Adjusting

Today's itinerary: Sleeping in!

Well, I am sure that you noticed that upon my arrival yesterday, I did not post my blog. I was way too tired and way too excited to see family that I haven't seen in several years! We caught right up, watched the devastating happenings of Ade getting kicked off So You Think You Can Dance, and I went to sleep.

Let me catch you up on my last day of travel. I woke up in Las Vegas and stayed in bed for another hour. Living the good life! Before leaving the hotel, I hopped online and changed my address from New York to my new address in San Diego! I am looking forward to getting my first pieces of mail! Not as much as I am looking forward to having my future husband home!! Before falling asleep in Vegas, that sweet boy called me from Hawaii!! Hooray! They passed their inspection, which pretty much means that the deployment is technically over. They get to have some liberty in Pearl Harbor, so I hope he is enjoying that! I am sure he is! I can't believe that he is actually only hours away from me!


Driving by the strip on my way out of town.


Does anyone else feel concerned that the left lane is ending when only one lane is open in the first place? I am! It was true, too, we were driving way over on the sholder! Yikes.



The wonderful reason that I posted this picture is because I was sitting getting some lunch and listening to all the people chatting in the restaurant. I love getting into other people's worlds. My favorite conversation was between a mom and a daughter that were headed to Vegas. The daughter was in her fifties, so I imagine the mother was in her seventies. They had the same shirt on and Harley bandanas. As I was listening to a story about how the mom dropped a key and it melted onto her tailpipe, I realized that these two were not in cars! I looked out the window to see these two motorcycles!! How great is that? That is a kind of mother-daughter bonding you don't see every day!


What street is that?


The journey continued to be beautiful!


We live in an amazing place! I think that some people miss out on this!




This was THE steepest road ever! I had a few moments where I didn't think that I was going to make it for a while. I was praying that the trailer wouldn't fall off!

When I got to Tustin it was so exciting to see neighborhoods and locals. I can't believe that this is where I am going to live. It really feels like a vacation! I can't wait to have the love of my life here to share all this with me!


Uncle Rick's old neighborhood (where I am staying right now). He just got a brand new house! Soo exciting!

After getting some sleep and trying to sleep in this morning (time differences, bleh) we got up and I got some prep done for tomorrow and we headed over to Uncle Rick's new place!


Uncle Rick and his new home! Woohoo!


Awesome!


This was a bonus feature! Gotta love that!!


And a lawn mower?! (That thing is old school)

The tour of the new house was pretty great! I already told Uncle Rick that he should feel free to go on vacation because I would be happy to house-sit for him. I would even use the pool to make sure that it was fully taken care of :-) I am so excited for them. It is going to be amazing when they get all the painting finished and move it! James and I will surely be back!

Today is my very last day being homeless. I can't believe that tomorrow I am going to pick up the keys for James and my very first apartment together! It is surreal! After getting to talk to James for a while last night, I am anticipating his return more and more! I am exhausted after this deployment and I am ready to just be us: together!

Judging by Kasey's latest blog, she is settling in very well! You should go check out her blog to see her new home! It looks great! She is going to rock it in Sacramento! I can't wait to hear from her Monday to see what her new job is like!

I guess that is it for now. If I can get some internet, I will be posting again tomorrow with the details of mine and James' new place. James Robert, please be safe, enjoy a little more Hawaii, and hurry your butt home, I love you!

always,
Jamie

The Chronicles of Captain Ahab Missing Captain Crunch: Day 5

Today's Itinerary: Utah sunrise, a breeze through Arizona, and sleep in Nevada.



I started out knowing that today was going to be a harder day. Saying goodbye to Kasey for the rest of the trip was going to be really hard. I also knew that I was going to have to negotiate getting out of the small hole that I was parked in. The best part was that when we strolled into the lobby, we saw that someone came in and parked right behind me!!! Shut up! It was a travesty! After a very difficult goodbye, I headed out to the parking lot and stood there for a few moments trying to figure out what I was going to do next...


Wow! Look at all that space for turning around!

So, after about 87 attempts at turning around without hitting anyone or anything, I was pretty much right where I started. Kasey was trying to help from the balcony of the parking garage and she spotted another truck coming down the alleyway. Great! He ends up parking and comes over and asks me what I am doing. I told him that I was trying to get out and he asked me if I had ever driven a trailer before. I responded: "Forward" :-) He said that he would help me and instructed me around. It was actually really smooth with his help. I was around in about five points. As I stopped to thank him for his help, I looked up and saw his nametag which said... brace yourself... Jesus Christ!! I am NOT joking! As I drove away, I called Kasey immediately and almost peed my pants laughing so hard! This guy was not hispanic at all. He was totally white, right down to the blondish red hair... Grandma?! I can't even get over it! It was the best thing ever! Jesus Christ? Really?! It was great! What a way to take the edge off a journey that started so bitter sweet!!!

