In Transition

I spent the last week in Utah at my other grandmothers house. After 12 long years of braces I finally got them off. This is probably the first time since I was in grade school that I have been free of ortho junk. That will change on June 6th when I get my retainers. :( At least my teeth are straight.

This week I'm working on packing and cleaning my room. When I moved out here I only brought a suitcase but that was over a year ago. I have bought clothes, shoes and tons of books plus a desk and chair. Now I get to try to make it all fit in a mazda 2 and mazda tribute. Wish me luck. I have already set aside a big pile of clothes that are going to be donated to the womens/pregnancy center here in town. Its a great program that runs mostly off donations and when I was little we did a lot with them through school. So it feels great to be able to help.

Next monday I will be on my way to Salt Lake to meet up with Tyler. Then we are off to Vegas for two days and Im so excited. Then I will be back for less than a week and its back to Salt Lake to meet Rissa for our trip out east. We are both crazy excited. Hopefully things go well but with us I am betting we will get lost at least once even with our GPS. We are crazy talented like that.

Now I'm off to organize some more.

Big Annoucements.

So for the past 2 months I have been absent for this blog. I've been busy with school which ended this week. I hd finals monday and tuesday and friday our final grades were released. I made a 4.0 which made me so happy. I also spent spring break in Alabama with Tyler and our parents.

This week our office also found out that our sister company is closing our accounting office. Tuesday we got a call saying the bosses from Utah were coming up to be trained by us for two days then we would be out of a job. A few months ago there had been talk about it but I would stay on to process invoices and I was told this week that it was not the case. So by next friday I will be officially unemployed. After looking at jobs in this area back when we were warned in March and again this week, I decided I am moving home to Georgia. There are not many jobs here I could do while going to school. Basically its all min. wage and part time and its not enough to keep me here. So in June I will be back in the humid south.

I also decided to change majors. Out here in Wyoming I was double majoring in nursing and healthcare admin including medical billing and coding. I decided to switch to healthcare admin only when I move. Its offered more places than nursing and can be done completely online in programs like University of Phoenix and Kaplan. And my credits now are pre-reqs for both programs. I'm excited about the change.

So I will be spending the next month getting ready for our Vegas trip which thankfully is already paid for. Then in June my best friend Marissa, my dog Lexi and I will be driving out to Georgia. Sounds like a fun road trip.

Now excuse me while I fill out some applications for jobs and start sorting through all my stuff here.

Weekend Update

Finally we are warming up out here. Yesterday was the first day that our high was above freezing. It was beautiful outside. I never thought I would be so happy for 40 degrees outside. But because it was nice everywhere was busy. Gram and I go grocery shopping on saturdays because during the week we work and I have homework. Well yesterday Wally World looked like Mall Of Georgia around Christmas. It was impossible to fnd a spot to park. And inside was even worse. A few weeks ago I ordered a desk on wallys website with site to store shipping and on wednesday I got a text saying my desk was ready for pick-up. So yesterday while we were there I went to find my desk. I gave the guy my name and he went to the back to get my item. When he came out he was pushing a cart with a vaccum in it. Uh so not even close to what I ordered. I had to bring up the email saying what I was picking up to show that the vaccum wasn't mine. Now I am supposed to wait a few days for the store to figure out what happened. So not happy.

The desk I ordered.

The item they tried to give me.

Do these look like something thats easily confused?

Today has been great though. I woke up and cleaned the house and did laundry. Now I'm working on my english paper. Tonight my aunt is coming over for dinner. I am making steaks and artichokes and potatoes. And attempting to make a hollandese sauce for the artichokes, we will see how that works out.

Happy Sunday
~Kari

97%

Thats what I got on my first english paper of the semester. Last week my Annotated Bibliography was turned in as my first paper. Today while I was sitting in the library, my instructor emailed me back my paper with a the comment Very Nice Job and 97%. I practically danced out of the library. Of course I put it on Facebook and texted my parents, Tyler and Rissa. Now hopefully the actual paper will be just as good in a few weeks.

Now this week has been a bad one. I caught a stomach bug and was sick sunday night through wednesday. For me thats the worst kind of illness because I love to eat. And I learned there is like nothing on during the day on tv. For the last year I have worked a 8-5 job so I never watched tv until after dinner. The last 3 days showed me I'm only missing Peoples Court and old episodes of The Real Housewives. Small confession, I have a problem with trashy reality shows. I will sit down and watch any of the Real Housewives or Teen Moms. Or anything on Food Network or HGTV. But dont hate, I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere that is currently under 2 feet of snow. There is nothing to do besides hang out in my warm house with my dogs.

Tyler is doing well also. He is currently working 2 jobs and getting excited about me visiting in March. I cannot wait to be back in a place where the temp is over freezing.

