third times a charm ... at least in North Carolina

I figure while I am sitting here trying to keep jet lag from getting the better of me by keeping my eyes open ‘til a reasonable hour, I figure I would drop in and blog a little. I just got back today from my third trip to North Carolina. My previous to trips were very quick 24-hour turnarounds … that went a little something like this. Matt and I arrive at RDU, get our luggage (although that wasn’t quite so easy the first time), go pick up our rental car, check into the hotel, I go to my room and call in to the Board meeting, and then meet Matt for dinner at PF Chang’s, go back to our respective rooms, answer emails until the wee hours, get up, grab a cup of coffee, go to our meetings, stop at Jimmy John’s for lunch and then back to RDU to return the car, check in and head back to the P-H-X. Sufficed to say, both of our previous trips lacked any true experience of what is North Carolina.

This trip was different in that we had three days and three nights there. The locals were promising us that it isn’t usually as cold as it was this weekend, but I didn’t mind at all. After all, when you live on the surface of the Sun, it’s nice to switch it up a bit. Anyway it was crisp and breezy and Friday morning it snowed briefly and lightly … but snowed nonetheless.

After being in this business for a couple years now, I have friends and colleagues tucked into pretty much every corner of this beautiful country, so I took this opportunity to try and schedule some time with my girl, Brittany. She and I met two years ago; she works with the company we use for translations. I digress. Anyway, Brittany was very excited that I was going to be in town and offered up one of her tickets to the Carolina Hurricanes hockey game. I LOVE ice hockey, so I was super excited and was only more tickled when I noticed that the ‘Canes were playing none other than the Phoenix Coyotes! I am not lying … how random is that? We had a great time and it was a nice break from all the work and industry formalities. Ice Hockey, beer, a Carolina pulled pork BBQ sandwich and some girl-time … it was just what the doctor ordered after a very emotionally trying week.

So the next day after we were finished working, Matt and I went on the quest for some authentic North Carolina BBQ, so we headed off to the highly recommended Ole Time BBQ on Hillsborough Street. It was what most great local food is … a hole-in-the-wall, family-owned joint that was lacking in curb appeal but overflowing with love and locals. Matt and I got to know that family that owned the place. Matt tried his first hush puppies and I got to enjoy some more BBQ pork sandwich, with green beans, fried apple sticks, hush puppies, and sweet tea …. Fabulousity!

So between the hockey, the BBQ, a surprisingly wonderful heart-t-heart with an industry colleague that I had never had the opportunity to really chat with before and the beautiful autumn colors on the turning trees, it was really a great trip. I can honestly say that even when considering the fact that we probably didn’t get too many leads out of this conference, my Thursday night mental breakdown from missing my husband, and the three hours I spent on the phone with Direct TV trying to get my installation coordinated (that could be a whole ‘nother blog), it was really a fantastic trip. I can definitely see why those that move there or are from there love it so much.

So now I am back home in the beautifully warm and golden Valley of the Sun, but I am telling you … I can’t wait until the next trip, I am craving those hush puppies already.

OK, off to bed for me … I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow of standing in lines at government offices to change my name. Wish me short lines and friendly government employees … ha!

missing my man

I miss my husband! I hate that he is away. I really don’t know what else to say about that … other than, I miss him and I love him and I HATE that he is away. I have six days and counting until I get to see his handsome face again. I know this is just a test and that we will be just fine and that this challenge will only make our bond even stronger and more amazing, but goodness …. Couldn’t we have had more than five days as husband and wife before we had to sleep in separate beds again … separate beds that are more than a thousand miles apart? There will be good that comes from this … learning and strength and perspective, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less right now.

I guess that’s all I had to say. I hate this. I hate the wretched man that put this all into motion. However, I love my husband and that his dedication to us and his own credibility in his industry is so important to him that he is doing the right thing and taking the high road. I love my husband and I miss him tremendously tonight.

distance makes the Post-it grow fonder

So for those of you that don't know the story, the man Sean has worked for since he arrived to Arizona is ummmmm ..... let's say a very cruel man and essentailly sold Sean to another company to go work on a project in Arkansas for the next six months starting one week after our wedding. Sean didn't have a say in any of it, but we are trying to make the most out of a really trying situation. So I came home from work last night to the first of many nights of missing my husband's handsome face, when I reached in the cabinet to grab a plate and found this...

...which of course instantly brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. So I called Sean with a tearful voice and thanked him for being such a lovely husband even when he isn't here. We got off the phone and I sat down on the couch to eat dinner and watch some T.V. when I look at the candle sconce above the T.V. and saw this...

I will save you the play by play of the rest of the night, but my wonderful, loving husband has been gone from the house for only 24 hours now and I have found these love Post-its in...

...my laptop...

...the kitchen tool drawer...

...the cabinet where our drinking glasses are...

...the coffee cup cabinet...


...with the pots and pans...

I am such a lucky woman! He's not even here right now. I won't see him until Thanksgiving, but it's like everytime I turn around he is here giving me a sweet little kiss. I love this man! I am so lucky that I get to spend the rest of my life with this Post-it hiding man!

a few days rest!

Sean and I only had a couple days to escape after the wedding before Sean had to take off to Arkansas for work. So we headed to breathtaking Greer, Arizona ... it was just what the doctor ordered. A log cabin hours from anything, no cell service, tons of trees, no traffic, no drama, and a fresh blanket of snow.

Our cabin was prestine. Sean immediately commented on how he could lie there and that is all we would need 40 years from now when we retire.

Even though you can't get a burger on the mountain before 11 am or after 2pm, it was still a charming, relaxing, and beautiful location with some of the nicest locals I've ever come across in all my travels. And if that wasn't enough, outside the Greer Community Center, there is a three-seater outhouse! Perfection!

We're married!

So the big day has come and gone and it was well ...amazing! I will try and take some time to find words to articulate how and why and on how many levels it was fabulous, but until then ... I will let some of the few pictures we have so far speak to how plainly awesome our day was.

Thank you to my new mother-in-law, Susan, for getting these pictures to Sean so quickly. More to come as soon as I have some to share.