One week, two week, three week, home

I have survived Gordon's absence with flying colors. The first week was easy to get through, it looks like the second one might be a bit tougher but its already Wednesday here so that's half of the week gone already. The weather has taken a windy turn for the worse so it looks like I may have to wait for any excursions next week. It looks like we may have a surplus of money as well so I won't feel so bad about traveling someplace new. Things are starting to look up financially. The absence hasn't been so bad either because Gordon has been able to call me practically everyday so I know what he's up to and he knows what I've done for the day. The nights can be the roughest which is evident because I got a spook this morning and have been awake ever since. Hopefully writing this blog will make me sleepy.

I've had just enough to do each day to take my mind off of Gordon. Its remarkable how clean your house can get when your husband is away! I've been trying to organize and get together and put away so many things. I've organized my sheets into pairs tied with yarn so they don't get separated, I don't have any long ribbon. I've volunteered at the Edale Rest Home, playing dominoes with the ladies. Catching up on programs that need to be deleted from the recorder. I also helped Edale again on Tuesday with their quilting project. I outlined designs on the paper and then it was ironed on the fabric, cut, peeled and placed on the quilt board. Apparently it really helped to have an extra set of hands doing the tracing. I told them that I didn't mind that I like doing the outlines for the flowers and what not. It makes me wish that I could make a pretty quilt. I may try a small baby one someday because I have tons of material to work with. Oh, a pretty little quilt piece with beautiful flowers, my imagination does run away with me.

Women's fellowship was last Thursday and I took notes because the lady who is usually in charge of it was absent. I think I wrote an informative essay on the subject but there was just so much good information. Its been awhile since I wrote any kind of report so it was good practice for me. The organization that spoke was called Loved 4Life. Its aim is to reach out to new or families that have just had a baby to show that they are not alone in the parenting game. The baby gets a "Loved" quilt, the family gets a meal and their are workshops to help develop their parenting skills. It really looks like an awesome organization and I'm tempted to see if we can set-up a chapter in Marton. I'm not a parent yet though so I don't know how well that would go down. I'm mostly a behind the scenes gal but I can be coaxed out of my shell. One of the other ladies was very interested because she's in a knitting group that knits baby clothes and they are handed out to families with babies that want the gift.

The weather has been so nice these past couple of days that I was able to stacks of laundry without the use of the dryer too much. It looks like Spring has come a bit early to this area. I'm not complaining though if it means I don't have huddle under the covers during the night. Still a bit nippy so I'm using my heat pump since Gordon is away. I've pruned my alstromeria bush and am looking forward to the coming spring. It would be great if I could have more flowers this year. My carnations seem to be alive still as do my poppies. The side bed needs a good weeding so I think that I'll leave that for Gordon, hehe. I'm almost tempted to go and throw herbicide on that side garden and start all over again with fresh soil. It may just pay to weed, lay newspaper and a new layers of soil or bark along the side garden to get the weeds under control. That's what happens when you reuse the soil that you dug-up originally. I'm being optimistic though and on a good day Gordon will have to give the yard a good cut. I think that I'm going to stick to potted plants this year. I'll make a little potted oasis. I just have to have Gordon get me a palette so I can put them on there to water and not worry about drainage. I could always break down and just buy some more saucers too. I would still need the palette to put all the pots on though. Being in the middle of the walkway to the laundry line just isn't cutting it. I would love to have a sea of cosmos or something in the side garden, wouldn't that be lovely? There are little daffodils every poking their heads out and blooming in gardens all around town. Even the cherry blossom trees have bloomed! I love cherry blossom trees, I want one in my backyard of my first home.

The house search is still ongoing. All we can really do right now is look at the houses because we aren't going to start making any concrete decisions until after I return. We've been constantly weighing the benefits and cons of Marton and Bulls. It looks like Bulls is winning right now but the battle isn't over. We found a cute, character home that is located right along the main road. You wouldn't know it was on the main road when you close the door of the house because you can't hear anything from outside. It must have really good insulation. There are some that we really like but we are going to keep saving until we can afford the one-time costs. That or until a baby comes along. Sometimes it feels like we can either have one or the other. Maybe if I get a job then it won't feel that way so much anymore.

