Unemployed in Alaska

at our camp site in Homer AK

Yep, we are still unemployed but I got a firm job offer yesterday and may be starting my new job 14 May, so that has taken some stress off.  Joe is still looking and has applied for some government jobs of his own but is in no real rush due to starting his last two classes for his bachelor's degree.  He is using his post 9/11 GI Bill, so he's getting paid a decent amount of money to take classes :). As Joe said a month ago...we will be fine!

Chris, Grandpa, and me

Things have a way of working out when you don't fight them. After I submitted my 2 weeks and was on leave, my Grandmother in Missouri took a turn for the worse.  She was in her 90's so it wasn't a big surprise.  Everything happened quickly and within a matter of days I was flying out to support my Dad during the funeral.  I got to see a lot of family I have not seen in awhile in addition to my brother.  If I was still working, it would have been stressful for me taking the time off and navigating all of that.  So I'm grateful that I could just do my thing and fly out with no additional stress.  I got to visit with Grandpa.  He suffers from Alzheimer's but he's happy.  With Grandmother gone, she was slightly controlling, he gets to watch westerns all day :)

Off to Homer AK

Stevie

When I returned, Joe and I took our new family member to Homer AK.  Stevie is a 97' Fleetwood Sport Jamboree.  She is are trial run for living small :P and a way for us to get out and explore more of AK without worrying about hotels etc.  Homer hadn't woken up yet, so it was more of the sleepy fishing town while we were there.  We boondocked on the spit and practically none of the stores and restaurants were open yet.  I guess the magic open time is in May.  We spend 2 nights there.  One thing that Homer is known for is the bald eagles.  There wasn't as many as pictures show, it's probably a season thing too, but we saw enough!  They are amazing birds!  The size of them and to see them just flying around...we were constantly in awe!

boat docks at the Homer spit

We had a decent walk about in Homer, walking 8.8 miles one day!  Joe and I usually end up doing a lot of walking.  It's a great way to see things and take up time when you got nothing going on, which is usually the case when you're camping.  

all to our selves!

Stevie is great!  The heater is awesome!  We had some things things that brought up questions but we either figured them out on the road or just adapted until getting home.  Joe has a friend that rents RVs here in Anchorage and he cleared up some of our questions.  We did good for our first packing for a trip too.  We under packed kitchen stuff but over packed clothing LOL. It's a learning process but we are good and going with what we got, working together to solve problems.  The only thing we didn't try out was the shower.  

a must have for AK traveling!!!

We may be taking another short weekend trip next month.  We will see how things go.  Stevie needs a good washing, outside and in before our next adventure.  

down time while camping

My goal is to do quicker blog updates... there is so much to say and share when we go on our trips and even life here in AK.  We tend to have a lot of relaxing time while we camp so there is no reason not to do an update ;)

Mid point to Alaska

We are staying a week in Salt Lake City, UT to relax a little bit before heading onward to Alaska which is about another 6 days.
We scored an awesome AirBnB in South Salt Lake for a couple of nights.  It was a two bedroom townhouse with a garage.  We could walk to a local brewery, which we walked to twice :P

Our first day there we met up with my friend and went to the 42nd Greek Festival.  I've gone to the festival a few times before when I lived in Utah and always enjoyed it!  Amazing food!  After getting our bellies full we walked over to the gateway and just sat and chatted for a while.

The next day was shopping!  We planned on doing some winter clothing shopping while in Utah before heading north and we did some good shopping!  We didn't get crazy but got some stuff and Joe started his winter clothing collection (he had nothing).  When we got home from that we both felt lethargic and took a quick cat nap before going for a walk.  We were just going to take a nice little walk in the residential area we were in but we ended up all the way at the U!  I mapped our walk when we got home and it was a little over 6 miles!  Good for us!

The following day we moved in with Marcia and David.  Our first night was full of good food and about 3 bottles of wine!  We had some heated conversations but it was healthy and the air was cleared of some misunderstandings.  We will be here for a few more nights before heading north.  
That brings us to the current day (I'm going to try and do this in a more current fashion).  We had a low key morning, we were not moving fast due to the late night and adult beverages.  We did a little shopping and sight seeing before making it back home for laziness and later....kick ass nachos!

