Finally!!!

I finally have my printer hooked up to Mac and was able to get our pumpkin carving pictures uploaded.  

We had SO much fun this year... Enjoy!

Any Happy Birthday, Mom!!

I hope you have a FUN birthday!

A Mother's Love...

True story....

In August of 2002, I made a pretty big decision. A decision that would change my career path, and ultimately my personal life, in a major way. I decided that I wanted to be an Aircraft Dispatcher.

Did I know what an Aircraft Dispatcher actually did? Not exactly. Did I have any idea how difficult Dispatch school was going to be? Absolutely not (If I had, there's no way I would have gone)! But, I was a pretty determined 23 year old and there was a class starting in October, so I took a leave of absence from my job at America West Airlines and off I went... on what my mom would call an "adventure". Boy, was it!

The drive from Arizona to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida was a lot of fun. My mom went with me and we had a blast... well... at least most of the time we did. There was that really, really, REALLY long drive through the state of Texas (They really should split that state up... 800 miles is just too dang far to drive and still be in the same state!). And then there was the afternoon where we were completely stopped, on a shaking bridge, between two 18-wheelers, in rush hour traffic, in Baton Rouge (Absolutely terrifying!). But then there was our fabulous overnight stay in the French Quarter of New Orleans (I even got some beads!). And we also got to stop off in Orlando for a quick visit with some great family friends. All-in-all, it was a great trip!

Dispatch school itself was six weeks of hell. There's really no other way to put it. It's truly one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life. I was one of five Americans in the entire class of 26 (only 16 of us made it through), and it was non-stop cramming. My instructor likened the experience to attempting to drink from a fire hose, and that's exactly what it felt like! I met some amazingly intelligent people though, from all over the world, and today I wouldn't trade the experience or the friendships I made for anything.

After surviving the six week course, earning my license, and throwing my manuals into my instructor's swimming pool in a celebratory fashion, It was back to Arizona for me. My mom flew back to Florida from Arizona to make the 3-day trek back across the country with me. By that time, I was SO ready to be back home, and I wasn't really in the mood for many tourist stops along the way. However, my mom and I did make it a point to stop off in Pensacola to check out the "white sand" beaches we had been hearing so much about. We spent the better part of an afternoon/evening just hanging out in Pensacola. It was beautiful. The beaches were gorgeous, the shops were fun, and the seafood was to die for. We had such a good time!

As we were leaving Pensacola, to get back on the road, I grabbed a small plastic bucket (tacky souvenir from Sloppy Joe's bar in Ft. Lauderdale) and filled it with some of the sugary white sand from the beach. I'm very much a souvenir person and this is just one more thing that just HAD to make the trip home with me.

Now... You might be asking yourself, "Kasey... What on earth were you going to do with a bucket of sand?"

Well.... Absolutely, positively NOTHING!

That bucket of sand made it's way into my parent's garage, and remained there for the next six years. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Well...

My mom was e-mailing me yesterday telling me how she was cleaning up at home to prepare for Steve and I. She was going through drawers, cleaning off counters, organizing shelves, etc. At one point in our conversation, she briefly mentioned that she had just tossed out my 6-year old tacky plastic bucket that was filled with sugary white sand from Pensacola. I felt a little twinge.

I responded to my mom by telling her that it would have been nice if there was a small bottle or jar lying around that she could put just a little bit of the sand in so I could keep it. She then responded by asking me if I wanted her to go get some of the sand OUT OF THE DUMPSTER for me. I responded with "Only if you want to.", which we all know meant "YES!!!".

At that point, I realized once again that my mom just had to love me. Why??? Because only a truly loving mom would offer to go dumpster diving to retrieve a little bit of 6-year old dirt for her kid that hasn't even been in the same state as said dirt for four years.

Yep... That's my mom.

And needless to say... I have a sandwich baggie of sugary white sand from Pensacola, Florida sitting on a counter in Eagar, Arizona with my name on it!

Thanks mom... You're my hero!

HA HA HA!!

Totally random post, but I simply can't help it!

The picture below showed up in an e-mail from our friend Chas yesterday morning, and I think it's hilarious! I had to share.

Every time I look at it I just bust out laughing.

Steve thinks I'm weird, but I'm hoping some of you will get a kick out of it... Especially you Fergie fans!

AAAAHH HA HA HA HA!!!

This Little Piggy...

... Is hatin' life right about now!

Since I have no human children, my furry 4-legged kid gets to be the one I dress up every year for Halloween.  Yes, I put a costume on my dog... Judge all you want. Last year she was a lady bug, and the year before that she was a butterfly.  She absolutely hates it... And I know it.  She reminds me of her hatred every year as I am cramming her growling little body into some ridiculous miniature get-up. 

She's a really good sport though, and the torture typically only lasts long enough for me to grab my camera and get a few pictures.  I think she's learned that it's best to just humor me.

