some of the updates.  Here's to keeping you in the know...

-Jake and I got accepted as counselors at Camp Jake by The Red Thread Promise.  We'll be in Haiti just shy of two weeks this July and are getting really excited!  We have been toying around the idea of doing a block party that could serve as a fundraiser as well.  The plan is to provide the food and drinks (a perfectly timed home brew) and put a shoe box out for donations- old school style.  Anything collected above our $500 fundraising goal would go straight back to the organization.  More details on this definitely to follow.

-Jake broke his foot.  He is fine, but it sucks.  He is pretty limited in what he can do and I predict will go stir crazy by the end of the week.  The worst part is that he's been training for a half ironman that he now won't be able to do.  As a matter of fact, he broke his foot while trail running this past weekend as part of his training plan.  Poor guy.   The only thing he hates more than inactivity is wasting money.  This incident has resulted in both.

-I'm headed to San Antonio tomorrow for work and am bringing our new(ish) Marketing Coordinator with me.  The plan is for this week to serve as a live training for her before our biggest event in June.  I'm really looking forward to teaching her the ropes and having some company while working the event, it should be fun!

-I've taken a break from my book and am having a really hard time picking it back up.  Hopefully my upcoming travel may create an opportunity to dive back in.

-The hard drive for my work computer crashed today.  Need I say more?

I hope to post when I get back this weekend, but I understand if you take your time to check back!

So Long January

January is over and I couldn't be happier.  Seriously.  As soon as the holidays were over work didn't skip a beat and I've been slammed until now.  By slammed I mean that I didn't take lunch breaks, I went in early and came home LATE, I continued to work from home, and I lost sleep as my mind raced with the next day's to do list... every day.  How lame is that?  Pretty lame.

However, all the preparation was for our annual sales meeting in Dallas which ended on Thursday and was a huge success.  I had tons of people tell me it was the best one yet, which is always nice to hear after killing yourself to prepare for it.  Busy is normal just before an event, and this year I actually had a team helping which was huge!  In addition to the usual tasks at hand, I was also responsible for completing our company intranet in time for it to be rolled out at the meeting.  I had a lot going on at once and a clear deadline that seemed almost impossible, however my team is awesome and we worked together to get it done.  That's that.

Now I've got to keep the intranet meeting the expectations set last week and will transition straight into preparing for our annual awards program in Aruba and our next big trade show this April in San Antonio.  It never stops, but I like a good challenge.  I really enjoy what I do, which is a huge blessing.

On a completely unrelated note, I've lost 17 lbs!  I probably gained a little back after eating at a hotel for 5 days straight, but I'm still really proud of the progress and people are starting to notice.  The compliments I got last week when I saw folks I hadn't seen in months made me feel even better.

Maaaainnneee

Portland Head Light

As promised, Jake and I went to Maine for five days to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary and it was a-w-e-s-o-m-e.  A little known fact is that despite being together forever this trip marked the first time we flew on a plane with each other.  Isn't that strange?  

Anyway, we left for Boston at o'dark thirty and once there, took the "downeaster" to Portland.  Portland is a foodie town right on the water.  There are tons of shopping boutiques, breweries, restaurants, and art galleries... it's definitely my kind of town.  We did a little shopping and a lot of eating and walking around for two days, it was the perfect balance.

Next on the list was Newry which was a couple hours from Portland and is best known for the Sunday River ski resort turned Fall festival when we passed through.  This town made it on our list as a way to break up the trip and gave Jake an opportunity to get some exercise in by signing up for their 12 miles Mountain Epic trail run.  He asked if I wanted to do it (or one of the shorter distances) but I think you all know what my answer was.  He ended up doing well despite spending the first 30 minutes straight running uphill and having to climb 8 summits total.  Are you starting to see how appropriate naming the race, Mountain Epic, was?  (As a side note, Jake is using the word "epic" way too much since we've been home).

