31. 41. Memorial Day. Vacation!

In just under 2 weeks I will be visiting far off places! Well, to me anyhow! I will be going with Ryan and Austin to North Dakota.  I am so excited!!  To see the place where Ryan grew up, see where some history took place, ah! Can't wait!

It has officially been 1 month since my 31st birthday and to date, it has by far been the best!  I saw a wonderful couple say their I dos before their family and friends on that day. Ryan had bought me some very beautiful pink lilies and a very nice card to go with them.  But that wasn't all, I had my other gift at his place.  I didn't get to open that til day after.  Turned out it was a sailor bear (Ryan is retired Navy), and he (the bear) sings Anchors Away. Very cute!! Domino wasn't quite sure what to do when I was playing with the bear, making it sing.  He kept backing away.  ahahaha!

And just 2 short weeks later was Ryan's 41st birthday, or as he's now calling it, the 1st anniversary of turning 40.  He tells me that 40 was a pretty good year for him.  He tells me that its because he met me, a true companion, his girlfriend.  Makes me feel warm fuzzies when he tells me that.  I too tell him that 30 was great cuz I met someone that makes me feel as good as he does.  Anyhow, onto the real tale.  We went to Berlin-Ichthyosaur National Park for his birthday.  I couldn't really do what I wanted, which was to take him to lunch in Reno, broke you know... It turned out to be a really fun time! Erin, Ryan, and I toured some of the old building in the mining town of Berlin, then got a non-tour tour of the Ichthyosaur fossils.  Our tour guide was a character.  He told us how the fossils were found, how they believe that there is at least 4 animals there.  Showed us different types of ichthyosaur, shared interesting facts, and even cracked some jokes. Great time. :)  We got back to Fallon, had some pizza at Pizza Hut, then called it a day. Usually on Mondays, I try to come back to Yerington, after our long day, I decided I was too tired to drive home.

Memorial Day was fun this year too.  It marked the 1 year anniversary of my friend Erin to her husband Jimmy. It was kinda funny that I was in Fallon, on that same day, exactly one year previous.  Well, made me chuckle.  Since mom was also in Fallon with me that day as she was a year ago.  Anyhoo, Ryan and I held a BBQ for a few people.  We had invited Erin, Jackie, mom, Ila, Garry, and Ed.  Sadly Erin and Jackie couldn't make it.  For good reasons. Jackie was trying to aquaint her new kitten to her older cat and it was Erin's anniversary.  It was fun none the less.  Ryan and I had provided drinks, burgers, and chips.  Mom had brought a delicious fruit salad, Ila had brought potato salad and Garry (hahaha) and Ed had brought deviled eggs.  Good times, good conversation, and good friends. That is what BBQs are about!!

Like I'd mentioned, I will be going on vacation in less that 2 weeks! I really can hardly wait! Can't wait to see his mom and dad again, meet his daughter, and visit the farm that Ryan keeps telling me he won't get me off of!

 Have a great night folks! Will write again soon!!

30: month one

It has been almost one month since I turned the dirty 30 as people say.  This Saturday my dear friend Erin is getting married and I am still dateless for the celebration.  Its looking more and more like I might be taking my mother to the wedding.  *sigh*  Unless I man up and just ask someone.  Well one someone in particular.  I'm really considering my friend John.  He's funny, a blast to hang out with, and pretty easy on the eyes. *insert chuckle here*  Sadly I don't know why I'm so afraid to ask him.  He's a great person, even if he couldn't go, I can say I tried right?  Then I'm also back at square one... What to do what to do....  Tho this is to be a happy time, I'm a bit sad...I kinda wish it was me... I'd love to be getting married, starting my family, a new life with my husband...but alas it is not in my cards for the time being.  I will put on my happy face, celebrate with the happy newlyweds, and toast to new beginnings!

Holiday Season...

As I read my sister's blog, I am saddened with the uncertainty of her working future.  She is one of the strongest women I know.  She's a hero to me, the type of person I wouldn't mind being like.  I wish that there was something I could do to help her out but her being in Portland and myself being here, well, makes that rather difficult...and my finances are a little strapped currently.  My heart and prayers go out to her and her little family that she receives a holiday miracle.  Love you sis..

