I am learning to have patience with what is going on, or isn't, delete as applicable! ;)
Hubby and I had to take a water safety class before we can get certified. Considering as it is Fall already most places have stopped running the classes- until next Spring when they will start again ready for another summer season of kids and swimming pools! We took an online class, passed and got our certificates. We were very happy, but the State of California wasn't. We had to go and physically take the class. After much stressing (by me) to find one, we managed to sign up for the last American Red Cross Water Safety Class this year that a certain company was running. We were so relieved!! DH and I took the class this past Saturday, and it was very informative, but also fun! We now are waiting for our certificates to be emailed through to us so that we can forward them on to our Case Worker.
As well as all of that going on, we had to fill out paperwork for 20 years worth of Addresses for our Nebraska clearance, that's right 20 years!!! We only lived in Nebraska for 4 1/2 years, but they (for some reason) want to see 20 years worth of addresses. Whatever... We filled the paperwork, got it notarized and now are waiting for that all to be returned to our CW. When this comes back, we will finally be certified! yay!
We decided to paint the 'girls' room a very soft pink. I bought sheer curtains and an Antique White curtain rod- to match the day bed. I will post a couple of photos once it is all finished. I had to do something to make it all seem real :)
That is all for now, nothing huge has happened. We are just carrying on playing the waiting game.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
We are nearly certified!
After 9 weeks of classes, a First Aid and CPR class, and a water safety class (gotta love having a neighbourhood pool) we are very nearly certified to have foster kiddies!
All we are waiting for now is our caseworker to finishing typing up our home study and we should be good to go!
We started our foster/adopt classes in June, and were told that after the classes ended we would probably get a caseworker within a month or so. Hubby and I were very efficient it seems. We got all of the paperwork complete and fingerprints done and sent in before our first class. Halfway through the module we got a call from a caseworker that had been assigned to us! We were elated, we didn't expect things to move along so quickly! A home study and interviews were conducted before we had even taken the last module!
So what now? Now we wait....
Patience has never been a strong virtue of mine, but after trying to get pregnant for 15 years waiting for a few months/year or whatever, will seem like a walk in the park.
Also we had been pretty broad with the children that we would 'accept' (that sounds so awful to me, but that is the term that our agency uses). The agency try to place kiddies as close race/ethnicity wise as they can. I am Indian, Spanish and English, my hubby is fair hair and blue eyes, so that gives us a pretty broad spectrum to start with. We also said we would take siblings, maybe upto 3 siblings (my hubby is kinda stuck on two, but said he would go on a case by case basis), upto age 6. The only thing we did specify is that we want girls. I have a stepson from my first marriage who is nearly 24 (wow, where did all of that time go??) who I keep in regular contact with, and DH has twin 14 year old boys. I am severely out-numbered here, we need more estrogen in this house ;-) The twins are very excited to have a sister as they have two young brothers back home at their mums house, and have already started with the 'protective older brother' routine- we aren't even properly ready and certified for kids, and yet that had to take their role seriously already!
I didn't want to do too much to prepare a bedroom because a) How many little ones will there be? b) how old will she/they be? That makes the finishing decorating touches difficult!
We have a bed. We bought a day bed as the chances of adopting a baby are very slim, and I didn't want a crib in the house reminding me of all the times I prayed for a baby and it just never happened... We bought paint for the room, but until we find out how many girls we can't paint as we have one room that is perfect for one girl- or two, but the other one has ample room for two and could even fit three. I bought bed covers, and a cute fleece blanket today, I had to buy something while we wait, and it was the only thing that I could think of that wouldn't really change too much with the age of the little one. I did buy one cute dress last week, it was on sale and it's for a 4 year old. If it's no good for us I am sure that someone else from our class could make good use of it! So many cute clothes, and no idea of an age.
This is the time that I have to learn to have patience, I just wish I knew for how long :)
All we are waiting for now is our caseworker to finishing typing up our home study and we should be good to go!
