Drying out

The apartment had dried out and the smell is slightly less disgusting than is was a few days ago. We haven't found a new one yet, but we're definitely looking. It's still a possibility that we MAY end up in staff housing, but like I said, no definates yet.
Had my first Team Building Raft trip the other day, well, that I lead anyway, it went suprisingly well! I mean, I HOPED it would go well, but I was a lil worried. I had one of my friends who works in the outfitters store on he river w/ me, he'd never been on one either, but we had a blast. Since most of the summer staff that were still in school have left now, almost ALL departments are short staffed, so everyone's been working everywhere. It's a nice change to the monotony.
Dave is starting to train on the river tomorrow, to check out as a guide! I'm really excited about it, I think he is too,lol. He's also gonna get trained on the Alpine Tower and Ropes course, and guess who gets to train him? ME!!! I think it's HILARIOUS! Not sure he does though, lol.
Well, I'm off early today, and I'm just playing around on the computer, maybe I'll visit a few new sites, or just get on my regular (ebay and all the blogs I read). Or maybe I'll just go home and read my new Glamour magazine, it's the 800th edition special, so it's HUGE!!! I LOVE IT! It's my one REALLY girlie indulgence, and I look forward to it EVERY month.
Well, I'm off. Gotta hit the post office before it closes.

Screaming at God

Screaming at God

Today on my way home, I yelled at God while trying to drive through my tears. “Just ONE night w/ my husband God, just ONE night to relax and enjoy the time we have together. I just wanted ONE rainy night NOT spent sucking up the water that is pouring into our apartment!!!!! I know it’s not your fault, but couldn’t You have just STOPPED IT?!?” Dave was yelling at God about the same time I was, but something like “I PRAYED about this!!! Didn’t you HEAR ME?!?” That was just hours ago. Once again, our apartment has flooded. We’ve been here 4 months and it’s flooded 4 times. So, first thing Monday morning Dave is going to talk to our landlord, and see what we can do to get out of our lease agreement, considering OBVIOUSLY this has happened before, and they said nothing but “keep the drain clear otherwise your house MIGHT flood”. By the way, the drain was PERFECTLY clear this time, and the water STILL came in. The moral of the story is, if you find an apartment, and the price, size, etc seem too good to be true, it probably is. Anyway, as we are a bit calmer now and not screaming at God, we are still sucking up the water that is in the apartment, taking shifts w/ the Rug Doctor. But we realise this could be an opportunity, not sure what for yet, but maybe there’s a reason that it’s pushed us to move out, or at least start looking, who knows. Just trying to remember what I said to a close friend last night…hmmm…something like “it’s not the end of the world, there are other things you can do! I KNOW God has a reason for this, and He’ll use it in a great way, something you may not see right now, or ever, but at least someone knows what’s going on.” Well, guess I could take some of my own advice right? Gotta go, it’s my shift. Pray for us, to find whatever God is having us search for, or at least a dry place to live, if only temporarily.

don't count your chickens before they hatch

I had my very first corporate group that I hosted all by myself yesterday. I was pretty stressed about it at first, as they are some of our most high paying guests, but it turned out better than I could have imagined. The rafting trip was amazing, and some of the ladies on my boat gave me the most gracious compliments on my raft guiding skills, which REALLY made me feel good. Two of the ladies were very nervous about rafting, and they told me that I made them feel totally at ease and they felt I was very professional at my job--wow! I hosted their dinner last night too and they were a delightful bunch of people to converse w/, asking me questions about my job and the area, and telling little tidbits of their life too. All in all, I'm not so scared of corporate groups anymore.
On a personal/spiritual note: Dave and I have been reading a book called "Priceless" that we were given as a wedding present. It's a money management book, but it's REALLY good. It's written by a Christian, and I highly recommend it. Anyways, I'm trying to find ways to save money in small and big ways, and I think that's what God is pushing me to do right now, for reasons or purposes I'm not sure of yet. Also my devotions lately have gone towards really enjoying those priceless moments in life--like Dave's and mine first camping trip together, our walks in the evening (which are becoming more frequent), or our Sunday mornings when we get to go to church together. Please pray that my prayer life will become more fervent too--I desperately need to stop, drop, and pray more often. Well, I gotta get on the river! I'll update soon.

belated Rowling outrage

Yes folks, I am VERY mad at J.K. Rowling. If you don't know who this is, you OBVIOUSLY don't like Harry Potter, or at least haven't read them yet and found out how great they are...well...until recently. I won't blow the whole thing, but the ending to the last book, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince", was AWFUL! I finished it around midnight one night and got a TERRIBLE night's sleep for the rest of it. As you know, I was SO psyched about the new book coming out (it came out July 16th just in case you forgot), but it ends TERRIBLY!!!! J.K. Rowling, I have half a mind to boycot your next book, if it weren't for the fact that I HOPE you redeem yourself and finish the series off right. Don't go the way of superman and spiderman Rowling, alienating the hero from their friends and killing off their "family" is just OVERDONE!!! Ok, I'm done now. Dave and I are going out to Yummi Yummi Chinese resturant in town for our 4 month anniversary. Yes I know you're not suppose to count it till a year, but hey, we like celebrating, and chinese food, so why not!?! Gotta jet!

they were the best of times, and the worste of times

camping was really great. We found a awesome lil spot right by a small waterfall. We built a fire and had smores, and swam, and then went to bed smellin like smoke (I love the smell of campfire smoke while camping). Then we lazed around the next day and swam some more and sunbathed at the top of the waterfall. In the afternoon we went kyaking; the first time we'd both done the whole Nanty since LDP. Last night we went to a Big Lebowski party, which was obviously a good time. Today was suppose to be my court date, strange you say, as it's on a Saturday, but I didn't think of that. Yes folks, the officer wrote down the wrong date, the court date was actually YESTERDAY. Now I'm gonna have to try and get MORE time off to go and deal w/ this stupid speeding ticket. But, the fact that he wrote the court date down wrong, could help me out alot. Who knows. I'm off to work in a few, but then there's a baby shower and staff goodbyes tomorrow. Well, talk to ya soon! oh, and pray for my family...they all just left on a Mission trip to Mexico today, and they'll be gone for a week.

Summer heatstroke

it's a bit warm here, very warm, the salt deposits on my face would show you that if you could see me right now. I just got off the ropes course, and it was HOT! Dave and I have a day off together tomorrow, so we're heading out tonight to go camping, just overnight though. We're going up to a little river where there's some really pretty waterfalls and things, should be a good time if it doesn't rain :). We went to a place called the "Fun Factory" in Franklin the other night w/ some friends from here. It held it's name well and was good fun. We played laser tag and lots of video games. At the end of the night we had lots of tickets and we put them all together and got LOTS of pointless little things that kept us amused for at least 5 minutes. However, I found out something new about Dave in those 5 minutes. He's terrified of Chinese Finger Traps. you know those lil paper/straw tubes you stick your fingers in, and if you pull on each side your fingers are stuck in the middle? Yeah, he REALLY hates those...and I just CAN't stop laughing over it! I told him I was gonna wake him up one morning by putting those things on his fingers then tickling him...wouldn't that be a RIOT? Well, I thought so anyways. Just thought I'd blog and say hello! I miss all you guys, and for those of you in Canada, Dave and I hope we will be seeing you this January!!!! More details on that later, gotta go meet Dave for dinner. Miss you all!

just gotta do it

Well Dave's home, and it's SO good to have him back. I'm sleeping better now that he's back and today is our day off together! As an NOC employee I get some pretty good perks, one of them being getting into the Bilmore Estate FREE! So, that's what we're off to do today.
It's been REALLY hot here, and I've been working SO much, I haven't had a day off since mom and B left; I worked almost 60 hours last week! I almost got heat stroke the other day I was out in the sun so long, but water is the key for overexposure to the sun--so drink up!
I lead my first raft trip all by myself yesterday. Which means it was just me as a staff person on that trip. My boat, and one other self guide, which I had to lead. It was fun! It felt good to be trusted that much, when I'm not even a trip leader, but it could just be that we're majorly under-staffed right now, but whatever.
Another thing I did yesterday, was I FINALLY got back in a boat in whitewater. I mean, I've been here since the 3rd week in April, and I've only been in a boat twice (and once was in the lake)! I don't know why I've gone back to being so scared of tipping over when I KNOW I can roll! So, one of my friends finally dragged me out to the river and helped me conquer my fear of it....I even ran the falls, AND I DIDN'T FLIP! That was only the 3rd time I'd run them, the other 2 were w/ the LDP and I flipped over both times. So, it was good to get that off my chest, now I can just enjoy kyaking...cause I really missed it, I just was scared of it to! Well, that's all for now. I gotta go wake Dave up and take a shower before we head out. I miss you ALL! And Spicer, I deserve and E-MAIL...fully loaded that is :).

weekend w/ the girls

The weekend w/ my lil sis and my mom was GREAT! We had an awesome time on Saturday going down the big Nanty w/ our lil mini me raft, we even bought the picture! Then Sunday they really like our church, which is good, I was sorta nervous they wouldn't. Then we went tubing! It was a blast, tubing in Deep Creek is the most exciting tubing EVER! We laughed all the way down--twice! Then that night we played Monop0ly, and I KILLED them...I've never won so big in my life! I think I landed on Free Parking like THREE times! Yeah, they're bad losers...jeez...but I'm not good at losing at Monopoly either, or anything for that matter, guess it runs in the family. Monday I worked all day, but then we went to see "Herbie" that night. It was actually pretty good! We enjoyed going to the movies together. Then we took a trip to Wal-mart and all overspent a bit. But I got the new Harry Potter book!!!!!!!! So it was all good. Tuesday morning we rode the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad. It was a pretty nice ride, and we got to chat for a long time and see some stuff we hadn't before. Then they rode the train back to Bryson and I worked for half a day. By the time I got home, they had all my laundry done, the house cleaned, and supper was in the making! Mom, you guys should come over more often!!! That really helped out alot, THANX MOM AND B! We had coffee and ice cream at the lil coffee shop in front of our house, and just chatted for a long time. Then we watched "dear Frankie" which is a REALLY good movie, I highly recommend it. It was a really good night. Good stuff.
Today was a long day w/ "Camp Barney." Great name hey? We mountain biked all day and had an awesome time, until a kid fell off his bike and had to go to hospital and get stitches...ugh. But all in all it was good stuff, aLOT better than the last group they brought. Ok. I REALLY stink. I'm headed to the house and a shower. I might head to a Princess Bride PJ party in a bit! lol Goodnight!

