Jessica Comes To Visit

Yippee!  So Jessica arrived Saturday night just in time for dinner and to settle in.  She wanted to see the new Hunger Games movie while she was in town but Tom hadn't seen the first one and it had been a good while for me (Alabama book group outing) so we found it on Netflix and cozied up for a movie night.

Nice lower lip Teri….cold sore won that battle

 Got up Sunday morning and went to church then headed out for site-seeing.  We ventured over to Eastern Market and decided matching hats would be cool.  Dorky maybe, but ultimately cool.

We then decided that rather than walking we'd do a quick drive by of the sites for photos.  Jessica had been here before back when Tom was living here after 9/11 so it wasn't like she hadn't seen these places…so off we went.

 After hitting the highlights we went and parked at our old place so we could show Jess then walked down to the waterfront for lunch.  Opted for a yummy seafood sampler with crab cakes, oysters, calamari, seaweed salad, cucumbers, dumplings and egg rolls!  Next, we headed into Alexandria to catch the Hunger Games movie 2.  We all liked it and it lent itself to great discussions.  Pretty rare that that happens anymore!

We stopped at Burlington's on the way home to get Jess a coat and when we came out the car wouldn't start.  While we waited for our Allstate car service to arrive Tom asked the security guy for a jump so we cancelled the service and that got us home.

Next morning.  Dead car.  So I called the service again who sent a tow truck to haul the car to Pep Boy's then spent the morning trying to arrange a rental for us to take to NJ for the rest of the week.

 Tom metro'd into town for a doc appt. while we hung out at the apartment.  Jessica's legs were bothering her so she rested up.  We met Tom in town later and did a little more site seeing then headed home for dinner and to prep for the big game.  Jessica had wanted to see an NFL game while she was in town as she's killin' it on her fantasy football league.  Both her quarterbacks (RG3 and Kaepernick) happened to be playing at FedEx field so we decided that would be a nice pre-Christmas gift.

 So, let me just say this.  When you buy tickets from ebay and they say "obstructed view"…believe them.  Honestly, worst seats ever!  See the top of that bottom bowl?  Well that goes back quite a ways tucked under there.  That's where we were…at the very back but in the end zone.  Yes, being tucked in there probably kept up from the wind but once the ball was in the air, we couldn't see it.  Awesome.

Jessica only got this photo because she and Tom went and walked around the stadium. They said it was a whole different experience out there.  Who knew?  So yeah, 50 minute Metro trip and a nearly mile walk to the stadium….keeping in mind that because it was Monday Night Football on tv the thing didn't even start until 8:40 pm our time…..and then that whole trip back again.  We were done.  Tired.  Not home until 1 AM.  Glad Jess was a good sport about it and glad that's off my Bucket List.

Tuesday morning we got up and headed to NYC (again) to take more things to Taylor and to pick him up to go to NJ with us.  Hauled stuff up to his room then hit the road.  Full day on the road with a huge storm brewing but fortunately other than some rain we were good.

Jess wanted subs for dinner so we stopped here to grab dinner.  Right down the street from Tom's mom's house (Jess lived with her for a while) and doesn't it just scream "Jersey"?

Marcie, Celina and Jess

 Jess went to visit her friends later that night.  She worked with Marcie at a Photo shop when she lived in NJ and Celina was just little.  Jess babysat her and spent a lot of time at their house.  Celina found Jess on Facebook and was so excited to see her!  We got to see them both when they came to Marie's house and Celina hung out with us while Marcie worked.  Tom took them all into Atlantic City to visit Marcie at work at the Revel Casino while Marie and I stayed home and enjoyed the quiet.

Domino night

Atlantic City

Stopped by so Jess could see her cousin Denny and his son Sean that she's never met before!

                   Yummy turkey for Thanksgiving.  Whole meal was wonderful!  Thanks Marie

 Friday morning we dropped Taylor off here to catch a bus back to NYC then hit the road to have Jess at the Baltimore/Washington airport by 10:30.  Busy but fun week.

Moving….again.

 So yeah, we said good-bye to this awesome view of the city to move further out into Maryland.  We settled on a newer, bigger place just a 7 minute walk (Tom timed it) from the Metro and an additional 18 minute (Tom timed it) Metro ride into the city for Tom's work.

