Whew!

Today is Friday, thank god!  Since I'm not currently adhering to a standard Monday - Friday work schedule I'd never have bet money on on how thankful I'd be to have reached a Friday.  Especially this particular Friday.  Too much travel and stress the past eight days.  Hopefully the next travel I'll be doing will be relocating.

~~~ 

After returning home from my whirlwind trip to San Antonio I spent Saturday just hanging out and unwinding.  I went to the Camp Verde County Fair.  I ate some cotton candy, rode two rides and then fought the urge to puke for a few hours.  I guess the rides I enjoyed when I was younger are a bit tougher on my equilibrium now that I'm a wee bit older.  Just what I needed - another exciting perk of getting older.  

Sunday I drove up to Flagstaff to pick my future home (a.k.a RV spot) and went for a hike with the family.  It was a last ditch effort to enjoy the Aspen's as their leaves are turning the wonderful shades gold and amber.  By next week most of the Aspen trees will be bare until the spring.  

~

Here's where my week started to get a bit bumpy..

Monday morning I was innocently making my bed (which should be an effort that get's rewarded - not punished) and when I finished tucking sheets under the mattress I attempted to erect myself into an upright and standing position, my back said "OH HELL NO" !  It's been a couple of years since I've been in that much pain.  So, I spent the rest of my day utterly unproductive and alternating hot and cold therapies and dosing myself with Motrin.  Tuesday morning I was still walking hunched over like a gorilla so I called the doc and got a pack of steroids (above).  They suck because they make my blood pressure go up and keep me awake at night.  Woohoo!  Tuesday and Wednesday were a wash as well because I was on light duty until the pain subsided.  

(Side note: I did force myself to drive down to Scottsdale for a second interview which was pure agony but I made it work and kept a smile on my face for the interview which went really well!)

~

Thursday morning I left the house at 6am for the airport, San Jose bound.

I was blessed with easy flights and figured it was a good sign for the interviews I was heading into.  My back was feeling 80% better and I was in good spirits.  I had a layover in LAX and found some really fun treats!

 

There was this really cool chain restaurant called "Lemonade" and they [appropriately] had strawberry 'lemonade' cake!  I didn't get any but it looked awesome!

 

 

They also had these amazing french macarons in lemon, raspberry, caramel sea salt and pistachio.  They were HUGE!  Seriously - the size of the palm of my hand!

And of course I got one.  Caramel sea salt.  I'm not stupid!  I know a 'find' when I find one!

I also got the most amazing beverage I've ever had.  It was a guava lemonade.  Truly the best limeade or lemonade type beverage I have ever, ever, EVER had the pleasure of enjoying.  If you find yourself in LAX you really need to find this joint and grab a bev at the absolute least.  

But I recommend you get a bev and a macaron.  

I'm just sayin...you'll thank me.

 ~

Thursday night I met with the first of my nine interviewers and had a great time chatting with her.  After we wrapped up I headed out into downtown to find some dinner. 

Cool thing they had here was a "bike share".  For a small fee you can just grab a bike at your point of origin and drop it off at a different bike rack near your destination.  Kinda cool!

Totally not cool for this germophobe was the location of the hand towels and wash cloths in my hotel room.  Is there not enough room to the left of the throne and maybe up 12"?  I mean - seriously!  I had to ask the GSA for some fresh towels and set them on the bathroom vanity - far away from the toilet.  Genius move Mr. Hotel designer man...

Today, Friday - I did my remaining eight interviews.  They went really well and the team was very welcoming and kind.  I wrapped up early enough to enjoy the public transportation and hit the local mall to grab a few toiletries from Sephora before heading to the airport.  Back at the hotel I retrieved my luggage, hopped in a taxi and arrived at the airport.  I checked in, went through security and sat down to wait for my flight.  Not 30 seconds later I heard the chirp of my phone indicating I had received an email.  Delta was sending me a "Dear John" email.  My flight had been cancelled.  Shit.

~

So, presently I am sitting at the airport awaiting a flight I managed to book last minute on Southwest Airlines.  I had to purchase the dang flight for $330.00 and am hoping the company I interviewed with will reimburse at least the cost they are getting refunded for my Delta flight.  I had to retrieve my checked luggage, shuttle to a different terminal, check in with SWA and go through security again.  The only upside here is that I will arrive in Phoenix 90 minutes earlier than I would have arrived on my original flight.  Considering I have a two hour drive home from the airport, I'm grateful to be getting into Phoenix earlier than originally planned.

Well, okay.  That's not the only upside.  

I was afforded time to write about my trip on my lil blog.  :)

~

And so, I will leave you with this lovely image from my adventures here over the past two days.  While San Jose may not have exactly given me a big ol warm hug-o-welcome, they do hug their trees.

And that's just lovely!

Don't squat with yer spurs on.

Welcome back to my insanity!  I'll admit that I'm surprised by your return and willingness to read more of my drivel.  I appreciate your interest and your loyalty!  (Is it too early to call it loyalty?  Like using the "L" word in a two week old relationship?!  Perhaps I'll re-visit the subject of "loyalty" in few weeks...)

So, I imagine that you are curious about the "Don't mess with Texas" photo.  Well buckaroos, it is in honor of my trip this past week to San Antonio.  I was flown out for an interview marathon by a wonderful bunch of people at an amazing property in the hill country.  No decisions have been made by either party thus far - and it's a good thing.  

I'm still in hot pursuit of a few higher ranking positions elsewhere that will pay a bit more in the same ballpark that I've become used to playing in.  If ya catch my drift...

This is a gratuitous view of the San Antonio skyline at night.  I could get used to that view....and the southern hospitality!

Yeehaw!

I'm a bad blogger.

Father, please forgive me.  It has been a year and a half since my last confession...

er, uh - blog...and I suck for letting so much time pass, I know!

The picture above?  Oh, that's nothing.  Just the view from the driver's seat of my car when  driving home each day.  Rough life here in Sedona.  

Why the sudden urge to begin writing again?  Well, I was laid off from my job here in Sedona.  Coincidentally the lease is up on my house.  Since I don't want to sign a new lease and continue living here for another year, 

I'm moving on again.

I don't want to leave the past year as one big mystery though.  So I am going to share some pictures and provide a re-cap of the time I spent here in the lovely Sonoran Desert.

