How many weeks now have I been meaning to update this? How many millions of things have happened that I now can't remember that I was definitely going to remember so that I could blog about them? Who knows. I've probably started ten or so, but it's hard to get into the swing of the first few lines. Usually once past that point I can ramble with the best of them. But for now, all I know is relief to be home. So that is where I'll start...
I am home.
Not like the "Honey, I'm home" you experience after a day at the office. No, more like a "throw the weeks worth of stuff in the entry way as you pass the threshold and sigh in relief" home.
We've been on the move constantly the last few months. All have been adventures worthy of taking, yet, sometimes it's nice to just be home. Of course, when snowed in for 5 days couldn't wait to bust out of here to "get to town", even if "town" happens to just be Oak Harbor. Or even Coupeville. I'll take what I can get.
I don't know how far back I've been meaning to update, so I guess I'll just ramble about December... Delilah took all of us girls, I believe there were 12 of us, give or take, to New York for the weekend. She had an appearance to do on Good Morning America, which most of us subsequently slept through, after the inclement weather delayed our plane for hours. We were in bed circa 4am. I'm sorry, but no television show in the world is worth only getting 2 hours of sleep. I'm surprised we slept at all after the PTSS we all suffered at the hands of our pilot, Captain Kangaroo. I have never been on a worse flight. Ever. Not his fault, exactly. See line about inclement weather above. Ever heard grown men sob in fear for their lives? Be grateful you missed the giant flying tin can of death experience. When we landed my first contact was to text Kelly, "I'm alive! I'm alive!" And I wasn't even being dramatic! ;)
We stayed right in the heart of Times Square, and I got some awesome photos right from my hotel window! We saw Wicked, The Rockettes, Bryant Park, went ice skating in Central Park, dined and shopped in Little Italy, where our waiter "Johnny, Til Midnight" entertained us with his jokes and his giant light up penis lamp, made of a salami and a few light bulbs. D asked what his name was after midnight; he wrapped his arms around her and with wink whispered in her ear loud enough for us all to hear, "You'll have to stick around to see!" 
After dinner we went shopping. One store flipped a breaker and opened a hidden door to a back room full of knock-off purses, wallets, etc. All the girls ran inside screaming while they shut the now invisible door behind them once again. All the girls, except me, that is. Perhaps I am just too much like my father, but there is no way you're going to catch me running into a hidden room where no one knows I am without my gun on me. So, there you have it. I am the only one who came home with no fake designer purses. Alas, I suppose my real designer purses will have to suffice. :P But in all honestly, all I saw was human trafficking written all over that invisible door. ;)
Once home from New York we were snowed in nearly a week here at home with a bunch of friends. Nothing too memorable, except that I learned that I am an EXCELLENT poker player! And by "excellent" I mean that people honestly have no idea what I'm going to do. Ever. My moves are much too random to be anticipated. Also, by using the term "excellent" I do NOT mean that I ever win. Ever. My moves are much too random and uncalculated for that.
Christmas was grand. We had our little family Christmas on the evening of the 23rd, because we were headed to Port Orchard the following day, and wanted to have our special Christmas time. Kelly and I had nothing to open, as we're both so lame that we gave each other our Christmas gifts nearly as quickly as we bought each of them because we were too darned excited to keep it a secret. =) Christmas Eve was spent with Dad and Delilah, then Gwen and Eric. Gwen got whammed. There were good times all around. Christmas Day was a bit sad at first, as it really hit me that it was nearly all over, and I never FELT like it was Christmas. This mini-depression manifests a little more intensely each year. Perhaps one day I might realize that it will never feel like Christmas the way it did when I was young. However, this was the first year that EVERYTHING was different. Especially with Mom gone now... It was sad when I realized that instead of our huge Christmas Eve celebration with my parents, it was now just Kelly and I, together at Applebees. Ava was with Matt, mom is in NC, Dad and Kristi live with D, Ryan is doing his own thing, my other sisters... who knows, but still, it was a little hard. And yet, it was beautiful. It's time for new traditions, and Kels gave me the most beautiful Christmas there could be. Just by being himself, and loving and encouraging me. I can't even believe that such a man as him exists. There is, truly, none better.
After Christmas we returned home, quite foolishly, for just two days. Long enough to totally destroy the house in the aftermath and anticipation of all our comings and going, and watch the Bronco's lose all hope of post-season play. The latter which nearly destroyed Kels. After convincing him that life was still worth living, we packed up and headed to Crystal Mountain.
