Wes and Sandy's Blog

Sneak Peak

2011-09-18T09:31:00.001-07:00

Here is a sneak peek of our wedding. It was such a beautiful day.

At Restaurant Beck for the Reception and Dinner.
There was such an amazing view of the Whale Cove.

The Ceremony

Save the Date

2011-04-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

We have finally set a date! YAY!!!

SEPTEMBER 12th, 2011

We will be getting married at Barking Dog Farms. Since the engagement, I have envisioned saying "I do" outside. I thought the beach would be nice, but after considering the wind and the noise, the shaded pasture at Barking Dog Farms was the perfect choice. After the ceremony, we will be going to Restaurant Beck for a fantastic reception dinner.

Next on my agenda: invitations, officiant and searching for "THE" dress.

The BIG 3-0

2011-04-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

I seriously cannot believe that I am 30!!!! To celebrate this big event, Wes and I went to Seattle. Here are some of the moments. Thank you to everyone for all of the birthday wishes and gifts!

ENGAGED!!!

2011-01-16T20:18:00.000-08:00

It's official...Wes and I are GETTING MARRIED. We have no plans yet as to where, when, or how but we are looking forward to tying the knot.

Me and Chewie

2010-11-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

Gabe and Katherine,

Look at who I met!
My niece and nephew recently discovered Star Wars. I ran into a few fans at the bookstore today.

Pumpkin Carving

2010-10-26T19:52:00.001-07:00

Here's a quick post with a couple picks of the Jack-O-Lanterns we made this week. I(Wes) made the awesome one. Not my original idea, but it was still fun to make and I really like it. I actually ended up carving the skeleton and cat one too, because Sandy's wimpy wrists got too tired from cutting-what an amateur.HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

NEW CAR!!!

2010-08-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

We finally got a new car!!! After a lot of comparisons, we decided on a Kia Forte. I emailed a few dealer, got some great price quotes online and set out on a Sunday morning to wheel-and-deal. Our first stop was a complete nightmare. The second dealer gave us a great price with no hassle so we drove it off the lot that day.

I've been driving it for a few days now and my 45 minute commute to work is becoming a lot more enjoyable thanks to the satellite radio and bluetooth. Now we just need to cross our fingers that Wes' car hangs in there for a few more months.

Weekend Adventures with Mom

2010-08-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was such a blast with my Mom. First thing on our agenda, going to the NW Street of Dreams (aka Parade of Homes). This house just sold for 1.7 million dollars. It was ridiculously HUGE. As I was walking around I just kept thinking, who would live here? It's so excessive. It kind of makes you a little sick realizing that people can have that much money to spend on a house just because they can.
We also checked out two downtown Penthouses. They had floor to ceiling windows with great views of downtown. They rented for $5,500 per month...seriously!

Second on our list was going to the Food and Wine Festival. I ate mussels for the first time and they really weren't that bad but they sure do look gross.
Surprisingly the best thing I had at the festival was peanut butter and jelly sandwich but this was not an ordinary PB&J. This one was grilled on challah bread with marionberry jam, hazelnut butter and blue cheese (I absolutely love blue cheese!!!!) I know it sounds weird but even my Mom kind of liked it.

Smarter Than My Phone

2010-07-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

I'm LOVING my new Droid X. I don't know how I survived with my old phone. This thing is amazing! Ever since I got it on Friday, its all I can do. I've pretty much spent my whole weekend messing around with it. So far my favorite app is Pandora Internet Radio and the voice search is extremely handy. I'm still trying the figure out a bunch of stuff but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Wes would be proud.
Speaking of Wes, he returns home August 12th and supposedly he is going to be home a bunch until the end of the year. That means Wes and I might actually have a normal life...at least for a little bit.

Highs and Lows

2010-07-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

Here are the highs and lows of the week (in no specific order).

High: Wes and I took a little staycation where we enjoyed Portland's downtown nightlife and then camping at the coast.

Low: One our last day, I caught a horrible cold which I have been battling ever since! Don't worry, I'm feeling much better now. I just have a little cough and a runny nose to get rid of.

High: Took some much needed time off work

Low: Most of that time was unpaid sick leave

High: I'm getting an awesome new smart phone

Low: Can't get it until Friday and I have to deal with my old one that doesn't get any reception until then.

High: Wes cleaned the entire house

Low: That cleaning didn't include my messy car.

High: I spent an amazing 2 weeks with Wes.

Low: Wes leaves tomorrow morning :(

Sputnik

2010-07-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

R.I.P.
12/26/2008-7/10/2010

It's a Miracle

2010-06-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

A few miraculous things have been happening lately and I couldn't be more excited.

Miracle #1: I FINALLY got a good hair cut!!! Now, all you women may know what a big deal this really is. To get a haircut that you actually like if truly a miracle. Too bad Wes wasn't here to mark the occasion. He usually has to hear me wine and complain about my "bad" hair cuts for weeks.

(just thought this was funny)

Miracle #2: Sid spent a whole day home alone, without being trapped in him exercise pen and without tearing up the carpet. This is HUGE progress. Now I just hope that when Wes gets home, Sid doesn't revert back to him old ways.

Miracle #3: 6 posts in 1 month. Our new record!!!

A Year Already !?

2010-06-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

I haven't been keeping up my end of the blog lately (after all, my name is first in the title and that brings with it certain responsibilities). Anyways, I've been thinking a lot lately about the past year. A few days ago I hit the one year mark working for Island Conservation. Things started a bit rough, and are still rough at times; but overall I really like my job. In the past year I've slept in my bed here on San Nicolas Island more than I've slept anywhere else. Its sad to say, but sometimes this feels more like home than home.

Over the past year I've come to sort of love a crappy, ugly rock in the Pacific. I've come in tune with the little rhythms of the island. I've come to appreciate the beauties that aren't so obvious.

Also, I got a chance to go to Desecheo Island in the Caribbean. That trip was a test of my mental and physical endurance. I'll never forget hiking back to camp in a torrential rain, with the wind blowing, walking along the top of a steep ridge with nothing but a quick and painful trip to the ocean awaiting me if I slipped. Only a few times in my life have I felt like such a badass.

Also, this job let me and Sandy move to Portland, which we both love. I was gonna post some pictures but just realized they aren't on this computer. So, instead as a late Fathers Day tribute I'll post a picture of me and my dad.

Good Food

2010-06-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a recipe that I really enjoy. It's quick, easy, and delicious. You should give it a try.

Soda Noodle Salad with Ginger Peanut Dressing

6 oz. soda noodles
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 Tbs. agave nectar or maple syrup
1 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
2 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbs. lime juice
1 tsp. fresh lime zest
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and sliced (1 1/2 cup)
1 small red bell pepper, sliced (1/2 cup)
1 large carrot, grated (1/2 cup)
2 Tbs. peanuts, chopped (optional)

-Cook noodles in boiling salted water according to packages directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
-Puree peanut butter, vinegar, agave nectar, ginger, soy sauce, garlic, lime juice, lime zest, and 1/4 cup cilantro in blender or food processor until smooth and creamy, adding 2-3 Tbs. warm water to thin, if necessary.
-Toss together noodles, cucumber, bell pepper, carrot, and peanut butter mixture. Garnish with remaining cilantro and chopped peanuts.

Am I Right?

