Day 7 - Lucca, Italy

We got up earlier today in order to make sure that we was able to be out by 9 or around than. Lucca is only a half day tour but it was better than not doing anything and staying in the room.

Anyways, it rained the whole day. My feet were soaked by the time we got to the train station which isn’t long at all. It also didn’t help that we didn’t really have an umbrella either. Logan’s feet weren’t really soaked until half way through us touring around. Also due to the rain, we weren’t able to take many pictures. It was kind of depressing because there were a lot of places that I would have loved to take a picture of.

Anyways, when we got to Lucca we were on the outside of the old city walls so we had to walk for a little bit to get to the old city where there was a lot of things to see. We didn’t get to see many of the cool things but we got to some pretty cool ones. The wall themselves are pretty cool as well. As we walked into the gate (which is called Saint Maria’s Gate) we saw this fountain that was pretty.  After that we walked down a street and arrived in one of the plazas. It was called “Plazza Napoleone”. There was this statue of a woman (which was clothed gratefully). The details on this statue were kind of funny. There were turtles in the pillars around the statue. Here is a picture below:

We then saw one of the cathedrals called “St. Michael Church” and the Square around it. There was a few museums in this area but they all cost money and we was really trying on not spending a whole lot of money. We did take a few pictures of the outside of this church. It was kind of pretty.

Another thing that we went and saw was called the Tower of Guinigi or Plazzo Guinigi. This tower is kind of like the Tower of Pisa but instead of having bells at the top, there were oak trees. I am not sure why they did trees instead of bells but it sure was pretty. We climbed the 130 stairs to the top (which by the way, I was holding onto the handrail with my dear life) and took some pictures of the view of Lucca. It was breathe-taking! I am hoping to make a panoramic picture with most of the pictures that I took up there. I also caught a picture of Logan looking out across the town. Logan and I both agree this was our favorite thing in Lucca to visit.

We visited more places than decided to eat lunch before it got too late. Logan really wanted pizza so we went to a pizza place. We both ordered a calzone (which means folded pizza) and this is what we got:

We both looked at each other and couldn’t believe how big they were. Logan was able to finish his off (of course) and I was only able to eat about a quarter of what there was. Logan later finished mine off but I still can’t believe that they are that big. And another weird detail is that they put the sauce on the top of the calzone too. We than headed out and visited more place and grabbed more gelato (I don’t think I will get enough of the ice cream here!). By this time I was just miserable and wanted to head back to the hotel because my feet started going raw. So we than decided to go back to the hotel for the night.

Day 6 - Conference Again and Tour of Pisa

Logan had part of today for the conference while the other part was for touring Pisa.

We walked about 20 minutes from the hotel to see the leaning tower of Pisa! It was so busy. There is a market place right before you go through the gate to get to the tower, cathedral, Baptistry and cemetery (along with many museums around them). Here are some pictures:

A map of the Plaza Duomo

From Left: Cemetery, cathedral and leaning tower

This is how busy it is most of the time in the plaza

Leaning Tower

from left: cathedral, baptistry, and cemetery

This is a picture of the inside of the cemetery

Outside of the cemetery

The cathedral

There was so much in this plaza to do. There was also a lot of gift shops with so many neat things. I just felt bad that we couldn't take more back with us than what we got for family. I will say this tho...I don't think I'll every go into another cathedral in Italy. This one had a glass coffin in it with a dead person in it (take note: the person was important to them) and than on the other side of the cathedral there was a skull in a small glass box. It creeps me out so  much! Don't get me wrong...dead body don't really scary me...its just the fact that it was on show-case for the whole world to see.

We decided not to go up the leaning tower because you had to get to the top and back down within 30 minutes. I did find it pretty cool how it was leaning. We went to all the museums too. It was so much fun. On the way, back Logan got a spicy chicken Doner Kebab and I got some gelato ice cream.

Day 5 of Trip - Conference Day for Logan

Well today isn't every eventful for me. I actually was in the hotel most of the day or walking around on the property of the hotel so I wasn't sitting the whole time. I also slept too...I really love the fact that there are huge curtains in our room which helps with keeping the light out during the day.

