Happy New Year! Welcome to 2015!

Well, another year has come and gone, and for me it has been a "medical year." 

2015 however should not be so heavy on the medical stuff and I hope to get out for more long walks with Jim and get more reading in and do more fun things.

I want to help Jim write a book on security, so that should be challenging and fun, and we are looking for a smaller apartment to declutter our stuff. We should be leaving this apartment in March, and hope to get a smaller cheaper one with some utilities included. Yay, less bills to pay every month! More savings!

I would love to hear from you guys on what you have planned for the coming year! What changes and differences would you like to see in this year as opposed to last year? 

Sending lots of love and hugs!

--Angel

Happy New Year!

Very happy new year to all of my friends and family. I hope that 2014 is the best year yet for all of you. Make lots of memories, take pictures, smile and laugh. My wish for each of you is inner peace and for the load that you bear to be easy on you... *hugs*

Angel

My 2014 Resolutions :

I want to leave all hatred for anyone behind.
I want to eat less processed foods, better things for my stomach
I want to serve Jim breakfast in bed, even like 4 times
I want to see all of my family via Skype once we move to Reno.
*hint hint family, ask me how to chat on Skype*
I want to make this blog about Jim and I (and hopefully Tristan's) adventures and good findings.
I am excited to learn how to navigate their bus system instead of driving.
I cant wait to get my new glasses. Ordered online by having my optometrist write down all of the specs that apply to me and then I typed them into this website and blammo 11.95 glasses and lenses shipped to me :) I like good deals.. I'll find the link again. Let me know if you or anyone you know orders from them and how they like the glasses. This was the most simple and straightforward site we could find.. I hope someone can use it; (free shipping is 7/10 business days so if you need them sooner you'd have to pay shipping...

http://www.zennioptical.com/women?Ns=sku.price_listPrices|0 that is a link to their site. If you need an extra pair or need a pair for kiddos its a great site.. Enjoy!

A song that I love

"The Storm"

She sits among the pieces
Of broken glass and photographs
Reluctantly releases the
Last of what was her past
It struck without a warning or
Did she just ignore the signs
In those dark clouds forming
Behind her silver lines?

[CHORUS:]
The door
It slammed like thunder
And the tears
They fell like rain
And the warnings
From her family
Whirl like a hurricane
She's drowning in emotions
And she cannot
Reach the shore
She's alive but
Can she survive the storm?

A broken jewel box dancer
Lies in pieces down the hall
She's finding out the answers
Don't change nothing at all
It's time that
She stopped searching
For who's to blame or
What went wrong
The only thing
For certain is he's gone
She's got to move on

[Repeat chorus]

Someday days just roll on by
Without a grey cloud in the sky
She keeps telling herself
"I will make it on my own"
And her friends they've all
Gone back to their lives
Thinking she will be all right
As she races through
The night to make it home

[Repeat chorus]

I am going to start blogging again!

I am back in this blog world to share my thoughts and feelings and offer you places to get things for free.

we had a a lazy day today and fed the ducks. Now we are home about to eat and have a few drinks and watch a movie. What a great Saturday. We were supposed to chosen a good place to move next year after this lease is up though. Northern FL or South Carolina....or we are not quite sure yet....

The cat has been cleaning herself all day today. I am glad that we have a clean cat and she is not dirty but some days it seems that all that she gets done is washing herself with her face and paws.....

now Jim and I are off to eat some pizza from the oven and find a good movie to watch on our netflix. Have a great saturday everyone!

Fun Day at The State Park :)

I got to have a great day with my husband today.

We got to go out for breakfast then to the state park to grill out.
We were going to use a solar oven that he took lots of time and effort to build from scratch  but it would not cook higher than 150 degrees :( *sad faces all around on that*

We did get to play some yahtzee and throw the mini football around and have a good day together, just wish the solar oven would have worked better. Jim said he thinks that it needs to be bigger is the problem. Still a great day was had by us both and now we have both come home to blog :)

I am not sure what we are going to do this weekend but I hear that the weather is going to be great, so I hope that we get out and take advantage of it again. Its been a long time since I kept up on my blog and I am promising myself that I will keep up on it now. I love having a blog :)

Well I had a great Friday, I'll check back in with you guys to let you know how our weekend goes :)

What is wrong with me.

