DC Trip

We'll, I'm back! I had a great trip to Washington DC! Good news! I did not get kicked off the plane and I did not have to buy an extra seat. It was still a little cramped, but not as bad as it has been in the past. Losing 60 pounds has helped, but I also realized that I have been complacent and so that was a good reminder that I need to keep going. Also, I didn't do too bad eating-wise. Other than the first time I ate chinese food - it tasted good, but that was little consolation later... two words: Montezuma's revenge! (Or in this case "General Tso's revenge! ha ha!)

Anyway, I'm still going through all the photo's I took trying to sort out the ones I really REALLY like to post on my Flikr page. (I do have some posted already and you can see them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28687426@N04/) I'll keep adding photos as I'm able to.

People at work have been asking me what my favorite part was. I think it was just being there. I would love to have the time and money to travel all over the world. I always get so jealous listening to other people's trips, or looking at other people's photos of places I want to go. When I was there I remember thinking, "wow! I'm finally here seeing these things for myself!" I guess that's kind of lame, but that was the best part for me.

Kathryn was a great travelling companion and Michelle and Lauretz were excellent hosts! How nice that they have two guests rooms so that I didn't have to make Kat sleep on the couch! :) I loved that we could all be so comfortable around each other and say whatever was on our minds. I also hated that we could all be so comfortable around each other and say whatever was on our minds!! (You three KNOW what I'm talking about!)

The only downside to the trip was on the plane coming home... when I opened my bag and couldn't find my cell phone! I felt disabled somehow! In my mind I ran through every disaster scenario I could think of of where I might have lost it. Turns out, I didn't "lose" it, I only left it behind; which is still pretty dang annoying! (Thank you, again Michelle for shipping it to me!)

The weather was fantastic and it wasn't too crowded. We got to see all of the things we really wanted to see and then some! We hit the monuments (both during the day and night) and some of the museums. We also went to Annapolis and Philidelphia (I would have married you if I could philly cheesesteak sandwich!)

I know we were mostly in the "touristy" places, but I really liked it out there and, if it weren't for the humidity in the summer, I might even consider moving out there.

The holocaust museum was an interesting experience. It takes you through the events chronologically. When we were at the point where the Jews were being forced out of their homes and into Ghetto's, then concentration camps, the Security Guard told us we needed to leave and forced us all to the exits, without any explanation. The irony was not lost on me. In a very small (I mean exceedingly small) way it suddenly gave me a taste of the confusion and fear the so many people must have felt as they were forced away from their homes and families. (Apperantly a bag was left unattended and they were clearing the area as a precaution.) They let us back in, but we opted not to go back to where we left off. The scariest thing to me, after viewing the exhibit was how quickly it all started and ended... all within about 12 years. It's even more intriguing to contemplate the events of WWII and the holocaust when compared to the prophecies regarding the Jews...

On Friday we watched National Treasure and it was pretty cool to see all the places we had just visited depicted in the movie. (Then we watched Trekkies and some people are just sad...) All in all, it was fantastic and really hard to come home!

I loved you philly cheesesteak sandwich... you will be missed!!

9 month update...

How strange...today is exactly 9 months to the day since my first blog! A lot has happened and I've meant to keep this going, but apparently, whether it's online or in paper form, I just can't keep a journal...

Since my last entry...
I have started working at Intermountain Healthcare in Human Resources: Recruiting. I've been there for just over six months now and it's been great. I LOVE the people I work with. They make me laugh everyday and they get me through the hard times. I feel bad that I'm not always "funshine bear" at work, but it's been pretty stressful at times, and I do let it get to me sometimes. The work itself is easy, it's just that there's so much of it that I feel like I barely have time to breath and sometimes I have to tear myself away, just to go use the facilities... it's not that I'm a work-aholic, it's just that I care so much about how I do my job that I take things a little to personally. I know I need to just chill out, but that's easier said than done!!

My oldest sister, Rebecca, joined the Peace Corps and moved to Chonqing, China! She will be there for about two years and we all miss her terribly. I don't know where she gets such an adventurous spirit! I guess from my dad, he loved to go out and explore, but he mostly did that in nature and usually on the same continent! In any case, I really admire her fortitude and adaptability. I don't think I have it in me to do something like that. One thing I love though, is living it vicariously, in a way. I love reading about her experiences and seeing her pictures. I may not be learning everything first hand, or by trial and error, like she is, but I do feel as though I am experiencing it with her... on some small level, anyway.

My mom was hoping to sell her house and move to Arizona, which is still her plan, but it doesn't look like the housing market, i.e., the economy in general, is doing well enough to make that happen. But I'm sure it will when it's the right time. For the time being she's started a new job (at a dialysis company) and I think it will be a great thing for her. They even have a branch in Mesa, AZ.... hmmm... how odd... :)

Mishka is working and thinking about school. She has lots of plans, so it's really just a matter of time before things start happening for her. I have to say I am SOOOO proud of her! She has quit eating sugar, and for anyone that knows her, that's a BIG deal!! She's been "clean" for about three months now and doing awesome! She's doing better than me right now and I know it will make a huge difference in her life!

I think sugar is EVIL!!! Everytime I eat it I get anxious and panicky. I think it's like a poison to me that messes with my mood and brain chemistry. I do pretty good staying away from it, but every once in a while I fold and give in, and then I regret it for a week afterward!

I don't know how I am going to do this on my trip. Usually a vacation means, throw all caution to the wind and live "la vida loca," but this time, I really don't want to do that. I really want to eat as healthy as possible. Mostly because I want to actually enjoy the trip! By the way, did I tell you that I'm going to Washington D.C. this week? I am going with my friend Kat Samson to visit another friend we used to work with and her husband, Michelle and Lauretz Peterson. They moved out there about a year and a half ago and I've been wanting to go see them. I'm glad that it finally worked out!! I will take as many pictures as I can and put them up on my flikr page. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28687426@N04/)

I was born in Virginia and we moved when I was two so I don't remember anything about it. If we can I would like to try to go see where we used to live. I'm mostly curious to see if it will bring back any memories...

I know this is totally moronic, but I'm actually afraid of the plane ride. Not the plane itself or anything. It's just that I've been thinking about it more the closer I get to leaving (tomorrow) and I'm worried that I won't fit in the seats... I know this is totally irrational. I've flown before when I was at 310 pounds and I freaked out everytime because I thought for sure they would throw me off the plane, or at the very least, make me buy another ticket or something. I know I've lost about 60 pounds, but I'm still worried... I don't want to be humiliated that way, even though I haven't been and I was much heavier, I still feel that anxiety. Like I said, I know it's irrational, but I can't help it.

I'm just going to try to focus on being with friends and having fun!