This one is for Todd...
I am currently sitting in the KCI airport heading out on my second business trip in three weeks while Mike is sitting in class. It seems as though things have been non-stop during March but after April 1st, all should begin to calm down (everything except finishing up school). I can't say that there was anything extremely different from this month and the past ones, except for a few of my business trips with a side of personal vacation.
As for Mike, he survived the crazy week of 5 exams in 7 days and recuperated during Spring Break last week. However, how many students really want to go back to school once they have been given a break. Right off the bat, Mike has a hard exam on Friday. Thank God there is only 6 more weeks left of his second year of vet school. Everyone wants to have a huge party at the end of the year to celebrate.
I know Mike will be relieved to have some freedom this summer and will need the break when he goes home for the summer. As of right now, Mike will be heading home for about 1 1/2 months over the summer, while I fend for myself in the wonderful town of Manhattan. His brother, Jason, will be flying out for a visit at the beginning of June and will help drive back to PA with Mike. Then in the middle of July, my brother, Jim, will be driving out west with Mike for a visit and then flying home a few days later. There is also a chance of others visiting this summer after Mike comes home, it will be nice to finally have visitors in our new house. Both Jim and Jason helped us move out here in the very beginning and so it is only right that they are the first to visit us in our new home. Did I mention what Mike will be doing while he is at home...he will be spending a week or two on my uncle's dairy farm to gain some experience around larger animals? Mike isn't really sure what to expect since he really hasn't spent anytime on a farm before, so it will be interesting for him. I'm excited for him to finally meet my Aunt Marie and Uncle Rick, he will have a great time with them.
I got home this past Wednesday from spending time in the Boston area. I spent the first few days with Lynnette (thank you so much, Nettie!!!). We had a great time. I must say however that it was the most treacherous travel day I have ever had in my life. Between bad weather, the beginning of spring break for the entire world, and flight attendants that acquired the name "Lucifer's wife" (I HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND CONTINENTAL AIRLINES IF YOU WANT TO FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES), I survived traveling for14 hours and made it into downtown Boston on Thursday evening. On Friday, we dared to go treking through Boston as the Noreaster approached and by the time we got home (with snow already coming down, may I add), we were ready to nestle in and stay warm while we watched the snow come down at a good pace and horizontally. We spent time talking, doing puzzles, reading, and just down right relaxing. I must say that it took me awhile to adjust to Lynnette's lifestyle in downtown Boston, but I can say I got my exercise. On Saturday, we headed out to head into Quincy to meet up with Jeff, Joy, Joshua, and Jordan. Let me tell you, Joshua is a ham. He is one of the most entertaining kids I have been around in a long time. Later that night we met up with LaDawna (my old college roommate) for dinner and a movie. I highly recommend the movie "Amazing Grace." (Val this is one we need to see together.) We had a good time just getting caught up after all of these years. On Sunday, we headed to Park Street church with my suitcase in tow, that was an experience. Even when I was there I ran into an old friend, Cindy Walchle Scott (yes Chris, another relative of yours by marriage...imagine that!). I had a blast. I will be honest, I only took a few pictures during the whole trip, and I don't have them off of my camera yet, but I will post the group picture later. On Sunday after fighting through the crowd heading to Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade, we finally made it to lunch with Reba and Iesha. I just want to say that one of the best parts of that was that I got a Frappe, I was so excited! After I said by to Nettie, I headed out only to have to dig out my rental car in order to head out to Natick, MA for business. Thanks to Reba who had a burst of energy, we had it out pretty quick and I soon said goodbye to all my friends in Boston. The business part of the trip was okay, but nothing stellar to report. By the end of it all, I was ready to go home and see Mike and the kids. Thank God for a direct flight and nice flight attendants (I flew home on a different airline). I made it home and then loved spending time with Mike for the rest of his Spring break.
We did find time to hang out with friends in his last few days, including going to a Japanese Steakhouse in Topeka with Jenny, Jaime, Bobby & Lindsey and also our normal Friday night dinner with the gang. We even found time to take in a movie...all I can say is...I almost piddled in my seat during Wild Hogs. Any movie that starts with someone getting hurt and some good laughs is a keeper. Rate it an A! Sad to say that the weekend came to a close and I ended up doing laundry and repacking while Mike studied. Doesn't that sound like fun. And now here I sit waiting for my flight to Atlanta...Ho Hum...Ho Hum...
I can say though that I am excited for my visit to see Mindy, Chris & Luke at the end of the week. I just have to survive 5 days of training at the CDC first. So this is all she wrote (for now anyway).