We started our foster/adopt classes in June, and were told that after the classes ended we would probably get a caseworker within a month or so. Hubby and I were very efficient it seems. We got all of the paperwork complete and fingerprints done and sent in before our first class. Halfway through the module we got a call from a caseworker that had been assigned to us! We were elated, we didn't expect things to move along so quickly! A home study and interviews were conducted before we had even taken the last module!
So what now? Now we wait....
Patience has never been a strong virtue of mine, but after trying to get pregnant for 15 years waiting for a few months/year or whatever, will seem like a walk in the park.
Also we had been pretty broad with the children that we would 'accept' (that sounds so awful to me, but that is the term that our agency uses). The agency try to place kiddies as close race/ethnicity wise as they can. I am Indian, Spanish and English, my hubby is fair hair and blue eyes, so that gives us a pretty broad spectrum to start with. We also said we would take siblings, maybe upto 3 siblings (my hubby is kinda stuck on two, but said he would go on a case by case basis), upto age 6. The only thing we did specify is that we want girls. I have a stepson from my first marriage who is nearly 24 (wow, where did all of that time go??) who I keep in regular contact with, and DH has twin 14 year old boys. I am severely out-numbered here, we need more estrogen in this house ;-) The twins are very excited to have a sister as they have two young brothers back home at their mums house, and have already started with the 'protective older brother' routine- we aren't even properly ready and certified for kids, and yet that had to take their role seriously already!
I didn't want to do too much to prepare a bedroom because a) How many little ones will there be? b) how old will she/they be? That makes the finishing decorating touches difficult!
We have a bed. We bought a day bed as the chances of adopting a baby are very slim, and I didn't want a crib in the house reminding me of all the times I prayed for a baby and it just never happened... We bought paint for the room, but until we find out how many girls we can't paint as we have one room that is perfect for one girl- or two, but the other one has ample room for two and could even fit three. I bought bed covers, and a cute fleece blanket today, I had to buy something while we wait, and it was the only thing that I could think of that wouldn't really change too much with the age of the little one. I did buy one cute dress last week, it was on sale and it's for a 4 year old. If it's no good for us I am sure that someone else from our class could make good use of it! So many cute clothes, and no idea of an age.
This is the time that I have to learn to have patience, I just wish I knew for how long :)
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Time flies...
Wow, it has been a long time since I last wrote on here!
SO much has changed, a move, a wedding, and plans to adopt a little girl (well, hopefully)
My hubby and I visited England and Spain (both home to me) in May 2011 for the first time in 3 years. It had been far too long not seeing family, espeically my ageing Grandma. While we were tehre we received and email telling us that we had orders to California! Excited wasn't the word, then sadness at leaving the wonderful friends I had made... :(
In September 2011 we drove the 1600 miles from Nebraska to Northern California. It was an exhausting trip.. My husband I I drove seperately. Me in the car with our two dogs- and loaded to the max with personal stuff, my husband had the moving truck and our cat!
After a 2 day drive- we will NEVER do that again, and a brief stay with our friend in Salt Lake, we arrived in Sacramento! Driving through Nevada was amazing, it was so mountainous. Then through the Tahoe National forest... It reminded me so much of Spain that I felt like I had come home. :)
We settled in a little rented house in a town called Wheatland. I have never lived in such a small town before, and never want to again. I am a city girl, I grew up 5 minutes from the Tower of London for crying out loud! Being somewhere that had one 'village store' that sold a loaf of bread for $4.50, was more than I could handle.
We searched neighbourhoods and spent lots of time with our amazing realtor who really made finding a house so much less stressful than it could have been. Having an anazing realtor makes all the difference. She was so patient with us, switching areas, ruling out 2 story houses, and wanting a 3 car garage (Hubby's 'MUST HAVE'). In the end we bought a house in an area we ruled out, it is a two story with a two car garage, and we love it!!
Just before we moved into our new house we had a trip back to England (and Scotland) for my sisters wedding. It was the first time that I had visited Scotland (I am a Londoner, I don't like travelling north, ;) ). But I was amazed by it's beauty, and really wish I had visited before I lived on the West Coast of the USA!
