Holiday Update!!!!

As I type this, it's 6:36 a.m... and I should be heading to bed soon.  Time to go back to the "norm" for me... night shift life.  **Sigh**  However, the difference right now is knowing my Aussie is sound asleep in bed... we are no longer 11K miles apart... only 20 - 30 feet or so.  And that is aussome.

Catch up to current in the best cliff notes that I can.....  Wed night was hair appointment and fam time.  Great time.  Thurs, I got up and *BEGAN* (minus 5 gifts..total) Christmas shopping.  6am... and NOBODY was out.  Every year I wait til the last minute....and every year, the crowd is so light when I do go out (and always go out early) that it doesn't "teach" me a lesson.  lol.  Sales are great, crowds are low... so, why fight black Friday shopping and the massive crowds for the same deals???   I think not.  hehe.  Ok..so after shopping, came home to wrap, clean, etc.  Time FLEW by..next thing I knew, I was running behind my "agenda".  Got cleaned up and headed to the airport to pick up Wayne.  I tried to fool him and tell him I was stuck in traffic on the interstate... however I failed.  APPARENTLY, I'm predictable?? (me??? noooo....lol).....

Finally.  After 37 days apart, we were back together.  It felt like not a day had gone by, but at the same time it felt ages since he had wrapped his arms around me.  It was sooo amazing to finally be together again.  That night, thanks to the insomnia, I didn't sleep much..but found myself not bothered by it.  After all, he was laying right there within touching distance sound asleep.  Why sleep when I can spend every second possible with him...even if it's with him sound asleep.  So wonderful.

Ever since he planned on coming to Lexington for Christmas, he has had one "request"... a white Christmas.  I remember months ago him asking "what's the forecast for Christmas?"  Now.  Our weather guys can't usually predict the weather accurately for the DAY much less a few months in advance.  As Christmas, and his arrival both approached, the forecast called for?? You got it.  Snow.  A white Christmas was in the works.  The first one since 1999 for Lexington.  And thankfully, mother nature made it happen.  A first white Christmas for Wayne, and my first in 11 years.  It was so amazing.  We built a fire, watched some movies, had a snow ball fight (I'll admit, I lost!)..... just.  amazing.

Christmas Eve we went to catholic and baptist church services.  We were blessed I guess!! lol!  For fear that god reads my blog, I'll leave me and my niece's church experiences out of this blog. HAHA!  (looonnng story!! lmao) 

Christmas day we exchanged gifts by the tree with the blinds open to the snow covered yard... about 3'' I guess.  One gift I gave Wayne came with "popcorn" packaging.  At some point, that seemed like a good thing to have an indoor snowball fight with...lol.  So, we spent some time fighting with the "popcorn"...laughing.... throwing HORRIBLY because we were laughing so hard. LOL.  As they say, growing old is mandatory.  Growing up is optional.  We have not gone for that option yet.  ;)

Christmas afternoon we went to mom's and enjoyed sledding/tubing down the hill with my awesome neice, Erin.  Perhaps I'm biast...but that kid just rocks.  We had a lot of fun... I don't know HOW as a kid we played in the snow for hours after hours.  After 2 runs down the hill and back up, I was exhausted!! LOL!  Had a few wipe outs... and a few times where I couldn't get up the hill for laughing...lol.  I have to say that this is easily one of the most memorable Christmases I've ever experience.  Even got to spend some time with one of my BEST friends from 4th grade, Jason!!   How many people can say they are still friends with their "bFF" from FOURTH grade???  I can!  Love him and so happy to see him!!!

Late in the day I got a text "she said yes!"  One of my best friends' boyfriends proposed.  Soooo happy for them!!! So, that night we all went out to celebrate the engagement.  Which worked, because Wayne got introduced to a few other friends who wanted to meet him.  Well, more thrown in than anything...lol.  It was an awesome night full of laughs, love, and celebration.  What a better way to wrap up Christmas!?!?! 

Next up, return to work the next three night (sighhh)...then time to celebrate New Years!! I'm sooo excited.  NYE is my big night... always been superstitious about it.  Not sure why/how...but I am.... and I'm ok with it.  Plans to spend the night having dinner with some of my BEST friends, followed by some casual hang time/drinking at one of their houses. 

I feel so blessed to have the family and friends and love in my life that I do.  I wish everyone a VERY merry Christmas and send love to everyone.  I am so excited about everything in my life right now.  I'm so very happy.  It's crazy how life works out sometimes...even when we are the last to realize it...

Until next time....

Blah.

