12 Days 8 States

After Easter, life got crazy again.  We drove back from WV Sunday evening and I left bright and early the next morning for Oxford, MS.  Talk about a long, boring drive!  I was invited by Winchester, another division of Olin, to participate in some training at one of their new locations.  It was neat to see another branch of the business but it made for a long drive in a short amount of time.  Oxford is a cute, quaint town.  It's also the home of Mississippi State so there were tons of college kids roaming around.  The old downtown has a lot of character and charm and I'm sure I could have done some damage at the boutiques lining the streets had I had more time (and energy)!

I got back Tuesday night, worked Wednesday and Thursday, then flew to Pittsburgh for a weekend in Morgantown!  I was a guest speaker at an engineering conference at WVU Saturday morning (wow, that makes me sound old!!) so I invited Jen & Lauren to come stay at the hotel with me and we had a reunion with Jaime.  It was so much fun being together and having girl time!!!



Love how this picture turned out (no, we didn't plan to match!).  This was taken in front of Woodburn Hall on the downtown campus.  Lots of memories in that town!



I flew back to TN Sunday, did laundry and re-packed!!!  Thursday, Adam and I were up BRIGHT & EARLY to drive to Atlanta to catch a flight to San Francisco for a long-weekend together (along with 3/4s of his family).  We had been counting down since February for our trip to Cali and San Fran has always been on my "bucket list" (ok - mainly Alcatraz) but San Francisco just looks so beautiful in all the pictures!  That being said, CA deserves it's own post (or two) so more to come!   

September Travels

The month of September was a blur.  It started out with FINALLY a trip to West Virginia for Labor Day.  I thought that by living 10 hours closer to home I would get to actually go home more often.. so far, that hasn’t been the case.  We headed to Princeton Friday after work with Mr. Henderson in tow.  It was a nice, somewhat relaxing and low key weekend with my parents, grandma and Miss Abbie.  I was super-excited to have tickets to the WVU/Marshall game in Morgantown that Sunday for several reasons but was really excited to get to take Adam to Morgantown for the first time and his first WVU home football game.  We went to the WVU/LSU game in Baton Rouge last September but it was just not the same thing as being at Mountaineer Stadium. 

We got up early and set out for Morgantown for the 3:30pm game.  All day they were calling for severe storms but up to halftime, the sky looked overcast but decent.  About 10 minutes into the 3^rd quarter, they called for an evacuation of the stadium due to seeing lighting in the distance.  About the time all 65k fans got out of the stadium, a massive rain and lightning storm hit the stadium area.  Lightning was ALL around.. pretty crazy.  The rain was coming down so hard it looked like a monsoon.  We stayed huddled beneath the stadium for about an hour and then looked up at the sky and saw a break in the storm clouds and made the decision to run for the car.  About halfway to the car, the monsoon hit again and we got drenched.  I figured by the time we got to the car they would be ready to start the game again.  No such luck.  We actually listened to the game broadcasters the whole way back to Princeton and when we pulled in the driveway around 10:30pm, the 2 coaches had agreed to call the game.. Luckily, WV was stomping Marshall J   

Monday we headed back to TN and had the pleasure of driving thru the lovely storm produced from Tropical Storm Lee.  Chattanooga actually set a record for the most amount of rain received in a 24-hour period – about 13”.  It was enough rain to earn us a 2-hour delay in going to work the next morning… which we needed after all our driving!!

Last Tuesday, I flew down to Baton Rouge for college recruiting festivities at LSU.  That was my first time going back since I moved… it was really strange to be back in LA.  I definitely do not miss the scorching heat and miserable humidity.  I drove around our old neighborhood and they are still building houses like crazy in there.  I saw 2 guys working in the yard at my house, I hope they have better luck with the flowers than I did, hah.  After I finished up interviewing on Friday, I flew to Atlanta to meet Adam.  We arranged to be on the same evening flight to Phoenix.  I had to be in AZ anyway that next week and his older brother Jason lives in Phoenix so he decided to go spend the weekend out there with him and it gave us some time away together too.  We got into Phoenix late Friday night and it felt even later with the 3-hour time change. 