2010-06-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

After moving in to our new place, I noticed that I had misplaced a few things. One of these items was a very cute picture of Gabe and Katherine (one of Wes' prize possessions). I felt TROUBLE!!! You think Wes would cut me a little slack since I had to move everything myself (wrong). Anyway, I looked a few placed and given our small apartment, there were only a few places to look. Finally the picture turned up. HOORAY!!! Now it may appear that I would be the one to blame for misplacing the picture, but wait, hear me out, I think Wes may be the one at fault.

Since I did ALL the grunt work with the move, I started a small list of chores for Wes. One chore included hanging the living room curtains. The bag that contained the curtains was the exact location of the lost picture. So now if you think of it my way, Wes is to blame. Had he completed the chore months ago when he got home from Puerto Rico, the picture would have been found before it was even lost. In that case Wes if the culprit for the lost (but now found) picture. Am I right???

Now matter who's fault it is; we are both glad to have the picture back!!!

Pics from Utah Trip

2010-06-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would share a few pictures from the Utah trip.

Gabe and Katherine at the Jolley Family BBQ

Is that a wink? ;)

Who knew an Easter basket could easily be turned into a helmet

Dana and me with the twins, 2 1/2 weeks old. Aren't they cute?

I hope I get this right. I'm pretty sure this one is Tess (they look so darn alike!)

...and cutey Claire!

Sid has really outdone himself since my last post. I took care of the problem of his last escape and now he has learned how to hoist up the panels and crawl underneath. What I am going to do with him?!?

i don't know how he did it

2010-06-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, Sid does not do that great being home alone. To minimize destruction and give me some piece of mind, we bought this exercise pen to add to his crate.

To Wes' surprise, this is what he found when he got home from work today. Sid was not in his crate as he should have been. Instead, he had jumped over his crate and escaped. Now, let me put this in perspective, the silver paneling is 3 feet high and the black crate + my purse (which at the time I thought would be a good enough deterrent) measures 27 inches. You would think that would keep him in! Now I have to think of some way to jimmy-rig this thing to keep him from escaping.

Exciting or Not, Here's a Post

2010-05-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a few weeks since my last post and I was anxious to publish something. After much deliberation, this was the best I could come up with...picture of my new couches.

Sorry, it was either this or another picture of Sid. What the heck, here is one of Sid anyway.

I've been trying to get Wes to post some pictures of his latest island adventure. I'm sure his pictures are much more exciting than my couches :)

Shopping Spree

2010-05-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

Wes and I have been on a little shopping spree. It all started with a new vacuum and then we just couldn't stop. We now have a new computer, a new couch, and a new love seat; and we are not about to quit. Next on our list, a new desk.

All Moved In

2010-04-22T07:34:00.001-07:00

Finally, Everything is put away and organized...everything expect for our spare bedroom which is serving as a dressing/storage room for now. Surprisingly this move was pretty smooth. I was a little worried that it was going to be a big pain without Wes but since I didn't have to have everything out of the old place at once, I was able to bring over a few small loads at a time. Don't worry, Wes isn't going to get off that easy. I've been making a list of chores for him to do when he gets back and we have to do some shopping which is torture for Wes but so much fun for me.

This new apartment is so much bigger than our old place. I now have a large storage closet on the balcony, full-size washer and dryer, and two closets, one for me and one for Wes. I really don't know how I lived life before!

Now I have to start working on the decorating. I have a few ideas in mind so we'll see if I can pull it off. Once I get things done, I'll post some pictures and give you a peek at our new place.

Silver Falls

2010-04-04T18:48:00.001-07:00

Here is just a little something to temp all of you Utahns to come visit. This is one waterfall at Silver Falls State Parks. The park is about 15 miles southeast of Silverton. It is really a cool place. There is camping and tons of trail were you can see more than ten different water falls including this one. You can't really see it from this picture but the trail actually goes behind the waterfall.

So I guess I'll be seeing you all real soon :)

Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes! I'm so lucky to have so many people who love and care for me. Thank you for all the love!

Random Stuff

2010-03-28T20:31:00.000-07:00

We finally settled on a new place, Canyon Creek Apartments and I (yes, just me) will be moving April 19th. Lucky Wes gets to miss out on yet another move! Don't worry, we are getting movers.

If anyone wants to see a decent movie, Shutter Island was actually pretty good. I was so caught up in to movie that I didn't even lay my head down once during the entire thing and that is saying something since I have been known to fall asleep on Wes' shoulder a time or two.

Sid will soon be a new and improved pooch. He will be starting obedience training next week. I am SO excited. I have wanted to train him since the day we adopted him and now I finally found an affordable place that fits my schedule. I can't wait!

For my birthday, we decided to do my something a little different. Usually we go to a nice dinner but this year, Wes and I decided to go to brunch. There is this cute little place downtown, Mother's Bistro. It was awesome! After brunch, we spent some time at the Saturday Market. We had such a nice morning. We even hit up our favorite booth, Ja Das Dessert. The sweet potato cupcakes are THE best cupcakes I have ever had!

Wes is leaving tomorrow. I will miss him a bunch but I think he will really have some great stories to tell when he gets back!

Great Hiking

2010-03-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

Last week Wes and I enjoyed this beautiful hike along the Columbia River. The picture below is the view from the top. It was amazing.
Next on our list--Crater Lake.

Just another update

2010-03-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would let you know how the new job is going. So far, I am loving it. I am working with a great crew of RDs in a great facility. It doesn't hurt that I get free lunches too! The commute is a bugger but that shouldn't last long. We are thinking of moving to Wilsonville early May. That will cut my commute down to 30 minutes instead of an hour. After looking at apartments and finding some good ones within our price range, Wes and I are both excited for the move. We're upgrading to a 2 bedroom so visitors are welcome!

Not sure if you know where Wes is headed to next so here is the 411. March 29th he will be leaving for 5 weeks to Desecheo. It's a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico. He will be working to protect seabirds. Sorry, that's really all I know. I kind of keep my nose out of the details. Pretty much I just make sure I know when he is coming and going and if I need to pick him up from the airport.

Just another FYI, this weekend I'm running a 5K with Kari. Wish me luck!

Finally! A Real Job

2010-02-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

I just accepted my first real job offer! I will be working at Silverton Hospital as an inpatient/outpatient RD. I will be doing a lot of diabetes counseling and educating which is a little intimidating based on my experience but I am up for the challenge and I have already started to take some online workshops to brush up on my skills.

Silverton Hospital is in Silverton, OR which is about 40 miles south of Portland. This means yet ANOTHER move. The hospital is small, about 48 beds. So far, I have been so impressed with everything and everyone. I really can't wait to get started!

http://www.silvertonhospital.org/index.php

HI!

2010-01-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

First of all, thanks to everyone for making Christmas so special this year. We loved being able to spend time with our family and friends. It was a blast and we hope to see you all real soon!

Now, let me share with you our most recent adventure. Before Wes left, we took a drive to Cannon Beach. It's only about 1.25 hours away (for some reason I can only uploads this one picture of me. Doesn't Sid look SO cute!?!) It was nice; It's crazy to think that we live that close to the Pacific!

Wes left on Wednesday and will be back Jan. 29th. This is his last stint on San Nicholas Island for the next little while. After that he will be home for awhile for some training and then off to Chile. That is about as much as I know. He has such an irregular schedule; it's hard to keep up. So as long as I know when he is coming home, I'm good.

