T-7 Days

Well, the clock is ticking faster than I thought it would!  I cannot believe that I'll be halfway to Phoenix at this time next week.  I should be working on homework as I am writing this blog, but I'm feeling a bit distracted.  

...In fact, I took a break writing this blog to check out some old pictures from when I was camping last year!  

Ash get's his cart soon.  Hopefully TOMORROW!!!  My Dachshund will be sporting some sweet wheels.  Something like these:

Yay!  I'm already planning on painting it a new color...maybe adding a sticker or something to personalize it for Ash.  He's been trying to get me to play fetch with him lately, so I am so happy that he'll be getting his cart and be able to play again!!!

This week is going to fly by so quickly.  I cannot wait to see my Phoenix friends soon.  I'll be back to Amarillo on Monday the 7th, but we are going through some more interviews this week.  I hope this next candidate is just perfect!!  I'll keep everyone updated on the move!  Woo HOOO!!!

T-25

Right now, most people are getting snack trays made, cleaning and sparkling their houses up, and running to the store for last minute necessities for Super Bowl Sunday. I only the other hand, am sitting in my room, staring at two heaping piles of laundry, trying to find ANYTHING to distract me from the 24 pages that I have to read and test over today, and pretending that there isn't snow falling slowly down outside my apt! If there is anything I have discovered (which there really is a ton) this year, it is that I can never again live in a place that doesn't have a washer and dryer! I didn't even know that it was supposed to snow again! That is the downfall to not having TV channels! When I woke up, I looked out the window to see this:

I didn't really want to believe that it was snow, so I opened the door and stuck my camera out...

Sure enough, It was! I'm hoping that this one doesn't stick around. We have had a brutally cold week, much like the rest of the country (except Florida...). I'm sure that I drive ok in the snow, but I am always anxious!

I had plans today of going to the gym, then doing laundry, going to sister's house for a little while, then attending a super bowl party at one of my good friends' house....now, because of irresponsible decisions this week, my plans are looking like this:

Ok, Ok, lesson learned...study early, then you won't be forced to finish up your last assignment the day it is due!

There have actually been a few things that I have discovered this week. Most of them are things that I already learned, but forgot to embrace. I cannot wait for this upcoming week. It is full of fun. I have a time set aside to help my bestie go bridal gown shopping, then it is her birthday! I'm going to take my newest lesson (study early) and put it into effect so that Thur, Fri, and Sat can be free!

I hope that everyone has a relaxing, football filled day!!!

T-28 Days

Well my blog plan didn't map out as I had hoped that it would. My time in Amarillo has been a whirlwind of unexciting, stressful events that I didn't feel the need to blog about. I've done the "exciting" stuff here in Amarillo but mostly, I've worked, gone out to bars, and spent some lovely days with close friends and my family (sister, mainly) since I have been here. In all honesty, I get this and the excitement of visiting when I come for a week vacation. After an unexpected trip to Phoenix, after spending a WONDERFUL week in Lake Tahoe with my Cali-Sister, I decided that I need to return back to my home, Phoenix. The title is my count down of the days until my belongings are back in Phoenix. I will be returning after that to continue working until they find a replacement for me at the school. The latest that I will stay in Amarillo is May. I hope everyday that the perfect candidate will get approved and hired so that I can return home sooner rather than later! The last few weeks in Amarillo have had some positive changes for me, and I look forward to taking those habits back to Phoenix with me. To catch you up, I'll highlight the last year:

* I was lucky enough to see my niece, nephew, and BFF's baby girl grow! The three of these babies are so important to me and they have changed so very much over the last year. My niece and nephew are so wonderfully athletic (taking after their momma and daddy's!). I've been able to attend their games and root them on. It is SO much fun watching them play and see their development. They are going to be wonderful athletes. I've also had the opportunity to see how they behave as siblings. They are so close. I love it! My BFF's daughter, M, was not even crawling when I moved here. Now, she is moving ALL OVER THE PLACE!!! She is growing like a weed, and loves her "Aunt Kiki". (I put that in quotes, because I'm the only name that she has said!) I will miss these little people so much. Thank goodness for Skype!!!!

