Denny's and Delays for Christmas

This year, I had the opportunity to travel with Jeremy on his flights from Madison to Chicago, then on to Grand Rapids on Christmas day. It was really nice to get to spend the holiday with him even if it was on an airplane. The first flight from Madison to Chicago was pretty full, and I was worried that I may not even get on the flight. As the gate agent called me up to the podium she informed me that she was very sorry but she would have to seat me in first class....I was no where near dissapointed!! I sat in seat 1A, right behind the flight deck! As I boarded the flight, Jeremy introduced me to his Captain and the flight attendants that would be traveling with us for the rest of the day.

The flight went pretty smoothly and we landed in Chicago, where I quickly had to get off of the airplane, run inside the terminal and check back in for the next flight. Again, the gate agent in Chicago informed me that First class would be the only seat available, so I got my new ticket and reboarded the flight to Grand Rapids. When we landed in Grand Rapids, another airplane was using the jetway, so we sat and waited for assistance in taking the wheelchairs and those that had a harder time walking into the terminal. After the airplane was completely de-planed (is that a term?) we headed out to the busses to get to the Crown Plaza, which would be our Christmas evening destination.

Christmas dinner was wonderful.....ok, I'm lying! We quickly changed and boarded the bus to take us to one of the only two restaurants in town that were open on Chrismas evening...Denny's. Now, they did have a special holiday menu and pumpkin pie for dessert, so it wasn't all that terrible! It was quite pleasant enjoying the company of Jeremy and getting to meet some of his flight crew at the same time.

The next morning, we were up before the sun, an early 6:00 flight time from Grand Rapids back to Chicago. The flight was already delayed due to ice on the runway in Chicago, but after a short delay, we were on our way. Once we arrived in Chicago, we were not allowed into the gate area becuase the ice was too heavy, so instead we sat on the ground next to the gate areas for about 2 hours waiting for the ice to melt. Good thing I managed a first class seat again! Once we finally got to a gate, Jeremy rushed me across the hallway to my gate for Madison. (this is where we parted ways for the day). I did manage to get a confirmed seat on the flight, but the flight didn't end up leaving until after 10:30, when it was supposed to have left at 7:15...oh well! I guess these are the joys of traveling in the winter through Chicago, right!

Overall, Christmas day was nice. I was thankful to have had the opportunity to spend it with Jeremy, even though he had to work. When Jeremy comes home tonight, we are going to celebrate our Christmas together, and hopefully have a real meal!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is a day of reflection, a day to be thankful for the people and things in our lives that we are truly blessed to have. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for things in my life that I am greatful for.

First, I am thankful that in this less than wonderful economy, I have a job. I have a good job that pays well, and has benefits. Many people in our country cannot say the same about their own jobs, if they even have one right now. Along with being greatful for my job, I am thankful that everyday I have a safe, warm home, nice clothes, and food on the table at every meal. This sounds so small, but it is such a big thing to be greatful for.

Next, there are many people in my life that I am thankful to have. Jeremy, my husband. I am more than greatful for him. He is my best friend, and my inspiration. He helps me through every situation, and inspires me to be my best. My parents, they have supported me for the last 24 years, and I know will continue to support me through whatever life throws at me. They have been not only the best parents I could have ever asked for, but the best of friends to me and Jeremy as well. Mom and Dad C., they also have shown never ending love and support through good times and in bad. They have been an inspiration to both of us, and show strength and compassion through everything they do. Courtney and Jim, These two people have been great friends, and siblings to someone who has never had any siblings before! They have shown us how we can grow with each other and bring out the best in each other, they are truly a couple to admire! Josh, he has been a brother to me as well as Jeremy. We have learned more about each other since July than we have ever known before. One thing I admire about Josh is that he is strong. He works very hard to be the best father and brother he can possibly be, and that is admirable. Kim, she has taken me under her wing and treats me as a sister. Kim is someone that I know I can always rely on when I need someone the most.

These are just a few of the people that I am incredibly greatful for. I am so lucky to have everyone in my life, and I would just like to take this opportunity to say thank you to every one of you. You have all touched my life in some way or another, and for that, I am very, very thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A White blanket of snow

We woke up this morning, looked outside, and what should our wondering eyes did appear?? SNOW!!! About 2 inches overnight! It looks beautiful covering the trees and the grass in the square, it reminds me of Christmas and hot cider! It can stay for a couple of days, then I think I will grow tired of it and be ready once again for warm summer days!

Like my new format?

I made it pretty!!! I found this new website where you can customize your blog template, it is so cool! Now I have become obsessed with making my blog look pretty! The only thing I am having trouble with is making my masthead fit properly....does anyone know what the proper sizing is for this?

I guess just a short blog today, I have no new information other than it is still really cold, but today it is raining and cold too! I have my little cactus that reminds me of Phoenix, but it sadly does not warm me up...oh well, I guess I better get used to it!

