Northwest Adventure 2012 - Part 2

While at the beach, a stranger in conversation with B said (out of the blue), “If you are interested in aircraft…”

B responded, “I AM interested in aircraft.”

This exchange prompted our beach exodus. We headed to great-G&G’s house for a day and night, so B could visit the fabled aircraft museum in McMinnville. Two words: Spruce Goose. If you are in to this stuff, then you understand. For the rest of us, the day was spent walking country roads, picking blackberries with farmdogs, riding tractors and scooters, and playing instruments. Top it off with a Mexican restaurant and homemade blackberry cobbler. Win-win-win.

Northwest Adventure 2012 - Part 1

I’ve always wanted to do a big northwest vacation. The vacation I have in mind would take at least three months, and until we are unemployed (maybe soon) or independently wealthy (definitely not soon) we will not be able to take this trip. So, I hoped to travel NW during the one time of the year when I could see the most family. Sadly, we were not available at that time this year, and I wondered whether we should hold off on a NW vacation till next year. But as something will likely come up, I decided to take what I could get out of a NW vacation. This may seem like a no-brainer to you, but you must know that 2011’s vacation taught me that when facing a “now or never” opportunity, “never” may be the better option. So, don’t try “now or never” with me. Never.

Here is part one of the trip: The beach.

Several days at the coast with G&G. We stayed at my aunt and uncle’s beach house. House, beach, and three short visits from aunts, uncles, and great-grandparents made up our lazy days.

While I was trying to sleep...

B says to me, “I got some kind of bad news at work today.”

L thinks, “The imminent layoffs due to the sequestration, no doubt. Or maybe they are upset that B hasn’t worked 40 hours since June, due to house-hunt, move, vacation, & illness. Could it possibly be that they don’t like his work wardrobe made up primarily of solid colored shirts a la Seven-Brides-for Seven-Brothers? That would be good—I mean, ‘kind of bad news’…for Brett…in a way…”

“I’m on a list of people who need to be ready to travel for 3 weeks sometime in September or October.”

L is relieved. So relieved, in fact, that she says, “Oh, well, that’s fine.”

B is not convinced. “Three weeks is a long time.”

L is still relieved that we are employed.

“And I don’t think I’ll have cell phone/phone access.”

“Why not?”

“It’s international.”

“Are you going to Afghanistan?”

“No. No combat zones.”

“So, where?”

“Australia.”

Now L is upset. “You’re going to Australia for three weeks?!?”

“There won’t be anything to do. I’ll just be on a base where you just work and drink.”

L, “Sounds great!”

Now, come to think of it, Afghanistan would still be a vacation. Yes, you would work, and there would be nothing to do in the evenings, or in the night, or on the weekend, but THAT’S the vacation part of it. A “work trip” is still a vacation during those times. Nothing to do!

B may be the luckiest guy I know. Off to Australia for a work vacation. He’s also getting some new shirts whether he likes it or not (Sorry Adam, Benjamin, Daniel, Frankincense, & Gideon, you’re out. [He never had Caleb & Ephraim.] Auf wiedersehen.).

Update: The three week vacation has been extended to four weeks and will include Thanksgiving. To the two people who read this blog, this news couldn't be worse.

(There is no paint trouble above the garage. Just my sweet house-number-hiding photoshop skills.)

This is the basement. Not the real kitchen. No photo of the real kitchen, now that I think of it.

Also basement.

Sing...for MEEEEE!

Dear Diary [July],
Sigh. I feel like I could really go somewhere – really be somebody – in this church if I could just get out of the ward chorister calling. Sure, I just got in it a couple weeks ago, but I clearly see that this is the bottom rung. The chorister has the least consequential job in the entire congregation. I do nothing but stand in front of everyone waving my arm. For what?

Cons:
1. Singing. Singing hymns. In front of everyone.
2. Everyone stares at you—you singing—hence, the need to shower and find something cute to wear every week (ok, so this MAY be a pro…still a challenge)
3. People think YOU are responsible for the music selections and universally slow tempo at which they are sung. Not so. The chorister is a victim—like everyone else in the congregation. But unlike everyone else, she is their scapegoat too…
4. You have to be on time to church every week.

Pros:
1. There is absolutely NO WORK required. Zero prep time.
2. There are no additional activities/meetings/planning to attend.
3. I get to enjoy (or rather, attend while wrangling one or both kids) my regular Sunday meetings.
4. I get thanked -- PUBLICLY EVEN -- every time I do my calling.
5. I have to be on time to church every week.

B thinks I’m so lucky. He is constantly telling me I should really “own” this and get into it. He demonstrates, flicking his wrist and bobbing his head. He’s all talk.

[Update: September I received an ADDITIONAL calling: Primary secretary. So much for the “I get to enjoy my regular Sunday meetings” pro.]