She shared some memories of our childhood, fond memories that I had completely forgotten about.  The winter nights we spent up at Topaz with our grandparents.  I loved those times.  I learned so much from the years we spent there growing up.  One being the importance of sunscreen..I received the worst sunburn of my life there.  Also the major importance of wearing helmets.  Cheryl and I were cruising around the countryside, and we ended up on a rode a little too narrow for our Yamaha Moto4, and down this hill we went.  As usual I end up with just scrapes and Cher is the one bleeding.  How I managed with no bleeding wounds is still beyond me.  Well we manage to walk back to the house and get grandpa and grandma and we get the 4 wheeler back to the property, no worse for wear.  I think it fared better than we did.  Remember sis?

There was the one Christmas that was the last time my Gramma Jeanne came down.  It was wonderful to have her visit.  At 7, she was the coolest gramma in the world.   Learning more about her over the years as I became an adult myself, she still is an amazing woman.  But that's another blog.  I want to tell this story but as per usual, I'm not sure how to start it.  So I'll just start with that day.  It was December 26th.  Mom, Cheryl, and I were taking my grandma to the airport so she could fly back to Seattle.  Unfortunately the 3 of us didn't make it.  (Gramma did, my uncle and aunt got her to the airport.)  Right outside of town on McLeod Hill, mom rolled the van we were in.  Mom was reaching for something on the dash (yes, she was driving) and drifted onto to shoulder, she over corrected, once, twice hitting that soft gravel yet again but this time it sent the van rolling.  We landed tire-side down.  It was a miracle that the swerving didn't happen seconds later, because coming up the other side was a hay truck.  We would've been mere memories in the lives of the people who knew and loved us.  And I was really lucky to walk away with nothing more than seat belt burns.  If the rolling had taken place any sooner, I wouldn't be who I am, because I had just sat back down literally seconds before the van ended up upside down.  That was almost 22 years ago now.

Good memories of the holidays always included being around family, my grampa in particular, just because I loved (and still do) him so.  The first Christmas without him was tough on all of us.  He was such a integral part of the festivities, that we were almost lost with out him.  He had passed the carving of the ham or turkey on to dad long before but it was his job, as patriarch of the family, to slice the holiday pies.  I still think it should be his job, but he is no longer here so that had to be passed to someone.  We all take turns.

It brings to mind the Christmas Cheryl fed our old lab Sparkie pecan pie off our dad's china and our grandmother's silver.  I did get a picture, tho when I took it I was afraid that it wasn't going to come out since I was laughing so hard.  Man, gramma and mom were very very angry!  The rest of our family laughed with us, but not those two!  Mom laughs about it now, for it is a fond Christmas memory since the dog is no longer with us either..

This holiday is the start of something new too.  Since the breakup, I have found someone new.  Justin.  He's absolutely amazing. Not that Tim wasn't, he was just different.  He treats me like I'm something utterly special.  I know, I know, cheesy to say, and I am special.  Its just nice to be shown so, you know?  I know a person can't complete me but I feel great when we are together.  He makes me smile just thinking about him.. Like now. (:

If I don't write before the 25th, Merry Christmas to you all.  I treasure you in ways that I cannot explain.  Thank you for being my friends, my family, my life!

*sigh*

The end of another work week is almost upon me, one more day and then I get to see my sister-friend Jennifer! Pending nothing goes wrong for us!!  So please God if you hear me or if you read this, please!!

Today I also went to the cemetery to place the crosses and astroturf on the great-great uncles graves in honor of Memorial Day. Just like I have every year since I can remember.  This year was a little different tho.  I took my mom with me.  It made it a bit more special since I got to spend this humble time with someone I love.  We wandered a bit thru the older part of the cemetery.  It was a saddening experience...The weeds that have grown thru there are atrocious.  Headstones weren't bad but I would love to see some of them refurbished. It was also sad seeing how many children are buried there.  Some months, some days, some even still born with no names.  Just "baby of Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so."  It was a time that health care and child delivery wasn't great, I know this but its still heart breaking none the less. 

After this we went over and visited my grandparents, great-grandparents, and the uncle I never got to know.  He is one of the still born children that is buried in our Valley View Cemetery.  I miss him.  My grampa.  Hard to believe that he's been gone almost 11 years.  But you know that... I almost cried there today because I used to visit him more regularly after I returned from school..now its so infrequent, I'm ashamed that I don't pay my respects more often..he was a great man..such a big heart and a warm smile. He's a treasure that I hold near and dear to my heart. <3