I'm "home"

It's been ages since I have blogged...we are now in America!

This is our first visit to my folks new home, and I love it.  I'm so happy to see them happy and enjoying their new home.  I walked into "my room"....and it SMELT like my room.  And there were so many things up that reminded me that it truly was my room!  Really awesome.

We had a 36'ish hour ride to get here.... luckily we had the middle seat empty, so we had lots of spare space. Not to mention first class lounge access which included free food, alcohol, andddddd a massage. Just an average day ;) hehe

Today we went to Clearwater and had an amazing time.  Wayne and I went Para sailing (photos to follow!!), then we went and had drinks (aka.. BUCKETS)  (we =me and mom..lol)

I'm having a blast.  I'm happy to see the folks happy and I love their house.

Tongiht Is my BFF's bachelorette party and I hate that I'm missing it.  She asked if I would drink for her, and therefore, I'm drinking!! lol.

It's so weird... as soon as I'm here, I feel like this is home.  America.  It is so awesome to see the places I am use to.. Taco Bell.. Wendys... Arbys.... Dunkin Donughts...... Texas Roadhouse.. All the weight I have lost up until now...well, I just may gain.

It's just hard to be here and feel like this is where I belong, but yet think about Australia and think that is where I belong.  Tonight after the boys went to bed, "Undercover Boss" came on.. and guess what?  It was "Undercover Boss Australia"  and it was IGA and Leanards.  Instantly, I felt like that was home.

I guess home is where the heart is.  And although my family and closest friends are here.  I can safely say my heart is in Australia.  It has become my home.  I even feel freaked out driving on the "wrong" side of the road!!  Crazy!

Oh, and can I mention, mom and I went wedding dress shopping??  Let's just say we can check THAT off the list.  :D

So much to be happy about!

FIRST off.....We leave for America in 10 days.  Up until tonight, as I have blogged, I haven't been overly excited.  Don't get me wrong, I'm so thrilled to see my friends and family that I just can't stand it.   Just a few fears I had.  However, tonight we had dinner with my very dear friend, Mary and her hubby Graham.  Mary is an American married to an Aussie.  She is from Indiana.  We get along very well and I reallllly enjoy her company.  Her hubby is just as awesome.  I wish we actually got to get together more than we do, but life is crazy.  However, I think we will just have to make it happen more often.  ANYWHO, tonight we had dinner at Tony Romas (yum) and she said some things that really made me feel better about the trip and so now I'm becoming excited!!!!!  We are getting to see my folks and their new home in Florida.  All my friends and BEST FRIENDS in Lexington... more friends, more weddings, then a week out west in Vegas and California.  I've never had a vacation this long, and this is actually our first vacation AWAY together!  In the past our vacations have been going to visit the other person.  We get to travel together, and did I mention 1st class lounge access????  The lounge is Sydney includes a massage parlor!! (note to self... book that tomorrow!)

Secondly, there are some possible changes at work coming up.  I won't go into it all here, but that's mostly because so much of it are details that *I* don't even know yet.  OH!!! AND.....My visa came through a week ago!!!  So I'm now a resident of Australia.  How.  Freakin.  Cool.  Nearly 2 years ago I sat in tears talking to my Aussie about how in the HELL we would be able to make this distance thing work.  I attempted some online visa research, which only seemed like I was reading a foreign language and made me even more overwhelmed and stressed.  To look back at all of that and see where I am now (oh, and actually doing Immigration for newer coworkers for my office.. lol) it's just such a good feeling. 

Thirdly... well, I can't really go into, but for my own purposes (since I look back on this from time to time) I wanted to mention that some things are in progress.. basically, I HAVE A SECRET!!!  (and, no, I'm not pregnant!!)  I'm so excited about what the future holds.  Once I can post further, I will! 

Gotta love suspense, right??? hehehe

So I sit here tonight, fixing to head to bed to begin a very long and busy week.  Wayne is home all this week, so he won't be away with work until after we return from our trip.  It's one of those evenings where I just feel so loved,  I just can't imagine my life any different.  And what is amazing is to think that the all the changes and plans we have for the future are only going to enhance this awesome life.  I love ya babe!

And America.. brace yourselves!!  lol

Until next time...