As for me, I've been trying think more positive about work and doing my best to hang in there and be patient. Hopefully, if I stick with it, I can actually make a living and prepare myself for bigger and better things:)

Apartment

2009-10-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

Finally, I've posted some pictures of our apartment. Sorry if these pictures and a bit disheveled but I got sick of trying to adjust them so your just going to have to deal with it.

This is the living room. That coffee table was $20 from IKEA, what an awesome deal!

This is the view from our living room. We are overlooking the Tualatin Nature Park. The view is nice but all the snakes, slugs, and spiders are not! The slugs are what really gross me out. You have to be so careful when walking to the parking lot; they are all over the sidewalk. I haven't stepped on one yet but I can only imagine the kind of sound it would make if I did.

This is our lovely fireplace and dining room. When I first moved in, my Mom and I had a lot of ideas and the orange stripes was one of them. It's just fabric adhered to the wall using liquid starch. It's really easy and great for apartment living because I can just peel it off, wipe the liquid starch off the wall and it's like nothing was there. I tried to find some great printed fabric but I had to settle with plain orange so I'm thinking of painting/stenciling something on the thicker, middle line but I'm waiting until Wes gets home to see what he thinks. Anyone have any suggestions?

Here's the lovely kitchen. It is small but it's open to the living room so I can just sit there and watch TV while I cook which I quite enjoy. Surprisingly, there is more cupboard space than we had in PA so no boxes on top of the cupboards!

Oh the infamous washer/dryers that barely fits in the bathroom. I absolutely HATED this when we moved in but now I'm used to it and it's not as bad as I thought.

The bedroom. I was so indecisive trying to choose a bedspread...it was driving my Mom crazy. But I finally decided on this and Wes really likes it.

This is our bedroom balcony. Nothing too exciting about this...it overlooks the parking lot. It's really weird but our only windows are sliding glass doors so we don't get took much sunlight. In the living room, it is not that bad but the bedroom gets pretty dark.

Finally, a cute picture of Sid lounging on the couch. I think I might be getting the hang of all this dog stuff.

Our New Dog, SID

2009-10-07T20:23:00.001-07:00

This is Sid, our new dog. It's he cute?!? After seeing a few dog's we adotped this sweet Chihuahua mix from Multnomah County Animal Services. He is about 5-7 years old and 15 pounds. So far, Sid and I have been getting along great. I think he will make a great companion.

Sandy Hansen, RD

2009-09-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

I PASSED my RD exam and I can officially call myself a dietitian.
Now I just need to find a job.

Getting Settled

2009-08-12T22:13:00.001-07:00

Wow! It's been a while since my last blog but that should come at no surprise with our big move. Wes and I had so much fun seeing everyone in Utah. We really did miss everyone and now that we live much closer, we can visit more often.

I've been getting settled into our new place. When we arrived at our new apartment, both of us were a little surprised. Since it is a lot different than our last place, we did not know what to think. First of all, we were disappointed with the minimal amount of storage. We were spoiled in Danville with several large closets. Then there is the awkward stackable washer and dryer in the bathroom; I can literally sit on the toilet and do the laundry at the same time. Even though this is not the ideal location to do laundry, it is nice at least having a washer and dryer and it is a much newer model than our last one. Finally, we were a little grossed out by the dirty balcony and entryway but after a little sweeping (thanks to my Mom) things were looking a lot better.

I was fortunate enough to have my Mom here for a fews days to help with the decorating. After some MAJOR shopping, I think we got some great stuff and the apartment is really starting to feel like home (Thanks Mom for all your help!!!). I just hope Wes likes it! There are still a lot more little things to do which should keep me occupied for the next month or so.

This week I have been trying to get into a good study routine. I've been able to go to the library and get out of the house where there are less distractions. Hopefully I can keep this up for the next 5 weeks without my brain exploding! Wish me luck!

From Coast-to-Coast With a Few Stops in Between

2009-07-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

One thing that I have not yet talked about during our little vacation was our Philly trip with my Dad. Seeing how I got totally frustrated with the NYC pictures, I'm going to let Wes tell you all about Philly since he knows a bit more about the history and he may have more patience with uploading pictures than I do.

But here is what I want to tell you about, our move to Portland. We're so excited! (I tried to save the mapquest picture of our trip but couldn't so this one will have to do)

Day 1: We'll be leaving July 25th, the day after Wes gets into PA. We start out with an 11 hour drive, staying somewhere just outside of Chicago, IL.
Day 2: We then leave bright and early because we have to make it to Sterling, CO in 12 hours Day 3: Short 8 hour trip to Price, UT. We'll have just enough time to catch up with my Grandma and Grandpa Hansen in Elmo and have a home cooked meal with the Fausett's before we hit the road again.
Day 4-6: Leave the next day for South Jordan/Draper where we'll be for the next 3 days.
Day 7: We leave Utah Friday, June 31st for Boise, ID to stay the night with my Mom and Grandma (another 5 hour drive).
Day 8: Our final 7 hour drive to Beaverton, OR. Horray!!!! But wait, it's not over yet.
Day 9: Rent a Uhaul and get our stuff from ABF feight company. Finally, we're moved in...kind of.

TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 47 hours 25 minutes (in a Volswagen Beetle!)
TOTAL DISTANCE: 3036.19 miles

Can you beleive it. This is going to be one looong week.

Just in case any of you are wondering were we will be staying, I found an apartment in Beaverton. It's Arbor Creek Apartment Homes. It's nothing fancy but it will work. We got a pretty good deal, $599/month for a 9 month lease which worked perfectly for us. It was very tough choosing a place without Wes here but thanks to Dana I made it through. I am a little nervous since we haven't actually seen it but if we don't like it, we only have to deal with it for 9 months, right. I have seen pictures on the website. Heres the link if you want to check it out http://www.arborcreekapthomes.com/. I'm pretty sure it's in an okay area (or so I've heard) and our apartment is on the top floor (bonus). Two things I really like is that it has 2 decks, one off the living room and another off the bedroom, and it's near a nature park so we can easily jump on a trail to go hiking or for a nice jog (okay, so i'll probably be the only one going for a jog).

After we move everything in on the last day (August 2), Wes has to leave the next day for 3 weeks (sad). I'm still trying to get used to this living alone thing and so far, I don't seem to like it. It's a little lonely. I think I need another furry little friend to keep me company because Spud just isn't cutting it.

Once I get everything settled, I'm just planning to study, study, study! I want to take my registration exam some time at the end of August. I have seen a few job postings for RDs but my main concern is passing this test so I don't think I'm going to really pursue much until I have my credientials and licensure. This should make getting a job that much easier.

Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July!!!

The Big Apple

2009-06-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

OK so it's really done this time; all the grammar and misspellings are corrected now...I think.

Can I just tell you how annoying it is to uplade pictures so everyone better appreciate it. So lets start with NYC day 1. Dana flew into Newark Airport and we arrived at our Hotel in Secaucus, NJ which is just a short bus ride from the city and we got a great deal through hotwire.com.

Our first stop, Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center). During our trip, we tried to see as many attractions as possible. Before we left, we bought the New York City Pass. We paid about $115 for 3 day access to some of the tourist attractions in NYC. It was cheaper to do this than pay for each attraction individually. I highly recommend it although we did not have nearly enough time to see what we wanted.