In the first week of June I got a stomach bug. Went to the Dr and he prescribed antibiotics. Started vomiting so much that I could not keep much down at all. I went back to the Dr about a week or so later. I was getting dehydrated and lost 5 lbs. Continue the antibiotics the Dr says, and see me in another week if you are not feeling better. Another week goes by, I still try to eat but keep next to nothing down, and am now sipping blue Gatorade all day and night long. My stomach hurt and I was sick a lot.

I went into the hospital before fourth of July. (I remember because I was in for 2 weeks and the first week included 4th of July). They did test after test after test of my tummy and digestive tract and had me drink this and sip this and took pictures of this and that and everything. I could not keep any food down, and was throwing up or trying to almost constantly now. They finally let me go home with an n/g tube going down my nose into my tummy to give me food. That is a scary thing to have and is not pleasant at all. They were still not sure what was wrong, but for whatever reason I could not keep food down at all.. barely water.

During the last part of my hospital stay in July, they mentioned the word "gastroparesis." they told me that it was a "weak stomach" and that it means that the muscles that usually contract to digest the food I eat were not working well, if at all. I asked them how to get rid of that condition and they said there are some drugs to try and I went on some of them. My condition did not get better but I was stable so I was able to go home with my tube feedings.

In sept of 2010 I was in the hospital again because I was throwing up blood. It turned out to be just from throwing up a lot in general, so no biggie but they kept me for more testing on why I still could not eat. Gastroparesis was usually found in diabetic people or people with damage to their vagus nerve, which I did not have. More tests and more medications and 2 weeks again in the hospital and they inserted a g/j tube for feeding. It goes directly through my stomach wall and into my jeujenum and stomach. (Think tube sticking out of a man made belly button, so now I kind of have two..ha)

I went home with the new tube and feeding pump and supplies. I was on the third or fourth trial medication for the condition and it was not working. In fact today it does not work either. I have ran out of options for medications, so now I am waiting on my 3rd specialist in Minneapolis to see if my insurance company will approve a gastric stimulator, or pacemaker to try to make the stomach muscles remember to work again. There are meds that I take to try to keep me from getting nauseous and to keep food down, but they are not working. I try to eat something every day, because like they said, the condition came on without warning and may heal without any warning as well, so if I try to eat every day then I will know when/if I am able to tolerate food again.

This process has been long, frustrating, mind numbing, scary, gross and all around bad. I hope that soon I can get the pacemaker put in, and that it is the answer we have been looking for since last June. Eating is such a big part of so many human interactions, and to not be able to do it is very tough. Not to mention the physical side effects that will come with vomiting so much and only taking in liquids and multivitamins.

I have lost about 75 lbs through this process and I have chosen to see that as the one good thing that has come of all of this. I can now wear regular pants off the rack and xl shirts and etc. I have been shopping in the plus sizes for so long that it feels good to just pick something up off of the normal rack.

Ok, this got long and rambling, but I wanted to update on my health status and hope to get back to "regular" blogging soon.

Angel

Finally! Moved back to Sioux Falls!

Finally!

We just moved back to Sioux Falls. Jim and I both love it here!

I have a few problems to handle though. I need to start being ok with the fact that our apartment, while large in size,and great,is OLD, and has things wrong with it that many OLD places have wrong with them. It seems we have any odd smells under control though...(I think the fridge was left shut and unplugged maybe?),so that is nice in and of itself. Floors creaking loudly, stained carpet, non-frost free fridge that gets a smell in it, those things I can not help. Perma-Dirt on the sliding glass doors I can't help (I have tried cleaning them :)

I need to get to a place where I can just have people come and visit and say "This is our place, we hope you will be comfortable spending time here with us" Right now I am in the "oh my goodness, is it going to smell funny in here if someone comes over, and will they notice this little thing or that little thing, and is this good enough and is that good enough. Do I have their favorite soda/beverage and snacks on hand? All of those types of things.

