Back in Action

For those of you who actually read my blog, I apologize that I've gone three months without a peep! Things have been incredibly busy, and to say the least, I now know why the unofficial motto of the USMC is "semper gumby" - while I can't go into specifics in a public forum such as this, let's just say his schedule literally changes day to day, which has put us on quite the rollercoaster ride!

Before I give a quick update of what I've been up to, I'm going to shift the focus of the blog quite a bit. I will still post updates on what I've been up to, but I will post more frequently and will also post any thoughts, new favorites things, and any other information that I think might be useful to share. I've noticed that many blogs have increasingly taken this turn, and I like it. It feeds the legacy of procrastination on the internet, and lets people know what I'm doing, in addition to journal entries. So be on the lookout for that. 

In other news, if you haven't heard, Greg and I are expecting a baby! So this is why I haven't been blogging for three months, you say. Well, you're pretty much right, besides the fact that I'm miserably behind on emails, phone calls, and other communications, and so the time for blogging has become less and less. Want to know more about our new addition? Read on...

Thankful for my pup

For those of you who remember, Greg and I decided to get Rocky just about a year ago, shortly after Rocky was born. One of the reasons I really wanted to get a dog was because I felt that he would keep me company and be my watchdog when Greg was gone.

Fast forward a year, and here I am, as Greg is on his first of many multi-week training missions. I can honestly say, despite all of his puppy shenanigans, that Rocky has been a saint. It's like he knows that all I need is for him to be my companion, and that putting up with his usual hyperness is more than I want to handle right now. He has cuddled with me every night (on Greg's side of the bed, of course!), curls up in a ball next to me on the couch when I'm working or watching TV, and (my favorite) has taken to sleeping with his head on my lap.

Rocky has also definitely grown into his watchdog skills. Six months ago, he was oblivious when the doorbell rang or someone opened the door. Now, he can sense and hear a car arriving outside even before I do. He'll sit straight up, and growl and bark until (as is usually the case) Greg or Frank comes in. I love it!

Life is still extremely lonely without Greg, but I have to say - if I needed anyone who could make me feel constantly loved and safe at the same time, it would be my Rockstar. Here is a picture of him last night, when I was watching the Grammy's :


Three cheers for Rocky, and let's hope he keeps this up!

Surf City Half Marathon

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, everyone!

I thought I'd give a quick update on our life, since I haven't written in a few weeks. Greg and I have both been plugging away hard at our jobs, which to be honest are wearing us both extremely thin. Our schedules are the complete opposite, and it's not uncommon for us to have our only conversation of the day over the phone, when Greg is driving home from work. It's been hard, and isn't helped by the thought that he will only be gone for longer periods of time, and the few free weekends together are quickly being filled up with visitors (which we LOVE!, but it's still hard to get some time for the two of us these days). Greg leaves tomorrow for 2 weeks in the field, after which he will be back for a week, gone for 3 more, back for 2 weeks, gone for a month, and then deployed! I can definitely understand at this point how people say that the pre-deployment training is much worse, more stressful, and harder than the actual deployments.

In other news, we are enjoying spending time with Frank Furman, who is still staying with us while he settles in to life out here/looks for a place to live. It's nice to finally have an old friend out here, and to show him around town. He's also been a great help, looking after Rocky when we go out of town, and even fixing us gourmet dinners!

This weekend Greg and I went to the O.C. to run the Surf City Half Marathon (in Huntington Beach, which is the "Surf City" that the Beach Boys always referred to in their songs). We arrived yesterday and went to Fashion Island, which is a famous upscale shopping center in California. We finally broke free of the Verizon chains, after almost ten years of poor customer service, hour long phone holds, and being overcharged. What did we do? We got iPhones! I love mine already. I've never had a Blackberry or any kind of "smart phone" before, so it's definitely a lot of fun to play with. After making our big purchase, we went to our hotel in Newport Beach, where we relaxed before getting some wonderful sushi at a local restaurant in Irvine. 

This morning we woke up bright and early and headed over to the beach, where the race was being held. It was an out-and-back route, on the PCH, so it was right on the beach. The weather was foggy and about 50 when we started the race, but soon the sun burned the fog away, and we were running in 70 degree, sunny weather. It was fun to see surfers surfing in the waves, and to see all of the beautiful local dogs frolicking in the water! It was definitely a great view for the run. As for the race itself, I was really proud of how we did. The largest training run Greg and I did was 7.5 miles, and besides that we had only run 3 or 4 miles regularly. Despite this, we felt great, and kept a steady pace the whole time. We finished in 2 hours, 12 minutes, which is a steady 10 minute mile the whole way. We were both hurting a TON at the end, but finishing felt great.

After the race, we went back to hotel, showered, and headed to In-N-Out Burger to scarf down the best tasting food I've eaten in a long time! Once we were full, we headed back to Yucca Valley, where Frank had made a gourmet Italian Super Bowl feast for us. I'm completely sore, and am dreading tomorrow, but I'll survive. I'm sad Greg's leaving, so make sure to call/email to check in, so I'm not completely lonely these next two weeks!

That's all for now - I promise I'll write again soon!

