As you all know, I went to visit my brother this past week in Wyoming. We took a flight from Dallas to Denver, and the plane rides went well. Jackson did great, which is the big thing I was worried about. He had a lot of fun on the planes. I got really nauseous coming into Denver, but it was because of all the turbulence. The decent back into Dallas was much easier.
Now, once I got to Wyoming, I immediately felt relieved and just really at home and at peace. I loved being there, I loved the surroundings and I loved being there with my brother, his wife and my nephew Carter. All week I kept thinking of how I didn't want to come home. And it wasn't a feeling of not wanting my vacation to end, it was a feeling of not wanting to live here and work here anymore. So, Angie (my bro's wife) immediately began researching jobs and stuff because I was planning to make the move sometime after Christmas. Well, one day we traveled to Thermopolis, Wyoming. We drove through the Big Horn mountain range, which was so amazing to do. We got there, had fun, and then began the drive back home through the Wind River Canyon reservation area, which was also a breathtaking experience. We had to make a drive in to Casper, Wyo., because Angie got really sick with a kidney infection and we had to take her to the emergency room, and it was closer than going back to Gillette, where they live, at that point. She's better now, and is taking antibiotics for the infection. But upon leaving the hospital, we stopped at McDonald's to let Jackson play on the playground there and to get a quick bite. Sitting in McDonald's it just hit me that this was the life I wanted. Being up there in the west. I blurted out, I'm giving my two weeks notice MOnday when I get back to my job. Then I started thinking, and I remember Jackson is going to visit his dad the week after next, so I decided on a month. Then I called my dad, mom and a few friends of work to spill my decision. I did that for one reason: So that I wouldn't let my nerves get the best of me and change my mind. If I didn't make this decision to quit, then who knows who long it would have been before I moved up there. I wanted, and needed, something to give me a swift kick in the tushie and get it done.
So, I'm nervous, but incredibly excited. There is a ton of stuff to do, like finding a job. That's the big one, LOL. But I'm confident in myself, and I have alot of people here pulling for me to succeed. When I go up there, I'm initially going to live with my brother in his new house, and get on the waiting list for some new apartments and stuff they're building there. The housing situation in Gillette is awful, but thankfully they are building all these new apartments. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm also trying to get everything with the car wreck wrapped up. The elderly driver's insurance company is looking at the car Monday to make an offer to me. Shelter, my insurance company, made an offer, but after applying my deductible, I was still a little under $500 short on what would be owed on the car. After all, I only got the car in November, after the accident in October. So, I wasn't surprised. I'm hoping State Farm makes up that difference. If they don't, I'll explore all my options. Bottom line, I need a car before I got to Wyoming, because I know there is one dealer here who will sell me a car with my shaky credit, so I want to get that done.
So, there's a lot going on for me right now. I'm excited, nervous, scared and happy all in one emotion.
Wow, Jojo! That's fantastic news! Please keep us up to date on the developments. Summer is a perfect time to move kids because of the school year. Jackson can meet some kids during his time off and the new school won't seem so scary for him in September.
When you can, send pics of the new environment. The best of luck to you. Sending good vibes....
ETA: I just checked it out on Google maps and Toronto is 43 degrees N and Gillette is 44, so I'll actually be a little south of you, lol! And we'll be about 1500 miles apart. I know we're a 10 hour drive from Chicago, and that's taking it easy. So any time, Jojo!
thats awesome Jojo, for one that you had such a great time on your vacation...and that you decided what you wanted to do. I hope that everything falls in line for you and your move...
Thanks girls! My stomach is in knots right now, but that's just because I'm thinking of all the stuff have to do! I really feel though that Wyoming could be home for me, and I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my life.
Kae, me and my sister in law were talking about how we desperately want to go to Canada. So, that will be a vacation for us at some point in the future. Next up though, we want to hit Yellowstone. They've never been, and it's about 6 hours from Gillette. But we were so excited when talking about going to Canada! I have you up there, and I have another friend there that lives in Red Deer, Alberta. So, Canada is def on my list of travels.
I have so much to learn about Wyoming first. It's really beautiful, yet boring, at times, to drive through. The cities there are so small that when you're driving along the highway or interstate, you can see entire towns from the road. It's crazy. And I had no idea that Wyoming was actually the least populated state in the U.S. It's because everything is so wide open out there!
I'm both excited for you, and enormously IMPRESSED by your courage. I think it's wonderful that you're going to take this big step, and I'm sure that you'll get all the details worked out.
