Keep Movin' On

It's been an interesting month.  It's been an BUSY month!  First off the good news.....
I've officially been admitted for the graduate study at U of U!  I start Fall 2013 :D

My boss knows, and that's always a stressful conversation and it will be hard leaving but it's time for my next chapter of my life!  I am really happy that I got accepted, but at the same time nervous for the work and the classes.

The next big thing that happened this weekend is that we took a weekend trip through the base to Blue John Canyon.  We took off on Friday, had an practice rappel once we set up camp and then bright and early on Saturday we had a 10.5 mi hike (to the slot canyon and back).  The slot canyon that we went to is the one that Aron Ralston was pinned under a boulder and had to cut his arm off.  Here is another post that I found that talks about the canyon.  I was definitely out of my comfort zone but I made it and was sore for days after.  It was nice to be out in nature, and the canyon was beautiful.  We had great timing with the light and the temperatures :D  Here is my FB album for pictures.

I'm still sticking with my work outs!  A few more days of Hip Hop Abs and then I'm taking my measurements to see the difference.  I had a little "break" with the camping trip but I worked out during that time so I thinking it's forgivable;)  I'm taking care of myself with my chiropractor, regular massage, and now I've added acupuncture and ordered some essential oils.  With the kit I ordered I get a website to help reach out to others.  Yes, it's like all the other stuff out there to sell :P  It's a local company here in Utah and I have other friends that use doTerra EOs and LOVE them!  I'm going to use the stuff and if I enjoy them I'll tell others and share the website with people.  Essential Oils have been around forever and with my desire to take care of myself without going straight to western medicine who's first response is to treat the symptoms and not find the underlying cause of the issues.....I am going for the holistic healthy route and essential oils is just one more tool in that box for me!  If you'd like to know more about essential oils here is my website that can give you more information.

Well, I'm still busy busy but I wanted to have a little post with updated :)  Next weekend I'm off to Nellis for training with the Utah CERFP.  Fun times.... I get to sleep in a tent again ;)

February = Travel

I got a busy month ahead of me, it's going to be somewhat crazy.  I guess it's good that I'm getting my head cold out of the way this week!  Be before I get to what I got going on this month... check out this video of what we are doing with our homeland mission!  I work with some great hard working people, and we are just getting started!
I have regular drill weekend this weekend, but we are flying out to Oxnard, California for some training.  It's a fast trip.  We are flying out Saturday morning, there will be some training on the plane for the medics and once we get there it's hard charging until about 4.  We just a little bit of free time (I just want to see the ocean and I'll be somewhat satisfied).  On Sunday is an early morning, half a day of training before we fly back.
I have a regular week of work, with the annual Fat Tuesday party at the Brown's :) but then that following Saturday Shane and I fly out to Denver CO for his birthday.  We both need a little vacation so this will be nice. We are going to take in an Avalanche game but other than that we are going to wing it :)  We got a good deal and we are staying at a beautiful hotel, the Hotel Teatro.
We come back on Wednesday but I took the whole week off, which is working out in my favour!  That Sunday I am flying out to Anniston, AL for a 3 day class at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness.  I fly back home on Thursday, have Friday off and then it's another drill weekend!
CRAZINESS!!!!!

Now on to my MSW update... no real update there :(  But there is a lot of stress!  I've been accepted into USC, I deferred that acceptance to start in May.  The U of U has until 30 May to tell me if I've been accepted into their program which starts in August.  The U of U is A LOT cheaper than USC but the USC has a great program that I am excited about!  They even have a global immersion program that I can apply for. One of them focuses on military (which I want to go into) and we go to Germany for some training there.  It's about 3 weeks long!  The U does not have a military sub speciality or an immersion program that would fit what I want to do.
ARGH

So, if I don't get to a post this month.... you will know why :P

Quick Catch Up

I started a post a few days ago and saved it so it this post wouldn't turn out so long with updates and New Year stuff....but that didn't turn out like I planned.  


Here is what I started ;)

WOW!  I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve updated my blog!  I’ve been busy busy.  I’ve finished and passed two classes towards my master’s degree. GO ME!  Working hard with the Utah Air National guard getting our homeland security mission stood up.  

Not me but I did get to do this also

ME!

Spending available time with Shane, friends and family.  On top of all that it’s the holiday season, so my life has been on full blast lately.  My class ended on this past Saturday with a 11 page paper being due but I have a school break until 10 January :)  In a couple of days Shane, Codi, and I are flying out to Missouri to visit his family and friends, and spend a few days with my family.  It’s really convenient that our families are somewhat close together!

Trying to remember what has been going on these past couple of weeks ;)  Halloween ended up being really low key.  I think I was getting over not feeling well, got a sinus infection back in October, so we went to another haunted house and then a couple of bars and called it a night.  We didn’t dress up or anything   :( That’s o.k., it was fun seeing everyone else’s costumes.  Sometimes it’s fun to be around a bunch of happy people and just chill and watch the festivities!

November flew by.  Spent turkey day with the Brown’s.  I went down to their house the night before so I could hang out and also help prep/cook for Turkey day.  Shane and Codi came down and the Stenseth’s were over for the festivities.  We had a good time.  Played pin the hat on the turkey, and eventually ended up in the basement for karaoke and some Wii.  Codi turned 18 right after Thanksgiving so we went out to dinner with a few of his friends.  They were hilarious but then tiring, by the time we got back to the house (dinner was in SLC) Shane and I were both ready for some low key silence.  Even one of Codi’s friends who was really quiet the whole time, said they are always “on” with their comments/jokes/etc. 

Any free time on the weekends, if it isn’t spent doing homework has been spent shopping.  Not much of a gift giver during Christmas…usually just get what I want during the year and if I see something for someone else get it then…and most of the people I know usually don’t have things that they want but this year…I’ve been a gift buying fool.  We put up a little tree at Shane’s and decorated it, much to Codi’s argument of “we aren’t even going to be here for Christmas”.  But, we are going to open presents on Wednesday before we go to Missouri.  And well…good thing that little tree is up on a table cuz it’s would have been dwarf by the presents thus far!  Shane says we’ll have plenty more to open at his house along with stockings! With all this going on, going down to my parents house will be an oasis of relaxation!

Christmas in Utah

Shane’s unit had their holiday party this month and it was 20’s theme.  We had fun dressing up but the party was a wee bit of a bust.  Once all the gifts were given away, everyone took off :(  Not much dancing or drinking.  Not that I would have danced that much, my feet are a little out of practice when it comes to wearing heels!  Living in slippas (flip flops) for almost three years in Hawaii really put a crimp in my heel wearing stamina!

I'll get to a holiday/new year post here soon.  Downloaded a bunch of photos that I'll need to sort and tag.

Finally :D

I had my first drill weekend with the Utah Air National Guard, the UTANG... say it, it's fun :D  Anyhoo...everyone has been really friendly and I've seen many familiar faces.  I was talking to my Dad about my interactions with people and I said "I don't know if it's me or it's just how they roll... but I feel really good about the folks that I'll be working with"  Granted there will be issues, there always are but I feel good about everything.  I told Dad that I think it does have a lot to do with me, I'm more open to others, less worried about what people think or say, and am just happy-that shows and people respond to it.  Dad said it is me.  He said that I've gotten more confident, and I'm more comfortable in my skin! FINALLY!!! :D  I'm only turning 34 next month :P
Don't get me wrong.  I still have my days, my fleeting thoughts of worry and negativity but that are far and few in between and when they do arise I can easily push them aside!

THREE WEEKS AND I'LL BE IN INDIA!!!!!!