Visiting Our Nation's Capital...

Steve and I visited the beautiful city of Washington D.C. this past weekend. We were actually in the area for the wedding of one of Steve's long time friends, so we thought we'd take a few extra days and make a mini vacation out of it. We only had a couple of days for sight seeing, and there is SOOOO much to see in the Washington area, so we made the most of it. It was an exhausting trip, and we got lost a few times thanks to my not-so-fabulous "navimaguessing" skills. But, we lived through all of it and we had a blast. I can't wait to go back!!

Our first stop on our list of things to see was Arlington National Cemetery. We got lost and it took us about an hour to get to where we needed to be, but we finally made it. And let me tell you... It was worth every single second of being lost! It was such an amazing place.

The thing I really wanted to see while there was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guard, so that was the first place we went. The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year... rain or shine. The guards change every 30 minutes in the summer and every hour in the winter. We were lucky enough to get there just a few minutes before the Changing ceremony.

I was in absolute awe watching the Changing take place. Every step was precise, every movement was sharp. When the relieving Guard came out to take his place, he as well as his uniform and firearm were thoroughly and ceremonioiusly inspected. Every uniform was perfect, every medal in it's place. If you look closely at the picture of the guard walking in front of the Tomb, you can see rust colored stains on the concrete. These stains have been left by the taps on the shoes of the men who guard the Tomb. The darker brown spots you see are where the three guards (during the changing ceremony) have tapped their feet together in perfect unison. It was amazing to watch!

I think the best part about visiting Arlington was that you see people of all ages, from every corner of the world... and they're all there to pay their respects to those who rest there. It's a very peaceful place.

After Arlington, Steve and I headed to the Air and Space Museum. Since the Natural History Museum had been closed for renovations, many of their displays were moved to the Air and Space Museum. We kindof had the best of both worlds! Among the things we saw were Abraham Lincoln's hat, Thomas Edison's light bulb, the original Kermit the Frog, and my favorite... the ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore while filming the Wizard of Oz! I LOVE that movie and seeing those ruby slippers was at the top of my list of things to do!

After leaving the museum, we headed across the street to the National Archives where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are all on Display. I was a little bummed when we saw the signs that said that flash photography was not allowed, but when we got to see the documents, I understood why. They have been meticulously preserved and kept in very dim lighting... but they are still extremely faded and very difficult to read. I'm definitely glad we got the opportunity to see them when we did!

Our next stop was by far my favorite thing we did the whole trip. Steve and I took a guided segway tour of the city and it was a blast!! The tour group met up at 6:00pm, and after about 30 minutes of practicing on our segways, we were off and running! Our tour guide was very knowledgable and was able to give us some interesting stories as well. Our tour included stops at the Capital building, White House, Supreme Court, Washington Monument, FBI Headquarters, and even Ford's Theatre... just to name a few. It was great!

We were with a group of about 10 people and they were a really fun bunch. Steve made fast friends with a man by the name of Mike Winn who is the president of a bank in Oklahoma City. He and his wife, Patty were so much fun! Poor Patty took nasty spill off her segway at one point, and ended up in the bushes once too. But she was a real trooper and just hopped back on both times and kept on going. They were hilarious!!

Steve and I have decided that any city we travel to, we're going to see if there's a segway tour. They are so much fun, and if you can do them at night you can avoid all the crowds of people. They're totally worth it!!

Our segway tour ended at about 9:30pm, so Steve and I made a trip to a local pizza place called "Matchbox" for some amazing pizza, and then we decided that we still had a couple more monuments to visit. So, we headed over to see Honest Abe. Talk about an impressive monument!

Our last stop of the night was the Vietnam Memorial. I was really hoping to get to see it during the day, but we just didn't have time. It was really dark and the wall was hard to see, so I couldn't get any pictures. But at the same time it was kinda cool because we were the only ones there. I could get as close to the wall as I wanted and read the poems that had been written and see the pictures that had been left there. It was very humbling to look at all the names that were on that wall. I couldn't believe how many there were.

