Trip Home

So ths trip home has been good. I'm heading back to AZ in the morning so I thought I'd recap. After I wrote the last blog when I was iced in the house, I did go to my brother's to see my nephews...when we got to his house my brother grabbed my arm to hold on while we walked in, like I'm an old woman, and I was thinking...I can do this, I don't think that's necessary. Wrong. Such a good move on his part! At one point the wind was just whipping us and we just stood there arm in arm for like 3 minutes laughing, unable to move because the ground was solid ice and it was just a crazy situation. So, then Celeeste braved the ice to come get me! So I went to her house, talked and hot tubbed all night, and my mom picked me up the next afternoon. While at Celeeste's I was able to go on a late night run to Toys R Us after the ice melted and get the little ones gifts, and the older ones really did get money wrapped up, but they liked that too. Christmas Eve was at my grandma's with my dad's side of the family, always a nice time. Christmas morning was chaos as usual with all the kids opening gifts, a great breakfast, and then laying around all day. That night we spend with my mom's side playing Bingo (which is sooo fun!) Friday I met up with high school friends for drinks. Then came Saturday, the big day of the in-law meet & greet. Ivan's mom Jeanette, his sister Leah (lives in Austin, TX), his sister Kim (lives in Cincinnati, OH), her husband Wade, and their two kids Drew & Dawson, all came to my parents to spend the afternoon and have dinner. My parents have met them once before at Ivan's graduation in 2005, but other than that our families haven't had an opportunity to spend time together. As it is, I don't think I've seen Ivan's mom for a couple years and when I did it was probably just a few hours, I haven't seen Kim since his graduation, and I don't think I've seen Leah since 2006...So I was excited and nervous at all once because I just didn't know if everyone would have anything in common you know? But I'm so happy they came and everything went so well beyond my best expectations. It was great. Everyone had a lot to talk about, got along really well, and I think just had an overall good time. Ivan's nephew and my nephews got along great. I suggested they be penpals and I hear there are already letters written!! Fun stuff.

So we know I've gone back and forth about what kind of wedding I would like, something big in St. Louis, or something small in Vegas or somewhere like that. The way things went with our families made me want a typical wedding (well at least a typical reception, I'm steadfast that I want a very small wedding). But it get's so expensive. So I've just been doing some research online and there are some beautiful places in St. Louis. I have a lot of thinking to do...

So anyway, Sunday I went to Chicago with a friend from high school, Heather, to see another friend from high school, Rosemary. The interesting thing is that we all just reconnected on myspace and realized we now have a lot in common, even though we weren't very close in high school. It was a great day though. Heather & I took the train to see Rosemary who now lives in the city. We had lunch at this really cool place, did some shopping, went to the Field Museum, Navy Pier, and out to eat again before heading back. I've fallen in love with train by the way! So easy, and relaxing. Heather and I were able to just sit and talk for hours without having to think. And even though I've always only lived a couple hours from Chicago, aside from a concert and a 1 day trip in '99, I haven't been to Chicago since I was like 7 or 8. After having moved away and traveling more I wonder why I didn't go more?? Oh well. It was a good day and nice to do something different than my totally standard trips home like usual.

Yesterday my friend Becky & I went to the movie "Four Christmases." Which I really enjoyed. And parts of that movie reminded me so much of myself & Ivan. This couple is totally into each other and never go to see their families and talk about how their families bring out the bad in them and their lives are so much easier without them and everything. I don't totally identify with that, but it did make me think about how easy it when it's just the 2 of us. We live far away in our bubble and all we have to do is make ourselves & each other happy. It's nice! haha The trouble is when I come back to the real world and there's gossip that I don't ever have to deal with! Oh well. You'll have that.

Anyway it has been a totally great trip home, I missed seeing a couple people due to the early car troubles & weather but I saw most everyone. I head back early in the morning and don't know what we're doing for New Year's... I got tickets to the Insight Bowl (free ones) so I don't know if we're going or not, but I wanna do something!

Happy New Year!

Early Merry Christmas!

Hey all! Thanks again for all the congratulations and everything. They are much appreciated.

When we got back to Surprise I still had all last week of work...talk about unable to focus! It would have been bad enough from the great weekend but of course it was also the week before Christmas, myself and the kids were checked out! I did pretty well I think considering all the excitement.