Ok well I'm off to watch me some Million Dollar Listing, oh how I love Bravos shows lately.
~Kari

Off and Running

So school officially started last week and I have been busy as ever. Sadly one of my classes was cancelled. My math class was tuesday and thursday nights which I loved. Now its monday, wednesday and friday afternoons which sucks because I now have class every day of the week. But once I get to balancing work a lil better I will be fine. And luckily its only til April 28th. My reward for being a good little student is I am going to Vegas for my 21st birthday in May even though my birthday is in March. I am waiting until I am out of school to go so we can have fun and not rush through our trip. I'm excited. Now if I could just get over this cold I would be so happy. I have been sick for over a week and it seems like I am never going to get better. Thats probably dramatic but after being sick this long I like I'm allowed.

Other news.....
Tyler went to MEPS which was like his physical and junk. He should hopefully get a date to leave for basic soon. I'm not a patient person so this waiting thing drives me nuts.... maybe even more than it does him. Or maybe its just me driving him nuts asking him the same questions when he still doesn't know. Like I said I'm impatient.

Oh and I learned how to drive my Tribute on ice an snow without sliding or causing an accident. Yay go me! I have never had to drive on roads like this before and I am proud to say its Kari 1 Roads 0.
View from the front yard and the side of my car.

~Kari

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

This is the time of year when everyone makes resolutions. As a kid I did too. Mine were usually simple things like keep my room clean or get good grades. Well I got good grades but my room was always a disaster, sorry mom. I don't think my room was ever clean longer than a week, I just love "creative chaos" i suppose. This year I am setting some goals. One is to do well in school which starts tomorrow. I am really excited to go back. I want to try to exercise everyday. I was walking Lexi alot but with how cold it has been and all the ice we are both avoiding the outdoors. Hopefully I can learn how to balance being a full time student with working almost full time. Luckily I have an awesome boss who lets me have flexible hours to go to school.

Another goal is for me to start dressing more like an adult. I live in jeans, tee-shirts and tennis shoes. I love them and they are comfy but I am almost 21 and need a big girl wardrobe.

And I want to see Tyler graduate from Marine basic training. Hopefully that will happen this fall.

But thats about it for me. I can't believe that its already 2011, and I have lived in Wyoming for almost a year. This last year has flown by and hopefully next few will too. I am looking forward to being done with school, marrying my best friend and starting our life together. So the next few years can go fast. I would love that.

Merry Christmas.....4 days late

So Christmas has now come and gone and I am thankful the holiday is over. Usually I love the holidays. I love seeing my family and eating all the yummy food. But this year it was kinda sad. It was the first year not with my parents and not with Tyler. It was a little lonely. My grandmas friend was here but after 2 days I was ready for him to leave. He is 59 going on 90 I swear. From the time he got here you would have thought he lived here. And he expected to be waited on hand and foot. Not the best house guest when you are trying to make the best of the holiday.

The good part was that I got the Barnes and Noble Nook. I love it. On saturday after I opened it, I hurried through the book I was reading just so I could start reading on my nook. I decided that it may be my new best friend. It so cute and easy to use.

Work is still crazy. I cannot wait until the year is over just so some things calm down. And school starts on the 5th! I still have to get my books because the school is closed for the holidays but I won't need them until the 11th anyways. The 5th-7th is a orientation class that I also get credits for and only lasts 3 days.

Now I'm planning a trip home hopefully around my birthday. That gives me 3 months to plan and save so I'm hoping it happens.

The last 2 weeks.

Have you ever read a good book and not be able to stop until you hit the end? Basically I have done nothing the last two weeks but work, cook, take care of Lexi and read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I had some trouble getting into the book but once I did, I couldn't put it down. It was AMAZING. Now that I have finished I can return to the real world.

So last week I got to go on a business trip with only 20 hours notice. The company I work for is owned by a bigger company and I had to go down to their offices last week for meetings and training. So wednesday I woke up extra early and drove the 7 and 1/2 hours down to their office. Soon as I left here I hit crappy weather but thats normal this time of year. After I got a little ways from home it cleared up and I almost enjoyed the drive. After being there for 2 days I got up again early to drive home on friday. Well as soon as I left Vernal I hit snow and ice. The drive through the canyon that I loved on wednesday was beyond scary on Friday. At one point I saw 4 cars that slide off the road. After that, every town I stopped in I got my laptop and checked road conditions. I made it about halfway home and the weather got even worse. I ended up spending the night in Evanston, wy. Not fun to be stuck in a place where people who live in snow cannot drive in it and have your car covered in snow in less than 15 minutes. Saturday I finally made it home. Got to love how going down it took 7 1/2 hours and coming home was almost 10 over 2 days.