The wedding was beautiful, set in a small castle in Scotland. The day was perfect and my sister looked beautiful!
After being here for a few months we decided to try again for a baby. I found a new fertility Doc and made an appointment.
After initial tests and a consult he told me that he thought the only way I would get pregnant was through IVF. We couldn't afford the $20k costs, so asked if we could try injectable hormones again. We tried, twice, and nothing. After hearing that a friend of mine was diagnosed with hormone related breast cancer (a direct result of her fertility treatment) I decided that this was not for me anymore. After 16 tries at fertility treatment, one pregnancy that ended in a late miscarriage, I didn't want to take the risk.
We went to a Cinco de Mayo party and got talking to a couple there. We found out that they had adopted their daughter from an agency close by. We got in contact with the agency and they told us that they had an 'Orientation meeting' opening for that same evening (which would have been my mums birthday). We went and decided to sign up for classes to become foster parents (first step) that started June 19th! It is all happening kind of quickly, which is good as it doesn't give me too much time to worry and over think :)
Here in California you go through foster to adopt with the State. There are no real fees (not like the upwards of $23k in Nebraska) and there is a lot of post adoption help too. We have met other couples going through the exact same process as us at the same time, and even another Air Force family. So this will be the next stage in our lives, foster with the hope to adopt a girl/girls.
In the meantime we are fostering a (he was 4 weeks old) 6 week old puppy named Billy Bear... he was too young to be at the shelter so we took him in. He is very cute and keeping me very busy.
SO much has changed, a move, a wedding, and plans to adopt a little girl (well, hopefully)
My hubby and I visited England and Spain (both home to me) in May 2011 for the first time in 3 years. It had been far too long not seeing family, espeically my ageing Grandma. While we were tehre we received and email telling us that we had orders to California! Excited wasn't the word, then sadness at leaving the wonderful friends I had made... :(
In September 2011 we drove the 1600 miles from Nebraska to Northern California. It was an exhausting trip.. My husband I I drove seperately. Me in the car with our two dogs- and loaded to the max with personal stuff, my husband had the moving truck and our cat!
After a 2 day drive- we will NEVER do that again, and a brief stay with our friend in Salt Lake, we arrived in Sacramento! Driving through Nevada was amazing, it was so mountainous. Then through the Tahoe National forest... It reminded me so much of Spain that I felt like I had come home. :)
We settled in a little rented house in a town called Wheatland. I have never lived in such a small town before, and never want to again. I am a city girl, I grew up 5 minutes from the Tower of London for crying out loud! Being somewhere that had one 'village store' that sold a loaf of bread for $4.50, was more than I could handle.
Just before we moved into our new house we had a trip back to England (and Scotland) for my sisters wedding. It was the first time that I had visited Scotland (I am a Londoner, I don't like travelling north, ;) ). But I was amazed by it's beauty, and really wish I had visited before I lived on the West Coast of the USA!
The wedding was beautiful, set in a small castle in Scotland. The day was perfect and my sister looked beautiful!
After being here for a few months we decided to try again for a baby. I found a new fertility Doc and made an appointment.
After initial tests and a consult he told me that he thought the only way I would get pregnant was through IVF. We couldn't afford the $20k costs, so asked if we could try injectable hormones again. We tried, twice, and nothing. After hearing that a friend of mine was diagnosed with hormone related breast cancer (a direct result of her fertility treatment) I decided that this was not for me anymore. After 16 tries at fertility treatment, one pregnancy that ended in a late miscarriage, I didn't want to take the risk.
We went to a Cinco de Mayo party and got talking to a couple there. We found out that they had adopted their daughter from an agency close by. We got in contact with the agency and they told us that they had an 'Orientation meeting' opening for that same evening (which would have been my mums birthday). We went and decided to sign up for classes to become foster parents (first step) that started June 19th! It is all happening kind of quickly, which is good as it doesn't give me too much time to worry and over think :)
Here in California you go through foster to adopt with the State. There are no real fees (not like the upwards of $23k in Nebraska) and there is a lot of post adoption help too. We have met other couples going through the exact same process as us at the same time, and even another Air Force family. So this will be the next stage in our lives, foster with the hope to adopt a girl/girls.
