Ooot and Abooot

As you may have already figured out, Mike has moved to St Cloud, Minnesota for a job opportunity. Turns out, that's nearly seven hours away. Yuck.


However, I had a four-day weekend recently and I decided maybe I should spend some time in my future city and with my future hubby. Good call, huh?


I arrived in St Cloud on Friday evening and I stayed until Monday morning, which was a great long-weekend away. Mike and I got to spend some quality time together, I got to see some friends I hadn't seen in a while, and I got a little more acquainted with St Cloud.


Friday night Mike and I had the opportunity to go to a St. Cloud Rox baseball game, courtesy of Mike's boss. More perks of the job :)   If you know me, you know that I love baseball. Maybe for the hotdogs, sunshine, and people watching -- or maybe for the baseball. Who knows. But I do enjoy it. 

And an extra bonus? It was a Friday night game. You know what that means:  Fireworks! Another of my favorites!

Saturday we went for a run along the river, met Father Mike for lunch, soaked up some sun at the beach, and enjoyed a home-cooked dinner courtesy of Mike's friends. Sunday was pretty relaxing-- we went to church and didn't do much else. That evening we enjoyed cheesy-broccoli-rice and salad while watching a movie on the floor. We're just that cool.  


I think when Mike and I actually do have furniture, we won't know what to do. We've both lived without much for the past month. I cannot WAIT to have furniture, tv, and internet again. Welcome to the 21st century!!


Overall it was a fantastic weekend in St. Cloud. Great friends, great sun, and a great guy. I couldn't have asked for more!

A few weeks ago, Mike accepted a job in his old stomping grounds, St. Cloud, Minnesota. So he moved up there to get started. Because he started a mere two weeks after I had been back at Bergan, I decided I should stay in Omaha. Yes, just as soon as I got back to Omaha, he left. How should I take that???


Mike is staying in a rental home owned by one of his high school friend's parents. He had zero furniture, so rather than buying some while mine sat in my mom's basement, we decided to move my furniture up there for him to use. We'd have to move it later in the fall anyway, so why not do it now? 


So we packed up a U-Haul (once again), my grandma packed her toothbrush, and we hit the road. Oh yes, my grandma and I did the moving. Who needs Two Men and a Truck?? After about 8 hours on the road, we arrived in St. Cloud. Mike was still working, so we thought we'd start with the light boxes and wait for him to get home to do the rest. But after about an hour, all that was left in the trailer were the mattress and an armoire. Grams and I had unloaded everything else!


After a burger, the rest of the evening was spent unpacking and rearranging things. By the time we left the following day, Mike had enough furniture to live on, though certainly not a house-ful. The drive home sans UHaul trailer was much easier. Which was a good thing--it was really windy.  We stopped a couple times for snacks and gas (and perhaps a wrong turn), and made it home safely. (Side note: we narrowly missed a fatal crash. If we hadn't taken a wrong turn, we would have likely been a part of that crash, in which four people died. But instead: wrong turn, gravel road detours, and a safe arrival.)


Aside from getting Mike some much-needed furniture, I had a great time. Grams and I did a lot of catching up and spent some quality time together. It's certainly not something I'll forget. Thanks for being my co-pilot, Grams!!

I Tri(ed)

Saturday was the second annual Omaha Women's Triathlon. My friend Kayla (who you may remember from last year as my pregnant by-stander friend) wanted to check a triathlon off her bucket list, so I agreed I'd do it with her.

About three weeks before the triathlon was to happen, I was having second thoughts. I had moved three (yes, three) times during the course of "training" and had really been slacking. I was getting only a couple of my week's workouts in, and I really wasn't feeling good about my abilities. But after a pep-talk with Kayla (at least that's what I'll call it), I decided I couldn't back out. So away we went.

After a 750-meter swim (a half-mile), a 20K bike (12.4 miles), and a 5K run (3.1 miles), my legs were completely exhausted, but the triathlon was complete! I didn't do as well as I could have if I had trained appropriately, but I did beat least year's time... by 5 seconds! Not bad for not training. My goal was to finish in under 2 hours, and I did beat that by 5 minutes. Win. Maybe for my next tri, I'll train and do better ;)

I have decided that the run is really the crucial part. That's what will make or break your time. Mine, at least. The swim will never be my strongest leg. I grew up as a fish in the swimming pool and beach, but the crawl stroke while I'm being kicked and hit by fellow swimmers just isn't my forte. The bike is easy for me to push it a little extra, especially when I know the route. But the run. I've never been a runner by trade, only by training. I've never excelled in it, despite all the races I've done, but I do it to accomplish a set goal. Kayla, however, IS a runner. Which is why, after being ahead of her for the swim AND the bike, she kicked my butt in the run. And beat me by a full 10 minutes. So next time... the run. I'll get the run.

Kayla, Kasey, and I before the race began.

Next year, Kasey will be flexing her guns too.

One of my cheerleaders, Kate. Oh yes, she made a sign. She's just that great :)

Transition area.

Not-so-flattering, but whatever.

Can you see the exhaustion in my face??

Asking at this point whether Kayla was ahead or behind me... and making sure she wasn't the lady in the ambulance.

Mallory was a rockstar and finished the race with me. After she had already finished. 


We decided this should go on the cover of the new Corning-Villisca newspaper (since she's from Villisca). We used to be rivals. Now we're Timberwolves. Or something like that....