Most of the day, Logan was doing things for the conference. In the morning he had a breakfast to go to due to the fact that it talked to the people who was presenting and let them know some things before hand. Logan didn't like the breakfast that they had there beside the eggs (we think that the eggs that are served here are just liquid yolks...don't really have any taste to them). So he came back and had another breakfast here at the hotel (which mostly consist of most pastries here at this hotel).

Anyways, Logan has gotten back his reasons of his talk and everything was great. He was so worry about how it went. But the same thing happen with one of his finals and he wouldn't believe me that he will have a great grade until he got the results. It made him fell better.

More updates to come soon. And pictures...I promise.

Day 4 - Walking by the River Again

We only really didn't do anything on this day due to the fact that Logan had to practiced for his talk and I kept passing out due to the jet lag and not being able to sleep at night.

Even though we are here Logan still has a lot of work to do. It has mostly been with ISU but he also has to study for his new job because of the fact he still doesn't really know much about metals but than again he probably won't do that until we are on our long flight back to the US. Anyways, for the most of this day he practice and figured out what other talks that he wanted to go to.

When I was finally awake and we got ready and head for the grocery store. We were so hungry! Now remember we wasn't even going to get food from down stairs because we didn't really like it. So we head out and caught the bus for most of the way there and walk the other half. It was so packed when we got there. I think it was worst than Walmart! Anyways, we had to guess what to do and we was lucky that we did pretty ok besides the fact that you weigh your produces and get a sticker for them instead of using a number like we do. After we got everything that we needed, we had to wait in line for more than 30 minutes. We was also lucky that the lady as the check-out could speak English.

Afterwards we walked back on foot the whole way (about 50 minutes) due to the fact that the bus had stop working before we even checked out of the store. So we was lucky to walk besides the river again at night. It's so pretty walking that river. I just wish I had though of taking my camera to get a night view picture...maybe before leave we will go and get one.

Well, that's it about today. More updates to come really soon.

Day 1, 2 and 3 of Pisa Trip - Traveling to Pisa

Well, it's been a really busy schedule for us. We took two days to get here. It was so much fun.

Day 1 was on Thursday May 9th. We had a lot to do the day that we headed to the Airport Inn Hotel in Salt Lake City. I had to 1)finish packing everything, 2) go see Dr. Wheeler for my appointment, and 3) finish Daniel and Kala's wedding cake.

As for the packing, I had most of it done so I wasn't really worried about it. I had most of the clothes packed the night before and all that really needed to be put in the bags was hygiene. As for the wedding cake...that was a different story. I had gotten both layers buttercream and fondant on it but I still had a lot of details to do. And they were tiny deals. It was my first time using royal icing. I was so glad that it turned out and I was able to use it. Although, as I was doing the last step of the wedding, I noticed that the dust wasn't coloring like it was suppose to be. I had asked a lot of people about what dust to use and everything...I guess I was told the wrong one because it gave it a gray shimmer. I had to call up Daniel's mom, Karen because I didn't have Kala's phone number to get a hold of her about the cake. Lucky Karen kind of knew how we was short on hand for time and just asked me to take the royal icing off that had the dust on it and just redo those details.

As for the appointment with Dr. Wheeler...I am kind of surprised in a good way but not at all surprised about anything else. She had finally said to try the natural progesterone cream (that's what surprised us...only a tiny bit). What didn't surprise us at all was the fact that she had no clue why exactly we want to do it and what it can do for me. She is pretty much putting this in my hands for about 6 months and wants an update at the end of it. She also wants to put me back on Clomid after the cream...I don't know if I am very for this considering that it was making me so sick a few months ago. I also have to schedule another appointment to see her in about 6 months. I am just hoping that the progesterone cream works for me. I see a lot of the benefits of taking it but it's kind of sad that I and Logan can understand why this would work but not my doctor. I guess life is different for everyone in a way.