Next adventure bound

A lot has happened since I last wrote...more traveling that I wrote about (I need to get better at this).
The 3rd September was our last full day in Panama City Beach, FL.  It has been our home for the past two years but we are ready to go and an opportunity presented itself!
We are on the road to Anchorage Alaska!  I got a job at the VA Hospital there and Joe will find a job once we get there, he is still on terminal leave so he's getting paid to move!  We are going to take about 3-4 weeks to get there.

We have been staying with friends and in AirBnB's which have been amazing.  We got one in Panama City Beach that was two blocks away from the beach!  It was chill and relaxing, a good way to leave the area before Irma made her presence known.

Our first stop after leaving Florida was Wynne AR where Joe's family is.  It's the farmland of Arkansas, similar to where my grandparents are.  We spent a full day there and two nights.  It was a good visit, and even Joe was surprised how well everything went.  His family is lively and some are chatty, there is always some drama and we were caught up on that!  One thing that we laughed about was the day to day living and how it goes when visiting family in the country.  We drive a lot, because nothing is near anything, sit, eat, visit, drive some more, sit, visit, eat, and repeat!

After AR we were off to Amarillo TX.  We again lucked out with an AMAZING AirBnb!  We got there early enough to do some touristy stuff and checked out Cadillac Ranch before having wine and Joe a cigar at our little cottage!  We also found a local eatery that was great!  We do very well at avoiding chain places as much as possible!

With all our sitting and eating I'm going to need to start a hard core exercise routine once we get settled in Alaska!
After Amarillio we were off to the Denver CO area.  
On the way to Denver we stopped at a random deli in Pueblo CO.  It was a legit Italian deli, Gagliano's Italian Market and Deli, it has been a family business since 1921!  We got a couple of amazing sandwiches, found a little lake, put Tux in his carrier and had a leisure lunch by the water!
Once we got to Denver we stayed with a friend of mine from my time in the Utah Guard.  They opened up their basement to Joe, Tux, and I.  We had some awesome dinners in the local area.  It was here that I realized I was not use to the dry weather like I was once before.  It's taking me some time getting use to the dry air.  
One of the reason for staying in Colorado for a couple of days was to check out the 4 Wheel Campers who had a dealer in the area.  We went and checked them out but we both didn't have a love connection.  We are the beginning parts of our research of them but it was good to get eyes on and physically get in one instead of just looking at them online.  
I had applied for jobs in that area of Colorado and Joe mentioned that he was glad that I didn't get that job, which I agreed with.  We like the area but maybe not the best fit for us, living wise.  
The next stop is Salt Lake City, UT.  The first few nights we had another AirBnB before moving in with my Aunt for the rest of the week.

What Summer?!

Next week I start my internship at the Vet Center and school starts back up again! Ugh... where did the summer go?!  We started off with a move to the city:)

Right after that, Shane was off to MO for a family reunion.  Once he got back it was his retirement and he had some family and friends come out including my parents and brother.

Once the visitors were gone we sort of had some down time.  I was doing active duty orders with my guard unit for my "summer job".  Codi swore in for the Marines and leaves in September!

Shane got LASIK done (I'm still debating if I want to get it done).  We were busy but not crazy busy enjoying our new city living.  We went on a short hike.

Love to go to the Art Festival!

We did the "slide the city", which was somewhat painful but next time we'll know how to do it right! Definitely need a float of some sort!  On the way back we stopped at the Beerhive for some drinks on the patio :D

Drove up to Ogden for the annual Irish Music Festival

Driving around downtown one can miss all the paintings and random stuff that is around the city.  Walking around town allows us to check those things out!

We then took a short trip to Nashville TN for the Wounded Warrior Project summit.  We got to learn a lot about WWP and they really packed the schedule for us.  We didn't have time to check out Nashville so we will have to go back!  We did get to see the Grand Ol Opry though!  