In the meantime we are fostering a (he was 4 weeks old) 6 week old puppy named Billy Bear... he was too young to be at the shelter so we took him in. He is very cute and keeping me very busy.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Be careful what you wish for.........
Cos you just might get it! ...and it might not be all that you thought it would be.
Wow, time has passed since I last wrote on here. I guess that is what happens when your husband returns from deployment, you go visit family back in Europe and find out while you are on vacation that you are moving halfway across the Country!
My time in Nebraska was spent initially adjusting to the fact that I was living in the middle of this huge vast country. Then, homesickness- more like 'missing family sickness', and to top it all off ALLERGIES. I never had any allergies that I was aware of back home in London. They never became an issue as I travelled Europe, or settled in Spain. But after just over a year of living in Omaha they became very apparent. I have had mild asthma since I was 19. It has never given me any trouble other than the occasional wheezing with a chest infection, so imagine my surprise when I started wheezing and hacking one August night. After a year of tests and on and off meds- steroids, nasal sprays, antihistamines, and eventually steroid shots- I was diagnosed with having allergies. A skin test revealed that I was allergic to 60 of the 64 things that I was tested for, for 'Nebraska' allergies. Nebraska hated me! :(
Eventually steroid shots were what gave me a 'normal' life. No more shutting myself away in the house through Fall. I then started to enjoy Nebraska. I got out and explored. There was much more to see and do than I initially thought.
When my husband deployed I met a fantastic group of friends (I am a firm believer in good coming out of a bad situation). Life started to look great, everything was falling into place, and I finally felt like I belonged.
We had planned a trip back to Europe to see family as I hadn't been back for three years (far too long) for summer 2011. In May we flew to Spain, then onto London, and back to Spain again for a final few days with my grandma and sister before coming home. 2 days before we were due to return my husband received an email telling us that we had been assigned a different duty station, in California! It was an emotional rollercoaster. For so long I had wanted to get out of Nebraska; Allergies, no coast, just feeling like I didn't fit in. And now, I was settled and we were headed somewhere else.
We decided to make the most of our time with our friends in the next 3 months that we had until we had to leave.....Time passed quickly, the house was ready to go on the market, and there just didn't seem like enough weekends to 'hang out' with friends. Moving was suddenly very real and very much upon us.
In September of this year we loaded up a moving truck and drove 1600 miles out to Sacramento. A two day journey that I shall never forget.
We knew that our close friends would always be there for us, and us for them, no matter how far apart we were going to be. So to look on the positive side we though it would be great to finally not have to worry about allergies. Not so much. Sacramento is named 'City of trees'. That should have been my first clue. After living here for three weeks I have been on prednisone for 16 days. I am awaiting an allergy clinic appointment, and I generally feel a little down about it all. This isn't what I expected. But, I am determined not to let this get the better of me. We are 2 hours from San Francisco and the coast. 90 minutes from Lake Tahoe. A few hours from Yosemite. Places that I had only imagined I might one day be fortunate enough to see.
We have only so far ventured into Old Sacramento, which was pretty cool. But we're hoping once my 'issues' get sorted out, that we can enjoy California for a few years, until it is time to move on again.
I guess the grass is not always greener, and if it is, there is probably more pollen to go along with it. :)
I miss my friends (family) back in Omaha, but with the wonders of modern technology it is so much easier to stay connected, and feel part of each others lives still.
Hubby and I have lots more adventures to come, friends to make, people to meet. I just hope that I can do it without the need to live in a bubble! ;)
Wow, time has passed since I last wrote on here. I guess that is what happens when your husband returns from deployment, you go visit family back in Europe and find out while you are on vacation that you are moving halfway across the Country!