After just one day in Newry, we finally made our way to Bar Harbor... and it was worth the wait!  There wasn't a thing about the town of Bar Harbor that I didn't like.  We rented a small cabin close to Acadia and spent most of our time in the park sightseeing.  I have a good story to share about one of our park adventures but that's worthy of its own blog, so stay tuned.

We wrapped up the trip by driving back down the coast, stopping in Freeport, and spending just a few hours in Portland again before catching the bus back to Boston.  I had such a great time and was happy to celebrate our anniversary together in such a fun place!  If Maine isn't already on your radar as a travel destination it should be now.  I could tell you more if you're interested... for now enjoy a handful of photos from our trip!

Bass Harbor Head Light

Barn in Newry

 

Sand Beach in Acadia

Thunder Hole in Acadia

View from the top of Cadillac Mtn in Acadia

oh my word

One of my company's larger events is finally over and I feel like I'm back to an almost normal schedule.  It's been pretty crazy and I haven't been able to be my usual social self.

I started to blog about the past few weeks (mainly regarding work) but then decided since that hectic season is almost over I don't really want to revisit the stress associated with it.  So, let's not.  I got back from Phoenix late Friday and leave for Boston early Tuesday.  It doesn't feel like enough time to be home and I've realized I'm not at all what some call a "road warrior".  Nope, it just isn't for me.  I'd like to think it has something to do with the hours I put in and pace at which I work when traveling, but other things like time with Jake come into play as well.  In the 5 days that I was gone, Jake and I talked once for less than 3 minutes and emailed a quick exchange regarding when I'd be home- that's it.  I have no desire for that to become normal or routine in our lives, nor do I want to work the way I have been leading up to this trip.  I'm hopeful with our new hire starting in another week that things will get much better.  I realize getting her up to speed will be a task in and of itself, but at least one that I'm looking forward to!

Then, in case that won't provide enough relief, Jake and I are actually taking a vacation!!!  Yes, you read correctly, we are going on a trip to Maine... just the two of us!  I can hardly wait.  Our second anniversary is coming up and we will be in Bar Harbor during it and Portland and another town before that!  I'm looking forward to the cool weather and being able to see and do everything Maine has to offer before it starts to shut down for the end of tourist season.   We've both picked specific things we'd like to do while there and I'd say the agenda is the perfect balance of our interests!  There are wineries and breweries we want to check out, easy hikes with beautiful scenery in Acadia National Park, and so far the places we've made reservations to stay are a nice compromise for our likes.  The fact that we have reservations for where to sleep at all, let alone in fun places, is a big step for Jake and I'm thankful.  We're both really looking forward to the time away together and celebrating another year of a blessed marriage!

I have more to say, but am a bit tired and want to try and spread it out so not as much time passes again before you hear from me.  You'll hear from me soon, promise.

the long and short of it

I hate breaking from blogging for awhile and then hitting the highlights of whats been going on in the interim in a single post, but its the life I live.  Here it goes...

-I went to Richmond to visit my friends, Ashley and Stacy and had the best time sunbathing, shopping, eating, and catching up.  You can't beat time with old friends, where you pick up exactly where you left off and feel like you can barely cover all the details of whats been going on since you last spoke!

-Our good friends, Jeff & Elizabeth had their baby boy, Sam... and we LOVE him already.

-I ordered a professional photograph (well from a photographer on Etsy), framed it, and already found the perfect spot for it in our place.  Not to brag, but it looks good.

-I signed up for a half marathon in November and have started training already.  I'm only on week 2 but so far, so good!

-Our friends, Dan & Jenny are moving to Hawaii and we've been participating in the farewell festivities that go with that.  Dan actually leaves tomorrow morning and Jenny will follow soon after in August.  Both Jake and I really love this couple and are going to miss them in our community group!  They invited us to Hawaii, and we just might miss them enough to make the trip... which also isn't hard to do win they'll live in paradise!

