minnesota part 2....

Friday was time for Greg to come in and rehersal dinner. Greg made it in about 930AM (minnesota time) and rode the light rail from the airport to downtown. Thanks to my trial by error, everyone that came in after me knew where to go from the airport, which way to go on the light rail and which exit to get off at. Once Greg made it in, we visited with the fam and then rode the light rail down to Mall of America. Wow, is all I have to say. This mall is huge. It is 4-5 stories(I can't remember) complete with a full size amusement park. There were about 4-5 full sized coasters, carousel and log flume. I was impressed. While there we met up with Michelle and Chad and then saw Mom, my uncles Norman and Kevin on the escalator. Who knew we'd find each other in such a large mall.

Later on the same day we had rehersal dinner (no rehersal though) at Firelake grill. The food was awesome. I had the porkchop (which was about 4 inches thick) and tender as a steak. I was impressed, and so was everyone else that had it. I wish I could bring it locally so I could have it whenever I felt the craving. Greg had steak and frites ( old fashioned french fries - but called frites to sound more appetizing).

After dinner, we headed to Britt's pub - which has an open area on top of the roof complete with lawn bowling. Such a nice atmosphere and great for hanging out. By the end of the night, we all tried our hand at lawn bowling. I was awesome if I do say so myself. I won a few rounds but Chuck and Greg were good too and kept me on my toes. We played with Michelle, Chad and one of the groomsmen Eric. On the other game was Kim, Norman, Kevin (my uncles), and Cindy (a bridesmaid). Playing with them were Sharon (my aunt), Dave, Rob and Chris (groomsmen). We had a wonderful time and are thinking about opening one ourselves.

The internet on base is being finicky so everytime i try to post pics, it takes forever and time out. I will post pics when I move into our house and Greg gets the internet going.

Minnesota....

This past weekend Greg, my family and I attended my cousin Colleen's wedding in Minneapolis. Minnesota. I am going to break the weekend up so that all the pictures can be viewed better.

I left Hampton on Wednesday night so I could make it in Minnesota for all the festivities on Thursday. My plane left at 715pm and I arrived in Minneapolis at 1138 PM. When I got there I asked my mom how to get to the hotel and she told me to take the light rail since a cab was $40 from the airport. Now being my mother, she would never lead me astray. She told me to get off at 5th or 4th street. When I looked at the stops, there wasn't a 4th or 5th street stop and the rail runs along 5th street. I should have know I would be in trouble. I had to ask people where to get off at midnight. This could be a problem. I hopped on the rail and asked people on it. One guy told me there were a lot of hotels at the Nicolett Mall station and I should get off there - he had no idea nor did anyone else have a clue as to the location of my hotel. So that's what I did, I got off the rail in the middle of downtown Minneapolis at 115 AM based on what some random guy told me. Luckily I only walked in the wrong direction of the hotel for one block (draging 2 suitcases and a computer bag) and I found the hotel at about 130-145AM. Wow, what a long night. Good thing I made it safely - i did say a continuous prayer on the light rail at 1 AM.

On Thursday, it was time for family (Greg was coming in on Friday AM). We walked the skyway (a walkway on the second floor of most buildings above the street that is air conditioned and heated so that you don't have to go outside during the winter when it is 30 below) in the morning and then headed out to Lake Minnetonka for our boat party. This was for family that was in town and the bridal party. We got there early so we had lunch by the lake and then headed out for the boat. The water was freezing but by the end of the trip we all had made it into the water. The were 2 boats parked next to us that were on a sales call - must be the life huh? Another boat on the other side looked like a barge with a crain that was converted into a rope swing. We asked if the bride and groom could swing and they said no. The nerve of them. We had a blast, danced to music on the boat and headed back home for a night out with the bride and groom. On the way out some of the people on the boat mooned the barge for being rude. It was hilarious.

mom on the boat

(i dont know how to flip the pic but this is Colleen, Kim, Michelle and I)

That night we were supposed to go to a comedy show but we got back to the hotel too late and couldn't manage to get ready and in a cab in time. So instead we went bar hopping. We showed up at one bar ordered a drink and then was told by our "leaders" - the person making the decisions for the group - that we had to move to another bar. At the next bar, same thing. We finally made it to a pizza place where we got something to eat and discovered they had Karaoke!!! We informed the karaoke man that we had a couple getting married and the singing began. Colleen and Kevin sang first and then the rest of us had a turn. None of us sang alone. Each person had at least 3 backup singers complete with their own dancers. Yet when someone else from the bar sang, our group sat down. I would say we took up about 1/2 of the bar. Then about midnight someone decided it was time to leave. We walked a few blocks to another bar - which was on the Mississippi river and would have been beautiful had it been open, but it was closed. We then walked 45 min to an hour back to the hotel. Since noone knew the city except for the "leader" of the group, noone knew it was going to take this long to get back or else we would have called a cab. Instead we walked about 2-3 miles home(over the Mississippi River and through downtown). It was beautiful but a long walk.

