Dec 2007

Yup, we did it... we got a dog!

It's been almost five years since Fred and Poco died, and we are finally ready. Charlie is from the Shelter, and is still a pup but has a history. She's been adopted twice already but had to go back to the pound both times. We think this falls under the '3rd times a charm' phrase. Even though her mouth is around Cujo's finger, she is sitting, which is what he asked her to do. So she sits, but she's definitely a mouther and loves to heel - which is her nature, being a Heeler X. Can't fault her for that. So far so good.

We've left sunny skies, green grass, short-wearing Santas and headed north. Played the last round of golf with our dollar Goodwill club, waved goodbye the jobsite and loaded up.

Lucky us, we got to stop and see the lovely Wards on our way. They welcomed us into their great home and treated us to a wonderful meal with great conversation with them and their visiting friends. Go figure - they were from Idaho too. Mini Idaho reunion for one night. It was so good to see them, it'd been more than three years, and one night was just not enough. Better than nothing though.

When you drive 5K+ miles, you are bound to encounter some interesting sights.

Our first true attempt at geocaching was when we got to Bonne Terre. This picture pretty much sums it all up. Wandering around staring at a little device. And no, we did not find the damn cache. Argh. Gave it our best try though, but Papa Joe and I were ready to go way before Cujo and Blue were. No Amazing Race for us.

We got to Omaha and immediately tried to acclimate our fair weather skin. The tub helped. And suddenly the Christmas decorations and music that we'd been seeing and hearing for a month fit. Gotta have that weather to feel like the holidays to me, I guess. And trimming the tree took on the literal meaning, too. Finally got to meet beautiful Lydia in person.

Our first week home was spent in a hurried repair/remodel project that was not optional. Curtis was my very own Ty and did a fabulous job at all the crappy shit that had to be done. Bright side is we now have a shiny new fitting on our water main pipe right outside the house, as well as new cabinets and sink in the kitchen.

Our short drive up the coast to the Kennedy Space Center was well worth it - even with the fear and sick stomach caused from the astronaut 'experience'. I swear I used to be tougher. Now I'm a pathetic, scaredy cat, nauseous claustrophobe. But... I did it. Not by choice at the last minute, I admit, but I did it dammit.

It's a really amazing place, and chock full of great space information that you try and try to wrap your brain around the magnitude of what has been accomplished here. We'd seen Discovery shuttle launch a few weeks before from 90 miles away, and now we were at the actual launch site. Things look familiar, because you've seen them on tv or in movies - like the countdown clock and the big square building. They've got great exhibits to walk through, fun (depending on personal definition) simulations to ride, and lots of beautiful natural land with abundant wildlife.

On the way back home, we stopped in Cocoa Beach which was a pleasant surprise. Though definitely touristy, still had a laid back vibe and lots of folks just enjoying the beach and weather.