It was such an amazing trip! There was so much to see and we had so little time. I really hope that we are able to go back another time to see more sites and learn more about our nation's history!

Flight Support Picnic!

This past Saturday we had a picnic for the Flight Support Department at work. This picnic is something that a group of us have been working on for quite a while as part of the Events Planning Committee and I have to say... It was a huge success!! The Flight Support Deparment includes the Dispatchers, Meteorologists, Slot Coordinators, Raft Coordinators, and the Next Day Flight Review Team for Netjets. We had a great turnout and the weather was gorgeous!!


The park we had the picnic at was in Pickerington, Oh which is about a half an hour drive from where I live. It's a very nice area and the park was absolutely beautiful! Steve and I got there at about 10:30am to set up the volleyball net we brought and to help finish setting up the food and tables. We had people arriving to eat at about 11:00, so it was a good thing we got there early!

There really was a lot to see and do at this park. There was a baseball field, soccer fields, a skate park, a playground, a walking trail, soccer fields, and a really neat covered bridge area with a creek that ran under it. We had the volleyball net set up, a football game going, and of course... a game of Cornhole to play! A lot of people who came brought family, friends, and pets... It was nice that there was something for everyone to do.


Since football is such a huge deal here in Ohio, we knew we had to have a way for people to watch the Buckeyes game. Luckily, a co-worker volunteered to bring his TV and set it up so no one would miss it. We took Cookie with us too the picnic and she was in full Buckeye spirit as well, thanks to Steve. He bought her a little OSU jersey to wear and she looked SOOO cute! It's funny... she usually throws a fit when I put something on her, but she had no problem whatsoever with the Jersey. She had it on all day long and we never even heard a growl out of her. She was definitely the bell of the ball... and she knew it too!

And I thought I was the lucky one...

So the other night, Steve and I were both in my back room. I was working on a scrapbook, and Steve was looking up something on my computer. I'm taking my time, doing my thing, and the next thing I look over and see is this...

Steve and Cookie were snuggled up on the floor together and she was out cold. I (as quietly as I could) grabbed my camera to take a couple of pictures. They were so cute! I can only imagine what she was dreaming about...

I think that's one of my favorite things about Steve... Not only is he super sweet to me, but he's also sweet to Cookie. He brings her treats, takes her on walks, and lets her do just about anything she wants, including her favorite... licking his nose. It's kindof a twisted little relationship the two of them have, but I love watching them!

Since Steve has been a part of my life, I've felt like the luckiest girl around. However, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe the Monster isn't trying to steal my title!!

My favorite things in my Favorite Place...

Steve got all of our Kansas pictures loaded onto my computer last night, so I thought I'd write a little more about our trip and show you all some of the things we did while we were there.

I think my favorite thing about our trip was that I FINALLY got to meet my furry nephew, Ethan. He's Roland's puppy and I had heard so much about him! He's 50lbs of energy and clumsiness all rolled into one, but he's a really smart dog and he's a sweetheart on top of that. We had a realy good time with him!

One thing Roland told us while we were there was that since Ethan spent a lot of his time outside in the heat, he would splash all the water out of his water bowl onto the porch and then lay in it trying to cool off. After all... he is a black dog and it was hotter than heck out there. We figured there had to be a better way for him to stay cool. Roland came up with the great idea of getting Ethan a kiddie pool to play in! However, we looked all over Ottawa for a pool and couldn't find one anywhere... not even Wal-Mart carried kiddie pools. We were bummed! We figured Ethan would just have to make due with the water dish he already had.

That night, we went to Mike and Angie's to have dinner and Roland mentioned that we had gone all over town looking for a kiddie pool and couldn't find one. Angie said that she had an extra one at her house and that Ethan was more than welcome to it if we wanted to drive out and get it. So, we did! Since he spent a lot of his time swimming in the pond, we figured Ethan would love it. However, when we filled the pool up with water, he wasn't really sure what to think of it at all. He would run around it in circles, but he woundn't get in. So, I took off my shoes... jumped in the pool... and what do you know??? Here came Mr. Ethan!! He got in with me and we played around for a while and had a great time. I think once he realized what the pool was and that it was his, he enjoyed it!