splashes and squeals

Today, for the first time, I did three raft trips down the river. I barely had time to eat lunch! But it was fun. The water was REALLY high today, so it made it alot faster and some of the rapids (especially Nantahala Falls) aLOT bigger. Now I'm probably gonna go home, take a shower (for the second time in a week, ewww I know, but hey, ya just don't have the energy after work--I even had a joke made about me today; "how do you hide a 10 dollar bill from Leigh?....you put it under a bar of soap! lol), cook something for dinner, or not, maybe I'll just pop in a frozen pizza, and watch the 4th season of Dawson's Creek. I think that's the one Candice and I ended on last summer. Yes guys, I like Dawson's Creek, but hey, ya gotta get your drama fix from somewhere right? Maybe I'll even read some of my new Glamour. Should be a relaxing night. Well, I'm off! Soap suds here I come...Lord knows I NEED 'EM!

out and about w/ some amazing thing

Well, I fell out of the blogging world for a bit, sorry about that, but I'm back for a catch-up. Here's what's been going on the past week. Last Monday, the 4th of July, was really great. I had to work that morning, but when I came home there was the big 4th of July festival on the next street over! So, we spent that evening eating hot dogs from the street vendors, listening to the street band (country of course), practicing a little kyak rolls in the river that ran through town (we had an crowd watching us, it was a lil intimidating), and ended the night watching the fireworks. It was a really great night. Then on Thursday, I had to drop Dave off at the airport, and I wouldn't see him again for over 2 weeks. That was hard, but we got through it, and I even got home in the POURING rain without getting lost. Also that day was a lil worry-some because that was the day London was bombed and we were both worried about Helen and the rest of the family in London (they were all ok though, thank God). That afternoon at work, I had THE most inspiring day of work in my whole life. We had the ACT group there, which is an amputi group. Those kids were TOTALLY and COMPLETELY amazing. Most of them didn't have a leg or an arm, but some didn't have either hand, but they still CLIMBED the Alpine Tower AND the Ropes course! Those children were the biggest blessing I have had in SUCH a long time. They were just kids that day, surrounded by lots of other kids just like them, who were determined to do everything, and they did! By the end of the day, I was almost in tears just by their courage and positive outlook on life. I wanted to take a few of them home. The rest of the week pales in comparison with that, but I have been having a good time, even though I've missed Dave alot. Sunday one of my best friends got to come over--I'm SO glad I got to see you Sheena, I really needed to. Then Sunday night I spent w/ some of the staff girls. Last night a couple of the girls came over and we cooked and then watched Jaws, and just hung out. So, I've been having fun and working hard. Hope you have too! I'll try to keep ya updated more often, sorry. I'm off to work now! Maybe I'll play ultimate frisbee tonight...if it's not raining to hard...but then again, that might make it more fun!

when it rains it pours

Well, this week was my birthday, not that I would let your forget, but just in case ya did, it was on Tuesday. So, Tuesday I happened to be working, which I have known for some quite some time, so that was ok. Wednesday night we had planned to have a few people over for my birthday. I even cracked out a new recipe from my sister-n-law, her enchiladas (THANKS BRANDY!). Yep, I cleaned all morning, relaxed in the afternoon, and started cooking about 5:30. Well, it started to rain around the time I had put the enchiladas in the oven and cleaned up the mess. Rain is fine, it rains all the time here, but then it started to REALLY come down. Well, there's a drain outside our apartment, and it got backed up. So where does the water go when the drain is backed up? Straight through the kitchen! Yep, about an inch of water came in in less than 10 minutes. It actually came in in WAVE form, no lie. As I was screaming and yelling that we were 'takin on water', Dave had the sense to jump outta the shower and run outside (in a towel no less) and unclog the drain. Yes, my husband can think on his toes. So, our guests understood about the water, and we called it an early evening. I was extremely stressed over the situation by then, and Dave wonderfully said, "you go out to the pub w/ everyone, I'm gonna rent a 'Rug Doctor' and suck up all this water, go have fun." Isn't my husband WONDERFUL! He stayed there and sucked up the water for 2 hours, and let me get my heart rate back to normal and enjoy my evening. And even though our house is still quite muggy (we're borrowing a dehumidifier tonight), it's SO much better because Dave can think on his feet. I love you Baby, thanks for all you do for me.

my watering can--part of my birthday present from Dave. ISN'T HE CUTE!!! 

the joy of silence, beauty, and the stories of our lives

buckle up folks, you may be in for a long read.
Today as Dave and I were driving back from my parent’s house, I started noticing more of what surrounds me up here in the mountains. I turned off the radio, which I don't do often when I'm not here, considering we don't get radio here because of the mountains, and just pondered inwardly. Dave had dozed off, and I was now in my own little world. The sun was heading in for the evening, and the sky was turning pink, and the mountains were just coming in to view. It was beautiful, magnificent even. The mountain air flowing through the windows--I was speechless. It was nice just to sit there driving, and just enjoy the drive for once. I didn't talk for a couple of hours, even after Dave woke up, I just wanted to enjoy the peace surrounding me, just enjoy those moments of wonder at what God has created. Then I started to watch movies in my head. Do you ever do that? I have a great imagination, and memory, for the movies. I like to watch them again in my head, and then change the story line alot. I also like to put a soundtrack to life. Something will happen, and I'll just think of a song, and maybe I'll "hum" it in my head for the next hour. While driving I was thinking about the book I'm reading right now called "Damned if I do." It's a book of short stories, and I highly recommend it so far. It's so much like life. Our life is just a big book of short stories. How many times have you written stories, books, novels, in your head?! I know I must have written hundreds by now, but would anyone want to read them, I dunno. Anyway, the book has sad and happy, funny and helpful, and even mad stories. So do we. We're not happy all the time, alot of our stories are sad, but they're written anyway. Because, if we didn't have those sad or mad stories, we wouldn't enjoy the happy, helpful ones just as much! I guess this blog today is just about enjoying life. Take the time to look around you, to see the beauty in your town. Even if it's just the wild flowers/weeds growing in the cracks of the cement--stop--breath deeply--and remember that life is worth living, every moment, if only for those few minutes that you smile, or even grin and bear it.
My mom's birthday was today, and we (my mom, my 2 sisters and I) went out shopping and to lunch. It was great! I enjoyed their company so VERY much...even when the twins were screaming through lunch at Cracker Barrel. I love you 3 wonderful women. You three are what I hope to live up to. Mom, you have given me more strength than I could even have wished for. Shannon, you were that shoulder to cry on, and the one who told me when I needed to shape up. Bethany, if I can grow to half the girl you are at 16, wow, you bless me every time I think about you. Thank you, my wonder women, for being my inspiration to push forward and live life to the fullest. I love you all SO very much. Happy birthday Mom.

p.s. my birthday is tomorrow, the 28th :)
h

HI's and LOW's

So this week started out REALLY well. I had Sunday AND Monday off, which seems like an eternity after a 57 hour week. Sunday we went to church and I had a long nap in the afternoon---oh so nice. Monday we slept in and I went to the library in the morning. Then we painted our chairs some more and picked up some movies we had wanted to see for awhile. Tuesday was back to work as usual. Except we had a group 0f 92 come in, and that wouldn't be that bad if they weren't SUPPOSE to be a group of 52. Yup, they called on Sunday, TWO days before coming, and said, oh, by the way, we're bringing 40 extra people--see ya then! Yeah, so it was a lil hectic trying to get 32 people through the swing every 2 hours--but I did it anyway. Tuesday night however, was AWESOME. NOC hosts a Raft Guide Olympics every year, and Tuesday was the day. Different teams from all different companies compete. They have to go through a pretty complicated run down the river; hitting eddies, flipping and re-flipping the boat, and slalom through different rocks. Plus, they had to run Wesser Falls, deflate their boat, put it on the truck, and run back to the rentals area. It was pretty sweet to watch. After all the competing we had a big Togo party! It was awesome. We danced until 11 and we could dance no more. Wednesday, back to guiding a group of 92 down the river--8 guided boats, 6 self-guided boats = chaos. Thursday, my last day before I go home to see my parents, work is ok, but I wanna get home to clean the house before we leave the next day. So, I'm goin a lil fast, and sorta zoning out trying to remember all the things I need to do. I usually slow down after one particular bridge when I see the speed limit sign, but I was in my own lil world when I got pulled over. It was a highway patrol car, so obviously there was no getting out of it. Yes, I got my first speeding ticket, and there's a mandatory court appearance--ugh. Anyone have any advice for me? I need to get my speed reduced to, well, keep my license. That made my day definitely suck. But, now we're back at my parents house for a weekend of visa work (finger printing and the such), wedding receptions, and birthday lunches. So hopefully it will be better than my more-lows-than-highs week. PS--my birthday is this coming Tuesday!

How far would YOU go …to get out of using soap?

This is not a story to tell to the young. Viewer discretion is advised

Tonight I learned a new thing about my husband folks, and I jump at the chance to tell you. Yes folks, he has a foot fetish. Now before you recoil in horror, listen to the story I’m about to weave. Tonight we were about to head to bed, but quickly remembered we had just put clean sheets on the bed. Well, there’s little to nothing better than clean sheets….when you’re clean. However, our feet were pretty dirty from walkin around a bit in flip-flops today. SO, instead of going to bed dirty or having to take a full shower, we opt for just washing the feet. To Dave, “washing” as a term, is used lightly. If you can't SEE the dirt, it’s obviously clean (no matter how many times it’s been used). So, he turns on the water, rinses them off, and dries. I say, “aren’t you going to use soap? If you don’t use soap, they just LOOK clean.” He claims they are clean, “Look at them,” he says, “they’re clean!” So I say, “Well, if they’re clean, lick ‘em then.” Now, this wasn’t just a touch them with the tongue then quickly recoil thing. This was a, lick ‘em from heal to toe and in-between the toes type of deal. So, what does he do…he whips out the tongue and quickly obliges. All I can say between laughter and being grossed out is ‘ewww’. “They’re clean” he states again, and walks outta the bathroom.
For all Nelson family reading this, I'm sorry you had to find this out. It must be a great awakening. Or, you either knew he was like this, in that case....YOU NEVER TOLD ME???? Well, I will leave you to your nightmares of Dave licking his feet. Goodnight all.