I know that life is not about possessions, and I don't have a whole heck of a lot of them, so I really don't normally think of myself as a materialistic person. For some reason though, this apt has me on edge. I know that in truth, if one of our friends IS coming to visit, its to talk with/eat with/visit with us, and that they probably don't give one hoot about the apt or if it is old or new, clean or dirty, organized or a mess. So why is it that I can type this out, I can say it to myself in my mind, but I can't shake the feeling.. urgh.

I love Sioux Falls and all that there is to do here! We can see the baseball team's fireworks on Friday nights when they shoot them off from our deck. We have a deck that runs the entire length of our apartment, so I can not wait to have people visit and congregate by the grill. :) We are near a thrift store, a grocery store and go-kart place, with mini-golf and well pretty much anything is about a mile away via the interstate exits :)

I want to be 10000% happy about this move and this apartment, and I want to be the person that is always inviting people to come, visit, eat, drink, share time with us. I want to do all of that without the feeling like I am going to physically be sick over it. Without looking over the house to make sure that everything is as perfect as it can be, and without having to go over a list in my head of good talking points, things to say if the conversation is lacking. I don't think that most people do these things. It seems to me that most people just say "come on over" and let whatever happens happen.. I want to be *THAT* person.

I hope that soon, very soon, I am able to invite people over (I have already invited some people, they just haven't made it over for the big bbq or anything yet...) and have a great time visiting with them, and spending time focused on them, and making memories instead of worrying all the time about stupid things that I don't even want in my mind...

The same goes I guess for me, with any social gathering of any type, even when it is not at my place. I want to be carefree, and fun and be able to just soak in friends and family and not think about "well, I should be helping with this, or should I see if they need help with... " or etc etc I am sure you get where I am headed with this by now.

I do see a counselor regularly, and at times I feel like I have made progress, but at times like this, I have a hard time understanding who I am, and why I allow myself to be this way, and have a hard time seeing these things ever improving. I am not giving up by any means, I am just tired. Tired. Tired of being anxious over everything and nothing all at the same time. Tired of making lists in my head so that I don't forget things... Tired of feeling like I want to pick up the phone and call a friend (now that I live right in town) and then not doing it because I assume they are too busy or that I will get too nervous to go, or too nervous to have fun and be fun to be around...

I honestly DO NOT know how any friends I have had for years and years put up with me, and I don't know how/why they keep sticking around. Its like my phobia is heights, and to go out for a visit with a friend requires me to climb up a free hanging rope to the 20th floor with no net.... urgh.

I will keep working on things though, and even hope to have a friend over or go out and do something with her and her family this week.... I hope it works out well :)

Teeth..or tooth

Finally I come back to my blog. Mostly because I am annoyed. Not a great reason to blog, I know this, but...

So on January 30th I had an appt to get my (#14) molar pulled. It broke/cracked, and the filling fell out. Without dental insurance, the cheapest easiest route was to have it pulled...

I researched/googled, and my brother's girlfriend reccomended a "cheaper than most" dentist.. so I get nervous, go see him, expecting to have my tooth out. Good thing I already take anxiety meds, so I can take one before I go.

He can't pull it out. He says it will break, and he is not set up for that in his office. He puts me on an antibiotic and refers me to an oral surgeon. How thankful I will be for this, I do not yet know.

They refer me to a couple of local oral surgery places. I call around and find out about prices. Fixing teeth is not the least expensive thing to do, is what I figured out. We decided on a place, and made the appt for Feb 25. The broken tooth was now starting to be pretty painful when I ate.. so I was eating mostly softer things, on the other side of my mouth.. waiting for this appt so that the pain would be done...