A weekend of transition

This week we have had almost record highs in the mid to upper 70's all week until yesterday. It has been beautiful weather! Yesterday, while I was at work, it started to turn cold, not just chilly, but REALLY cold, so cold that when I looked out the window of our drive through I started to see little white flakes falling from the sky....yes, it was snowing! Nothing was sticking yet as the ground was still really too wet, but it flurried for a couple of hours on and off most of the afternoon, but it was just really, really cold. The point of this blog however is not the cold weather affecting me personally, but my poor 12 planted green beans that are supposed to be growing for my Biology lab project. I had a hard enough time trying to find the seeds in November in Wisconsin, and finally resorted to purchasing them on ebay paying about 5 times what I needed to, but I needed them for a grade so I had to get them.

The project is to plant 12 seeds in separate styrophoam cups. Three cups have a blue transparent plastic cover, three have red, three have green and three have clear. The lab is designed to demonstrate photosynthesis. Those of you that have ever taken a biology class before know that in order for a plant to photosynthesize, you must have the root of the word "photo" which means light, thats right, plants need sunshine to grow. It is November, in Wisconsin, and we don't have much sunshine, but I will let you know how my little seedlings sprout, or even if they sprout while my project is in session.

I am going to finish my homework for this week now, and enjoy a nice hot cup of tea and think about Phoenix....hopefully that will warm me up!

Fancy Hotels, Fine Dining, and....2 Buck Chuck?

My mom and I met up in Chicago for a girls shopping adventure last week. We arrived within a half hour of each other on Tuesday, then boarded the shuttle bus for the hotel. Where did we stay you ask? Well of course the fine Fairmont Hotel in the heart of downtown Chicago. It was beautiful. Upon arrival we were greeted by the front door attendant who escorted us to the check in counter. Looking around the lobby we were amazed at the pure beauty that was presented before our eyes. In the middle of the lobby was a very fancy Cheese, Chocolate and Wine bar which I am sure was over priced but quite lovely! Anyways, we get our key and head up to the twentieth floor to admire our room, and freshen up from our flights to head out for dinner. The Fairmont is one of those fancy hotels with the pillow menu and service of whatever you want we will give you and it is no trouble at all....The only problem we found when we arrived at our room was that when we had pre-requested to have no down in the room, the maids had only removed the down pillows but not the comforter. Usually this would not be a problem, but my mom and I are both VERY allergic to anything with feathers in it. We did not even need to call down to the lobby to inform them, they had already sent an attendant to fix the problem before we could even ask for the linens to be changed! Wonderful service!

After we got our things settled in the room, we decided that we were hungry and would head out to find some food. We knew that we wanted to eat at one of our favorite restaurants and headed down Michigan Avenue until we arrived at The Grand Lux. If you have never eaten at the Grand Lux, you must!! We ordered cocktails while we awaited our table, then we were seated quite promptly. After we had enjoyed our Miso Salmon and Pasta Carbanara, we decided that we should walk some of the calories off before heading back to the hotel.

We walked around the Magnificent Mile area and were admiring the changes since Jeremy and I have lived there. One of the new establishments happened to be a Trader Joe's!! We thought it would be a good idea to get a bottle of 2 buck chuck and head back to the room for the evening and just relax, after all tomorrow will be jam packed with shopping!!

We arrived back at the hotel, and found the wine glasses and the corkscrew sitting in the vanity area. We get the corkscrew into the cork, but could not pull it out. Between the two of us, we just could not get the stupid cork out of the bottle!!! I decided to put the wine back into the bag and head down to the concierge, maybe he could help us! Once down at the concierge desk, I pulled the wine out of the bag and explained the situation. The reply to this situation was somewhat embarrassing...."I think our friends at Eno Wine bar are better equipped for this type of situation!" I just know that he was laughing at me on the inside! Red in the face I made my way over to Eno Wine bar and explained the situation. The lady behind the counter was very nice and explained that this kind of thing happens quite often! I'm just glad she was so understanding, but boy was I ever embarrassed!!!

The Exercise Pill????

Sounds like a dream come true!!! Yes I watch Oprah when I am home and have the time, and today, Dr. Oz answered the question of a viewer from Australia about the rumors of the exercise drug...

I have never heard of such a thing and always thought that you just had to suck it up and get through the hour of torture at the gym in order to stay fit, is modern medicine taking a turn for even more laziness in America? The pill has only been tested on rats thus far, but seems to increase both the length of time the rat can run, as well as the rate at which the fat is burned. Apparently the pill is not designed to completely replace exercise, but it is designed to duplicate the cell structure and effects that the exercise has on the body. Doctors will most likely use this miracle pill for those that are truly unable to exercise such as those who are disabled.

It makes me think though, why has this miracle pill not been thought of before? I reflect back on the life of my grandpa, and the struggles that he endured over the nine years after his massive stroke. No, he did not do everything the doctors told him to do, but I wonder, if this exercise pill had been around back then, would it have helped him get back to health? I look at other people who have endured similar struggles. I have seen first hand what strokes and other forms of paralysiscan do to a person. It makes everyday tasks such as bathing and dressing yourself almost impossible at times, forget even trying to exercise!

I guess my thoughts on this drug is that it is a great thing for those that honestly cannot exercise for themselves. It may even increase the lifespan of those who would not get the exercise needed to stay healthy because they just cannot get out of their wheelchair. My fear is that this pill will get into the hands of those who are just too lazy to go to the gym for an hour a couple times a week. I know that I hate going to the gym, but I know that if I want to stay healthy and live a long life, I have to make the effort. America in general is lazy, and I am just afraid that this pill will become too available to those that are perfectly capable of going to the gym, or even just walk around the block to get their exercise! It's really not as bad as it seems, it is just hard sometimes to get motivated to get up and go!