Since I got home I have worked and worked. Plus I caught a cold that made me lose my voice and possibly my patience with certain people. Now I feel better thankfully. I am also so ready for Christmas to get here. Not because I want presents but because I am tired of the kitten attacking the tree and stealing ornaments all the time. We had to take the tree skirt off because she would lay beneath it and smack the dogs. I thought the dogs were going to take the tree down trying to get to Ninja under the skirt. I cannot wait to take the tree down. It might be more fun if it wasn't going to be just gram, her friend Earl and I. To me the holidays kinda suck this year.

Happy Holidays Y'all ( I couldn't help that, living in Georgia does that to you)
~Kari

Bad Kari

I just may be the worst blogger ever. So anyways, I went home to spend Thanksgiving with Tyler and our families. I was only home for a week and it was a busy one. We had Thanksgiving, early Christmas and Jimmys birthday all in a few days. But it was fun. I also got to spend some time with all the adorable nephews. I am so thankful I was able to see everyone while I was home. I love spending time with my parents and Tylers whole family.

Now I'm home and back to work. I am also getting ready for school to start on Jan. 5th. And decorating for Christmas here. I love the holidays and love decorating for them. This year its just going to be Grandma, me, grams friend Earl and Aunt Jeanette, but it should still be fun. At least I know all the food will be super yummy. I am doing all the cooking. :)

Happy Holidays,
Kari

Happy Monday and 8 More Days

Yep that's right only 8 more days til I fly home to Georgia. I'm not excited or anything. I can't believe it's already the 15th and we still haven't had any snow here that has stuck. It's amazing. Lately our highs are like 40 but its better than inches of snow everywhere. Normally I think snow is pretty, and don't mind it but work is off 2 dirt roads which are horribly slick when icy. And according to weather.com I shouldn't have to worry about getting snowed in when I leave, but getting stuck in Ga ( which wouldn't be bad) is aother story.

Grandmas arm is healing well. We got to take her splint off on saturday but she is now wearing a brace to protect her stitches and wrist until they come out on thursday.

And I worked more on my cooking skills this weekend. I have decided one day I am going to make a great wife. Since I moved to Wyoming, I have done most of the cooking all the cleaning and a lot of hime repairs. Although I am a pretty good cook. I have learned I love to cook. I also learned to crochet, I just haven't practiced in a while.

Now I'm off to search the internet to figure out exactly what it is my little brother wants for christmas. I personally have no idea what a star wars hostage crisis is so hopefully I can figure it out by the time I fly home.

~Kari

Its Snowing!!!

So I woke up late yesterday because me being a blonde forgot to set my alarm back. Then after rushing through my shower and putting the dogs away, I run outside to see an inch of snow sitting on my poor car. How we went from being warm and 62 degrees on monday to 29 and snow on tuesday I can't figure out.

Then yesterday after it starts to snow, Grammie and I had to drive to Casper which is a 2 hour drive. She had to have surgery on her wrist and elbow this morning. Thankfully her surgery went well and we are now home relaxing.

And the best thing ever happened today. Grammie and I went to Wal-Mart to get her pain meds and while we were waiting we walked past the game systems. Gram has been thinking about getting a Wii for a while but decided today was the day. I'm so excited to set it up tomorrow and play it. We also have Super Mario Brothers for Wii so I know what I'm doing this weekend.

Well thats about all from me. Got to get up early and get the puppies from the kennel then go to work.
Night

Weekend Update

Over the weekend I had my first Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, I said my first. My gram and I decided to do it last weekend so  I could have it with her before her surgery on Wednesday and before I leave for Ga. So that's one down 3 more to go. Best part of dinner was the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies I got at Smiths. They are the best thing ever.

Today I got all registered for spring semester. I am super excited because I was able to get the classes and times I wanted. This semester I will be taking Intermediate Algebra, Chemistry and English 1010 plus a freshman class thats like study hall and mandatory.

This week is going to be pretty busy. Gram is having outpatient surgery on her wrist on Wednesday so we will be in Casper all day. Its a 2 hour drive one way but thats the hospital they want to do it at. I will be taking my laptop and work stuff to do while she is in surgery. She might be out the rest of the week so I will also be alone in the office. Its getting cold outside and they are predicting snow so all the guys will be out delivering heaters. At least I can blast my rock music then. :)

Tyler is leaving 2 days later than planned for basic. Instead of leaving dec 4th he is leaving dec. 6th. But he's doing good. I am proud of him. He passed his run test today and his weight is below the limit.

