Finding the "Can Opener"

My work took me to Salt Lake City last week. As is the case when traveling by yourself, the evenings are generally kinda lonely.  But to my delight, Tricia & Kaytie arranged to meet me at my hotel...whoo hoo!!

When I picked up my rental car at the SLC airport, they told me the only thing they had available was this sweet little number and asked if that was okay.  Well I hymmmmmned and hauuuuuud and finally said "you betcha".  But in my heart of hearts I knew this car would pretty much be wasted on me. (I  can picture my sons & husband  thinking.."you got that right, mom." drool, drool.) Where the heck was the 'can opener?" Perfect sunny weather was in forecast for the entire week.

Ahhh....haaa!  A gang of accomplices. Just what I needed. Between two more creative brains...much smarter than mine, we managed to pop the top and were ready to cruise the town.  We first looked in the glove box for the book.  Pulled it out and it hadn't even been unwrapped. We chucked it back in the glove box unwrapped, explored, then we located all the right buttons and presto gesto....the sun was upon us and soon the wind would be blowing through our hair.

Now for that ride! We cruised the down town looking mostly for a parking spot to go eat. Go figure we couldn't find one so we ended up parking back at my hotel and walking five SLC blocks to Olive Garden and enjoying a fun meal together. We walked back to the hotel and spent the rest of the evening chatting and laughing and telling stories.  Thanks Tricia & Kaytie for rescuing me from the evening dull drums and for the help in cracking the car open. Fun times :) !!

Doug Done Grad-gee-ated

The end of April we made a road trip trek back to Billings, Montana to attend Doug's Graduation from MSUB.  We drove the car...J got to fly & meet us in Billings.  The nice thing is we got to stop in and see Dave & Judy & Kael in St. George where Judy was spending time with her mom. We got to see Kaytie & Jared & girls for a great pizza dinner.  Annie grabbed my hand after a couple minutes & I was whisked away as "grandma" to play. We got to see Trisha & Aaron & spend the night with them & their little kidlets making it a comfortable two day trip to Billings.

What is with snow & graduation??? The Montana hills & Billings welcomed us with snow. Just in case we missed it...

Impressive!! The graduation guy looking fine.

So this picture takes a bit of explanation.  J teaches on-line courses for MSUB.  He decided to take his gown & hood and ask if he could sit with the professors at the graduation.  If any one knows J..being the personable guy he is.. asked  & talked hard enough and was able to convince the powers that be, to let him be a part of the professor section.  They told him he also needed a cap, so last minute before grad started he had to race to the MSUB bookstore to purchase one. Phew--triumph!!

Little bro and big sister.

Doug in row straight ahead third one in with head down. Stacey & I were sitting right across from him.

"Are you getting this historic moment, mom?"

Receiving the long long looooong awaited recognition.

The brand new graduate, strolling confidently toward us.

The professor gang.

  The neat thing about J being part of this group was he was able to step away and greet Doug coming off the stage after receiving his diploma for a hand shake & hug

A proud moment...sniff, sniff

Time to celebrate!!! IHop here we be. Actually we went for lunch and then later really celebrated at our favorite Chinese place.  Then a trip to the infamous Candy Town USA, where J is on first name bases with all the Soda Jerks.

While in Billings we ran across the "big guy"

(This is actually an old room-mate of mine & her husband. Elin & Clint.  He is a professional "big guy" ssssssh aka Santa.) So good to see them again.

Getting a Grandma "fix"

Ryan learning to score with the camera. 

Check out the concentration of Max doing a score

I was assigned to work a couple jobs in Bellevue, WA, which is really close to Tony & Debbie's.  So I got to stay with them instead of doing a hotel.. So much better!!  I was able to spend some times with my Max & Ryan just before bedtime and enjoy reading & telling them stories.  Here are  a bunch of pics.

Ryan ready to take off in his wooden rock'n airplane

Max learning to take a score with my camera

Ryan trying his hand at it.

Not too happy here!!

Score with grandma

Funny face camera shot. "Grandma..what big teeth you have."  A favorite fairy tale we told. When I told them I was going to tell them Little Red Riding hood, Max said."Yes!! That's my favorite color."