My time in Nebraska was spent initially adjusting to the fact that I was living in the middle of this huge vast country. Then, homesickness- more like 'missing family sickness', and to top it all off ALLERGIES. I never had any allergies that I was aware of back home in London. They never became an issue as I travelled Europe, or settled in Spain. But after just over a year of living in Omaha they became very apparent. I have had mild asthma since I was 19. It has never given me any trouble other than the occasional wheezing with a chest infection, so imagine my surprise when I started wheezing and hacking one August night. After a year of tests and on and off meds- steroids, nasal sprays, antihistamines, and eventually steroid shots- I was diagnosed with having allergies. A skin test revealed that I was allergic to 60 of the 64 things that I was tested for, for 'Nebraska' allergies. Nebraska hated me! :(
When my husband deployed I met a fantastic group of friends (I am a firm believer in good coming out of a bad situation). Life started to look great, everything was falling into place, and I finally felt like I belonged.
We had planned a trip back to Europe to see family as I hadn't been back for three years (far too long) for summer 2011. In May we flew to Spain, then onto London, and back to Spain again for a final few days with my grandma and sister before coming home. 2 days before we were due to return my husband received an email telling us that we had been assigned a different duty station, in California! It was an emotional rollercoaster. For so long I had wanted to get out of Nebraska; Allergies, no coast, just feeling like I didn't fit in. And now, I was settled and we were headed somewhere else.
We decided to make the most of our time with our friends in the next 3 months that we had until we had to leave.....Time passed quickly, the house was ready to go on the market, and there just didn't seem like enough weekends to 'hang out' with friends. Moving was suddenly very real and very much upon us.
In September of this year we loaded up a moving truck and drove 1600 miles out to Sacramento. A two day journey that I shall never forget.
We knew that our close friends would always be there for us, and us for them, no matter how far apart we were going to be. So to look on the positive side we though it would be great to finally not have to worry about allergies. Not so much. Sacramento is named 'City of trees'. That should have been my first clue. After living here for three weeks I have been on prednisone for 16 days. I am awaiting an allergy clinic appointment, and I generally feel a little down about it all. This isn't what I expected. But, I am determined not to let this get the better of me. We are 2 hours from San Francisco and the coast. 90 minutes from Lake Tahoe. A few hours from Yosemite. Places that I had only imagined I might one day be fortunate enough to see.
I guess the grass is not always greener, and if it is, there is probably more pollen to go along with it. :)
I miss my friends (family) back in Omaha, but with the wonders of modern technology it is so much easier to stay connected, and feel part of each others lives still.
Hubby and I have lots more adventures to come, friends to make, people to meet. I just hope that I can do it without the need to live in a bubble! ;)
Monday, April 25, 2011
I treat my pets like family members...
Which is why I am so upset about finding a stray older dog at 2:30am on Easter Sunday..
My hubby and I had been for a night out with friends, I was the designated driver so didn't drink. We dropped our friend at her house around 2am, and proceeded to make our way home. The road that we take home has a 55mph speed limit, most people fluctuate between 55 and 60 - as you do. We were 10 minutes from home, when out of the corner of my eye I saw something walking nonchalantly into the road. I realised that it was a dog, slowed down, swerved, and he walked right behind our car. I travelled for another 4 minutes or so, and had to turn around to find the dog. He walked toward a wooded area, my husband said he was probably 'walking home', across a highway??? I knew that it would play on my mind if I didn't at least try to find the dog, it must have been a little confused to be walking across the road like that with cars speeding past.
Car turned around, we headed in the direction that the dog went. We passed 5 or 6 Deer, happily chewing away on grass. Hubby said "The dog obviously didn't pass here, the Deer would have run away". So we backtracked a little, and I headed to a small industrial park. Hubby said that the dog wouldn't go into a brightly lit park, he was probably looking for shelter if he was lost...