Saturday we had lunch at a very authentic Mexican restaurant and then drove around some of the million dollar neighborhoods in the mountains/valleys.  We hung around the house Saturday and then went to the Cheesecake Factory Saturday evening.  Sunday, Adam, Jason and I went for a “hike” on Camelback Mountain.  The name is derived from its shape, which resembles the hump and head of a kneeling camel.  I wasn’t quite prepared for Camelback!!  There are two hiking trails which ascend 1,280 feet to the peak of Camelback Mountain. The Echo Canyon Trail is 1.2 miles and the Cholla Trail is 1.4 mi.  Both trails are considered strenuous with steep grades. The hiking path has dirt, gravel, boulders and some handrail-assisted sections.  We attempted to get an early start before it got too hot but ended up getting there around 10am.  I explained to Adam that this hike is something you do on a first date when you’re trying to impress the other person.. but after 3 years of dating... I was way beyond ready to get off that mountain pretty soon after I saw how steep parts of it were!!! 

Lunch Saturday

Dinner at the Cheescake Factory

Camelback Mountain

Adam had to fly back Monday and then I headed to my hotel which was closer to Arizona State to catch up on some work.  Tuesday started the Career Fair and then Wednesday was interviews.  One of the engineers from the Charleston plant was out there with me to help with interviews; we went to some unique places for dinner and took a scenic drive and… I saw my first roadrunner!!  He was so TINY and fast!  We ended up eating dinner at this place called Rustler’s Roost which I would highly recommend to anyone that’s in the area.  It even had live country music for entertainment – much to my surprise – at one point I heard Country Roads playing!!  The restaurant had a great view over the city as well.

Thursday morning I flew back to Chattanooga.  After a quick unpack/repack stopover in Chattanooga, I flew back out Friday morning.  This time to Pittsburgh!  I had dinner with Jen and her new boyfriend in Pittsburgh before making my way down the interstate to stay the night with Jaime.  We scored tickets to the WVU/LSU game on Saturday.  That was the first time since Lauren’s wedding that Jen, Jaime, Lauren and I were all together.  It was so good to be reunited!  As an added bonus, I got to see Will!  We had not seen each other since Christmas 2009!  How does that happen?!  At least we do a decent job at staying in touch.   Even though WVU got their first loss of the season it was still a great time. 

Since I was already in WV, I was able to make it to my Grandma K's birthday lunch/party.  It was nice to get to spend a few days in WV; I don't think I've spent that much time there in a while.  It was extra fun because Abbie was there as well.  She is sooo much fun right now, she says the cutest stuff!  Tuesday-Thursday I had to go an Engineering Career Fair at WVU.  I think that was the first time I had been in the Engineering School.  I was pleasantly surprised at the competency level of the WVU Engineers.  I don't know what I was expecting.. :)

I got to visit with so many old friends; it was a great week in WV and very much needed.

First blog

Well, I have contemplated having a blog for a while but then I think my life is so not that exciting that it would boring.. but then I think.. I've moved 3 times in 3 years so it can't be that boring, right?!  What finally pushed me over the edge in making a blog was one of my good gal pals has one that is awesome!  I suppose Brittany started one a while back but I didn't know until earlier this week when I noticed she had referenced posting how Marcus proposed to her on it... so, I mosed over to it and got sucked in!  I couldn't stop reading because it was just LIKE talking to Brit during class, after class, over some wine, on the phone, during class some more :-).  I think it's a GREAT idea to just have somewhere to catch up, share pictures, keep in touch and everything else. 


Plus, this is as good as time as ever to start a blog!  I'm starting a new chapter in my life and what a great way to document it.  So what's the new chapter?  Well, since you ask....


I just bought and moved into my 3rd house since 2008.  Yep, that's right.. that's where the 3 times in 3 years thing comes from.  Let's take a little trip back into time...


So, in 2004, I graduated high school and went away to college at West Virginia University.  I moved into the lovely dorm - Arnold Hall.  Say hello, Arnold!

I really didn't mind living in the dorm, minus the 4th floor part and no elevator and skank of a roommate that I had, which is a whole other story that is best left in the past.  I ended up only living in the dorm from August thru December.  In January, I was fortunate enough to be able to move into a beautiful 1-bedroom spacious apartment within walking distance of the football stadium!! (Priorities people!)  See how cute my apartment building was??? I LOVED my apartment! (and yes, it was a steep parking lot, but hey, it's Morgantown)

I lived in my lovely apartment from January 2005, through undergrad and grad school and moved out in June 2008.  It was a very sad day and very emotional for me.  Grad school was def. my favorite year of college and the year I made some of the best friends I will cherish forever.  (Sorry Lauren, it's your fault you weren't there for this picture, but I'm sure I will cover you later)

So, after graduating with my master's degree it wasn't all work and no play... before I started working full time with Olin, I had the trip of a lifetime.  I took my last 2 classes as part of a study abroad program in Italy.  Studying abroad was something I had wanted to do my whole school career and when it finally worked out at the very end I knew it was an opportunity I had to take advantage of.  We spent almost 6 weeks overseas and saw Milan, Asolo, Cinque Terre, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Venice, Murano, Burano, Rome, Pompeii, Paris and Dublin.  Here's a few of my favorite pictures from our time in Europe...