Ready to blast off into dreamland

I was able to spend the day with them on a Saturday before my flight that evening.  Debbie took us to the Seattle Woodland Zoo.  Couldn't have been a more perfect sunshiny day.  Max all decked out in his Max the explorer garb.

Ryan ready to ride.  He's got his animal crackers ready. Bright sun!

Chill'n on the log bench

Beautiful little momma. Can't wait to meet this new little guy!

Ryan up and close with the bird statue. He loved hugging them all.

Explorer Max checking out the rocks to climb on.

"Look there's a bird or a plane or....."

Doing the African Bongo drums

Ryan checking out the elephants.  Max checking out if they have teeny tiny ears or large ears.

 So good to spend time with them.  Love that Max sat his chair in front of the window..waiting for me to get home from work one day.  Then when it was time to leave, Ryan crying and hugging me asking if he could "keep me."  Turns my heart light bright.

The capital G day!

Mike & Doug waiting for the excitement to begin. We made the trek over to Rexburg to share in graduation day for Mike and Nicole from BYU-I.  Nicoles parents and brother Josh were able to be there too.

 

 

On your mark...get set.... let's Grad gee ate!

What after all that work...it's empty!!?

Ohhhhhh....after my intership....I get it.

Of course it's Rexburg in April..graduation day began with a snow storm.  Showing off for the South Carolina family I suspect. Brrr cold, we woke up from our hotel room, stepped outside to at least two inches of snow piled high on our car and no scraper..drat & frost bite fingers!!  It snowed on & off the rest of the day, but just before graduation started at 6pm, it relented.

The most excited, relieved and ready to be done cute graduates

Let's dance!! & celebrate

Joining smiles with some of the sibs, Doug, Stacey, and Josh.  It was "good times" as Mike would say.  We also helped pack them up to be ready to make their long cross country journey to South Carolina where Mike will do his intership with chemicals and scientific mumbo jumbo that only Mike could interpret..  They will be able to live with Nicole's family for the 2 months of the intership.  Then move three hours north of there to start Chiropractic school.  Here's wishing you all the best in your next adventure!! Love you guys!

Smallest Thanksgiving Ever

Whoo Hoo...back into pictures!! Thanks Mike for the technology help. Mike & Nicole joined us for Thanksgiving here in billings. Thank goodness because it would have been a sad day...Doug spent the entire day sitting in line at Best Buy (Another whole story for a blog.) Everyone else was in Oregon. We started the day with our own little version of a Huff & Puff. The last time up on the Billings Rims. It was a beautiful day...50 degrees...sunny skys...little snow.


We cooked two great big Turkeys....just kidding. These are two fun little Cornish Game Hens.
The table was dressed with lots of wonderful food. Too much for just us, but how can you not cook alot on Thanksgiving?
Strategy plans for the big night of shopping.... Doug was already on the game.
Just a cute picture of my favorite little guys. I was able to come to Seattle a couple weeks earlier for Max's primary program. This is my little chefs helping me make Snickerdoodles.

Pack up the Knapsack We're Moving On

Once again I feel like a wanderer...experiencing gypsy-hood.

J has been offered a job and has accepted. It will be in Nevada. He will be the Chief Compliance-Quality Improvement Officer for the University of Nevada School of Medicine. He will be working mostly out of Las Vegas but commuting up to Reno a couple days a week. It's an incredible opportunity and a tender mercy.

Back in March, J's job was eliminated here in Billings, MT. He began searching for work and was also kept busy with teaching Seminary and teaching adjunct for Montana State University until the end of the school year. All the jobs he applied for and interviewed for etc. came to not. Finally he was able to procure a consulting job for a company in Seattle, WA. The job was to last 6 months. He trekked back to Seattle to stay with Tony & Debbie & boys while he worked the job. Doug and I were left in this far away land so Doug could finish his last semester of school.

