An Update is in Order

Well I guess it's been long enough without a real update. Might as well say whats going on in our lives.

We left to go to Alberta for Christmas early on December 23. Upon arriving at the airport we were curtly told that we were being taken off of the Chicago leg of our flight and put on a flight through Denver. This was to delay our arrival in Edmonton by 2 hours.

Upon arriving in Denver we were told that our airplane had not yet arrived and our flight would be delayed until they were good and ready to send us to Edmonton. Surprisingly this was only an hour delay. We arrived in Edmonton 3 hours late upset that we purposefully spent more money on our flights to avoid getting into town in the later afternoon.

Oh well. We were there and it was Christmas.

We stopped to finish up some shopping on our way to my parent's house. (We didn't really do much in terms of gifts this year. We really just got people a few trinkets from our travels and then framed some photos we've taken over the last year. Inexpensive and homemadeish gifts.)

We spent the next few days doing Christmas the way only my family can.

Loud.

Overdone.

Messy.

Gouty.

But so much fun.

It was great to be with my family again. We've been lucky this year having seen quite a bit of both sides of our family.

After Christmas it was time to head back home to Atlanta. We took a red eye arriving in Atlanta around 11 am. I was 45 minutes late for work (supposed to be there at noon but our flight was delayed out of Chicago so I didn't get there until 12:45. Oh well.)

Swell and I both worked the day we returned. We were exhausted for the next few days and have just found the time and energy to unpack and clean our house. We received lots of neat things from family from books and clothes, to Wii's and DVDs to money and souvenirs. It was a great week at home.

Since returning to Atlanta we've been working and growing to despise it here even more. Swell has gone off the deep end at work. Everyday I am required to hear story after story of what a terrible place it is.

I've had enough.

I told her that no matter what she wasn't allowed to work there past mid-February.

Luckily we officially have other work beginning mid-February. On Feb. 13th or 14th we'll be flying out of ATL to head to Nome, Alaska. We will work for three weeks and then fly to Portland, OR to visit Swell's Parents. After the amazing time we will have there we will fly out of Portland to visit Gilda in Maui.

Its a sacrifice for us but its our turn to visit. It will be tough to spend 11 days in Maui but its what we do for friends.

We're good people.

The best people.

But now I have to get into swimsuit shape. Haven't had a Dr. Pepper all year and we're eating at home more than ever before. Saves money and its better for us.

Following that visit its back to Portland for a couple of days and then we'll fly back to the ATL and have our nephew Cami come and visit for a week. Following that we'll be dirt poor and need to do two things 1) Get our place fixed up to sell and 2) Head back to Nome to work some more.

We'll be in Nome for three weeks and then off until sometime in June. After the June trip it's my sister's wedding (!?) and then off to Romania with my other sisters.

We've got a lot planned. Here's hoping we can sell our place to at least save some money, if not make some money.

We were considering going to South Africa in March but we're not now. Also considering going to a conference in London in April but I don't think we'll do that either. Too expensive.

So I've given notice at both my jobs. Easy to give notice when you're an independent contractor.

Me Hey employer. I'm not available after mid-February anymore. Nice working with you.
Employer Ok. We'll miss you.

Swell hasn't quit yet but is looking forward to doing it.

Well she wants me to do it for her... via email... because she's a scaredy cat. Doesn't like to disappoint people.

Ironically it doesn't seem to phase her that by not quitting she'll disappoint me.

We're very excited that Swell didn't get sick this Christmas. We think its because we traveled a lot less than usual and didn't go out into the wild and crazy malls.

We're also very excited to go to Nome and see what that is all about.

One of these days we're going to have to settle down.

But not until Summer 2008 is over...


at the earliest.