By far... my favorite thing to do while in Kansas is fish at my Grandpa's pond. Ever since I was a little kid I can remember spending time there with my family. It's such a relaxing place and you're guaranteed to have a good time there! Steve, Roland and I decided that a trip to the pond was a must... However, we also needed tp be prepared! In our family, "being prepared" for a fishing trip means having a really cool (and highly fashionable) pair of rubber boots. So, after an evening fun at a local sports bar, I decided that Steve and I needed to invest in a pair of fishing boots... So off to Wally World we went! As you can tell from the picture, they aren't the cutest things around, but they served their purpose.

The next morning, the three of us in our rubber boots and Ethan headed down to the pond to do a little fishing. Within the first 15 minutes, we'd all had bites and throughout the morning we even managed to catch a few. Roland caught a really good sized one... He always seems to have the luck at Granpa's pond. I don't have the greatest luck there, but I did get pretty lucky and reel a few in. The hard part with me is taking the fish off the hook. For some reason, I have a really hard time sticking my fingers in a fish's mouth... Not my cup of tea. In my opinion, that's what the boys are for! I did find a glove in the pick-up though and was able to tough it out for a few minutes in order to get a picture of my big catch! Ok... ok... it's not all that big. But, I did catch it and I'm dang proud of it!!

Poor Steve... He had bite after bite, but the silly fish just kept spitting his lure out. I really wanted him to be able to catch a fish, but after all that time fishing it just wasn't happening. He gave it a great shot though, and I think he had a good time... at least he acted like he did. I think Ethan was glad he was there too! Maybe the next trip out we'll be able to get him a fish.

Ethan really enjoys being at the pond too. He loves to run around and jump in the water to fetch sticks. He's still a little timid and will only venture out so far. He's really fun to watch though... that is until he walks over to you and shakes mud, water and moss all over you!! Crazy dog...

As many of you know, my favorite sport to watch is baseball... But only if it's live! I don't have the desire or the attention span to sit in front of the TV and watch an entire game. Plus, the atmosphere of the ball field (think hot dogs, cold beverages, lights, and the crack of the bat) is what makes the game! So while planning our trip, I thought it would be fun if Steve, Roland and I could catch a Kansas City T-Bones game. The T-Bones are Kansas City's Minor League ball team an let me tell you... They are a BLAST to watch! We had SO much fun out there!! The T-Bones played the Schaumburg Flyers and we couldn't have asked for a better time. The weather was perfect for most of the night too... Which we were thankful for. I love baseball, but sitting out there in 100+ degree temperatures sweating my buns off is not my idea of a good time. It was a great game and we cheered our hearts out! After 11 innings, the T-Bones pulled off a win! In about the 7th or 8th inning, it started to sprinkle lightly, so I got a nifty T-Bones poncho to cover up in. Roland teased my quite a bit about how goofy I looked in my "garbage bag". But it kept me dry for the most part and I didn't really care what I looked like!

Another one of my most favorite things about being in Kansas is getting to see my Grandma Hornberger. She lives in an assisted living facility and is a little forgetful sometimes, but it sure is good to see her when I'm there.

Before I went to visit her, I asked my mom if I should call ahead of time to let her know that we were coming, or if we should just show up and hope that we don't scare the pants off of her (I didn't know if she would remember us). Mom said that it might not be a bad idea to call ahead, but at the last minute I decided against it. I thought it might be more fun to surprise her. When she opened the door and saw us, she had the biggest smile on her face... It was so cute!! She was so happy we were there. Steve and I took her to Lawrence to go shopping to get some new clothes and she also went out to dinner with us that night. I think she had a really good time and I had fun spending time with her.

A weekly tradition of Roland's is go to go Applebee's every Sunday for lunch. I think it's kindof his opportunity to get away from the farm and kick back for a few hours without having to work. On the last day we were there, we all decided that we'd meet up at Applebee's for dinner before Steve and I had to drive back to Kansas City to catch our flight home. We had a great dinner and it was really good to spend a little more time with my brother before we had to go home. The bartender there was really nice too... She even took some pictures for us.