Day 2 was filled with flights. We ended up going to SLC airport around 8:45 am and waited for the first flight for a little under 2 hours.Than we jumped over to LA, California for about 80 minutes. The flight itself was about an hour and thirty minutes. During the 80 minutes, we had a 30 minute walk to the other side of the terminal, go thru security again and find lunch and postcards for our nieces. We was very lucky to get there about 10 minutes before we was called onto the plane. The flight time from LA, California to Amsterdam, Netherlands was about 10 hours. The funny part of the whole thing is that I only slept about 20 minutes at the most on this flight. Logan didn't get any sleep at all. He did try to towards the end of the flight but than the lights were turned on so he gave up on it. We wasn't bored at all during this jump. We had brought stuff to do and they had stuff to do too which was great! We landed in the Amsterdam, Netherlands at 9:05am. It was very green...probably due to all the rain and it was a little cold too. When we got off the plane we asked where our next gate was. But to our amazement we was told the wrong gate. It was the wrong gate but it had a flight for Pisa, Italy earlier than when we had to leave. We had a lay-over for 4 hours.Our final jump was from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Pisa, Italy. This one was a quick one too in a way. I read most of the way there but towards the end I felt asleep for about 10 minutes. When we got our bags, we went out front to find a bus/taxi to take us to the hotel. I don't think I really like Italian drivers...I was so scared with the way the guy was driving. I swear we almost got in an accident a few times. We got here at the hotel and got the room (which by the way is lovely) and felt asleep for about 2 hours. We went downstairs to eat dinner in the restaurant that was located in the hotel. It was such a disappointment. We can literally swear we will not go there again. After to dinner we came back upstairs to our room and fell sleep.

Day 3 was pretty bored for us in a way. We pretty much got up and ate breakfast and went back to sleep until about 2:30pm (that's pretty much how much jet lag we have).  Logan actually did paper work while I slept.  At that time we got up and got ready to Skype everyone for Mother's Day. Let's see, we (in Italy) talked to Amanda (in Denmark), Kate and Nathan (in California), Carolyn and Joseph (in Utah) and Barbara (in Idaho). We talked for about 2 hours and 25 minutes. It was amazing to have everyone on Skype. After talking to them we left to have Logan register for the conference and get some groceries for we can eat food.  With our luck, the grocery store was closed on Sunday, which is nice to see although it left us without food. So we walked all the way there to find that out. So we walked back to get on a bus but come to find out (again) the bus had stop working at 8:45 pm. So that meant that we needed to get back to the hotel by walking back. It was beautiful at night tho. I wished that I had brought a camera with me when we left but we thought it was going to be quick and wouldn't need it. On the way back, we stopped at a panini (sandwich) store and got dinner (I can pretty much tell you that I will need to do a quick 3 day juicing detox because of this trip...I feel like I've already gain all those pounds that I lost.). One of the weird parts of today was that Logan received a gift from the conference...it was a bottle of (from what I can see) good wine, olive oil, jam and a small bag of biscotti bread. I don't know if you guys found it as funny as we do. But we plan on taking the wine home and giving it to some family friends of mine. I'm betting that I will become their favorite...just kidding. ^-^ Another thing, Logan has this really fancy dinner that he has to go to on Wednesday night at Corsini Palance in Florence, Italy. Well, to come to find out...I didn't know that it was fancy...to the point that I needed a nice shirt to wear. So now we have to go find one either tomorrow and Wednesday before we leave.

That's pretty much it for these last 3 days. Unfortunately it was Korey's birthday, and I wasn't able to get him anything before we left. Also on the 14 is my niece's birthday, Natalie's, and we lucked out and found her something the night before we left.

Logan's Great News

Logan had gotten great news this last Friday. I can finally talk about it now that all of this family knows about it. ^-^

It all started when Logan started looking around for a job for when he finished his master. Recently he got an interview with INL at NRF. I through he would have a great chance in getting a job but he has yet gotten a call and there has been a lot of people laid off at the site so he also had to fight for the job.