I think it may just snow!

Ok, so maybe its not as bad as I think, but when the weather was a beautiful 90 degrees only two days ago, the 60 degree weather is really cold! And it's raining. Now, I do like the rain, but I like warm rain where you can go outside and sit on the patio and watch the pretty rain and lightening make beautiful shows in the sky, but today it is really too cold. It has dropped 30 degrees in two days. I am just afraid that if the weather keeps dropping as quickly as it has, well, we may just see some snow fall by the weekend. I have been saying that I love it out here since I got here, but now I am being reminded of the fierce cold snowy winter that I have yet to endure. It makes me wonder if Jeremy will notice if I disapear to Phoenix during the snowy months and come back when it is dry and warm.....

Completely off topic randomness....did you know that the correct way of saying Cul de Sac in the plural is not Cul de Sac's? No, it is pronounced Cul's de Sac...Weird right?

I have been tagged!

Jeremy tagged me a couple of days ago so I guess I have to share 7 random facts about myself that people may or may not know about me...ready? ok, here I go...

1.) I LOATHE PEANUT BUTTER
i'm not sure why, but I have never really liked the stuff. I don't like the smell, the feel, the texture, or the look. My husband loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and peanut butter cookies that I will tolerate enough to make, but the smell just makes me cringe whenever I open the jar.

2.) I LOVE THE DISNEY CHANNEL
I know, I'm a dork, but some of my favorite shows include: Life with Derek, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, That's So Raven, and Hannah Montana, I just think they are really cute, wholesome shows that make me laugh.

3.) I AM A CERTIFIED SCUBA DIVER
I love the ocean, contrary to Jeremy that absolutely hates touching the water! I love everything to do with sea life, I even wanted to be a marine biologist at one point in my childhood! I have dove in some of the most beautiful places, including Puerta Vallarta, St. Thomas, and Curacaeu, N.A. My two dreams are to dive with hammerhead sharks (without a cage), and to dive the Great Barrier Reef.

4.) I LOVE BALLET
I danced ballet and Jazz as a little girl and continued to dance ballet through high school and even into my first year of college. I feel the most relaxed and confident when I am at a ballet barre with my pointe shoes.

5.) I LOVE MUSIC
I don't just mean listening. In high school I was VERY into the music program. I played clarinet from fourth grade into my first year of college, I have also picked up the alto saxaphone, and played around with the trumpet (never could get that down). I also took private clarinet and vocal lessons throughout high school and participated in just about every musical group that had to do with singing or playing my clarinet in high school.

6.) I LOVE POETRY
Specifically, I love William Wordsworth. When I was a little girl, I would have my mom read the poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" many times throughout the day until I had it memorized....I can still recite this poem today, only now, I can tell you what it means also!

7.) I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 3 YEARS AND LIVED IN 5 STATES!
Yes, we have moved A LOT!! We have lived in Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, California, and now in Wisconsin (with the cows)! I have quite a collection of drivers licenses!!!

So there it is, 7 random facts about me, I am supposed to tag someone else now, but the only other person that I know that has not been tagged that has a blog is Avanti Travel....so here you go mom, tell us 7 random facts that we may not know about the travel agency!!!

Bus driver.....MOVE...THAT...BUS!!!!!!

SO.....mom and I saw on the news this morning that Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was doing their Wisconsin show about 50 miles away from where we are in Sun Prairie, so we thought, why not??? Lets make dad drive us out to the sight and maybe we will get to see Ty!!! So we get the GPS all set up and it says 50 miles away, and approximately 40 minutes drive, not to bad right? I mean to see Ty??? Now, dad is usually pretty good at following the GPS, but somehow he managed to make a wrong turn, so instead of going back to where we messed up, we just followed where the GPS took us..... The 40 or so minute drive took us about an hour and a half and a frozen custard stop later!!!!

Along the road, we became quite familiar with the sight of corn fields, they didnt seem to ever really end! We also came across some pretty funny signs that gave us all a good giggle along the drive! We saw a store that sold live bait, liquor, and well, we are in Wisconsin so of course it sold cheese too!! I know, only in Wisconsin, right? As we drove on a little further, there was nothing in sight but corn fields, when we came across a lone sign off the side of the road that simply said "ALMOST THERE!" Almost there? Almost where? We all had a good chuckle over this one!!

When we finally made it into the town, we realized that we had no specific address, ok...its a small town, how hard can it be, right??? So we just drive around aimlessly, looking at the miles and miles of cornfields and red barns and cows, which everyone already knows already amuse me quite a bit! But nowhere in sight was there anything that looked like an extreme home makeover scene...suddenly we started seeing some blue shirts and turned into a school....the story of the family is that the mom is a first grade teacher that has been at the same school for 15 years, she is the mother of 4, and their father recently passed away, the house was already a mess, and the family had to stay with relatives through the winter because it was too cold to survive, then the floods came in on top of everything and made things even worse...the school was a mess also, no playground for the kids, and all of the pavement was in shambles.....so when we pulled into the school we realized that the team was not only giving the teacher and her family a home, but also giving her school a playground and makeover as well! We asked some of the volunteers how to get to the house and they directed us to the high school where we were told would have busses available to take us to the home. We got to the high school, again asked how to get to the home, and were told that spectators were not allowed out there until tomorrow, oh well, it was a fun drive anyways! I told them that we had driven out from Madison just to see Ty, and they told us that the whole design team was in Madison today, not at the sight!! Ironic? More like disapointing!