This will forever be a favorite picture - this was in the

 town where we studied.

Lauren - a true friend and wonderful travel buddy!

 



Venice, enjoying the beautiful day and city




Sadly, after a wonderful summer, we had to come back to realty.  However, big changes had happened with my small family while I was away - I became an Aunt!  Miss Abbie BreAnn Kidd joined the family just a few days before I flew back to the US.  I was SO excited to meet my neice and of course, see the family. 

A few days after arriving back home, it was up to Morgantown for graduation and the hooding ceremony - my education had officially come to a close.  It was a very bittersweet time and saying goodbye to a city I had fallen in love with and made so many wonderful memories in was not easy.  The following week it was south to Cleveland, TN where I started my career as a Human Resources Generalist with Olin Chlor Alkali Products.  At first, I didn't think I would EVER learn to say that or understand what the heck the company did - now I can speak the lingo with the rest of 'em - I know my KPIs, DCS systems, up times, down times, run times, evaporators, MSDS, ORC, PPE, and so on ... what has happened to me.... I used to be so cool.. hah.  So what does Olin do?  We make Chlorine, Caustic and Bleach.. and several other byproducts but those are the biggies.. so here I am off to work for my first day as a big girl!

Oh, I guess I forgot the other BIG thing that happened in Cleveland.. I bought my first HOUSE!  I was so excited to be a homeowner and I fell in love with this house before I even saw it.  You know me, always researching everything and of course, I LOVE real estate so I knew this was MY house before I even saw it.  It was in a great location and close to everything.  Even though I only got to live in my adorable house for 8 short months I made a lot of great memories and got to experience some of the joys of home ownership... pipes freezing, small leak and weed pulling!  

Pin Oaks Circle, Cleveland, TN

Trixie and Mason

One of the best things about living in TN was getting my two baby kittens - Mason and Trixie!  They were born August 4, 2008, and I got them at the beginning of October.  They were SUCH a handfull when they were babies, oh heck, who am I kidding - they still are.  But when they were babies and had claws they used to literally climb my legs... painful.  I wouldn't trade them for anything though, they are such sweet cats with adorable personalities.   

In the Spring of 2009, I was approached with an opportunity to head down to our St. Gabriel/Baton Rouge, LA plant to help out with some HR projects for a short-term assignment.  I thought it sounded like a good opportunity and a fun way to spend the summer.  Plus, I knew a certain someone was also assigned to an engineering project down there and felt better knowing I'd at least know someone else SO far away.  So, the cats and I packed up and made our way down to Cajun Country.  To make a long story short, the short-term assignment turned into a permament gig and a promotion to HR Supervisor.  I sold my house in TN and purchased my 2nd home in Baton Rouge. 

Springtree Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge was an experience I will never forget.  It had it's ups and downs and trials and triumps.  I left Baton Rouge with about 7 years of HR crammed into a year and a half, a best friend and wonderful man in my life and... without a gallbladder (ouch!)! 


Well, that's pretty much 7 years in a nutshell.  I promise my next posts will be nowhere near this long but just wanted to throw some background in there for those of you who just know I seem to move a lot!  Last Friday, I made what I hope to be my last move for a while!!  I finally got to move back to TN for a role with the Division HR group once again.  This time I bought a house in Ooltewah, TN.  I literally saw between 100-150 houses in this area and Cleveland and just couldn't find the "one".  I looked at the one I ended up buying a few times and ended up realizing it had everything I wanted just not in the area I really wanted to be.  But, I have to admit, I'm really enjoying the area and everything it has to offer.  The 30-minute commute one-way isn't even that bad.  Gives me time to listen to Michael Buble sing to me before and after work.  So, without further ado... Meet house #3!

Peppertree Drive, Ooltewah, TN