Catch Up, Part 2

The View from the Pacific Coast Highway

Hiking in Montecito

  Santa Barbara Harbor

  Katherine in Joshua Tree National Park

Katherine, Jacob, and Ann on New Year's Eve

Catch up, Part 1

Hi everyone,

I am so sorry I haven't written in so long - December/the beginning of January was totally crazy, and I'm just now starting to have time to write! I'll make the catch ups brief, but I wanted to let you all know what we've been up to.

On December 13, my sister Ann got married in Sundance, Utah, at the Sundance Resort. The wedding was beautiful, and was equally as beautiful and special as the other two Collier girl weddings in '08! Aside from the massive dumping of snow the day of their wedding (which prevented Katherine and myself from getting ready with the bride, since we were staying in a different house than she was), the wedding went off without a hitch. It was so great to see relatives and old friends right before the holidays. We loved it!

The week after Ann's wedding, the same storm that hit Utah made its way down to California, where the biggest snow in 30 years arrived. Yucca Valley got 13 inches in one day, closing down all roads "down the hill" to Palm Springs! Needless to say, I got a snow day from work, which happens almost never around here, and was able to introduce little Rocky to the snow. He loved it, but once it iced over, he was not such a big fan. Because it never snows here, our neighborhood was never plowed, so we had to trudge our way through the snow until it melted - it was definitely scary!

The next three weekends in December/January Greg and I spent in Wickenburg, where my parents were. We went out the weekend before Christmas to set up the tree and decorate the house (it was our first Christmas in AZ ever), then went out again to spend Christmas with Mom, Dad, Ann, and Tyler, and then again for New Years' with the same crew, plus Kat and Jacob. We all had a great time, and it was fun to relax together after only really having family time during crazy wedding weeks all year! Rocky enjoyed his extended vacation in Arizona, where he had morning walks on the golf course off-leash every day. Once we arrived back in California, he slept for almost a week!

After New Year's, Greg and I returned to Yucca Valley with Katherine, who came to visit us for a few days. We had a blast! Kat went on a tour of historic Palm Springs houses on Friday, then we went to Joshua Tree, followed by dinner and drinks in Palm Springs on Saturday. On Sunday Kat and I went to Two Bunch Palms, a spa in Desert Hot Springs, for massages. They were amazing. Two Bunch Palms also has natural hot springs, which were so relaxing! We were so sad when Katherine left, but hopefully we'll get another visitor soon. 

This weekend Greg and I went to Santa Barbara for the first time. It was the first trip we've made within California without Rocky, and it was great! We've decided to try to do more trips like this, since we may not live out here after our stint in 29 Palms. Santa Barbara is amazing - literally one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. We arrived on Friday night, and on Saturday we ran down to the beach, and watched the surfers and families with dogs. Saturday afternoon we went wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley, and then went out to dinner at a great restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara. Today we went on a hike in Montecito which is a beautiful part of Santa Barbara filled with gorgeous, million dollar homes. After our hike we checked out and drove back to Yucca Valley (about a 3 hour drive), on the PCH. The PCH is beautiful - it's classic California, just a drive along the coastline. 

Today we arrived home to our new temporary roommate, Frank Furman! Frank is a great friend of ours from Navy, and was in our wedding. He is going to be in Greg's unit in 29 Palms, and just arrived on Friday. We are SO excited he is here, as friends have been hard to come by out here. I am definitely so grateful.

So that's the update! I will post pictures now, so you can see what we've been up to, if you're not up to reading this much!

PS - I promise I'll better about updating going forward :)

Christmas Pics

Rocky's Christmas Stocking
Our tree and our pup
Enjoying the tree

Christmastime!

Happy December everyone,

I know it's been a while since I last wrote, but we have both (as I'm sure you have, too) been so busy. Last weekend Greg and I went back to Blue Bell for Thanksgiving, and had a blast! We spend some quality time with the PA Gehrings, the O'Donnells, and Greg's friends from high school. We also made sure to enjoy the fine delicacies of Blue Bell, such as Pudge's famous cheesesteaks and Palermo's pizza. On Saturday after Thanksgiving we went over to my Aunt Nancy's house, and ate lunch with her, her daughter Lissa, and Lissa's husband, Mike. We had a blast - it was so great to catch up, and to tell stories about my Uncle Jack and Grandfather. Saturday we also went to Frank Furman's house, where we were able to catch up with both Frank and Ryan Kelly, who we hadn't seen for a year and a half. While we were tired when we returned to Yucca on Sunday, it was a great visit.

This week we've both been working long hours, but are getting in the Christmas spirit. Today I went to the Yucca Valley Christmas Craft Fair with my friend, which reminded me of the Christmas fairs back in Chestertown, but westernized. Tonight we bought a real Christmas tree (from Home Depot, for those of you who are wondering where one might find real firs in the desert), and decorated it. Even though we won't be here for Christmas, it's nice to have a tree up! 

Next weekend we go to Sundance to freeze our tails off and attend Ann and Tyler's wedding (seriously - it was 50 degrees out tonight and we both thought it was 32 out! I don't know if I"ll survive in real freezing temps...). It will be fun to see everyone, and to see snow! I think it will be the perfect kickoff to the holiday season. The weekend after that we go to Arizona to help my parents decorate for Christmas, and the weekend after that is Christmas! I can't wait to see my parents again, and to spend time to relax and be with the family. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I will hopefully  see you all soon!

Louisa