* I love living near my sisters. Either one of them. They both can drive me crazy, but I am so fortunate to have a strong bond with them. I believe that living near my sister here has given her the strength she needed to stand up for herself. I hope that she keeps this up, and it wasn't just because she had a sister near. I'll miss her so much. I've spent almost every Sunday with her and her family. I've dearly called it "Sister Sunday". I will miss them a lot.

* I don't know what to say about my BFFF's. I love them and I have had such a wonderful time living near them. When I told them I was moving, they equally responded with, yeah, we figured this was coming. They know me all too well. Life gave me two additional sisters and I wish I could steal them away from this town...I understand they are rooted much deeper than I am though. I will be back for an upcoming wedding AND perhaps an arrival to the family (fingers crossed).

* I didn't develop or improve on the relationship with my mom or my dad while living here. I had hoped to, but sometimes things are how they are for a reason. I'm ok with our relationship, and understand that it will always be like it is, no matter how close or far I am from them.

* I haven't had the best of luck with guys I've dated here, but boy, oh, boy, I have had fun!

* I will always LOVE my job here and love the people that I worked with. I have made many lifelong friends through Milan. I have also been shown that I love teaching and will continue teaching once I arrive back in Phoenix! As they say, "I fell out of the sky and into their office", but I think that the position they posted fell out of the sky!

* I have made so many new friends! I have them for everything. My Lindsay is an equal happy/optimistic/earthy/natural lady like I am. I didn't think that there would be another like me in Amarillo, but she is. From the day she interviewed me, I knew that we would get along. I will always have a place in my life for a friend like her! I have had drinking buddies, too many to count! They have added some interesting stories to my collection. Perhaps, when I return to visit, they will come out and enjoy a drink/song/dance/Buck Hunter game/smoke/shuffleboard with me. And in the last month, I have a gym buddy, Lizzy, who I hope will continue to motivate me to go to the gym, even when I don't want to....and I will do the same for her as well!

* The last month here, Ash had a back injury and is currently paralyzed on his hind end. We are going through medicinal and physical therapy with the hopes that he will regain use of his legs. If he doesn't, he will have a neat little cart! I'm staying positive....but I still blame Amarillo... Haha...in reality, the injury was not the fault of this city though!

I was meant to come back to Amarillo for several reasons: the strength that I have built in my old relationships, the new bonds that I have made, the personal growth that I could not have had otherwise, the challenge of life on my own, and the realization that this is always going to be the town I went to school in, but it will never be my home. My home is surrounded by mountains, is warm year-round, doesn't have a daily wind factor, and is on par with my lifestyle (vegan, recycle, landscape, technology, etc). Although I love things in Amarillo, I LOVE PHOENIX ~ as a whole. I am going there.

4...although it should be more

Hello readers (ahem...Deb and Carrie :D )

I apologize for my incredibly delayed blog. I actually haven't utilized my last two Fridays like I typically do. Not too much action has been happening here in the plains. I've mainly been up to work and spending some time with friends. Much needed! The last two Fridays I've actually spent getting to know Nic (blind date guy). He seems pretty fun! Just as sarcastic as I am, which is somewhat important so that I don't hurt feelings (as I've been told I often do). Oh yes, and he is hot. Very. Haha. Sadly enough....that's as exciting as this town has been. Hopefully next Friday I will have more to post *FROM CALIFORNIA!!!* I'm so excited to see my sister and Sunny :)

Until next Friday (really)

-Kristi

3

Oh my...when I though that Friday couldn't get here any sooner, it jumped up an bit me on the butt! This week just flew by! Since last Friday, I have received my camera back, and I am SO excited to share a few spaces of my TX home with you all!

This is one of my favorite parts of my tiny living room. I have pictures of all my family and closest friends in frames, flip albums, and photo stands on and above this shelf. The one in the center is a frame I set with a picture of my grandma, my mom, and myself all at the age of 17.