Later he told me that he had a strong impression that he wasn't going to get that job. He felt more like it was a remind how to do an interview and what you should do and what you shouldn't do. It didn't really tell me this until last week. He was afraid that it would stressed me out more. I would have I think in a way but it's part of getting a job.

He recently starting applying again for a job. He sent out a lot of resumes on the 4th. The following Monday, he got a call asking if it would be ok to do a phone interview with him. Logan accepted. The phone interview went so well that they asked him to come in and have a in-person interview that Thursday. He told me about how it went and I got the feeling of "this is going to be his job". It made me happy.

They told him that it would take about a week to get an answer to see if he will be working...the next day he got the job! It was so calming! We now know that we will be living in Idaho Falls for a long time now. We now can also start planning things...which makes life so much easier for us. He will be starting maybe Tuesday. If not than, it will be Thursday. He will be starting as part time until we get back from Italy and he will be switched over to full time.

I am so happy that he finally got himself a job and he will enjoy going to work every day.

Making A Few Decisions

Recently Logan and I have been going through some troubles which are making us make some decisions. Some have been a couple decision or it has been Logan or my choice. And here is a list of them and what we choose to do:

1. Car trouble - At the beginning of the summer, Logan's car broke down. The bottom of the engine went out. Due to the fact that not only is Logan still going to graduate school, I still have to pay off my loans. We decided to not buy another one until we have some more money and knew if we was going to stay in state after Logan graduates or leave the state.  Also we found a hair-like crack in my car that would take a thousand dollars to replace but since Logan's car is some much like my model that we are going to use parts from his car to put in my car.

2. Infertility - Due to my health problems we still can't seem to have kids yet and we are kid of tried of waiting. So we are take my doctor's word and going on Clomid starting in October. We do not know if this will work or not. We all still think it would help out if I lost 40 more pounds. So....now I'm also getting ready to do a detox that I found out from one of Logan's friends. I'm hoping this helps out a little more too.

3. Student Loans - So Logan still has two more semesters before he is done but due to the fact that for some reason no one wants to hired me Logan when out and got his job back from Sears...only he's going to be working in Idaho Falls Sears now. With this we are hoping to get a lead on somethings but not liking now.

4. Still Looking for a Job - As I said before no one wants to hired me...so we kind of started talking about me going back to school and getting a different degree. I was thinking photography or graphic designer...it's still up in the air right now since we have a lot to look into especially with maybe moving next summer sometime towards the end of it. .

Puerto Rico Day 1 & 2

So day one was consisted of flying, running, flying and eating. We first started in Salt Lake City at  six o'clock in the morning...yes that is right! 6 AM! We got in by 6:30 am and then we looked around for some breakfast because we left before breakfast was even out. The flight wasn't bad...I just couldn't get any sleep and the flying part was better than last time too. Our first stop was in Dallas, TX. We had an hour before the next flight we we still needed to get lunch. So we asked someone where the next gate was suppose to be because it wasn't on the boarding ticket and we really needed to go to the bathroom. The Dallas airport was so huge that we had to take a train-like thing that to the other side of the airport and in the end we made it right when they were at the end of loading people. This flight was different just because it's the longest flight that I have been on. Which by the way was 5 hours! I was ok with the first and second hour of the flight but than I got restless and so I ended up take a nap (how....I do not know.) which took up an hour and a half which left the half an hour. Than we arrive here in Puerto Rico! ^-^  It's so green here!! After we landed, we landed and found our taxi to our hotel. We arrive and checked in and found out that Logan didn't read the fine print and so we

ended up with a room with two full beds with the view above. We talked to the front desk and they change our room the next day to a room with a king bed and we are located right above the front door. I also have to admit that the taxi drive was nuts!! I was holding onto the seat beat for my dear life!

On the second day, we slept in for a while. I woke up at nine and Logan woke up at ten ( the hour difference is by two hours...so it would of be 11 for me and noon for Logan). We didn't do much today because we was still learning what going on around here and all the places and what not. I did end up passing out in the lobby while reading. We also when seashell hunting tonight and found about a pound of them. We also found a sand dollar. We are planning on going early in the morning so we can get some huge shells.Oh...here's some pictures of the back of the hotel.

