What a drive that was!

Yesterday I took my fabolous Jeep for a drive. A long drive. 3 hours in fact. It wasn't supposed to be 3 hours but it ended up taking that long due to traffic, a truck that decided to crash into the side of a mountain with his trailer attached and some bridge construction.

The sun was hot, it was great but I think one side of my face and my arm got a little pinker than the rest of my body! I enjoyed the driving part of it, not the sitting in Portland traffic. I thought I had left early enough but as I rounded the corner on 217, BAM, parking lot. Ok, I can deal with this. It was the exhaust I was having a hard time with though. No top means I smell and inhale it all. Ok though, I was in my jeep and having a good day.

Then the signs started. The highway that I was to take later on was closed due to a crash. Do I risk it and hope they have it cleared or at least one lane open by the time I get that far or try to find a different route? It was way far along that route, I bet by the time I get there they have to get at least one lane open. Besides, I don't really know a different route! So, I chanced it. Good choice on my part as they did get one lane open and it was only about a 5 minute delay. He had smashed his truck up good, I hope they came out of it ok.

Then it was the road construction. Bridge work that had HUGE backups in both directions. I think I waited about 10 minutes but that was ok as it gave me time to let the Jeep rest, get my sweatshirt out and get it on as the cloud cover had rolled over and my goosebumps were quite large by that point! A quick 20 minutes from there and my ride was over.

Seaside and Gearhart are nice and the walk along a beach route to a nice little geocache was pleasent. The water was a bit cold but aside from that we had a good night. I slept like a rock and enjoyed a nice evening with a high school friend and a high school teacher.

Today we've done a track clinic that continues tomorrow morning. I threw shot put and discus for two hours while I helped out the local kids. (I'll keep you updated on just how sore I'm going to be tomorrow as it's already started!) Right now I sit and rest while I have a cup of hot chocolate and write a blog in downtown Seaside. I think it's time to enjoy some Geocaching and a little walk along the "Prom".

Enjoy. 7 days and counting.....

Yesterday was productive to say the least. I think we got a TON done and my muscles agree with me.

I really feel that Eric is on the right path for school now, or at least he knows which direction he's going in. It's still going to take longer than what anyone would want it to but that's the life and we've got the time. He's got his degree changed, advisor changed, password figured out and now he's got to re-take a placement test and figure out what math class(s) he's going to start with. It was a good day but a long one at WOU, I think the best part might just have been Yang's!

We stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home and picked up another tote. I think I'll have to mail just one more. Some stuff I won't need right away but things that do need to make it there. When we walked into the store, in a marked crosswalk mind you, some guy in a large truck just about hit us, he was driving too fast and made it all dramatic by stopping short when he had plenty of time as he was half-way across the lot when we started walking. THEN, he had the nerve to yell at me. WRONG IDEA. I didn't turn into the complete Wal-Mart psycho, pretty close though. All the pent up energy from yesterday's crazies started to boil over. "Go ahead and hit me, I'm in a freaking crosswalk, I'd LOVE the lawsuit!" He continued to yell in a mumbled fashion and I glared as I walked into the store with disbelief that it had really happened. Not only had he just about hit me, but my wonderful hubby as well. Eric turned to me and said, "he had Alaska plates on that truck, did you notice?" No, I was too busy trying to not get hit! And I don't care if they were Alaska plates darn it, he's in Oregon now.

That was time number two for the Alaska reminder, time number one was the ALASKAN painted on the back of a beer van in front of us. I think we might have gone a few days without the reminders but it's funny how you start to see them. I guess it might be like pregnant women who always start to notice all the other pregnant women. Do you think it might be because they are all in the baby section together?

The end to my day was a dinner with Charlene at Ixtapa, a couple of great hugs from friends and then picking up hedge clippings. Great fun on that last part. That's where the muscle soreness comes from. Ick! But, it's done and the hedges are so much better now! Though, the sense of privacy in the backyard is diminished greatly. It's a trade-off though, next time around, the trimming will be much easier. It had gone without for much too long. Doug Ellis is a god send!

So today will include some packing, laundry, and a drive to a track clinic. I'll get to see some great people and come home to Summerfest in Stayton and a going away party. I hope I can walk the street for Summerfest before I head to the party. I always love it and I'm glad it's before I leave this year. I hope Eric will come with me too!

On a side note, I'll be looking for a new uploading device so I can put some more pictures on here because I can't seem to find the one I had. Maybe during the cleaning today I'll discover it and more pictures will surface!

Off to destroy day 8 and counting.....

WOU Day

Each day brings with it new things to add to the list. One that has been forgotten and put on the back burner is the trip over to WOU for Eric. He's going back into school so that he can finish up his degree. This is a big reason why it's easy for me to go to Alaska for a few years. We know he's got a few of them to go and that I can be busy there while he is busy here and then we'll be able to decide what to do from there on out.

Today is a visit day for him. We are going to see an advisor to figure out just what he needs to accomplish and in what order and how long we can expect these things to take him. 1:45 today should be a very informative time. I think we are going to head over a bit early in hopes of catching a nice lunch at the ever infamous Yang's!