We started the day out early and went to The Bodies Exhibit.
http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/. Sorry there are now pictures but here is the link in case you are curious. This was one sight at the top of my list of "must-see" but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. If we did not have the New York City pass and got in for free, I don't think I would have paid the admission of $28.

These next photos may not seem like much--just us enjoying a donut but this was THE only place I wanted to go while in NYC. This is the DONUT PLANT. They make organic and creative donuts like tres leche, peanut butter and jelly, fresh raspberry, coconut cream, and creme brulee. This is me eating the raspberry one and Wes enjoying a PB&J. They were delicious. If you are ever in New York; you must stop by and try one.

If any of you watch the Real Housewives of New York City, You may recognize this store, Zarins Fabrics. I just had to stop and take a picture.

Now, I can't remember if we went to the Museum of Natural History of The Empire State Building next. This first picture of Wes is outside of the Museum of Natural History. Unfortunately, we only had 30 minutes at the museum before they closed. One thing we learned during this trip, is to start your day out as early as possible because everything closes as 5:00 pm! You would think that in a city like this, things would be open later.

Here are pics of the Empire State Building. Of course, Dana and I were done with this within 5 minutes, Wes on the other hand wanted a more fulfilling and longer expereince.

This is us at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Dana and I had a lot of fun posing with each figure and Wes just made fun of use the whole time.

This is at Time Square and that is the ball that drops on New Years.

By this time, we were absolutely exhaused! Our feet hurt, especially mine; we had been walking all over the city. We wanted to badly to have nice New York City Dinner. We stopped at a restaurant in Bryant Park (the center of New York Fashion Week). It was such a let down.

DAY 2: The Statue of Liberty. After a long day yesterday, we woke up at 7:00 am and headed for the Statue of Liberty. Heres us on the ferry ride.

Then, Dana had to drag us to Ellis Island. It was interesting but not my favorite.

This was one of the most memorable moments I had on New York--going to the Carnegie Deli. Check out our Club sandwich (yes, it was that BIG)

Wes has a Pastrami Sandwich (sorry, can't find the pic for that). He says that is was the best pastrami sandich he has ever had. We also had REAL New York Cheesecake. It was amazing. Wes had tongue--GROSS!

As I mentioned before, everything closes at 5:00 pm so our stop at the Museum at Modern Art (MoMA) was very breif. I really wish we could have had more time. It was interesting to see what people consider art. This is me next to a painting by Pollock. If anyone finds this painting interesting, you can watch a movie about the life of Jackson Pollock featuring Ed Harris

In a desperate attempt to see one last thing before we left and get as much use out of our New York City pass, we took a ferry ride around the island. We had an MC for the tour who mentioned "that tragic day on 9-11" about 100 times during the 3 hour. Don't get me wrong it was tragic but seriously...

Well that's it. Time to leave. This is us taking the bus back to NJ.

Moving...Again!?!

2009-06-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

Finally, we have things figured out...for now. Wes got a job in Portland and so we will be moving at the end of July/first of August. We are SO excited. We both fell in love with Oregon when we vacationed their on the coast last summer. Portland seems like the place for us; two easy-going and adventurous liberals. (yes Dad, I said liberals). Right now, I just spent the past 4 hours searching the internet for apartments. Its always fun moving to a new place. I just hope that we don't run into any surprises when we move in. I do feel a little sad about leaving Danville. I have been stuffing myself full of pretzel roll sandwiches and Rita's Gelatti because in 2 months they will all be gone but only to be replaced with Voodoo Donuts and whatever else Portland has to offer.

This week off has been so relaxing. I didn't even realize it was Saturday...everyday has been a Saturday. Soon I will have to buckle down and get to studying. I want to take my registration exam before we move. That will give me about 6 week to study for the biggest test of my life. Its weird to think that I have spent the past 6 years educating myself only to have it come to this point..this one exam.

WISH ME LUCK!

Internship completed

2009-06-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

HOORAY! I'm finally done with my internship. I really cannot believe it has been 10 months since I started. It has been such a good experience. I have had some great mentors while here; many I will not forget. Now I am excited to begin the next chapter of my life, as to what that entails, I am still uncertain but excited none the less. Wes and I are trying to figure things out, start school, start a career, stay here or move. We are both young, talented and ready for anything. We'll keep you posted as to our next adventure. As for now, I'm going to keep working at Giant and hopefully get another part-time job to keep myself busy while I study for the registration exam in August.

New Posts

2009-04-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

I had some adventures last week. So read the 3 posts below. I apologize in advance for the sort of crappy layout and writing. I am trying to finish before work, and its like 90 degrees in our apartment. Well, it is 90 degrees outside, so only a little cooler inside- I'm trying to tough it out to save on the AC bill.

Thanks for reading.

Adventures with Flat Stanley

2009-04-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Sandy had to go to a conference last week in Philadelphia, and I wanted to go to the Market Fair at Ft. Frederick in Maryland so I took a few days off. Tiffanie had mailed me a visitor, Flat Stanley, to help teach her class about maps. Flat Stanley came with a letter to mail a postcard or letter telling about his visit. I took some pictures of Stan here in Danville, but I thought I would do one better and take him on a trip with me and record our adventures.

Things went pretty smoothly at first. Upon getting to Maryland, the first freeway exit was exit 10. That means there were only 10 exits until Virginia. I had some spare time so, I thought Stanley and I would take a trip down to what is officially the "South" and see the welcome center. Things were going smoothly until we found out Virginia was really West Virginia. I guess Stanley needs to improve his knowledge of geography. This wouldn't be a big deal, except for some reason I don't like West Virginia. The only other time I was there, I thought the towns were all sort of ugly, everyone was wearing wife-beater T-shirts, and the guy at the gas station accused me of using a stolen credit card. This trip to West Virginia was a little better, I got a free magnet.

Ft. Frederick

2009-04-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Flat Stanley and I finally made it to our campsite. Spent a few minutes getting camp set up and made it to Ft. Frederick. We went that night, and then back again the next morning. The fort was really cool, and there was a lot of neat stuff for sale. The event going on was called the Market Fair. It is a reenactment of a French and Indian War Era "rendezvous". Probably the best thing I saw was a reenactment of a circus. I guess they started as only 2 people travelling around telling jokes and doing tricks and stuff. The guy had on a bright outfit and did some pretty cool stuff with strings and ropes.
I was shopping around, watching demonstrations and something tragic happened. I put Flat Stan down to look at some cups and never picked him up. I didn't notice until I was about to get on the train in D.C. I sort of freaked out. I had wanted to put Stan in a bunch of pictures to send to Tiff's class. I had planned on writing a letter to the class telling about our adventures like Flat Stanley really came to visit. So I felt sort of foolish for actually being sad that I lost my little friend Flat Stanley ( WIIIIIILLLLSON!!!)

Spontaneous Washington D.C

2009-04-27T11:41:00.001-07:00

After the tragic loss of Stanley, and seeing that I was only about an hour away from D.C. I decided that I would cruise over and spend the afternoon in our nation's capitol. As I was approaching the city I got nervous about where to park and such, luckily there were big signs indicating how to get to the Metro. I followed the signs and ended up at the Shady Grove station which is the end of the line. It was about a 30 minute ride on the train which became the subway as it got closer to D.C.