D rents a 5 story cabin there each year, about half a mile up the hill. Hill=Mountain. After a harrowing 5 hour trip to get there, we were told to wait 20 minutes for the CAT to come get us and our gear and haul us up the mountain. After a frickin hour and a half the incredibly stoned gentlemen finally arrives on a snowmobile. Apparently, he learned that evening that you can NOT take a CAT straight down the intermediate runs of a ski hill while high off your ass because you will lose control and crash it into a tree. I survived the harrowing trip up the mountain on the back of stoners snowmobile. My very expensive sonic toothbrush, however, did not fare so well. Perhaps a chipmunk or grizzly bear will find it useful this spring once the snow melts.
We arrive to a group of about 20. It's grand. Scattered, crazy and completely unorganized, but grand. We had a great day skiing together, Kels and I. It started out a little poorly in the morning, when we left the cabin, we hiked to the chair that was to take us down the mountain to rent our ski gear... We waited and waited and waited, it never started. So we hiked down the mountain, in knee deep powder, to begin our day. I have to say, we have this certain knack to our relationship where we're able to each lose it for a bit while the other is upbeat and able to hold it together, then we switch off a bit later. Heaven forbid we both lose patience with life in general at the same time. If you see a mushroom cloud looming in the distance, just know that Kelly and I both just became irritated at some small plight at the same time and that was the subsequent result. He held it together that morning much better than I did. I got over it once flying down the slopes. Daniel Bedingfield went along with us to the mountain. That was a fun experience, meeting him and his completely awesome friend-but-not-girlfriend-anymore-but-perhaps-again-one-day-if-it-so-happens, Makeala. He is very kind and humble and personable. Much more than I expected. He also has very strong opinions on matters that he has very strong opinions on and is willing to make them known. But he's honest, and you know where you stand. I appreciate that in people. Oh, funny story, Makeala was to be returned to Seattle on Wednesday, and he was borrowing some POS Toyota from a friend in WA for the trip, so they borrowed our Trailblazer. In a turn of events that was not his fault, a tree found the front of our car. So there you have it, our Trailblazer looks like someone took a swing at it with the worlds largest baseball bat. =) I think driving in the snow was just harrowing for him in general, being from warmer places, as he called me a few times down the mountain asking different questions about the operation of a motor vehicle in different conditions. =) He'll be staying in Port Orchard for a bit here early this year, poor guy. He knows not what he does...
On our way home from the trip we volunteered to take Lonika and Mallory home with us, as they were developing cabin-fever. Brittany and Devon were also taking off that day, so we all trekked down together. Lucky for us the lift was actually working at that time. Sadly for Mallory, she chose to ride down with Brittany and Devon. They are each on one side of her, the chair comes around, and the throw their bags in the middle and hop on... Mallory therefore has no seat, gets caught on the back of the legs, pushed forward and falls off the chair approximately 15 feet into a deep powder drift. It took a good couple of minutes to bail her out, as she was so deep that any movement pushed her further in. Poor girlie, it was like 20 degrees and she was absolutely frozen by the time we got down the hill.
New Years Eve we went to the Moondog with Marcie, Shari and Rick. We ran into some friends of theirs, and Brittany and a few of her friends ended up joining us as well. We ended up with a party of about 12. We had SO much fun! They threw a WWII style, "The Boys are Home" party. Kelly wore his dress blues, us girls wore victory rolls and fishnets and 40's clothing. We danced to a live swing band, laughed harder than we have in ages and kissed at midnight. It was a wonderful time. In fact, we were the hit of the evening, as we had "a real live sailor", and I guess, quite obviously, the most fun. At one point Brittany and I took to the dance floor. We danced and twirled and drew a little crowd who were slightly amazed at our fancy dance skills. Having no idea what we were actually doing, just knowing a basic swing step and the ability to read each other, our motto for 2009 was coined; "When in doubt, twirl." Enough twirling and everyone think you have it all together. ;) It was honestly one of the best evenings of my life. I was so proud to be there with Kelly. I know it's the common theme in most every one of my blogs, but I love him. So much. I have never had so much fun, never been so in love and never had such a wonderful best friend. There are just not the words to express it. He makes me feel so loved, like I never thought possible.
In closing, this year was my worst in that I lost nearly every possession that I thought was mine. This year was also my best as I gained every thing that I now know is worth having. I have surrounded myself with the most wonderful, trustworthy, loving people I have ever known. I have learned more about myself, others, love, communication, worthiness, and trust than I have in the whole rest of my life combined. I have a beautiful family. I have faithful, loving, fun, adoring and incredible man, a beautiful, sweet, independent, inquisitive little girl, the best friends a girl could ask for, and a whole new year ahead of me... How could it be any better?