Nerves! (short but sweet!)

In 3 weeks from now we will be sitting in Perth airport..about to head to America.

I am starting to have more nerves than I realized possible... why?

Let me break it down.

1.  I am scared that with all the go go go, as soon as we get to America, I will want to come home.  Home as in Perth.

2.  I am scared that once we DO come home, I will be extremely home sick. 

3.  I am scared of running into the ex.  My mom has said if he tried anything he'd be dead (between her, my dad, Wayne, and our friends).  But, that fear is still there.  Not sure how to escape it?

Suggestions??????

Randomness.... galore!

So I'm noticing a trend.. when Wayne is away, I feel more in the blogging mood.  I guess because when he's home, I enjoy spending our time together.  Also, I have someone at home to talk to, so the need to "vent" isn't really there, because I can tell him (and to his frustration, probably, DO) tell him everything.  That's the best part of being in love and in a relationship with one of your BEST friends.  For years I always deemed him my "BEST guy friend in the WORLD"  Now he's my best friend and partner.  What a great combo!

Anyways, I got home this evening and my mind is going a million miles a minute.  Work has been chaos for the past two days.  I actually left on time today, but could have EASILY stayed over night and STILL be behind.  The good thing is this makes the days just fly by!  Today I found out that our company doesn't do over time... anything above contracted hours is "hours in leu".  Yeah, I have no motivation to kill myself in return for time in leu.  Nope!  No thank you.  It's amazing somedays.... how much my work life has changed.  I have gone from bed pans, cardiac arrest, passing medications, over seeing a unit, saving lives, etc.... to a desk.  With radio.  UNBLOCKED internet (which I actually don't abuse...only because, well, I don't have TIME!), and so many other "tasks".  MOST are truly medical.... wound care, sutures, in office procedures/surgeries.... some aren't.  Scheduling plumbers.  Fixing computers.  Scheduling printer repairs..... Reminds me of one of my favorite Kenny Chesney songs "the woman with you"... I can't resist.. I gotta post lyrics!  And these lyrics mean a lot to me... because of the fact that no matter how my day is, I LOVE coming home to my Aussie....  (blog continues after lyrics!)

"The woman with you"  Kenny Chesney

"She hit the door 6:55 sack full of groceries split down the side.
Can goods scattered all the way to the curb.
Look on her face saying don't say a word.
So, it's me and her and a can of beans sitting there on the front porch swing.
Western sky all turning red.
Head on my shoulder she sighed and said:

Been gopherin, chauffeuring, company chairman.
Coffee maker, Copy repairman.
Anymore there ain't nothing I swear man that I don't do.
Been juggling, struggling, closing big deals.
Dancing backwards in high heels.
Just when it feels like i can't make it through.
She said it sure is nice to just be the woman with you

She said the girl I was with the business degree probably wouldn't recognize me.
I was gonna run the bank.
I was gonna run the math.
Now all I want to run is a bubble bath.
Back then you know I had this plan.
Before all of this reality set in.
Here comes life boy ready or not.
Hey I wanted it all and that's what I got.
Cause I'm gopherin, chauffeuring, company chairman.
Coffee maker, Copy repairman.
Anymore there ain't nothing I swear man that
I don't do.
Been juggling, struggling, closing big deals.
Dancing backwards in high heels.
Just when it feels like I can't make it through.
She said it sure is nice to just be the woman with you.

She said I'm gopherin,chauffeuring, company chairman.
Coffee maker, Copy repairman.
Anymore there ain't nothing I swear man that I don't do.
Been juggling, struggling, closing big deals.
Dancing backwards in high heels.
Just when it feels like I can't make it through.
She said it sure is nice to just be the woman the woman with you.

La, la, la, la, la, la

The woman with you"

Don't get me wrong.  I love my job.  But these lyrics just mean a lot to me.. I've highlighted some key parts for me... as you can probably tell....  lol.

ANYWAYS.....  what got me to blog today?  As I got home, and hit the pj's, my warm Ugg boots (that my honey bought me last week... how I lived without them?? I have no clue!!!) I started on some chili (hey, it's winter down here, yo! lol) and on the TV had  "How I met your mother" playing.  The thing I LOVE about this show is that, a lot like "One Tree Hill", the show is big on voice over's that aren't just blah blah blah... here is what tonight's show (which I think was the first episode!) had to say....

