Things I'm learning as I go.......

Week 1- I traveled to Chicago for training. All the flight arrangements were made by an awesome administrative assistant who I now find has been laid off, which makes me ever so aware of how amazing this opportunity is. I didn't see much of the city, but I found a really good restraunt I will return to in the future. The evenings were taken up for the most part with conference calls with my group project folks from school, which was weird since we are all in different time zones. Unfortunately, due to one member being very absent and the rest of us having to scurry to get things finished on a project, I got my first B in grad school, but life goes on! The only casualty of the week was a forgotten I Phone cube that was lost. Takeaways from this trip- don't pack so much!

Week 2- Traveling to Seattle is always incredible, rain or no rain. I am in love with this city! The thought of having a completely different way of life...walking or riding the rail around town, lots of awesome bike trails, and it is always GREEN! The Pike Street Market is fantastic, brimming over with fresh food, little coffee houses, nearby pubs, fruit, flowers...what is not to like! The Sound is a welcome sight since I have been limited to Texas weather and oceanfront. There are so many cool places to go...the Experience Music Project was awesome when the hubby and I went this summer. There is a cupcake place that gets over 60% of their ingredients locally and I have never tasted one better! We had to make a trip to Tacoma to fix my computer, and had lunch with a coleauge on the waterfront. Very pretty. I ventured out on my own after work to a vinyl shop and found a new Stevie Ray Vaughn vinyl for my hunny and had the best Pho' ever. The cherry blossoms were beautiful! Takeaways from this trip- bring an umbrella!

Week 3-I spent the week at home. I caught up on housework, took a tour of a gas distribution plant, and purchased awesome office furniture. As soon as I finish painting, pictures of my office/ hubby's man cave will follow. What's a home office without Rock n' Roll memorabilia and music instruments, right?! I love that he plays guitar.

Week 4-I flew to San Diego for a two hour meeting with hospital folks. I spent the evening walking along the beach and picked up seafood before heading back to the hotel. I needed to set up office near the ocean! I met a colleague for lunch in La Jolla, then found a coffee bar/ hookah lounge, thinking that since it was 1p.m. surely no one would feel the desire to toke on a hookah. I settled at a table near the windows overlooking the ocean. Three hours later when I was done with work, I walked along the cliff  to see the surfers. I drove up to Torrey Pines to the seashore there and gathered stones on the beach while talking to a good friend. Mid-week was spent in Sacramento. Two in-services a day for three days, with lots of time in between to relax. I learned not to eat the entire appetizer of hummus all by myself. It didn't end well. I met cousins I hadn't seen since 2008 at a neat restaurant called the Tower Cafe, which was incredible. Kara's kiddos were so cute and well behaved! It was so nice seeing them all! I had time to kill before my flight and went to Old Town Sacramento, which is similar to the Stockyards in Fort Worth. A few neat shops, then a bunch of junk, but something to do. The casualty this trip was a digital camera I left in the rental car. I guess pictures will be from my phone for a while! Takeaways from this trip- be careful where you park in La Jolla, it is costly, $87 to be exact.

Week 5- Home for a few days, then traveled to Toronto to have an internal meeting. It was rainy and cold, and snowed a foot the day we left, but the hotel was a ski resort, which was very nice. The power went out for about an hour and a half due to ice bringing down power lines. The way back tested my patience. 11 hours in airports or planes was not fun. I started reading The Shack. I have had a copy for about three years, but just read it. Wow! Two quotes struck me deeply. One because I applied it to my own situation, "Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown." The other was,  "Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods."-Albert Einstein

So often as a Christian, I find myself wondering, does this person truly know God? How can they act the way they do and still profess Him as their Savior? Good grief, I know the mirror should be pulled out then. We really do need to live in love with those around us to be an example of Him to others, and let God sort them out in the end. I got so jaded caring for sick kiddos. I found myself wishing God would take some of the parents you had to care for while caring for their kids. I have cared for parents by serving them and their kid, only to find out they raped their baby or beat them to death. The world is so broken..... Takeaway from this week, asthmatics don't use oil based primer!


Week 6- Got a lot done at home, finishing painting in the office and setting appointments. Started the week getting a root canal redo. Thank God I didn't still have a pulp in that tooth, because I had to speak to a group of physicians the next day, and it hurt! It would have been so much worse if I had a complete root canal. If I had to do that after a whole root canal, I would have rescheduled. I worked in Los Angeles, but only one meeting and lunch with a colleague. I headed up to Bakersfield afterward and had dinner and visited with cousins and my aunt and uncle. It had been too long since last time! Takeaway from this trip- always look to see if you have everything before you head back to the hotel, or your husband will have to drive to Love Field to bring you extra house and car keys!

Week 7- off to Seattle again this week, can't wait! See you all throughout the journey......