Weekend away, Thanksgiving, Wedding, and a Stomach Bug...

So, this post is a catch up... well, sort of.  As the last part of the title indicates I'm a bit under the weather.  Stomach bug invaded our house Sunday morning around 2'ish for Wayne and 4'ish for me.  Luckily for Wayne he was well enough to return to work today.  Unfortunately I don't feel well enough to even leave the confines of the house (or be without indoor plumbing).  It's been a long 40 hours and I still don't feel 100%.  Work tomorrow, so really hope I'm better because calling in or getting coverage isn't exactly an option.

Ok.  Weekend getaway was great.  At some stage I will post some pictures.  Otherwise check out my facebook page as they are all up there as well.  We had a fantastic private, romantic, and secluded cabin in the country with an ocean view.  The weather was great as well.  Even went Whale watching on Saturday which was so cool!!!  Was a much needed get away, and a chance to celebrate the nursing license FINALLY coming through.  Emphasize on the "FINALLY" part!

Thanksgiving came and went and was perfect!  We had 17 people here in total.  The menu was Turkey, Ham, mash potato's, broccoli casserole, corn pudding, pumpkin pie, lemon cheesecake, apple pie, and some home made loaves of bread.  There weren't many leftovers at all, everyone seemed to enjoy the food, and it as a lot of fun, every sitting around laughing and such.  Really good time.

Saturday was a wedding.  One of Wayne's best friends from Uni.  The wedding was beautiful, even though mother nature REALLY turned on.  Was SUPPOSE to be on the beach, however the wind was nasty so the location got moved.  However was still gorgeous and seemed to go off without a problem.  It also gave me the chance to meet new people... including someone from America (who actually was from a town SUPER close to Hagerstown) who is here because of a girl.  Was nice to meet someone in basically the same shoes.  He had arrived the night before the wedding, so seeing them together I couldn't help but feel like I could totally relate to them.  The excitement of being face to face, and no longer 11K miles apart.  Just different to be on the outside with knowledge of how the inside is feeling.  Also met someone else here because of a relationship on the same visa I am on.  And everyone I met was very nice as well.

Since the stomach bug hit my biggest accomplishments have been going from point A (aka bed) to point b (aka couch or recliner) and a shower.  So I will end this update for now, and apologize for it being super vague and picture less.  Will blog better when I feel better.  ;) 

Ok, until next time

Thanksgiving week... already?

Seriously, where has the past 12 months gone?  It seems like Thanksgiving JUST occured?  WTF.

As I type this, it's now early Wed morning, nearly 1 a.m.  My insomnia is slightly acting up again.  Well, I don't know if it's ever FULLY resolved.  It has improved.  Once I GET to sleep, I can actually sleep pretty well unlike before.  AND (touch wood) my nightmares have resolved.  I don't mean startling dreams, I mean horrifying dreams that would cause me to wake myself up (and Wayne) screaming.  I still have quite vivid and typically CRAZY dreams, but nothing terrifying like before.  Once I'm asleep I actually can sleep 8, 10, 11, 12 hrs even.  It's just actually GETTING to sleep.  Tonight is the first time in ages I have actually gotten up out of bed to watch tv and surf the net in hopes of getting tired.  On a side note; NFL is on!  Sweet.

Anyways, Thanksgiving is *technically* tomorrow here!  We are doing a big American style thanksgiving dinner here and starting a yearly tradition of it.  The family all loved the idea and we have a little less than 20 people coming to our house.  However, since it's not a holiday here, we are having the dinner on Friday night because a lot of people work and will have to work that day and the next day should we celebrate on a weekday.  We considered the weekend, however we have a wedding to attend, so for at least this year, Thanksgiving Down Under is on a Friday.

As I type this, it's 70 Celsius and I can hear crickets chirping their hearts out.  This so does not feel like Thanksgiving!!  And to top it off, the temperature forecasted for Thursday is.......... 93 degrees F!!!!  Sayyy.... WHAT???  Friday is not forecasted to be AS warm.. but still 79 degrees F.  I don't think I've ever celebrated a warm Thanksgiving!