Seriously needing some motivation.  It's freezing, and snowed every day so far in December.  I'm including today, the 5th, as I've already ventured out to the store only to find... yup.  Snow.  I'm not anti snow, don't get me wrong.  I just wasn't quite ready.  I mean, seriously, I just came back from paradise and entered freezing temperatures and being able to see my breath as soon as I stepped off the plane.  If that's not a shock to the system, I don't know what is! And we aren't getting significant snow, maybe 4''?  But it's just enough to make roads slick, and de-icing your vehicle mandatory before leaving the apartment.  At least when I'm at work, I get to park in a covered parking garage.  Gotta find the positive right?

Anyways, with the weather I'm just blah.  Without the dogs I find myself sleeping later and later on my nights off.  Granted, I'm also going to bed later and later on my nights off, as early morning or late night is the best opportunity for Wayne and I to talk.. either online or on the phone.  Love our chats, and the fact that modern technology is where it is and that we aren't waiting for snail mail or pigeons, messages in bottles.... eh, you get the picture.

Also have some family stuff going on.  Won't go into that here, those of you who know me well enough, know what is going on.  Just a real difficult time right now and I hate that it's so close to the holidays.  Well, I hate it in general.  I hate being let down by people who I least expect it from... one person in specific. 

It's now down to 18 days until I get to see Wayne again.  I know it'll all be worth it once all the many details are sorted, I have no doubts about that... it's just hard somedays.  And somedays, it's even harder than others.  Somedays you don't think it could possibly be harder, only to find out in a few days it does get worse.  But, then it gets better, and you go from hating the distance, to being so blessed to have someone so special that makes the distance worth it all.  Does that make sense? 

In the meantime, I'm working on a super secret mission on planning some things for while he's here.  Over the 3 or 3 1/2 weeks he's here, I do have to work 2 weeks of those, but that's only 6 nights total.  So, if you have any suggestions of things to do (other than the obvious....hehe) drop me an email!  When you grow up with all the things around you, you take forgranted that some things even exist.  Working on NYE plans, and think that's gonna fall perfectly into place.

Well, I am gonna hop off here, throw some clean sheets onto the bed (my obsession) and try to get motivated to do a few small things around the house.... if i can get motivated to 1. get off the couch.. 2. get out from under my very warm fuzzy blanket, and 3. quit playing on a website that keeps advertising on my home page...lol.  

Until next time.... cheers.....

Lyrics/Quotes...

First off.. it's December 1st.. will, actually it's now December 2nd.  Geeze, this year is flying by.  And now the count is down to 3 weeks until I get to see my love again. :)  Our first Christmas and New Years together.  How aussome.  ;)  Tonight I put up the tree after rearranging the living room.  It's cold outside, and it feels like Christmas now!! Yah! :)

I have no clue why, but I *love* reading lyrics and quotes.  Always have been.  Perhaps my attention span won't allow more??  haha.  Anyways, here's a song that's become special to me, and I thought I'd share the lyrics.  Hey, it's my blog, right? haha. 

Keri Noble, "Piece of my heart"

"Driving down the highway saying goodbye to it all
In between the blues and greens we're following the call
That takes us so far away from summer's sunny days
You know I'm missing you already and I can still see your face

Sitting underneath the stars with a cold beer and old friends
Talking 'til the sun comes up and then we'd do it again
Well you've become a part of me that I never want to lose
Until we come back together you know I'll be missing you

I can hear us laughing
I remember every part
I've got everything we ever did
It's tattooed on my heart
But there's a colder wind coming in
And blowing us apart
Until the summer brings us back,
You know you got a piece of my heart

Watching your taillights fading out of my sight
Feeling like the sun just lost a little bit of its light
But you've left your memories to linger, new memories to start
'Til the summer brings you back, you know you got a piece of my heart"

Time flies...

Sometimes too fast, sometimes just not fast enough.  Why does time not seem to have a consistant happy medium?  I'm back in the states and have hit the ground running basically since I landed.  My trip to Australia didn't go as I expected... it went better than I could have ever dreamed.

Since my last post, I have done the old fashioned method of journaling.  Pen and paper.  I'm glad I did, but since I write so much slower than I can type, I plan on going back to "modern" blogging... hence an update.  Since I've got a little over a month of hand written blogging, I'll hit the high points.  :)  But warning..this could end up being a long post...

Prior to the trip I was able to place my dogs in an awesome home and they are doing great.  One of my best friends, Lisa got married and the wedding was gorgeous.  She is so happy and I am so happy for her.

Traveling to/from...

• People should not remove shoes on a flight if their feet smell like really old, moldy Cheetos.  Thanks.
• Also, deodorant isn't just an option, it's highly recommended...esp by those next to you in a packed plane.  Again...thanks.
• Dear flight attendants...Never fly a plane that leaves Lexington (or anywhere in Kentucky) if you do not know what Woodford, Makers, or Bourbon is.  Shame
• The smaller the plane... the worse the turbulence.  (obvious yeah, yeah, yeah.)  And turbulence does not equal a steady environment for bathroom breaks.....
• Marked time travel off the bucket list.... left LA at midnight, and a 13 hr flight later, it was 6am.  Returning I left Melbourne at noon on wed... landed in LA at 10am.. on wed.  Yeah, that really added confusion... easily done anyways, right?
• Free wine and meals and your very own on demand TV with recent movies make a 13 hr flight much more enjoyable.  Finally got to watch sex/city 2!
• The stars at night at 36K feet over the ocean... amazing.