Thats about it from us for right now.
~Kari

Feeling So Much Better

Yay! I went to the doctor on monday to see if he could give me something for my headaches. Well my doctor wasn't there but the doc that was is amazing. I am seriously thinking of switching offices to see him from now on. After looking at my chart and hearing about my symptoms he said I have tension migraines. He put me on 3 different meds to help. One is a muscle relaxer, and one is a pain pill for migraines. I take these both 2 times a day. Then he put me on a second pain pill for between the other two meds or whenever I feel my headache getting worse. I feel so much better. I want to go hug the doctor since I have been dealing with these horrible headaches since August.

So far I would say November is off to a good start. But next week won't be so much fun. I have to register for classes on monday but I'm looking forward to that. Then on wednesday Gram is having surgery on her left wrist. She had surgery on it two years ago and the bone they put in is breaking down. So now they are replacing the bone and relieveing the tightness in her fingers from carpal tunnel. Doesn't that sound like a blasty blast?

But on the bright side I will be home in 19 days, not that I'm counting or anything. I am so excited to come home and see Tyler one more time before he leaves for boot camp. Dec. 4th is coming way to fast.

Tickets!

I am officially coming home for Thanksgiving, tickets bought and now just waiting for the day. I seriously am going to be counting down the days. 24 in case your wondering. Sadly I will be leaving on the 29th so I won't be there when Tyler leaves for basic. I wanted to but I have to work. Some days being a big girl isn't much fun.

I have gotten lazy the last few weeks. I used to come home from work then go to the gym then home to take Lexi for a walk before dinner usually 3 or 4 times a week. Now I have gotten into the bad habit of coming home, taking Lexi for a walk then camping out on the couch with a book. I have read 6 or 7 books in two weeks. Hopefully I will get back into my gym routine, but at least Lexi isn't missing out on her walks. To bad that will end once it gets really cold and snowy.

Now today has been the laziest day I have had in a while. I woke up around noon and then decided to camp out on the couch for the rest of the day. Don't judge me I have had horrible migraines for over a week and todays was the worst. I saw my doctor on thursday and he upped my night-time meds that are supposed to prevent me from getting a migraine. Ya, lets just say those are not working. Then he told me to take some Advil whenever I feel one coming on and it should go away. Well I have now tried Advil, Advil Migraine, Aleeve and Excedrine Migraine. None help but the last two make me really sick to my stomach. Monday I will be making another appointment and I won't be happy at all. Hopefully he can figure out whats wrong before I leave for the east coast. I really don't want to be flying all day with a migraine. I think I would be rather testy and no one wants that.

One last thing, do dogs have nightmares?? Last night, well 2 am Lexi woke me up making this weird whimpering sound. I check on her and the dang dog is completely asleep. She was even snoring between whimpers. I went back to bed but after 10 minutes she was still whimpering. Poor Lex was woken up and tossed outside to go potty. Thankfully when she came back in she went right back to bed and no more sad puppy noises. Apparently after that she only had good dreams.

Happy day before Halloween,
Kari

Oops Slow Start

Ok, So I planned on posting something every few days to get in the habit before T leaves for basic. I figure that one day after he graduates he will be really bored and can read what I was doing for the 3 months he was gone. If I keep with with the every 10 days thing, it won't even take him much time to read.

So what have I been doing???

1. Took compass test for school. Got a 100 on the reading part, 94 on the writing and 91 on the math. Then I did a happy dance in the advisors office. But I am a walk in for the pre-nursing program so I'm super happy. Hopefully it will only take me 3 years to get my degree.

2. Made caramel apples and burned my finger really bad. Note to self never again try to dance to my favorite song while dipping apples. Now over a week later its still angry and red and sore. Doc says it will take a month to heal completely and will scar, like I don't already have enough of those.

3. Went to the "big city". To people in Wyoming that would be Salt Lake City, Utah. Its the most amazing place. I love the mountains and everything that it has to offer, like more than 2 movie theaters, several malls, and of course In-N-Out. Thats the california girl coming out.

4. Realized that hopefully this time next month I will be with T for Thanksgiving. Sadly he will be leaving a few days after that. Don't get me wrong I am very proud of him, I just hate that I won't be able to call or text him while he is in basic. I might be a little addicted to talking to him. If I dont hear from him for a long time I tend to start freaking out and call him to make sure he's ok. Usually he's asleep because duh two hour time difference. So the first few weeks I might be a little crazy.

Thats about it for right now. I'm trying to warm up since its so flipping cold outside. Hopefully it warms up this weekend like the weather man said. I am so not ready for winter yet.

First Time Blogging

Ok so a while ago I moved away from my love, my family and my friends to work for my grandma and go to school. Maybe a while isn't the right word, how about more specifically 8 months ago. I decided to start a blog so my family can keep up with what I am doing in the land of cowboys and cows. I will also include what Tyler, my fiancee and best friend, is doing while he is in basic training, the marines, and MOS school. So welcome to my blog.