I got off right behind the National Archives. The archives are right by the end of the National Mall.
It was a beautiful, hot April day. I had two choices on how to go about my afternoon. I could pick just a few things to really explore, or I could try to see as much as possible in my short time. I was feeling good, so I went the ambitious route. Here is my trip:

Note: my pictures aren't that great as I more focused on using my video camera. Plus, I was alone so no one familiar is in the pictures. I tried to take some pics of myself, but my giant cranium kept blocking out all the monuments. Also, Make sure to click the links within the text. They go to some better pictures of things my camera didn't work so well on.

1. First I went down to the Capitol building. Lots of steps, met Bill.

2. Went into the Botanical Gardens (which was free, just like all the other stuff, which ROCKS!!) Went in to use the bathroom, stayed to check out some of the cool plants in the medicinal plant section, will definitely drag Sandy back here.

3. Went down a couple buildings to the Smithsonian's Air and Space section. Another place to go back to( gonna stop saying that, cuz I'm gonna go back to all of 'em). Was really cool to see the Spirit of St. Louis, and other famous aircraft. They have some of the real re-entry vehicles from space mission. It was neat to look at the burnt tiles from coming through the atmosphere and know that this thing was really in outer space. Saw Sputnik, our hamster's namesake. The coolest thing I saw was called Aerogel. Its the least dense solid material ever. They had a chunk of it, and it looked like a cube shaped fog. It was bizarre. It looked like it would be really fragile and that your fingers would go into it like it was made of steam, but apparently it is rigid and really strong. I would have probably paid 10 bucks just for the opportunity to handle the stuff and see what it really feels like.

4. I then walked down to the Natural History section of the Smithsonian. Didn't stay long, but I checked out an orchid display that was going to be gone soon. There were a ton of really neat orchids. There was also a surprise in the gem section. I didn't know it, but a lot of famous gems are on display, including the Hope Diamond, and other gigantic gems owned by royalty.

5. I spent the rest of the day walking to all the monuments. I must say they are way bigger than I thought. Especially the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The Jefferson causes an illusion where it looks a lot closer than it really is. Two cool things were the Korean War monument and the FDR park. The Korean War monument is just a group of statues that look like soldiers walking through the jungle. It really captures the emotion of war. The Franklin D. Roosevelt park is neat, it has a bunch of really geometric shaped waterfalls and statues of FDR and scenes from the depression and stuff.

6. It was almost dark and I had to get home, so I walked over and saw the Whitehouse last. It was cool. Then I caught the train and drove home. Coming home was its own adventure, because I needed to get on Highway 11, which goes through Danville. Well, like every exit for 20 miles says it exits on to 11. But you can't just get off and drive 11 unless you want to head out of the way and drive through Harrisburg. I was getting really frustrated, but eventually found the right exit to get home somewhat efficiently.

Well, thanks for reading about my adventures this week.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2009-04-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

Can you beleieve it...I'm 28!!! Just to let you all know, next year will be my last birthday; I'm going to stay 29 forever. Thanks so much for all of the gifts and warm wishes. I really had a great time. Wes and I had a really nice dinner at a local coffee shop/cafe in Danville. I have a pumpkin ravioli salad. It was amazing. The cake I got it a local favorite in Pennsylvania, choclate cake with peanut butter frosting. It was a little tricky finding something small enough just for the two of us.

Just to update you on the internship; I am currently working with patients in the ICU. 3 patients have already died on me! One lady just came in with a really bad stomach ache and she died 6 days later. So do me a favor Dana, Jessie and Mom, go see the doctor if you have a stomach ache for longer than 2 days! Next week I start working with kids and I am a little nervous.

Tuesday I went to Harrisburg, PA (the capitol) and talked to State Senators and Representatives. We were lobbying for increased insurance coverage for Dietitians. The capital was beautiful! We even got to sit in on some meetings/chambers (not sure what it is called). I was suprised because half of the people were not even paying attention and it was a little chaotic. The guy sitting in the chair is state representative Millard. Sharon, our internship director is on the far right. The rest of the girls are the other interns.

National Nutrition Month Booth

2009-03-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

For all of those who wonder what I do everyday, here is one example. This is the booth we made for National Nutrition Month (the theme is shopping on a budget). This is Jamie (another intern) and me at Geisinger. It may not look like much but a lot of work went into this. On Sunday alone, I spent 15 hours at Geisinger working on it. The Penny Pinchin Produce was my brain child. It's a game participants could play to win a prize (trust me the prizes were a little cheesy). Even though our prices were a bit outdated, I tried to send the message that you can get in 5 fruits and vegetables for less than you might think. Enjoy the photos; I put some pics of spud just for fun.

Readers Beware! Contains Graphic Content

2009-03-06T15:00:00.001-08:00

This week I have seen some pretty crazy stuff. I spent sometime with the Wound oand Ostomy nurses (one career I would never want to get into). First there a women with an open abdominal wall. She had gastric bypass surgery and the surgen could not close her back up so they left her abdomen open. It was crazy, I saw her intestines moving around and everything (it kind of looked like the sea creatures we saw in Oregon). Another women I say had an ileostomy which is a surgical opening made by bringing the end or loop of small intestine out onto the surface of the skin and then a pouch is stuck to the skin surrounding the intestine and waste products (poop) are excreted into the pouch (it is as gross as it sounds). Not only do these nurses have to see gross thing, they also have to smell gross things. I think the smell was definitely more disqusting than they looked and the worst part was that I kept smelling it all day. The last intern fainted. Don't worry, I survived it without any problems.

If that was not bad enough, I went to endoscopy and watched colonoscopies. Luckily most patients had a good bowel prep before going (all you over 50 people should know what I'm talking about) and no turds were to be seen.

This past 2 weeks has really been interesting. From what the other interns said about this rotation, I was really dreading it but I have to say this might have been one of the best rotations yet. I have been able to see a wide variety of patients and really been able to build my skills and learn a ton of new stuff about the GI tract, surgery, the nutrition care process and nutrition support, all of which probably sounds pretty lame to you but it has been very interesting to me.

12 week remaining!!!

Have I mentioned yet how cold it has been here. Up until 2 days ago it has been in the 30s and below! YIKES! I never thought I would say this but I miss the Logan winters. It is supposed to warm up this weekend and I hope it stays warm. It's starting the get a little depressing.

One more thing, March is National Nutrition Month so eat right and be healthy!

My Promotion

2009-02-22T17:37:00.000-08:00

I have been training recently to take over some bar tending responsibilities at work. Its basically a promotion. I make quite a bit more per hour but will make less in tips depending on the shift. However, on a good night I will make at least the same amount in tips plus the extra per hour, so it should be nice. Plus there is a lot more responsibility, I handle a lot more money and go to the bank and stuff like that. Also, the work is pretty fun and I get to avoid a lot of the annoying customers. Part of the job is just to hang out and talk with customers. We make all our own fresh juices and stuff for the cocktails, so its fun to make a really high quality product that people enjoy drinking.

Sandy and I both have to file our taxes in both Utah and Pennsylvania. Its been annoying trying to figure out what documents I need for the PA side of things. The Utah ones are easy to find and actually look like official documents, the PA ones all look like they were typed up by a student using microsoft word. Basically in both states, we have to fill out the regular tax form, plus one to account for what state we earned each portion of our income in.

We went and saw the new Clint Eastwood movie Grand Torino. The acting was flat, (except for clint), but Sandy and I both liked it. It was definitely different than I expected. Well I am going to go, thanks for reading and sorry, I know this post was a little difficult to read.