First night in Australia, we were both beat....I actually beat Wayne to Australia as he was away for work...but only by a couple hours.  By the time we got home, cleaned up...we had both been awake a lonnnggg time, so we opted for carry out for the first night.  The perfect definition of irony?  We opted for KFC.  So, I flew from Kentucky, to Australia.. for kentucky fried chicken! HAHA.  It started as just a joke, but then I thought it was perfect. 

Got to meet most the family over the course of the trip.  Wonderful people.  Of course I was nervous, but they all made me feel so welcome and part of the family off the bat.  I had already been talking by skype and facebook to his cousin and cousin's wife, so meeting them I felt like I already knew them.  Each day that Wayne had to work, someone in the family would come pick me up and do touristy things.  Again, they really made me feel so welcome.... awesome people...all of them! 

Riding...not to mention, driving on the "wrong" side of the road is quite an experience.  Esp when you are given the keys to a diesel truck on day 3 and told "you are driving".  One day when I went to go run some errands while Wayne was at work, I went to get in the car.... unlocked the Australian "passenger" side.... and sat right on down.  Looked to my right to discover I had sat on the wrong side.  The fact that the steering wheel wasn't there wasn't even a clue until it was too late.  And... looked up only to find someone had been very close and giving me quite a strange look.  Awesome. 

As I've mentioned, I am not a big reality TV fan.  Only show I watch is "teen mom"....because I somehow got sucked into that..... however, I became a reality TV junkie in Australia.  I guess by the fourth night I already had a couple reality shows that I was hooked on.  I tried to not watch, but failed..lol.

Went away one weekend for a getaway to an area "down south"... about 3 hrs south of Perth.  A region referred to as Margaret River.  Hundreds of wineries.... gorgeous gorgeous views.  Breathtaking.  No picture or words really describe.  (oh, pictures... I'm uploading pictures to a shutterfly site, once it's all done, I'll post the link.  I took a LOT of pictures..lol.  And I may do a few fav's on here later this week, but will try to post a few through this entry!).  Stayed at a really nice hotel and really had a wonderful weekend.  Fri and Sat night we went to watch the sunset over the beach.  It was quite chilly, but again..so beautiful.  We would go for long scenic drives, and it seemed like there was just so much to see and take in!  Wayne would ask what I was thinking (guess I was quiet..which isn't "me"...haha).  "observing".  We took the same road a couple times and I swear I rarely noticed the same things twice..... so amazing.

Went to a wildlife park/zoo and got to pet numerous kangaroos and a koala!!  Wayne's brother and youngest kiddo, Zane took me and it was soooo neat to see!!  Kangaroos were soft...koala's were very coarse.  just the opposite of what I thought!  We were pretty sure that they were drugged... far too chill.. and when I post some pictures.. you'll see..lol.  They look...well... stoned! lol.  Zane was in the stoller and wasn't sure about these animals on eye level with him...at all.  And quite appropriately, he tried to kick them.  lol.

Got stuck on the beach one day....as the tide was coming in...and quite close to us... Three dig outs and pushes... lowering the pressure on the tires to 15...another couple who just happened to see us stuck... and LOTS of prayer got us out..lol.  SHEW!

Went to the pinnacles...which was just miles and miles of some big rocks..... so awesome though.

Went with Wayne's mom, brother and both boys to Freemantle and to a boat museum.  The oldest Koby after we were done wanted me to sit in the back with him and Zane.  He said "auntie april...sit with me".  Of course I did...how do I refuse that?  He looked at me and said "aunty april..you smell funny"  I had a mint in my mouth, asked if it was my mint.  "umm. no".  I hold up my wrist with my perfume.. "is it this?"  Koby smells.... stiffs up his nose... "oh yes!  that's it.  you smell like a GIRL!  Yuck".  How freakin' adorable right?

Wayne's cousin wife, Aideen and the twins (7 months old....adorable as heck!) and I went into the big city on the day before I left.  It was so weird to see Christmas trees and decorations in 85-90 degree weather..lol.  The city is so big, and so pretty.  We had a really nice time and I enjoyed spending one last day with them.

On the last day, I woke up around 9am.  Wayne had already left for work.  The first thought I had upon waking and stretching was "I can't believe I have to leave tomorrow..."  Then the sudden realization followed.. it wasn't tomorrow.. I was leaving that day.  And what a hard day that was for both of us.  We'll just leave that at that.