[Update: B is not all talk. I had him fill in for me one week and he immediately asked for a “wand.” When I determined that he was serious, I suggested a white wire hanger or a [too large] plain wooden dowel rod. He chose the dowel rod and, get this, PRACTICED the songs the night before AND the morning of. I don’t even know what the songs are till I show up. I’ve received compliments for him all week.]

New Plan

We're headed back to Colorado. Denver this time.

Denver vs. Hville? The positives:
Close to an airport.
Close to a temple.
Close to a good friend.
Less likely to be blown away by a twister.

Denver vs. San-D?




Help..me...





In other indirectly related news, I have recently become very minorly involved with a fantastic non-profit organization. I feel very strongly about its mission. And, I have decided that if we go to Denver and if we decide to stay in Denver and if no one does it first by the time I have time, then I will do whatever I can to get this charity started there. So, that's something. Something that makes me excited at the very prospect!--even though the ifs above are numerous, the timetable is distant, and my own abilities likely lacking.

L Versus the Tornado

You know the dream where you are trying to escape an approaching tornado? I’ve had this dream about a hundred times. More often than not it is a terrifying dream. But, most recently (several months ago) I dreamed that I was totally calm as I stared down the advancing twister. I was at the lone hotel in my grandparent’s town. I looked at the tornado in the distance; I checked that the bathtub was in the bathroom (it’s a dream, so you never know); then I checked on the tornado again—which was so close that I could see nothing but the gray spinning cloud out the window, yes, mere feet away from the glass. Go time. Calmly run to the bathroom, get in the tub, and wait to see what happens. I guess you could say the dream practice finally paid off in this most recent subconscious battle with a twister.

I have always believed that these tornado dreams are universal for all who saw The Wizard of Oz as children. So I was shocked when I asked B about some of his being-chased-by-a-tornado-dream-experiences and he said he’d never had a dream about it. (He HAS seen The Wizard of Oz.) I then asked a friend. Not her either. I really had believed that generations of people experienced this. What can it mean? Is this my destiny?

here today, gone tomorrow

The answer is ALABAMA!!!! …or was.

(Incidentally, if you’ve never typed Alabama, you should do so now. Man, it’s fun!)

Last week’s storm still has power out for the homes and offices of the good people of Hville. Apparently, NG employees won’t be working at all this week. So, although technically it should be official now, there is no one to confirm that it is official (request our relocation). So, in the meantime, we have been instructed to look for another situation, in case this one doesn’t come through “in time”. To me it sort of feels like we are out of time already, but people say to give Alabama (seriously, you gotta try this!) two more weeks. Ok, that will give us a week and a half to make our moving arrangements. Plenty of time, right? So, I guess we don’t know yet where we are going. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Northern Alabama also appears to be here today, gone tomorrow (or here yesterday, gone today). Anytime I view a disaster like that I always picture what it must be like for the people experiencing it (this happens without really trying—it’s just sort of natural to think, “what if that were me?” “what if my house disappeared and I lost everything” “where would I go” etc.). This time, it’s different.

We are in a rotational program that moves us every year. Hville has always been a likely stopover for us—and a desirable one, in our estimation. We really could have been there this year. Easily. Right now. In the best case scenario we would be having a staycation with no power. Thinking about the “what ifs” for this disaster makes me feel a little sick. It really could have been us. It really could BE us. Who knows, next year Hville may take a direct hit. Or not. I have decided that the only way to deal with these possibilities is to adopt more of a the-Lord-gives-the-Lord-takes-away-blessed-be-the-name-of-the-Lord sort of attitude—which I should have regardless of where I live, but I forget.

The Magical Mystery Tour Continues

Yes, we will be moving in approximately five weeks. It is heartbreaking to leave San Diego. This place is HEAVEN. But, entrance fees to heaven ain’t cheap. Still, I do believe heaven and San Diego are worth the price of admission. We, however, have always pictured a different life for ourselves (one that involves owning a home that is not a crumbling less-than-1000-ft half-million-dollar fixer-upper). That said, if we were forced to return here, we would be thrilled. How easily our old dreams fade in the sunlight of eternally gorgeous weather…and SeaWorld (I’m a HUGE fan! Blue Horizons FOREVER!!!!).

So, stay tuned for the announcement of our next venue. Technically, we don’t know where we will be moving to—like, not just no house, we don’t yet know the city or STATE. Yes, we will be living “there” in a month. I’m getting used to the not knowing. I like to know, even though knowing doesn’t really mean much, since we still will pack up and “move” there without any more than a reservation at Holiday Inn and five days to secure a more permanent situation. But I still like to KNOW where we are going, and lucky for me we will know by the end of this week! Woohoo! One whole month to know AND play every single day the way we have been for the last year. Bliss.

But, here’s a hint (although nearly every person who still looks at this blog already knows the way “negotiations” have been heading):
The place we will be moving to has been in the news all week, and not in a good way. Perhaps a last second change will happen.

[We are not moving to Westminster Abbey.]