I thought otherwise, and thought if he was as confused as I thought he was, he might have thought the lights were houses. We circled the park, and were just on or way out, when we spotted him. An old grey faced Beagle. We got out of the car, crouched down and called him over. He was a little nervous at first, but jumped into my drivers seat as the door was open- he was obviously used to car travel! Hubby put him into the back of our car, and we were headed home to call the Humane Society, maybe he was microchipped and someone was missing him?
Just as we turned the car around a Police Car came cruising by - probably wondered what we were up to at 2:30am in an industrial area? We told him what happened and he took charge of the dog.
When we looked closer, the dog was pretty chunky around the shoulders, in fact, he was so fat that we thought he had a tumour, until we realised that it was both sides!
The dog was very sweet, very friendly, and just looked relieved to be with people.
He is now in the Humane Society. Nobody has claimed him. He isn't microchipped. I put out an advert on Craigslist, saying where we found the dog, a brief description, what time etc... but nobody appears to be looking for him.
It is heartbreaking to think that maybe someone just got bored of him, he is an older dog, grey, overweight, and probably 'lost his appeal'.
It breaks my heart to see this going on. He probably devoted his entire life doting on a family, loving them, missing them, being pleased to see them when they came home, and would have defended them if need be. And this is the treatment that he gets..
We have 2 cats and 2 dogs. If we didn't, I would have taken him in to live out the last few years of his life happily.
The Humane Society predicted him to be around 10 years old. So, in dog years that is around 70. Who would do such a cruel, heartless thing?
I am praying that he finds a loving family soon. We did what we could to help him, I hope that it was enough?....
My hubby and I had been for a night out with friends, I was the designated driver so didn't drink. We dropped our friend at her house around 2am, and proceeded to make our way home. The road that we take home has a 55mph speed limit, most people fluctuate between 55 and 60 - as you do. We were 10 minutes from home, when out of the corner of my eye I saw something walking nonchalantly into the road. I realised that it was a dog, slowed down, swerved, and he walked right behind our car. I travelled for another 4 minutes or so, and had to turn around to find the dog. He walked toward a wooded area, my husband said he was probably 'walking home', across a highway??? I knew that it would play on my mind if I didn't at least try to find the dog, it must have been a little confused to be walking across the road like that with cars speeding past.
Car turned around, we headed in the direction that the dog went. We passed 5 or 6 Deer, happily chewing away on grass. Hubby said "The dog obviously didn't pass here, the Deer would have run away". So we backtracked a little, and I headed to a small industrial park. Hubby said that the dog wouldn't go into a brightly lit park, he was probably looking for shelter if he was lost...
I thought otherwise, and thought if he was as confused as I thought he was, he might have thought the lights were houses. We circled the park, and were just on or way out, when we spotted him. An old grey faced Beagle. We got out of the car, crouched down and called him over. He was a little nervous at first, but jumped into my drivers seat as the door was open- he was obviously used to car travel! Hubby put him into the back of our car, and we were headed home to call the Humane Society, maybe he was microchipped and someone was missing him?
Just as we turned the car around a Police Car came cruising by - probably wondered what we were up to at 2:30am in an industrial area? We told him what happened and he took charge of the dog.
When we looked closer, the dog was pretty chunky around the shoulders, in fact, he was so fat that we thought he had a tumour, until we realised that it was both sides!
The dog was very sweet, very friendly, and just looked relieved to be with people.
He is now in the Humane Society. Nobody has claimed him. He isn't microchipped. I put out an advert on Craigslist, saying where we found the dog, a brief description, what time etc... but nobody appears to be looking for him.
It is heartbreaking to think that maybe someone just got bored of him, he is an older dog, grey, overweight, and probably 'lost his appeal'.
It breaks my heart to see this going on. He probably devoted his entire life doting on a family, loving them, missing them, being pleased to see them when they came home, and would have defended them if need be. And this is the treatment that he gets..
We have 2 cats and 2 dogs. If we didn't, I would have taken him in to live out the last few years of his life happily.