So Saturday was me & Ivan's 7th anniversary, and the day we had set aside to celebrate Christmas together. Ivan's knows what he's getting from me (an Xbox 360) but it's coming after the holidays, simply because I wanted to make sure I had enough money for everyone else and the trip. But I wanted him to have something too that day, so I got him this bartender's kit for making the perfect cocktail (a two-in-one gift, 'cause I will definitely see the benefit of that!) haha It came with a recipe book, a pourer, a shaker...and the first drink he picked was AMAZING! It's called a Mustang Sally-- had vodka, Watermelon Pucker, Raspberry Liqueur, and lemonade. Seriously one of those drinks where you cannot taste the alcohol at all. He got me a 3 month membership to our massage place! Basically that is 1 massage per month and then any more you buy are discounted, so like an hour long massage only costs $39! Madness! So Sunday I went and got my first one (lovely!) and then I picked up my friend Kametia and we got manicures & pedicures. (More lovely!) Oh we also rented some movies over the weekend. We watched Hancock (loved it) and Wanted (I was unsure at first but ended up really liking it). Then we went over to Gretchen's and watched Tropic Thunder (as everyone should enjoy this movie!!)

Yesterday was my travel day back home. At the time I bought my tickets, they were cheap flying into Bloomington, so I booked them there. Normally I fly into St. Louis and someone comes to get me, it's a direct flight which I like, and usually cheaper. So anyway, I made it to O'Hare with no trouble and surprisingly (not) this is where it all fell apart. The flight kept getting pushed back like every 20 minutes for almost 2 hours, and we changed gates 5 times! They gates were all fairly close to each other but we ended up back at the gate we started at! I'm convinced they did this just to keep us all busy and annoying different people rather than the same ones for a few hours. We finally get on the plane, back at good ole' H3A... only to sit there for almost 2 hours waiting for our baggage to be loaded...wow. Finally we start to take off, and then we slow down again, then we start to speed up, then we slow down...speed up, slow down, you get the picture. We pull off to the side of the runway and are told something's not right...duh. Finally we're told we will be going back to the gate and switching planes, but it's all ready for us! We go in and wait in the airport again for like an hour, and get back on the plane...to wait another hour for the luggage to be moved. Now...our old plane has just been sitting at the gate, and so has our new one...no passengers coming off or on so what were they doing the whole time we were waiting in the airport?? And why does it take an hour to do baggage? Anyway...after an hour we were finally, successfully in the sky, and landing in Bloomington after our measly 25 minute flight, 5 hours late... Oh well. I didn't have plans last night but it was entertaining to watch people. People in airports are just funny in general--rushing here & there, thinking that their time is more important and complicated than anyone else's. Every 30 seconds calling someone new with the play by play as they sit in the airport.. "ugh another gate change," "Uggh we're delayed again!" Not to discredit how annoying it is but you have to watch sometime and just laugh. I've come to the conclusion that people secretly love the 'drama' that comes with delays and changes, they re-tell it (as I am now!) and I think it makes them feel important.. "Oh I'm FLYING today, just sitting at O'HARE, and my flight is DELAYED" yada yada yada. It's interesting. Amusing. I'm guilty of it I know. (To be fair, I re-tell everything!!! haha)

So today my plan was to Christmas shop and see Celeeste, eat some Steak-n-Shake (can I get a hell yeah-- we don't have those in AZ or CA but the closest thing to it is Johnny Rocket's for those who don't know, and I think Steak-n-Shake is right up there with McDonald's for curing hangovers) Anyway...my mom's old car that I always drive when I'm home wouldn't start. I don't know what the deal is, good chance it's because it's ridiculously cold maybe?? So I've been stranded at home with my mom's Bichon Frise-- Bo, who is a cuddly, warm companion for nap time. And you guessed it, now that my mom will be home from work, the roads will be so bad I don't want to go anywhere anymore. It's been freezing rain so that equals like a 1/2 inch of ice on the roads, at least that's what my brother's telling me. So I'm sending out an SOS for a freakin' grilled cheese with bacon and a bowl of chili from SnS!! Tak-Chels-a-Sak! That's all I really want. And yet I don't want to ask anyone because I wouldn't want to be driving on the ice either. So I will munch on waffles (mom, we need syrup!) and candy canes (did you know the guy who made candy canes made them to represent Jesus--hence they are in the shape of a J and the white & red represent the body & blood-- suck on that!) I think my brother will be passing by soon and he's gonna pick me up and take me to his house so I can at least see some of my nephews.

So I'm thinking this Christmas will be $20 bills wrapped in little boxes! Good things these kids love money right? All my Christmas shopping done in 30 seconds at the ATM...but I still need me or my card to at least get to the ATM... dang. Oh well.

Anyway, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! This is what being home (when home is the Midwest) is all about!! Talk soon!

Chels

Vegas Baby!

So....here's how the weekend went...

