Here, there, everywhere

Hey all. My its been a while since I've been able to post. So much has gone on. Finally...FINALLY done with school. Christen is FINALLY here with me in California and life is FINALLY starting to settle down.

A little run down. Though the job market is tough for my area of work, I have been offered a job as a contracted critical needs assessor. It pays well but is not considered full time because it is contract work, and does not offer benifits. So my quest for "full time" work is still going on.

Christen was finally able to get her CA nursing license. So on Sept 7 I flew to Lousiana. I got to see where she grew up, and all the small things in her town that have helped to shape her into the beautiful person that she is. There was a family "meet and greet" the day after I got there. It was a little anxiety enducing, but I feel went really well. She has a very loving family. On Spet 10th we started drive to CA with her Rav 4 and a uhaul trailer. Ohhhh my! Let me tell you, driving across country with a u-haul trailor is a relationship builder at best! I think we handled it very well though. We stopped for a day in Austin Tx. That was pretty fun. We saw some drag queens (performers) we had some very yummy sushi, and learned how to have pacients when it comes to driving down one way streets.
It was about at this point I started to get sick. I knew I had ear infections in both ears but kept pushing on. I didnt want to ruin our trip. From Austin we went to New Mexico. Didn't do much there, it was just a pit stop before we got to the grand canyon. Once we got to AZ I was pretty sick. I'm pretty sure the ear infections lead to a sinus infection, but still, I pushed on. The grand canyon was amazing. There was a lightening storm when we were there that was fantastic! Unfortunately the thunder scared a dog and it got away from its owner. It somehow made it two miles away from its home and found us. Christen being the dog lover that she is, stayed with the dog in a down pour until we could get ahold of the owner (who happened to be a park ranger) And since I wasn't going to leave Christen alone, in the rain and thunder and lightening with a dog for Lord knows how long, I sat there, with a fever, in the rain with them until the owner came. (luckily the dog had a take with a phone number on it) Ohhh and by the way...monsune season in AZ is definitely something to experience...

It took us 5 days to get home, and I felt like poop for most of it, but it was also such an amazing trip. We played a car game called the "ungame" which can be found on Amazon for 5 bucks. I highly suggest it for all couples. We learned so much about each other and had so many great conversations.

We unloaded the U-Haul the afternoon we got home, and finally two weeks later we pretty much have everything in its place. On another positive note, she already has a job here! Man... I should have stayed in nursing school. It pays well and is in demand...but NO... I had to go into mental health social work or as I like to call it "Jesus work". It doesn't pay well, is greatly needed, but no funding. Anyways, its nice to have some financial stability again and am glad she got a job in the area of nursing she wanted to work in AND its close to home, so she doesn't have to travel far.

Lastly...yes, I am still sick. My decision to "push on" during our trip has left me with a super cootie. I have been sick for 17 days now. It has sucked! Yesterday lead to a trip to Urgent Care where I was given a stronger antibiotic. I really hope it works. I'm going nuts being this sedintary.
I'm hoping to upload some new pictures soon. I hope this finds you all doing well. I think about my blogger friends often even though I dont get the opprotunity to check in as much as I would like. You all have been such an amazing source of support for me throughout the years and that is something I dont forget. I'll be making my rounds to your pages soon :-)