I went into the dentist chair on the 25th of Feb.. he tells me that he could do a root canal to save the tooth. I decline (its very expensive and not always effective). He asks me if I want to be IV sedated for my procedure. I say no, just hte local. He makes me sign a paper that says that pulling upper molars can sometimes cause a "communication" between your sinus and your....nose? Well, ok, if they have a paper typed up about it to sign I figure it is not a big deal... I sign...

He puts all the novacaine shots in and I tap on my teeth because it feels weird and I want to tell Jimbo about it... the Dr comes back in after a few mins and checks if I can feel anything. I can't. He says we are ready to go and gets out ... pliers? Well a surgical instrument that looked like pliers to me. He says I will feel pulling and pressure but no pain. He is right.. a LOT LOT LOT of pulling and a LOT of pressure. But I did not actually feel pain. Just fear and hopes that it would be over soon... there might have been tears, I am pretty sure there were tears.. P O P.
The tooth broke the dr says (but to me it felt/sounded like an explosion. Well then he is taking out small parts of bone, and drilling.. not pleasant, but I am happy it is finally done.

He told me then that there was a small hole in my sinus so I would need to follow "sinus precautions" ... take an antihistamine every day 3xs a day and no blowing the nose for 2 weeks and no straws, no anything like sneezing that would possibly make pressure, and keep the sinus hole open. Ok, I get home in pain, and take the pain medicine. By the 4th or so day I was almost out of pain medicine, and Jim called the on call Dr. They said it should not still be hurting too much, and to come in for my check up appt early. So we make the appt and go in.

The Dr sees a (I am not certain, but pretty sure) 5mm hole. Shows it to Jimbo on the little dentist mirror. He says that it should have healed up by now, and that I will have to come back in 2 days for the "buckle flap closure." More pain medicine and more antibiotics.. and we go back 2 days later...

This time I opted for the conscious sedation.. iv drug (versed I think) and nitrous oxide to make me not remember. After they take a really cool xray of my teeth/sinus, he starts the surgery, and thankfully this time I dont remember ANYTHING about it. I went and sat in some recliner while they went to get Jim, and after a little excess bleeding, was out of there after 30 mins...

Now I am home, on pain killers, antihistamine, no sneezing, no nose blowing, no straws etc.. after the first full week it didn't hurt so much, so I was not on soft foods anymore (yay).. so after that 2 weeks of minor sometimes pain.

Then I wake up Tuesday night with bad "sinus" pain on that side. I take some medicine and wait it out and call on wed afternoon to move up my next appt, due to the pain. So we go in today, and he takes a new xray and says that things look closed, and healing well. He is not sure what is causing the pain, but thinks it is probably a sinus infection starting and gives me my (fourth) round of antibiotics. I see him again next week. If everything is fine, then the misadventure is over, if not, then he will refer me to an Ear Nose and Throat Dr, to look at my sinus.

I guess I laid out this whole ordeal becuase of a few things. 1. I didn't know until the age of 30 that I have a healthy about of fear of the dentist. That fear is pretty HUGE now. 2. I believed everyone who told me that you "go in, get the tooth out, feel better, easy peasy" 3. I have not felt this sick or not human, or dependent since I was a small child. Without Jim's help, support and taking care of me, I would have been sad and scared for weeks. 4. The oral surgeon is a great guy, and very reassuring and smart, yet he scares the CRAP out of me. 5. I am vain. I had a back molar taken out, I don't think anyone would know it if I didn't tell them... but to me it feels like a huge crevice, embarrassing and gross. I never knew I was this way... The things the dentist can teach you about yourself.....

If you have read this post, you deserve cookies and ice cold milk :)

Angel

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to all who read here!

I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter... whatever you are celebrating with family and loved ones this year, I wish you the best and brightest!

