13 hours later... Tom Bodette left the light on!

It's been a long day that started about 6am and will hopefully end when I finish posting tonight.  This morning, we traveled through Arkansas, (covering some pretty windy roads in the Ozarks) Missouri, and a corner of Iowa and have finally ended up in York, Nebraska for the night... a total of about 18 hours of driving. 

My copilot has napped and lounged on her side of the car and even attempted to make it over to my lap a couple of times this afternoon.  She did manage to roust up every time I had something to eat that wasn't nuts or fruit.   

After we made it out of the Ozarks, we zipped through Missouri (I say zipped like it wasn't 4 hours)  and made our way to Kansas City.  This was one place that I wanted to visit, since I haven't been there since high school and the last time I remember being there, I spent a whole lot of time not sure where I was.   Of the three places I wanted to find, I was able to find 2, and I might have been looking in the wrong place for the third, but I tried...

 
I really wanted to eat dinner at the Golden Ox, but since it was the middle of the afternoon, and I had decided to try to make it to Lincoln before I stopped for the night, I just snapped a couple of pictures and headed back out.   The one thing I couldn't find was the FFA marker that was supposed to be where the old Baltimore hotel is located... maybe I'll get to go back some other time and find that one! 

After a quick stop for Gas, we headed up Interstate 29 with plans to make it to Lincoln by about 7pm, giving us a full 12 hour day and a good start on where we wanted to be tomorrow night.   When we arrived at Interstate 80 in Lincoln and started looking for a hotel, I got a reminder of what to expect when traveling out west... always gas up and always stop when you see what you want the first time, because there might not be another one for a long time!  We ended up driving an extra 30 minutes before stopping and then had to find a hotel that had pet friendly rooms available.  We finally found a room at the 3rd hotel/motel/holiday inn (can you hear the beat?)  which happened to be the Motel 6. 

 I decided that I couldn't stay at the Motel 6 for the first time ever, and not document the room... which actually was... very modern, but very clean- and only cost $65 for the night.  ( good deal, right?)

And as a parting shot,  Who wouldn't love this sweet face that I left sleeping in Arkansas this morning!  He's growing so fast and turning into little Mr. Personality... I can't wait to see what he's like next time I see him! 

Until Next Time...

A Tough Goodbye

I downloaded the new Gary Allan record on iTunes the other day, it's pretty good.   The first song is "Tough Goodbye" and I thought that was a very fitting description of my Sunday.  I spent my last couple of weeks in Florida staying in the guest room (AKA the room I grew up in)  at Mom & Dad's house.  The last two weeks were filled with packing (which I truly despise)  and getting in last minute visits with so many of my dear friends.  I wish I had taken pictures with all of the people who helped send me off in style, but I forgot.  ( What I won't forget is all the encouragement and love I felt from those who mean so much to me!) 

Friday afternoon, Rusty and Daddy strapped the turtle topper (Thanks Kalyn & Daniel) to the top of my car and loaded it as full as we could get it.  I drove it around the next day so I could get used to the feeling of driving my SUV with it attached.  Saturday night, mom and I packed the last of my stuff that I decided to take in the back of the car and I went to bed.  AND I COULDN'T SLEEP.  Sunday morning came bright and early and Lucy looked confused as we packed up her crate and didn't get far from the door (for fear of being left).  With the last of everything loaded in the car, I said the hardest goodbye I've ever said to my Momma & Daddy.  Daddy said a prayer and I got in the car and headed out of the drive way.  (To be completely honest, the thought of leaving them is the only thing that made me question my decision to go... and still brings tears to my eyes. ) (Girls, I'm reminded of our study of Ruth and the concept of "weeping forward") 

I met Rusty & Lisa in Perry where we attended worship services with our Friends Dan & Alicia Chaney before beginning the 12 hour drive to their house.   I did manage to snap a picture of the Alabama sign, but failed to get the Mississippi and Arkansas signs since it was very dark at that point in time.  

After trying to catch up on my sleep, I spent today playing with Veda and Tipton, making a visit to Atwoods to stock up on my favorite caramel candies, and repacking the car so I'm ready to head out early tomorrow morning.

So... until next time...

Its getting REAL

I turned in my keys at work today... I've had possession of those keys for 10 years.  That key ring has the first key I was given when I started teaching at Chiefland, (its a stub that I broke off in the door several years ago and my maintenance friends had to fish out of the lock before they made me a new one.)  It has the magic gate key that opens way too many locks around our campus, and the key that even Dallas didn't get. (He doesn't know that... )

They've hired my replacement.  I like him.  He taught with me once before and I know he'll do a good job in the classroom.  I sorta feel like I trained him, since he won't make too many changes to the way things happen.  And because we've worked together before, he won't feel threatened if I have contact with my former students.  He was one of my "picks" to take my place.

I've started packing.  Have I ever said how much I hate packing?  I hate packing for short trips, so you know I really hate packing for this one!  What to take, what to leave, what to throw away, what to give away.  Its quite overwhelming to take it all in... even more overwhelming is the fact that in 13 days, I'll drive out of my driveway and be gone for at least a year.

