Wow have things changed...

while it's only been a little over a month since my last blog (and once I'm settled in, I will get better...) I have moved 1,000+ miles to Minneaota, bought a house and pretty much decided that I just needed to do what I need to do! It's been scary, fun, exciting, terrifying and enlightening all at once. Thanks for all who supported me in my freak out moments and I can't believe I'm here. I am confident there will be numerous updates in the near future, and I'd like to wish eveyone Happy Holidays!

Over the Top Award...

Over The Top!

I got the Over The Top award from my long time friend Lesli, so I will do this and figure out who I can award it to, since I can’t give it back to Lesli (but she really is over the top!) ☺

1.Where is your cell phone: Either on the truck coffee table, on the couch or in my purse. I’ve been using it a lot lately in the evenings.

2.Your hair: Red, with way too much grey.. Long, but I’ve going to get it trimmed this week, and then colored.

3.Your mother: lives in Minnesota and works the overnight shift.

4.Your father: also lives in MN and loves to go to flea markets.

5.Your favorite food: Mexican, Thai, and homemade dinners!

6.Your dream from last night: I can’t even remember, but at least that means It wasn’t bad.

7.Your favorite drink: Non-alcoholic: water, tea and Diet A&W root beer; Alcoholic: Cider, or vodka drinks.

8.Your dream/goal: To move to Minnesota with my husband, working with my current company until I find the perfect job, get a house and then carve out our lives in MN.

9.What room are you in: The living room office area.

10.What is your hobby: Reading, traveling, ‘Georging', music in all forms, writing, spending time with friends, and cooking.

11.What is your fear: Losing someone I love.

12.Where do you want to be in 6 years: Well, I’ll have to think about that. Right now I am focusing on the next month!

13.Where were you last night: At home with my husband, on the phone with the banker for an hour and then relaxing.

14.Something you are not: stupid, cruel or selfish.

15.Muffins: Well, banana is my favorite.

16.Wish list items: Birthday gathering(s) with friends, a safe and stress free (as possible) move to MN, and a wonderful 2009 holiday season with friends and family in Minnesota.

17.Where did you grow up: Minneapolis, truly in the city.

18.Last thing you did: Made and ate dinner with my hubby. Getting ready to wrap some gifts for a friend’s shower I am hosting on Friday.

19.What are you wearing: My black workout pants, grey t-shirt and grey sweatshirt, oh and socks.

20.Your TV: is on NCIS at this moment.

21.Your pets: None at this point. We want to have a dog and cat eventually.

22.Your friends: are very wonderful and I’m thankful!

23.Your life: is pretty crazy right now, but I’m going to get through it and it will be busy until the New Year!

24.Your mood: Well, stressed and exhausted.

25.Missing someone: My brother Vince, Aunt Ann and few others who aren’t with me anymore.

26.Vehicle: is not necessary in DC, but we may look into one in 2010.

27.Something you're not wearing: my wedding rings, but because I did the washing up.

28.Your favorite store: Target

29.Your favorite color: Purple, green and silver.

30.When's the last time you laughed: While Mike and I were making dinner tonight.

31.When's the last time you cried: sometime last week.

32.Your best friend: I don’t have really one best friend—I have few actually.

33.One place you go over and over: Besides work, to Lincoln Memorial for my walks and Dupont Circle.

34.One person who emails me regularly: My friend BillieAnne the most.

35.Favorite place to eat: Joe’s Garage in Mpls and Mai Thai or Ruth Chris in DC!

I'm going to pass this award on to:

Amber at A Little Pink in Cornfields

Lucy at Modern Day Ricky and Lucy.

Once it starts...

it just keeps going! An update on my last blog includes that I got approval for working from home (in Minnesota) for my workplace, yahoo! So we are off and running! We are still waiting to hear about the house, and it's driving me crazy that I have no control over it. I would really love to find out, as we need to change our address with the post office, all our bills, and we are giving notice to our apartment building this weekend. We have already packed abour 30 boxes and our letting our friends in DC know. Taking care of canceling cable and such and it's just crazy! Because I'm organized by nature (and a meeting planner by trade) I have an entire three ring notebook with all sorts of lists, calendars and contact information. We have made appointments to see all of our doctors before we leave (and get any recommendations for docs in MN). It's an adventre, that is for certain and we are going with it!

Have any of you ever decided to pack up and go and just let the chips fall where they may? Or do you have any interesting moving stories? First time home buying stories? Any tips or advise for us?

Happy Friday eve everyone!

