Cusp of a New Year

I can't believe another year is almost over! A few updates because we always seem to changing something with our plans.  
Work is work.  It's been full of up and downs, just like any other job.  I do enjoy the work but I have another evaluation in a couple of months which are stressing me out if I'd have to admit it.  I was trained in July and then lately I have been having monthly mentor calls, which have been going well, but in a couple of months I will have person come and sit in on my work for two days! ack!  Had a lot of changes at work in personnel and all.  My "boss" has changed three times, I have a new coworker psychologist which I feel we have a good working relationship, and we had another social worker hired but he quit :(. They are suppose to be hiring someone else but so far no one has been hired.  So technically we are low manned so we are focusing our work on the active duty members.  So things are moving along.

On my balcony, with Fremont St behind me

Looking out towards Red Rock

Joe got a job!  A good paying job, hell he's getting more than me LOL. But it's in Albuquerque NM :(. So we are doing the separate thing for a wee bit.  Thus I moved to a small place in the Arts District which is pretty nice and Joe found himself a similar place downtown ABQ.  Even though neither one of us is happy about this new living arrangement we are focusing on the gains we will get from it.  Our bills will get paid quicker, Joe will keep his sanity, we can get our health and fitness back on track, and when we do visit with one another our time will be more intentional.  

Joe came out for Thanksgiving and we had a relaxing time catching up with each other and doing whatever came up.  One good thing about Vegas is that it NEVER sleeps and you can always find some place that is open!

Playing tourist at the Neon Museum!  

Seven Magic Mountains

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 ;)

And SWITCH

Joe and I don't do anything "normal" and it works for us.  A few weeks ago Joe gave his notice at his job.  He enjoyed the people and the concept of the job he was a fan of but he had similar issues with his work environment as do/did I.  

My work environment was having a negative effect on my mental health.  Joe was beginning to worry about me.  I was coming home in a mood, either angry/frustrated or depressed.  I was in a constant state of being tired no matter how much sleep I got.  Every morning I would have to force myself out of bed, there was even one day I didn't even shower before going into work!  My depression was strong and deep, only getting deeper the longer I struggled in that work environment.  Joe said we'd be o.k. financial for a few months if I put in my notice.  I hate not having something lined up and I also don't like not having an income but my unhappiness at work was overriding those worries.  One morning Joe sent me a picture of me from Florida, I was on a beach cruiser and smiling...he text "I remember this girl".  I cried and knew I had to quit work, the environment was not going to change any time soon.  Coworkers have shared with me their struggles that have been going on for years.  I did not have the motivation to fight the system.  So a week after Joe put in his notice, I submitted my two weeks and yesterday was my last physical day at work.

Before I put in my notice I had a telephone interview for a position on base.  It's a slight pay cut but it sounds less stressful, smaller work community, structure, and more follow through and accountability.  As usually I feel as though I bomb telephone interviews, thinking I sound like an idiot or after the call replay conversations thing "I should have said this".  I submitted my 2 week notice at the VA on Friday and on Monday I received an tentative offer email for that position! 

dog sitting Luna, dog cuddles make everything better

This process of quitting my job has been interesting for me.  It's always a hard decision even if it's for one's own sanity.  My frustrations with work were echoed by a majority of my coworkers and we were banding together to bring issues up to the managers and leaders in hopes of a change.   When I decided to quit my job, with no other employment lined up, a coworker stated "You are amazing".  

This gave me pause, it was said as she was leaving my office.  Amazing? Really? for leaving a toxic work environment that was doing me more harm than good?  I got to thinking about it and I've been commended for just doing stuff like that before.  I left a government job in Utah and moved to Hawaii.  I had a safety neat but no real job.  I just moved.  After graduating with my MSW I went against what "made sense" and followed my gut, things have been working out wonderfully.  When I went off to India and volunteered for 2 weeks, I had no job and shouldn't have spent the money but I went and had a profound experience and things worked out.  I am blessed!  I have been in positions where people have been helpful and have provided some security and safety but at times I just go and do.  That is what I did with this recent situation.  I have been at the VA for 7 months and gave my 2 weeks.  People were surprised at how sudden I was leaving but NOT surprised as to the why.

