Move In Day

So yesterday I moved into the apartment.

The time change has been brutal, just as we are getting use to one time zone we change to another so my body time clock is just bonkers! Plus it was a bummer when you drove through one because you got excited but then the reality that you just lost an hour of driving set in.

So I have been going to bed at my usual time which is around ten of course back east it's 1am. Then getting up at what my body thinks is 11 eastern time is actually 8 pacific...its a drag

But yesterday was a very emotional day, everything was setting in from being in my apartment to missing everyone back home. My furniture came around 1:30 and it was awesome, these two guys moved everything in and put everything away and set everything up. One of the first items the guys brought in was a mop, mop bucket, vacuum and broom... I asked them if the maid was out in the truck, I don't know if he thought I was serious cause it took him a minute before he started laughing.

The pictures are hysterical because I did none of it, this was all done by Men yes that's what I said a Man made my bed, set my table and polished my furniture!





After that I went to Target which in a weird way made me calmer. Just knowing that it is down the street puts me at ease. Then we (me, myself and I) headed the the grocery store which was also right around the corner from the apartment. I won't mention what I spent on the start up groceries but my cart looked ridiculous, to the point where they asked me if I wanted assistance to the car. HAHA.

Last night was a tough one as with out the distraction of the television and not wanting to do my homework the emotions of this whole event boiled over. I am only a week in to this and I all ready have a new found appreciation for my family and friends especially my former co-workers, they are just amazing people and I appreciate all the support and love that they continue to send my way as I need it. I have had multiple individuals who have told me how brave I am for doing something like this and truth of the matter is that I'm not that brave at all. But I just keep telling myself that everyone I love is only a phone call away and that someday I will be able to share this experience with my own children and give them the courage to go off and explore because well you have to do the things that scare you otherwise you will always wish you did.

Love you all, Miss you more
Kasey

RoadTrip 3, 4 and 5

I still can not believe that Jamie and I just drove cross country!

To go back a little day 3 found us in Cheyenne Wyoming. The drive there was a little scary as there is far and few places to stop and well there are more cows then people along the way. The scary part came when driving through this thunder storm, it was pitch black and the wind just came right across as there was nothing to stop it. Poor Jamie thought for sure that the trailer had lifted off the ground, I did not envy her at all during this storm. Needless to say we made it. The typical routine for us after driving 8 to 9 hours is to crash and then get dinner.By the grace of God there was an Outback right across from the Hotel. we walked over which was great cause I couldn't remember the last time I walked an great distance other then to the bathroom. We had a very yummy and fulling meal of real food.

Day 4 we actually headed to Lafayette Colorado. Our parents cousin Jude and her family live there. We stopped in had a bite to eat and the Jude sent us on our way with lunches! It was a little out of the way I won't lie but on our way back we got to travel on this "back road" of sorts and it was just beautiful. It is crazy to think how populated the east and west coasts our and that somehow the middle for the most part has remained unchanged.

Eventually we landed in Utah. I had totally forgotten that the winter Olympics were held there until we drove under an underpass that had carvings into the walls of the winter events. Again the drive to Utah was very open we did get to drive through this really cool tunnel it was crazy. Utah was also bittersweet as this would be the last time me and Jamie were roomies. It might have been why I was a little cranky that or the three days of driving with time zone changes in each one?!

We made our way to dinner and then hit the hay. I had manage to hold it emotionally together the whole trip and then it came time to say goodbye to my roomie and well it was tough. Poor Jamie had to park the Uhal in this back ally. An wouldn't you know the next morning there was a truck to her side and a truck behind her. I was parked in the parking garage right above her. I did my best to help her get out but it wasn't working. Then I saw another truck coming down the ally and I thought "O crap". The young guy got out and went over to assist Jamie and within like five minutes he had her turned around and on her way. Before leaving I got a call from Jamie telling me that the guy who helped her name tag read Jesus Christ. Im not joking.

I continued my way to CA. I wish I had taken more pictures aas this drive was just amazing. I still can't believe the views that I have seen during this trip they really do just put you into aww. I did manage to be in two places at once while I drove over the state line for Utah and Nevada preety cool. I made it to my hotel, ate and watched So you think you can dance! The time changes are brutal but slowly but surely I will get use to them. Right now I am sitting in my apartment waiting for the furniture to be deleivered.



