Weekend Weather

After a few busy weeks leading up to Ready for Operations (RFO), a big inspection at work, we finished up on Wednesday evening and the results were great. Our crew worked really hard, and it definitely showed in the outcome of the inspection. So, we started off Friday by playing some football before work, went to work and refueled the boat, and then the guys left for the weekend. I even left earlier than usual. Friday, we gave the guys off and Ben and I went to the Group's change of command. After that, it was FINALLY the weekend. 

Thursday afternoon the weather was so nice that I took a trip to the beach. I laid out and even got some sun on my pale skin :). It wasn't windy at all so I even got HOT laying there on my blanket. It was definitely a perfect ending to a stressful couple of weeks.

My Beautiful Beach Day!

Friday night Ben and Jess Leuthold, Pat Wright, and I went camping. Izzy came too :) We had a great afternoon/evening, and decided that camping on Friday night is a great idea because when you wake up you realize you still have a full weekend ahead of you to look forward to.  On Saturday we tried the beach again, but we didn't stay too long because the wind really picked up and the sand was blowing like crazy. Following the beach Ben, Jess, and I went to Yeong's Place for some burgers...this was Ben's first attempt at the "Garbage Burger..." I'll let you ask him how that played out later. Saturday evening was spent over at their house by a fire with Erin and Chris Himmelrick (and Izzy).  Today was a lazy day for me, and luckily the sun didn't make a very big appearance so I didn't feel guilty being lazy.

Izzy trying to help with the fire wood

The group...hoping to get more people next time! :)

Overall, it was a wonderful weekend, and I'm hoping we can do more camping very soon! :) Have a great week.

Much Love,
LB

United, how you mess with my heart...thank goodness a beautiful wedding mended it!

As I said before, this past weekend I went to San Diego for Annette and Wes' (Agee) wedding. WELL, it wasn't a super easy travel experience. My flight was supposed to leave North Bend at about 5:30pm. I received an email at 1:30ish telling me that my flight had been cancelled. Without going home first, I went straight to the airport to try and change my flight (talking  over the phone, or going online doesn't really help usually). Lucky for me, the earlier flight (scheduled for 2:00pm) was delayed until 4...Unfortunately, the couple in front of me got the last two seats on the plane due to weight restrictions. When the guy at the counter told me that the earliest he could get me to San Diego would be 5:00pm the next afternoon I almost started crying.  The wedding was at 2:45pm and there was about a 30-40 minute drive from the airport to Oceanside. Needless to say I BEGGED to be let on the flight. While he checked me in (and told me that there would still be a chance that I could be bumped) I told him that I had to run home to get my luggage. So I did just that, and Ian Leonard (one of my friends from here) came to the rescue and picked me up in Sam Hill's (another friend) truck to take me to the airport. I ran in, and went straight through security and then onto the plane...I made it!

Erin Crump (Jeannie's Sis), Colleen, Maggie, and I after the wedding

After arriving in San Diego (after a 1.5 hour layover in San Fran), I had no bag. Luckily, I had carried my dress and shoes onto the plane with me. I filed my baggage claim report and went to get my rental car. The rest of the evening was wonderful. I found a Wally World to pick up some things I didn't have (since they were in my luggage) and then I picked up Colleen Denny and Brandon Schumann from the airport and we made the drive up to Oceanside. We got in around midnight (or later) and when we got to the lodge, Colleen and I made sure we woke up Jeannie Crump and Maggie Ward to say hello. I took a shower and went to bed.

Maggie, Pete, Jeannie, and Colleen--Post reception

The next morning, I went to breakfast with Jeannie, Brandon, Pete Schofield, and Kyle Richter. I ate a LOT of food and it was glorious. Afterwards we swung by to drop Jeannie off to get her hair done for the wedding and then headed back to the lodge.  A bit later, we met up with Colleen and one of her friends for a little while before heading back to get ready for the wedding. We really pushed it to make it to the wedding on time (good thing we had a camaro) but we got there just in time.

The group of Academy Kids that shared this special day!

Annette was absolutely beautiful and the wedding was just perfect. We danced the night away and all had a wonderful time celebrating Annette and Wes! It was great to see everyone and get to spend time just having fun.

The Beautiful Couple

United struck again on Sunday afternoon. I was originally supposed to have a 6 hour layover in San Fran, so I had arranged to leave the airport and meet up with Ian Foster and Matt Pekoske (2 of my best guy friends who are currently stationed there). I caught the end for the Women's World Cup Final (sad finish) and then just relaxed for a couple of hours. Ian drove me back to the airport so I could get back through security and catch my flight. Welp, as luck would have it the flight ended up being delayed 3 hours so the 6 hour layover turned into a 9 hour layover.  When I finally reached North Bend, my bag wasn't on the carousel...I mean, why would it be? Well, my bag actually BEAT me back to North Bend. And so, that's the end of my United/San Diego adventure. In the end it all worked out, but I wish it would've been a little less stressful.

An Oldie but a Goodie (Matt, Me, and Ian in Key West)

Congrats to Annette and Wes!


Much Love,
LB

Busy, busy, busy!