Again, we set the GPS and start heading back towards Sun Prairie, along the road, my mom and I spot a sign that says the midwest's largest shoe store....of course we have to stop in the shoe store right??!! So we pull in, and what do we see? A HUGE TOUR BUS!!! We thought, there's no way that's the same one, afterall they are here to build a house, not shoe shop, right? So we just mosey on in, and mom and I look together, and who is before our very eyes but Pauly!!! Yes, after our long endeavors to hunt down the design team, we randomly stumble across one of the designers, turns out he was by himself, but hey still pretty cool, right? Here we are in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin, and stumble into Pauly!! He was sooo nice too! Took the time to talk to us, and ask where we are from, and truly appreciated his fan base! He even let us take a picture with him. We tried to wait for him to come outside, I so desparately wanted to yell as the bus pulled out......

BUS DRIVER....MOVE...THAT...BUS!!!!

Bubble Wrap Much???

I found the coolest website ever!!! It is www.bubblewrapfun.com you just go here, and you can paint bubble wrap, or you can just pop it on your computer!!! It is quite addicting! I heard this on Delilah (yes, I like Delilah) a few weeks back and just remembered that I wanted to check it out...so now everyone needs to go pop bubble wrap on the internet! It is so fun!

Thats it for tonight, just short and sweet, no 12 page posts like someone we know (Josh)......

Ok, I'm going to bed now, good night!

Finally in Wisconsin!!!

Jeremy and I started our wonderful adventure on Wednesday, we loaded up the Penske in Redding, California, and headed out. We got as far as Reno on Wednesday night, had some dinner and played a little on the slots, then turned in for an early night. We were on the road again by 7:30 the next morning and ended up somewhere in Wyoming on Thursday night around 10:00. Again on Friday morning we headed out around 7:30 and ended around 11:00 somewhere in Iowa...Finally on Saturday, we arrived at our new apartment around 10:30 in the morning, unhooked the trailer that was towing our car, and backed in the Penske to the door, just in time for Josh and his friend Brian to arrive and help us unload. After several hours of the guys running up and downstairs with boxes and furniture, and me opening and closing the door (I know, I was a big help)! We ordered pizza.....If you have ever tried to feed 3 hungry men, make sure to check your bank account before you order!!!! These guys ate 2 whole pizza's, a box of bread sticks, and half a box of chicken wings!!! I only had 2 pieces!!! Anyways, the adventure was fun, and Jeremy and I had a good time despite the long drive, it was a chance for us to spend some quality time together and just enjoy each other's company. I think he enjoyed my company too until I started singing to him to keep myself, and him awake, but hey, you do what you have to right? So I leave you today with my song that I wrote on our long voyage from California to Wisconsin, it is to be sung to the tune of Frosty the Snowman:

Penske the mover, was a happy yellow truck

with a big gas tank and a pip pip horn

and no holder for a cup

Penske the mover, was alive as he could be

he drove up and down, and round and round

singing this is life for me

There must have been some magic in the diesel in his tank

For when we filled him up each time, he nearly broke the bank!

Penske the mover, was as fun as I can say

when we said good bye, he said don't you cry

I'll be back again someday!!

bumpity bump bump, bumpity bump bump, over the hills we go

bumpity bump bump, bumpity bump bump, look at Penske go!!!!

I Love Coffee!!!!!

This morning as I was logging on the computer to check my email, I came across this report on the msn site:


MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) - Good news for coffee lovers: Drinking up to six cups a day of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee daily won't shorten your life span, a new study shows.
In fact, coffee might even help the heart, especially for women, the researchers found.

"Our results suggest that long-term, regular coffee consumption does not increase the risk of death and probably has several beneficial effects on health," said lead researcher Dr. Esther Lopez-Garcia, assistant professor of preventive medicine at the Autonoma University in Madrid, Spain.

Her team published its findings in the June 17 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Lopez-Garcia stressed that the findings may only hold true only for healthy folk. "People with any disease or condition should ask their doctor about their risk, because caffeine still has an acute effect on short-term increase of blood pressure," she said.
In the study, the Spanish team looked at the relationships between coffee drinking and the risks of dying from heart disease, cancer, or any cause in almost 42,000 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and more than 84,000 women who had participated in the Nurses' Health Study. At the study start, all participants were free of heart disease and cancer.

The participants completed questionnaires every two to four years, including information about their coffee drinking, other dietary habits, smoking and health conditions. The research team looked at the frequency of death from any cause, death due to heart disease, and death due to cancer among people with different coffee-drinking habits, comparing them to those who didn't drink the brew. They also controlled for other risk factors, including diet, smoking and body size.
The researchers found that women who drank two or three cups of caffeinated coffee daily had a 25 percent lower risk of death from heart disease during the follow-up (from 1980 to 2004) than non-drinkers. Women also had an 18 percent lower death risk from a cause other than cancer or heart disease compared with non-coffee drinkers.