The South will RISE AGAIN!!!  

most EXCELLENT adventure

Well, I promised to tell you more about the tubing, so here's a short synopsis. On Monday, my day off this week, Dave and I decided to go tubing in Deep Creek. It was TONS of fun --till it started to storm and the rain started to hurt. Then we were trying to get the tubes back on the top of the car in the pouring rain w/o soaking the car INSIDE and needless to say we ended up getting soaked even more while laughing too hard to actually tie on the tubes. But it was fun. A church group was watching us w/ this ordeal from their dry van, guess we were a good show.

Yesterday I had THE most awesome raft trip group EVER. They were a couple of highschoolers and one or two college students. They were GREAT! We got stuck on THREE rocks AFTER the last rapid cause I was laughing so hard I couldn't even guide! GREAT day. Well, I gotta get outta here now, I gotta go do the same group on the Alpine tower, should be another good day, if the mosqitos would leave us alone and it doesn't pour too hard, lol

ps my shoulder is doing much better thanks to a friend in massage therapy.

cool shot of the side--ps dave took all these...GOOD HEY!!! 

the buddha painting 

the infamous chairs 

remember this Candice? 

what shall I do today>.....TUBE!

I LOVE TUBING IN DEEP CREEK!
more to follow, but most go host a group now, just thought i'd give ya a taster.

for Molly---i'm still here and kickin

This post is dedicated to Molly. Just so you know I'm still here, and I read your posts tri-weekly if not daily.
Well, since my last blog I've been trying fruitlessly to recover. The problem w/ my recovery program is that...well...I don't really have one. I've been working as normal and raft guiding even more. So, my shoulder has steadily declined. I woke the other morning (i use that term loosely, it was around 2 am) in great amounts of pain. I haven't been sleeping since then because my muscles seem to like to tighten alot during the night...I think they are playing tug of war. So, I finally called my boss and said "I'll take the workmens comp., thanks." So I'm hoping to go to a massage therapist soon. And that's all of my aches and pains we shall discuss.

Dave and I did finally end of strawberry picking. They are delicious...I especially like having them on waffles w/ whipcream...mmmmmmm. We're still painting our chairs too. I have tried to put things that mean alot to me on there. Buddha is a big part of my chair. About now my family and all Christian friends are freaking out thinking I have converted to Buddhism, but I have not. So...I will explain.

During the time Dave and I were on our honeymoon in Hawaii, we went to a Buddhist temple just to site see (they're VERY beautiful and elaborate). I was amazed at the quiet and reverence in which these temples were set! There was just an "awe" about the place. You were advised to take your shoes off at the door and light a stick of incense for a loved one at the feet of Buddha. My spirit was so quieted. I thought, "How different Christian churches would be, if we would just take ONE hour out of our week, and be THIS reverent to our God." I left there feeling very convicted to seek those quiet moments with God at all cost. And so, I have a picture of Buddha on my chair, and every time I see it, it reminds me to listen to the verse, "BE STILL and know that I AM God."

P.S. Chris---Dave and I went to see Star Wars III just because of your recommendation! I was a lil skeptical at first (because of the first one) but it was REALLY REALLY GOOD! Thanks Chris! Hope you had a great time in Bon Echo!!!

Bruises were immanent, death was assumed

This past Thursday we had a trip of 44 duckies. On these duckies were children in the 6th grade. If you calculate right...that means we had 44 6th graders...good job. Imagine, a sea of yellow w/ paddles flying everywhere, and trying to heard these masses off of ALL the rocks, trees, and rapid holes on the river. Yes folks, that was my day. I was assumed it would not be a fun filled day, because I was the sweep. I hate being in the back, you always get stuck w/ the teacher/kid that just CAN'T figure out how to paddle, no matter how many times you tell them they're hold their paddle backwards. Well, the day got even better when we got in the area of "turtle rock." Turtle rock is one of the most dangerous rocks on the Nanty. It looks all cute and shaped like a turtle, but it's undercut, which means the water goes under the rock. Several people have died under this rock, really. They float under it and can't float back out. Well a kid in a duckie gets stuck right ON this rock. So I go over to push him off before he tips over. I get him off, and then the current tips MY boat over and pins it on the rock. While trying to push my boat off and not get sucked under I'm banging around and it was just NOT nice. I finally get my boat un-stuck and get back into it. My left shin looks like a pinllata(sp? spell check just didn't have it!) it has so many colors, and my neck turns to the right...sometimes. So there's my saga...i have to go back to work now. Just thought I'd entertain you w/ my life for a few minutes. Sure sure...enjoy yourself while I'm in pain...thanx alot.

the LDP way....

today was my day off, something I had looked forward to since I found out I would have a full day off. I had it all planned out. We would sleep late, make a full Southern breakfast of eggs, grits, and bacon, biscuts on the side (and throw in a good cup 'o tea for Dave)and then painting and strawberry picking in the afternoon. Sounds glorious huh? Yes, it would have been. But at 10:00 this morning, while the grits were simmering and the biscuts were burning, my wonderful boss Cindy calls. She wants to know if I can guide this afternoon because a huge group is showing up and they're short a few guides (try 5). At first I think, "No, I'm not giving up my wonderful day w/ my husband"...but then the money starts to talk, "You're not getting many hours this week, and last month's start up phone bill still has to be paid!" So, what do I say? Yes, I would love to, I need the hours. I sorrowfully smile and my wonderful husband, who is completely understanding, and says it was a choice he understands, and that there is plenty of time for strawberry picking later. So, we have till 1 pm to spend time together. We ditch the dishes (which are already 3 days old but stacked neatly in a huge, dirty pile...so sorry mom), and go to ACE Hardware to buy some paint. See, we got these old wooden chairs from my grandmother, and the only restraint was that we MUST NOT bring them back. Then we got this funky idea to make them chairs that resembled what our fun side, or what we really liked, would be like. So, we're both painting them bright colors w/ lots of pictures, then adding our favorite magazine cut-outs. Dave's will probably have lots of rock climbing and kyaking involvment, and mine will be a lot of Glamour magazine and hippie stuff (along w/ some kyaking and rock climbing, lol). After the painting, off to work I went, and he came along and rock climbed while I guided some Puerto Ricans and Floridians down the river. It was a mulitguided trip, as my co-worker Stephan would say, because the Puerto Rican man in front of me kept trying to steer the boat, but what can ya do, he's on his vacation and you can only tell him politely once that you can't steer when he is doing that. It was a good afternoon all in all; then we hung out at the Paddler's Pub and watched "Absolutely Fabulous" (a show which you BBC lovers would probably appreciate). So that's my day. Sorry I didn't fill ya in on the last week, since it's been since then since I wrote, but hey, I'm married now, I gotta have a FEW secrets. ~off into the mystery I ride....on my raft~

High as a kite...but not on Hokah

Well, today I FINALLY got to do the famed NOC ropes course. I have been helping run groups through, but I actually got officially trained today. So, I conquered the ropes course...although I have to say, the swing at the end still took my heartbeat up a couple of notches. I had to count to three and then just close my eyes and go...scary stuff, but cool I could still get the rush. I also scalded my shoulders and neck, so now I'm a redneck...it only took 21 and 3/4 years, but it finally happened (my younger brother has been waiting for this day).
So, for all of you who like me are nieve and don't know what Hokah is, I shall tell you (because I didn't know till, oh...Sunday afternoon). But I must tell you the story that preceedes it first, it's only fair. So we walk into this shop in Asheville, a very cool shop I must say, and just start browsing. I immediately started looking at the really cool throw pillows (the housewife in me is kickin in). Then I noticed the "drug" parafanellia (sp?)...or at least that's what it LOOKED like. There were these MASSIVE water bongs. However (or at least this is what my obviously very 'in the know' husband tells me) they would not actually work on pot. Hokah (you get to find out now...excited???) is an instrament in which you smoke very wet (sometimes flavoured) tobacco. This store actually had tons of different flavors, including: grape, apple, margarita, taquilla...etc etc. The guy even said he could mix the flavours so you could get an Apple Margarita! So downstairs from this shop was the actual Hokah bar. And there ya have it folks, now ya know. There was also some cool mullet shampoo that I thought Shawn Pyle would love to have had, and a cool mullet care kit...I still may send it up to him, but he would have LOVED to see it...here's to you Shawn, one who is always infinately fascinated w/ mullets.
tomorrow I clean life jackets in the morning because the dam on the river is still not fixed...fun stuff. sianara! I know that's misspelled, give me a break, I was homeschooled! lol WARNING!: the previous joke is only to be replicated by homeschoolers. If otherwised stated by another party, aforementioned homeschooler will turn into mad, defensive, homeschool monster and claw eyes out.

a beautiful walk in the park.....

well, we didn't get to go in the duckies on Saturday...cause the dam was broken! Yup, when we got to NOC all ready to go, we looked at the water...and well...there wasn't much to look at. There were lots of lil kids floatin in the non-existant rapids. Even Wesser Falls (the grade 5 rapid) looked pretty dinky. But, we waded in the river and skipped rocks, and Dave found me a VW Matchbox bus, so it was all good. Then we went up to Cherakee and walked around too, good stuff. Then that night we went to Dave's photo shop where he volunteers and he took pix of us in old-timey clothes. It was so fun! It reminded me of playing dress-up w/ B as a kid. Good stuff.
Yesterday we dropped Bethany off to mom and dad, and then spent the rest of the day just walkin around Asheville. We saw some of the most incredible art work and really cool shops. We ate lunch in a park, and Dave fought off the dirty pigeons for me very valiantly. Then we walked into a privately owned, non-chain related bookstore of a pretty good size (amazing hey? it wasn't a Barnes & Nobles!!!) and bought a magnetic poetry set! We've both wanted one for quite some time, so it was neat that we finally bought one. Then we found a coffee shop called "Old Europe" and had some deliteful coffee and the MOST enticely delicious keylime pie I've EVER tasted. We drank our coffee and played w/ our magnetic poetry set on the silver tray that where our delicasies sat. It was wonderful. Then I got a really cool silk hat! And we met a traveling artist on the curb (we gave him our change, and he gaves us some poetry!). It was a great day, I'll let Dave tell ya about the guy that stopped us in the street to tell us about his dead mother and a really amazing church and that he likes to party...OH and the Hokah bar...but that's his story to tell :). beautiful day.

sis is here!