Last week, I was at the pet store to get Cookie some dog food and I saw this really cool dinosaur costume.  I thought, "This will be something different for Halloween... Not quite so girly".  So I bought it and brought it home.  However, my little girl suffers from the same body type that many of us do.  She's.... um... "well padded", and she's got short little legs.  The costume simply didn't fit, so I returned it. 

Today I was at Easton Town Center, where they have this great little dog store called Moochie & Co, which carries just about everything that any spoiled rotten dog could ever possibly need or want.  So I stopped in to see what they had left for Halloween costumes.  They had a skunk, a lobster, a frog, a dinosaur, a tiger, a bee, a giraffe.... They had EVERYTHING!  But, the only costume they had in the Monster's size was this....

That's right... My gorgeous little girl gets to be a pig this year!  I don't think she's all that thrilled about it, and it's probably not the greatest choice for her self esteem.  But after a little bit of therapy (snuggle time with Steve), I'm sure she'll be fine.

Besides... This face makes anything look cute!!

I love Halloween!!

P.S.  I know this post was supposed to have pictures of our pumpkin carving in it, but I'm having some trouble getting those pics onto my computer (I used my old camera that has not been connected to Mac yet).  Steve is going to hook me up and I should have them up in a few days!

A Day at the Pumpkin Patch!

I had an extra floating holiday that I needed to use up before the holiday rush, so I took Monday off work and Steve and I went to Circle S Farms, about 30 minutes south of here, to pick ourselves a few pumpkins. 

It was such a perfect day for pumpkin picking too!  The weather was gorgeous... high 60s, sun shining... and we were just about the only ones there.  We had free donuts and apple cider, and we even got our own little private hay ride out to the pumpkin patch.  It was a blast!

Here are a few pictures...

Steve with his pick

My pick of the patch (which was bigger than Steve's)!

Steve singing "She thinks my tractor's sexy...."

Love that guy!

Sunday is carving day... I'm looking forward to it!!

My Adventurous In-10-tions...

I know that most of us (myself included) have a list of things we'd like to do before we die... a.k.a a "Bucket List". I'd post mine here, but it's quite long and it's everchanging as I get older. Never-the-less, it still exists... just for me... and I hope to accomplish at least a few of the things on it while I have the chance.

In addition to my "Bucket List", I have a long list of places I'd like to travel to while I'm still here. Dustin and I kindof started this list together when we lived in Tucson. We sat down one night and tried to think of all the places we wanted to go. I think #1 on our list at the time was Hershey, PA! Not surprising... what 19 year old girl wouldn't love a trip to the hometown of Hershey Kisses???

My traveling list is also plenty long (I do want to make a stop in all 50 states, eventually), but I've put together a "short list" of the top 10 places I want to go. As of now, I want to visit (in no particular order)...

1 - Alaska: If I had the chance to go on a cruise... This is where I would go. It looks so beautiful!

I realize I'd probably be the youngest person on the boat, but so be it. I respect my elders!

2 - Northern, CA: From San Francisco all the way up to the Redwoods in Humboldt County. I'm all for a day on the beach in the southern part of California, but as a logger's daughter, I'm all about the trees!

I have an incurable fascination for BIG trees... It's in my blood.

3 - Boston, Mass.: From the Freedom Trail to the fabulous seafood to whale watching (something that's on my Bucket List)... How could I go wrong with a trip to Beantown?

And as someone who can't stand the New York Yankees, I'd love to catch a Boston Red Sox game!

4 - Venice, Italy: My mom has been to Venice... I've seen the pictures... what more can I say?

I really want to know how they built this city on water!

5 - Paris, France: Although I've heard that the people aren't the nicest, I'd still LOVE to see Paris. I like to take a stroll along the Seine... Take a tour of the Louvre...

And what girl wouldn't want to see this! (Sigh....)

6 - Missoula, MT: Dustin is probably going to laugh at this one, but I can't help it. Ever since seeing "A River Runs Through It" years ago, I have wanted to visit Missoula, MT and learn to fly fish.

I think a pair of rubber waders would suit me well!

7 - Turtle Island, Fiji: Forget Hawaii! This would be my private island getaway of choice if I came across a small fortune any time in the near future.

Plus, it's named after turtles... Count me in!

8 - Aspen, CO: My brother and I drove through the area with my mom once as kids, and I still remember how gorgeous it was. I'd love to check out the local shops and maybe spend a day on the slopes.

Again... I think the trees are calling to me!

9 - Ireland: Castles... I want to see some castles!! Maybe a round of golf and a trip to an Irish pub...

Oh yeah... Did I meantion there were CASTLES?!?!

10 - Niagara Falls: There's a casino... a Butterfly Conservatory... The Skylon Tower...

And I'd do just about anything for a helicopter tour!

There you have it... My short list of Adventurous In-10-tions! Let the packing (and lottery winning) begin!!