~~~~
Here we go!

The day I started work, July 9th 2012 my adorable and quirky nephew Finn was born.  He totally stole my thunder!  That day was supposed to be about me and my new gig.  Everyone was supposed to be waiting around to hear how my day went and how I liked my new job.  Instead, Finn came along and everyone was calling my brother and sister-in-law to see how Finn's first day was and how they liked being parents.  Thanks Finn..

From there it didn't take long for 'the boys', Olive and me to settle in.  Toby loves spending time outside on my red rock patio soaking up the sun.  

A favorite past-time on sunny days is watching out the windows for a lizard, then demanding that mom (me) let them out to chase it.  Toby (on the left) actually caught one once.  I think he surprised not only the lizard, but himself as well!  I made him spit it out, and the lizard ran away traumatized, but unharmed.
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 I went on a tour with the Pink Jeep company.  They have a fleet of open-air serious off-roading jeeps that are pink (yep).  The jeeps take you up and down steep hills and canyons and over the red rocks to see some sights that would take you hours to hike to on foot.  There may have been a small snafu on one of the stops on the tour..

But I obviously survived (thanks to my pal Doreen)!  

Otherwise I wouldn't be typing this blog!
 ~~~~

One of the perks of my job here was free hotel stays.  One of my "free-cations" this year took me and my mom to Portland, Oregon & Seattle, Washington for a week.  When you're on a budget, free hotels make great vacations possible.  This was no exception!  We practically ate our way through downtown Portland.  Shout out to Blue Star Donuts, The Original Dinerant and to Cool Moon Ice Cream!  Some of the best eats downtown!  

Thank goodness we were walking the whole time or we would have gained too much weight to fit into our own clothes!

~

  In Seattle we met up with our friend Melinda (she lives there) and she gave us the insider's tour.  We took a ferry to Bainbridge Island, hit up Pike Market and  contributed to the historic "Gum Wall"!  All in all it was a spectacular trip.

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Sedona  can be kind of quiet in the evenings.  So, I spent some time this past year honing my skills in the baking world.  My friends and family all know me as a great cook but an 'iffy' baker.  So, I set forth to tackle the impossible and learn to bake.  I made home-made bread; all kinds of cookies; perfected my banana nut bread; and other assorted treats.

After a while I decided that, while taste is important in baking, presentation is really the proof that you're getting good at it.  Sooo, behold my Fruit Pizza!

 Oh yeah baby.  I have arrived.  I'm a true triple threat now.  I'm a bread-winner, a phenomenal veggie chef and skilled baker.  

Thank you Sedona, for your endless boring nights.