I am home.
Not like the "Honey, I'm home" you experience after a day at the office. No, more like a "throw the weeks worth of stuff in the entry way as you pass the threshold and sigh in relief" home.
We've been on the move constantly the last few months. All have been adventures worthy of taking, yet, sometimes it's nice to just be home. Of course, when snowed in for 5 days couldn't wait to bust out of here to "get to town", even if "town" happens to just be Oak Harbor. Or even Coupeville. I'll take what I can get.
I don't know how far back I've been meaning to update, so I guess I'll just ramble about December... Delilah took all of us girls, I believe there were 12 of us, give or take, to New York for the weekend. She had an appearance to do on Good Morning America, which most of us subsequently slept through, after the inclement weather delayed our plane for hours. We were in bed circa 4am. I'm sorry, but no television show in the world is worth only getting 2 hours of sleep. I'm surprised we slept at all after the PTSS we all suffered at the hands of our pilot, Captain Kangaroo. I have never been on a worse flight. Ever. Not his fault, exactly. See line about inclement weather above. Ever heard grown men sob in fear for their lives? Be grateful you missed the giant flying tin can of death experience. When we landed my first contact was to text Kelly, "I'm alive! I'm alive!" And I wasn't even being dramatic! ;)
We stayed right in the heart of Times Square, and I got some awesome photos right from my hotel window! We saw Wicked, The Rockettes, Bryant Park, went ice skating in Central Park, dined and shopped in Little Italy, where our waiter "Johnny, Til Midnight" entertained us with his jokes and his giant light up penis lamp, made of a salami and a few light bulbs. D asked what his name was after midnight; he wrapped his arms around her and with wink whispered in her ear loud enough for us all to hear, "You'll have to stick around to see!" 
After dinner we went shopping. One store flipped a breaker and opened a hidden door to a back room full of knock-off purses, wallets, etc. All the girls ran inside screaming while they shut the now invisible door behind them once again. All the girls, except me, that is. Perhaps I am just too much like my father, but there is no way you're going to catch me running into a hidden room where no one knows I am without my gun on me. So, there you have it. I am the only one who came home with no fake designer purses. Alas, I suppose my real designer purses will have to suffice. :P But in all honestly, all I saw was human trafficking written all over that invisible door. ;)
Once home from New York we were snowed in nearly a week here at home with a bunch of friends. Nothing too memorable, except that I learned that I am an EXCELLENT poker player! And by "excellent" I mean that people honestly have no idea what I'm going to do. Ever. My moves are much too random to be anticipated. Also, by using the term "excellent" I do NOT mean that I ever win. Ever. My moves are much too random and uncalculated for that.
Christmas was grand. We had our little family Christmas on the evening of the 23rd, because we were headed to Port Orchard the following day, and wanted to have our special Christmas time. Kelly and I had nothing to open, as we're both so lame that we gave each other our Christmas gifts nearly as quickly as we bought each of them because we were too darned excited to keep it a secret. =) Christmas Eve was spent with Dad and Delilah, then Gwen and Eric. Gwen got whammed. There were good times all around. Christmas Day was a bit sad at first, as it really hit me that it was nearly all over, and I never FELT like it was Christmas. This mini-depression manifests a little more intensely each year. Perhaps one day I might realize that it will never feel like Christmas the way it did when I was young. However, this was the first year that EVERYTHING was different. Especially with Mom gone now... It was sad when I realized that instead of our huge Christmas Eve celebration with my parents, it was now just Kelly and I, together at Applebees. Ava was with Matt, mom is in NC, Dad and Kristi live with D, Ryan is doing his own thing, my other sisters... who knows, but still, it was a little hard. And yet, it was beautiful. It's time for new traditions, and Kels gave me the most beautiful Christmas there could be. Just by being himself, and loving and encouraging me. I can't even believe that such a man as him exists. There is, truly, none better.
After Christmas we returned home, quite foolishly, for just two days. Long enough to totally destroy the house in the aftermath and anticipation of all our comings and going, and watch the Bronco's lose all hope of post-season play. The latter which nearly destroyed Kels. After convincing him that life was still worth living, we packed up and headed to Crystal Mountain.