If you follow my facebook, you've seen this, but I'm so happy to have finished it. This is my necklace holder that hangs above my dresser (but well within reach) in my bedrooom. I found the frame at a thrift store for $3 and I found the screen material. I love it! It adds a little color to my room, and also keeps my jewelery from getting tangled in my jewlery box!

This is my little scrapbooking area! It is essentially my dining room turned craft space! I'm still working on my table, but I'll post pictures when I finish that. The large frame on the wall holds my ribbon in a manner that I can pull, clip, and re-pin. I ironed it all before rolling in onto the wire. It was a really easy project. I used craft wire and anchored it to the inside of the picture frame (which was given to me), and then just rolled my ribbon onto the wire. I added a few extras, like my mini chandelier and handmade glass pocket my sister made, just to give an extra spark.

I don't know if the pictures do it much justice....but it is really cute!

Now onto my week! Haha.

Well, last Friday, when I arrived home, I was really freaked out. CN was having an argument with someone as I was approaching my steps....there were several doors slamming and yelling that made me not want to go up...but I did. There was no one on the balcony, so I quickly jetted in unharmed. I did discover today, that he lurks all over the complex. He was standing in the mail room today...not talking to the mail lady and she was filling the boxes...just standing in there....

The scare was soon subsided with the news that I would be attending the Deftones concert with my bff on Saturday! It was phenomenal! We waited in the eternal line. Arrived at the ticket counter (after asking if they took credit cards/debit cards and being told yes) and could purchase the tickets!!!! Why, you ask? Because they didn't take credit/debit at the ticket box. WTH!!! So, we tried to bribe our way in, which didn't work. Then we met a group...who we apparently trusted enough for my friend to give her debit card and PIN number to...who went to the bar area, convinced the bartender to give her cash for transaction, and brought it back to us. When then fanagled our way into the line and purchased the tickets. It was rough, but we made it. The show was wonderful...although Chino looked like he just finished playing golf and was texting between songs the entire concert...how unprofessional! No major injuries were received...just a few bruises from angry moshers.

The week flew by at work. My class is great! I gave them a pop quiz, and I didn't even get ONE complaint! I couldn't believe it. When I went into class on Thursday though, only one person finished their test reviews...so I had to punish them. I decided to add 20 questions to their test, and not tell them what material they were over other than the chapters in this unit. They weren't happy...but neither was I. I didn't like that they just expected me to give them answers or class time to complete their reviews when they had them for 4 weeks. It ended up slightly punishing me, because I had to entirely retype the exam and add the questions. Hopefully they learn though.

Today was fabulous! I went to the Kimbrell's family farm to volunteer. Their official name is Cimarron Organics. I got a tour, learned a little bit of farming knowledge, and then planted baby watermelon and pulled weeds in the previously planted watermelon rows. I had a ton of fun! Reconnected with nature a little. Met a new friend. I had so much fun! My pay was as many organic, green house grown tomatoes (which are delicious!) and what was left of the fresh, organic asparagus! I didn't take near enough tomatoes though! I do plan on returning each Friday to help out! If you'd like to read about the farm, the website it www.cimarronorganics.com

I'm also looking forward to the next few days/weeks. Time will fly (I hope) until my trip to California in July to visit my baby niece, Sunny Marie, and my sister and her boyfriend. My co-worker is also setting me up on a blind date with a friend of hers. I'm a little anxious about that, because I've never been set up before...but hopefully all goes well. We have similar lifestyles and are both (apparently) positive, happy people! I'll keep you posted of how that goes. So far, the dates I've been on since my return here haven't been fabulous....

Until next Friday,

Kristi Jean

2

I realized half way through this week that I actually forgot to post last week! I was very disappointed in myself, but hope to correct that problem (with this post!)