"But that's the thing about destiny. It happens whether you plan it or not. I mean I never though I'd see that girl again, But it turns out, I was just too close to the puzzle to see the picture that was forming."

So tonight, I challenge you to think about destiny. Think of the jobs you didn't get, the relationships that fell apart, the pain you endured.... where did it take you? Would you trade any of it knowing that it might not get you EXACTLY where you are now? I know for me, I wouldn't trade a thing.  EVERYTHING I endured..has brought me here..change a single thing in the past..where would I be?  Without Wayne, I'd be lost.  Period.  I love my life.  I love our life.

On that note..... 

Good night blogger world... or if you are in the USA.... good morning.

Love never fails - Brandon Heath (lyrics)

Just returned to work after a wonderful weekend down south. Amazing. I have some pics on Facebook and will post more pics and a trip update soon. For now I'm posting lyrics. On the way home I was reading a people magazine from America that was a country music issue. A Q&A session with Carrie Underwood revealed this is one of her FAVORITE romantic songs. I have yet to hear it but found the lyrics and thought I'd share. I liked em :)

Love Never Fails lyrics

Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all
Matters the most

Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep
Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you

Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease
At the end of time

Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes
When you don't

Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you

When my heart won't make a sound
When I can't turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater than this
Greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way
The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you

Blah sunday...

Yesterday was great... went to a night time AFL game.  Certainly not the same as my beloved American gridiron, but still a LOT of fun!!!  Certainly no happy camp, all day tailgating, etc... sometimes I wonder why Aussie's haven't adopted the tailgate experience?  Everything here involves alcohol and fun... so tailgating to me seems pretty standard! lol.

Anyways, today I've woken up with a sore throat, right ear is TOTALLY clogged, and I feel overall yucky! It IS Winter here.  It's cold.  And it feels very strange to be this cold in June, nearly July.  I keep thinking that Thanksgiving MUST be right around the corner, right?  Wrong.   Anyways, I think part of it is moving countries my immune system is much more crappier than it use to be.  I'm sure allll the bugs I've become immune to over the years are different here.. so, welcome to life down under, I reckon.

In addition to feeling like crap, I woke up with some "female" problems this morning (andddd... every male reader just closed the window!! lol.. dont' worry, no details!)  However it couldn't have mentally come at a worse time.  Last night I had a very vivid dream that we had a baby.  I remember so much of the dream, even the sex (girl) and name.  It felt so real that when I woke up, it almost felt in a strange way that I had lost a child.  That's the problem with my vivid dreams, they seem so real.  Not that we are trying to have a baby, and yes, we ARE using birth control... I guess I'm just approaching the age where one of the things I want most in this WORLD is for us to start a family.  I just can't wait.  I hate to admit it but sometimes I feel so jealous when people post pictures of their ultrasounds and such.. of course I'm happy for them, but still sometimes a little jealous.  If someone gave me the option between my bucket list and a family, the family would be my choice.  I guess a family has become my bucket list, to be honest.   I just sometimes worry about the "what ifs".  Even though us even starting to attempt a family is at least a year off... I think it's just the age, and that whole biological clock thingy.  Anyways, enough about that........ for now.

In 31 days we leave for America.  I'm excited, and nervous, all at the same time.  I'm very happy to see my friends and family.  Wayne and I are planning our to do list, and some of those include some theme parks, beaches, drives (west coast in Cali or Grand Canyon maybe!), etc, etc.  After all, it's nearly 4 weeks, and there is NO work involved.  We are planning on going to Cedar point and I'm SOOO excited about that.  Have never been but have always wanted to go.  We looked at the website the other day, and I must've sounded scared, because Wayne said "it sounds like you are about to shit yourself just looking at this picture!"  And it's true..... I was terrified in looking at the picture, but at the same time I just can't wiat!

We will land in America on the 26th of July.  EXACTLY one year from when I left to permanently move to Australia.  We didn't plan it that way, but that's the way it will work.  It's amazing how quickly time has flown.  I really am excited to see my friends.  I am so thankful for social networking and email...those are the methods that allow me to keep up with my friends and family.  Very few people know of my blog, and I keep it that way so I can still have a place to vent without worry of who is reading it.  So if you are hear, feel blessed..or cursed perhaps?? lol.  My blog is like how Facebook was before ALL your friends, coworkers, and family joined.... freedom! haha. 