For men, drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily was a "wash" -- not associated with either an increased or a decreased risk of death during the follow up, from 1986 to 2004.
The lower death rate was mainly due to a lower risk for heart disease deaths, the researchers found, while no link was discovered for coffee drinking and cancer deaths. The relationship did not seem to be directly related to caffeine, according to the researchers, since those who drank decaf also had a lower death rate than those who didn't drink either kind of coffee.
In the past, studies have come up with mixed results on the health effects of coffee, with some finding coffee increased the risk of death and others not.
More recently, research has found coffee drinking linked with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers, and preventing the development of cardiovascular disease, Lopez-Garcia said.
The strength of her current study, she said, includes the large number of participants and long follow-up period.

While the study is interesting, it does have its shortcomings, said Dr. Peter Galier, an internal medicine specialist, former chief of staff at Santa Monica UCLA and Orthopedic Hospital and associate professor of medicine at the University of California Los Angeles' David Geffen School of Medicine.

Self-reporting is one shortcoming, he said, because people may have under- or over-reported their coffee consumption, for instance.

"I think what this study tells us is not so much that coffee is the answer to everything," he said. But, rather, that some compounds, such as the antioxidants found in coffee, may be healthy.
Galier's advice for consumers: "I would tell them to weigh the subjective risk of their coffee consumption," he said. For instance, "if they love coffee, but it makes them jittery, and they can't sleep, the need to adjust it," he said. "Look at your symptoms," he tells patients. "If decaf is no problem, I wouldn't put a limit on that."

The research was funded by grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Soooo.......I guess my 2 or 3 Starbucks every day isn't so bad now? Is it? Not to mention any names of certain husbands that try to tell me that coffee is bad and I need to limit it......and again, i say

I LOVE COFFEE!!

Slacker Huh???

Ok, so I guess I have been a little of a slacker...but I only really post when I have something to blog about. Nothing really has been new out here in Redding, just trying to get everything tied together ready for our move. I have been trying to get in contact with my district pharmacy training coordinator so that I can have him help me with my transfer. I have been busy with not one, but three english classes right now. Advanced Composition, Early English Literature, and Early American Literature. I should be completely finished with my academic work by March, but then I have to wait until the fall to do my student teaching. Hopefully I can get a subbing job for the spring semester after that, and get myself involved with a school district. I have also been volunteering my time to help the California Highway Patrol Explorer post get back into the groove of things. I was an explorer myself for 5 years, and they have just started the post again, I was asked by the Sergeant to come back as an adult advisor. Although I am leaving soon, I am helping with the initial training, which is all classroom stuff anyways. Sooooo....nothing much here, everything is just kind of boring, home alone....Jeremy is in Chicago...mom and dad on a cruise....nobody to make me dinner....suffering with frozen pizza.....what's a girl to do???

Relay for LIfe 2008

This Saturday was the 2008 Relay for Life here in Redding. We had a Walgreens team set up and had someone on the track 24 hours. I walked with Caerys from 11-noon, and we had a blast. There was a great turnout! I even went back out after work and walked from midnight to 1am. Our team captain, Michele, and her husband Ricky stayed at the relay for the whole 24 hours, what troopers!!

The top picture from left to right: Tami, Michele, me

Middle Picture: Caerys and I at the end of our laps

Third Picture left to right: Kenny Jr., Allyssa, Kenny Sr., Tami, Britton, Michele, Me, Caerys

We also had a Walgreens booth with merchandise donated by the company for us to sell and donate the profits to the charity! We have been raising money in all three stores in town over the last few months by being allowed to wear jeans on Friday's for a $5 donation to the charity. We have raised quite a bit of money, and had a great time doing it!

When I went back at night I lit a luminary in honor of Grandma Clist also. It was too dark for pictures so I didn't get one....but there was one done in her memory.

When we move to Wisconsin, I would like to try to get my new store involved also, it is really a great cause, and there were a LOT of survivors there, which is definately something you like to see!!

At least they have cows in Wisconsin!!!

So after we have been debating back and forth about moving to either Chicago, or Phoenix, we came to a comprimise....ready??? Ok were moving to Madison!!!! So Jeremy will still commute from Madison to Chicago, which isn't nearly as bad a commute as from Phoenix, and I will still be close to family! We found a really nice apartment online and sent out for some information on it. If all goes according to plan we should be out there around the first of July! Finally, we have come to a good comprimise. When we went to De Forest to visit, I really liked the Wisconsin Atmosphere, and I am the kind of person that wants some family around me to visit with occasionally (not just over the phone)! I am excited to be closer to Josh, Kim, and the boys, and hopefully we will get to spend more time together than we have in the past. To my Wisonsin family...I miss you, and I'm excited to be moving closer to you!!! Yay!!