-Work has been CRAZY!  There are a lot of changes being rumored and I don't care to go into too much detail (or I might cry... again).  Don't worry though, I'll be sure to keep you posted if anything major happens.  What I can share is that I'm stressed, my eye twitches incessantly, I go in early, leave late, and am pretty tired all the time.  So is life, this too shall pass (or at least that's what I keep telling myself).

-I'm officially obsessed with Pinterest.  I could be on it all day long.  True story.

-I've added three unexpected trips to my calendar.  Two are for work- the first to Miami in August and the second to Boston in September, and the third to Charleston is for fun with three of my friends from high school.  I'm looking forward to all three, except that the Miami trip falls on bad dates.  

I'm sure there are things I've forgotten but perhaps once remembered they'll be deserving of their own post!

back in the states

I won’t even both apologizing for the lapse since my last post, because I’m sure by now you’re tired of reading my excuses.  That said, I’m going to dive right into the subject of this post and will keep my fingers crossed that you haven’t given up on me yet.

I mentioned before that Jake was in Haiti and I’m happy to report that he has arrived back home safe and sound.  He got back Saturday evening and it’s been a whirlwind since.  I would have been happy just to sit in a room with him and hear him talk about his trip for hours… but that isn’t realistic.  There is so much to do now that he is home and so many people who want to talk to him about his experience.

Last night his trip finally caught up with him and he was exhausted.  I used this as an opportunity to seize my one on one time with him and just hang out, plain and simple.  We walked over to redbox, rented a horror movie (crazy, right?), and relaxed- it was A W E S O M E.  But enough about that, I want to share with you guys about Haiti!

For starters, Jake said it was a great trip.  It took some adjusting in the beginning, but once he had patients, he found a groove.  He talked about how quickly they responded to treatment and how they made certain accomplishments look like nothing.  One of his videos has a woman not only walking with her new leg, but balancing a bucket on her head at the same time!  Nuts.  But that’s how it is there.   Not only do they need to regain function in their legs, but they need to be able to move without any hindrances because their families depend on them to contribute.  It’s really amazing and humbling at the same time.  He made some great relationships with locals at the clinic he worked at and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back next year.

If I had to guess what his biggest struggles have been since coming home, I'd say two things.  First, the excess in our culture; just all the stuff we have and "need" as Americans.  I imagine its really hard to see, let alone rationalize, after being surrounded by poverty and in a country so behind America in so many ways.  Second, I'd say the difference in patients.  He went from having patients travel from who knows how far and then wait hours just to be seen, to being one of hundreds of therapists in VB that a patient could choose from and then decide at any time whether the appointment was worth keeping.  His first two days back were filled with last minute cancellations and I could tell he was struggling to believe being in that clinic was a good use of his time.  I think he is slowly getting settled and adjusting to his old routine.  I find his response to the transition encouraging- I would hope that an experience like that would have a long lasting impact.

Here are some pictures from the trip, the whole album can be seen here.

Haiti

Hopefully most of you know that Jake is currently in Haiti with a group called Physicians for Peace and has been since the beginning of February.  He went there to work with recent amputees as a result of the earthquake.  I saw myself posting more about his trip, but since our communication is limited I don't have much to share.

What I can tell you is that he arrived there safely and said its worse than he had imagined.  As in, the pain and devastation there is really bad, but he doesn't feel like he is in grave danger.  From his emails, I've come to the conclusion that there are just a ton of people there hoping to be seen by these physicians and they most likely won't be.  In the beginning I could tell Jake was frustrated by this.  He of course is helping as many people as he can with the time and resources hes been given, but its hard not to notice the people waiting in line for hours.  I know Jake, and if he could he would work all day and all night just to make a dent in the line, but that isn't realistic.  I've encouraged him to make most the most of the time he has with the patients he sees and to stay focused on them.  I'm not a physician, but you don't have to be to understand how difficult working in that could be day in and day out.  What hes got to keep in mind is that he is helping some, and that matters, it makes a difference.