Kayla, Me, and Mallory after the finish. SUCCESS!!

My final time was 1:55:32. I finished 120th out of approximately 300 ladies. Not the best in the world, but mine and I'm proud of it. I finished. Did YOU??

The Mighty Missouri

Last week marked Mike's last week in Omaha before moving to St Cloud (more to come later on that). Conveniently, I had four days off work and he was done with work for those four days. We had a lot of time to hang out, see friends, make dinners, and of course watch the NBA finals. But one of those evening was reserved for dinner with Fr. Hauser and a surprise date. 


Mike did let the cat out of the bag of what the date was before that evening, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. Thanks to Groupon, we went on the River City Star, a riverboat cruise of the Missouri River that flows on the east side of Omaha. We got to see the remnants of the flood damage, in addition to seeing the riverfront from a whole new perspective. It was a fun evening, and the weather couldn't have been much better. What a fun night on the river!

Debt-Free is the Way to Be

When I started college, I knew I'd be paying off my loans for years. Years. I certainly thought it would a good ten years. But four years and two weeks after graduating college, my student loans are officially, 100% gone. 


I have worked really hard in the past few years to pay off my debt as quickly as I could. I just couldn't stand paying more in interest than I was paying on the loan itself. I paid off my car, my braces, and now my student loans all in the past year. And let me tell you: that is a wonderful feeling. 


Now, any money I make is ALL MINE!!


I thought maybe I would have a big last-statement-burning party, but alas.. the celebration included Mike and I sitting on the floor of my un-furnished apartment in our sweats, me with a glass of wine in hand. Quite the celebration, if I do say so myself!

Goodbye Laramie, Hello Omaha

My oh my, are we a little behind on the times, or what??


It's been a whirlwind in the past couple weeks, but an enjoyable whirlwind at that. My last week in Laramie (now two weeks ago) was very bittersweet. It was a great last week there. We had a lunch party to celebrate my last week and another get-together one evening. The oncologist said to me "Look how excited we are that you are leaving; we're having a party!" I don't think they were so much excited that I was leaving, after reading the very sweet card they all signed for me. I got some fabulous gifts from my coworkers and patients, and there were even tears shed as I was leaving on my last day. I made some really great friends during my three months in Laramie, and I feel very fortunate that I was giving the opportunity to work there. Even though I was bummed when I was driving from Florida to Wyoming in January, I think it really worked out for the best.


My mom flew into Laramie to drive back home with me. We had a great drive -- the weather was perfect and we had a lot of fun catching up. I spent that weekend in Corning visiting family and enjoying HOME. 


Since then, it has been great being back in Omaha. I have caught up with many of the friends I've been missing and I'm getting back into the groove at work. I'm not sure how I feel about working 12 hour shifts and weekends again.. I think I was a little spoiled with a Monday thru Friday, 8 to 5 job. It was great! But I'm starting to get used to it again.

I'm currently living on my brother's couch (again) -- Thanks Brother! -- until I move into my own apartment in a week. It will be much closer to work, which will be really nice. 


Wedding plans have been progressing a little more in the past week. We now have a DJ and we're working on choosing a photographer. But with a facility, food, drinks, and a DJ all booked, I'd say we're ready to party :) 


I think that's about all that's been going on in the past couple weeks. 
I hope all is well with you!
Now, onto my To-Do list....

Laramie: Week 11

That's right... you get a double feature this week!  


Only a couple weeks left here in Laramie, which seems crazy. So I'm trying to live up the last of my time here--going to dinner with some of my new friends; that sort of thing. Nothing much new at work this week. We've been experiencing the anticipation & dread of them being short-staffed and trying to find solutions, and enjoying the last of the well-staffed weeks they'll have for a bit. 


This weekend was a great one. And I mean GREAT! I got to enjoy a weekend back in Omaha, and though it was a very quick 36-hour trip home, it was well worth it and I enjoyed every minute. I went home primarily for Easter vigil, but I got to enjoy some fantastic friends and family time while there.


As you probably know, I've been taking RCIA classes for the past few months and the culmination of that is the Easter vigil, at which the RCIA candidates are confirmed into the Catholic church. It was kind of strange to me, because I was confirmed into the Presbyterian church when I was in Jr High, so it wasn't really something completely new to me. But it was definitely different than that. I learned a lot in the process--about myself, about the church, and dispelled many of my judgement. It was a great process, and the Easter vigil was a beautiful thing. Long, but beautiful. And.... I got a snack during church :) hahah


My mom and stepdad came to town for the day and for the mass, and Mike's parents came for the weekend and the mass. And yes, they all met each other at dinner Saturday evening! They had never bet before and it went very well -- at least I think they all liked each other :)
And then my dad and his lady-friend came to town Sunday for brunch, at which they met Mike's parents for the first time as well. Also a great time! So it's official:  everyone has met before the wedding!


This weekend I was also honored to have been asked to take photos for a friend's little guy's first birthday party. I'm not sure I'm qualified to do so, but it was great fun! I got some great shots and it was a very fun afternoon. I'm still working on editing them, but I'll give you a little sneak peak soon (provided I have internet again).


There wasn't much more time in the weekend, but I snuck in a coffee date with my bestie and her little guy (my godson! who is crawling now!), and a lunch date with my old roomie and her hubby. It was great to see all of them, and I look forward to more time with them in a few short weeks.


To all my friends and family:  I miss you, I love you, and I'll see you soon!