2009-02-18T16:21:00.000-08:00

Oh My Gosh! It's been a month since our last blog. I have been so busy. Clinical rotations are much more difficult than Food Service. There is way more homework and more projects but I only have 15 more weeks and then I'm done. I can't wait!

Now I have moved on to working with general surgery patients and soon gastric bypass patients. I'm not sure how I will like working with gastric bypass patients but I'm sure it will be a real eye opener. I am starting to understand that there are many people who really just do know what a healthy, well-balanced diet is. I thought it was pretty common sense--eat more fruits and vegetables and limit high fat, high sugar foods. But I talk to so many people who have no clue. After seeing all the medical complications due to excess weight , it really makes me motivated to lose weight and stay healthy. Listen to me...I'm really starting to sound like a crazy dietitian.

I hope everyone is doing well! We miss you all and I can't wait to see everyone this August.

Thanks for all the love on Valentine's Day. Grandma Hansen, the card was great and SO true. I can't tell you have many times I have done that. Thanks, it made me smile!

Kellie congratulations on the birth of your son, Brigham. He's so cute!

What makes Hershey's so Great?

2009-01-14T16:37:00.000-08:00

As Sandy and I found out on our recent trip to Hershey, PA: Its the Milk Chocolate!

We went down to see the Hershey's Candy Lane, which is basically what the Hershey Park becomes around the holidays. The roller coasters were closed, but we were able to ride some of the smaller rides. I can't wait to go back in summer, the roller coasters look awesome. It was pretty fun, and a lot of the candy was really reduced after Christmas. The tour (complete with singing cows) is a fun little ride that you get to see how all the chocolate is made.

Above are some pictures from the tour. Some bags of candy going along conveyor belt, and some Hershey's Kisses. And below is one of my favorite pics. Once we saw this Twizzlers guy, we immediately thought of Sandy's Grandma Peterson. For those of you who don't know her: saying she loves Twizzlers is an understatement.

New Year--More Blogging

2009-01-07T16:40:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolution was to blog more so here I go.

As I mentioned before, I am working in endocrinology and high risk pregnancy. I am learning a ton about diabetes. The dietitian I am with right now is VERY knowledable and has really taught me a lot. Yesterday we visited a women in labor and delivery who had been in the hospital on bed rest for 73 days. She is from Florida and was on vacation in PA. She had a spontaneous rupture of her aniotic sac and was admitted to Geisinger. She is hundreds of miles from friends and family and all she can do is lay in hospital bed. I can't even image how boring that would be. They will be inducing her on Saturday so she only has 4 more days to go.

Last night Wes and I had dinner with Don and Joan, the owners of the farm Wes works with. Even though I had only met Don once and only for a few minutes, it was not awkward at all. They are both really nice and fun to talk with. It was interesting hearing about all the places they have lived and the things they have done.

I am getting pretty sick of this weather (ok so just this week has been bad). So far there hasn't been much snow but there has been some freezing rain which sucks worse than snow. It's almost impossible to scrape your windsheild and the roads can be pretty slick. Wes was not even joking when he said people in PA freak out about a little bad weather. The schools were closed today and it wasn't even that bad, a little freezing rain from last night and then it just rained until around 2 pm. At Geisinger, you better plan on at least half of your patients cancelling because of the weather. Its kind of funny to me and Wes.

Just incase I havn't bored you enough, here are some recipes I have been meaning to share.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND ROSEMARY GARLIC LASAGNA
This was really good and takes some time to prepare but definitely worth it. I mashed the butternut squash a little bit even though the recipe doesn't say so and the heavy cream could be optional.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roasted-Butternut-Squash-Rosemary-and-Garlic-Lasagne-13479

APPLE WALNUT SALAD WITH CRANBERRY VINAIGRETTE
I added more cranberries to the dressing (at least double the amount) and sprinkled my salad with a little goat cheese
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Apple-Walnut-Salad-with-Cranberry-Vinaigrette-844

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE CAKE
This made really delicate, moist cupcakes...no frosting even needed. Don't wory if your batter is really runny; mine was like water.
http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=184

GRILLED BLACK BEAN AND RICE STUFFED PEPPERS
EASY! I made these a day ahead and then Wes just popped them in the oven.
http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/dinner/beans-rice-grains/grilled-black-bean--and-rice-stuffed-peppers.aspx

CAULIFLOWER AND RED LENTIL CURRY
I did not have the cumin seeds or fresh ginger and I used green lentils not red when I made this and it still turned out really good. Wes loves cilantro so I added extra.
http://health.discovery.com/national-body-challenge/recipe-individual.html?action=showRecipeDetail&recipeId=1866

Our Little Sputnik

2009-01-02T08:20:00.000-08:00

Wes definitely surprised me this Christmas with a hamster. I think he was just sick of me bugging him about wanting a dog/cat/bunny/hamster and he finally gave in. So the day after Chirstmas we set off to PetCo and picked out this little guy. He is a dwarf hamster and we named him Sputnik aka Spud. We've had him for about a week now and he is so cute. Look at his cute little white tail!

Now here is a little info to fill you in on what I have been up to. I have been on vacation from the internship for the past 2 weeks and I have just been lounging around and being lazy. Don't get me wrong, it has been relaxing but I would have preferred to keep working and finish the program 2 weeks earlier. I start back at Geisinger doing endocronology and high risk pregnancy and then onto oncology and rehab. This month is packed full of projects and assignments. I just hope I don't procrastinate everything as usual. I have been learning a ton and I can't wait to start working and building my career. I don't really know what I want to do when I'm done but I am kind of leaning towards working in a hispital as a clinical dietitian but who knows were I will actually end up.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

Its been a while so I thought I would write a quick post. Things are going well, we finally got an actual snow storm. There was a bit of freezing rain, which was interesting to see, but we learned something about Pennsylvanians and snow. Basically, people around here are terrified of snow. The forecast called for a few inches and everyone freaked out. They cancel school around here if there is like an inch of snow in the forecast, even if it doesn't actually snow. Also, people are really afraid to drive in it. So this week Sandy and I got to feel like hardened veterans who were unphased by a little snow.

Our Thanksgiving went well, we cooked a pretty good meal. It was nice to have an excuse to sit around all day eating and talking to our far-off families.

I am still stressing about grad school. I really want to get into a good program. A big relief has been looking into post-graduate certificates. Which is basically where you go take some classes without being accepted into grad school. So if I don't get into any programs I am going to (hopefully) start taking some classes that I can later apply towards a degree. The hardest part is not having a strong agricultural background. I know if I can just get taking classes at a good university I will be able to prove to people that I am a high caliber student and would be a great graduate student. I just feel that it is worth working really hard to get into a top program, because then I can get my PhD at a top school and then work at a top school.

Speaking of agriculture: I have been working at the Dancing Hen Farm still. Here are some pictures I took a while ago before everything died. Lately we have been working on re-building the heated greenhouse. Basically, you light a fire in a chamber that is surrounded with gravel. The rocks heat up and prevent everything from freezing overnight. Its been really fun, but a lot of hard work. We moved about 10,000 pounds of rock each using 5 gallon buckets.