Wyoming is definitely gorgeous. Not that I've seen much of it, and it's been many years since I passed through, but I don't blame you for falling in love with it. Bravo, JoJo! (claps)
I'm just so glad that you're okay from that accident -- that's the main thing! What a terrible experience. I was hit in 1994 (totalled my car) when my son and I were on our way to my nephew's wedding. The guy ran a red light (had his little girl in the car with him), hit my side of the car, and sent my son and me 55 feet sideways before we finally came to a stop!
That kind of experience is very scary, and makes you very grateful that the car took the brunt of the damage instead of you.
Keep us posted on this exciting new adventure.
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Thanks Moore! That means alot. My courage is what's gonna get me through this. That, and not wanting to let myself and my kiddo down.
All the bruising has pretty much gone away, and I still have a few knots where the seat belt tightened, but overall I'm doing well. I just really loved my car! I hope I can find something else good. And I'll have to remember that when I'm getting one, to get one that will do well in Wyoming.
It's more scary when you have your children in the car with you. It definitely is something I won't forget.
That sounds Awesome! I would love to move if I could have someone to stay with for a bit to get stuff in order, I'd jump on the chance. I've been in Illinois my whole life, I'd love to try something new. Maybe a few places
I have some questions then:
Where do your parents live?
What type of work have you found?
Is Jacksons father in the picture, is he moving too, or will he visit?
Are you from Texas, will you miss anybody there??
Oh and I was watching the History channel today (while I ironed) and it made Wyoming sound beautiful, maybe I can visit someday!
My mother lives here in Arkansas, my dad lives about 15 minutes away in Texas. I was born in Texas, and most of my family lives in Texas, within a few hour radius of each other. My brother is the farthest away out in Wyoming, and now I will be too. I haven't found work yet, I'm going to start on that Monday. The job situation there fairly good, so I'm confident. Jackson's father lives in Guam, he's in the Coast Guard. I haven't yet informed him. I left him a message, but he's off training somewhere right now, so I'm unsure of when I'll speak to him.
And Wyoming is positively gorgeous. YOu can drive through the mountains, canyons, visit Yellowstone, visit the Devil's Tower national monument, and there is lots of other stuff fairly close, like Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. There is tons to do.
JoJo -- those bumps and bruises can last a while. I was CERTAIN that I had cracked a rib or two after my accident, but x-rays showed that I hadn't.
I SWEAR that my ribcage ached for two months afterwards! I had the usual bruises on my left shoulder (both front and back, actually) from the seatbelt, and bruises on the left side of my knee from where it hit the car door during the impact. I didn't even know at the time that this had happened because I didn't feel it.
When my car finally came to a stop, my son (who was ten at the time) had his hands over his face, and was crying, "my face, my face"... Oh, Lord. My heart just about stopped! I was so terrified to ask him to move his hands, but once he did, everything was perfectly okay. He hadn't hit his face or head, and we finally decided that his face hurt just from the impact itself.
Once we finally made it to the church (all three of my kids were in the wedding), my left knee dislocated! I have flaky knees anyway (the right one dislocated back when I was in my twenties for no apparent reason), but I think that the impact on its left side caused the initial knee "crisis", and then it was compounded at the church.
It's a long story, and my husband meant well, but he's the one who put my poor injured knee over the top into actual dislocation! I thought that I was either going to throw up or pass out just as my kids were coming down the aisle! LOL...
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Geez, Moore! You've had your share of bad luck, health-wise!! Poor knee! I broke mine back in 1993 - fell on some wet leaves on a sloping driveway and went down, plunk, right on the right patella, smashing it to bits. Three surgeries later (and an ugly scar), it's the best barometer around. Knees are fussy things.
Jojo, I remembered where we stayed in Wyoming - Rock Springs, in the southwest corner. We were heading back to Toronto from lake Tahoe, through Utah. There was a Mormon convention and no hotels or inns in the whole damn state were available, so we kept on driving, and ended up in Rock Springs at about 5 in the morning. After a good sleep, we headed out for a very late breakfast, and I can still remember the menu at the little restaurant. What friendly people!
Yes, Wyoming is incredibly gorgeous! Then came the badlands - ugh. I'm glad that we saw them, but I'd never go back. And it was out of the way, too! But my husband has this big mental map that he colours in when he's been through a state and he had to get the Dakotas! As a result, the only states I haven't seen are Hawaii, Montana and Alaska, and I've only been in the tippy-top corner of Texas the once, so I shouldn't really count that either.
