My Trip to Florida

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a month. Where did the time go?? I could sit here and make excuses for myself, but I won't. I will do what I usually do, and show pictures! I would like to say that the following photos all were taken from my brand new iPhone! (My amazing Fiance's birthday gift to me!)

So last week I went down to Florida to help my parents plan the wedding. I was just much better to go down there and see things for myself. I also got to hang out with my Mom, who I haven't seen since last Christmas!
Hansel (aka Bubba) He slept with me every night. Good thing he is deaf. He can't hear himself snore...

Just thought this was pretty, and wow, The iPhone takes great pictures!

My Mom's Yorkie, Madison

Colleen came to visit me too! She moved from Atlanta to Lake City a few months ago. It was freezing the last morning.

Some picture of our reception site!

And now, for the grand finale, My Mother made me try on her wedding dress from 1975... Enjoy!

My Big Weekend!

This past weekend, I competed in the Championship Division at the Grass Ridge Horse Trials in Sonoita, AZ. Demure and I qualified for it the last time we competed. I won't get in to all the details because they would bore you to death, but it was the winners from other horse trials competing against eachother.

Well, my pony was a superstar! There were things neither one of us had seen on the course, and he just flew over all of them! That is what a truly brave horse does. We were really a "team" out there. I just pointed him at whatever obstacle was in our way, and he put all of his heart in it.

We won! I get to keep the trophy for a year! My name will be engraved on it, and it will be passed on to others. Who knows, maybe Jet and I will win it next year! Demure is moving on up.

After the big victory, we had to celebrate! Sonoita, AZ is very famous for it's wineries. What, you haven't heard of it? Um, well, me neither. We went to a winery "downtown" and never saw one grape. It was good though! From L-R is Lucy, me, Misa, and Anna. Thanks for coming! And yes, I was obnoxious enough to carry the trophy in to the tasting room!

Sad News and Happy News.

When I moved to Arizona over one year ago, I was nervous about being here for so many reasons. Where would I work, what would I do, would things with Chad work, would I find any friends? Looking at things now, I never should have worried at all. I have a job, life is great, I am engaged to the greatest man on the planet, and I found in a very short time two of my best friends I will ever have.

The sad news is that one of them is leaving. Seeing that I am new to the air force life, I am not used to people coming and going every few years. This coming Monday, Terri and Aaron (Ice) are moving to Las Vegas. I know that isn't too far away in the grand scheme of things, but it isn't just down the road, either!

I will really miss our "Music Nights," where Aaron and I sang and played guitar. Guess Chad is going to have to keep practicing so I have someone to play with!
Terri is one of the sweetest most giving people I have ever met. She instantly made me feel welcome to Arizona, and made me part of her family. We have had countless good times over the last year, and I am not quite sure how Arizona will feel without her in it. When we all met, we were "just girlfriends," and now, look what happened!

Monica and I will still have each other, maybe for another year! I do know that I have made two lifelong friends. We will miss you Terri!!!

The good news is that we have a new family member! Chad and I are adopting a horse from "Sheriff Joe's Tent City." "Jet," as we are calling him, was confiscated from his previous owners almost two years ago. He came to the place emaciated after being tied to a tree outside an abandoned home. He was found, brought to the jail, and has been rehabbed by the police officers in the Maricopa County jail. I found him because at the Clinic we do all of the vet work for the jail. He is a big sweet boy, and Chad is excited to have his own horse! (Of course, he will most likely only stay with us for a few months while I train him, and then find him a home!) We go pick him up on Saturday morning.

Jet is an 8 year old Thoroughbred gelding, and after doing the research on him, I found out a few interesting things! He raced 21 times, won 6 races, and earned over 25thousand dollars. He is also the son of 1992 Kentucky Derby winner, Lil E Tee. The son of a derby winner, living in Tent City, being taken care of by inmates of the prison... How does that happen?

Well, he will have the taste of grass, love and freedom, beginning Saturday morning. Probably an apple too!

Sporty!