Once home we checked out This Is the Place Heritage Park, it's bigger than we thought and we got a good workout walking around checking everything out.  They give GREAT discounts to military :D

I'm pushing to downsize ;)

Then for my birthday Dad flew me down to Vegas to see Mom and Chris, along with some downtime before I become a busy busy grad student again.  It was relaxing.  I got some shopping done, we did the -5 Ice Bar (Chris had been wanting to do it) and caught up on some movies.  Shane was a trooper and stayed home to watch the furkids!  He's a good man :)

In the midst of all of this... I have started a new therapy, Prolonged Exposure (PE).  I'll write a different blog entry about that but it's been interesting and there is homework! Daily homework :( ugh

Two Weeks to Go!

     Only a couple of more weeks until my first year in the MSW program is over!  I cannot believe that I'm practically half way through the program.  I ended with my practicum the other week.  I was happy to end my time there.  It was a good experience but I was ready to be done.  Next year I'll be working at the Vet Center with combat vets.  I'm excited for the experience but I realize that it will probably be harder for me than this first year.  I had a few interviews for next year's practicum.  I interviewed at the prison, which would have been an amazing experience (but both Shane and my Dad were hoping it wouldn't pan out), the Vet Center, and the VA.  I never heard back from the prison but the Vet Center called me back the very next day after the interview!  I thought it was a great interview because they had a dog there!  I was able to sit there for the first half of the interview petting this sweet dog!  I think that should be a requirement for interviews ;)  The interview at the VA went well too, even though there was no dog.  They actually called me back and offered me a slot but I decided the Vet Center would be a better fit.  I struggled with the decision but after talking to some people that work at the VA, they even said I made a good decision!  The VA is so BIG, and the red tape.... I want to be able to learn and grow in this practicum.  I am worried about showing up, shadowing another therapist and then sent on my own way like I was this first year.  I feel that the Vet Center will be more intimate of a learning experience!  Plus the intern office had a window ;)
     During the summer I'll be working with my guard unit.  Our programs need work and I have an opportunity to get orders.  We are in a transition and we are bringing online a new inspection program so I'll be busy.  It will be good and the pay will be nice.  The practicum I just left offered a job and talked to me about working with them but the pay won't be nearly as much as doing orders!
     Shane and I have some big changes ahead of us!  Shane is retiring in June and around that same time we are moving downtown SLC.  I'll be close to next year's practicum and school.  We are excited.  We are close to the park where they do the big farmer's market and Shane's excited to be near Squatters :P  We have a lot of downsizing to do and get the house on the market.  Codi recently moved out, which was exciting for him but at the same time an adjustment.  





     

Getting Ready... School Time

Tomorrow is orientation for my MSW.  I have most of my books, there are a couple of classes that haven't loaded anything yet.  I've tried to organize my desk so to cut down my clutter (you can't really tell though).  I don't feel ready!  I'm nervous about tomorrow, I'm nervous about my internship, I'm just nervous!
The Orientation is a full day event, with social time UGH!  I'm not good at the networking thing but looking at the schedule it seems to cover a lot of good stuff.  I also get my student ID!  Student discounts AND free public transit :D

My one week off has been busy.  I cleaned house from top to bottom.  Caught up on laundry and just tried to get everything to a good clean starting point so I just need to maintain while I'm going to school and working.  

In September we are going to Shane's niece's wedding and we need to board the furry kids:(  I checked out one place that seemed really nice, there is another place I want to check out and then I'll have a good idea where which one we want to use.  My friend offered to watch Sami during the time, so we just may need to board Tux.  It sucks either way but I don't want to leave him at home with just someone checking on him.  He needs more interaction and who wants to be alone for that long :(

I was pretty productive this week until yesterday.  On Monday when I woke up I had a strong bout of vertigo.  I thought it weird but it passed and I moved on with my day.  Yesterday the same thing but it lasted longer.  It passed and I went to my physical therapy appointment.  I was a little tired and off kilter but then I did this one back bend stretch and I thought I was going to pass out!  The vertigo came back with a vengeance.  I made it through my physical therapy session and walked home (it's right around the corner of our house).  While walking home I felt drunk, couldn't walk straight....so I called the base clinic.  They couldn't get me in but a nurse called me back later and told me to head over to a walk in urgent care clinic off base.  I went and was told I have a viral inner ear infection! WTF  I never even heard of having this issue, or anyone else.  I got some meds for the dizziness and was on my way.  I was told to take it easy and to not whip my head around in any direction.   Looking online I guess it's a somewhat normal thing.  It could last a couple of weeks or longer.  Since it's viral, they just give meds for the symptoms.  I woke up this morning with no major vertigo but can tell I'm still a little off when I'm walking.  I'm trying to be slow and deliberate with my movements, if I do turn a little fast I can tell there is an issue but it's no where as bad as it was yesterday morning.  Hopefully it won't linger for 2 weeks!  I still feel tired and fatigue so I'll be taking it easy again today.  