We stopped at Fort Cody which was free and on the Way to Penny's diner


The emotions are all starting to hit, it will proably be a tough weekend but then I start work and will have something to distract me. I miss everyone soo much.

Love Kasey

Roadtrip part 1 and 2

So Tuesday we decided to have a family dinner at Caraba's. We had a delicious dinner and at the end my mom and dad gave me a key chain that the made that says " Follow your star...but remember to phone home"
Friday my mom invited everyone over for yummy food to say goodbye to Jamie and I. It was so nice that everyone came as it meant a lot to me and Jamie to see everyone before we left. We got a chance to relax a little bit before heading to bed and starting our adventure. Saturday morning came way to fast. We had breakfast and then said our goodbyes and hit the road. Travel was a little slow at first secondary to all the construction. Jamie and I have walkie talkies so that we can communicate and not break any laws. A little less the halfway into the trip we began to pick up someone frequency. Turns out they were the Traveling Bass Fisherman. Once we told them we were on I90 they broke communication.

So the first day we made it through PA, Ohio and finished in Indiana. Jamie and I have dubbed the air names of Captain Crunch (me) and Captain Ahab (Jamie). The GPS went on the fritz a bit secondary to the "roundabouts" in the road. We didn't get in until late and ate dinner late which may have not been a great idea as I had some crazy dreams. We were excited for the free breakfast in the morning but apparently everyone else in the hotel was to and it was a bust.

The second day was another long one, about 9 1/2 hours. It took us through Illinois, Iowa and finished in Nebraska. The ride was beautiful. There was corn out the wazoo! In Iowa they had wind turbines that were every where. They are huge and looked totally cool. We ran into more construction and the speed limits were up and down from 55 to 75. Jamie and I got separated during one point during construction and I was afraid she was not going to catch back up. She kicked it in to 3 rpms and caught up. Here are some picks enjoy!

Don't mind the bugs
The wind turbines in Iowa ..so cool

Apparently it has 800 truck parking spots
A little far away but Welcome to Iowa
It's the Mississippi River, and No I did not take this while driving pah!
Welcome to Illinois
The sun is in our eyes!
In front of our hotel in Indiana, Jamie said Hello to a small child and scared him.

Love you and Miss you all bunches!
Kasey

Almost time

Since finishing work on 7/9 things have been on a roll. We had planned to have dinner with my Uncle Pat and Aunt Katie on Friday as they were leaving for vacation and would not be back until the day that jamie and I planned to leave. I had also made plans to meet up with Marissa following the dinner. Well I got kind of worried because dinner got started late and I called to see if we could reschedule. When Marissa called back I couldn't answer as we were eating but a few minutes late she called again. It was during this time that she informed me that she needed to come get me because they were actually throwing me a surpise happy hour. Marissa felt bad for having to tell me but luckily in the end it turned out to be a suprise for her too.
My Aunt Cherly came up last weekend as it was the 70's birthday party. We had 4 individuals in the family turning 70 so we had a birthday party slash family reunion with the family that lives in Colorado. That all took place on Sunday luckily the weather was in our favor.

Monday got off to a slow start but that was the day that me and Menyia were going to have our one last day as I was not going to be able to take her and her brother to the state Fair as I have in the past. We met Jamie and her co-workers at Zebb's for lunch then Stopped at Kmart to pick up a few provisions as we decided to go to the Drive In movie theater in Minetto. In between that time we went to go play some putt putt golf at Big Don's. Kris decided to come with us to the drive in which I was excited about as we haven't had much time to hang out.

The rest of the week consisted of me running around doing errands to finish up the paperwork and what not for the new job. Got the trip tik and hotel reservations from AAA, all fun stuff lke that. I spoke with the housing department at hopefully I will have an address soon.

Friday I went up to the lake where Lisa has her cottage and just veg'd the whole weekend despite the head cold that I had. I had made sure to stop and get items to make smore's and Lisa did the same so we had plenty of supplies. Kris came up on Saturday night and brought us up sme Red Cat and we just hung out around the fire and talked. I was so glad that Kris came up and hung out, It will be those kinds of things that I will miss the most, but Im glad we had that time before I went.

Im sure that this upcoming week is going to go by sooooo fast. I am going to try and savor every moment of it. I am filling out an License application for Washington and have asked for one for Oregon and Idaho. This is probable going to be the craziest thing I have ever done and I am scared, believe me but at the same time I am just sooo excited.