Sunday, Chad and I hit the links on the golf course in our neighborhood. My game was not that impressive, so I ended up just taking pictures!
I have decided that I love certain parts of Golf. I love driving the cart, being outside, walking barefoot in the grass, and getting dressed for the game! When else do I get to don the preppy attire?! (khaki's, a collared shirt and white shoes) What I really don't care for is playing the actual game.
Since we went out nearing sunset, there was so much wildlife on the course! We saw bunnies, coyotes, roadrunners, quail, ground squirrels, and even a deer! This is in the middle of the desert... Strange to see a buck there...So last night, Chad's Giants were in town playing the Diamondbacks. Since I went to see the team in Spring Training, and watch the game almost every night, (Braves are east coast so I hardly ever see them... :( ) I have chosen a favorite player.

Pablo Sandoval! He is the giants third baseman, and he is just awesome! His nickname on the team in "Kung Fu Panda."Turns out that my Boss, Dr. Kloppe, was at the game too. He came down and joined us.The Manager of the Dbacks is AJ Hinch. Chad played against him in college. Now he is the manager... That officially makes you feel old!The final photo is what we wore for the game. Chad loved my jersey, and I am sure his Dad will too! I am pretty sure we made it on TV for the Giants broadcast.

I love this picture!

So, one of Chad's students took this pic and emailed it to us. I loved it so much, I thought I should include it here.

Kind of makes me proud... :) Sniff sniff....

"He will bring them death, and they will love him for it." - Gladiator

If you have never seen this, it is almost indescribable. Chad and I were on the city bus, to head out towards the ancient part of the city of Rome. There you are, dodging in and out of traffic on a busy city street, and the WHAM! There it is! One second you are on the city street, and the next you stumble on the ancient ruins of what was an empire. It took my breath away, and, not surprisingly, brought me to tears. (Yep, they call me "Shem" for a reason.)

The ruins that sit just outside of the Colosseum. Look how HUGE they are compared to the guy walking by...

We didn't take any tours, save one. We did take a guided one here. It was so amazing to walk around something that was constructed a few thousand years ago, when the world was a completely different place. "Human rights" was a phrase that had NEVER been uttered or conceived. Death was a sport, and people loved it. It was a very frightening place, then and now, but amazing, nonetheless.

You can see where the floor rotted out, and the tunnels underneath. This is where the slaves and animals were held before the "sport."

From inside the Colosseum.

This was on the ground, just a random piece of "column" from a few thousand years ago...

We have pics of us kissing from every place we have been, so I thought this should be no different!

This is where the Emperor sat and watched the "show."

I took the one below... Dang, I am good!

Up next, my favorite Roman sight, The Pantheon!

Paris!

So, day two of our European Vacation started with a very long plane ride to Paris, France! Doesn't Chad look excited!?! When we landed in Paris, we took the train to the center of town. I had the bright idea of just walking through the city to find our hotel. Remember, we were carrying backpacks!
Um, yea, it was A LOT farther than I though it would be! We had to stop at a cafe for a refreshment! Guess who had the beer, and who had the coffee?

The transportation over there is CRAZY! We loved this one...

You have to love this building! So much of my life has been spent at Rolex-sponsored events, that I had to have a picture!

How artistic of me! This was such a surreal, cool place.

This is the mall area right outside the Louvre. Never got inside, as it was closed on Tuesdays. (Of course, the day we were there!)

Hail, Ceasar!

This is NOT the one in Vegas! It's the REAL ONE!

So we had to climb to the top!

Yes, it was really cool. It would have been more romantic if it didn't have all of those damn tourists everywhere!

Another artsy view from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
My fiance-to-be.

From the top of the tower

After all of that walking and smooching, we needed food and drink! Again, guess who had the beer, and guess who had the wine...

We took a guided boat ride on the Seine river at midnight. I loved it! Chad fell asleep.

The Eiffel Tower at night.

At midnight, it started sparkling!

A statue just outside of Notre Dame

Ah, the Notre Dame Cathedral

Paris was amazing. Up next, ROME!!!