I'm really proud of him for going on this trip.  He took the initiative to go and I know its going to have an impact on him long after he returns.  I'll be sure to report back once I hear more.

previous Physician for Peace volunteer in Haiti, hope to update with pics of Jake soon

weekend trip to charleston

I just got back from Charleston, SC and L O V E D it (it was my first time visiting)!  I went down with my Mom for my cousin Anthony's wedding and had so much fun with my family.  We stayed at the Mill House Hotel right downtown and tried out as many things as we could before it was time to head back.  I ate at a couple cute restaurants, my favorites being Toast and the famous Poogan's Porch, and walked every square inch of their market.  The wedding was beautiful and despite all the rain it was a great weekend!

I wish I had pictures to share but Jake took our camera to Haiti... more on that soon!  Well, here is one of the happy couple that I stole from Facebook!

coming out from under my rock

I apologize that I am just now blogging about the past two weeks of my life.

Let’s catch you up by hitting the highlights:

1. I visited my friend, Katie, in Atlanta… and it was awesome!  I flew out on Thursday and came home on Sunday.  We did all sorts of fun things like paint, shop, paint some more, eat at Zaxby’s (the South’s competition for Chick-fil-a), and hang out with her boyfriend, Nathan (if you know Katie, then you know I don’t use that term lightly).  I honestly wish I could have stayed longer, but it just gives me an excuse to visit again.

2. I lost at Bunco.  I haven’t talked about it in awhile, but the Bunco game I attend with my mom and sister is still happening every month.  As a matter of fact, I think this fall marked our second year of playing together.  I love the group and really look forward to playing each month… except when I go home empty handed!  December’s game is being hosted at my Mom’s house, so I’ll have to help her set up and cook- maybe even take some pictures.  Of course, now the pressure is on to have all the Christmas decorations up and in order in time!

3. Tank is learning to stay and to shake.  Jake is pretty awesome when it comes to training Tank, but my claim to fame is definitely teaching him to shake.  I’d like to think I’m primarily responsible for housebreaking him as well, but I hate to take all of the credit.

4. Some friends of ours recently bought a house (my dream house) which has made me uber focused on when we will be in a position to buy a home.  I am not trying to compete with them or take away at all from this milestone in their lives; it’s just made me more aware of that Jake and I haven’t really given this much thought.  It’s really not a big deal, except for the hours I spend online obsessively searching homes for sale.  I’m so over the top in fact, that I’ve searched for them in every city we’ve ever considered living in, just for comparison’s sake.  I’m a-ridiculous.

5. Our friend, Scott (aka Homo 3) got Lasik eye surgery.  Everything went well, he can see… better now than before and without glasses or contacts.   However, it is sort of weird to see him without his glasses; it’s definitely going to take some time to adjust.  Also in regards to Scott, you may have read about him on E, Myself, and I’s Bachelor of the Week post awhile back but I am proud to say he is no longer a bachelor.  I should have reported on this sooner, but time has escaped me.  He is dating Hannah, the sweetest girl ever and I love their relationship.  Period.

6. I’ve started running again and it’s painful, literally.  I am so out of shape, but I told myself that before I spend $100 to register for the Shamrock half marathon I need to be able to follow the training program.  Well, I’ve started it… and I’m dying.  I suppose each run gets easier but I am terrified to train in the cold and I absolutely hate running on the treadmill.  Sure, a couple miles on the treadmill isn't awful, but in a few weeks the program will require 5 to 6 miles and I can’t imagine it.  Eck.  For now, I’ve been running outside after work, but I’ve got to admit that sometimes I get a little scurred.  I stick to well lit areas and keep telling myself that its just too many Criminal Minds episodes getting in my head.  Another option would be  to wake up early and run in the morning, but who wants to lose sleep if they don’t have to?

