Exit now

This has been a really busy week. I thought I would be able to start winding down and easing up yet I have had so much work to do. It has been interesting and annoying. I would have preferred to have this time to have my replacement shadow me so I could feel confident upon my departure. But there is no replacement at this time and instead I have to train co-workers who already have more than enough to do.  When my position is filled those same co-workers will have to take the time to train the new person.

I don't understand.

Anybody seen the program "Strip The City" on Science channel?  That is a very cool show. I love the visuals.

I know-random.

Chuck's insurance has started which is good since mine will stop when I stop working. Haven't found anyone to take Sasha. I guess we will torture her with our presence. Poor cat, she is stuck with us.

I wish my dad were here.

Yes that's dad with Tedi Bruschi.

 





Dad would love the idea of going to a new place and finding friends.  Dad could find friends everywhere. There was a youngness of spirit about him and a love of life that helped him overcome a very difficult childhood.  I miss him so much.

 

One of the things I am planning is a yard sale, we have over twenty years of stuff to clear out before we are ready to have the house ready for vacation renters. I will let everyone know when it happens. The hardest part is getting my husband to let go of things we don't need.  I am good at that but he is very attached to his junk.

 

Time to de-clutter!

 

-N

Leaving

The word is out here at Ventana that I am a short timer. It has been interesting to see the wide circle this information has traveled.  I've been stopped by individuals whose knowledge of my departure surprised me. I also have a lot of people who inquire about Chuck and how he is handling North Dakota. I tell them he is doing ok. He likes the work, it is hard but he is doing it. Being well compensated makes it that much easier to handle the shift work, the cold and being apart.

However, I am more than ready to be together again.

I am still trying to find a home for my cat, Sasha. She is 12 and I hope to find someone who would take care of her. I don't think it would be fair to her to make her move into an RV with Chuck and I and two dogs. She will have to stay inside because of the cold. She likes to go outside if she is so inclined, this would not be easy for her. If I cannot find a home for her then she will move.

Mom is having the time of her life in her apartment at Desert Springs. Her life is full and happy and she has a wonderful man in her life as well. When I look back I see that the path was first layed for our move when we found this wonderful place for her to live. Not only were doors opened for Chuck and I but we were shoved though them. Sometimes you just have to let yourself be led, directed and prompted.

We are planning to spend the next Christmas in Disneyland. I know it is weird to talk about Christmas 2014 already but it is exciting to know that Chuck and I and our children will have a most special time.

More on that another time.

-N

The Night Shift

Chuck has started two weeks of the night shift and I thought I worried about him alot before! I had outrageous and scary nightmares last night. I managed to sleep from about 10:30 to 2:30 and that was it. I was awake and restless. The dogs didn't even stir while I roamed the house.

My dreams were travel dreams with an unknown destination. In each dream there was a catastrophe - the earth would open up in the road before me or a mountain would start sliding down to crush me. I couldn't get away from the disaster happening in front of me.  My last dream was water gusing out of a hillside and onto the road underneath me. I woke when a voice said in my ear "Don't cry!" I felt that it was real.

Creepy.

I am exhausted. I stopped in once I arrived at work and bought a venti white chocolate mocha with soy and an extra espresso shot. Hope that gets me through the afternoon.

On a positive note, my coworkers want to have a farewell party for me! I didn't really expect this but it makes me happy.  I'm glad I will get to say goodbye to friends. I've been at Ventana for over seven years so there are folks I've been through a lot with.  I feel honored.

Moving forward.

-N

Transitions

I have always loved to sing. I have sung since I could remember, and it is my joy.

Today was the last day for the worship pastor at the church I have attended since 2001. He and I worked together to develop the praise team at PRCC and we learned how to share new music, adapt older music and draw the church into powerful and motivating music worship. He is an amazing musician. I have been blessed to participate in the process of making music with him.

The most amazing part in that he is the age of my son.

Danny was a kind of surrogate in a time where my son could not be with me. Our voices blend so well and when we sing in the same octave our voices sound as one.  It is awesome. I could depend on him when we sing together. We blend and harmonize without effort, and it is very special to have that connection as vocalists.

The band I have been part of was so terrific. God has used this music to bring people to the point of Holy Spirit empowered worship.  It has been a beautiful sound in absolute worship.  I thank God for the opportunity.

I don't know what is next.

-N

I'm a recluse

I have discovered, since Chuck has been gone that I am a recluse. Without him here I tend toward being a hermit, content to hang out at home, to working around the house, and watching the Walton's on DVD. In fact I rather dread it if I have to go out. I've never liked shopping and I have a phobia about movie theaters. Even though I love watching football  I would rather watch it at home.

I can be social when being sociable is required and once I am in the middle of an event or party I will enjoy myself. The problem is getting me there. Rather than going out I would rather host at my home.

North Dakota social settings might be right for me.

The countdown is on to my last day at Ventana and Chuck's first visit. My last day is the 17th of January and Chuck will be here the 20th! I am so ready to see him.  It is so exciting to plan for the future adventures with him.

I am very ready to be able to look after him and make his work easier. I know he is a grown man but I also feel that he needs me to manage things so he doesn't have to do anything but wake up, work, eat and sleep.  To take good care of him makes me happy.

We talk often and Skype. He is growing a beard which I'm not real keen on but I will decide when I see him. He says the mustache keeps his lip warm, but I don't know.  I'm not much of a facial hair gal.

Still trying to find a home for Sasha the cat.  I worry that she will  have a hard time with the transition to ND. She is 12 and I think if I could find someone, maybe a retired couple, who would be willing to get to know her and enjoy her it would be better than moving her and her having to share an RV with two adults and two dogs. Will keep trying.

-N

Holidays Done

Finished a nice Christmas vacation spent with my children starting when Melissa arrived and we traveled together from Tucson to Ft. Worth, Texas. We were then joined by Aaron and Chelsea in Oklahoma. It would have been better if Chuck had been part of it, but he was on the phone and online with us regularly.

It wasn't the same, but it was him.

An update on Chuck: he finished his first 14 day work shift and now has a week off.  It will be a busy week because of many errands he has to run to start setting up for me to join him.  He will be researching banks, obtaining a PO box,  and finding an RV park to name a few things on his list.

When you go someplace new and think you have everything you might need it takes a few days before you realize half of what you brought was unnecessary and you have no idea what you really need until you have spent time in the new location.  Chuck is discovering this.  He is also discovering how inadequate a lot of cold weather clothes sold in Arizona are for REALLY cold weather. 

I am back at work now and this is my time to wind up, close out and finish up before I leave Ventana. It will be an interesting couple of weeks.

-N

I'ts fun, but not the same

I've been here for a few days and I absolutely love being with my kids, but it is just different without my husband. As the days have gone on I increasingly feel the loss of his presence. My beloved children are wonderful and I love being with them, but Chuck makes me feel complete, safe and happy. If it is in my power I will never be apart from him again. Not for this much time and distance. Hunting and fishing trips are one thing, but even though this is ultimately a good thing, I won't do it again.

He is enduring in the cold north. Only five days until his first week long break, well deserved and very needed. It is taking everything I have not to go to him.  I feel this challenge is going to change him somehow and I would rather be with him while it happens. Then this change/adjustment would be part of both of us.

We have worked hard at our life together, and like a roller coaster, it has been full of high and lows. The one constant is our doing our life together. He is amazing.

Being a bit dull here, sorry.

Coming up over the next three days is two new movies (yes I will actually go into a movie theater), Christmas Eve gifts, Christmas Day at the Prough's, getting my new car, and a Dr. Who marathon and Christmas special.

Chuck would love all this.

Give to Wounded Warrior's.

-N