Bethany and family finally arrived yesterday around 3:30. Mom did a quick scope of the place and we got advice from the Everettes on TV antennas and they were off to the Wild's for the weekend. So, now it's just B, Dave, and I, left to our own devices.
Last night Dave cooked spaghetti and B and I prepared the salad and extras, then we were off to see Monster-N-Law at the movies. Yes, that IS the one w/ Jennifer Lopez in it, and no, I'm NOT a huge fan of hers. BUT, B was the guest, so we let her pick...and boy are we glad! Cause it was HILARIOUS! Yes folks, J Lo picked a good script this time (maybe it has something to do w/ her NOT putting one of her fiance's/ husbands in the film, but who knows...I pitty Mark Anthony..ahem..her husband, jeez you people are NOT up on your movies stars are ya now). So, if you're looking for a funny, NON chick-flick comedy, go see it! Dave and I both loved it!
So in about an hour we're off to take some duckies down the river! Neither Dave nor B have gone on duckies before, so I'm excited...I just hope the ducky's don't get too tired, that always sorta sux...lol...I'm hilarious. I'll keep yas posted!! Toodles!

Good times...

So Mother's Day weekend at home was great. I really enjoyed seeing the family, and I think my mom was actually pretty surprised!!! Cool deal.
Now I'm back at work waiting for dinner time to roll around so I can go host my group...well...Stephan's group, but we switched, so whatever. I was out on the ropes course all day today, and BUDDY was it hot. I was melting! Just thought I'd tell ya that Buddy. Buddy's not use to warm weather, he lives in Alaska, I just like making him jealous....HA HA SUCKA!!! Anyways, tomorrow I'm back on the river w/ a corporate group. We're doin something really cool too! It's called a "team building raft trip." There are 4 parts to the Nanty that they will guide...they get to decide who in the group will guide. The leaders and I aren't in the boats, we're in lil duckies along side of them. At certain points on the river they get to choose whether or not to do different challenges, like guiding blindfolded, hitting rocks and spinning, or catching eddies. I think it'll be cool!
Most importantly tomorrow, MY LIL SIS IS COMING TO SEE OUR NEW PLACE AND STAY THE WEEKEND! I'm really excited to spend some time w/ Bethany, I really miss not seein her all the time. I'm gonna take her on a duckie trip on Saturday too! WUHOO! Well, I better not make this blog much longer...so i just wanted to tell you guys that our wedding pictures should be up on www.1photofactory.com pretty soon! So check 'em out! LOVE YAS!

Happy Mother's Day

Don't forget people! Tomorrow is MOTHER'S DAY. And if you did forget, send flowers and a nice card...ASAP! And if it's really bad, send a gift certificate for a massage or manicure...that should definitely help. I'm back at my parents house this weekend. I surprised my mom by showing up at my nephews b-day party today and am staying for the mother's day dinner tomorrow night! Anyways, I just wanted to blog quickly....but I had this thing on my mind that I read from "a mommy's blog" (the link on my page to a random mom's blog). She was talking about unlikely angels coinciding w/ past relationships. A few years ago I had been through some tough relationships that ended up making me feel pretty worthless when all was said and done. Then, I started dating one of my friends that I had known for a lil over a year. He was the first non-Christian I ever dated officially, and he was the nicest guy I had yet to date at that time. He treated me with respect, he protected me, let me cry when I needed to, we hung out with his parents (who I actually really loved--and they loved me too...of course!). We just hung out, and talked LOTS about everything in our every day lives, and things we wanted to do, and what we really believed in (sometimes spiritual sometimes not). It was a short relationship, it lasted for that summer. Actually, the end was decided before we started dating. Weird huh? We just decided we would date for the summer because he was going to college, and I was going away too. I came out of that summer w/ a lot more courage and respect for myself than I went into it. He was and is still a wonderful person whom I admire very much for his strong, moral character, but I couldn't share my faith w/ him. That summer my faith was very weak, I really didn't care about it much. But the funny thing w/ God is, once we give ourselves to Him, He's not just gonna give us up just because we're walking away from Him. He's going to pull us steadily back towards Him, and keep reminding us that "hey, I love you, and you belong to Me." Well, what I wanted to say here is that that guy was sorta like my unlikely angel. He made me believe in good guys again. He made me believe in good friends again. And even though he wasn't a Christian, he helped push me back to my faith. To you summer boyfriend, I will forever remember you, and continue to pray for you.

Ants!!! ¬not the movie¬

statement: I hate ants
truer statement: i hate ants in my kitchen, crawling all over my sink!!!
We have ants. I have squished many an ant in the past week. I have drowned, salted, and poisoned ants this week....and yet....we still have ants. I need some heavy duty ant killers people...suggestions?
So, I'm feeling better, if any of you were wondering, your sleepless nights are over.
The LDP chilli night went wonderfully, thanx to my mom for supplying the recipe. The LDP loved it! They scraped the crock-pot clean! And of course we supplied them w/ lots of corn bread, and...sshhhh, don't tell Spicer....ice cream for dessert! We had a blast hangin out and swapin horror stories of a 10 month Medeba journey...:)...lol. Then most of them piled into our living room and watched "Bourne Identity", while Emily tried to explain to Michael where they were going the next day. She kept asking him, "so do you know where it is now?" And he would say "no, somewhere around Asheville." Ah Michael, still as clueless as ever. So, it was fun anyways.
And that's my news folks. If you are wondering why you haven't seen any wedding pix yet, it is because...well...NEITHER HAVE WE! Whenever we can get back to my parents area and finally look at them, then I'll tell ya a site you can look at them on.
Now I must go back to my slaughter of the ants....~BATTLE CRY~ AAAAAAAHHHH

Beef, it's what's for dinner

It brings ya back to the old days...the old days of working w/ LOGS of ground beef at Medeba, and even longer back, at camp Merriwood for me. Yesterday we bought a 10 lb log of beef. See, tomorrow Dave and I are cooking chilli for 15 people. That chilli needs 4 lbs of beef, and we wanted 1 for last night's dinner. So, when we got to the store, and saw that buying 10 lbs of beef would be the cheapest way to do it, we jumped right into the mass of blood. Sounds delicious when I put it THAT way huh? lol Well, the LDP won't be reading this till AFTER they eat it, so at least they'll have THEIR appitite.
We bought a TV last night. Yep folks, we now own a 20' tv...although we don't actually get tv channels. We watched Boune Supremacy on our brand new tv. Let me tell ya, it's nice to curl up on your couch w/ your hubby after a long day at work, and just watch a movie and eat Hamburger Helper (psst...that's what we were eating).
Today I took my first sick day at work. We went to a flee market yesterday and I starte sneezing in the masses. I THOUGHT it was just allergies, but when it lasted all night (incurring no sleep for me) and on into today, Dave decided I was sick. I didn't decide that until everything started spinning and my head floted off to some amusement park somewhere (dangit, why didn't it take ME with it!!! I mean, come ON, it needs legs to get on SOME rides!!!). So, hopefully I will be fine tomorrow. Ok, let me refrase that. I HAVE to be fine tomorrow, I have no choice but to work. I have a group, and there's no one to take over for me. So tomorrow, no more whining, I must suck it up and be a big girl...and go to work. So long guys...I have to go to the potty.

Scotty too hottie

Tonight Scotty too hottie is staying at OUR house! Can ya believe it!!! He came ALL the way from CANADA just to stay with US!!! Ok, not really. He came all the way from Canada to paddle rivers with the 2005 LDP, and they just happened to be in town. So N E WAYZ, he's stayin here. We just had a nice dinner at Pizza Hut, and now him and Dave are chillin on our "porch". I use that term lightly cause, well, it's hard to explain. If ya ever see it you'll know.
So I had my training on the Alpine Tower on Sunday, and guess what??? It SNOWED all morning!!! I'm tellin ya, the weather down here has been weirdly VERY COLD lately, but hey, that's what fleece is for right? Did my second raft trip today, NOT with girl scouts. But I gotta tell ya, just because ya got healthy adults in your boat, doesn't mean they paddle better than the girlscouts, cause they didn't. Somehow we managed to get stuck on a rock on river left before going over the last rapid of the river (which just HAPPENS to be the biggest), and we went down BACKWARDS. Well, it was fine and all, there's a first time for everything right? It was fun anyways. That's all for now folks. Gotta get to bed! I'M A WORKIN GIRL YA KNOW!
Thanks for all the comments by the way. They've all been SUPER sweet and encouraging. I love you all so much!

from the place where marriage is....

Before I say anything else...HAPPY BIRTHDAY B!!! My lil sister, Bethany, turned Sweet 16 today!!! I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there B, but I love you with all my heart babes, and I'll have you up to see our place soon!!!!