Joe and I both have our history of jobs that suck your soul.  We are making it a priority to enjoy life, even if that means taking a pay cut at times.  We are o.k. with that.  We don't have to make X amount of money, we just need to pay off our debt and then move on to our next big thing.  

Although leaving the VA was best for me, it's always hard to say good bye and stop therapy with Veterans.  I did my best to inform them of my leaving, ensuring I personally talked with each one either by phone or in person.  One of them gifted me with this painting.  I'm always in awe when a client takes the time to do something to give to me.

gift hand painted from a client

So here we are, both unemployed.  I'm working towards a start date...the DOD hiring process is never quick.  We have time off to focus on down sizing, selling things, and enjoy more of what is in our back yard!

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.

It's been awhile....

Wow!  The last post was in August 2016!  I have been busy living life so I cannot complain one bit!  A quick run down/update....
-still working towards my LCSW in Panama City Florida
-Joe will retire October of this year
-2016 ended awesomely
     -had an awesome vaca visiting the UK and Ireland in September

     -had some Halloween fun in PCB

     -had a great visit with my Mom

     -learned how to ride and promptly bought a bike!

     -took my first cruise

     -rung in 2017 in New Orleans

Things have slowed down in 2017, mainly due to needing to build my back account back up from all that fun!  We've been working hard but we have a trip to Miami in a couple of weeks so we have to balance work and fun!

Birthday Month!

It seems like I'm posting after an adventure and we are having more and more of them :P  Last post was the beginning of July and here I am at the end of August.  I turned 40 this month and Joe turned 41!  He had a TDY to Atlantic City so I flew up there and had a long weekend checking out another new place.  Bonus was that I didn't even have to pay for the plane ticket!  It was a free trip with my credit card rewards....Happy Birthday to me!  
Even though we are always out and about we also have fun here in PCB.  There are days where we just need to get out of our apartment and enjoy the local places and music.  One of our regulars is Buster's Beer and Bait, and yes Buster has both of those things!  He has great outside seating and regular live bands!  

What's not to like :)  On weekends we will go for bike rides, out to a breakfast spot and then wherever we end up riding!  I'm all about exercising that doesn't feel like exercise! 

We enjoyed Atlantic City but we were also sadden by how run down it was.  It still had it's charm but we could see how amazing it use to be.  Talking to a local barista he said it's due to casinos being everywhere nowadays and not just Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City...and of course politics :(  I got there early afternoon and once we checked in we did a walk around and figured out a show to see.  Ended up seeing a very good burlesque show after some tapas.  The next day it was a pool day and we scored a cabana platform (which is normal $75) for free!  Nothing like laying around a rooftop pool on couches drinking mojitos!  We walked the boardwalk that night, stopping where ever for drinks, hookah, food.... and good people watching!  

Second time doing hookah!  First time was in Baltimore with my girl Natalie!  This time we sat on the boardwalk, had drinks, and watched the city go by!

Had to have a little fun!  

Happy birthday people!

Before flying out we did a quick visit of Philly, a city we want to go back and explore further!  

It's always hard to come back into adulthood and our jobs :( but again... we make the most of being here. This past weekend we finally got out and did some stand up paddle boarding!  It was fun and relaxing!  We'll be doing it again for sure! 

 In 20 days we'll be checking in for our Ireland/Scotland trip!  Work is just a means to fuel our adventures! Loving my life!

