Portland Tour...

View of Portland's port, of course... :)

Poet Henry Woodsworth Longfellow sitting and looking at his childhood home...

Monument square

views of Portland Observatory...

Then headed to Cape Elizabeth and stopped at Portland Head Light.... One of the most pictured lighthouse in America....
Bottom is made of stone, then after that white ring it's made of brick... consequence of indecision... it has changed heights so many times in the past because first they thought it was too tall, then too short, and back and forth...

views from around the lighthouse...

one last self-portrait at the lighthouse before heading back...
Back to Old Port...

Commerce street...

Water taxi pick-up...

to be contd...

Maine....

09.19.09
Portland Discovery Land & Sea Tour


So our first full day off from training, I decided should not be a
total waste spent inside my hotel room. Decided to take a taxi to
Portland and take a little city tour. I figure at least I would get
some idea of what this place was like. ;-) if it's worth coming back
to with the family.
We got dropped off at Long Wharf in Old Port. The line was unexpectedly long when we got there. By the time we got to the front of the line, we were told that we would have to take the boat tour in the morning and then the trolley in the afternoon. That put us in a little predicament because our other coworker was planning on catching up with us for the boat ride in the afternoon. After a little bit of nice persuasive talk, they told us we could be squeezed in on the 1115 trolley, and take the 330 boat. Awesome! :)
This was right next door. Haven't had a chance to test taste it, but supposed to have very good lobster.Wyland's "Whaling Wall" mural in the Old Port area... whales are life sized.. whole mural done in one week...
One of 16 granite markers of Portland's Freedom Trail, marking historic underground railroad sites...
loving the beautiful Victorian houses here that line the streets... such a nice peaceful atmosphere...




Sent from my iPhone

9.13.09@902pm est

Met them at Dulles airport while I was killing time during the delay. They were headed to Chicago, traveling with what looked like family members. Very nice ladies. Was too shy to ask for a retake with me in it, even though they did say I should be in the pic too. :) I told them I didn't need a pic with them just as long as I had something to show my hubby that I met them. ;)


Finally after having a 3hr delayed flight out of Washington Dulles, I
am in the air on the final leg of the trip.

The aircraft was apparently stuck in Albany, NY for awhile due to
maintenance work being needed to be done. Aircraft is a Canadair jet.
Very small. Carryon baggage couldn't actually be carried on the plane
due to the overhead bins being so small.

Have a great seat though. Front row window seat right behind First
class. So much leg room that I can't even reach the wall to put my
feet up!

Glad I had the wendys chicken nuggets meal at the airport since this
flight only offers beverages. Anyway got my little snacks with me. :-)

Then it took a little longer than usual for us to actually take off
the runway. I am praying for no more delays. The hotel shuttle only
runs til 11pm. I do Not want to have to take. a cab to the hotel. So
scary.

Btw also finished my latest dean koontz book "Velocity". Good flow.
Good action. Now what am I gonna read the rest of the time? Didn't get
to bring another book. Bags were already so full!

I really dislike everything about the cold. Probably the reason why
home for me is the PI & Texas. Nice hot places. :-)


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The start of something new...

Cant believe that I wil be away from Em
& the girls for 20 days. This is definitely a first. Just have to
remind myself a little sacrifice hopefully for the betterment of our
family.

In the plane watching nickolodeon movie Imagine That. Ok as a movie
but not that great. Wish it was something better though.

Felt self-conscious during boarding because when I finally got to my
assigned seat it was beside 2 guys. Lucky for me that I had the aisle
seat which made it easier. Then I felt kinda bad that I was holding up
the line tryin to get settled. Hadn't had the time to get my book &
other stuff out of the big luggage before boarding. Had gotten to the
gate with just enough time to call Em. Then I was also worried that I
would have a hard time getting the carryon on the baggage cabin.

Another silent prayer answered that the middle seat guy transfered to
another seat to be with his companion. I was smiling as I said to
myself "great! More room. Much less awkward." :-)

So now sitting here trying not to finish all of my choco-covered
almonds. Feel so fat already. And I've still got 3 wk to go of eating
to occupy my time and mind.




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Summer 2009 Road Trip- Day 2

06.09.09

Starting pt: Grand Prairie, TX
Via Oklahoma City, OK

-missed the exit near downtown Oklahoma City, ended up driving around the city trying to get back on the Interstate.
-lunch @4pm @picnic area off US183 after Watonga, OK. We kept looking for a 'picnic area' sign like we're used to but nothing. Then saw sign for 'roadside table 1 mi'
-stopped @Sam's Club gas station in Garden City, KS & discovered that even the air smelled like cattle poop!
-missed today's target. Checked in @ Quality Inn in Colby, Kansas @1030pm.

11 years ago...

This copy of The Tale of Two Cities was brand new.. with me being the first student to check it out for English class... Now, after 11 years has passed, this book has once again, by shear luck of fate, found its way to our family... My sister was given this book by her English teacher randomly..

Mother's day 2009

Link
The children sang a song dedicated to the mothers at church... They wanted all children under 30... so awkward to be standing up there with the little ones... lol... but happy to see I can still be included in the "children" category...

My mom also gave testimony about Lola, which Lola didn't hear because she had gone to Uncle Boy's church... I tried to get it mostly on video so that at least she can watch it later... I will post in that in the videos section...

After church, had lunch/dinner/whatever it was at Kim Son on Bellaire... Didn't really eat much because we just finished eating lunch at church when Mari called... Good to have some quality time with the family though...

Then we headed home to the 'rents place because they were packing to leave for the PI the following morning... And of course we still had some last minute tugons and what nots...

finally done...

with 3 weeks worth of SNV charting! man... I'm exhausted. My mind feels drained. Been sitting staring at this pc all day. too tired to talk now. will update later. had major issues with the washer today too. good night...

