First Visit to Nebraska 6/14-18/07

Last Thursday we headed out to visit Nathan, Arlene, and Caleb in Nebraska. I didn't sleep the night before due to my schedule and horrible habit of procrastination -- so at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in the morning I was washing, drying, folding, packing, and putting away clothes. WOW!! I can't even remember how long it "use" to take me to finish my laundry but it must have been days b/c I've gotten rid of so many of my clothes.

At 6:30 I was ready to head out. Oops! Guess I missed the memo saying we weren't going to leave 'til 8:30. So I crashed on the couch. Long story short, we didn't head out til about 11, but I was too tired to care. I couldn't even keep my eyes open to look at the scenery we were passing.

We made it to Nathan's about 8:30 ish. Got to meet Caleb before he went down for the night. :) No pictures from the first meeting.

While we were there, we played a lot of different games. Learned a few new ones, like Phase 10, and Nertz. Like Uno, Blitz, and Bingo you have to shout "NERTZ!" when you're done, and I could NOT for the life of me remember the name of the game I was playing. One time I yelled out "NIBBITZ!" Don't even ask where that one came from. :) ha ha

Making a visit to Bass Pro Shop was also on the agenda. Of course, I would have just as well have visited a dentist. At least then ya get some laughing gas!!! I do have to say, it was enjoyable looking at how they decorated the store. The 3-D affect of birds flying out of the walls and what not was very neat. Most of time we spent there was with me, Arlene, and Mom trying to find, Nathan, Dad, and Caleb.

Visiting Nathan's church was also a treat. A good group of people talked to us like we visit there all the time. It was really great, felt just like home. ;) Of course some were just as nutty as Nathan, so I can see how they are friends.

Father's Day fell on the Sunday we were there - that was special. Of course, not wanting to break my record of forgetting to buy greeting cards for special occasions this year, I merely said, "Happy Father's Day" to my dad. We were suppose to be pitching in for a new grill for him -- hmmm, wonder what ever happened to that idea. It's ok that I'm writing this - I know he doesn't read my blog. He doesn't always hear me when I'm talking 2 feet away from him - reading what I'm thinking is DEFINITELY out of the question! ;) ha ha Arlene's Dad purchased a grill for Nathan, so we tested it out on Father's Day.

Nathan gave me a tour of the base on Monday. It was nice not having to worry about finding a pass in order to get through the gate. While in Japan I could never find my pass - even though I put it in ONE particular pocket EVERY time we left base. Nathan would never stop the car he would just keep pulling up to the gate, and I'd be yelling in the back.....STOP Nathan, Seriously, I canNOT find my pass, it is sooo not in here, Nathan, stop stop stop sto.... OHHHH, Wait!! Here it is!! I got it!!! :) Ahhhhh, my moments.

I was able to see a bomber building that made bombs used during WWII. I also saw a plane that could carry the President and run the world from the air if we were ever attacked. We passed by these houses that were built prior to WWII and they now house the Commanders and their families. The homes are brick with White trim and remind me of colonial / Massachusetts homes.

On Monday afternoon we headed out. It wasn't as hard to say "See ya Later" this time as it was when I left Japan. After that long trip, this one felt like a hop-skip-and-a-jump away. Knowing a weekend visit is probable made departing easy.

After we left, we headed east to visit my first college roommate. :D :D I was so excited. I hadn't seen Kerrie in 7 years. Wow! It didn't feel that long at all. I guess since we've contacted each other throughout the years it didn't feel quite so long. The best part about that visit ..... we started talking like we never stopped -- does that make sense? Even though she's married, and is a mom now, and I've been through different things in my life, we still had a connection. I know I've posted before about not having many friends around me right now, but after talking with Kerrie, I realized, my friends might not be in my backyard -- but I do have friends. :)

After we left Kerrie's we drove for a few hours before a rainstorm accompanied us ALL the way home.

Another thing I need to write here ....

I can no longer claim I do NOT read books. :( *sniff* At least not for the time being. A lady from church gave me a 3 books....(which I've blogged about). I took the 2 books I didn't finish yet with me to NE, (they're a Navy series). The first book I finished while I was there, and I started the 2nd in the series and could NOT put it down. Unfortunately, you can't read in a moving van in the dark -- so I put on the dome light. After awhile my dad told me I HAD to turn the light off b/c of the glare. So I did, but can I just say, that was like TORTURE!! It's like being in the middle of a dessert, and having someone take it away right as your going to take another bite, or watching a totally captivating movie only to have the power go off. Your not ready for it, but you have no choice. So I sat there for a few minutes fuming in my head. I can't believe this!! I finally get into a book....and now I can't even read it!! What in the world?! I'm not ready to put it down for the night. I want to know why Diane wouldn't take the extra security Zack was trying to give her. Those extremists are nuts -- why were they giving those weird codes. There's got to be a way for them to figure this out w/out anyone dying right?! I mean, this guy wouldn't write this book if someone was going to die -- that happens in real life -- NOT novels!! (Shows how much I read -- good people really do die in novels -- and it STINKS b/c you cry and they're NOT REAL!!)

So as all this is going through my mind I'm trying to think. How can I read, how can I read. Come on Jessica, Think Think Think!!

Ahha!! I got it!! I strung up my fleece blanket from the garment hanger over to the other seat, and I had a whole little wall built up. Grabbed my dad's "Emergency flashlight and I was off to Chapter 20!! My creation was so awesome the folks didn't even realize I was reading again. A little while later my mom turned around and took notice, and my dad said I owed him some batteries, but other than that -- I was able to, how can I say, finish my dessert and see how the movie ends!! ;)

By the way -- for all you readers! Once again, this 2nd book did not end how I wanted it to. I really need to have a little chat with these authors!! ;) ha ha It seriously depressed me - even now, a week later, I still think about, not as obsessively as before, but still -- it's there -- in the back of my head! I told my mom, See, this is why I would never be able to watch Soap Operas (well, one small, out of many HUGE reasons!). These characters become so real in my head I have a hard time with reality. I guess one could conclude the author is actually pretty decent -- either that, or I just have issues! ;)

Found out Wed. there's actually a 3rd book - which my sister has (*Rebecca if you're reading my blog -- save it til later and just FINISH that book!!*), and I'm waiting on pins and needles for her to hand it over to me. *sniff* I just realized I'm as nuts as my mom and sister now!! That's it -- no more reading for me after this series -- not for a while at least!

I don't know -- somehow this all fits into my title, but I think I definitely rabbit trailed a little. Oh, well - nothing you don't have to deal with when you're talking w/me in person! ;)