Happy New Year!

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference." 

This past year was another year of traveling, and I traveled down some interesting roads (literally and figuratively!) in 2011.

Overall, it was a good year--filled with hope and anticipation. And I achieved some important goals. It feels great to review my bucket list, check off items, and add new ones to the list.

2012--I am ready for you! This is going to be a wonderful year, and I'm excited to start my next adventure!

Cheers!

Living the dream!

I went to Charleston last weekend
with a friend--fun!

Life is crazy busy right now, and crazy good. Last week, we took the APFT, and this week we celebrated both the Army's birthday and the Finance Corps' birthday . . . OK, we were busy with more than birthday celebrations . . .

Our first assignment was due today, and we have distance learning modules to complete as well. I'll be studying this weekend.

There's so much more that I could write about . . . My class is going to take the new APRT while we're here (pilot testing . . . kind of). I'll try to make time to write more this weekend.

Hooah!

Hello Arizona!

 

After two long days of driving (ten hours the first day, nine the second), I arrived in Mohave Valley, Arizona yesterday around 4:30 in the afternoon. So far, the drive has been good, and thankfully my guardian angels haven't been busy. However, my GPS wasn't working, so I'm glad I know the way--I've driven this route so frequently that I felt like I was on auto-pilot!



Here are some of the sights from yesterday's drive:

Driving on CA-99 near Fresno

The desert near Needles, CA

Gas prices in Needles--EEEEK!

This one is from an earlier visit with my parents. 

Two days into my road trip:  Mohave Valley, AZ 

This is what lies ahead!

The long drive (day one)

Mt. Shasta

Ten hours. But with some great scenery! I've seen this scenery . . . many, many times. I've taken photos a few times, but I've never shared them. As you can see, driving from anywhere in Washington State down to Northern California isn't so bad . . .

Ten hours from Washougal, WA brings me to Folsom, CA (just outside of Sacramento). There was a time when I thought of Sacramento as the "armpit of California," and I swore I would never live there. I stand corrected. I enjoyed living there, and I made some wonderful friendships!

If given a good opportunity, yes, I would move back!

Hello California--I've missed you!!!!

The side of the road

The Gospodor Monuments

Earlier, I said that I was going to take pictures and blog about the things I see and people I meet as I drive to South Carolina and beyond, but I see things every day as I travel near home. Yesterday, I drove to Gig Harbor to spend time with my kids (and my hair stylist).

For years, my kids and I have pondered the existence of the strange statues on the east side of I-5 near Chehalis. Yesterday, I took a picture of them on my way home. Seattle millionaire Dominic Gospodor erected them commemorating the Holocaust, Christianity, and Native Americans.

"Dominic Gospodor, the eccentric bachelor who spent over $1 million building the Gospodor Monuments, has died at age 86. He never told anyone why he built them, or exactly what he meant to say with their peculiar combination of Mother Teresa, Native Americans, Jesus, Holocaust victims, an eagle, and an enormous weather vane.

Mr. Gospodor reportedly wrote in his will that upon his death a nonprofit organization had to be found to take over ownership of the monuments. But he also reportedly left no money to maintain them, or even to pay for the electricity that lights them at night. The monuments are made of rustproofed steel, however, and should be around for a while (2010)." [credit]

The statues are just there, on the side of the road in a field . . . very strange.

Gig Harbor is beautiful--it was my home for several years.

But of course, the best part of this mini road trip was spending time with my Rachel and Tyler!

Rachel, me, Tyler

Eating mango sticky rice at Thai Hut in Gig Harbor