Big Changes Ahead!

In a matter of months I will no longer be on orders with the CERFP and I'll be a full time student working to get experience as a social worker!  I'm excited yet worried at the same time.  Not only do we have that going on but Shane is eligible for retirement and we are discussing that he will retire Aug 2014.  My first year of school we'll be up here and the second year down in the city :D  It's a BIG transition and it will be stressful but I think things will be good.
We just scheduled a little vacation for ourselves.  We are going to spend the night in Reno before spending a few days at Lake Tahoe!  I've never been to either places so I'm excited to see new places.
Dad just flew out for a quick visit this past weekend and that was nice.  It was a good visit, quick but productive.
Life is good :D

2013 just around the corner

Christmas has come and gone, and it's back to work tomorrow :(  We had a good visit with Mom and Dad.  The girls made things a little more restrictive.  Malia is known to get into whatever she can (she is the constant 2 year old) and Guiselle has anxiety.  So we made due.  

They arrived on Christmas Eve, early in the afternoon.  As soon as they got settled our two day storm hit.  Mom wanted and white Christmas and it worked out for her!  It was beautiful. We had a leisurely Christmas Eve, nothing fancy or festive.  

Christmas morning we opened all our gifts.  Shane got and stuffed stockings for everyone.  I need to get on that wagon for next Christmas, it's not right for him to stuff his own stocking!

After opening a majority of our gifts we packed up the girls and heading down to the Brown's.  We had a nice visit, had some more gifts, and clam chowder with ham sandwiches! YUM  We played games and just hung out.  We headed back home that night.

We did some running around the next day but that night Shane, Mom and I did the Zoo lights.  Very pretty stuff!  We also checked out the Temple Lights since we were passing through.  

Even though our fridge was full, we kept the beer cold.

It was a wonderful visit!

I was worried about Tux and the additional 2 dogs.  Guiselle and Tux were in a constant stare down but nothing that was worrisome.  Malia was scared, once she got hissed at Malia figured Tux was something that she did not want to mess with!  No one turned into best friends but it was a livable situation.

It's been a lazy week for sure.  Mom and Dad left yesterday morning and I couldn't tell you what I did, except pop some popcorn, watch some movies, napped, and watched more t.v. Today is shaping up to a little bit more of a productive day.  The goal is to shower sometime today!  I've been scanning in pictures to save so I can throw some away.  It's going rather quickly :)

Christmas Eve

Well, it's here!  Mom and Dad are en route and it's raining :(  But a short 45 minutes away it's snowing. We are expecting a snow storm, so a white Christmas is the rumor.  We will see.  Mom and Dad will probably be seeing the white stuff before us with their drive in.
I believe we all are done with wrapping and shopping! Ugh... but now I feel as though I forgot someone or something :(  Maybe this is why I didn't do this on a regular basis.  I feel like I need to buy for everyone and feel guilty if I leave people out!
My last go round of wrapping consisted of my regular helper, Tux. Who did his thing but soon turned to attack  mode.

Makes life interesting.  

I'm suppose to be working today but the President gave us a day off :D  I woke up this morning thinking of things I need to do at work though :(  The week we get back to work is going to be crazy and we have limited time to get everything ready.  It will work out... it usually does!

Things are get ready to be crazy here... with 3 dogs and a cat.  I've been trying to keep Tux in the know but yeah... it's going to be a shock and he's going to be PISSED at us for this intrusion.  He has his safe room so he should be o.k.