After calling tons of people telling my crazy story, I really got to it with my drive. I am headed down 15 for the rest of the trip. I didn't know where I was going to stop, but I knew where I was starting, so I went with that.


399 miles! Woah! Just a thought... Vegas is in about 398 miles...

My first stop was going to be somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I already knew that just looking at my surroundings. There wasn't much civilization to be had, but I didn't mind. I actually found a rest stop/gas station that was pretty new looking. It was a perfect stop, too, because there was a huge parking lot in the back where I could take some pictures. It was incredible! I barely have words for it!


The picture really does not justice to the real thing!


As I ran my way into this field to get this picture, at least a thousand grasshoppers just started jumping ALL OVER! They were landing on me and flying over my head and going crazy! But, for the sake of photography, I had to run out to get a second shot...


This is the perfect picture background! The mountains even make my hair look good (meaning that if you are looking at the mountain and not my hair then my hair looks good)!!


Oh yes, my little friend! Much scarier in real life!


God Bless America :-)

The last bit of exciting news about this stop is that the truck got 17 miles to the gallon of gas!! WOOOO! This is the best ever! Considering the fact that a couple tanks ago I got 9 miles to the gallon, this is cause for celebration in my book! Woot woot!

I hopped back on the road and enjoyed a speed limit of 80! Actually, I never went 80, but I thought it was pretty crazy that was the speed limit. I think Kasey would have enjoyed it. As my journey continued I saw one beautiful scene after another. I wish that I had the pixels to really show you what I saw, but these will have to do for now.


Can you imagine if this was what you woke up to every morning? So beautiful!

The next little part of the trip was a short stint through Arizona. I have to tell you it was a completely moving experience! I literally cried twice thinking about my family and sweet James and wishing that they could share this experience with me! God does good work is really all that I can say! Thanks.









I finally made my way into the last state before my very new homeland. I had decided along the way that I was going to stop somewhere near Las Vegas. The views continued to be amazing in Neveda and the weather continued to get hotter and hotter and hotter...




I think it was about 108 here...


We topped out at 112!! I was sweating straight through my clothes!

I got myself a nice little room in a great hotel. I found something to eat and now I am relaxing and watching some So You Think You Can Dance. Tomorrow will be a new day and a new location. I can't believe that tomorrow I will be a California girl! :-) I can't wait to see you, Uncle Rick!






I got the brisket because I know that James loves it :-)

Another bit of exciting news is that today is my sister's birthday! WooHoo!! Happy Birthday, Jolyn! Love you bunches! Can't wait to see you!

Sailor, be safe and hurry home. I love you.

always,
Jamie

PS. I posted twice today, so make sure you read both of the new blogs! They are pretty great if I don't say so myself!

The Chronicles of Captain Ahab and Captain Crunch: Day 4

Today's itinerary: Good Morning to Wyoming, a little dip into Colorado, back to Wyoming, and on to Utah.

It was completely bittersweet to start the last day of the quest of the Love Boat this morning! Our plan today was a little different than it has been the last couple days. Since we had family so close in LaFayette, Co, we decided to take a little side tour and drive down to say hello. The drive was really beautiful. Kasey has never been to Colorado, so it was a good detour. I have told her multiple times that she needs to take a placement there, I think she will fall in love! We had a delicious breakfast and then headed out with scrumptious lunches that Jude made up for us! Hooray Family! We debated a couple different routes, but ended back onto our original path. I am so glad that we did because we got onto a side road that went right through the mountains and it was beautiful! During that little side tour, I almost peed myself when a bag a chips popped in my back seat!! HA! Gotta love that altitude :-)


I had to get this one for my Dad!


Isn't this beautiful?! A definite worthwhile detour!

Eventually, we got back on 80 and headed towards Utah. Back in Wyoming we had a really beautiful pathway. I am wondering if we went through the middle US at any point, would I be in total awe? This trip has really been amazing. My jaw has been dropped many times!


Woah! I have never seen over 300 miles before! That is pretty good.




We were following that train for a while. It was really cool.


Just gorgeous!


I love a tunnel! Don't worry Mom and Dad, I laid on the horn, just like you would :-)


So, as we were driving along, I had my windows down and I was enjoying nature. All of a sudden, a ginormous gust of wind came along and a rock flew through my open window and pegged me in the HEAD! I can't believe it! Ouch!


Our hotel in Utah. Very neat, too bad they made me park in an alley around back!


Can't complain about that view!