So, I have now been married one week and one day…weird huh...but it's GREAT! I love being able to come home to him every day, and having someone sleeping beside me. Married life is good. I know it won't be easy, but at leaste we'll have each other to lean on to get through the tough spots. ANYWAYZZZ.... Dave and I are moved in to our new house in Bryson City….w/ a few boxes here and there and MANY “thank you” cards to write. By the way, if you are one of those people that haven’t received your “thank you” card from us for your wonderful wedding presents, it’s coming, promise, just give it a week or 2.
Well, since the day we got back from our honeymoon, which was last Sunday, I’ve been working constantly and Dave’s been playing the “housewife” for the week; cleaning and arranging various things. I think I’ve said “Dave where is ____,” or “Dave, where did you put my ____” at least 30 times in the past several days. But, work is great! I’ve met some really awesome people and I did my VERY FIRST trip guiding a raft down the Nantahala today! It was cold and rainy, and I had a girl scout group who didn’t paddle much, but it was still fun . Tomorrow I train on the ropes course, and then I’ll get to start working there. Yesterday Dave and I paddled a kyak again for the first time since LAST Spring, it was a lil shaky, but it came back to us surprisingly fast. We also watched the movie “Deliverance” at the Paddler’s Pub at NOC (open every night from 5-10). The guy who started NOC, Payson, was actually a stunt double in the movie, and was the person who recommended filming the movie at the Chatooga river, a couple of hours away from NOC. So, that’s why we watched it. Well anyways, I’ve been exhausted at the end of every day, so I’m heading to BED!!! I hope to hear from you all comment wise! I’ll try to return to my e-mailing schedule soon!

the wedding....and beyond....from HAWAII!!!

hI GUYS! I'M IN HAWAII...and I took time out of my relaxation to blog to YOU! The wedding was BEAUTIFUL....and I pulled through with only breaking down crying fully once...and only partially during the ceremony. I cracked a lil while trying to say my vows. It did rain a lil, so we had it at the the Depot where our reception was, but it was still gorgeous...I can't wait to get pictures on here! The whole day I was telling myself "treasure this, remember this, GOd please let me remember every moment of this day." Everyone was popping in to see me before the wedding, and they were like, "are you tired of smiling for pictures yet?" I just kept saying, and thinking, "no, these are real smiles, all I think of when they say smile is 'I'm getting ready to get married to Dave!'" The reception was wonderful, our DJ, and my long time friend of the family, Marty, was great. He got everyone involved dancing, and the dances w/ my Father were SOOOO special. I loved every minute of it. Then, after my brother and younger sister decided last minute to trash the car, we left for our honeymoon! We didn't fly out for Hawaii until noon the next day, and the flight went REALLY great, and that's an accomplishment, considering I really don't like flying. Anyways, the weather here is BEAUTIFUL, and VERY hot. Dave and I both got burnt yesterday, but we covering ourselves in ALOE and sunscreen today. Our hotel room is ocean front, and has these huge windows we can open to catch the breeze and watch the surfers. We have so many things we want to do! Sometime this week we're gonna rent Mopeds and go scoot around the island, and today we're going to ride on a huge...well...i don't know what you call it, but it looks like a water trycicle...it has HUGE plastic tires that keep us up. We're also gonna go hiking to see the beautiful mountains a couple of miles away, and the waterfall around there, and maybe get a 2 person kyak and have some fun w/ that. Well, that's it for now! I'll update you guys more when I get home. I just want to send a special note to my parents and my family that were involved in the wedding: Guys, thank you so much for making my day so special. I could feel the love all day, from brunch w/ just the girls, to the father/daughter dance, to the hugs from my brothers....I love you all SOOOO much. Jeez, I'm almost crying now...ok...gotta stop this before Dave gets back from getting breakfast for us. I love you ALLL!!!!

the "end of days," "down to the wire," "cuttin it close".....etc etc

Well folks, the movin in went good! We got everything nice and tidey in our news lil apartment...and I got a brand new orange waterproof jacket (that was a side note but hey, there was a big thing at NOC, so I got a great deal, lol). Anyways, the apartment is ready for when we come back from Hawaii on the 17th.
Other than that, I'M FREAKIN OUT! There are 2, COUNT THEM, 2 MORE SLEEPS till the wedding...TWO! Yes, Dave is staying w/ his groomsmen for the next 2 nights, and I'm here...well, going nuts. I'm not having second thoughts, let's get that out of the way, cause I KNOW you were thinkin of asking....but I am getting nervous....ok so I'm nervous...well really just a small nervous wreck. BUT, I'll be fine. The rehearsal is tomorrow, there's an 80 percent chance of rain tomorrow, and clouds and scattered showers on Friday. So none the less, our outdoor wedding will probably be under a shelter...and not at the exact location where our Plan A was...but Plan B is pretty also, so I'm not sweatin that. OK, so for all of you not coming to the wedding, and just reading this, PLEASE pray that I don't lose it that day and forget his wedding band, or my dress, or the vows we wrote for each other, etc etc etc......I want to be relaxed. Just pray that God would give us BOTH peace and joyfulness that day. Anyways, toodles till later! Don't know when that will be!

Well, today’s the day folks. Today’s the day I, LEIGH EDDY, get to drive a 14 foot
U-Haul truck to Bryson City, North Carolina. Today’s MOVING DAY! Dave and I are OFFICIALLY moving into our new apartment today. We got ALMOST everything into the u-haul last night, w/ only a slight gash to Dave’s finger (not his ring finger thankfully). We have gotten our furniture for a VERY good deal; an aunt who’s a great bargain hunter found them for us. We have almost everything we need! I’m SO EXCITED! Mostly about driving the u-haul, cause it’s friggin big and I can pretend I’m really in a Hummer (for all of you who don’t know an original Hummer is my dream…umm…vehicle, you can really classify it as a car, black would be preferable, but I’m not apposed to camouflage). Well, we’ll see you guys later! Only 8 MORE SLEEPS TILL THE WEDDING!!!!

first day of the rest of my life

Well, I'm sub-ing at Graystone Day Charter School for the last time. It's bittersweet really, but all I can think of is the sweet right now, lol. Next week Dave and I, w/ the help of my parents and a couple of heavy duty vans, will be moving into our first "house" together. I'm REALLY excited! The first class of the day I was just thinking about where we could put this or that, or saving for getting a TV to go w/ the DVD player we got for a gift (lol), or figuring out how the heck to turn on the light ovet the sink (cause for some reason it got wired wrong and NONE of the switches turn it on!). Then I think, 2 weeks from today I'll be getting married tomorrow...yeah, it sounds weird, but think about it for a minute, it'll click. Or 3 weeks from today my honeymoon will be mostly over! (sad, I don't like that one)...but the list goes on. 4 weeks from tomorrow I'll be learning how to raft guide (extremely scarry, I wouldn't recommend being in my boat for a few weeks). But THEN I think, 5 weeks from now, I'll have been married for a MONTH! Ok, so none of this is really relavant, other than to say: I'm really looking forward to what God is bringing me, and the life that lies ahead. Have a great Easter guys, go to a sunrise service and remember what Christ did for us, and how powerful our God is, HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD!

takin a shower....well not really

Yesterday was the wedding shower, it was REALLY great! There were tons of people here that I hadn't seen in YEARS! We got lots of good stuff for the house, and I had a great time chattin to my girl friends. My sister-n-law made this super cute thing for the center piece. It was a "cake" made out of towels! It had lil fake pearls and flowers draped over it, SO cute. My big sis couldn't come though, and that was really sad, cause I know she really wanted to be there, and I really wanted to share it with her too, especially since she was one of the ones that put it all together. Her whole family was sick, and she had to stay home and take care of them. And another cool thing happened yesterday...i found out that Bruce, Glenda, and Candice are all coming to the wedding!!!! I AM SO EXCITED! And Candice got a new job! She even asked off for the wedding during the negotiations for it, SO SWEET! Dave got to go work w/ my big brother yesterday too (so he wouldn't have to stay around and be surrounded by girlie talk), and they got to know each other a bit better. My brother works in heating and airconditioning and he was just doin some work for some of his relatives, so he asked Dave along to help out! Well anyways...that's all the big news from yesterday.

Oh, the results of my 2 week diet are in! I haven't lost that much weight, but I do need to excercise m0re, those are the results. So i'm going to start running and doing sit-ups, and so on...ugh...but hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do...I'll only get to go to Hawaii once most likely.

screening the inside, my first "spicer long" blog

I'm sitting here substituting, watching the kids do their in class work, and I think what I wanted and wondered at their age. I remember I just wanted life to be simpler, to figure things out easier, to be liked, to control my temper, to find "the guy" who could love me forever, and for God to just TELL ME what I should do with the rest of my life. Now I look at that list and think, "wow, not much has changed since highschool." I still want life to be simpler, to figure things out easier, to be liked, to control my temper, and for God to tell me what to do w/ my life. The only thing I know is who God wants me to be with...who he wants to help me with the things I struggle with. And then I look back and think, "wow, I really screwed up the majority of the life I lived." I decided to be this person who was tough all the time, who LIKED when people were intimidated or scared of them. My Dad use to always use this illistration with me, because I was always pushing the limits of the rules in our house. He use to say, "Leigh, God has made me your umbrella, to protect you from the things in this world that would only hurt you, but if you choose to step out from under the umbrella, I can't help you any longer." I stepped out, and boy did it rain on me. I got hurt lots, and I would always tell people that I was "fine, that I just have to learn things the hard way." Have you heard that from someone? It's just a bunch of ignorance. They don't have the learn things the hard way, they just don't want to listen to the right way, cause then they would have to admit they were wrong. I've told people for years that I don't regret what I went through in highschool and university--that those bad experiences made me who I am today. Well, part of that is true...but I'm a very scarred person today. God has blessed me so much in this past year and a half. He has brought into my life the most wonderful people, and He guided me to a wonderful Godly man. During University he gave me Sheena, to look out for me, to warn me, and to pick up the pieces when I disregarded her advice, which was so often I cringe. Late last year He gave me back a friendship I thought I'd lost from highshool...Blaire I love you so dearly, and I value your friendship like gold. But now, I look at what is in the past, and I just want to shelter my younger sister from that. I cry for her sometimes, begging God to let her be the Godly women I wish I would have been through those hard highschool years. I also look forward, to what God can do in my life, and hope I will have the faith, and God's hope in me, to push forward, and use my scars and a living example to how God can change someone to drastically. Thank you Spicer, for being my godly friend. Thank you Molly, for noticing me this summer, I looked up to you SO much. Thank you Katy, for being such a good example. Thank you Candice, for keeping me sane and listening to my sorry pitty parties, for being my friend, for dancing on the table with me. Thank you Scott, for paying attention to me on the bike trips, I'll never forget our tumbles and fall together. Thank you Sheena, for always sticking w/ me. Thank you Dave, for loving me when I wasn't lovable. Thank you God, for saving this poor soul.

single...what's that? lol

Well, since it's been going around like a plague, I decided to put MY views on the "to be single or not to be single" issue. I agree w/ all of Dee's reason for having a boyfriend, they are ALL right, especially number 6...boy is that EVER a good reason, especially if you're going to a REALLY STRICT Christian university...it's like a curse if you're not engaged by the end of your freshmen year (clearly I was an outcast, lol). However there are the extra things, the ones THAT MATTER, that are also good reason to have a special someone.