So we frantically finished packing up most everything Sunday night before the movers arrived Monday morning. We got the truck and then our movers arrived.  Both were deaf but we managed to communicate throughout the day.  Turns out the universal sound for pain (even if you don't speak) is a blood curdling scream when one of the movers, Eric, got his finger squished between the door and a huge chair.  A little first aid and we were good to go but it was a bit un-nerving after having worked in silence most the day.

 Between the four of us we got most everything moved but were running way late so we saved some things we could still move in the car and headed out so they could help load out at the new place.  Lots faster to move INTO a first floor apartment when you're not dealing with elevators from the 8th floor and a good walk to the truck.  Load out went much faster.

I spent the rest of the week hauling the rest of our stuff, deep cleaning (including carpets) at the old apartment, then in a frenzy trying to get the new apartment looking like a home before Jessica's arrival on Saturday.  Was a tad stressful and doing it with a cold and trying really hard to grow a HUGE cold sore on my lip only added to the nastiness.  Oh yeah, and was trying to decorate for Christmas as well….

It Was A Week

 So we started out the weekend with Multi-cultural night at Georgetown through the American Friends program.  There were tables with food from different countries and anyone who wanted to participate on the program could.  There was music, origami, tai chi, and a power point about Saudi Arabia that was fascinating.  She even brought a gown we could try on!

Alexis wasn't able to be there because she had too much studying to do but she and I had met for dinner earlier in the week for her birthday and had a great time!












Sunday morning I flew to Utah and arrived at mom and dad's just as it was approaching time for our family pre-Thanksgiving dinner. My siblings were on their "off" year where they spend the holiday with their spouses family so this was a nice way to get to see everyone.  The week was full of fun….

Grandpa and Grandma get to babysit Nixon on Mondays so it was fun to spend the day with him.

Hilarity always ensues when we pull out Grandma Lola's electrical shock machine….because nothing screams fun like electrocuting each other!

Jenne,  Sally's sister, Betsy, Linda and Sally

 It just so happened my SLC book group was meeting the week I was there so I commiserated with  Betsy to come and surprise them.  There were lots of tears and stomach aching laughter throughout the evening.  We probably spent about 5 minutes on the book and got back to catching up.  Oh how I miss those girls!  Always love the beautiful view of Salt Lake City from Sally's condo above the capitol.

 

It was a quick trip and I didn't get the things done I had come to do but it was fun to catch up and see everyone.  I flew back Friday night just in time to get some more packing done for the big move and to get ready to head out in the morning for NYC.

My friend Teresa Sanderson was performing at the Solo Festival with our friends from Plan B Theatre Co. in SLC so we HAD to go support her.  Ran into some friends from SLC and friends from NYC so it was a grand time.  And Teresa's show was wonderful!  We tried to hook up with Taylor after the show but he didn't want to subway into Manhattan and we didn't want to drive to him (we had a free parking place which is a miracle) at our hotel in Brooklyn and none of us knew the area well enough to find each other in the night so we decided the next morning on our way out of town was best.  Tom and I walked around Manhattan a bit then headed back to Brooklyn and found a small Ecuadorean restaurant before heading back to our even smaller hotel room.  Cheap but clean and comfortable for a one night stay!

 We took a few more things to Taylor the next morning and grabbed a quick bite to eat before heading home.  Movers coming bright and early in the morning and there's still much to do…….

Tom Retires from the Coast Guard Reserves

 So after 35 years in the Coast Guard, Tom finally retired and reduced his work (and stress) load considerably.  No more weekends away, no more jetting off for active duty emergencies and no fires to put out over the phone. He didn't even want to have a retirement ceremony but between me and his co-workers, we convinced him he needed to have something to commemorate his many years of service.

There were several nice tributes and then Tom gave a great talk about how he really went into the reserves with the intention of staying 2 years.  He was going to school for his Masters at the time and working 4 part time jobs so this seemed easier…plus he got life insurance.  At the time there was a coast guard unit in Salt Lake City. I know this is confusing but he had served for 4 years active duty Air Force….all before I met him.  When he got out of the air force he was stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and for whatever reason decided to stay.  And for whatever reason….decided to go into theatre.  No, he'd never done anything like that before. We met at Weber State in the theatre dept. and the rest is history.  So, here's the confusing part….he had done the active duty, then joined the coast guard reserves, then in 1988 went to work for the Air Force as a civilian and has worked for them ever since.  When he was called to active duty during and after 9/11, that was as reservist for the coast guard.  But since he has always had to travel for both his military and civilian jobs, and in fact sometimes they crossed over….people were always confused about who he actually worked for.  So when we announced he was retiring from the Coast Guard, many assumed we were done here and we were moving back to Utah. No.  He still has his civilian job here in DC….our moving here had nothing to do with the Coast Guard though it made it a lot easier as much of his work was at Coast Guard headquarters which just happened to be down the street from Fort McNair where his civilian job is now.