All in all, we had a great time out there. It's always hard for me to leave Kansas because I always know that the next time I go back, things will be a little bit different. At the same time, I realize that no matter how old I get and no matter how far away I live... This place will always feel like home to me. The farm will always be the place that is the definition of family to me. It's always been a place that takes me back to my roots and teaches me more and more about where I come from. I love that farm and all that it represents.

Turning a New Leaf

For some reason, I feel like today is a "New Day" of sorts for me. I'm not really sure what my deal is, but I'm jumping into a lot of new things in my life and I'm really excited about it.

As I said in my last post... I plan to be back in school by the end of October. My advisor is gathering my transcripts, I'm applying for financial aid (my favorite part of the whole college experience!), and I'm filling out my paperwork for the tuition assistance program here at work. I feel like the ball is finally rolling and I'm ready to get it done!

I also put in my application for a promotion at work. I am a Senior Dispatcher now with NetJets and I've applied to become a Lead Dispatcher. I have 6 classes to complete, I'll have 18 hours of additional shadowing to do with different departments within the company, and at the end of all that I get to take a 4 hour oral exam. It will be a good step up for me though and will open a few doors within the company. I didn't really think I was ready for it, but today I just said, "What the heck!" The worst that can happen is that I'm turned down. In that case, I'll have to work on whatever they want me to improve on and apply again in a couple of months. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though!

I also called today and talked with the volunteer coordinator at our local Ronald McDonald House and have applied to become a volunteer. I am on an Events Planning Committee at work and we've worked really hard in recent months to plan events that will raise money and donations for the House. It's a lot of work but it's very rewarding and I thought it would be fun to spend a few hours of my own time volunteering there. I took a tour of the House back in March when we started working with them and it's an absolutely AMAZING place! I was speechless when I left, and all I could do for the next few days was try to think of ways to help. It's such a happy place... even though many of the families staying there are living out their worst nightmares. I think it will be a great way for me to give a little bit back and to remind me of how lucky I am.

All in all, I think I've finally just decided to be a little more confident in myself and to stop making excuses for things. School is going to be tough, but I know I can do it! My promotion is definitely going to be a challenge, but with a little bit of work, I know I'll get there! I guess I'm just at another point in my life where I'm jumping in with both feet and hoping for the best... I know it will all work out.

WOO HOO!!!

I was due to have more bloodwork done just before I went on vacation last week to see how my prolactin level was doing since being on this new medication. I debated whether or not to go before I left town or wait until I came home... I didn't really want a call from my Dr. to ruin my time in Kansas. I did end up having it done the day before I left, and I'm glad I did. My Dr.'s nurse called to let me know that my prolactin level has dropped 12 points to 160.7... YEE HAW!! It's a small decrease and I still have a long ways to go (she wants it between 18 and 21), but it's the first time in a long time that the level has gone down instead of up, so I'm really excited! The bad news is that she has upped the dosage on my new meds... I'm not looking forward to that. It's nasty stuff and it's going to take a few weeks to get through the initial side effects from the increase. But, if it's doing the trick, I'm all for it! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Another bit of exciting news is that I've applied to go back to school! I've wanted to finish my bachelor's degree for a long time and with my work schedule changing in October, I finally have the opportunity. I'm scared out of my mind, and I have no idea how I'm going to pull it all off. But, like Steve told me last night... waiting isn't going to make it any cheaper or any less scary. My advisor is in the process of getting all my transcripts together to find out how many of my previously completed credits will transfer so that she can map everything out for me. The program I'll be working on is a Business Management program and classes meet one night a week. Hopefully in 1 1/2-2 years, I'll be done! It will be really nice to have that piece of paper under my belt. It's been a weight on my shoulders for a long time and having it done will open a lot of doors for me within my company. It's going to take a lot of work though, so wish me luck!!