The Humane Society predicted him to be around 10 years old. So, in dog years that is around 70. Who would do such a cruel, heartless thing?
I am praying that he finds a loving family soon. We did what we could to help him, I hope that it was enough?....
Friday, April 22, 2011
Gym etiquette...
My best friend and I were in the gym yesterday, getting back into our workout routine after a break of about 5 weeks. We were both happy to get back there, summer is coming, and we need to carry on working toward the goals that we had set last summer.
Toward the end of our workout, we were using machines in the weights room. My friend went to go get a paper towel to wipe down the machine after we had finished, and when she came back she said to me "wow, that guy behind us was really staring at your butt while you were using the machine".
I am not naive, and realise that people do 'glance' in the gym, but to be so blatantly obvious about it kind of irked me a little.
This is not the first time that this has happened either. It isn't as if we are walking around (as some girls do) wearing teeny tiny hot pants (I have seen bigger underwear), with our boobs hanging out asking for the wrong kind of attention. We are just there to try to lose weight and get fit. Don't get me wrong, if someone glanced at you and appreciated how you looked, then great, what a confidence boost! But to stare- not falling far short of drooling, come on...Isn't there a line that you shouldn't cross?
One guy walked past when I was with my husband one day, and did the same thing- butt starer!. I thought maybe he was stupid, but in reality, I think it is a total lack of respect.
This isn't the only thing that pisses me off there. The girls wearing shorts with half of their butts hanging out, or - as we have seen several times- girls wearing boys boxers running around the track! Can they not read the very obvious sign that faces you when you walk into the gym? It clearly states a dress code! And not the less is more dress code that they seem to adopt.
Also ,people.. When you leave pools of butt sweat all over a machine, please take the time and effort- all of 30 seconds of it- to walk over to the sanitation stations, and clean up after yourself. Is it really that difficult?
After all of that moaning, I have to say that I really do love going to the gym!
It definitely kept me sane when my husband was deployed for 6 months. I feel happier after I have worked out, and certainly I feel healthier for it.
The gym is also a place for 'Star spotting'. We have a few famous look-a-like guys. There is Donald Trump- whose combed over hair never moves when he is running around the track. Willie Nelson, who trains like a champ on the elliptical. Chuck Norris- a guy who walks around like he owns the gym.. (there is always one)... Bill Gates- who actually is now a friend of ours.
The gym is supposed to be a place where you can feel comfortable working out, without being gawked at. Clean, comfortable, and a place where you can get on and do what you need to do. It is just a shame that sometimes it doesn't feel like that.
Toward the end of our workout, we were using machines in the weights room. My friend went to go get a paper towel to wipe down the machine after we had finished, and when she came back she said to me "wow, that guy behind us was really staring at your butt while you were using the machine".
I am not naive, and realise that people do 'glance' in the gym, but to be so blatantly obvious about it kind of irked me a little.
This is not the first time that this has happened either. It isn't as if we are walking around (as some girls do) wearing teeny tiny hot pants (I have seen bigger underwear), with our boobs hanging out asking for the wrong kind of attention. We are just there to try to lose weight and get fit. Don't get me wrong, if someone glanced at you and appreciated how you looked, then great, what a confidence boost! But to stare- not falling far short of drooling, come on...Isn't there a line that you shouldn't cross?
One guy walked past when I was with my husband one day, and did the same thing- butt starer!. I thought maybe he was stupid, but in reality, I think it is a total lack of respect.
This isn't the only thing that pisses me off there. The girls wearing shorts with half of their butts hanging out, or - as we have seen several times- girls wearing boys boxers running around the track! Can they not read the very obvious sign that faces you when you walk into the gym? It clearly states a dress code! And not the less is more dress code that they seem to adopt.
Also ,people.. When you leave pools of butt sweat all over a machine, please take the time and effort- all of 30 seconds of it- to walk over to the sanitation stations, and clean up after yourself. Is it really that difficult?
After all of that moaning, I have to say that I really do love going to the gym!