I'm Sore!!!

well, I had my surgery last night. I got to the hospital at 2:30 and was admitted to the operating ward shortly after. My doctor that was performing the surgery was able to go above and beyond his job and get a prior authorization for the surgery to take place in the out of network hospital because the in network hospital didnt have the correct equipment. The anestheseologist came in to tell me what he was going to do, and it turns out that I grew up with his kids!! When I was wheeled into the operating room, he started talking to me about my friends that I haven't seen in years, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in the recovery room! He didn't even tell me that he was starting the anestezia. Apparently the whole operation was only supposed to take 20 minutes, but it ended up taking an hour and a half. The doctor called my mom in the waiting room to let her know why it was taking so long, and not to worry. The stone was lodged in my tube, and wouldn't move, I would have never passed it. The doctor placed a stint from my kidney to my bladder to stop clotting and help with drainage. Everything went well, but I am very sore today. I will finally be able to return to work on Monday.

On a different subject, please continue to pray for the Clist family. Grandma Clist passed away peacefully in her sleep last night. We were prepared for this to happen, but It is still never easy. I am so blessed that I was able to know her and have such a wonderful lady in my life, even if it was only a few short years. Grandma will never be forgotten, she was such an incredible lady with a lifetime of stories. Grandma was comfortable with her decision to avoid invasive treatment for her cancer, and was extremely comfortable in her faith with Jesus. Grandma is no longer in pain, but is happy with Jesus now. Please keep happy thoughts a prayers for Grandma and the rest of the family.

so much time, and so little to do!

Since I have been home with this stone the last couple of weeks, I have decided to do a little digital scrapbooking. I have completed 2, yes only 2 pages and finally (with Courtney's help) figured out how to make a masthead, which you see above. It's my first one, so a little boring, but I will try harder next time! Anyways check out my 2 pages that I did from our trip to New York City in December http://www.scrapbookflair.com/jaclist Jeremy, myself, my mom, my dad, and Mom C all flew out to NYC and met up with Aunt Sue and Uncle Curt. It was my first visit there, as was my dad's, and we could not have asked for better tour guides! We had a wonderful time, and these are only a few of the many pictures that we took. We even got to see the Radio City Rockettes Christmas show, which was the highlight of my trip. We also saw a matinee of A Chorus Line, which was fabulous. We went to Chelsea Market, which is where the food network films. We saw the firefighters museum, which was amazing. We went to ground zero, which was just surreal. We experienced real NYC subways, and the freaky homeless people that live on them! We saw the Sunday filming of Today with Lester Holt, and saw the ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza. We did sooooo much in just a couple of days, it was a crazy whirlwind of fun. Check out my first pages, and I will post with updates as I complete more.

On a seperate note, please continue to pray for Grandma Clist, she is not doing very well. Dad C is in New York with her as she awaits her final days. She is comfortable with her decision to be with Jesus, and has let the family know that this is what she wants, and is ready. Please just keep your thoughts and prayers with her, and pray for her to be comfortable and peaceful until she is ready to let go.

On another medical note, I will probably be having my kidney stone removed surgically either tomorrow or Friday, so please pray that everything goes well and I can be back at work by Monday.

more like not to pass!!!!!

As an update from my last blog.....I have not yet passed my kidney stone, and have been out of work for almost 2 whole weeks now. Most people would think it would be nice to be home from work for 2 weeks, but I have been bored out of my mind, and in pretty intense pain along with it. I would RATHER be at work!!! I went for a follow up with the Urologist I was referred to by the ER yesterday, I had fresh x-rays which indicated that the stone was in the EXACT same place it was last week. It's not even moving! So, the doctor scheduled me to have surgery for removal today. Why did I not have the surgery, you ask? Well, come to find out the doctor is not in my network of covered providersy by my insurance plan. I called my insurance and got a list of 3 covered doctors in Redding. One of which really isn't covered, the insurance just thinks they are. So I set up an appointment for today with the only one I could get into. My mom and I got to the office and were completely amazed at the lack of technology, they did not even have a computer in the whole office, the receptionist was typing on a TYPEWRITER!!!! Well, maybe the doctor is just a little old fashioned, so we stayed to see him anyways. The doctor was telling me everything completely the opposite of what the last doctor, and the hospital doctor had told me, so we werent convinced. I then went straight over to my primary physician's office (just down the street) and his nurse found me the other doctor in my network and called them. She sent us straight up there to fill out the paperwork and take my films and doctor reports in. The doctor was backed up today, but they managed to get me in for tomorrow afternoon. So after this whole ordeal, we will see what this third doctor says and hopefully plan for the surgery this week! This thing is so painful and uncomfortable, and I just want it gone! By the way, his name is Javier, don't know why, but thats what I have named him, no I want to deport him!

To pass, or not to pass......

Over the last couple of weeks I have been suffering from what my doctor and myself have thought to be a urinary tract infection. I have been treated with two different ant-biotics and the pain has not seemed to go away. Yesterday, the pain became worse than ever while I was at work, it was so bad that I was doubled over and feeling nauseated by it. I also felt like I had a full bladder, but could not pee! About 5 o'clock, my mom took me into the E.R. where I sat for 2 hours before a triage nurse finally called me in, they then decided that I was in enough pain that they would take me straight back. They hooked me up to an IV with a low dose of morphine for the pain, and phenergan for my naseau. The nurse drew a LOT of blood to run tests, and hooked me up to a cathiter which is extremely uncomfortable! They were able to empty out my bladder but I still felt like I had to pee and couldn't. The doctor (after 6 hours) finally ordered a CT scan of my abdomin since I was having severe back pain as well. The results you ask? I have a 5 x 10 millimeter sized kidney stone. For those of you that do not know the size of that, ITS HUGE!!! I also have a few smaller ones in there too, but after passing the monster, I shouldn't have a problem with the little guys! After being discharged at 3 this morning, mom brought me straight home and I totally zonked out from the morphine. This morning I went to see the Urologist to see how we are going to get rid of this thing. It is close to my Uteris so they cannot do anything but wait. The Urologist said that I have a 50/50 chance of passing it on my own. If I don't pass it by next monday, he will do a small outpatient surgery where he will go in and break it down and remove it. This all sounds really gross doesn't it? I have to stay home from work for a week in hopes of passing this thing. If you have ever had a kidney stone, you know how painful they are. They compare the pain to that of child birth. If this is what child birth feels like, I don't think I wanna go through it!!!!