Our secrete santa at work was a hit.  Everyone made out pretty good.  I got Hawaiian coffee, a cup warmer (which I am currently using) a coffee mug with ginger snaps in it.  I gave the mug back because my Santa said his daughter wanted to draw zombies on it.  I want the zombies :)  I will post a pic when I get it back!  I'm excited!  The Capt was shocked at all the different Dr Pepper items we had for her (beef jerky, freezer pops, jelly beans, chap stick, ice cream topping, bbq sauce)  She made out!

I have some last minute clean and get ready things to do before the folks get here.  I'm going to make a pumpkin pie (not sure if I ever made one before), made some cookies the other day... and need to figure out what we can do/have for dinner. Ugh...i'm not a person that "entertains" that well, it stresses me out!  Codi is sick, and Shane is getting over whatever crud they got.  I though I was getting it, a sore throat, but it seems to have gone away!  Fingers crossed!!!  I do NOT want to be ill while I'm off of work, that's just cruel.

I need to buy the tickets for the zoo lights, figured that will be a nice thing to do while they are here. 

Wish me luck!  I'll have pics and post in a week!

Last minute Christmas!

Well... it's not last minute, we still have a couple of weeks to go.  It feels like a lot of a last minute things though. This weekend Shane and I got most of our Christmas shopping done, I have a couple of little things to pick up but nothing that's stressful.  I've been adding to our holiday decorations a wee bit.  Mentally thinking of everything we need to do before the folks show up with two other dogs!  Poor Tux is going to be STRESSED!  I have more gift wrapping in front of me though :(  Some of Shane's gifts are in the car still, and his sister is sending gifts that I have to wrap... ugh.  It should be a fun Christmas.  Right now the plan is to go down to Marcia and Dave's on Christmas Eve and then spend the day with them!  So we will be relocating the animals, presents, and people!  Oh my!  It shall be interesting.  Tux will be grateful for a break though so it will be nice.  Ever try gift wrapping with a cat around?  Not the easiest and some of the wrapping paper has teeth marks.  

We got some snow this past week and even right now it's lightly snowing.  Sami got to spend some time outside.  The other day before Shane and I were getting ready to leave for shopping I took her out front to do her business, which she did.  Then she promptly sat down in the snow and looked at me like "I'm good, go about with your day.  I'm going to lay in the snow."

I know people with kids get irritated when people with out kids talk about their pets like they are kids.  I'm going to do it anyway.  I've heard that pets are like kids stuck in a toddler stage.  I've never had kids so I can't say if this is true or not, but I've heard plenty of stories about kids to think there may be some truth to this.  

Tantrums and fits, yes "pet tantrums" are not as bad as kid tantrumes but yesterday Tux was acting like he was starving to death, after he had dinner.  I go into the kitchen and he proceeds to flail about in front of our pantry (where his food his kept).  

I know I've seen pictures of kids on the floor pitching a fit.  You cannot see tears or a red face but this boy was wailing!  And yes I did give him some food, he's a growing kitten after all ;)  

Case number 2 of the pets like kids example.  I get home and everyone wants my attention, the pets and Shane.  I got home from shopping and had to go pee...bad.  No one else was in the house so the door was not an issue. I got a ball thrown at me and well....I felt as if I was on stage!

I can't help but laugh at these guys.  Pets do bring a level of warmth, amusement and irritation to one's life :P

Shane and I are merging our furniture taste, our lives, and our traditions.  I wasn't raised with strong holiday traditions.  We did the usual things... tree, gifts, open 1 gift on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas... done and done.  Shane has a stronger sense of holiday tradition.  Lots of gifts, and stockings!  The use and implementations of stockings was a big discussion last year.  I did not do functional stockings every year growing up.  I think we had them when I was younger but as Chris and I got older, they turned into more decorative pieces. Last year, spending Christmas with his family I witnessed the importance of the stockings.  Everyone had one, and each one was filled to capacity with random things.  A majority of my stocking items are still in the original wrapping....So that brings me to my stocking argument!  I hate buying little crap things that will not be used or needed!  Apparently last night while Shane was shopping he got stocking stuff AND stuff for the pets :P  

I already know one of my New Year's Resolutions will be.... start this holiday craziness early November!  That will give me relaxed time for shopping and wrapping, and at least buying good and useful stocking stuffers.  We will see how that pans out....