I've just learned that my 2-year work permit and multiple entry visa has been approved. I am so happy and ecstatic that everything went so well! Now, Gordon and I don't have to shell out extra cash in order to get me back into the country and I can visit home without any worries. Its so strange all the hoops that you have to jump through in order to be with the person you love. I keep joking that once I got my work permits I had no choice but to stay with Gordon and live in New Zealand since we used all that money for my paperwork. Its just a joke though because I would follow Gordon to the ends of the Earth if I had to. At least one part of my paperwork is over and done with. I'm not going to worry about residency because they've told me it can take up to a year to grant and I've got a 2-year work permit.

It looks like Roger and Christine will have a new son-in-law. Glen proposed to Kylie this weekend so it looks like wedding plans will start to be made. I'm very happy for them and so glad that Kylie has found someone to spend her life with. I was worried about her for awhile but it looks like she's gotten exactly what she wanted. Hmm...I wonder if I got exactly what I wanted? Well Gordon is a nice guy and cares about me very much so I guess I did! Glen and Kylie should be very happy together and I can't wait to see what the future holds in store for them. Now all I have to do is get pregnant! No luck on that front yet but we're still working on it. When a year comes and we haven't conceived, then I'll start to get worried.

Speaking of babies, my cousin Michele had hers on Thursday. Most of you already know this since mostly my family reads this blog. Anyways, congratulations on being inducted into motherhood and fatherhood Michele and Nate. Baby Erik looks cute and sweet. I wish I could come and see you and the baby.

I've gotten some exercise DVDs so I can work in the comfort of my home. I just tried one yesterday. I was a jumble of arms when it came to some of the dance moves. I was great at the plies though thanks to my college ballet class. This one was a type of pilates workout so I feel a bit sore but its a good sore. I'm going to start slow, about every 2 or every other day. It really depends on time constraints. I've also noticed that when Gordon is gone I don't as eat much. I have to teach myself that just because he eats a lot doesn't mean that I have to as well. It also helps that I've been eating panini sandwiches while really feel me up during lunch. When I cook I portion the meals into containers for later servings. It looks like I have a full menu this week and next week I start my subway portion of meals. I figured that going to Subway each day for evening meals would only cost me $28 and then I usually only spend about $30 on vegetables, due to high prices, which means the only things that I would have to get at the supermarket were lunch items which should only total about $45 hopefully. I've been eating lots of fruits and veggies too so that leaves me feeling happy and full. I've also gotten cheeses that are lower in fat content then cheddar. I'm working on cutting the dairy and have started buying skim milk so it looks like I'm on the right track. Still its important for me to have my calcium and the only way I get it is through milk and yogurt.

Okay, well it looks like that will do it for this week. See having a husband gone is beneficial to me because I'm able to update the blog sooner than expected! Insomnia definitely can have its advantages when updating my blog as well. I'm still counting down the days, his return date isn't very definite, until he comes home. Next week he'll be on a boat so communication will be non-existent for a couple of days. Depends on how fast they get from the island to New Zealand, I hope its fast! I also hope that they push back his exercise so he can take me to the airport when I leave in October. Everyone have a great week and enjoy that summer heat while you can for those Northern hemisphere dwellers. I'll be here rearranging the house, making cards and whatever else I can do to occupy the time.

Gilmore Girls

One of the great things about some NZ channels is that I can watch re-runs of shows that I used to watch in America. Lately, one of the stations has been showing "Gilmore Girls" in the evenings on the weekdays. I usually substitute it for the news because lets face it the world can be a bit depressing. I never was a religious watcher of the show but it is fun to see all the episodes that I've missed right up until the end. This show was approved by Focus on Families which at the end of the series seems kind of odd. As the series has progressed I find that it follows the formula that all great shows follow nearing the end of its run, its gets tedious, predictable and down-right frustrating to watch. Still I have had some good and bad things that I've learned from Loralie and Rory and the rest of the characters.