Top left is a shot of the farm. Top right is a broccoli plant, I didn't know what they looked like. basically a whole big plant that grows the eating part in the middle. Bottom left is the Twin Bridges, a couple old covered bridges on the way to the farm. And bottom right is the inside of the greenhouse we are rebuilding. Its hard to see, but under the plant trays is the gravel bed that we are re-doing.

No Human Being Would Stack Books Like This!

2008-11-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

If you recognize the title of this post, then you may recognize the lion statue and the steps I am standing on. That is a quote from the movie "Ghostbusters" one of my favorites. Which made yesterday's trip to New York City all the more fun when I was able to actually go to the New York Public Library, where the opening scenes of the movie were filmed. Our hunt for a "self-contained free-floating full-torso vaporous apparition" proved less than successful.
This is Sandy eating the first bite of our pizza at Lombardi's, officially recognized as America's first pizzeria. One bite and its easy to see why they have been around all this time. The pizza was simply amazing. Also in Little Italy I got a cupcake from a small shop. It was chocolate and frosted with the filling from a cannoli, and had little pieces of the cannoli cookie sprinkled on top. Best cupcake ever, it was big and the texture and flavor were just amazing.

30 Rockefeller Plaza is pretty famous. Its the main building for NBC, and I think all the shows are filmed there like Conan O'brien and Saturday Night Live, and probably at least some of 30 Rock.
This is Sandy inside Trump Tower. We went in just for fun. It was crazy how much famous stuff is all crammed together. All these photos are taken like minutes walk from each other. I'm not posting pictures, but Times Square, Port Authority, The Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Central Park, Saks Fifth Avenue, St Patricks Cathedral, and the Diamond District are all right there too. Not to mention huge stores for like every designer in the world. Its mind blowing to go to New York and see all these famous things crammed together. Actually, St. Patricks Cathedral and Saks Fifth Avenue are next door to each other, and Rockefeller plaza is across the street. And boy was it all crowded.

We then jumped on the Subway for a few minutes, and walked more. Our second walk took us to Little Italy, Chinatown, Broadway, Wall Street and Ground Zero. We didn't even walk very much yesterday but saw a TON. We actually came upon Ground Zero by accident. Sandy wanted to go to this big store, and we did, then walked out and looked to the left and realized the big empy space was where the World Trade Center was. It was a little weird to realize how many people were right nearby when the planes hit. Its also strange to me that there are a lot of other big buildings nearby, I can't imagine what it was like to stand in one of those other buildings and look over at the burning towers. It was weird to accidentally come upon the location of what is probably the most historical event of my lifetime.

So yeah, we covered a small section of one of the 5 bouroughs of New York City, and saw more than I can remember. 8 million people live there. Its a bit odd, because its amazingly small in the amount of ground it covers. At the same time, its amazingly huge considering that all that ground is covered in pure city, densely packed buildings, sky scrapers, subways underground. Man made stuff everywhere.

I felt like I was being crowded the whole time I was there. Yet as I was leaving I couldn't wait to go back and explore more, and see more famous stuff that I didn't see yet, and of course eat more awesome food. I think I could visit there a lot and never experience it. It seems to me that in order to really know the New York experience, you would have to live there. If I lived there, I think theres about a 50% chance I'd absolutely love it and a 50% chance I would completely hate it.

Fall is here (sort of?)

2008-10-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Things are pretty well here in PA. I have been enjoying the fall colors as they come in. Its weird because the leaves have been changing color in strange ways. Some areas are completely changed and the leaves have fallen, but the many of the trees around here are still green. I don't have any really good pictures, but I made it into some areas that were in the height of fall and it was pretty amazing. Everything was so golden it made the daylight seem really intense.

I started helping at a small farm that does community supported agriculture(CSA). The owner is really great and being really flexible with me helping on my random days off. A CSA is where people buy "shares" in the farm for the season and get a big box of vegetables delivered every week. In exchange for my help I am gonna get some vegetables too, the ones I brought home this week were really good and fresh. I made some fresh salsa using the onions, garlic, and a variety of peppers I brought home and it was really delicious. It feels good to be involved with something that I would like to study in Grad school.
I will try to take some pictures of the farm next time I'm there, but you can check out the website until then. http://www.dancinghenfarm.com/

The farm is about 45 minutes from us, and it is in a great rural and hilly area. The farm was super quiet, in this tinly little vally with only a few houses and farms. That may change somewhat because there is a lot of this shale about a mile down in that part of the state that gives off natural gas, and a lot of farms have been selling mineral rights. Overall it shouldn't be too bad for the farmers, with new drilling technology they won't need many wells. Once the wells are built it shouldn't affect life too much. It iwill bring money into an area that needs it.

I took a few pictures on my drive home last week, the sunlight wasn't cooperating so I only got two that are worth sharing. Enjoy.

Quick Update

2008-10-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Things are going well here in Danville. We are planning a small trip early in November, currently it looks like we will go spend a day or two in New York City, see some of the sights and hopefully eat at the country's first pizzeria.

We've both been pretty busy lately, Hit the link below to see what I've been up to.

www.paeveningnews.com

Enjoying the weather

2008-09-23T12:11:00.001-07:00

Hey. Haven't posted in a while, things have been pretty busy.

Last Saturday we went to Knoebel's Theme Park. Its only about 20 minutes away from our apartment. It is an old fashioned amusement park, you buy tickets and pay for each ride you want to go on, but the prices are reasonable. It is home to the Pheonix which is one of the best roller coasters in the world and has been called the best wooden roller coaster. They also have the Twister which is an even bigger wooden coaster. Both were a lot better than I expected.

This week is the Bloomsburg Fair, and Sandy and I went last night. This fair is the biggest in all of Pennsylvania. I would say its almost as big as the Utah state fair. It was pretty fun, we mostly looked at all the animals especially the fancy chickens and rabbits. The agriculture part was pretty awesome, there were some really huge vegetables. The winning pumpkin was 1024 pounds.

Now on to the food. Pennsylvanians love these things called perogies. They are like big raviolies stuffed with mashed potatoes and cheese and then deep fried. They are awesome. At first Sandy and I were both a little skeptical be we like them now. We also had a real candied apple, it had a thin crunchy candy coating on the outside of a super ripe apple- it was amazing, and a mess, we were both red for a while. And I bought some fresh cashews from a little old lady, and they were really good.

Lastly, today has been another perfect weather day. I rode my bike to Bloomsburg, It was a little more uphill on the way home than I expected, but overall an awesome ride. I gotta go, I am cooking dinner and need to go work on it.

Well thanks for reading.

Home Sweet Home

2008-09-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our home! Come on in!

Here's our front room. Hooray! We are finally getting basic cable on
Wednesday. The cable company charges you an additional fee if you only
have internet (stupid, I know) so we decided to get cable.
Now this means I have one more way to procrastinate my projects!

Wes playing video games

This is our bargain buy. We bought the dining room table from some
lady for $25 and the table cloth was $3 from Big Lots.
It took a little work to clean up and paint but Wes and I kind of like it.
It's much better than the alternative, a card table and folding chairs.

I just made cookies.

Now onto our bedroom

This is Wes's "man corner" He can put whatever he wants in
this corner and keep it as clean as he wants and I can't say a thing.
This is one spot that is just his. He is hoping to expand his
"man corner" to a "man room" one day

Just another pic of the bedroom

Here is our lovely blue bathroom. At least it not pink :)

Wes and I are really enjoying having our own place. It is definitly a lot quietter than the sorority house! We are both getting adjusted to the area and for the most part everything is going great.