Here's our favorite picture of the day. I hope you guys like it too.

Neglecting Myself

Recently I've notice that I have really neglected myself since I started college and working full time either in voluntary work or jobs/internships. Since the beginning of starting to get healthy I've also neglected myself in some ways. I was worried about everyone or everything else more than my health or me. In fact, it got to the point where even though I really help others, I was being used to much for way to many things that I shouldn't let happen. I'm really starting to learn that I may like to put everyone or everything else in front of me but I also need to really think about myself. I have my own goals to reach, not only for the present but for the future too. I know that this is going to be one of the hardest things for me just because I always valued others than myself especially all those people who have or will have everything they wanted. But now I know it's not easy for everyone. Everyone has their own problems may it be health, family or themselves.

I now know that I NEED time for ME. I NEED to tell people ever now and than NO instead of always saying YES. I need to be there for family but in a way that I WON'T get hurt or used, as the same with friends. I need to be able to be STRONG not only for me but for my future self. I need to have FAITH in myself with my studies and more. I need to SUPPORT my husband and me in a way that only I can. I need to be POSITIVE about what to come and DEAL with my trials in a way that doesn't stress me to the fullest. I need to learn to be able to TALK to people and tell them what I really feel about something or someone. In a way, I have to make a LOT of change but I have come a long way. I need to ACCEPT myself. I am hoping with all these goals that I may be able happy with myself and not always belittle myself.

Life in Idaho Falls

So we have been really busy since we have gotten here. I never thought we would have been this busy. It's so weird and there's also a chance that I may get even more busier! Man...it's so weird.

Logan and I both are working two jobs. Logan is working for ISU Thermal Lab and also for the Idaho Cleanup Project. I am working my internship which is at Acorn Children Academy and at the Wes Deist Aquatic Center. We decided to pretty much work our butts off this summer to make sure that we have a enough money for in the fall while Logan is in school. So far...I don't see that happening. We've been spending a little more than we should but I may be able to get the money if I watch my hours.

Since we moved in I have put together the living room, kitchen, dining room and the guest room. The walls are bare but I'm still working on it. They may be full by the fall. Anyways I plan on finishing unpacking the place. I'm getting really excited. I really love this place. I would have never thought that a duplex would feel like home. I don't know what I would do if we didn't get this place.

This month has been really busy for us.We went to Utah and visit Brooklyn in Provo the first weekend of the month. We've have 3 birthdays: Korey's (May 12), Natalie's (May 14) and Carolyn's (May 26). We also have 3 graduations to go to: Cale's (May 31), Shelby's (May 24) and Carolyn's (June 1st). We've also had a baby born this month on the 7th. Tricia and Tyler had their baby a week early...supposedly. Anyways, Bailey is beautiful baby girl. She is so good and doesn't cry that often...only when she needs something. Mother's day was pretty busy too...we jump to many places and a lot of times too. I also have a huge project for my internship that needs to be done by this coming thursday. I also get to see an old friend too! Daniel is coming back from his mission. It's been way too long since the last time I heard from him. He will be returning this Friday on the 27th.  I also have to start exercising a lot more...so I went and bought zumba!!! I am so hoping this helps out. We will see! Anyways, this is just my list of things to do this month...You can pretty much figure out what Logan's schedule looks like too.

P.S. Korey comes home in 5 months!!!! November 7th is the date when he is coming back!!! I'm getting really excited. ^-^

I Got a Job and Internship and So Did Logan!!!

Finally!!! Last Thursday I was able to land a job and an internship! It's so funny how I got it though.

I got it from my old swim team coach, Sharon McGrath. She started an academy sometime last year called Acorn Academy. Anyways, I called her for some information for my argument speech for Comm about sanctioning swimming in the last three states that don't think that swimming is a sport. Anyways, I asked her if she had some good references that I can use for my speech. After we talked about that, we started talking about the academy and how it was going. Well, she started to telling all the positions that she need to start filling in and one of them was a Chef! When I heard this, I literally jumped off the couch and asked if I could possibly apply for that position. She said that I could and that she actually would love that and hire me on the spot! I was dancing in the living room and Logan got a good laugh out of it too. I then asked her if I could possibly do my internship also and she said why not. I was so happy that night. I was so happy that I was in bed by 10!