So, I've been very busy the past couple of weeks...and the work isn't over. We have a big inspection coming up next week and needless to say, I'm getting pretty stressed out about it. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and even though I know it's not ultimately ALL up to me, I would feel like I let my crew down if we didn't do as well as expected. I feel that we have put in the proper preparations, so hopefully the inspectors will see our hard work.

The good news is that I get to go to San Diego this weekend for one of my best friends' (Annette Boston) wedding. I'm super excited to see her, her family, and a few other people from the Academy that I haven't seen in quite some time. It should be a good weekend and a nice release from all of the stress here. Plus, anytime I can be around girls (yes, I work with 16 guys) for a change is a good time! I'll be sure to post some pictures when I get back.

Much Love,
LB

Shopping and Retail Therapy

So, I've never been much of a shopper. I wouldn't consider myself a penny-pincher, I just never really got into going shopping as a hobby. That is, of course, until I went to the Coast Guard Academy where my "freedom" was limited to a few weekend days a month.  I guess you could also say that Danielle (Collins) Rivera and Kelley (Black) Brown trained me to be a shopper. It was my job for the first few years at the Academy to keep them in-check...I even talked Kelley out of buying a pair of "Coach" shoes that I knew she would never wear.  Eventually I gave in and began shopping. There were even a few times we went shopping and I ended up with more bags than they did (these days didn't happen very often, but when they did we always laughed about it).

Dani, Kelley, and I...going shopping (post Academy)

I'm pretty sure they can still out-shop me. Actually, I'm POSITIVE they can; the difference is that now, my shopping is therapy. Yes, I just said that spending money is therapy...I like to call it Retail Therapy. I lived in Key West, FL for two years. There isn't even a WalMart in Key West. So, I only had a few therapy sessions, and one was a trip up to Miami with Rory Keegan and Erin Palmer. We decided that the girls needed to get off of The Rock for a weekend and do some shopping, and it was so relaxing.

Erin, Me, and Rory (New Year's Eve 2009)

Well, now I live in Coos Bay, OR and, while there is a WalMart here, there is still no Target and there are not any real places to shop. So, the past few weeks have been pretty busy for me, and the next few are going to be even busier.  I decided that today I needed to drive the 2 hours to Eugene, OR and have a little therapy session. It was wonderful. I bought a lot of things (most of which were on sale...:)) I went to Applebee's for a late lunch; Yes, I went there by myself...I've gotten a lot more independent living here.  It's amazing what you're willing to try by yourself when you live alone. As a side note, here are a few things you should do by yourself at some point: eat at a restaurant, go to a movie, go to the beach with a picnic lunch, and go to a pottery-painting store. I've done all of these in the past year and I plan to do them again. Back to the topic: I'm not going to try to justify all of my purchases today, because for some of them I really can't. I just know that I really enjoyed my day and it involved me shopping for myself, where I wanted to shop, and at my own pace. Retail therapy helps me make time for myself, which sometimes I lose sight of during the hectic work-week. 

Oddly enough, this is almost exactly what I was wearing today...(Therapy doesn't make me a Fashonista)

And now, after a long day of shopping, I think it's time for bed. Hopefully tomorrow will be a beautiful day. I'd like to hit the beach before the busy week begins. Goodnight!

Much Love,

LB

Why Country music speaks to me...

There are many things about country music that you have to love (like it or not).  Every song tells a story, anyone can relate to lyrics, the artists sing from the heart, and quite frankly you just want to sing along. Tonight I decided to give just a few examples of songs that speak to me...maybe they'll speak to you too.

Lady Antebellum's "Never Alone"

"May your tears come from laughin’, you find friends worth havin’

With every year passin, they mean more than gold

May you win but stay humble, smile more than grumble

And know when you stumble, you’re never alone" 

Kenny Chesney's "Seven Days"

"Time was like the tide, it came and went

That old pier ran clear out into the mist

My mind plays back that Tuesday night

Again and again, and again"

Josh Gracin's "I Want to Live"

"Fly like a bird, roll like a stone,

Love like I ain't afraid to be alone.

Take everything that this world has to give,

I wanna live."

Brad Paisley's "Old Alabama"

"She’d rather wear a pair of cut-off jeans than a fancy evening dress,

And with her windows rolled down and her hair all blown around, she’s a hot southern mess...

She’ll take a beer over white wine and a campfire over candle light..." 

Kenny Chesney's "Somewhere With You"

"If you see me out on the town

And it looks like I'm burning it down

You won't ask and I won't say

But in my heart I'm always somewhere with you"

The great thing about country music is that everyone can interpret the lyrics differently. Each of these pictures just show a glimpse of what I think of when I listen to the music. And depending on my mood, I think of the lyrics differently. Next time you're changing your radio station, try just listening to the lyrics.

Much love,

LB

Inspired...

So, I've never been much of a blogger. In fact, I've never blogged before in my life. One of my best friends Danielle (Collins) Rivera has been trying to get me to start one, so I figured I'd give it a shot.  After reading her blogs and a few other friends, it Inspired me to at least try my hand at putting thoughts to the screen.  I can't make any promises that this will be interesting to read, but it will at least give me a place to put my experiences, thoughts, and maybe even some of life's questions. This being my first blog ever, I would like to thank Dani for inspiring me. Much love, Laura Beth