We did the BIG shopping yesterday.  Discovered that cheez it crackers (my bread crumb topping of choice for broccoli casserole), cornmeal, and Velveeta cheese are NOT available for purchase.  At all.  Anywhere.   Got the substitutes, and even fixed home made cornbread with dinner tonight.  Was so nice to have a taste of the south!!!  I had missed that taste and didn't realize until I took that first bite.  Actually, as soon as I smelled it in the oven my mouth started watering. 

The other "hiccup" I've discovered is the oven temperature settings.  It's so natural to put something to 350F.... without having to convert it.  I attempted today on my IPhone 4 S with Siri to do this math for me.  Total.  Epic.  Failure. 

Me: "Convert 400 Fahrenheit to Celsius"

Siri: "calling so-and-so's mobile number"

Me: *flipping out because it's an international number, AND 5am their time* "NO!!!  STOP!!*

Siri: "I do not understand stop"

I'm convinced Siri is a man. 

Along with my tom tom, who lately seems to get a touch of an attitude when I reroute on my way home.  Dude, I appreciate the tips, but if I don't take them, an attitude is sooo not needed.

Yup, inventions by men.  Sure of it.

I am a nurse In TWO countries!

Well. Today finally got the news that it's done and I'm now a registered nurse in America and Australia. What a journey. And a stressful one at that!

Now to find a job.

And handle other things at home. Things I won't go into here. Not the place. Somedays I'm ok. Nights like tonight I feel crushed, buried alive. Buried below miles of pain and lies.

With time. I hope. With time. Going away this weekend and I really hope that eases some of this ache.

Until next time.

PTSD....

"Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity, overwhelming the individuals ability to cope."

With his work, Wayne is away a lot.  As in, 26 weeks a year.. .aka 1/2 of the time.  Always knew this was part of his job, and I know how much he LOVES to travel (although he isn't getting the glorious trips like he use to these days and seems over it most the time).  Therefore, I can't *really* complain...right?  Ahh..who are we kidding.. I am a woman, therefore I must complain.. what is it they say.... "women do not burp or fart, therefore we must bitch or we will explode".  Haha.  (not a word, Wayne!)

Anyways, the first night of trips is the worst.  It's like PTSD for LDR's (long distance realtionship'ers).  One night of sobbing and feeling alone cures it and then I'm fine.... but feel silly the next morning.  It's almost like my mind thinks I'm back to the distance and the long periods before we see each other.  Although I KNOW he will be home on "X" day, there is this little part of me that reverts back to the 11K miles and WEEKS AND WEEKS apart and I just lose it.  WTF???  Granted, I am under a LOT of stress with the board and stress tends to make us women respond with emotional instability.  Hey, let's be honest.  You know I'm right!  If you are a man reading this, you just read it and nodded in agreement.  If you are a woman, you read it with disgust, but quickly realized "yeah, she IS right..."  We are women...we feel first, think second.  Period.      

Speaking of LDR's, I just can't help but sometimes look/think back on those summer July and August 2010 nights.  It seems like ages ago.  So much has happened since, yet they feel like yesterday sometimes.  I still remember the butterflies.  The nerves.  The wondering... wondering what he was thinking and feeling.   Wondering if certain things he did and said was me reading correctly, or reading FAR more into it than I should.  After all, we were best friends, so why would he ever be interested in more?  The constant asking myself "am I crazy?"  and wondering "what if".  What if I never speak up?   And even worse, what if I DO speak up?  So much to lose, yet so much to gain.   It's hard to think about those days without remembering ALL the emotions.  The good, and the bad.  The surprise of him telling me he was coming BACK to Lexington DAYS sooner than planned, wondering "what IF he is feeling something too?"  And dismissing that thought as me being a "girl"... only to find out, I was right all along.  It WAS mutual.  And who could forget the horrible first teary goodbye.  The first of many, and I'm so glad that the only time we would have tearful airport goodbyes will be if he has a work trip and I turn SUPER GIRLY on him... lol.  I'm sure it's bound to happen.  (damn estrogen!) 