Saturday, Logan and I got to go see the academy. She also told me what she was going to do to the academy in the near future! It was amazing! She also explained how I would be doing my job and asked if I could teach the kids about foods and nutrient. I thought that would be pretty cool. I've never seen anything like it before. After the tour, I asked Logan what he thought about the whole thing and he told me that he would never have taken the job (for himself) but knew that I would love it since it had to do with culinary and kids. I'm pretty proud of myself.

As for Logan, he got an internship from the Idaho Cleanup Project. It's a good one because he can still work for his other internship that he still works at the Engineering Lab. Overall, we are doing great! I'll post when we find out where we are going to moving into.

June & July 2009

In June, we moved to Pocatello and have enjoyed it the whole time. We live at the Katsilometes Courts at 695 N. 7th Ave Apt 9, Pocatello, ID 83201. We still haven’t finished unpacking yet because we’ve been so busy with work and getting ready for school. We love the apartments…they seems so open. We have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen with a bar, dining room and living room. I’ve yet to use the front door…Logan has used it a few times. We love the fact that we get two spots to plant whatever we want. We’ve not planted anything yet…we are waiting for the fall, so we can plant some iris. I’m so excited!!
Logan has gotten a job down here at Sears in the Pine Ridge Mall. He is enjoying this job as much as his last job. He works in the electronics department. He’s actually quite good at what he does and the job doesn’t make him work all the time which I’m grateful for. He still has a job up in Idaho Falls with the engineering lab for ISU, which he only works once or twice a week. I’m still working at the Aquatic Center in Idaho Falls up until the end of the month. Also I’ve been coaching a swim team for the last two months. They did a great job, but unfortunately my team was the one that ended up having a lot of my kids gone for both of the meets. But they almost took 2nd place for them both. I’ve applied at the aquatics in Reed’s Gym and as yet to hear from the lady who is in charge. She went on vacation when I turned in my application. If I don’t get the job, I plan on applying at some other places. Hopefully I will get a job soon or I won’t be able to get a job.
My family has been good. Earlier this month, our nephew, Oaklen, turned one on 4th of July. He got so spoiled and so did my niece in a way. He got a lot of clothes…I think he had plenty to last him up to two years for the summer. Taylor, our niece, is growing up so fast! She’s still in the middle of her terrible twos at the age of three, but I’ve been talking to her mom, (my sister Amanda) and she is starting to get over them. Amanda has been having some health trouble ever since her miscarriage and the doctors don’t really know why either at the moment. Korey turned in his papers for his mission and now he is waiting for his cal which we are all excited for! Shami and Breanna have been having a great summer. They have been to Lagoon a few times and camping many times. My father has been at work for quite a while now. He’ll be getting back in state on August 17. I’m not sure what he does while he has nothing to do while at work but he as a blast at the casino in Nevada that he is near. Mom has been doing great. Cale has been working for the whole summer to make money so he can play football in the fall for Idaho Falls High School’s Football Team. Char took Driver’s Ed this summer and just finished. I’m not sure if he passed or not but it sure scares me to think that he will be driving soon. My mom and Cale just got a new red nose pit bull dog and she is so much like her father, Shilo who lives with them and there may be a chance that my mom will be getting Bristle who is the mom. Brooke has been playing a lot with her friends and hanging out with me when I’m off and in town. We have two family reunions coming up on the 1st weekend of August up in Black Tail Lake and one in September down in Nampa. Logan and I are planning on going to Lagoon on August 22nd with one of my friends and with Cale, Char and Brooke. The kids have never been there so we decide it would be fun to take them there for a summer vacation.
We wanted to thank everyone who came to the funeral and supporting us through it. It meant a lot to us all and we enjoyed seeing everyone there, too.