I don't want to jinx myself...

but a very good friend of mine posts her wants and needs on her blog, and magically, they seem to come true. Here goes, and I'll know one way or another tomorrow. That means there will either be a celebration blog, or an "I'm hating life blog" in the near future. I'm going for the celebration blog!
So, my husband and I are relocating back to my hometown of Minneapolis, MN. I lived there for 30+ years before I moved to DC, where I have been for seven years. We decided that we just had to pick a date to move and go for it, or it may never happen. So, December 1st, 2009 it is. Why in the middle of winter? Who knows, we are just like that. The good news is that my husband is being allowed to work remotely in MN for the same company, yahoo! So, with that excitement we went house hunting and found the most perfect place. We went for a pre-approval and got it. Now I am waiting (holding my breath and going back and forth on what I think they will tell me) to see if my work will also let me work remotely. We are moving either way, but we won't get the house if I don't have a job. I have written up a list of all the work I can do from MN, and I'm going to point out that it's much less expensive than training someone new. I will also bring up that I've been a loyal and hard working employee for 5 1/2 years, so I deserve to get the opportunity. I love our house, and I'll be crushed if anything goes wrong, so please, please send all the good thoughts and positive energy you may have my way. I meet with my two bosses tomorrow at 3pm Eastern time. Fingers crossed and thanks for your support! :) Stay tuned...

I really am determined...

to post more blogs...now I just have to make them interesting. For now I'll just post some of my gratitude. Even though I haven't been posting my gratitude (or anything really) lately, I honestly jot them down everyday. They are on post its, randoms sheets of paper, magazine covers, work I bring home, you name it. So, I'm going to post them for the time frame of October 1st to now, and (without stressing myself out,) will try to so this more often. Anyone else feel guilty when they get behind? It's sad, because I don't think that's what the concept is all about. Until later everyone...Happy Thurday...tomorrow is Friday yahoo!

October 1, 2009
1. Getting a great realtor after a nightmare ordeal with the first one!
2. Making progress on my future relocation.
3. My husband’s job being open and willing to help with above relocation.
4. Working with a client who is appreciative of hard work.
5. The fall schedule with brand new episodes of my favorite shows!
October 2, 2009
1. Access to qualified and professional people after a long journey.
2. Looking at homes for the first time ever (exhausting and fun!).
3. Having the courage to follow my (our) dreams, NO FEAR!
4. Thoughtful friends and family with last minute donations.
5. Successful training walk schedule and sticking to it!
October 3, 2009
1. A (even if chilly) shower after the first day of the Challenge Walk.
2. Meeting new friends on the 50K Challenge Walk.
3. Having NO blisters after the first day of the 50K Challenge Walk.
4. An inspirational candle light ceremony.
5. Receiving an amazing massage the evening of the first walk day.
October 4, 2009
1. Having the drive and motivation to make it all the way to the finish line.
2. Having a new friend to walk with the entire second day.
3. The BEST Subway sandwich EVER at the pre-finish ceremony.
4. Letters and texts sent to me along with way on during my 50K Challenge Walk.
5. All my wonderful friends and family who supported and believed in me!
October 5, 2009
1. Being able to take the day after the walk off to recover.
2. Printable coupons for groceries that I will actually use.
3. The ease that doing a monthly meal calendar provides.
4. My inner strength when I really need it.
5. No longer having to use the AC round the clock.
October 6, 2009
1. Chilly temps at night to cuddle under blankets for sleeping
2. Cute new boots.
3. The smell of fireplaces on my walk home.
4. Actually going through tons of paperwork and getting rid of things we don’t need.
5. HGTV, so educational!
October 7, 2009
1. A good work friend when it’s a tough day.
2. A great personal friend when it’s a tough day.
3. A fun friend for Happy Hour after a tough week.
4. The sunburn from the weekend starting to peel/heal.
5. 7.5 solid hours sleep, a record!
October 8, 2009
1. A great overdue morning surprise at work.
2. Getting new information to help with future plans.
3. Being able to think up quick party ideas on short notice.
4. Reaching a very important goal.
5. Catching up on new Bones episodes.
October 9. 2009
1. A celebration Happy Hour with my hubby.
2. New episodes of Criminal Minds.
3. Girls night out.
4. Looking for furniture and home furnishings online.
5. A lovely new clock for our anniversary from my Mum-in-law.
October 10, 2009
1. Fun surprise gifts.
2. A great new (and autographed) book to enjoy and read.
3. Taco night fun with Adam and Ren.
4. Seeing beautiful hidden parts of VA while on my challenge walk.
5. Green bowls (I don’t know why…)
October 11, 2009
1. Sharpie Ultra Fine Point markers in a dozen different colors.
2. Target.com
3. Planning a friends’s baby shower and all the fun.
4. Staying busy at work, but not TOO busy.
5. The feeling from sending out my requested books for Paper Back Swap.
October 12, 2009
1. Having great health insurance.
2. Building up lots of PTO time.
3. A successful meeting in Chicago, IL.
4. Perfect temps for making dinners in the crock pot.
5. The smells of crock pot dinners when we get home.
October 13, 2009
1. Reading in bed next to my hubby.
2. My ability (and love of) making GREAT lists for everything.
3. Cooking dinner together.
4. New episodes of Amazing Race!
5. Fun blogs to read (and comment on).
October 14, 2009
1. Listening to music in my headphones at work.
2. Winning a random drawing for great prizes!
3. The precious time to myself to do whatever I want (or nothing at all).
4. A lucky penny that actually seems to work.
5. My gray hoodie sweatshirt to change in to after work.
October 15, 2009
1. Being happy for an awesome friend who just got engaged.
2. My funny and cute slippers from my Mum-in-Law.
3. When the hubby surprised me and does the dishes!
4. Getting more than 5 hours sleep.
5. Being 60-70% done with my Christmas shopping already!