When my husband's Uncle George died and left him his Lincoln, it was my job to drive the HMS thing back to San Fransisco from Columbus, Kansas. I'll never forget that trip!! I took my mother along for company and we got stranded in Needles, Arizona with car trouble. The only motel around was a fleapit and we were there for three days. I was never so glad to see the end of Arizona in my whole life! (With apologies to Shelly.) Thanks a lot, Uncle George. We kept that car for four years until it was totalled in a minor wreck. I hated it and was glad to see it go.
Wow Kae! You've been everywhere just about! I haven't heard of Rock Springs, but then again, I haven't heard of much. We've traveled 1-25 from Denver up into Wyoming, but we miss alot of the sw corner of the state doing that. The closest we probably got to there was Cheyenne. And yes, the people at the little cafe's are so nice.
But I can't imagine getting stranded in a little craphole motel. Shudder.
Moore, Jackson had said his head hurt too, but we decided he wasn't really hurt. He was more than okay after the wreck. And my ribs still hurt too! But like you, the x-rays show nothing. When I got up the next morning, I found some stuff I didn't initially feel either. LIke, I cut my leg when the console shattered, adn I didn't even know it.
My knee thing is so silly. I was never really much into sports growing up, although I enjoyed tennis, field hockey, and a little modern dance, but I was always just very average at anything I tried when it came to excelling at the physical stuff. Let's put it this way: I did what was necessary to satisfy my sports requirements!
So, when I was about 23 years old, I was working up on Capitol Hill, on the House side, but MY office was one floor up from the main office. Instead of using the elevator every time I had to go downstairs, I used the steps.
One night, my husband and I had a couple of people over for dinner, and I stood up to get someone a second helping of food. As soon as I stood up, I felt an excruciating pain in my right knee, and I (very gracefully, I'm told) sank to the floor...!!!
Because I was wearing a long dress that night, everyone assumed that I had tripped. It was only after I came to, and explained what I had felt, that my husband and guests realized that it was something else entirely.
"WALK on it", they all said. THE WRETCHED SADISTS!!!
The doctor in the emergency room told me that I was unusually "OLD" to be having a dislocated knee! He explained that MOST people discover the problem when they're about twelve years old, and actively participating in sports -- if they have a problem with dislocating knees. Apparently, the muscles that hold MY kneecaps in place aren't sufficiently strong (I guess that's why I don't have large thighs; the one blessing in all of this!), and the bones behind my kneecaps are too shallow.
The Capitol Hill thing comes into play because I was doing A LOT of walking from our main office to the Floor of the House in the Capitol itself, from the various House Office Buildings (there are three), across the Capitol Mall, and up and down those darned stairs. Lots of hard marble floors, etc., etc... My doctor explained that this was enough of a change in what my knee was up against, on a daily basis, to have triggered the problem!
So, a few weeks later, I was on the phone with my Aunt Mary. She sympathized with my plight, but also laughed. She said, "Well... It seems that you have the old **** family "trick knee".
??????????????????
I said, "WHAT **** family trick knee???!!!??? I've never HEARD of an old **** family trick knee before!"
Aunt Mary said, "OH, yes! Cousin ***** had it, and cousin ***** had it, and cousin..."
So, that's the saga of my old **** family trick knee! Just my luck.
-- Edited by Moore ideas at 18:48, 2007-07-15
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
ugh, Moore thats funny what your doctor said about around 12...It was the 7th grade, i think..maybe end of 8th grade when I fell playing basketball, i had a torn cartilage in my knee and had surgery. Weird, it didnt dislocate..but I certainly screwed it up right around the age of 12.
That stinks about your fall but thankfully you had on a long dress like you said so you didnt reveal to all the world what was underneath..
On a side note, how cool is it that you worked in Capitol Hill.
Congratulations on making the big decision! It has sounded like you made the decision in your heart a long time ago, and not it is just time put the logistics all together. I'm sure that everything will fall into place for you, and congratulations again! Sophia
Kris, you're so right about the packing up! My husband says that two moves are as good as a fire when it comes to streamlining all of our clobber, and he's the expert pack-rat.
Jojo - yeah, we've done a fair bit of travelling, but I hope those days are behind me now. Just as I'm content to stay closer to home, two of my kids are all over the place.
I spoke to my Nick this morning from the Brisbane airport as he and Laura are about to hop a plane to Bangkok. And last night Mike told us he'd booked his ticket to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego for his Christmas trip to Antarctica. Oh and any chance we could take him to the airport tonight for his flight to Stockholm, please? He'll only be there for 4 days before he's got a bunch of jazz gigs in Berlin and Heidelburg. Sigh.