1. They let your cry on their shoulder when they have no clue why you're crying (and sometimes they don't even try to fix it! that's a good thing, for the clueless boys that are reading this, unless you WANT them to fix it, then it's a VERY bad thing, but it's your job to figure that one out...sucka!)
2. They learn to love your family, regardless of the quirks or weird, stressful habits they may have (which is a lot in my family, especially the busy, stress stuff, CONSTANT, you're so awesome Dave).
3. They do stuff they may not like to do, alot! (say like, shopping, or in Dave's case, being lazy and sitting on the couch and doing nothing, it's hard for antsi people like Dave).
4. They will pretend to LIKE chic flix (and maybe they do, just a lil, inside, and you'll even see them get misty eyed from time to time).
5. They love you no matter what you look like...when you wake up and have weird, frizzy, HUGE hair (referring to myself), and they LIKE you, even PREFER you w/ no make-up on, and they love that old t-shirt that you won't wear out in public cause it's got a hole in it, and those baggy jeans that make you look prepubescent (sp?)...because no matter what, they're gonna stand by your side, and try to protect you, and fight your battles, and be your biggest fan....even on "the days" a month a wake up yelling for no reason and wanting to hate the world....on those days they think you're cute.

That is why I love my significant other. Because he's SO significant. He was my best friend when I thought my world was crashing from my last failed relationship, when I was battling sickness in the "November" issue of LDP, when I needed someone to tell about the kid in my group at Medeba that wouldn't listen to a thing I said and kept running away, or eating snow all day but never doing anything else....and then...he became more. But it never would have been that way had he not been my friend, the one I wanted to tell EVERYTHING to,..and I still do.

I GOT THE JOB!!!...is that good?

I officially have a job at Nantahala Outdoor Center now. I start the 17th of April, or sooner if we find a house REALLY quick, lol. I'm still a bit shocked, I talked myself into doubting I'd get the job, so now I don't know what to do! But, since most of the wedding plans are done, there's really not so much to plan or worry about, well, other than finding a house and continuing to work on Dave's visa (which is coming along well, thanks for asking!). Dave has just gotten his physical for the visa (shots and all) and we're moving forward a bit more now since I do have a job in line. So, thank you for all the prayers that have been dedicated to our visa struggles, they are SOOOO much appreciated, and please continue praying with us.
As for the wedding plans, we have the wedding bands, Dave's getting fitted for his wedding attire, I'm losing weight for mine :), and we're deciding on music for the wedding and reception. We're also still involved in pre-marital counseling, which is going REALLY well. We had a session today, and it was really great just to sit down w/ a young married couple and talk about things they have already been through, and things we will go through.
I just got side tracked talking to my mom and now I don't know what I was gonna blog about that was so exciting, oh well, maybe i'll remember later. I do have a new reader though! That's exciting! HI ADAM! (It's Dave's cousin, his soon to be best man too!) I guess this is a good place to get some spying done on future family, lol. Hope you don't see anything TOO upsetting.
Jeez...i've had Usher in my head all day...hold on i'm getting kissed by my gorgeous fiance...anyway, i've been dancing around the kitchen all day to his music...even in the car...you have to admit he is one beautiful man.
On that note...sweet dreams everyone!!!

Bored yet?

I realize that I am blogging less and less because I now realize that if you don't have anything interesting to say, why would people wanna read it??? So, my imagination is cooling I suppose. The last interesting blog I wrote was Sir Frog...good stuff i thought, but what do i know, i was sick. Well, I guess I'll just blog anyway, hey, if you're bored you're gonna read it anyways right?
It's 12:43 and I'm already hungry again; I ate at 11:25....so sad. I'm on a diet right now to lose a few extra pounds before the wedding. DON'T FREAK OUT, it's a healthy diet. It's the Special K diet....you eat Special K cereal for 2 meals a day for 2 weeks, and you're suppose to lose a jean size. I wanna do it for 4 weeks, but I'm pretty sure I'll be REALLY tired of Special K by then. You can eat whatever you want for the 3rd meal, as long as you don't eat more than your usual portion. Inbetween meals you're suppose to eat veggies and fruit, and munchies like granola (not the chocolate chip kind) and a lil yogurt for snacks. I eat raisins and apples most of the time...and splurge every couple of days w/ a half a peanut butter sandwhich around 3 in the afternoon. I've only been on this diet for...hmmm....5 days...9 more to go! Then I'm still gonna have to be really careful and watch my weight so I don't gain it back before the wedding. Anyways, that's what I've been up to pretty much. You're suppose to drink 8 oz of water every 2 hours too, because that makes you less hungry and helps flush out the bad stuff. Dave and I went hiking at the local state park on Saturday, that was alot of fun, great weather for it, and we saw TONS of deer. And then later that day Dave went to the climbing competition, and I was SO proud of how he placed. He thought he was doing really badly, but you know how he is, never taking credit for anything. I was really proud of him :).

sad, but true

Well, went to see a movie yesterday...called Million Dollar Baby. It's the new film that Clint Eastwood directed, and stared in as usual. It got rave reviews, so I decided to give it a try. The reviews were RIGHT ON. It was a wonderful movie, but it had it's sad parts, I cried a couple of times. t was really well made though, even though it was sometimes hard to watch women boxing (looks REALLY painful). I won't tell you how it goes, cause I think you should see it.
I still want to see Hitch, the new Will Smith movie. If anyone's seen it I'd like to know what you thought of it. It looked pretty funny.
Didn't really have much else to say today. Dave started a blog yesterday. I have it linked here on my page, so go check it out! It's pretty good...but not as good as mine of course...lol.

HELLO from the birthplace of Krispy Kream

HI guys. I'm in Winston Salem today, and yesterday actually...just takin care of my good friend Sheena. She tore some thing in the arch of her foot, I can't remember the name but it actually sounds like an expensive clothing line, lol.
Had my interview w/ NOC on Monday. I think it went really well, although it took us AGES to get there. The weather was horrible that morning, it was raining cats and dogs and some ice too. And of course you know when cats and dogs are together they don't get along, so obviously it wasn't nice. I was a bit nervous in the interview (there were ladybugs all over the ceiling, for those of you that don't know I'm crazy yet, I'm scared of ladybugs). BUT, I managed to ignore them (mostly) and answer any and all questions they had of me and portray how enthused I was about the job.
That night I went to see my cousin Terri for her 21st b-day! Her brother and my cousin Joshua came up for her b-day too. It was great to hang out w/ them...i don't think I ever really have before, just hung out, other than at family gatherings (Thanksgiving/Christmas). It really was a blast, it was SO good to talk to them, and I think Terri likes Dave now...not that she DISliked him before, she just didn't like the idea of me getting married so young. She's a good caring cousin, it's all good.
So, that's my week so far really. Either tomorrow or Friday Dave and I are going climbing at a place in Charlotte called Inner Peaks. It's a REALLY cool climbing gym, but the only one around too, lol.
Well, I'm off to catch up w/ e-mails...i'm e-mailing you back SPICER & Mally! I promise!

quick post of education central

HI guys! I'm at Graystone substituting for a couple of days, THE SICKNESS spread around the teachers, so now they need me! all in my master plan to create money for myself of course....lol. I'm on my lunch break and just thought of my faithful readers; my family, and a sprinkling of friends that read this when their totally board...lol.
Well I finally kicked the THE SICKNESS back to where it belongs (w/ the frogs...HAHA!!!! SIR FROG!). I'm now well and thriving w/ full use of both my nostrils...ah oxygen, good stuff. I'm getting ready for my interview next week, and trying to tie up the ends of those wedding plans that keep on running away from me. Darn strings...always runnin....jeez. Only a few more to do, and we're ready. Of course the most important being finding house and secure job, but that's not the point, that's in God's hands, and He hasn't decided to make those definate yet.
Well, hope you all had a lovely Valentines day, or you at least didn't drown in a pool of chocolate and bad TV all day. I feel like I'm outta touch w/ everyone, so please post so I can see how you're doing! LOVE YOU!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Well, yes, today is the day of loathing for many people, but, I'm going to make you hate me all and say, it isn't for me. When I woke up this morning there was a giant card sitting outside my door, Dave had been working on things in secret all day yesterday. Beside it were lil wooden flowers that he had glued together. Inside the card he had even written a POEM! Yes, it was VERY sweet.
I left him a trail of Snoopy, kids Valentines, w/ a Little Debbies oatmeal cream pie beside each one, leading to a funny poem I had written for him. I was funny to see him trying to pick up all the pies, he kept dropping them and then laughing at himself, it was SO cute.