On that note, I will leave with lyrics (super shocker, I know) of a song that always makes me think of the early days.....  read them through, because.. well, I said so??? lol.  Keep in mind, this is a duet, so it's a man and a woman.. so if the lyrics seem to go... umm.. questionable.. it's probably the other gender cuing in?? lol  


MY SUGGESTION.... play the "video" (which is just the song) and read the lyrics.  I know it's a lot of work, but I have faith you can do it! :)

We've been friends for a long, long time.

You tell me your secrets, and I tell you mine.

She's left you all alone, and you feel like no one cares,

But I have never failed you; I've always been there. 

You tell your story, it sounds a bit like mine,

It's the same old situation, it happens every time.

Can't we see, oh, maybe you and me,

Is what's meant to be or do we disagree?

What if I told you?

What if I said that I love you?

How would you feel?

What would you think? 

What would we do?

Do we dare to cross that line,

Between your heart and mine?

Or would I lose a friend, 

Or find a love that would never end?

What if I said?

She doesn't love you, oh, it's plain to see.

I can read between the lines of what you're telling me.

He doesn't hold you the way a woman should be held.

How long can I go on keeping these feelings to myself?

What if I told you?

What if I said that I love you?

How would you feel?

What would you think? 

What would we do?

Do we dare to cross that line,

Between your heart and mine?

Or would I lose a friend, 

Or find a love that would never end?

What if I said?

Oh, we've both had our share of loneliness.

So who's to say that we can't have a little happiness?

And if I found that in you,

It would make my dreams come true.

Or would you walk away?

Hear what I have to say.

What if I told you? What if I said that I love you?

How would you feel? What would you think? 

What would we do?

Instrumental break.

Do we dare to cross that line, between your heart and mine?

I've always wondered from the day we met:

What if I said.

What if I said?

Ooooh, what if I said.

Now to wait

Very frustrating morning with the board. Remember how I said they keep throwing in by the ways? Today was no exception. Long story short I nearly had a melt down. Cried five times before noon. Got flashed by a speeding camera (??? Ticket???). Then thanks to Wayne, composed myself and went back to the board with Wayne to discuss further. Looks like all should be good. Now I wait for the approval. Thank god he was here. Again he is the ying to my yang.

Thanks to everyone for their support , encouragement, and prayers through this. Keep em coming though.

Trashy tv night!

Beauty and the geek. Lockdown. Operation repo.

Pizza. Coca cola. Laughs. Snuggles on the couch.

Oh and major nervousness about tomorrow. That's the difference this week!

Tomorrow!!

10 am on Friday (Perth time) I meet with the boards. I'm excited and nervous. Know how I keep complaining about the whole "by the way" comments!??!! Yup. Got one again today. "don't forget to bring your proof of address". Ok. Well since I had never been told this how would I know? And what does proof of address have to do with it??? It is not a stipulation that you have to live in Perth or even Australia for that matter to have the license issued. So I'm not sure WHY they need this or why, once again, they've waited until the last possible minute to tell me....but whatever. Throw me your flaming hoops and I will jump them. I swear though. If I wasn't in this because of a relationship and our future....if I was single and just wanted to travel and try nursing in Australia, I would have thrown the towel in so long ago on obtaining my nursing license. Then again not sure I'd ever do something like travel to the other side of the world in the first place. Lol.

Look how much has changed. In May of 2010 I took my first solo plane ride...a two hr flight. Whoopie Now I'm living on the other side of the world. Who am I and what happened to that small town Kentucky girl?? Lol. Ah the things we do for love. Wouldn't change a thing!!

In.....

In....2 hrs I will be in the freeway headed home. I will be wishing I had a pushbar or a bumper car to move the idiots in this town out of the way. Or a flying car, or at least a get out of jail free card in case I do as the voices tell me. Haha. Jk. Or are "we"? ;)

In.... 2.5 hrs I will be bitching about said commute home to hear "welcome to Perth" as the answer, while eating the dinner that my love cooked. One of the perks on my late nights at work!

In.....Four hours all of my paperwork will be certified!!!! (side note, all the documents came last night!)

In ..... Five hours I hopefully will have stopped sweating. It was 92 F here today. And muggy. Picked the wrong day to NOT wear a ponytail :/

In.... 48 hrs I may be a registered nurse in Australia!!!!!

Will keep you posted!