This past week I had dinner with Amanda, one of my longest friends who happens to live 15 minutes away from me!  We both get caught up with our crazy lives and it's been months since we had lunch together (it was still warm).  It was great to see her and she's doing well, major house renovations going on!  Can't wait to see the new updates :)  New Year's Resolution #2, make more time for my girlfriends...at least monthly get together's and to call my friends that live away from me!

Oh... I'm trying the vegetarian thing again.  I read this article about the big beef industry.  After my trial of being vegetarian for 6 months I got really bad anemia so I went back to meat.  It does make life easier to eat meat, let me tell you!  But I've always thought about going back, then I saw this article and it just gave me that push to try it again.  I'm going to gradually cut back on meat, while adding iron supplements.  I also read that Vit C aids in the absorption of iron so I'm going to ensure I do that.  Shane, of course, will not be attempting this venture with me and that is fine.  As long as he respects and supports my decision to do this and he does.  It will make the whole dinner making process interesting but that's where the gradual cut back on meat comes in.  I got some dinners that I've already planned and bought for that I will still make (Salisbury steak anyone?) but after that I will cut back on what is in the house, and the meat that I do buy will be happy meat.  I guess it will be better to say that I am a semi-vegetarian, mostly vegetarian with some meat meals.... which will probably be at home because I can control where and what type of meat that I'm eating.  I decided this a few days ago.  Since then, no meat... just fish when we go out.  So, me being semi vegetarian take two!

By this time next week, our house will be full of 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 5 adults!  Wish us luck with minimal fur flying!

A little catch up on a rainy day

So it's been raining all day, already did some homework so I figured I'd try to update this little ol' blog of mine.

First off: resolutions for the New Year.  Looking back to my post last year I'm probably going to carry over a majority of my resolutions.
Be More Earth Friendly I can always improve on this.  I do try to more local goods than not, and I pay attention to what I am buying and where it comes from.  This is hard and it's a major commitement and it will be a resolution until I die I think :P
Stay focus on my goals My goals last year were: get my own place, start on my Masters degree, take a kick ass vacation somewhere in the world, try to be a vegetarian.  I did really good with staying focused!
I did get my own cute little apartment in Salt Lake City, I currently taking my third class toward my MPH, and I did try to be a vegetarian.  The kick ass vacation.... umm, had some work trips to Ohio and went to Missouri for Christmas.  I'm thinking those don't count :P
Goals for this year: continue with my MPH, take a kick ass vacation, and work out more often.
I so need to get in shape!

I think that's good enough for the resolutions.  We'll see how well I do with these!

Codi wasn't a big fan of getting geared up for Christmas since we were going to Missouri, but like a normal parent, Shane made him participate in decorating the tree, putting up lights, and of course taking pictures.  There was also one where he is rolling his eye, but this sarcastic smile was better! LOL

This was the tree at Shane's parents house.  We also had stockings stuffed to overflowing!  We (Shane and I) were brought coffee in bed so we'd get up so we could open presents.  I would like to note that #1 the sun wasn't even up yet and #2 the youngest "kid" was 19 years old I believe!  There was NO need to be up that early to open presents when there are no children younger than 5 in the vicinity!  Needless to say we spent all morning opening presents.  I felt very welcomed due to I had my own stocking and presents, I made out pretty well too!  After presents, Shane and I took a nap! 

We had one night that we went to a local bar so Shane's friends in the area could all meet up.  Granted, with it being the holidays it's a little difficult.  I got to meet some of his high school friends, and there was a mechanical bull there so the boys had to play.....

Overall the trip to Missouri and down to Oklahoma to visit family and friends was good.  Busy but nice to meet everyone, and also see my family (it's only about a 4 hour drive to my family down in Oklahoma from his folks house).  We returned back to Utah still liking each other after our travels, so that's a good thing too!

I really wanted to see the downtown lights for the holidays but with our schedules and traveling it wasn't looking too good.  I was happy to see the lights still up after the new year so one night we did a quick detour to walk through and see  the lights.  It was also a bonus going this late due to lack of crazy crowds!

When we were taking the above photo, a tourist (had a thick accent) said, "Oh facebook photo".  I guess this self portraits are now deemed FB Photos! hahaha

So.... that's the end of the year update that is late in coming :P