Some things you've missed

February 23rd marked my Radiversary (last day of radiation) and will be yet another day I will celebrate for getting through 2 long months!

As I wrote about earlier, I went to Mexico with my dad, brothers, sister-in-law, and new friend (Nolan's girlfriend). We stayed at a posh condo with sprawling pools and an amazing ocean view. Thanks to Dad!



The weather was gorgeous, although just a little cooler than we had hoped for. We played in the ocean, enjoyed the pool and hot tub, went shopping in town near the fish markets (I got some great jewelry!), took a sunset cruise,



went parasailing, (Here's Nolan)


(and here's me getting what was supposed to be a "toe dip")


went to a karaoke bar,


laid on the beach, ate way too many beans (but they were still delicious and when I got home I think the second meal I made was tostadas so I guess I didn't get sick of them), and just did a lot of relaxing.




While in Mexico, I also found out what people are talking about when they refer to video games as plastic crack. Nolan brought his hand held Nintendo with a Super Mario Brothers game and I sadly became instantly addicted! One night I started playing before I went to bed at about 11pm and didn't stop until 6am. I am not proud! I'm still itching to play the game, so much so, that I actually ordered it online when I got home. Scary. Hopefully I will be able to limit myself and an intervention won't be required.

My baby brother, Nolan, had his 27th birthday on Feb. 29th and Dillon turned 31 on March 10th. All I can say is that I'm so darn glad they were born because I just don't know what my life could possibly be like without them. I love you both and celebrate you all the time, but especially on that special day you were born. Happy Happy Birthday to the both of you and I'm still sending out a wish for the best year yet for each of you.

Getting home was wonderful. My house was a disaster, but I didn't care. My animals were there and the sun was shining. I was just so thrilled to be back in my own space with my sweet little furry kids. They have all been especially loving and cuddly so I've been soaking that up.







Getting back to work was good too, although there are a lot of changes in the works. My boss was fired the day I returned and the programs we have are all in flux. I am hopeful that things will balance out soon. I am not as busy as I'd like to be, but am feeling grateful that I get the chance to ease back into things instead of getting bombarded with more than I'm ready for.

Iditarod has been going on this past week and I've picked up a few waitressing shifts at a new restaurant in town, Airport Pizza. Its the first time I've worked on my feet for an extended period of time, in about 10 years. The pain I felt at the end of my first shift was simply not fun! And then I felt it again after my second and third shifts too. Ouch. I'm not 19 anymore. But, besides the pain, I had a blast. I really love waitressing and have actually thought that if I could do it full-time and make enough money, I would. Maybe in my next life. . . For now, a few shifts over the next few weeks are just going to be a fun way to make some spending money for my trip to Hawaii in April.

I got a chance to see the Serum Run mushers finish in Nome a few days ago. This is another dog mush, the same length as the Iditarod, however it is not a race. Rather, the mushers, dogs, and even snow machines travel together from Anchorage to Nome, making stops in villages all along the way. At each stop they bring enough flu vaccines for all the children of the villages, as a way to commemorate the original Serum Run, which is the inspiration for the Iditarod race today. One of the dog teams was made up entirely of white dogs and they were so darn cute.



This weekend will wrap up the festivities here in Nome, and I must admit, I'm glad. I'm ready for things to quiet down a little bit.

Hawaii is just weeks away. I will head back to Anchorage on April 3rd for some medical appointments before leaving for Hawaii on April 7th. Pure Bliss. . . I can hardly wait.