After we ate cereal together, he told me he had an activity planned for us, and to go to my room till I was told to come out (I told him that didn't sound like much fun, but he insisted). When he told me I could come out there were cooking ingredients trailing to the kitchen. There was 4 different kinds of food coloring, salt, flower, baking soda, veg. oil, a wooden spoon, and a pot! Do you know what that all adds up to???? PLAY-DOH!!! Yes, we made play-doh! Ever since our first date, when he listed that as something we could do that day, I've been wanting to make play-d0h, but we never got around to it! Well, I decided to make the play-doh red, since it IS Valentines day, so we did....then we played w/ it....and of course we had to lick it to see if it tastes the same as the storebought stuff. It doesn't by the way, it's MUCH saltier....lol. It was fun. And tonight we're gonna make our own creations of coffee (mine w/ chocolate and whip cream probably) and play cards, and just enjoy spending time w/ each other. So, yeah, my Valentine was great, and I love him SO much!

welcome to THE SICKNESS...a sad story dedicated to Sir Frog

After having a cold the majority of the time I was in Ireland, and finally conquering it, I have sucummed to the mighty SICKNESS again. It took on 4 days to attack me this time...and it came on much stronger. I now have a heavy cold. It likes to prey on me mostly at night and in the early mornings. Afternoons I sneak away from it and pretend to be a normal person once again, but I am just lying to myself, I know I am defeated by this mighty force, my bedroom wreaks of it's presence. White tissues lie in the corners as a reminder of the night. When the sun comes up it steals away my voice, and leaves a frog's in return. I don't even know this frog, I'm not sure I'm comfortable w/ this arrangement, and does the frog like having my voice? I doubt that very seriously.... the other frogs probably laugh at it, poor thing, they won't even let their tadpoles play w/ the Sir frog (he IS young frog you know, just past tadpole by a few years). Sometimes the "goo" goes away from my nostrils, and for that split second, I CAN BREATH!!! Oh how it torments me though, because then it just switches to the other nostril, teasing me w/ the brief inflow of oxygen to both sides of my head. AAAAAAAAAAAH! I must difuse "the goo" from my head once again...it must be done. My nose begs for me just to sniff, but I cannot give it that brief novelty. Away I go, maybe water from the shower will clear my head of this nightmare and welcome the afternoon of lies....we shall see. You shall get your voice back for the afternoon Sir Frog, but who knows for how long we shall fend away "THE SICKNESS"

the next day of the rest of our lives....

well it's been total planning period the last couple of days. Making lists of all that still needs to be done before THE DAY and trying to get some done. We went to the photographer place today and decided on photo packages, and had our second pre-marital counseling, which went very well. I also have an official interview w/ NOC on the 21st of February. Which could complicate the trip up to NY for ice climbing, since we were suppose to leave that day. BUT, as I found out thru the Medeba grape vine, the LDP this year may not end up going because of someone not being able to leave the country, and other complications. BUT, I'm really excited about the NOC interview, and nervous. I know that I have a really good chance of getting it, but it doesn't pay all that well, and it's not SO close to home. It's an AWESOME job that I would be doing up there, but I'm still praying fervantly and searching which way I should go w/ this. Because if I do take the job, I need to find a house up there ASAP. Their first group comes in on the 13th of March, and they're making the final decision about the job on the 26th of Feb. But anyways, please PLEASE pray for God to show Dave and I which direction we should be heading...if we should stay closer to friends and family, or head towards Asheville. Well that's all for now! Just hangin around here doing some more sub. teaching, and planning the wedding. Gonna go play some board games w/ my family now...BOARD GAMES RULE!!! I like Settlers, props to Steve M. (Monopoly is still my fav. though)

yes i DID make it back alive!

Hello all! I know I haven't blogged in a week, and you're all probably worried sick, ok well not really, but I'm back anyway, just in case you cared. I'm sitting in my favorite hometown T-shirt from our big park fest day, and a worn out pair of black pants. I think they mostly got worn out when I wore them in the snow at Medeba last year, but that just makes them even better. I JUST sent the last of the wedding invites to all over the USA, and one to New Zealand. It feels good.
Well, the flight back went great! I know, amazing considering how awful the one over there was, but good things DO happen to me sometimes. I think I like flying during the day MUCH better than at night. I just watched movies and read magazines and journalled the whole time.

Dave and I have officially been dating a year (as of last Friday), which is still sorta weird considering we're getting married in exactly 2 months. But people get married in shorter time, so I'm not worried about it. I keep reminding him Valentines in coming NEXT WEEK. Boys, let me give you some advice, if you have a g/f, DO NOT forget Valentines. It doesn't have to cost money, it just has to have some care involved. Spend some time planning a picknick, or if it's too cold, do one INSIDE! Anything, just do SOMETHING special. It's next Monday by the way.

Well, I think we're off for a walk. Dave get's bored easily when left alone, and I've been on the computer for at least a half an hour, lol. We've finished the stuff we wanted to accomplish this morning, now we need some beautiful NC fresh air! I just hope it's this gorgeous on the wedding day! It's '65 right now!

So long, farewell, it's time to say a dew...more like a rain....HAHA

This is my last post from Ireland for a long time I believe. I will be leaving for the airport in 45 minutes, and yes, I'm nervous. I really dislike flying, I'm actually a lil scared of it, yup, Leigh is scared of flying. However, I'm going to be a brave girl, and fly all the way home on my own. I think I WILL drug myself w/ Dramamine on the long flight from London to Washington DC though...sleep is better than fear...well I think so anyways, but you have fun w/ bein scared.
The trip here has been fantastic. The scenery has been stunning. The friends I've met were wonderful and funny. The family was welcoming. Now I must go back home, and finish planning the next couple of years of my life...sounds a bit stressful...hmmm...maybe I'll hire out that position, anyone up for the job? I'd rather not sell fish for the next 2 years though, or be a garbage girl, although if I just have to drive the cool truck that's ok. No desk jobs either, unless my job is to tap dance on the desk all day, or make castles out of only desks, tricky, but it could be done.
So long all! If I live to blog again I'll talk to you soon. If not, thanks for being faithful readers and bringing a smile and a bit a laughter to every day....wow, that's a bit morbid. Think of puppies now, no not puppies in blenders Spicer, just cute lil puppies. Maybe I can convince Dave to get a puppy now, doubtful....but it's worth a try!
TOODALOOOOOOO!

grainy pic of Steve's pink climbin pants!!!! OH YEAH!!! 

And the gift goes on....

Helloo friends, I am back from my trip into the beyond, also known as Scottland. Had a great time! I met so many people, but we really had a blast. I didn't see too much stuff, but that wasn't the point of the trip. The point was to meet Dave's friends and enjoy spending time w/ them, which I did. The first night we spent in Glasglow seeing Steve & Amy. Then we went to Graham's flat (Dave's old University flat where he lived w/ Graham and another Dave, both of which are still there). We stayed at Graham's for 4 nights--had dinner w/ his long time girlfriend, played micromachines on the playstation (fun game!), and saw the Edinburgh castle. During that time we also met up w/ Dave's old climbing partner Fiona. She works in the Tiso in Glasglow and is lots of fun. Then on Monday we went to Sarena's flat and Dave made us dinner, then we went to the pub and just talked till closing time. On Tuesday we had a lazy day and then went to the movies w/ Sarena to see Closer (very odd, weird movie, really wouldn't recommend it) and then went to a coffee house/resturant to meet Graham & Mel and Dave T. for dinner. It was good; had a traditional Scottish day meal of haggis & turnip (GOOD STUFF, but don't ask what's in it, I didn't, so I dunno either). Wednesday we came back here, I really like the ferry, it's SUPER nice, nothing like the ferries in NC. It had a movie area, resturants, a pub, and a gift shop. We watched Shrek 2 on the way back, cause Dave hadn't seen it yet. Well that's pretty much it! For those of you that are wondering, the visa thing is still going about the same, we're gonna work more on it when we get back NEXT WEEK!!! See ya then!

i'm all alone, there's no one here beSIDE ME....

yes well, I was just thinking of Donkey singing in Shrek, so I thought I'd give you a lil song and dance...too bad you missed it. Dave's gone off hiking in the Mournes w/ one of his guy friends. They're doing one of those 'man days' where they go climb stuff and jump off stuff and are just generally stupid. It snowed here today, it just rained though, so it's mostly melted already. This guy pulled up w/ 2 kayaks on top, a couple of knee boards or something like that in the boot, and climbing gear. I think they were thinking of doing some snow kayaking, among other things. Who knows what goes on in guys heads? well anyways....
I'm going to rent a girlie movie and watch away. I might also read...and maybe check out ebay, although I've already bid on a $2 head lamp today...just to prove to Dave that ebay works. Watch me never get this one, and then he'll be like "SEE IT'S ALL A SCAM, THEY JUST TAKE YOUR MONEY AND RUN AWAY!!!" Just like that, he's very dramatic sometimes, especially when it comes to gear.
Well tomorrow we are leaving for Scottland for 7 days. Yes, that means if I leave tomorrow, which is a Wednesday, I'll be back the NEXT Wednesday, good job. I finally get to meet all of Dave's university friends, the famed Graham and Serina among them. I'm excited! Well, I'm getting hungry. I forgot to eat breakfast cause I was making Dave's lunch, so I think I'll eat lunch early...it's 11:30 already, it's ok. I'm suddenly REALLY craving a cereal we have in the States call Cookie Crisp (lots of lil chocolate chip cookies!!! FOR BREAKFAST!!!) MMMMM...good stuff.

THIS IS TO YOU SPICER

This goes out to Chris Spicer, of whom makes me laugh EVERY day, w/ either his comments on MY blog, or his post on his. Thanks Spice man, you make my day. Also I think you are the weirdest person I know, and definately the most random, but hey, that's what makes you. You also, of course, are the sexiest, red, bloodied, crack handed man at Medeba. So there ya go. I love you Spicey baby.

scene from the road 

Need Prayer desperately

Hi guys, I just wanted to put a quick prayer request on here. Dave and I checked up on his visa progress today, and the tracking place on the internet said that I was gonna take 120 to 150 days to process the visa. On the paper we filled out in November, it only said 30. A 120 days is AFTER the wedding, which means that the "fiance visa" would be perfectly useless, and Dave would have to leave the country pretty much a week after the wedding. We aren't sure what to do yet. We are pushing around ideas as to call them and see what's going on, and on the more extreme side, get married by the court just for logistics and go ahead and file for a marriage visa (don't freak mom or family, i just tossed the idea out there, just in case). I really don't wanna be seperated from Dave as soon as we're married, so please pray that it will go through quickly and God will give us the wisdom to know what steps to take next.
On a lighter note, there are a few of the pix from the trip we took this week. If you want to see just a couple of Christmas and the engagement party, click on "my photos" link and then the Ireland photo album to see them. I hopefully will be putting more and more photos in that album, so just keep checking up on it.
That's all I have for now, Dave and I are going to attempt to clean up his room, and then go rock climbing. Dave's dad MAY OR MAY NOT be back before then, and HE has the digital camera, so I may not be able to get the prized pic of Steve's pants for ya.
OH GOSH, I ALMOST FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE!!! Dave heard from MARTIN TODAY!!!! HE'S NOT IN THE BOTTOM OF A WELL...OR EVEN LOST!!!! However, he has been away from e-mailing these past few weeks, suprise suprise, and is trying to get things in order. He doesn't have a full on job as of yet, and he got hurt a bit back, torn a tenden in his ankle i think, while biking, and had to CRAWL out to the main road. However, he's better now, and is trying to get back into the hang of getting in touch w/ everyone. Molly I told Dave to e-mail him back and tell him you wanted to get in touch w/ him. Anyways, that's IT!
Love you all, thanks SO much for all the support you all give me.