All at once!

As my family closes the chapter of my grandpa's life, we have to bear the news of yet more pain. Jeremy's grandma was recently diagnosed with a very bad form of cancer. It is a rapid spreading cancer that is in her organs. This afternoon as I was just leaving work, I got news that her heart stopped today. It did start again, but it was a huge scare for us all. I ask all who are reading to keep grandma Clist, and the rest of the Clist family in your thoughts and prayers as we await test results.

Also tonight, on a completely different topic, I ask for your thoughts and prayers for Jeremy. He has his FAA checkride early in the morning. Stresses are high, but we will all make it through this!

Update...

As a follow up to last nights post, I just want to thank everyone for their continued love and prayers through my grandpa's illness. Grandpa passed away this afternoon. I believe he was peaceful and painless. When we are left as survivors of loved ones, we have to be strong, it is hard to let someone go, even though we know they are in a much better place. I believe my grandpa has gone to a place where he is happy, and can be free to do the things he loves to do.

This is not a long post, as I mentioned everything in last nights post about my grandpa's struggle over the last few weeks. I will just leave you today by asking for continued prayers for my family to help us be strong through our grieving days. I am sad to loose my grandpa, but I am also happy to know that he is no longer in any pain. Thank you all again for all of your concern throughout this difficult time.

As most of you already know, my grandpa (mom's dad) has been very ill lately. He went into the emergency room 3 and 1/2 weeks ago with a UTI. Since then, the infection has spread througout his body. He started to get a little better and was moved from ICU into a regular room. That only lasted a couple of days, then the infection was back, and worse than before. He was immediately transferred back up to ICU where he remained for the last 2 weeks. His kidneys started failing, so the doctor ordered dialasys to be done every other day. Eventually his breathing became very hard and was put on a full life support machine. After a full week of the total life support, the decision had to be made of whether to put a trach tube into his throat to keep him alive, or just simply allow him to be comfortable to live out the remainder of his days. After careful research, and many chats with Dr. Sam, the decision was made that with the trach tube, the quality of life would be very poor, and my grandpa would not want to live his life that way. Dr. Sam finally ordered my grandpa to be on a "comfort path." Which is where the nurses do everything they can to make the patient comfortable until it is their time to rest with Jesus. I saw my grandpa tonight, he looked peaceful and painless. He also looked as though he would not make it through the night. My mom and I snuck into the hospital chapel and said a silent prayer for him. We went back to his room and told him not to be afraid. He was unresponsive to us being there, but I think he heard us. I think he is ready to be at peace.

I write all this in my blog not to make anyone feel sorry for me, but to make sure that everyone knows that my family and I are at peace with this. We are aware that he is comfortable, and I think in many ways it is harder to be the family that is left behind. We told my grandpa this evening that we will be alright, and that we love him. I think in some way, he needed us to tell him that it is alright to let go now. I know that when my grandpa does pass he will look down on us from Heaven and smile because he will finally be able to walk again like he did 19 years ago before his stroke. I know in my heart that my grandpa will be just fine!

Sorry to bring such a sad blog this time, but there was just so much on my mind that I just needed to get it out. Writing my feelings always helps me through difficult times. I just ask that everyone reading prays not for my family and I, but for the peaceful passing of my grandpa.

Alas....Phoenix awaits us!

Well since my last post everyone, including Jeremy and I thought we were going to move back to Chicago/Milwaukee since he is domociled out of O'Hare. The latest news is that Mesa has increased the number of lines out of Phoenix!!! Jeremy put his bid in last week, and now we are just waiting for hime to be "awarded" Phoenix! Yay! We are looking in areas closer to the airport though, which is really alright, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, those areas. We will still be some distance from the family, but it is not at all unbearable, at least we can still drive to see each other more often than we would if we were in Chicago! So, needless to say, I am pretty excited about the move back to sunny, warm, never snowy Phoenix! Jeremy on the other hand, would rather live in temperatures below freezing than Phoenix where in his opinion is "five thousand degrees on the surface of the sun!!!" But he will by in the air most of the time so I will be the one enjoying the beautiful sunshine!

As promised....pictures of my haircut

Short hair on me????