 I was presented some beautiful flowers and Tom was presented his retirement pin by the Admiral

 One of the reasons he didn't want a ceremony was because so many of the people he's worked with are on the West Coast and wouldn't be able to be there.  But there were plenty East Coast people who came and it was great to see them all.

 Tom wrote and photographed for the Coast Guard magazine for many years so Ed (who was the editor) wrapped his gift in paper that what was either written about Tom or by Tom.

               He was also presented a shadow box that needs some updating but it was really nice.

So we've been to some of these things where there was a full meal, drinks, and giant parties but since Tom wanted low-key we only had to provide punch and cake as it was afternoon.  So I wanted to order the cake from Costco but they couldn't do the photo so I ended up at Harris Teeter.  I wanted a light blue trim (Coast Guardish in nature) but the bakery guy said he could do it in silver and gold to match the photo.  Um yeah….that looks like orange and grey to me but whatever.  Fortunately, stuff like that means little to Tom.

What was really awesome was Tom's brother Joey flying in from North Carolina just for the day.  He got here early and we had breakfast then just got to visit a while.  Ran errands, hit the ceremony then walked around the neighborhood and had dinner on the waterfront.  It was so great that he did that and I know it meant a lot to Tom.

I'm so glad that Tom will have this off his plate now though I know he will miss the work and associations that he's had.  We have been blessed through his work with the Coast Guard.  Yes, the extra income was nice and the extra retirement will be welcome but we got to travel as a family when he was working and he got to have so many experiences that will stay with him forever.  Serving here in DC for a year after 9/11, serving for 6 months at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, and a surprise 6 month active duty tour at Guantanamo Bay that was thrown together in a short week.  All were difficult, but ultimately blessings and I know he was proud to do the work.  It's been such a part of our lives for so long I know we will miss it.  It makes me have a greater appreciation for our active duty friends who leave full time military to transition into civilian life.  I'm glad we've had the opportunity and am so proud of the work that Tom has done.

Taylor Moves to NYC

So I'm going to backtrack a month here and get caught up and through the magic of being able to change the date on this blog it will look like I stayed completely up to date on everything.  

 So we loaded up the car on Saturday morning to take Taylor to New York.  Turned out there was not enough room for both parents so Tom got to have some bonding hours with baby boy as he ventured out on this new experience. Yes, that car was jam packed.

Park Place in Brooklyn.  He is sharing an apartment on the third floor (above the blue awning) with three other friends.  One friend left so a bedroom opened up for Taylor. He will look for a job and will have until Feb. (when their lease is up) to decide if he likes living in the city.

 The place kind of reminds me of every NYC cop show where they clomp up several flights of stairs to get the bad guy.  Or rather, get information to track down the bad guy.

This is Taylor's friend (and now room mate) Jared who also moved here from Utah.  Taylor lived with his family for awhile when we were in Alabama.

 Hoping he can turn all his stuff into a cozy space.  Have to say I'm having a little anxiety about this move.  Mostly because NYC gives ME anxiety.  I know I'm supposed to love it because of the theatre and the excitement of the city but frankly, it just doesn't do it for me.  Feels dirty, grey and dirty.  But for Taylor, who is more adventurous than I…this is the perfect time to give it a try.  He's young, open to change and will always be able to say he lived in NYC for awhile.

November

First of November and we're looking at a month of craziness.  Spent yesterday packing up Taylor who is moving to NYC tomorrow.  Will spend next week packing US up.  The following week will be spent in Utah.  Then a quick day trip to NYC to see a friend in a show. The next week: actually moving to our new apartment and setting up a new home.  Jessica arrives to spend Thanksgiving week with us here and in NJ.  So….feeling a tad stressed, weepy, and wishing I could just sit on a beach somewhere.