D rents a 5 story cabin there each year, about half a mile up the hill. Hill=Mountain. After a harrowing 5 hour trip to get there, we were told to wait 20 minutes for the CAT to come get us and our gear and haul us up the mountain. After a frickin hour and a half the incredibly stoned gentlemen finally arrives on a snowmobile. Apparently, he learned that evening that you can NOT take a CAT straight down the intermediate runs of a ski hill while high off your ass because you will lose control and crash it into a tree. I survived the harrowing trip up the mountain on the back of stoners snowmobile. My very expensive sonic toothbrush, however, did not fare so well. Perhaps a chipmunk or grizzly bear will find it useful this spring once the snow melts.
We arrive to a group of about 20. It's grand. Scattered, crazy and completely unorganized, but grand. We had a great day skiing together, Kels and I. It started out a little poorly in the morning, when we left the cabin, we hiked to the chair that was to take us down the mountain to rent our ski gear... We waited and waited and waited, it never started. So we hiked down the mountain, in knee deep powder, to begin our day. I have to say, we have this certain knack to our relationship where we're able to each lose it for a bit while the other is upbeat and able to hold it together, then we switch off a bit later. Heaven forbid we both lose patience with life in general at the same time. If you see a mushroom cloud looming in the distance, just know that Kelly and I both just became irritated at some small plight at the same time and that was the subsequent result. He held it together that morning much better than I did. I got over it once flying down the slopes. Daniel Bedingfield went along with us to the mountain. That was a fun experience, meeting him and his completely awesome friend-but-not-girlfriend-anymore-but-perhaps-again-one-day-if-it-so-happens, Makeala. He is very kind and humble and personable. Much more than I expected. He also has very strong opinions on matters that he has very strong opinions on and is willing to make them known. But he's honest, and you know where you stand. I appreciate that in people. Oh, funny story, Makeala was to be returned to Seattle on Wednesday, and he was borrowing some POS Toyota from a friend in WA for the trip, so they borrowed our Trailblazer. In a turn of events that was not his fault, a tree found the front of our car. So there you have it, our Trailblazer looks like someone took a swing at it with the worlds largest baseball bat. =) I think driving in the snow was just harrowing for him in general, being from warmer places, as he called me a few times down the mountain asking different questions about the operation of a motor vehicle in different conditions. =) He'll be staying in Port Orchard for a bit here early this year, poor guy. He knows not what he does...
On our way home from the trip we volunteered to take Lonika and Mallory home with us, as they were developing cabin-fever. Brittany and Devon were also taking off that day, so we all trekked down together. Lucky for us the lift was actually working at that time. Sadly for Mallory, she chose to ride down with Brittany and Devon. They are each on one side of her, the chair comes around, and the throw their bags in the middle and hop on... Mallory therefore has no seat, gets caught on the back of the legs, pushed forward and falls off the chair approximately 15 feet into a deep powder drift. It took a good couple of minutes to bail her out, as she was so deep that any movement pushed her further in. Poor girlie, it was like 20 degrees and she was absolutely frozen by the time we got down the hill.
New Years Eve we went to the Moondog with Marcie, Shari and Rick. We ran into some friends of theirs, and Brittany and a few of her friends ended up joining us as well. We ended up with a party of about 12. We had SO much fun! They threw a WWII style, "The Boys are Home" party. Kelly wore his dress blues, us girls wore victory rolls and fishnets and 40's clothing. We danced to a live swing band, laughed harder than we have in ages and kissed at midnight. It was a wonderful time. In fact, we were the hit of the evening, as we had "a real live sailor", and I guess, quite obviously, the most fun. At one point Brittany and I took to the dance floor. We danced and twirled and drew a little crowd who were slightly amazed at our fancy dance skills. Having no idea what we were actually doing, just knowing a basic swing step and the ability to read each other, our motto for 2009 was coined; "When in doubt, twirl." Enough twirling and everyone think you have it all together. ;) It was honestly one of the best evenings of my life. I was so proud to be there with Kelly. I know it's the common theme in most every one of my blogs, but I love him. So much. I have never had so much fun, never been so in love and never had such a wonderful best friend. There are just not the words to express it. He makes me feel so loved, like I never thought possible.
In closing, this year was my worst in that I lost nearly every possession that I thought was mine. This year was also my best as I gained every thing that I now know is worth having. I have surrounded myself with the most wonderful, trustworthy, loving people I have ever known. I have learned more about myself, others, love, communication, worthiness, and trust than I have in the whole rest of my life combined. I have a beautiful family. I have faithful, loving, fun, adoring and incredible man, a beautiful, sweet, independent, inquisitive little girl, the best friends a girl could ask for, and a whole new year ahead of me... How could it be any better?
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