Well, I have been trying to grow out my hair for the past year in hopes of cutting it all off and donating it. I thought you only had to have 7 inches to donate, so I was ready, and made my appointment to go in and cut it off and donate it. I went on a referral from some of the girls that I work with, and he seems to do a pretty good job on them so I thought I'd give it a try. It turns out that you actually have to have 12 inches to donate!! So Craig (the stylist) said I had enough, but it would just be a little short. I said well, ok I'm ready for a change go for it! He proceeds to put my hair into a low pony tail, then cuts off the pony tail! YIKES! I just cut off a whole foot of hair!!! He styled it into a really cute bob type look where it is slightly longer in the front, just under my chin, and a little shorter in the back, it really makes me look my age instead of 16! I am really excited about it, as soon as I figure out how to upload pictures onto a post I will put one up, it's WAY CUTE though!!!!

Did you know?...

-A cow has 4 stomachs
-Cos spots are like snowflakes, no two are alike
-Each day a dair cow eats:
28.bs corn silage, 12.6 lbs alfalfa hay, 8.41 lbs barley, 4.33 lbs what bran, 3 lbs beet pulp, 5.5 lbs cottonseed, .75 lb fat, .12 lb salt, .5 lb minerals and vitamins and 255 (30 gallons) water.
-Cows are not indigenous to America. Columbus brought some with him on his second voyage, It became a law that each ship had to have one cow for every 5 people.
-A cow spends 6 hours eating, and 8 hours chewing cud each day
-A 1000 pound cow produces 10 tons of manure each year
-A cow can live 25 years
-Cows see color
-A cow stands up and sits down about 14 times per day
-The city of Boston was laid out by cow paths
- Cows can detect oders 5 miles away
-There are about 11 million cows in America
-A cow produces nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime
-A cow can't give milk until she has had a calf
-There are appoximately 350 "squirts" in a gallon of milk.

I hope I have left you more informed about my favorite animal than before you started reading!

Technology and the Orthodontist

Well last week I had a small problem, let me explain.....I have been wearing a permenant retainer behind my bottom teeth since I had my braces removed (the second time) which was what I guess to be around 8 years. Last week while I was busy at work one side of this lovely contraption decided to just pop off of my tooth! I wasn't eating or anything, just working! The retainer is only attached to 2 teeth in the back so that you can floss in between it. So, thinking it was just going to be alright, I called Jeremy (he was out flying) and told him, but it didn't really hurt, it was really just annoying. The next morning I woke up and it was still rather annoying, but didn't hurt. I continued my morning routine which included a cup of coffee and a bagel, then realized that it kinda hurt to eat. See it was still attached on one side, so when I went to eat something, it was like a torque effect on the attached side, causing a lot of pressure. I tried to call the orthodontist that put it there in the first place, and they were very difficult to work with, and rude to me over the phone, basically they didn't want to go out of their way to help me so that I could actually eat! So, between my mom and I, we found a really super nice orthodontist that would get me in right away. Turns out I needed a whole new retainer made, they took the old one out and made the mold for the new one last Wednesday. I know 8 years is a while, but the advancements that have been made since last time I went through this are incredible! I even got root beer flavored putty for the mold!! I know, it is a little weird to be excited, but it was really cool. Today I went in to have the new one put back in, the whole procedure took a matter of 5 minutes, and the new one is lighter and smaller than the old one!! Maybe it was a good thing that the old one broke! I know I must be boring you with my orthodontist story, but it really amazed me how much better things are now than they used to be! I wish I could have been going through my braces now rather than 10 years ago!! (wait....no....I'm glad that chapter is over!)

Husband + Doctor = STUBBORN!!!!

Ok, so Jeremy has been feeling, well, not so hot the last few weeks. He has been complaining about a sore throat and headache, but didn't think anything of it other than a simple cold. As the days have gone on, he has progressively been feeling worse, and his throat has just been so sore, but, being the manly-man that he is, he didn't need to see a doctor,"it's just a cold, it will go away soon." and "don't worry, I will be fine," says Jeremy. Yesterday, at about 5:00p.m. he finally decided that maybe he should go see a doctor, afterall, he wasn't feeling well! (duh)! so we went to the local urgent care where he was seen promptly and given an antibiotic for his throat. Now, why was that so difficult? BECAUSE HE'S A MAN?! UGH! Had he have gone to the doctor weeks ago, when EVERYONE was telling him to, he would have been just fine and dandy by now, right? But that would have been WAY too easy. I guess we just have to let the men be stubborn sometimes, right?

New to the Blogging world

Well, since it seems as though everyone else in the family is creating one, I thought I would give this blog thing a try. I have a Myspace account and a Facebook account, but have never blogged on either one. This is actually a pretty good idea to keep everyone up to date about what we are doing, and where we seem to be living (well for this year anyways)! I know, we tend to move A LOT! But that's ok! We will be making yet another, and hopefully more permanent, move to the greater Chicago area. Today, we decided to look into rental properties in Milwaukee (not sure if I spelled that correctly)! It seems that property is much cheaper there than it is in Chicago, or the suburbs of Chicago. I am a little more excited about Wisconsin, because it puts us much closer to family. I think it is only about an hour and a half away from Josh and the boys. This means that we would be able to make weekend trips to see each other more frequently than the last time we lived in Chicago. I just have this fear of being alone with no one around when Jeremy is away on his flights, so if we are at least closer to family, I am a little more at ease. We'll see where we end up here in a couple of months. If Wisconsin is it, maybe we can invite Josh over for dinner and serve a BIG GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE!!!!