I have now submitted my application for my NEXT visa (working visa).  Hopefully that will all be finalized soon.  It's so overwhelming sometimes, the whole visa process. And this isn't the last visa!!  Sometime late this year or early next we will apply for a Partner visa.  It's just a never ending redtape/paperwork trail.  And to top it off, I still have to file taxes in America based on my Australian earnings!  That's so jacked up.  Some people actually pay DOUBLE taxes on stuff!  Every day is a learning process to living in a new country, but at the end of the day, it's part of it.  And hey, nothing worth having comes easy, right?

I also received some GREAT news at work recently.. that may result in MORE education... and more MONEY and OPPORTUNITIES!!!!!!  I'm excited, but still too much to find out to fully post.  So consider this a sneak peak!!  LOL.  Hey, my blog isnt' that exciting, so gotta keep ya'll coming back somehow!! LOL!! But, I will post more as soon as possible.. or for more info, shoot me an email!  I try to keep some things vague on here, as you do......

Hope everyone is doing well.. and hope to see you soon!! If you are reading this and wanna get together when we are in the states...shoot me an email!!

xoxo

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

I wake up in the morning, when it's still the night before.

When I go to bed, everyone is getting up.

And no, I'm not on night shift. Just on a different continent, in a different hemisphere.

I shower with products that I've mostly never heard of.

The toilet doesn't flush the same. It doesn't actually twirl though, mostly just shoots straight down.

I use a funny shape plug to use appliances that cost at least twice as what they should, and again, brands I've never heard of.

I leave work and get into the wrong side of the car and drive on the wrong side of the car.

Rush hour is the same worldwide. It sucks. Rainy mornings make it even harder to commute, much less get out of bed.

I arrive to an office where everyone sounds different, yet I'm told I am the one with the accent.

Everyday is a learning experience. Even after doing this for 13 yrs, some days I'm over whelmed with what I have to learn about my new world.

Even punctuation has new names. Ever heard of a full stop? Apparently it's the word here for a period at the end of a sentence. A full stop? That's what my car makes when I come to a stop sign.

Which, there are none of here.

I can't say I miss those dreadful four way stops.

Having said that, round-a-bouts are a part of my daily life. I had never seen one until my late 20's and had no CLUE what the hell it was. I think they are wonderful inventions.

I go to the store and don't reconize hardly any brands. Even when things look similar, they are different. Even if they have the same name (ie, Coke) yet again, they are still different.

Every week I go to a new place. This is exciting, yet terrifying. This caused me to have a mini-breakdown recently.

The TV shows are mostly American tv shows.. but tons of repeats. Thank god for Internet tv and HDMI cables.

Burger king looks the same, only it's called Hungry Jacks.

Big W is a store that hired the Walmart advertising people to do their advertising campaign. IT. LOOKS. THE. SAME. Therefore, I STILL call it "Walmart" only for people to look at me and say "umm..where?"

It's all english, but it's Australian english.

Here you don't say root..that means sex. So no, you don't "root, root, root for the home team" Unless you are a whore.

I have no clue where to buy clothes...still. The sizes for clothes are the same numbers, but the numbers aren't the same size. Bra's have a different number. When I go shopping, I have found ONE store that I can tolerate.. if they have nothing, I. Am. Screwed. I have curves, boobs, and shoulders..... apparently most the retail stores here are worse than American women's clothing stores.

I don't have a checking account. Hardly anyone does. I have a bank account that is a savings account, and a bank card. My bank doesn't have branches. I do all my banking online...or at.... the post office.

I miss my friends and family and the ability to pick up a phone and call them, or hop in a car to see them. Now a phone call is tricky because of the time difference, and the commute to my friends is a 36 hr or more airplane ride.

Somedays it all just feels wrong. OK. Most days it all feels wrong.

But... there is always a but....

No matter how wrong or different my life, there is still one person who with just the touch of his hand makes it all seem ok. He's the reason that no matter how hard things seem, I know I'm right where I belong. I am home.