I hope that 2008 has been good, and I really hope that 2009 will be even better! I am excited to see how our new president tackles the tough job(s) put in front of him. I am thankful that my family and friends are healthy and happy. I am looking forward to gathering with my family on Dec 24th and having a big meal and exchanging gifts (I love to buy gifts for people, there really is nothing better!!) It will be my niece's first holiday season! Strange to think that I am 30 and she is not yet one year old :):)

Whatever you do, no matter where you go, know that you are wished warm hugs and fun treats (bring on the cookies :) )

Jim and I are starting a tradition of "Christmas Day Lasagna" -- We are going to indulge in our favorite food all day long... we are so easy to please :) We are also now exercising and keeping track of and limiting our calories each day... so I guess getting started on a "new year's resolution" early :)

Happy Holidays, travel safely and make lots of memories!!!


With love,
Angel

Barack Obama

Here is Barack Obama's speech from election night. I hope that any who disagree with him being the choice for the next president can at least give him the time and any help that is asked of us to turn this economy and country around. Congratulations President-Elect Obama!



I personally am very proud that as a nation we came together to elect this man because of his principles, and his direction for the country, and we were able as a nation to put race aside and choose the best person for the job. Now if only we were not banning people who love each other from getting married (prop 8 is going to pass in California)

It's a great time for America!!

Angel

Happy Birthday To Jim!

Happy Happy Birthday to the love of my life!!
I hope that the coming year brings you more joy than you think you can handle!
I love you,
Angel

Song lyrics

Here are the lyrics to a song that I really like. It's one that gets stuck in my head a lot, even when I least expect it. I thought I would share it here on my blog.

"Brand New Day"
--By Sting

How many of you people out there
Been hurt in some kind of love affair
And how many times do you swear that you'll never love again?

How many lonely, sleepless nights
How many lies, how many fights
And why would you want to put yourself through all that again?

"Love is pain," I hear you say
Love has a cruel and bitter way
Of paying you back for all the faith you ever had in your brain

How could it be that what you need the most
Can leave you feeling just like a ghost?
You never want to feel so sad and lost again

One day you could be looking
Through an old book in rainy weather
You see a picture of her smiling at you
When you were still together
You could be walking down the street
And who should you chance to meet
But that same old smile that you've been thinking of all day

You can turn the clock to zero, honey
I'll sell the stock, we'll spend all the money
We're starting up a brand new day

Turn the clock all the way back
I wonder if she'll take me back
I'm thinking in a brand new way

Turn the clock to zero, sister
You'll never know how much I missed her
Starting up a brand new day

Turn the clock to zero, boss
The river's wide, we'll swim across
Started up a brand new day

It could happen to you - just like it happened to me
There's simply no immunity - there's no guarantee
I say love's such a force - if you find yourself in it
And sometimes no reflection is there

Baby wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute

Turn the clock to zero, honey
I'll sell the stock, we'll spend all the money
We're starting up a brand new day

Turn the clock to zero, Mac
I'm begging her to take me back
I'm thinking in a brand new way

Turn the clock to zero, boss
The river's wide, we'll swim across
Started up a brand new day

Turn the clock to zero buddy
Don't wanna be no fuddy duddy
Started up a brand new day

I'm the rhythm in your tune
I'm the sun and you're the moon
I'm a bat and you're the cave
You're the beach and I'm the wave
I’m the plow and you’re the land
You're the glove and I'm the hand
I'm the train and you're the station
I'm a flagpole to your nation - yeah

Stand up all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl
Stand up all you lovers in the world
Starting up a brand new day

I'm the present to your future
You're the wound and I’m the suture
You're the magnet to my pole
I'm the devil in your soul
You're the pupil I'm the teacher
You're the church and I'm the preacher
You're the flower I'm the rain
You're the tunnel I'm the train

Stand up all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl
Stand up all you lovers in the world
Starting up a brand new day

You're the crop to my rotation
You're the sum of my equation
I'm the answer to your question
If you follow my suggestion
We can turn this ship around
We'll go up instead of down
You're the pan and I'm the handle
You're the flame and I'm the candle

Stand up all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl
Stand up all you lovers in the world
We're starting up a brand new day

If you are like me, and would like to hear/see the video for the song, to get a sense of how the lyrics are used.. here is a link to the video on YouTube.