1) Even if you have parents that don't understand you, you should always have them involved in their grandchildren's lives.
2) If you treat your parents with respect then your children will treat you and them with respect.
3) Even if we don't agree, I still love you.
4) Never, ever, ever keep secrets from your significant other because it always comes out
5) Always communicate, don't sit there and brood and suddenly explode like a volcano while the other person doesn't have a clue what brought this on.
6) We all make mistakes and should be forgiven.
7) Enjoy life!
8) You shouldn't flirt with ex-boyfriends/ex-girlfriends because its just bad.
9) Living in a small town can be fun.
10) Marriage takes effort but loving them is easy.
11) Don't look down on people, just because they don't do it your way doesn't mean they're stupid.
12) Don't be impulsive when it comes to big decisions, like marriage and children.
13) When you over-analyze, you just make a mess of things.
14) Always listen to good music.
15) Make sure you have a good outfit on.

I hope you enjoyed my light-hearted post!

Gone away from me

The paperwork is in, immigration is processing my applications as I write this blog. I have to admit that I was really nervous that I may have left something out. Turns out that something was missing but it wasn't due to me, I had to have a print-out of all my lab tests for my medical exam and it wasn't included. I just have to mail that out today and I could be getting my passport back in a weeks time. All my documentation for our validity as a couple was about a 1/2 inch thick. I wanted to be thorough so there was no doubt in their minds about our genuine relationship. The man that we dealt with at immigration was easy to talk with, concise and to-the-point. I didn't get any run-around or surprise charges. It does feel good to have all the paperwork in now but I think I may still worry a little until I am granted a residence permit. The good news is that when I get my partner-sponsored work permit I will be allowed to live in New Zealand for another two years as well as go back and forth to America.

I have a friend in Bulls now. One of the book club girls has moved to house in Bulls and I'm having coffee with her today. She's a very active girl and the house that she has moved into is just spectacular. She definitely got a great house and she told me that Gordon and I have to come over for dinner one of these times. I never feel at ease inviting people into my home because it is so small and cramped but I'm working on getting better at it. I just need to devise cheap storage solutions. Invest in some clear boxes that I can sneak under the bed, ooh that would be great for storing our sheet sets and clearing space in the cupboard in the spare bedroom. That or some kind of cheap, wooden chest that I can construct with a lid so nasty little insects can't get into it.

I do have a bit of bad news, Gordon is leaving me for three weeks to go on exercise. Its part of the job, I get it, and I'm lucky than most girls to have a husband who is in the RNZAF rather than the USAF. Still, when you're at home all day you look forward to that bit of human contact at the end of the day. I have some activities planned for the weeks while he is gone but nothing jam-packed. For some reason, its a bit tough this time around, maybe because of how long he will be away. Its practically a whole month! It also looks like I may have to find a ride to the airport for my trip back home because he may have to be away on exercise during that time as well. For some reason it peeves me off that he always gets to leave me and I was looking forward to me leaving him for once. Maybe so he would understand what its like to come home to a house that only has a cat to keep him company or sleep in a bed that is big and empty.

I am looking forward to America every week now. I should start booking appointments so that I can see everyone, hehe. It will be good to spend time with my mother and sister and nieces and nephews and friends and other family. I'm extra-excited that my mom is taking off two whole weeks to spend with me! I'm sure by the end of it though, I will be aching to be back with Gordon. I've lived without him for so long and now I can't bear to be apart from him. I guess I should look at his being away right now as an exercise in patience and fortitude for my upcoming trip. Although I have to be honest, I'll be enjoying myself a lot more in New Mexico compared to right now.

Well that seems to be about it. I know its a short blog for such a long absence away but hopefully I'll have lots of things to talk about later. Maybe it won't be so difficult to be away from Gordon, yeah right. Maybe I'll go on an adventure to Wellington, if the weather clears up a little bit more during the week. When Gordon is away, I have to find some kind of adventure to take and expose myself to something new. I may take the cable car in Wellington to the gardens and look at all the beautiful spring flowers. The trees are blooming here so Spring is on its way which means that I have to get out to my potted plants and work on weeding and pruning. I have to find a way to get rid of moss, I think some mulch may take care of that. Maybe I'll go to the beach for a day of relaxation, reading and waves, no swimming, its too cold! I hope everyone has a great week!