Colleen and Kevin

Singing complete with backup...

Chad and I

The sisters :)

Weekend away from home...

I have good news everyone, I found my camera charger and I have my camera, so we're back in business. I can now take all kinds of pictures including where I work, where Im living, and yes..me in my uniform and best of all saluting.

This weekend was my first away from Greg, Macgruber and my family. It is lonely having to do things by yourself. You have to eat all your meals by yourself (unless Im at work). You have to explore new things by yourself, watch tv by yourself, everything. But I am trying to get out there and do something. For example, on Saturday I drove down to Virginia Beach. I left around 1215 and got there around 1. My trusty Garmin led the way, I rolled the windows down on my ol' 4-Runner and away we went. I played "beach" music on the way down and the drive was beautiful. I didn't realize how much Hampton is surrounded by water. I think I crossed 5 bridges to get there and went under one tunnel. Not too much traffic and I was there in no time. I parked in public parking, walked down to the beach and scoped out a place to sit. Since I didn't have my beach chair, I had to lay on the sand. The beach was packed with all kinds of families and young college aged kids. I laid out for about 2 hours, not too hot about 80's that day. I gradded a bite to eat at a restaurant on the boardwalk and then walked the shops. Virginia Beach has a boardwalk running parallel to the beach that goes about 3 miles. Adjacent to it there is a bike path just for the hundreds of bikers there. It is quite nice to walk it, enjoy the breeze and avoid the sand. I got back from my trip about 6pm and settled in for the night. (it took me about 40 minutes to get back).

On Sunday, I had to check out of one hotel off base and check into the hotel on base. It is cheaper on base and the military will only pay for you to stay off base only if there isn't space available on base. Therfore I get to move when they get availability on base. Since I just found my charger today, I took so pics of my new digs...

It looks like a shack on the outside and would be ghetto if it weren't on base. Fortunately it's safe since its on base. It has a small bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen. I'm here until the house is ready in August (except when I go to my cousins wedding).

I took a few pictures of the view from about 1/2 mile from my hotel on the base. This is directly across from the runway. Basically the base it on the tip of the pennisula and is surrounded by the bay. Tomorrow I will show you guys the view from the hospital. Quite a site!!

Pics of the move

So I finally got my camera back today but unfortunately I won't be able to take any pics until Aug 6th when all of my stuff comes out of storage. My camera is dead and I didn't keep out the charger for the battery. I didn't plan well for this move. I didn't leave out the charger for the camera nor my ipod. I'm not sure what I was thinking. Oh well, here are the pics I have...

the packing company...
the packing material

the truck with all its packing material

one of the packers stuck in the kitchen for hours loading boxes

beginning of the study packing(they would wrap up pencils and pens in paper and load it into a box)

Our name on all the boxes - CP = company pack

the bedroom with all its boxes - yes they packed all of my clothes

the empty kitchen

the wall of boxes - this is just the kitchen stuff

the living room with its boxes, there was another wall of boxes as well...

the study all done

Great packers but can't spell very well -Bouns = Bonus and fraglie = fragile

The loaders - Stevens vans lines, our stuff was piled from floor to ceiling.

our garage during the load.

the couch that had so many problems going up the stairs came down without any problems.

Greg's friends uner the grill...frog and black widow spider

These are the last pictures that I have for now. Hope you guys enjoy.

Going away party

On July 11th, my wonderful sister threw Greg and I one awesome going away party. Complete with 2 tents, teekie torches, centerpieces on tables outside and music, it was great. My whole family was there (my sister Michelle and her husband Chad - our roomies and hosts of the party, my mom, my little sister Kim and my older brother Chuck). My extended family was there as well- my great uncle, great aunt, uncle, cousins and their children. Greg's family was there as well. His mom and her husband Izzy, his father and his wife Tammy, and his grandparents. I was wonderful to have them there and see them one last time before I left. Also some of Greg's friends were there. (Greg doesn't leave SC until our home is ready to move into on Aug 6th).