Watch the video on YouTube

Enjoy, have a great fall weekend all!!

Angel

Please Vote!

I don't really like to get all political with anyone but my husband.. cuz, well I sometimes find it wrong,annoying,irritating and just generally messed up to hear others rant and rave about their views.

What I do want to say in this blog post is please VOTE. VOTE for whomever (whoever?) you feel is best qualified, but please cast your ballot. Elections in this country have been closer as of late than I think many people think that they really are.

Jim and I both cast our early ballots last Wednesday. I take great pride in the fact that this is one very important but very easy thing that I have the privilege of doing since I am a United States citizen. I know many many many people who don't vote. I hope that I can convince them to take the nation up on its open offer to have a stake in this election, and all the ones to come. I hear a lot of reasons why my friends and family members DON'T vote. Things like.. I don't understand the cantdidates...I don't feel educated enough to choose between these two... I voted back in the election between (x and y candidate) and then look how that turned out.. etc etc...

Please don't let these things stop you from voicing your opinion with your vote. There is a debate on all of the free tv stations starting in about an hour tonight. Watch it, study the candidates in the local paper, online, in person if you can make it to a rally... just take some time.. I really think that anyone who does this, and in the end (November 4th) casts their vote proudly for the person that THEY feel will best lead our country in these panicky, rough timese .. I think that they will feel good about that decision, and proud that they did what they could do to shape the future of our country...

*gets off of soapbox*

Ok.... so.. Thanks for reading this post, and I hope that everyone that is legally able to vote that reads this blog post GOES OUT AND VOTES :):) Happy Friday to all...

PS.. .voting is not painful. Most polling places don't even allow campaigning of any type within 100 feet of the polling place so you shouldn't even be hassled when you go!!!


my two cents..

Angel

Vacation

We had a wonderful vacation. This was a great way to celebrate me turning 30!!

We did lots of things each day, I have listed some of the main places we went in case you want to take a look. There is so much to do in Orlando! Instead of sitting around in the evening saying to one another "what can we do tonight" ... "nothing" ... there was ALWAYS something to do or to look at in Orlando!

Jim and I went on the vacation with my Mom and Dad. They had a wonderful resort that we stayed at complete with pool, huge outdoor hottub, pizza delivery right there if you wanted it.. tennis courts.. the whole nine yards! It was a great place, and we used it for some lounging and pool time, but we were on the move most of the time.

Jim and I were on a budget on the trip as well, and we STILL had a more than spectacular time. A couple of the things we did, we had tickets in advance that we bought online. We found out that the dinner show we went to was regularly 55 dollars, and we got our tickets online for 24.00 a piece! I am going to make sure to see what I can save on online in advance of any other trips I take!!! We did not do any of the theme parks, but I think we saw a bunch of them. I kind of feel sorry for my parents when it is time to take the small grandkids, seeing as we wanted to see Epcot, and the tickets were 85.00 ... ouch.. good thing we are old enough not to need to see those things :):)

One night we went to citywalk, and drank hurricanes at Pat O'brien's. I had 3, and I should have only had one. Something they do with those drinks masks the fact that each 24 oz drink has 4 oz of rum in it!!!! The next day wasn't as pleasant as I had hoped... (read: I wanted to croak) ... but other than that one episode of bad judgement, we had a GREAT TIME..

We went to the Bass Pro Shop.. I even had fun there, looking around at all the animals they have set up and watching the catfish and such in the aquarium. I was surprised to see that they had a whole line of boats on display right in the store as well... talk about a big store!!!

There is a lot for a person who loves to shop... .we went to some outlet malls, and some higher end stores that I have never even heard of were there.. very cool to see all of that "big city" type stuff... reminds me that in little ol' South Dakota, we can be missing out on a whole lot... at the same time.. the traffic.. whew.. the traffic. I am not certain I could (or would want to) drive there. wowsers..