Last week was orientation week. We just went over policies, computer systems, schedules, etc. so it was pretty boring but I did get to know the other interns. Two of them are from Williamsport, PA and the other is from Southern California. We all have very different personalities so it makes things fun.

This week I start my 4 week rotation working with production and purchasing in the food service department (cafeteria). I have to start going to Geisinger at 6:00 am...some days even as early as 4:45 am. I feel very lucky to have gotten into this internship. Geisinger is a very reputable hospital and the staff is great. I will definitely use this time to learn as much as I can and make the most out of this opportunity. This next year is going to fly by.

Right now I am just focusing on the internship. I have slowly been applying to a few jobs. I hope I can find just the right one...one were I can just work ten hours a week or less. This may be tricky so hopefully I can charm them in the interview :)

I hope everyone is doing well!

Finally some pictures

2008-08-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

I can finally post some pictures. I just got off work and am pretty tired, but thought I would put on on some pictures. I haven't taken any really of our apartment itself but here are a few pics.

This is Sandy and I at the welcome place for PA

This is a view of Danville from the Susquehanna River
Same Park, Different view
Sandy Standing by the Susquehanna River
Picture purely to embarrass Sandy until she figures out how to remove it!
This is St. Cyril's Academy. A bit of a mystery to me, my current investigation has me understanding that it is a Catholic Boarding School (not used for that any more) and a Nunnery. I am thinking it is a branch of Catholicism that follows the Pope but may not be totally Roman Catholic. It is linked somehow to a Slovakian group of Catholics, and a organization that is sort of like the Knights of Columbus but called something else and tied to the Slovakian Culture. I really want to get a tour of it.

Settling in

2008-08-25T18:54:00.001-07:00

Well I think we have to declare ourselves settled. I have some pictures but am waiting for my memory card reader from newegg. I lost my camera cable, and of course its something made special for Nikon's so I can't just get a replacement at a local store.

I don't think we have been able to say thanks enough to all our friends and especially families who have lent us an immeasurable amount of support so far. We appreciate everything!

I had my first day at work today. I am serving at a place called BJ's Steak and Rib House. It seems really cool, it is upscale casual, so I am surprised they hired me with no waiting experience. I got complimented by management today for looking "very nice" and they were "very impressed that I pressed my shirt". The food is really good, 1 perk is I get a lunch item for FREE every day I work. Check it all out at http://www.bjsribs.com/indexhome.cfm

All in all, things are going more easily and less stressful than I think we both anticipated. One thing that is harder for me than I thought is being away from Gabe and Katherine. I knew it would be tough, but I could even look at their pictures the first week I was here without choking up. I mean I'm their Godfather! What happens if I need to make someone an offer they can't refuse!? Its a little hard from 2,000 miles away. But I know they have enough great people to look out for them while I'm away. Luckily I have a good source of pictures in my sister. I have made a screen saver with the pictures she puts on her blog and its easy as pie to add more when she posts them.

Well we enjoy reading your comments, if you would like to read one but don't know how you simply have to click the little comment link on the bottom of each post, it will open a new window you can type in. Thanks for reading.

Back In Touch!

2008-08-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it to Danville. Even more importantly, we got our internet today. I am happy because our internet is pretty dang fast for the price. We went with a local company, and so far we are actually getting the speed we are paying for, so I am happy.

We are also finally settled completely in our apartment. Sandy has been painting chairs and my old desk the past few days, they look really nice, my desk looks like an expensive piece now (if you ignore the dings and dents, which are tough to paint over).

Our apartment is nicer than I had dare let myself hope. The apartments don't open to the outside, they open to a central hallway. Its pretty funny because the central hallway smells sort of musty and the carpet is really old, so I was sort of freaking out until we opened the door to our place and saw that it is freshly remodeled. Tile flooring the in the kitchen and bath, newer appliances. It also came equipped with a few luxuries like a washer and drier and a dishwasher. The bathtub is a little old, its bright blue, and so is the tile around it on the wall, but we have made the best. Sandy has a bright colored shower curtain and we both had bright towels. I also hung my clay sun that I painted in bright colors, I dare say it looks downright nice in there now.

And they are supposed to get new carpet in the common areas outside the apartments so that's nice. Pretty quiet place too, which is nice.

I'll get pictures up as soon as I can, both of the apartment and the area. Until then. Ciao!

Packin up

2008-08-09T06:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of those who came to the picnic/going-away party. It was great to see all of our friends and families together even if it was a little bitter sweet. I hope you all had a good time. I know I did! We will miss you all very much!

My last day of work was Thursday and I do not feel at all bad for quitting either one of them. I just hope I will never have to work at 24 Hour Fitness again! It feels really nice being able to sleep in!

Just a few more days here in Utah. Wes and I are just getting things packed up. I have been dreading this for the past couple of weeks. I guess I should consider myself lucky because I really don't have that much stuff. Just think...by this time next week, we will be settled in our new house in Danville.

We begin our trip early Monday morning. Our first day of driving will be a long 12 hours through Wyoming and Nebraska. Then after that it shouldn't been too bad. We will keep you posted on our 4 day, cross-country journey. This is going to be quite the adventure!

2008-07-29T19:52:00.001-07:00

LOOK BELOW FOR THE NEW LOCATION OF OUR PICNIC ON SATURDAY!!!

My first blog

2008-07-23T08:26:00.001-07:00

HI! I have been bugging Wes for weeks to set up this blog and now I am finally able to post something. {edit: Wes has had this blog set up for weeks, and now i'm finally getting around to posting-wes} Wes filled you in on our awesome vacations this summer. Both were too short!Now we are getting ready for our voyage across America from Utah to Pennsylvania. We leave in less than 3 weeks. Both of us are very excited and also a little worried. We are planning a going away BBQ on Aug. 2nd at 5:00 pm for anyone who whats to come. Update !!! We are now having our party at Riverton park 12765 south 1400 west. We hope to see you there!

Been A While

2008-07-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

So, Its been quite some time already since I put this blog together. Hopefully soon we will get Sandy adding some content as well.

A lot of great and fun things have happened this summer, but two sort of stick out. First we went to our friends' wedding. Jake and Kari got married in South Lake Tahoe on June 22. Jake is a great friend of mine, we are fraternity brothers as well. Kari is in Sandy's sorority. The trip to Lake Tahoe was a ton of fun. We rented a condo with a bunch of our friends. We also saw a lot of people we hadn't seen in a while. One thing I really took away from that wedding was how great friendships are timeless.

The second thing was our trip to Oregon with Sandy's family. We rented a condo there as well in Lincoln City, Oregon. The coast of Oregon is beautiful. We had a great time doing all sorts of things including: playing on the beach, building sand castles, flying kites, going to an aquarium, eating awesome chowder, visiting a great rose garden, exploring tide pools, and just hanging out playing Wii.

I'm gonna try to add a little slide show, so if if you can see it enjoy some photos of us.

2008-05-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

Hey this is the blog of Wes and Sandy. I know everyone is getting a Blog nowadays, we realized it would be an awesome way to keep in touch with friends and family. We are moving to Pennsylvania in August for Sandy's internship at the Geisenger Medical Center. Its a little scary, but also really exciting. (It will be less scary once I find a job!)