Love
Kasey

Vacation

Hello

So these last two weeks have been really big and busy ones. I moved the last of our stuff out of the apartment on the 20th of June and moved back to my parents house for the time being. Jamie left to go on vacation and then I joined her shortly after.

I took vacation to Myrtle beach which was needed before the rest of my adventures ensued. I arrived on Friday afternoon and got many stares as with my black hair and pale complexion I stood out. Jamie insisted that people were staring because they had never seen a real albino before..haha, I demanded right then that we go to the beach! Not really all I wanted after Jamie picked me up was the yummy deliciousness known as a chicken bowl with white sauce! So we stopped at MOH and I devoured my chicken bowl. We stopped by Aunt Cheryl's work and then headed to Happy hour at Uncle John's store.

Saturday Jamie had a friend coming down , Shannon who was her little sister in Kappa Delta. We headed to the beach were by the grace of God and the help of 35 SPF I did not fry! We then got to be treated to dinner at the hotel where Jamie was hoping to have her wedding. The food was delicious, it was at an Omaha Steak House, I had the fillet with Oscar which is basically a topping of crab meat, asparagus stacks and Bearnaise sauce. It was SO good!

Jamie did get a lot of wedding planning done while she was down there which was fun to be a part of to see the big picture coming together, I was getting so excited I didn't really want to wait for the wedding! During the week Melissa and two of her friends came, Katie and Alana. We all got to go hang out at the beach where again I was careful not to burn. We went and ate at Mellow Mushroom which is a sandwich and pizza shop, if there is one near you go the food was super good!
Jamie and me at the wedding where I was totally hit on by a wedding crasher!
The delicious Chicken bowl and my overwhelming excitement made me knock my fork out of
the bowl and spill a cup of white sauce!
My South Carolina Parents
Melissa and my new friends!
Jamie and I in front of the home made beer board at Liberty!

I did finish my first summer session to which I was really nervous as we had to write an article with the potential to have it published. I was so nervous as most of the other individuals in my class have been out of school much longer then I have and have had the chance to develop programs where I have not. So coming up with an idea that I felt passionate about was a little difficult, I was able to come up with one that focused on my decision to return to school and how it has already changed the way I practice. The professor encouraged me to have it published and also asked if I would speak to the PR person at the school to use some of my statements!

The week flew by to fast and before I knew it it was time to head back for my last day of work :(
Today my co-workers threw me a fabulous luncheon with lots of yummy foods and Christine made me one of her famous cakes! I did get a little misty eyed when telling everyone how grateful I was to know them and how much they helped reaffirm my desire to be an OT. So with two days left to go I will have to say goodbye to my work family and a short two weeks later say goodbye to my family. It really hasn't hit me yet but I'm sure as pull out of the driveway it will, I guess right now I'm going more off of the excitement of all the possibilities out there!

Love Kasey

Quickie

Hello all

Just a quick post, I've been on vacation for the last week so I will put up another post once I get the pictures from Jamie. The week before that not too much happen. I am now officially licensed in California and since it is now July I should begin to get calls about potential jobs. We moved everything out of mine and Jamie's apartment. It was really sad because we had some really good times in that place. These past two years have been a blessing. Jamie has mentioned once or twice how the emotional toll is beginning to hit her, being further away from friends and family and thought it would be harder for me or was surprised that it has not been so far.
It wasn't until she said something that I realized I had not even really given it any thought which sounds so horrible but as it is my best friend lives in another state and my other close friends live an hour or so away, so that change won't be too different. I will have to be more diligent about keeping in touch.

I will miss my family probable more then I would like to admit, but I'm going to be a little selfish and go for something that I have been wanting to do for a long time now but have put off for reasons of varying kinds. I am looking forward to the adventure of getting out and seeing a different land scape and meeting different people, I just want to know what is outside this bubble of mine known as Syracuse.

I finished the first half of my summer session and Monday will begin the second half. I'm hoping things are put together better for the second half then they were the first. Hopefully this time around my financial aid doesn't get screwed up.

This upcoming week will be my last week of work, I really am truly going to miss it there and the people that I work with more then they really know, it was just another perk to my job being able to work with such fabulous people!

other then that just some running around before the big departure day!