Back to the grind

Everything has been cleared for now.  I had the biopsy, they took three samples and left a little "clip" in.  Everything came back as benign and I'm on the watch program so in 6 months I'll get another ultrasound on both breast to just keep an eye on everything.  It was a nice sign of relief, especially since I have a high school friend who I heard via FB that she things are more serious for her.  I don't know why things happen the way they do for people...I guess we all have to just do our best to survive and live our lives to the best of our ability.  
Joe went to the appointment with me where we found out the results.  As soon as the doc said things were good, Joe looks at me, smiles, and says "I told you so".  He has been a good grounding for me during all of that stress.  

Soon after that appointment, Joe and I had already planned on taking a little mini vaca to check out Tampa.  It was pretty chill and it was a good change of venue from PCB.  We actually stayed in St Petersburg in an old hotel a block from the wharf.  The hotel, The Ponce de Leon, had a lot of character and the bathroom was smaller than my bathroom in my old apartment in SLC, Ut!  I didn't think that was possible :P  We lucked out and there was a nice little Irish pub right around the corner that we went to a couple of times to just chill from our day's activities.  Tampa, downtown itself, wasn't all that for us but we found a nice little town Ybor City that was more our style: historic, walkable, coffee and cigar shops everywhere, and a good vibe. 

We checked out a couple of museums.  We were surprised to find the Salvador Dali museum just a couple blocks away from our hotel.  We were both surprised that his work was more than melting clocks!

We found some great outdoor places in St Pete to hang out, eat, and have some drinks.  

We will probably go back again, they do have Busch Gardens after all :P  
Now it's back to the grind of adult living :(  We have a big vacation planned in September and October, and then I have a girl trip planned in December!  I'm definitely working to these travels and live life to the best of my ability!

Troubling path

It's been a couple of days since my appointment for my MRI results.  These past couple of days I spent working long hours so it was a blessing of sorts.  So I had my MRI, with contrast, on both breast the other week.  I was told the results would be sent to the provider that day but I knew I would need to give her a day or two to review them.  I got a call with an appointment for this Tuesday to get the results.  That in itself is always stress inducing but I am forcing myself to take the news as it comes and not get caught up in the "what ifs" or focusing on negatives.
My appointment was not the best, mainly because the appointment was scheduled for 2:15 and I didn't see the doctor until close to 6!  I shit you not!  If it wasn't my MRI results I would have walked out!  When she walked in she was apologetic and I explained I can understand how busy she is but if I would have gotten some "check ins" or updates from her staff I would have been a little less irritated about the wait.  She acknowledged this and went on...  So my right boob got cleared via the MRI, she'll get a re check via an ultrasound in 6 months.  The left is problematic and I will be getting a biopsy on lefty.  Not sure when that is happening but I'll be calling the office tomorrow to get an update.
Of course this progression is nerve racking but then I just check myself and remind myself that negative thoughts and "what ifs" are not beneficial and do not help but can actually harm.  I challenge myself to meet each situation as it is and look at what I can do so I can press forward.
Additionally I keep living my life and enjoying things... at the end of the month we are planning a trip to check out Tampa and this past weekend we bought our tickets to check out England, Ireland, and Scotland!!! I've already paid off my cruise for December :)  Good times ahead even if I have to get my boobs prodded and cut on! LOL

Grateful

There are moments, actually a lot of these are happening lately, where I am just awash with feelings of being grateful for my life and where and who I am now.  It's an amazing feeling.  Life can be so hard, full of trials, set backs and frustrations but when one is at peace in one's life all those things are just little blips.  
I am currently reading "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work".  I'm reading it for my own therapeutic education and I don't like giving books to clients without reading them myself.  The last thing I want is someone to refer or ask a question about a book that I've given and I have no idea what they are talking about!  
I just finished chapter 4 and I am really liking it.  Like most things when it comes to therapy, it's the simple things that make the biggest impact and that awareness is SO important. Reading this I reflect on past relationships and on my current one.  Some of the "pointers" that have been mentioned in the book I see in myself but it's only happened with time, and I also see the negatives.  Things I've done in the past that was not conducive to ensuring the relationship was strong.  One of the main things is maintaining that friendship and staying curious about the other person.  Regularly having talks about anything under the sun and I see Joe and I doing this.  We'll have discussions about politics, religion, the meaning of it all.... sometimes we are not on the same page but we continue to respect each other as individuals and learn from each other's different perspectives.
There are exercises in the book and I'm excited to pull Joe into my therapeutic learning.  He's been game before, doing quizzes and exercises with me so I think he'll be down.  He's currently TDY in Alaska right now, comes back for a few days then back out to California.  
I am so grateful for the man in my life right now!  It's a blessing that we found ourselves back together after all of these years.