J did a phone interview with Nevada back in July..but didn't feel it went anywhere. Low and behold first part of October they called him back to fly down and do an extensive interview. Long story short on the 12th of November they offered him the job. His consulting job in Seattle will end Dec 9th and he will start his new job in Las Vegas Dec 15th. Doug's semester will end Dec 15 and then we will also be on the road again.

Number one question I'm asked is "How do you feel about this?" Hmmmmmmmmm....so here's my list:

* extremely happy for J (because he is my "mate" and bestest friend.)
* excited for a new adventure...crazy scared for a new adventure,
* sad to leave some really good friends....blessed to have connected with wonderful friends,
* concerned about living in Las Vegas....oh but there is a temple there:),
* moving at Christmas time aaaaaaaack!...not my idea of a season of joy & peace,
* Incredible opportunity for J...I will adjust just like all the other times & I will be blessed
* Will I find friendship there?....of course, hmmm I'll look around in my first RS meeting and wonder.."who will be my next best friend.?"
* I'm getting too old for this.....woah!! I can't believe I just said that....something about the spice of life keeps you young or some other cliche of the likes.
* Living in snow (as I am doing right this minute) will be a thing of the past....IKE!! living in heat..will I survive?
* Another land far from family.....pretty cheep airfare though...and what a better excuse for family to come to Las Vegas...free bed & breakfast, lunch & dinner.

To name just a few:)

J will head to Nevada from Seattle. I and Doug will pack up in Montana and move. (We will have a moving company haul the household away.) Doug & I will head up to Washington for Christmas, J will fly back to Seattle for Christmas. Then sometime there after I will mosey on down to Nevada to join my best bud.

(Details forth coming)

Traveling Adventures

I'm back...Sorry this is so long...but my fingers got the best of me :)

Well we've had some adventures lately... A week ago J & I headed to Washington so J could finally start his next course of employment. We drove to Pulman, WA in hopes of checking out the University there. It happened to be only 20 miles near a town I spent some childhood days in (ie) 4th & 5th grade. Lewiston, ID. We traveled some beautiful country between Missoula, MT and Lewiston. Up over some mountains, two lanes. We had to chuckle about the signs that informed us about the "rumble lines" in the center of the road. Consequently as we 'rumbled' along, we didn't end up getting to Lewiston until dark.

Without GPS help and running on instinct we headed into town to search for one of my childhood homes. I remembered the name of the street I use to live on. Mostly because the address and name of the street rhymed....432 Stewart Ave.... It's probably the only address in the bazillion of all addresses I've lived that I remember. We did find the house in short order and it hasn't changed much, but what seemed to be a mansion as a child is only a normal size two story house. Lots of fond memories there.

We next headed to Pulman to spend the night and explore the university there the next day. Very pretty University. One on a list of possible places for J to go for a PHD. As we pulled into Renton about 5pm on Saturday there was Tony washing his bicycle just like he washes his car, soap bucket and all. Who knew you could wash a bike like that. Soon Debbie and the two most favorite little guys in my world drove up and we played for the next two days. J will be staying with Tony & Debbie as he works this particular job (thanks you guys!!!)...J's doing a 5 month consulting job for a company called Robert Half at Group Health in Seattle.

I unfortunately had to fly off for my work to St George, UT on Monday. J dropped me off at the airport.....ahhh....the traffic....seemed like an extra amount this morning...I was hustled off into the airport with what appeared to be hundreds of people all converged near the Delta area...was there a massive amount of people heading on a cruise or something?....I looked around and didn't see nearly anyone crowded around any other airline check ins. I finally muscled my way in to use the check in machine to get my ticket only to find I had to stand in a mile long line to check my baggage. I hear a lady say that there was a quicker line curb side if we had already paid for the baggage. I squeeze outside only to find another line..this time a bit shorter. I refuse to look at the time just yet. I get my baggage checked and race off to security.