So, as you can see so much and so little has been going on in my life.  I am hoping with the holiday and time off of work that I won't keep you waiting so long before my next post.  Thanks for being a faithful "follower" and Happy Thanksgiving!

Florida

I PROMISE I haven't forgotten about you all or lost my motivation for blogging more immediately after getting it... I've been in Orlando since Tuesday and when I travel for work it's always difficult to post (I hope you forgive me).

Anyway, I had been trying to keep notes of funny things to recap that have happened while here, but tonight as a whole just takes the cake!  First of all let me start by saying that my roommate, Danielle, has been awesome!  We actually worked in the corporate office together (different departments, same division) for three years and she just moved to do her same job in the Orlando office.  It's been fun to spend time with someone familiar but everything with the Florida group has been great- they are hilarious!

Tonight, we were taken out to dinner off-site which is quite the process when your party is 18 people, the closest restaurants are 20 miles away, and you've got to fit into 3 cars.  The restaurant was this Irish place in Disney and the group really had a good time.  At one point some ladies at the end of my table were laughing so hard from the stories about this one office that people started leaving their seats to come over and listen, myself included.  I'm not kidding, I was laughing so hard and enjoying the main person's storytelling style so much that once I finished my food, I moved my seat til we left to their corner.  It was one of the best decisions I've made and the laughs kept coming.  Once I left that group to ride back, things got better.  Something to know about them is that every comment made is intended to be a punchline... and it is.  Melisa in particular is so funny to me.  A few of the things she said last night include (and yes, these are direct quotes):

"Oh gosh its a full moon, no wonder I'm so moody! I'm serious people!  The moon affects the tides and our body is 80% water... do the math bitches!" (excuse the profanity, but it was included to keep the integrity of the quote)

As she directs the driver on how to get out of the shopping center:

"You don't have to stop at these stop signs.  Seriously, I only ever stop if there is a person in the crosswalk.  I always stop for animals though, even if they aren't in the crosswalk."

"STOP looking at me while you're driving!  I'm afraid to make any jokes because when I talk you stop looking at the road and I can tell because the car literally swerves to the right each time." (this was true and dangerous... at one point the driver was laughing so hard she took off her glasses to wipe away all the tears and the rest of us panicked as we veered off the ramp).

Once we got back to the hotel, some people headed out to party and some wanted to just go to bed.  As part of the lame group, I got on the elevator for bed, but ended up riding it up and down to keep hearing stories.  This started when Kelly's floor came up right in the middle of her story, so we insisted that she get back on to finish... and then no one got off when their floor came up, we just kept riding and sharing until we finally decided to all get off and take our party of 6 to a stagnant place.  It was hysterical.  While I realize you might not see the humor in any of this, I wanted to remember the night so blogging was only appropriate, plus they'll get a kick out of it!

Anniversary Weekend in Manteo

 Manteo carries a lot of significance for me and Jake.  Its where we got engaged, 11 months later honeymooned, and then 12 months after that celebrated our one year anniversary!  As a matter of fact, I don't know that another town has more meaning to me right now at this stage in my life.

Since it holds sentimental value and is just over 2 hours away, it was easy enough to go there for the weekend to get away, relax, and celebrate.  We stayed at the same Inn that we did last October and made sure to hit our favorite restaurant, the Outer Banks Brewing Station.  We had plans to do dinner at Adrianna's, the site of one our all-time favorite dinners, but a wedding was going on there so we hit another local place instead.  It was a pretty chill weekend, which is exactly what we wanted!

Oh, and on Sunday we picked out a pumpkin from a Farmer's Market on the way home... something we put off last year and never got around to doing.  I'm pretty excited about it actually!  I can't wait to show you pictures after we carve it, but for now I'm keeping secret what its going to look like.

where has the time gone?

It has been far too long since my last post and that one slipped in after too much time as well! 