Last week was VERY eventful for me work wise. I actually spent all four days working double shifts at work (about 14 hours). I was subbing for our pharmacy technician instructor who was out due to surgery. During her absence, our facility also had a site visit from the Director of Allied Health for our school. Who is that you ask? Well that is my boss's boss's boss. He spent a week reviewing exactly what it is that "We" as a campus do. How we teach. How we follow procedures. Etc. Etc. A plus to this, was that I had an abundant amount of time to spend with him. During his visit, he observed my lecture, and the next day had a conversation with our director where he said he was very impressed with my teaching skills, and wanted future instructors to observe me teach! I couldn't believe it! Also, I drafted a letter to the Dr's in our area to introduce our program, let them know what our students are equipped with when they leave our program (certifications, hands-on skills, etc.), as well as up-coming events. This made its way up the chain and also resulted in props my way. I'm very excited to see what the future holds for me with my career at the school!

Because of the hectic work schedule, I spent the down time catching up on house tasks, and sleep. I've discovered...I do not like waking up before noon. I know, I know...I am spoiled...but I love my schedule!

I'm not sure if I have discussed my "creepy" neighbor, but he is....well, creepy. I would describe him as a lurker. He and I share a balcony. He feeds the neighborhood stray cats, and acts and the newly delivered kittens care-giver. This bothers me because he is not making an attempt to spay or neuter these animals, just feeding them. Also, I have to pay pet rent, and he does not. And his "pets" spray all over my balcony! Anyway, he lurks around the balcony and creepily talks to me. I know I am mean...but EVERYONE who has encountered this guy agrees with me. I once asked my apt manager if they have ever had any complaints in regards to him and the exact response I received was "Oh no, he is harmless. He got into an accident years ago that put him into a coma for 5 years. But don't let him fool you...he is REALLY smart!" I really didn't like that response. Smart guy with minor brain damage. Yay. He routinely asks me to borrow my car. He calls my dog an alligator. And today, while walking my dog, he asked what style my pants were...flare, boot cut, or straight. I mean, he yelled this down to me while WATCHING me walk my dog. I responded I didn't know, and he asked where I purchased my jean. And if pants are more expensive in Phoenix. Yeah......

Now that you know who he is, he will further be referenced as CN. :)

My precious baby niece was born on the 18th! I'm so happy to announce she is happy, healthy, and the best baby ever! My sister is doing fantastic as well! Sunny doesn't really cry much, sleeps easily, and is already smiling. I think she looks like me, but we will see as she gets a little older. I will be going to CA to visit her and my sister in July! I already love her so much!! I cannot even imagine the love you have for your own kids, because I love my nieces and nephew so much already!

Today, my class and I took a field trip to a dental laboratory in order to put the lecture into the real world. It was so awesome! And another bond made with the community! I see incredible changes to the future of our dental assisting program.

I'm also in the process of training with a friend. Building muscle and still preparing for a half marathon with my sister next year. My hip has started giving me problems again, so I am in the process of locating a local chiropractor in order to adjust me...stupid chairside assisting messing with my alignment!

Well I'm still blank on photos because I left my camera in a friends car almost a month ago and still have not gotten that back! I'm working on it though!!!

I'm out for this week....what does the weekend hold? Well, swimming with sister & the kids, The Deftones LIVE!!!, and friend fun!

Until next Friday,

Kristi

1

Welcome to my *NEW* blog home! I've recently moved to Amarillo, TX! Although I end that sentence with an exclamation mark...it sometimes isn't all that exciting of a place. I do have lots of family, friends, and planning though. I'm a vegan living in a not so vegan friendly city. I love green...and the translation of my city is yellow. I have a Dachshund and a Cat that are fantastic. I teach dental assisting and I LOVE it!!! I'm a crafter and earth lover - I am striving to expand my skills in both of these things. I moved away from my love (aka, the city of PHOENIX) and started a new branch in my life tree. Here's hoping everything works out for the best!

I'll be updating my blog each Friday. As part of my new goals, I am living minimally...which includes no internet at home. I'm trying as much as possible to reduce the amount of energy I use and the amount of waste I produce...I figured that is one way. I'm really excited to share the experiences I have had so far with my move and look forward to what my years back in Amarillo will hold. Next week, I'll be updating with a whole post and pictures! I hope everyone has a fantastic week...

Until next Friday,

Kristi Jean.