Travels back to the states was long... in 48 hrs I had 6 hrs of sleep.  3 out of 4 of my flights were delayed.  The worst was my last flight from Dallas to Lexington.... I was exhausted.  We were running behind schedule as it was because of luggage loading issues.  So, we get all the way out to take off (and Dallas is a HUGE airport...so we're talking a long taxi out...)  Captain comes on the intercom "we are next for takeoff".  10 minutes later, we are still sitting there...then make a turn.  Captain comes back over "folks..we are unable to take off due to engineering issues...we are gonna have to head back...deboard the plane, see if we can fix it or get another plane".  Awesome...  I finally landed back in Lexington around 1145 pm.  I hit the sack at 2am...slept until 540pm... and then... back to the grind and back to work.  Shew....

I was so nervous leading up to the trip.  What if things changed?  We'd been close friends for so long...if things went sour, was I going to lose that close friend that I could rely on for anything and tell anything to?  All of this came about at the very end of his trip to the states, that we hadn't spent time together on that next level, so there was just so much uncertainty.  What if he didn't have that connection to me, or changed his mind?  I have read in my written journal a few times where I was just so nervous.  I could go on and on regarding that.... but I'm happy to report that all those fears were totally unnecessary..and things were better than I could have hoped.  And it was great to have that friendship base.  To be able to joke and cut up and laugh in addition to the relationship was amazing.  I'm so excited about everything and am very much looking forward to our future... and I'm so happy to have all of our friends and both families supporting us 100%.  I'm just blessed.  Truly blessed.

I've now been back for a little less than 2 weeks.  The first week was really hard, the last week has been easier.  And knowing that he will be here in 24 days for a little over 3 weeks, including Christmas AND New Years, makes the distance just a little more tolerable.  24 days..... 24....

Here's some pictures... I've fought blogger to put these pictures in the blog where they FIT...but either I'm retarded (good chance) or...well, I'm retarded... hehe.  Enjoy friends.  Until next time...

It's HERE!!

So, as I previously mentioned, I am still attempting to do paper journaling.  For the last week or so it's not been as easy as typing (one of the benefits of being able to type 50-60 words/minute), but I still feel in the next little bit I will enjoy it, or at least be able to remember more.

As I type this I sit in an airport, nervous as crap.  Why?  One part of my flight is 13 hrs.  Wow.  The longest airplane ride I've ever had was probably...um.... 2 hours?  Maybe 3....  I'm also a little nervous that since the Aussie will get to Australia after I do, the first face I will meet is his brother.  I don't know why, but meeting family has always made me just a little bit on the nervous side??? I've honestly never had a family member not like me (not bragging, but I really haven't... annddd... probably just jinx'ed myself?!) however the whole process of meeting family, and further more, (esp with the distance and all) getting approval makes me nervous.  Oh... I'm just a girl.. what can I say?!?!  Anways, at LEAST I have the opportunity to get to the house and cleaned up before Wayne gets home......  I think I have a good 2 hours ahead of him... hmm.. perhaps a nap can be squeezed in there too?? woohoo!!

I sit here in a total sweat.  I look around thinking perhaps it's the temperature in the room...but see everyone else is all cozy in their sweaters and long sleeves (fall is majorly upon the Bluegrass).  Oh.  I recognize this.  Nerves.  Awesome.  I probably look like a majorly menopausal 30 year old up in here.  Awesome.

The greatest thing that has happened since I did some online posting, is Wayne's cousin's wife and I have been able to communicate quite frequently through the Internet.  I already feel like I know her, and can't WAIT to meet the twins in person.  Being a kid lover I think over the next three weeks I am gonna spoil them.....  Will make the journey to the states even harder though.  Funny, as excited to get there as I am, in the back of my mind I also know that the sooner I get there, the sooner I will have to leave.  Sigh.....

Ok... I think the old iPhone is charged...has PLENTY of tunes, and a plane towards Dallas will be loading in an hour.  It's 50 yards, but not messing around this time and missing a plane! (lol).  So, until next time, either by current blog or transcribed blog... cheers.  :)

8 days....

Well, for the time being, this will be my last post for a while.  First off, have a LOT going on between work, weddings, and travels over the next 4 weeks.  Secondly, am gonna revert to the old fashioned method of journaling... pen and paper... I want to keep a good log of my travels and such, and internet isn't always accessible; plus I think it will be fun to use the old fashioned pen and paper.  I will update the blog once I return from Australia; and will probably transcribe some entries onto here.  In the meantime, you know how to reach me...and until next time... G'day.  ;)

Next week!

I will be in the land of oz next week. Certainly feels weird to say that. 9 days til I leave. Three nights off between now an then. I gotta get a moving on packing and such. Shewwww.

Can't wait. Had a good weekend but will post that update later.

Again...9 days...