It definitely kept me sane when my husband was deployed for 6 months. I feel happier after I have worked out, and certainly I feel healthier for it.
The gym is also a place for 'Star spotting'. We have a few famous look-a-like guys. There is Donald Trump- whose combed over hair never moves when he is running around the track. Willie Nelson, who trains like a champ on the elliptical. Chuck Norris- a guy who walks around like he owns the gym.. (there is always one)... Bill Gates- who actually is now a friend of ours.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
homesickness, family, and life long friends...
As I previously said, I arrived in Nebraska June of 2008. I was so happy to be back with my husband, after our year long battle with immigration. We were naive about that entire procedure, and thought that as he was Military, and I am English, that the process might not take as long as some others. How wrong we were.... But that is a whole other story! :)
My first proper summer here was really about adjusting:
A different climate- so very humid here.
Different foods- it is surprising just how used to local foods you become!
And the biggest adjustment for me... being further away from my family than I had ever been.
I travelled for a year in 2002, visiting Holland, Belgium, France, Portugal, and eventually Spain (where I was planning to buy a property and start my new life!)
But, throughout my travels, I was never far away from my family. I am fortunate to have a wonderful family, who I am very close with. For those of you who have never been over the pond, you can fly just about anywhere in Europe in a few hours, maybe 6 to Turkey is the longest flight? (not sure, I have never been that far?) So my family were always close if I needed them to be, even while I was travelling. And now, here I was, in a strange place, a different Continent, and the only person that I knew was my husband. I have always been fairly independant, but suddenly I had to rely on Hubby. I was more homesick than I can begin to describe.
I was nervous about meeting people because I am English. I thought that people wouldn't understand my accent, would have nothing in common with me because I am 'European', lots of irrational worries. I was very wrong... I have heard that a lot of people dislike Nebraska (I have my fair share of gripes, that's for sure), but I have met some of the friendliest, most down to earth, genuinely nice people here. The friends that I have made here, I know are lifelong friends. They are my family away from family. I do still get homesick from time to time, but would never have been able to get through some of the hard times that I have had over the past few years, if it wasn't for my friends - who I love like family. Each place that you live is ultimately what you make of it. Unfortunately in the Military we have to do that every 4 years or so.
I hope that while I have lived here, I have made a small impact on someone's life? Lots of people here have made huge impacts on mine, and if I have done the same for just one person, then I can leave Nebraska happy!
My first proper summer here was really about adjusting:
A different climate- so very humid here.
Different foods- it is surprising just how used to local foods you become!
And the biggest adjustment for me... being further away from my family than I had ever been.
I travelled for a year in 2002, visiting Holland, Belgium, France, Portugal, and eventually Spain (where I was planning to buy a property and start my new life!)
But, throughout my travels, I was never far away from my family. I am fortunate to have a wonderful family, who I am very close with. For those of you who have never been over the pond, you can fly just about anywhere in Europe in a few hours, maybe 6 to Turkey is the longest flight? (not sure, I have never been that far?) So my family were always close if I needed them to be, even while I was travelling. And now, here I was, in a strange place, a different Continent, and the only person that I knew was my husband. I have always been fairly independant, but suddenly I had to rely on Hubby. I was more homesick than I can begin to describe.
I was nervous about meeting people because I am English. I thought that people wouldn't understand my accent, would have nothing in common with me because I am 'European', lots of irrational worries. I was very wrong... I have heard that a lot of people dislike Nebraska (I have my fair share of gripes, that's for sure), but I have met some of the friendliest, most down to earth, genuinely nice people here. The friends that I have made here, I know are lifelong friends. They are my family away from family. I do still get homesick from time to time, but would never have been able to get through some of the hard times that I have had over the past few years, if it wasn't for my friends - who I love like family. Each place that you live is ultimately what you make of it. Unfortunately in the Military we have to do that every 4 years or so.
I hope that while I have lived here, I have made a small impact on someone's life? Lots of people here have made huge impacts on mine, and if I have done the same for just one person, then I can leave Nebraska happy!
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