~~~~

Another "free-cation" this year took me and my mom to Colorado!  What part?  

All over the place!  Our hotel was in Colorado Springs.

  But we white water rafted in Big Horn Sheep Canyon on the Arkansas River...

 

  Hit the historic arcade in Manitou Springs...

 (this is where I found out mom was a sharp-shooter!)

 

 

 Drove to the top of Pike's Peak (where I almost Pike's puked from the elevation change)

 

 

 

  and visited the amazing & inspiring Wild Animal Sanctuary NE of Denver. 

Funny things I learned while researching and/or visiting Colorado: 

#1) Marmot is not only a clothing company that makes wonderful outdoor gear, but is a cute a furry creature that lives in the mountains of Colorado (and perhaps elsewhere - I didn't google Marmots extensively...)

#2) Pikes Peak Tea - made in Colorado and named after Pikes Peak of all things...who knew?!  (honestly I didn't even know there was a peak in existence with the name Pikes Peak until I was planning my trip - ha!)

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Back on the home front I've been enjoying so many things here at 5,000ft above sea level..

The view from my backyard each day as I play with my dogs

The stunning beauty of the Sonoran desert - not just the red rocks, but the wildflowers

 and cactus blooms

Harvesting my own tomatoes and squash from local farms

Spending time with my dad during his many visits and watching him enjoy my little "Willegan" (William Finnegan), his grandson

Checking out the local landmarks like the meteor crater near Winslow, Arizona

 

Watching my brother and S.I.L build their graphic design business from the ground, up - and attending their very first "First Friday" open house in Flagstaff.

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All in all I've stayed pretty busy here.  Between a hectic work schedule, new friends, family, and exploring my new 'hood' you can see why I never took the time to blog!

Where am I headed in the future?

Who knows?!  Right now the path for my future looks a bit like the street sign in the picture from my trip to Portland posted above.  I'm kind of heading in all directions and no where at the same time.  I have interviews in several different cities and states over the next few weeks.  

I hope to have a concrete answer soon.  The suspense is killing me!

 ~~~~

What will I miss most about my home from the past 18 months?  So many things...

My friends...they took me in as if I was a part of their family.  Each and every person here in Sedona has really "been there" for me in ways that you only get in small towns like this one.

 I will miss the way my favorite foods taste after having gone months and months without them.  Sedona has very few food choices.  Some things I never knew I'd miss as much as I did.  Jimmy Johns is one of those things..

My nephew Finn.  Watching him grow and learn, and become hilarious and quirky has been so wonderful.  It has healed my soul in ways I never knew I needed healing.  He's an amazing  lil man and I'm so excited to see what the future has in store for him.

 

My niece Haley.  She has joined my little family each time her parents have gone on vacation.  I will miss watching her enjoy escaping the cold of Flagstaff and basking in the warmth of Sedona.  I will miss watching her be a "big dog" with 'the boys'.

 The many different sunsets from the rocking chair in my backyard.

The sunsets on the drive home from Flagstaff.

I will miss the way the mountains light up at night when the moon is full.  Sedona is a "dark city" which means we have little to no street lights.  The neighborhoods and streets are really dark at night here.  I remember the first time I woke up in the middle of the night and there was a full moon.  I thought a 'ghetto bird' was shining a light into my yard!  I carefully peered out the windows around the house trying to figure out where in the heck all this light was coming from.  Then I saw the full moon.  I mean, wow.  

 Sedona in the winter.  Breathtaking.

 

Finn.  I know I already said Finn, but I'm really going to miss him. 

~

And I suppose I will miss these guys too:

My brother Tommy and S.I.L. Danielle.  They have been instrumental in my life here in Arizona.  I will miss the family days.  Dinking around my house in Sedona for the afternoon; family shopping trips to Sams; cooking with my bro; checking out Flagstaff and Sedona together...so many things...so many days.  It will be hard not to see them so often.  I'll miss their hugs and the laughter we've shared.  I'll miss not having family nearby. *sniffle*

~~~~

Sadly, boxes are being packed.  The house is being closed down.  

This amazing chapter of my life is ending.

Life doesn't stop and wait.  So I am moving on.

This time I promise to keep you posted!