A cluttered mind....

Things accomplished today:

> SNVs on 4 clients... now, if I could just do the charting for them this weekend. Actually, not just for this week, but I need to complete charts for like the past two weeks...

> Lola's gold card renewal- called HCHD eligibility to get an update on the status since it's been almost a month since the app was sent in... lo, and behold, I was told by the helpful lady on the other end of the line that there was no record of it in their system that it was ever received! WHAT!? So she kindly told me I had two choices for my next step: a) fill out and drop off an app at a clinic to get a receipt that it was received, or b) schedule a interview with an eligibility counselor. Nope, def not b. So, asap next wk, I'll have to accomplish a. Then I also asked what I can do about her upcoming MD appt this Tues @ MLK. Said didn't necessarily have to cancel/resched it, but I would have to call the clinic and see if there was any way they would still her with the app pending.

>Called MLK clinic (Dr. C's ofc)- was told that she could still be seen but she would have to pay the $70 copay/$40 min. just great. Not gonna pay that much. I don't ven pay that much to see specialty docs. If I didnt work for HCHD, I would hate them.... nah, I think I still hate 'em no matter... So that adds to another thing I have to accomplish asap- get appt resched.

>F/U HCA copay bill - rec'd bill that I wasn't supposed to for a visit that the MD told me specifically she would not charge for because it was just an additional visit to the previous one's.lady said she would have to pull the chart and look at what was marked and then probably have to ask Dr. T too if what I was saying was true. I hope Dr. T remembers. Said she would call me back when she figured out something. so keeping my fingers crossed on that one...

>Tmobile to cancel Tzones for $5.99/mo feature for hubby's fone - declined. changed my mind when I was once again reminded by the agent that this was a grandfathered plan and we would not be able to get it for the same price in the future. They now have web2go not tzones, and starting price is at $9.99. Still trying to figure out a way to get Blackberry/Iphone for hubby/me. Maybe I'll win the lottery next week...

> TSO appt set for hubby, Little J, and me.

>Dental appt set for me. Need to call again to set appt for hubby, and Little J. Tooth hurting like crazy today.. another painful day...

>finally finished photobook made for key west trip, and placed order. pd $9.99

** J **

25 random things posted on FB

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

Okay, I've been putting this off for a while now since my first tag. But after being tagged 3-4x I think maybe I should at least try to do it, right? Because seriously, I don't think there's that many "things" to know about me.

1. I'm a frustrated Christian. I want to be an all-out Christian but get frustrated because I am weak and constantly get sidetracked with the way of the world.

2. I'm a carnivore. The complete opposite of a vegetarian. Anytime I eat anything that resembles a vegetable, I get sick and throw up.

3. I am addicted to coffee. I love coffee any time of day. I can even drink coffee right before bed. Doesn't bother me. This is all started with all the all-nighters we pulled in college.

4. I miss my best friends. I hate that I am terrible at keeping in touch.

5. I love to sing but unfortunately, singing doesn't love me back. Through the years, I have grown a thick skin concerning this so if I feel like singing, I will. Don't really care who hears. "If you don't like it, then don't listen." :)

6. I should win the "BEST PROCRASTINATOR" award... if there was one. :) What can be put off til tomorrow, will be. :(

7. I still feel like a teenager at times. Sometimes it shocks me that I am so close to hitting the 30 mark. :)

8. I am a sucker for electronics. They just fascinate me with all the gadgets that they come up with.

9. Sometimes I think I am in the wrong profession. But then again, I can't imagine being anything else.

10. I talk too much.. I have a problem controlling what comes out of my mouth... I am constantly putting my foot in my mouth...

11. I am a compulsive shopper and a bargain hunter. I can't turn down a good bargain, especially when it comes to electronics. This is how I end with many things that I don't ever use, but refuse to get rid of.

12. In relation to #11 above, I am a pack rat. I never throw away or get rid of anything in fear that I might one day need it or want to use it and no longer have it. You never know...

13. I am very sentimental. So that makes my pack rat personality even worse because I want to keep every little thing that is connected to any memories. FYI, I still have boxes of notes/papers/mementos in my parents' attic from 4th grade, my first year here in the US. Still don't have the heart to throw it away. :(

14. I have no patience. I like things done right away. I wish people would understand things without any explanation. Because I hate to explain.

15. I talk with my hands. I can't talk without making gestures with my hands.

16. I love to multitask. Either I am doing multiple things at one time or the extreme, nothing at all.

17. I am a "stalker". lol. I like to keep up with what's going in in people's lives without having to interact with them or have them know that I know. It somehow makes me feel like we are still connected to long lost friends, etc.

18. I am a debater. I can argue any side of a topic and love to get into discussions about weird things.

19. I don't watch the news. It depresses me. No news is good news.

20. I sleep like a log. I can fall asleep anywhere anytime. No problems sleeping whatsoever. Problem is waking up. I need at least 3 alarms to finally wake up and get up. A war could break out and I would sleep right through it.

21. Never had an ounce of alcohol until I was in college. Never tasted a wine cooler til after college.

22. I have bad food cravings, and get depressed when it doesn't get fulfilled. My mind will linger on that one food until I get it.

23. I'm a list-maker. I like to make lists of anything and everything. I feel I accomplish more when I make a list.

24. I'm a junkie. I love junk foods. esp chocolate but not dark chocolate. I don't know. It's supposed to be healthy, right?

25. I am stubborn and don't like to be told what to do/ should do. If you do, more than likely, it will not be done. :) because I am stubborn.

okay. Wow. Can't believe I actually reached 25. There were many times that I stopped and though, "OMG. I am never gonna get to the end of this." lol. So what do you think? Do I pass? :)

Now your turn... You can do it.