People keep asking, if I'm sure.   To be honest, I don't think I'd back out now even if I didn't want to go... for fear of looking like the most colossal chicken ever born to human parents!  The truth is, if I could get someone else to pack for me, I'd already be ready to go!  But since that's not gonna happen, I find myself in a vicious round of washing, folding and sorting clothes into piles of fits and going, fits and not going, doesn't fit, but don't want to get rid of it, and it needs to go!

I've started saying my goodbyes.  This might be the hardest part.  Not because I don't want to go, but because I don't know what tomorrow will bring.  And I would hate for anyone not to know how much they mean to me.

So... its getting REAL.  And in 13 days... wow!

Calling

You see those Mountains right there?  They're the Beartooth Mountains in Montana.  And I have a confession... for the last two years, they have been quietly calling my name.  At first, it was just a simple, "Come Back & Visit"  but as time has gone on, it's gotten louder and more insistent.  So much so that back in December, it felt like they were screaming "COME BACK NOW!!!"

The time has come to make a big announcement.  On July 7, 2013, I will be driving out of my driveway in Florida and starting a 2500 mile journey to the state of Montana.  This may not seem like a big deal to some people, but this isn't just another 3 week summer vacation.  Accompanying  me will be Lucy, and a vehicle full of all the things I think I'll need to survive for a year!   I have taken a leave of absence from school for the 2013-2014 school year.  This was such a hard decision, but after 10 years of encouraging my students to step outside of their own comfort zone, the time has come to take my own advice.

So, stay tuned... I hope I'll be sharing more about my move in the future!

The Jack LaLanne & The Nutribullet

Maybe it's just me, but I sure do love an infomercial- it's like they suck me in!  Thank goodness that I don't have cable TV at my house or I would probably be hooked on the infomercial channel.   Whether it's the Troy Built Tillers, Shark vacuums, Principal Secret Skin Care, Flexi-Seal, or Beach Body exercise programs, EVERY product is promoted to sound just like the YOU MUST HAVE IT!  Thank goodness my parents taught me to not to make serious impulse purchases!   

Before I go any further, I think I might need to give you some background knowledge.  A couple of years ago, we talked Granny (who loves to order something from a catalog)  into ordering a Jack LaLanne Juicer.  Our new (at the time) preacher and his wife were pretty healthy, and after seeing the infomercial about how it unlocks nutrients and boosts your health, and seeing theirs, we decided that it might be cool.  Of course, we used it a couple of times and then it got shuffled around  from kitchen to kitchen, but not really used.  

Back in January, Ms. Marti was diagnosed with serious  Breast Cancer and part of the way she is treating the cancer is with a very strict raw diet.  She's using her Juicer constantly.  Mom and I decided that we should dust ours off and try using it again- partially as a show of support for a sweet lady that we both adore and partially because we both needed to get healthier!  So, we've been juicing for breakfast for the past two and a half months.  I can honestly say that our fruit and vegetable intake has seriously increased, my skin looks healthier and I feel better all around.  

While I was on Spring Break last week, I spent a couple of mornings hanging out with Mom and of course when you land on the infomercial channels, you kinda get sucked in.  (I think it's like a fishing show or golf)  The Magic Bullet infomercial always sucked me in and looked so good, but I never fell for it.  But their new one- the Nutribullet- well, I was hooked.  It appeared to do the same things that our juicer was doing without as much clean up and waste of fiber.  I managed to resist the first time I watched it, but by the second time it came on last week, I was really getting interested.  

After serious deliberation- which included looking at the website and reading multiple user reviews (when did I become that person?) I decided that I just had to try it.  Luckily it can be purchased locally at Target & Bed, Bath & Beyond, so it made more sense to purchase it there.  (Insert Thought:  In Case of Return)   So Friday evening, we purchased one. 

Saturday Morning, bright and early (not really, it was Spring Break), we broke put the NutriBullet to see how it compared to "Ol' Jack".  The mixture was way thicker than juice from the juicer and didn't have anywhere near the flavor found in the juice.  I was prepared for the thickness, but the lack of flavor was crazy.  Our initial thought was that maybe it was just the ingredients I tried, so, Sunday morning, we tried once more.   This time, I used my usual juice ingredients- Carrots, Apple, Pear, Kale and Lemon.  This usually makes a sweet, tangy juice that's tasty and healthy.  When I put all of that into the NutriBullet, It was so thick that I wasn't sure I could drink it- AND- what is usually a very sweet drink tasted like you had sucked all the sugar out.  The one thing positive thing I will say for it is that clean up was amazingly simple!  In fact, it was so simple that I got it all cleaned up, packed up and back to the store the two days later!  Thank goodness for easy returns!  

So, for any other infomercial junkies out there... buyer beware... if it sounds too good to be true (with the exception of my Bare Minerals Makeup)  it probably is!  

 

struggling...

Last Friday, many of my friends were busy posting their "Last Day" statuses on Facebook... and all I could think was "Shut Up Already!!!"  While most days, I love my job and the county I work in, this week, I'm struggling... to get out of bed and drag my tail in for the last 4 days of school!  I keep telling myself.. this too shall pass... and next week... I'll be celebrating too!

Hope you all have a happy monday!

Alive

Hello All! 

Just wanted you all to know that yes I am still alive... and reading your posts!  Hopefully sometime soon I'll be up to posting something good of my own!