Its quite busy here but we knew walking into the Fall that we had plans every weekend.  However, having that understanding and handling it are two different things!  The worst part is that in the midst of the chaos, there haven't been too many noteworthy moments!!!  At least now you know why my blog has been slacking.

This weekend Jake has a triathlon at Smith Mt. Lake, so we're traveling that way and will be staying with friends in Roanoke.  I'm not sure when we'll get in or when we'll head back, but I am sure that the weekend will feel way too short.  A perk is that we will bringing Tank along!

I don't remember if I blogged about this or not, but at the end of August Tank took his first trip with us to Charlottesville.  After hearing our friends Jeff and Elizabeth were bringing their dog I convinced Jake that Tank should be able to come too.  With hesitation, he agreed but made it perfectly clear this would be a test and would determine his inclusion on future trips.  

Well, I'm proud to say Tanky Tank passed with flying colors.  He slept with me both nights in my sleeping bag and was very well behaved at the wineries.  Jake couldn't deny this so Tank has officially earned the right to travel with us... as long as the people we're visiting don't mind!

Trust me, we're not going to be those people who can't be separated from their dog, BUT when you're traveling pretty much every weekend you sort of feel bad pawning them off!  Right???

never as easy at it seems

There are a bunch of things I could write about that have taken place since my last post, but I want to recap my evening while its fresh in my memory.  Here it goes...

I flew into Dallas today for an event and actually didn't feel stressed.  Everyone else arrives tomorrow, so I got a little bit of a head start which was a nice feeling.  One thing I'd planned to do was take a trip to IKEA.  I'd only been once before and we needed some modern inexpensive furniture for the event I'm planning.  Anyway, I took care of some things at the hotel and set out for IKEA in Frisco, TX which is just over 20 miles from downtown.  Luckily I didn't hit traffic and never got lost.  It was awesome!

After I loaded the car I headed back and passed a Wal-Mart.  I debated whether or not to stop and of course decided that I should have several miles past the exit.  So, I then tossed the idea around to go to Target instead, but thought it might be too late, etc.  After too much thought I reverted to the Wal-Mart decision and rerouted my gps.  Upon arrival I noticed the Wal-Mart wasn't branded like a regular store, the logo was solid green and it became clear that this location was solely a grocery store.  Not too worried, I selected the next closest store on the gps since it was only a few more miles out.  On my way there I thought how much easier it would have been if I'd just pulled over at the one in Frisco but tried not to beat myself up about it.  While in route I passed Target.  I told myself that the 30 minutes I had until the store closed and the fact that they are typically more expensive for the items I needed wasn't worth it and so I kept on toward Wal-Mart.  This time when I arrived at my "destination" I only saw a Sam's Club.  Realizing that they are affiliated but obviously not the same store, I got a little frustrated.  At this point I didn't want to give up because I knew the other Wal-Mart listed on the gps was another 2 or 3 miles and it would be a total waste to turn around and go back to the hotel.  So, one last time, I searched for the closest store and hit "Go".  After another 10 minutes, a few missed exits, and my gps unnecessarily "recalculating" I pulled into a vacant parking lot.  That's right folks, my third and final attempt to find a Wal-Mart was unsuccessful.  Now, even more frustrated I headed back to the hotel.  I passed the Target, again, at just a few minutes past 9 and immediately beat myself up over the idea that I may have actually had enough time to get everything I needed before they closed.  Just salt in the wound.

So, that's my night in a nutshell.  The only other highlights were seeing the following billboards:

1. "May the Pork be with You" (bbq place)
2. Brook loves her pacemaker (this was for a hospital I think and looked like it was written by a giant with a crayon)
 
Oh, and while it's sort of inappropriate I can't leave out this one out!  It was actually a neon sign that ran the full length of the store... "Condoms to Go!"

Seriously.  It was the sign I saw right before a handful of billboards that were borderline offensive and that I've blocked from my memory.  Hopefully tomorrow's errand to Target goes better than tonight's attempt to Wal-Mart.