By the end of the day on Tuesday, I was so exhausted that it wasn't even funny! And I have witnesses. When we sat down to eat dinner, I was goofing around with the waiter and he kept taking me seriously. I had to finally say, "I'm sorry, I am just kidding, I am really tired." He was responded by saying, "Oh no! I am the tired one" ... then he looked at me and continued... "well, maybe you're tired, too"... I was like, thanks a lot! After dinner, we headed to the elevator and as we were going up, a guy in the elevator asked how our day was and I said I was tired, he responded with guster "You look tired!" Great! It was true. As soon as I hit the bed, I was out until morning.

As for this trip, I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the time that Kasey and I lived together. Our relationship as close and inseparable friends will never be over, but we both knew that our days as roommates were coming to an end. We had such an incredible journey together and I think that we both grew in so many ways! I am so so proud of Kasey for just taking her life and making that leap on her own! She is going to do so well and have so many great adventures! I am so proud of you, Miss Kasey! I can't wait until we get to get together again! I am excited about all the things that are going to lead up to my wedding next year and having you help me to walk down the aisle! I love you bunches and I miss you already!

Sweet and wonderful Sailor! I am so tremendously excited that we are so close to the next chapter in our lives together. I have not stopped missing you and thinking of you and I can't wait to squeeze you! Be safe and hurry home!

always,
Jamie

The Chronicles of Captain Ahab and Captain Crunch: Day 3

Today's itinerary: All the way across Nebraska, to Wyoming.

This morning we woke up to a lovely day in Lincoln, Nebraska. We started our morning the way that everyone should, eating a pretty good (and free) breakfast buffet surrounded by some fantastically tacky USA pride decor: flags, fake flowers, eagles, you name it. After we packed up all our goods we stopped across the street, so that I could look over the edge and see more Nebraska.


It really was beautiful!


It's all about my hair looking totally awesome! Hehe. Love my roomie!


I had to get a picture of this place when we stopped for gas! I tried to get Kasey to sit on the gorilla for the picture, but for some reason, she didn't want to! Hm.

The drive across Nebraska was a straight shot, one side to the other right down one road. We have actually only really driven on two main roads, so it has been pretty smooth (short of all the construction).


Seriously Wanita! 297 Miles!!


So, I had to get a picture of this because my sister lived in a city called Kearny (pronounced the same). We have also seen multiple Utica's and Buffalo's. It is funny how there are so many repeat city names!

Nebraska is certainly a city of corn and farming. It is crazy. We went on and on for miles with acres and acres of corn growing. One cool thing that I did see was a rainbow right in one of the sprinklers! We also saw a yellow crop dusting plane, which was really neat. I have never seen anything like that before. Very fun!

After a while, Kasey and I were ready to pull in for lunch and Kasey picked the perfect pull-off: North Platte, NE! We started off in a cute little place called Penny's Diner. It was exactly the kind of place you would want to stop on one of these trips! After that, we visited Fort Cody a free museum dedicated to Buffalo Bill! It was super fun!


Penny's Diner


Gotta love that, right next to the grill. Well, the whole place was right next to the grill, lol.


I had a buffalo burger (in honor of Buffalo Bill). Did you know that buffalo meat tastes just like beef only half the calories and one quarter the fat! Mmmm.


Look at that view for lunch. Perfect!


Of course, the Trading Post :-)




This was a great sign!

After browsing around, we headed back on the road. There wasn't a whole lot going on, but it really was beautiful. While I am exhausted, the drive really is very peaceful.





We had a really full day, and at the end of it, we finally made it to Wyoming.


It really is God's country. I wish that you could see the size of this ginormous Blessed Mother and the smaller stations of the cross surrounding her! Hysterical. Grandma would have loved this!


Hooray.

The problem is that once we hit Wyoming we got into a huge storm. I was so scared! Because the land is so flat, the wind was insane. I was blowing all over the road. I could feel the trailer hydr-planing, which was not fun at all. I was freaking out and praying to every person that I know is watching over me. Just as I was about to lose my cool... a tumbleweed rolled across the road in front of me! It was almost in slow-motion, totally old-fashioned country western movie-style rolling tumbleweed. I had to just stop and laugh. I even said, out loud, "Was that a tumbleweed?" Needless to say, I took that as a sign to get myself together and get through the storm. And, I did (so did Kasey).


Check out that rear-view picture of what I just got through! Craziness!


So, now I am sitting in front of this Sweet television in the hotel and relaxing! The bed is perfect and I am not even going to start on how awesome the shower was. I think I am mostly going to get some sleep. I am exhausted and tomorrow brings more travels for me and my co-captain.

James Robert, be safe and please hurry home! I love you.

always,
Jamie