Aside from that, not much is on the list today. I think it will be a good day to come home and work on the guest room for Colby and pack a little bit. Knowing what I can wear for the next few days will help in getting everything else clean and ready for Alaska suitcases and bags. One more box just might go in the mail. We'll have to see about that because the boots I bought in Boise are awful big and will take up a lot of space. Good thing they aren't so heavy, maybe they'll go in the bag with the gun and heavy ammo. Only time will tell.

For now though, a trip to WOU and some packing and cleaning will expend the time for this day. So long, I have much to do!

9 days and counting.............

Why are you awake?

This was the question posed to me by my husband as he left for work this morning. After our long drive home from visiting family and friends for a couple of days near Boise, ID we were both very tired. I was awake because his alarm went off.

He got up and ready for work. I tried to roll over and go back to bed but in 10 short days, I'll be on a plane. Away from everyone for 4 1/2 months. 10 days?! That's a countdown! Like, a real official countdown. I have SO MUCH to do in 10 days including:

Finish packing suitcases, duffels and maybe one more box to ship if it doesn't all fit.

Get a room ready for a long term guest.

Present at a track clinic in Seaside.

Drive my Jeep as much as possible!

Mow the yards.

Spend time with hubby and family.

Spend time with friends (Charlene must be going NUTS!)

Keep the house clean.

Laundry (making sure I keep what I am packing clean and ready to go while still living)

Suspend insurance for the Jeep and for me while I am away.

Make shopping lists for Anchorage.

Make a photo CD and get it in the mail.

Show off my new shoes while driving the Jeep some more!

Cuddle with puppies.

Going away party.

Why am I awake? Because this list, along with so many other thoughts and ideas run through my head like a freight train. I don't have the ability to sleep once semi-concious. It's just not possible.

Not that you hadn't guessed it already.........10 days and counting.....

The long (short) haul

We do things in life that are for the long term. We do things in life that are for the short term. How do we make something that is long term fit into a short term category? You don't. When you have to do, you just cram it all in and hope enough of it packs into that little container that what squeezes out wasn't the part you loved most.

My husband, a long haul. After seven years of no formal pictures, I insisted that we get some taken. We now have some that make me smile when I look at them and will keep me sane while I'm away. People ask how we are going to do it, living apart for a school year. I tell them I'll be home in 4.5 months and then again during the summer. I tell them to ask someone who's been in the military about how they handle being apart because I'm sure it's much the same manner. I just know people won't intentionally be shooting my direction. (well, I hope not anyhow....otherwise I have problems!) Anyhow, spending as much time with the hubby now as possible is like trying to cram a lifetime into a small amount of time that we have left.

Family. They are a long haul too. You can't get rid of them. Sometimes we want to when they embarrass us. We have all had those moments. You know you are all smiling right now thinking of something that crazy aunt or uncle, cousin or parent has done that made you want to crawl under a rock and hide did. However, we love them all the same. Right now, I'm cramming all I can in and drinking in what I can of my family. (except for this little bit of time writing. OPPS!) Big bonus right now, I get to cram in some Sweden Family time too as they happen to be here when I am here. YEAH!

Friends. Many friends can come and go from our lives. Some are there for specific points to get us through certain phases in life. The friends I am talking about are those that have been there for life. Getting to hug those friends one last time before I leave means the world. It's those friends who you can talk to them and their families for 10 minutes and that's all that's needed that I'm talking about. Nothing's awkward, not really too rushed but friendship is renewed in an instant thought it might have been several months or even a year since you saw them last. It's all that's needed so that both feel better and can continue to move along with life.

The short haul, trip home, a track clinic presentation for a respected coach, and a bit more packing. Oh, and maybe some geocaching!

13 days........

I think there is a lot on my mind

So I woke up today bright and early. Thank goodness I was not screaming because I might have scared the husband. It would have been appropriate to scream however.

In my dream, I was in a huge airbus. Not a 747, not a little bush plane ( I am actually really excited for that one!) I had been sitting way in the back and the flight attendant asked if I would like a better seat (ya right!) because there were loads kids around me. Well of course (first class here I come!) no, she takes me near the exit row where the seats have 5 point harnesses and your feet dangle like a roller coaster. What? I was expecting luxury! This looked to be worse.

As I looked at her in disbelief the captain came over the intercom and said they were experiencing some engine trouble. Great, we are over water. Well, I was at the exit row, where is the parachute and how fast can I get that door open? I am not going down with the plane! I had not even been there long enough to read the pocket card!

I guess the stress of a big move is starting to get to my poor brain. I told Mom this story and she said I might have tomstart drinking before bed. Uh, I'm not so sure that would help the dreams.

16 days and counting.......

And on the 17th day, it happened.

I cried.

In bed.

Holding my puppy while my husband slept next to me. Both of which I will say goodbye to for 4 1/2 months. (Along with my other dogs and family too.)

Reality sinks in hard and fast.

It's not that I'm not excited to go, looking forward to teaching and experiencing something new but 1500 miles from everyone? I know I can do it but what was I thinking?

17 days and counting.......