We got there Thursday afternoon and checked in to our amazing room. Maybe I'm just easily pleased but we got there and didn't even know we were actually staying in these condo's attached to MGM Grand. There was a kitchenette and jacuzzi tub, all good things. But there was also this weird smell on the whole 18th floor. So, we called and asked if there was anywhere else we could be moved to. The only room available was an upgrade...dang right? So we moved and it was a 1 bedroom suite--living room, balcony, full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, jacuzzi tub with the TV in the bathroom, lovely king bed (very comfy) and one of those TV's that comes up out of the desk!! Long story short, very nice. So that night we gambled a little bit and were gonna go out to a dueling piano bar...but a little too much vodka mixed with heat from the jacuzzi made us think we should just stay in! haha Possibly the most boring people to go to Vegas, however, I love hotels, so give me a big comfy bed and that's about all I need.

Friday morning we ordered breakfast in bed, a little pricey, but you do it for the fun right? Plus the food was yummy. Then, I went and got a massage which was also amazing; again a little pricey, but that's the point of going out of town right? That night we went to the Stratosphere for dinner. If you don't know, this is the hotel/restaurant that's super high and rotates so you have a view of the entire city--which you know, with all the lights is very pretty. We ordered and then Ivan went into his speal about loving me :) haha He does this a lot so it wasn't out of the ordinary, and then he popped the ring up on the table, I said yes, and there you have it! So a lot of people have asked if he got down on one knee, the answer is no, but for a couple reasons. One is that I always said I didn't want him to because I would probably freak the crap out. And also, we were by the window and the only place to kneal was the moving part, so if he got down on one knee, me and our table woulda kept on moving! haha Funny to think about it now. We were joking that he should have run ahead a bit like he was going to the restroom and my table would have met up with him eventually! hahaha And yes, the ring is beautiful. Over the course of 7 years we've looked at rings here and there, so yes, I did pick it out, but I picked out a much smaller one! haha Worth the wait I guess huh? So anyway, after that we went to the Venetian took a gondola ride which was super fun--and made me very excited for my trip this coming summer to Europe!

***Little sidenote for the FAQ's: No date set, but we're guessing sometime in 2010, which is not nearly as far away as it sounds! Our anniversary is in December so we're going back and forth between that and June or July. Still debating on a small destination wedding, or a biggie in St. Louis. Next year's ruled out as I said I'm going to Europe for a month so that's a lot of time and money already unavailable, plus we're going to be moving into a house (to rent) and buying new furniture. So that should cover the FAQ's!!***

Saturday morning we decided to just walk the strip, this also happened to be the day a wind storm flew into Vegas! Needless to say, we didn't do a whole lot of walking around! That night was the Blue Man Group, which was amazing! I highly recommend seeing them. Awesome show, funny, entertaining, everything you'd want.

Overall, awesome weekend for every reason, great first time to Vegas, and I plan on going back many more times! Oh, we did do a little gambling of course...but as you can imagine we didn't leave big winners :) Anyway, thanks to everyone for the congrats and well wishes, it really means a lot to know so many people care about us and support us!!

See you soon for Christmas! Oh and here's a link to some pics from the weekend...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2035012&l=8971a&id=197103045

Vegas here we come!

We're going to Vegas tomorrow!! You'll get a full report on it after we atually go but I'm really excited!! We're staying at MGM Grand, and we have tickets to see the Blue Man Group. I saw them years ago in Chicago before they were really famous and it was an awesome show, so I'm pumped to see them again, and in Vegas--I bet it'll be amazing. We have reservations for dinner at the top of Stratosphere :) Other than that we're going to do a bit of gambling, likely a bit of drinking, and we want to take a gondola ride and just walk around a bit. YAY! We haven't gone anywhere in forever it seems like. When we lived in California we did some overnight trips here & there but since moving to AZ we haven't really. I'm just anxious for the time away from work, to stay in a hotel (I love hotels!!) and for everything Vegas has to offer. YAY! You may be wondering why we're going and the answer is, just because, kinda. Ivan is a member of this thing called "Dream Trips" and basically you pay a little for big savings on vacation packages. They have them all over the world, and all throughout the year. So this is one of those. Plus we've talked about going to Vegas for years and years and just haven't. Plus our anniversary is next weekend (the 20th, it will be 7 years!) so it's a little early celebration I suppose. Anyway, I'm so stoked.

Friday night we went and saw Chelsea Handler perform. She was super funny. If you don't know who she is, she has a show on E! called "Chelsea Lately" and she's pretty damn funny--especially during the roundtable (just watch it). And for those of you who watch the show, Heather "Long Boob" McDonald opened for her, and she was super funny too. Good times.