Ok, so my first time in the ocean was just awesome. I do need to get my "sea legs" though, because after about an hour of playing around and loving the waves.... well, I didn't actually get sick or anything, but I sure did feel like I needed to get out of the water and rest on the sand a bit. Then we took in the view from the tiki bar on the end of the pier, and got in the water again. I can see why Jim talks so highly of being able to go to the ocean whenever he wanted as a kid (in california) ... it really is a great way to spend a day. And works on muscles that I didn't know I had, too :):)

I would gladly go back to Florida anytime. I loved it. One thing that did surprise me was how humid it was every day, 24 hours a day, and how stifling the heat of the midday sun can be there. I mean, wow, South Dakota gets hot, and we complain about humidity.. but wowsers.. and we were not aware before we went that they have a slight rain/thunderstorm most days, seems to be around 4-6pm ish... now I am not sure if this is truly typical, but while we were there, it would cloud over, rain a bit, maybe some lightning, then clear up and you can go on with your day. Very diferent it seems than here, where a thunderstorm usually lasts a while, and ruins out door plans.



Where We Stayed The resort that my mom and dad own, they hosted us for the week.


Old Town We had a great time checking out all the rides and shops, and the "nostalgia" of this area.


Downtown Disney Tons of great shops and eateries, lots of must see for any Disney fan! (Slideshow from here below :-))


Cocoa Beach Pier One day we spent at the OCEAN. It was my first time. We even had a drink in the tiki bar on the pier. It was a great time!


CityWalk We came out here to drink and walk around all of the shops and nightclubs. I really never made it past Pat O's though...


Pat O'brien's @ CityWalk Just a hint... If you go here, and you want a hurricane drink... Only have ONE...


Arabian Nights Dinner Show This was a great fairy tale story told with beautiful horses. They also serve you dinner and soft drinks while you watch.. A must see if you are in Orlando!

Pointe Orlando At Pointe Orlando, there are a ton of neat shops to look through, and a GREAT pizza shop!


International Drive Shops International drive has more to do/eat/see on it than most anywhwere else I've been. We took in a lot of the shops.


Bass Pro Shop Normally I would not be a huge fan of a hunting/fishing store, but the aquariums and animals all over made it fun.


We also visited 4 huge Flea Markets: 192 Flea Market, Visitors Market, Main Gate Flea Market, International Drive Flea Market

Going on a vacation...

So for my 30th birthday I am going to get to see the ocean. If tropical storm Fay has her way, I won't actually swim in one, but I will see it.. yup. We are going to Orlando, and staying in the timeshare there that my parents have (thanks for that mom and dad)

My parents have been to Orlando before, so I think that is great, they will be able to show us around a bit. We are going to one dinner show, Arabian Nights... with the beautiful horses and of course dinner... We are going to the beach and to get some pictures of cape canaveral. Other than that, sightseeing and "Citywalk" (Emeril's restaurant is there) and lots of assorted other fun things. From the looks of it, we may have to find a lot of indoor things to do, as it might be rainy much of the stay. Darn it Fay! Go Away! Vacationers don't want you, and the locals are SO SICK of you!

So I will be away for a while and then hopefully back with some great pictures for all to see :)

I'm 30, I'm 30!

I just wanted to commemorate my 30th birthday with a blog post.

I was not very excited as the 30 mark approached. There is so much I haven't done in my life, and so much that I may never do, and I think that milestone birthdays serve as a reminder of that for me.

I did want to share however, that the last 10+ years, I have been lucky enough to have a wonderful man by my side through all of my trials and failures, the laughing and the crying, the giving and the taking. That man is my husband, Jim Chasse. I don't know how my life would have been without him in it, but I don't really ever want to think about that. He is perfect for me. He takes care of me, but understands when I want to try to take care of myself. He tries to gently lead me into doing the right thing, but never tells me what to do. He is a friend and a lover, and he treats me as his equal.