Trying to make up for being MIA for so long...

by working an a blog a week (hopefully!). And I'd like to start by thanking my very thoughtful friend Lesli. After a pretty long and miserable week with work and trying to get many personal things accomplished, I got home and saw an envelope on top of our mail boxes. I never get mail at home, it's usually at work, so I brought it in and didn't go back to it until later that evening. When I looked more closely at the return address, I recognized the name, but couldn't figure out why. Then when I opened it, I remembered that Lesli had let me know that I was getting a book from one of her favorite authors from a contest she entered. What she wrote was so touching and the timing of receiving the surprise was perfect. It's autographed and everything! I am going to start reading the book immediately and it will not be one that goes onto Paper Back Swap, it just means way too much to me. So...thanks Lesli!

Vacation, recipes and training walks...

So, even thought I've been back for three weeks from our vacation in Long Beach, California, we've been really busy with very important tasks (not work related) that will get our future plans in action, so blogs, tracking gratitude and quite a bit else has been ignored, and I apologize. I'm going to try to do a brief summary on a few different topics, without boring everyone to death. Thanks for sticking with me through this...

Michael and I had a wonderful time in CA over the 4th of July week. I felt bad that Michael had to return after only three full days, but we did make them busy! It started when we went to the Queen Mary (I'd never been either). I thought Michael would appreciate the English aspect, and we love when we both do something new together, so that was great! I also finally went through a "haunted house" in the Legends of the Ghosts. I hadn't attempted that since a fiasco at a haunted house at my Elementary School many years ago! :) Then we walked from the Queen Mary to Shoreline Village (which was the only true walking we really did the rest of the time) and that was a beautiful and fun walk, even with the unintentional detours! We just spent the rest of Friday evening catching up and hanging out together. Saturday was awesome and started early with my Uncle's friend meeting us for the drive (2 hours) to Julian for the 4th, we all complained to my Uncle about being hungry constantly, so we stopped for breakfast at a little diner that was so cute cool. Then we made it to the cutest, truly small town I've ever seen, we took our chairs and set up. Although my Uncle Dan said it was more crowded than when he normally gets there (because of our breakfast stop), we all thought we had a perfect spot to watch! The population is 1706. It's difficult to even try to describe how funny the female announcer was and if you know me, I'll tell you in detail, but it was great fun. The parade includes a gentleman every year who hands out little flag pins (and Michael was cool enough to put it on his hat for the day), a "church lady" who passed out ice cold water to us, another gentleman who gives ice cream to kids (only!) and then their elementary school is a finalist for a National Geographic contest and grant, so they handed our candy with voting instructions. I voted five times and I think they were in 3rd place. I'll have to post some of the pictures from the trip, you'll notice that Michael was obsessed with tractors and any type of vehicle. There were people dressed up and shooting old west style, along with bellydancers, little town bands, horses (stinky!) and so much more! and that was just part of the trip! I also got to go to Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Balboa Island, all are beautiful and peaceful. I LOVE visiting California and all the beaches! My Uncle also took me to Hollywood so that I could see Farrah's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On the block before Farrah there was an obnoxious crowd of people pushing each other, arguing and shoving and we thought it was movie set. We parked to get to Farrah on foot and realized it was a huge crowd trying to get to Michael Jackson's star! I had no interest in seeing it anyway, and that group of people confirmed it! It was sad that people were acting that way. A block down we found Farrah's star...no huge crowd, but still about seven or eight of us who took turns taking pictures, putting items near her star. It was a peaceful and heartwarming moment! There were many other little things I did the whole time. It was an amazing trip and of course was over way too fast. Ah well, it would be fun to make a tradition of attending the Julian parade every year for the 4th!

I actually got the envelope with tons of recipes from my mother, and I must go through and plan out a month of meals. I have tried four or five of them, and I'm actually proud of myself. I actually surprise myself, which is fun! As I try them and we decide yay or nay, and then I put them in my recipe notebook. I'll keep you updated on my top ten son (or maybe in top 30 for a months worth!

I have also gotten back into my training walk schedule. I actually did as soon as I was back, who would have thought that a week off could make such a difference? I'm up to 12 miles each day on the weekend and Michael cam with last week so that we could go to Museums and Monuments we had not been to, so that it makes it more interesting! We are making a list of where we want to go before we leave DC, so that will continue to make the training walks even more eventful.

Thanks again for hanging in there, and once again, I'm still trying to get the pics to line up in parts of my blog, not in a huge chunk the beginning! :) Happy Wednesday everyone...