Last night we went to the Suns game. When we went last year they didn't have Shaq on the team yet so it was kinda cool to watch Shaq play, since he's so famous and everything ya know? There was about 10 of us that went. Good times once again.

Well anyway, I'll get going. Will post some pics and Vegas update next week :)

IRC

I'm so excited! For my class right now I had to interview someone at a human services agency, so I called up the International Rescue Committe. Which I've mentioned before-- is a place that resettles refugees from all over the world in the U.S. I've been in contact with them for a year and a half about volunteering. I was put on a waiting list to be matched with a family, then I was traveling, and now I have the second job, so long story short, I've yet to volunteer with them. I'm hoping to volunteer or intern with them this summer after I get back from Europe.

After my interview, even though we talked about a lot of things I already knew, I'm so excited to get involved with them. It just made me realize what kind of work I want to be doing and where my focus really lies.

More Africa Pics!

So my friend Stephanie just posted some more pics from Africa and I thought I should share them :)

The bottom one is of another volunteer, Rhian from Wales, who is holding this little girl I saw when I was at Vicky's. You may remember me saying I saw a little girl there who I thought was the most beautiful kid in the world and have been kicking myself for not getting a picture of her. Here she is!!! I'm so excited that Steph had this picture!

And then there's more of the babies, my Lona of course, and Ntlanta :) And at the top, that is Stephanie in the red shirt.

World AIDS Day

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -- Church bells tolled, workers put down their tools and court proceedings stopped Monday as South Africa marked a minute of silence for AIDS victims and ended a decade of denial about the epidemic.

Activists hold balloons, reading: "Protecting Oneself Is Also Getting Infromed," during a rally in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Monday.

Peter Piot, the top U.N. official dealing with the disease, joined political leaders and hundreds of AIDS activists at a rally in the coastal city of Durban to show his support for a government that has made a break with the discredited AIDS policies of former President Thabo Mbeki.
"We are the first to admit that a lot still needs to be done," said Baleka Mbete, the deputy president, as she lit a candle in remembrance of the victims.
South Africa has an estimated 5.5 million people living with the HIV virus -- the highest total of any country in the world and more than one-sixth of the global total. About 1,000 South Africans die each day of the disease and complications like tuberculosis. Even more become infected because prevention messages haven't worked.
And yet for years, Mbeki's government downplayed the extent of the crisis. Mbeki himself doubted the link between HIV and AIDS. His health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang openly mistrusted conventional AIDS drugs and instead promoted the value of lemons, garlic, beetroot and the African potato. Watch as reality TV star describes living with HIV »
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health last month calculated that government delays in introducing AIDS drugs between 2000 and 2005 cost more than 330,000 lives in South Africa. The study said that an additional 35,000 babies were born with HIV during the same period because authorities were reluctant to roll out mother-to-child prevention programs.
"We have to mourn the lives of those we have not saved," said Barbara Hogan, the health minister who replaced Tshabalala-Msimang after Mbeki was ousted in October. She cited the example of an 8-year-old boy battling both AIDS-related TB and meningitis who was on a waiting list for drugs when he died.
"We could have saved his life," Hogan said. She promised to improve HIV treatment and prevention programs, and to increase the supply of drugs to HIV positive women to stop them from passing the virus on to their unborn children.
South Africa has the biggest program for AIDS drugs in the world. And yet, about half the 800,000 people who need drugs are not receiving them. Experts estimate that within five years, about 5.5 million people with HIV will need medication to prevent their immune systems from worsening.
The government wants to halve new infections by 2011 and ensure that 80 percent of people with the disease get treatment and care.
But it faces a mammoth task. The Global Fund on AIDS, TB and Malaria has rejected a South African request for nearly $92 million over the next two years for AIDS projects and $68 million for TB prevention and treatment. AIDS campaigners blamed the former health minister for failing to respect the fund's strict operating rules.
The Durban ceremony marked an unprecedented show of unity between government, big business, trade unions and activists. In the past, activists and doctors had to resort to the courts to force government to provide AIDS drugs.
Church bells rang for a minute's silence at noon, and all banks agreed to cease business for that time. Murder trials were briefly interrupted. Trade union and business chiefs said they would have a 30-minute work stoppage to talk to their employees and encourage them to be tested -- which still remains largely taboo among men. Cell phone services sent text messages to their teenage subscribers.
"With the young and working age dying in droves, South Africa's death statistics resemble those of a country in a terrible war," the Confederation of South African Trade Unions said.