Grinean of Aleach fort, it's circular 

view from the Grinean of Aleach fort 

Mural of boy throwing gas bomb 

I'm back!

Salooo!!! Well the trip to Donegal, S. Ireland was great; although the weather was blustery, and that's an understatement. The first day (Mon.) we drove to Derry first and just took some pix of the murals there and looked in the shops and into one old cathedral. Then we drove on to see an old fort, the name of which I can't pronounce, but it was really cool. Then we went to Ballybofey where we were staying and just nosed around the hotel (very quaint and antiquey, but still up to date, comfy).
Day 2 (that was Tues, are ya getting the hang of this? guess what day 3 will be!!!) we went to a museum first, since it was a bit wet. I picked it just to be outta the rain, but it turned out to be really neat (I'm starting to LIKE museums!!) and it had a jail underneath it that we got to explore and be finger printed in (although it was sorta spooky down there and I jumped several times). Then the weather cleared up and we took a long drive down past Donegal town and on to Bundoran. Bundoran is a very famous surfers haven, so we decided to check it out (even though it's off season for surfers). The waves from the lookout point were GINORMOUS!!! It was amazing to see, and the wind was so strong it was almost blowing us over (the pix of it are hilarious)! Then we got a really cool hoodie from the local surf shop that has Bundoran on it. Then we raced the sun (it was almost 4:15, and it's completely dark by 5:00) to see a waterfall a half hour away. We got there JUST in time and jumped over the "closed" sign to take pix of the waterfall. On the way back we stopped in this pub called The White Horse which had the best food I've had in a LONG time.
Day 3 (no silly, not Friday, it's Wednesday) we did a bit a of a loop on the way home and saw another really cool waterfall out in the middle of a field (we jumped over the sheep fence and took pix) and some beautiful,some snow covered, mountains. Then we broke into a castle (ok, well, we opened the no entrance gate, the castle doesn't open till Easter, so we drove instead of walking the 4 kms to get to it, OK!!!) and took some great pix of it, the gardens were massive. Then we drove home and did a LIL bit of shopping as we went back through Derry.
So there ya go! That's what i've been doing for the last 3 days. No I didn't go trecking off to find Martin, he can keep his goat and coffee at the bottom of the well, I won't even steal his slinky.

i'm leaving...really..no right now...ok 5 mins

hi guys! Yup, ya thought you were rid of me for 3 days, but no, one more post. We were suppose to leave 30 mins ago, but I ended up e-mailin a friend, then he ended up packing more stuff! HE was the one last night complaining about how much stuff I was bringing for 3 days, and now HE'S packed more than I HAVE! Well, I just updated myself on all my friends blogs so I won't be TOO far behind. It's a BEAUTIFUL, DRY, SUNNY day here, in other words, it's a MIRACLE!!! We're off! I'm suppose to be the navigator, so that means we'll probably get lost. I have NEGATIVE sense of direction folks (no matter how many times my dad tried to teach me how to use a compass or read a map...which way is East again???). HOPEFULLY we'll see ya in 3 days, but at least we can't end up in Tennessee this time (long story, tell ya later), lol Sheena! Toodles!

hello from the world of wet, not to be confused w/ Sea World

Funny how many titles you can come up w/ to do w/ rain...i'm sure you'll hear many more before i leave, don't wet your pants, just wait for them k? (ha ha, crack myself up!) Well I thought I'd blog tonight so that I would get at least one blog in this week. Tomorrow Dave and I are leaving for S. Ireland to see a few things...i dunno what yet, jeez, you're so impatient. It'll be great just to spend some time w/ him, he's been working so much lately I feel like when I DO get to see him he's exhausted (welcome to the married world I guess, it that how it is??? Anyone married wanna comment??? HELLOOOO...).
Martin's name has now become a catchphrase for those who are lost and never found...I think Tsunami Martin would be a good name...do they name Tsunami's like we name hurricanes? Oh well...I do. Just thought I'd stick that in, milk it for all it's worth baby. I'm doing T-shirts next, get your name in now, they'll be a one-in-a-million thing....no i'm NOT making a million, jeez, stop asking stupid questions.
Didn't do much yesterday except take an exceptionally long walk to take a few pictures of my favorite murals here. We've driven past them several times but I'd never stopped. I think I'm gonna make several pages of just the murals I've taken pictures of when I get home and sort through all my pictures from here.
Well, I'm off, I'll be back on Wednesday night I think. Then Thursday Dave's dragging me up the Mourne Mountains again, they're quite the squishy hike, but maybe the weather will be better this time. Friday we're going climbing again w/ Steve (i'll try to take those pix for you of "the pants"), and to dinner w/....some people on Friday night (no they aren't members of the mafia I just can't remember their names). Toodaloo all! HAVE A GREAT WEEK if I don't talk to ya before it's over!!!!

HERE IS IT FOLKS, THE PICTURE YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!

oK, well maybe not all of you, but my 2 sisters anyways, and maybe a couple of girls that read this, who knows. There is my dress at the engagement party, although not a very flattering pic. of me considering my eyes are closed, but what can ya do when an 8 year old is taking the picture (yes, that's right, we forgot our camera)? I finally figured out how to send these pix, and it's been wonderful. I'm working on getting some pictures of christmas and things on my picture page, it's not up to date yet, but i'll tell ya ASAP when it is k? And mom, I'm fine, I'm still alive, and no I'm not at the bottom of the well drinking coffee with Martin. Just because I don't e-mail you every day does not mean I'm not alive, or I have a goat, but I do still love you, and sometimes I don't have access to the internet (like Martin in the bottom of the well), or I'm just tired (although I know that's hard to believe considering I get 10 hours or more of sleep almost every day...hey, there's not much to do here when everybody's working!). Yesterday was an extremely great day. Dave, Steve, and I went rock climbing in the morning (I lead my 2nd climb, and it was my first sport climb-yes i was nervous was they pushed me into, good job guys), and I learned new stuff about Steve. By the way Medebites, do you remember those pink pair of plaid pants that use to be in the Medeba dress up room? Well, Medeba donated those to Steve M (or Steve Archibald did, dunno which), and he now wears them EVERY time he climbs (I'll try to take a picture of it next time, it's really quite hilarious). Last night Dave and I went ice skating. It was SO much fun! It's been forever since I ice skated, and I taught him how to skate backwards, that was cool too, cause I don't get to teach Dave many things, it's usually the other way around. Well this is really too long already, so I'll spare you all the rest of the boring things I could tell you...all of which I can't think of right now. Good evening all, or I guess for all of you that are from N. America it's good afternoon, considering it's about 12:30 there. Well, whatever...see ya later....and Mom, I'll e-mail you soon, promise.

Dave and I at the engagement party 

MILK CARTON ANYONE?

Well, as most of the 03/04 LDP and staff know, Martin, the man in the picture below, has not been heard from in months. This is worrying most of us, so I decided that just in case you forgot what he looked like, i would post you a picture. He probably looks much the same, minus the hard hat, and maybe he has more facial hair, or grey hair perhaps. I think he may either be on one of his grand adventures, or he has 5,328 e-mails and only checks 5 a week (which could be the case cosidering he was always in the "red zone" on his e-mail storage at camp). Anyway, if you see or hear from this man, please post on the picture and tell me of any information you may have found. Thank you, and now back to your boring blog update.
"hi guys" It's 1:07 here and I'm still in my pj's. After eating breaky and watching "Big Brother Panto" (the UK's big brother thingy), which was extremely boring but it was either that or the adventures of younge indiana jones (which I watched yesterday and weren't impressive, but that's morning tv for ya), i decided to get on here and figure out how to post pictures! Now I can post my dress and stuff from the engagement party...after I get them off of Mervyn's comp, which he has w/ him....wherever he is right now. I gotta get outta these pj's and have devo's and clean my room....all while i wait for CANDICE to e-mail me and tell me how her night went yesterday....HURRY UP WILL YA?????

WHERE IS THIS MAN??? 

short stuff

this'll be short as I only have about 5 mins left on the library computer. Yesterday climbing w/ Dave was SO awesome. Just the 2 of us went. It felt great just to push my body to the limits again. For my hands to be trembling to reach the next hold, to feel the fear when i fell because i couldn't make it, the feeling of accomplishment and exhaustion when I did...really good stuff. We're going again on Friday w/ Steve. M. and then ice skating in the afternoon (w/o steve). It's really funny w/ me and rock climbing, or any skill really. If i don't do it for awhile I start to hate it, so I know right before, when I just dislike the idea of going, i have to go THEN, otherwise i'll never do it again. That's how rock climbing felt for me the other week when I went, and why I avoided it several times after that, till yesterday. Well that's it for today...gotta go to the post office and mail some stuff, then maybe rent a video for tonight. ARGH, the 2 minute warning...out into the rain i go...ah well, i have an umbrella.

an open windon

today was an odd day...but good, i think. dave had to work, i slept late, as has become the usual for me here, and then got up and Sylvia and I decided to go out and see things. it was a pretty day, and unusual dry day here, sunny too, but still cold. There are many murals here from times when the uprisings were heavy. paramilitary murals...most say "volunteer forces" meaning terrorist groups. These are everywhere in the city. They are quite good though, very artful, full of meaning and heavy words. I read one today that said something about "as long as 100 of us are living....we will not stand under Irish rule..." or something like that. I asked Helen why they don't just paint over them now, she said that they would just be back up over night. Sylvia said that even though there isn't as much evident violence now the groups are still very intact, w/ some times during the year still being very high for outbreaks of small groups. I took some pictures of them, it gave me an insight into the heart of this country, the angst I guess, but it's just everyday life for people here, just like hurricanes during August for the Southern states and below...normal even. Well, mervyn needs the phone, I'll write more later. Tomorrow is rock climbing w/ dave, the next day he's working again and sylvia is back working at school, so i'll have lots of time to write. so long