I'm also grateful for my friends and all the experiences I've had since leaving Utah.  

This month marked a year since I graduated from UofU.  Since then....I've retired from the AF, moved to North Carolina (got to see some awesome parts of that state), checked out Boston, hung out in Baltimore, moved to Florida, got a job working with military, got to see New Orleans and Savannah....I've had some stressors and sadness with losing Sami and seeing my parents divorce. But Sami is no longer struggling and my parents seem to have found happiness in their own way moving forward!  

Life is all about LIVING! The good, the bad, the ugly aspects of it and the struggle is not always searching for something, fighting what is happening, but being present and feeling what is meant to be felt and then letting it go making room for the next experience in your life.  It's taken me awhile to get to that, and I have moments and days where I can't let go or be present but I keep moving forward.  Because of the switch I have found moments of peace, more moments of happiness, and I feel truly blessed!

Garden City Love

We took a few days off and drove up to Savannah.  Joe has been there before and wanted me to see it thinking that I'd love it and he was right!  The history, the Spanish moss, and just walking around looking at everything was awesome.  We went in the middle of the week so it wasn't crazy busy and the weather was almost perfect!
We stayed in an historic house, well... we stayed in the carriage house so we had our own little place :) It was off of a main road and it was perfect for the two of us!  We got there before we could check in so we just parked at started walking.  We were about 4 blocks away from the river...so much to see!  All the old houses, the gardens here and there.... words cannot capture the beauty of that city!

us walking around checking out everything!

After we spent time walking around, checking out some pubs, we were able to check in.  Joe was trying for a bed and breakfast but this was not like that, it was like we were renting out our own little apartment!

the headboard, our house number was 109

Once we got unpacked and situated and I put on some warmer clothing we were off again.  The joys about these cities is the random happy people you meet.  We stopped at a pub that was right around the corner from our place and a girl next to us, from the UK, was talking to another man getting some traveling tips.  Once the guy left we began talking to her.  She's in her early 20's and decided to save her money, sell everything, and go traveling around!  Awesome!  We found it funny that she'd never been to Ireland because it's "too expensive".  We had a good chat and we were off doing a thing I started "apps and drinks" :P  We stop at places, sit at the bar, get an appetizer and a drink, enjoy some chit chat and then we go off to another place!  After few places it turns into just drinks but it's a good way to extend the visit and make sure one didn't get too toasted along the way.  Oh Savannah is an open carry city.  I got drinks "to go" and in the doorway of every place is a stack of plastic cups!  The city is beautiful and to walk around drinking.... it's like walking around with a drink in a museum!  

We didn't realize how many movies are made in the area until the next day when we did a trolley tour of the town.  We knew about some of the big ones but it was good to hear about others.  That pub next to our place, we stopped in at least twice, was from "Something to talk about"!  "There is Forest Gump" and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".  We found the bench area where Gump was chillin and the tower where the feather floated down, and the house where the killing took place from "midnight...".  Once we got home we watched "Midnight...." We are still working through Savannah movies :P

Outside of Six Pence pub

We walked around and took pictures and just enjoyed the city.  

crossing the street.... so much green and beauty everywhere

We had a good time, listened to some music and just walked everywhere!  

this was an awesome pet store :( went through it and thought of Sami...had a chuckle with their signs though!

Not sure what city we have our sights on next but either way we'll have fun exploring!