Could there be anymore people...the line snaked around and around and just as it appeared you'd be almost up to the guy with the little flash lite, the line diverted and snaked farther along. Finally getting to the conveyor belt, I threw my stuff into the gray dish pan, walked through the machine when directed to do so, looked at the time, realized I had less than 5 minutes before boarding, grabbed my gear, threw on my shoes and started running the "17" miles I needed to go to get to the gate. Weaving in and out of slower moving bodies and hurtling rolling suit cases I make it to one of the moving walk ways. Wow I can really go fast running on these things. The next moving walkway has people hogging the space so I opt to run beside it. Hey I am pretty fast...Finally the gate is in site and is boarding..zone 3...that's my zone. Pouring sweat, I smile as she scans in my ticket and I walk onto the plane praying I get a window seat so I can hide. Oh joy I do!!

I fly to Salt Lake City to catch a plane to St. George. Surprise.... they have not given me much time between flights. Down the airport I fly to the next gate which is only '12' miles away. I think "oh come on...it's the same airlines...how can they be so far apart from each other". Apparently big planes and little puddle jumpers don't like to be next to each other. I have 2 minutes to board as I get to the gate.

I do finally get to St. George a little frazzled but still in tack. Small airport...walk off the plane walk 10 steps to the car rental place...get my car...turn around behind me to the conveyor belt for suit case...the baggage has already come and the airport employee is taking my suit case off the belt like I had forgotten to pick it up. I walk outside to be blasted with heat. I hop in my rental car..which is all black...turn it on and it tells me the temperature outside is 106 degrees. I blessed the name of the person who invented air conditioning.

I have my handy dandy GPS (megan) to direct me to the town. It doesn't recognize parking lots and the airplane road and just sets there thinking. It's a really small airport and only one direction out of there so I figure I'm pretty safe guessing which way to go...it's not being helpful at all. I head out on the road....nothing in site..and I mean nothing and that's all there is for several miles. No city, no nothing. Megan is still not being helpful so I drive on and finally find a sign that says Salt Lake City one way Las Vegas the other...where the heck did St. George go? After a couple wrong turns I did finally find the interstate....still not sure which way to head. I decided to head for Salt Lake City...I knew some people there that would be friendly enough to direct me. Fortunately as I got on the interstate Megan started working and told me I was heading in the right direction. Soon the town came into site and I could recognize the St. George Temple from pictures I had seen, right in the middle of the town. I was pretty sure I had arrived. I found my hotel..again thank you air conditioning...and crashed.

Had a good week training a new person and meeting good people, explored St George a bit after work each day. Went to the temple visiting center and learned some cool things about the temple. Visited Brigham Young's winter home (I'm guessing he was the first jSnow Bird...perhaps). Neat little town. I finished up with the job I was to do there and headed out of town to the airport for my flight back to Billings. I swear the airport is at least 20 miles out of town in the middle of no where... really! And it's just a one building little thingy.

I am about an hour & a half early before my plane departs. I check my car in, mosey on over to the ticket counter...am the only one in the area..there's only Delta airlines there. I have to check my bag again & get my ticket so I use the machine. The guy hauls my suit case away and five minutes later my ticket finally prints off the machine...thank goodness because the one and only guy never comes back. I walk about 20 steps to where the security is. The 'gatekeeper' looks at me and says (paraphrased) "oh...you are too early...we're all going grab us a bite to eat before the 'crowd' shows up. Besides the chairs out here are much more comfortable." I look around..think to myself...welcome to the world of teeny tiny airports. And go grab a chair next to the 4 vending machines. There are about 6 of us here. Pretty soon the 'crowd' shows up and a flight came in with 20 or so passengers and the 'gate keeper' is back on duty.

I did make it back to Billings. J will be working in Seattle for 5 months. I will be in Billings to keep Doug company while he finishes his last semester of school. My job has asked me to do more traveling and it won't matter where we live they will use me to travel around periodically. So that works out well for now. Not real sure what will happen after J finishes this job...hopefully they will give him more work. He also is applying for different schools to get his PHD so he can become a better paid professor (he has been teaching college, but without a PHD there is not enough money to make a decent living.) If he does go that route schools will start in Sep 2012. We'll keep you posted....

So there you have it.

PS. In my haste I ended up not grabbing my ziplock bag of liquids at the SeaTac airport. So before I crashed in St George...a trip to Target was necessary.