Jim has been always trying to move himself forward, in every sense of the word. From finances, to innner understanding, to formal education in college. I admire so many things about Jim, and in many ways wish to emulate the stamina and positivity that he puts into his life, and into my life and into the world.

I love to just spend a day with Jim, debating about the next president, or flawed foreign policy, or the welfare system, or just why certain things should not be allowed for a child. We can talk for hours and hours about nothing, or anything at all. I love to hear what he has to say, and though at times we don't agree on specifics, our general outlook on life is very similar.

I love Jim for being himself, for not letting what others say or do change who he is, and what he does or says, or how he acts. He doesn't put on airs, and he doesn't think he is any better or any worse than anyone else in the world. Different, sure, but not any worse or any better.

I wish I could prioritize like Jim does. He has a great way of knowing when something "doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things" and is able to let those things go and focus on other things that are more meaningful.

Jim is a kind and gentle soul with me. If ever I need reassurance, or to feel safe and loved, he is the first and last place I need to look for those things. I have trully found my soulmate, lover, confidante, and best friend. I am so lucky to have entered my 20's and now my 30's with him by my side, supporting me, loving me and being there for me no matter what. I sometimes am in awe of how lucky I am to have found this person this early in my life. Hopefully he and I have many many many years left together.

Randy Pausch

An earlier post I made included video of "The Last Lecture" given by Randy Pausch.
As he knew it would, the pancreatic cancer has ended his life.

I for one, am saddened that such a bright, energetic, "doer" and a man of such intelligence has died. I am also glad that he got the time to say the things that he wanted to say before he died.

I hope that his family and all that knew them can find peace in what a great man he was and all that he gave to the world before he left it.

Here is the link again to the last lecture if you have not seen it..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

Kinda Whiny

Its HOT here now.

HOT makes me NOT want to ride my bike..

I can not complain too much, because compared to last year, we had an absolutely COOL and NOT HUMID June this year! WOO HOO :)

I fell in love with the treadmill at the gym that Jim is working at for the summer... and then I found out that it runs aproximately 6900.00 (That's right, almost seven thousand dollars american) hehe..

We will most likely get a treadmill before summer is over, but it will not be the one I have been using at the gym :) ;)

We have planned a trip to the beach for Friday, as Jimbo has the day off, and it is expected to reach 96 degrees here.. Cool lake water here we come :) We were rained out a couple of weeks ago when we made the journey, but I looked at the weather forcast on 3 websites, and no rain is forcast at all on any of them :):)

Jim got a new digital camera in anticipation of the Orlando Florida trip at the end of August, so he will no doubt be busy trying it out in the meantime.. :)

I have the Casio Exilm exZ57 and he has the Casio Exilim ex Z9 :) I have 5 megapixels and cruddy video capability, and he has 8 megapixels and High Quality video capability.. its all a trade off.. hehe..

I just asked Jimbo for the model # of his camera to post it here, and he said "why, are you looking it up to see the huge price drop that has happened since we bought it.." haha.. I didnt know about that. Such is life.... Wax On, Wax Off... hehe

We also got some "beginner type snorkel gear" for like 5 dollars at Kmart the other day, so Jimbo wants to get me all practiced up on my breathing through a tube etc etc before Florida.. wish me luck, I am not sure that this will be one of my strong suits.

Part of me wants to see if there is a safe reliable underwater case for my camera, but then the majority of me says "that was a big purchase, you would be devestated if it was ruined by water" ...

Oh, we got a great deal on woot.com today.. 2gb flash cards, a micro sd card for only 5.99 plus shipping. We got two of them at that price so in total we have 8gb worth of cards to take pictures and video with in Florida :) what great timing for that woot.com item.. we always joke here that "woot only puts the cool stuff up once they know we are broke for the month :) " ... this time we got lucky :)

Ok, this is getting long now. I wish you all cool breezes and plenty of iced tea/lemonade/soda :)

Angel