The food was delicious. We had low country boil with shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn. There were also oysters ready for shucking. At the beginning of the night, my little sister said she needed gloves. Now I have never used gloves to shuck oysters but I guess she needs them. A little ways into the party, I see her come out of the tents holding out her hands saying "Christy, I think I need stiches!" I grabbed a paper towel, hold pressure on the bleeding wound - which she had to tell me which hand was bleeding since both were covered in blood - and then she proceeds to tell me she feels like she is going to pass out. By this time, my sister - who is a nurse anesthetist and my mom -who is a nurse, were there and helped escort Kim into the house. Once she got into the house, she passed out cold in the floor. Now she was out. Any non medical person would have called 911 at this point but in our family you need to have CPR started to get a 911 call. My sister put alcohol wipes under her nose, my mom waved cool air on her and put ice on her forehead, and I continued to hold pressure. She came to in about 3 minutes, but my brother saw her on the floor and flipped - he is definately nonmedical. He kept yelling at her to get up and stop playing - all of this she doesn't remember. Needless to say she woke up, we cleaned the wound - which was not bleeding at all by this point, and put steri strips on it. This makes for a great story but I think Kim will shy away from shucking oysters for a little bit.



The rest of the night was calm compared to that excitement. Michelle got people to play rock band and Greg and I didn't go to bed until 2AM. This may have been the latest I have stayed up without being on call.



Thank you to everyone who came to make one of Greg and I's last days in SC a most memorable night. I will post pictures of the party once I upload my sister's pictures.

Moving out of our first home and into temporary housing...

So I know I promised pictures of my move experience but unfortunately my camera was lost today, so you will just have to depend on my story-telling. 

On June 30th at 830 AM Graevel Van lines arrived at my house to pack. They brought 4 people and each took a room. By 10 AM, there were boxes gallore. By 115 pm (with a lunch break) my house was completely packed. Anything that you left out and didn't tell them not to pack, was packed. Phone books from Greenville were packed - we don't need them in Virginia (I had to find the box and unpack them). The shedder with all the shreddings was packed. Greg's towel from the morning shower was packed. I mean everything was packed. Now they couldn't pack anything flammable or aerosols - meaning no cleaning supplies, perfumes, and bug killer. So now we will be carting some extra things up to Virginia. 

On July 1st at 1015 AM, Stevens Van lines arrived to load. They got an idea of what needed to be loaded (the whole house) and got to it. They got the downstairs living room first. Then the mechanical couches from upstairs (which my first movers cussed at me for wanting them upstairs) and the other heavy things. The couches came down very easily. No problem for these guys - there were 3. They could lift things that it takes 3 people to lift. This one guy lifted Greg's 32 inch tv by himself when Greg and I have to recruit a friend to help us lift it. We just stood in amazement. About this time is when the picture documentation came to an end. I lost the camera during the move. I took a picture, placed the camera somewhere and now I hope it is safely packed somewhere on its way to VA. I searched high and low for it but now the house is empty and its not there. Everyone say a prayer that it will be found so I can continue to share all my pictures with you. The loading was complete at 415 PM and now the house is barren.

My mom, Greg and my sister Michelle came over to help clean that night. The house is spotless and ready for the renters - who get the keys tomorrow - July 2nd and move in early on July 3rd. Wow, where has the 3 years gone?? I remember moving into that house, hanging pictures, installing tile and wood floors, and now the time has come to move out and begin an new chapter. It was a wonderful first home and I hope our new renters treat it with care.  

MacGruber's name and a SNL fan

I just thought I'd let everyone see a snipit of where Macgruber's name came from. One day at the Chili cookoff in ATL, Greg looked at me and said "If we get another dog, can we name him Macgruber?" And hence, the name was born... view the clip at : http://www.hulu.com/watch/19684/saturday-night-live-macgruber-father-and-son

And now another favorite of SNL for Greg and I: (Our next dog's name is "Gilly")
http://www.hulu.com/watch/53463/saturday-night-live-gilly

And one of my favorite skits on SNL:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/65920/saturday-night-live-update-bitch-pleeze-blogger

And Really??? http://www.hulu.com/watch/13828/saturday-night-live-really-with-seth-and-amy

Hope you guys enjoy...