Family in PA

There are so many pictures that I'm going to post from our trip to Pennsylvania, for my dad's funeral, but here are just a few.

 Tommy (my brother) and Tommy (his son) outside of the funeral home. 

This is at my dad's cousin John and Ester's house. They live up the hill from Dad's cabin. Tommy wasn't to hip to be next to the stuffed animals. One time he "sneaked up" on the bear, punched it, and ran away! It was so stinkin' funny!

Tommy found a pipe that his little hand could fit into! I just want to squeeze him! We have pictures of my brother when he was this age and they look so much alike!

Then he had to check it out!

This is me and my Dad's Aunt Betty. She told me that I didn't look like a Harris. I'm definitely a Harris. We have the same forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin! I think I'll have to send her this picture! She's the last sibling left from my grandfather's generation. I think she's in her late 80's. I love old people. There's something about them that is so fascinating.

Bad Idea...#1

Don't read your father's journal and think you're not going to cry when he talks about you.

My dad. My Hero.

On Thursday, October 30, I boarded a plane to Eugene, Oregon at 12:30 p.m. The plane landed safely and Jake was waiting to pick me up outside. I turned on my phone and it rang immediately. It was Jake. I was right in the middle of grabbing my bags from the over-head compartments and told him I would be right out. As soon as I hung up, my phone did the little ring that means you missed 13 calls. Then it started ringing again. It was my sister. I answered it. The conversation went something on these lines: 

Mandy: "Did you hear?"

Me: "No, what's up?"

Mandy: "Around 4:00 p.m. Pennsylvania time (1:00 p.m. Nevada time) Dad had a massive heart attack and passed away."

My phone volume was so loud that the guy in front of me turned around. I didn't notice anyone or anything else around me from leaving the aisle way on the plane to meeting Jacob in the front. I was numb. It didn't seem real. It hadn't set in. In my mind I kept thinking this was a dream or a test. A test to see how I would react. It wasn't. After making a million phone calls, Jake and I drove to Portland, flew to Chicago, and then flew to Pennsylvania. I'm tired of flying! So this is what happened: 

My dad was at his cabin with his cousin John. They had plans to go put up his hunting nest in some tree Thursday evening so they could hunt all day Friday and Saturday. He wasn't feeling good but insisted on getting it done. Originally he thought he had indigestion or heart burn. He took a Rolaid. Then he thought it was his gallbladder. John told him to rest. He was stubborn. He put on his boots and went out the door. John followed. As they were walking about 100 yards from the cabin my dad asked to stop and rest for a moment. John knew something was wrong. So when they stopped, my dad bent his knees to sit against the hill and continued to roll all the way back. He died immediately. John called 911 and performed CPR. The paramedics came immediately and took over. Nothing improved. He flat lined.

We were able to go to the place where he died. It was peaceful. It was beautiful. I couldn't imagine a better place to go. He was with the people he loved. He was in a place he loved. He was doing what he loved, hunting. It was so quick, we assume he didn't suffer. Although I don't want to face the fact that he's really gone, I know he is. Gone for a time. He was my dad. I love him and he knew it. I have no regrets. The last time I saw him I gave him a big hug and he told me he was proud of me. He came to soccer games. We went to Disneyland when I graduated high school. We went to the Dale Evans and Roy Rogers museum. He walked me down the aisle when I got married. We worked together. He took me to college and filled my refrigerator. He always encouraged me. He loved my husband. He counseled us. We knew everything. He was smart, educated, and had so much experience. He was funny. We joked and laughed. He taught us to be kind, loving, and giving. Oh, how I could go on. I know we will be together again. It just doesn't seem real.

Winter Love

When it is so cold and I can't manage to get myself warm with out aid of Starbucks, something is wrong! I LOVE the Carmel Apple Ciders! Although I only get them once in awhile, it's the best spent $2.80. I'm now experimenting with my own recipe of Carmel and appel cider - move over Starbucks. (just an FYI - this doesn't help the figure either...)

BFF

There are not many people in the world that they can honestly say that they've been friends with FOREVER. I'm one of the luckiest people to say that there are a group of us that have been friends FOREVER! I started to realize this when I filled out an application that asked for references and years known. Sometimes I have to sit and do the calculations! So I decided to post on my friends. Those that I have known FOREVER.
Britney (Scoble), Me, Melissa (Gibson), Jill (Hales), Amy (Crum), and Sara (Sorensen) - not pictured!

Britney - I have known Britney since Kindergarten. Wow 21 years! We were in the same classes growing up and I pretty much lived at the Scoble's house. We've had sleep-overs, birthday parties, movie dates, played soccer together, and so much more. During High School we hung out on the stairs in the cafeteria every morning. We hung out after school on occasion but it was mainly big events like Reverse dances, soccer games, football games, and birthday parties, but we've always been friends. I remember going toilet papering for the first time with Britney - getting caught and running through the desert! We played board games like they were going out of style! Her mom makes the best crepes, her sisters are hilarious, and her brothers aren't so little anymore! She now has the cutest little girl and is being well taken care of by her husband in Utah!

Melissa - I've know Melissa since the second grade! We've also been in the same classes and played soccer and ran cross country together (Good 'ol Coach Spitty!). We did some pretty dumb stuff together in high school. I'm pretty sure we should be dead or in jail for reckless driving! Melissa cut and dyed my hair, we did home ear piercings, we went to girls camp together, we tortured her sister and friends, we went swimming and tanning on the trampoline, we had sleep overs, stalked the boys, and hung out all the time. Sonic was a staple in our diet and stay clear of Olean chips! Melissa was the first of our friends to venture out and get married. Now she has a little girl that looks so much like her! On top of all of that, she back living in H-town!

Jill - Jill has this will power like I've never seen. Jill looks amazing. She's lost so much weight (in a healthy and good way) and makes me look lazy and pathetic. Jill and I started hanging out in the second grade. I remember when I was at Jill's house and her brother locked us in her bedroom - so we climbed out the window! There also was a time I jumped from Jills balcony to the basement and landed on the chair - her parents would have killed me! I wasn't the best influence on my friends! Jill used to be in love with N'SYNC. We would go to the store and cut out pictures and post them on her wall. She had a shrine! Hahaha. We've had many discussions on boys!

Amy - Amy and I pretty much dated the same boys. I think I always dated her sloppy seconds! I must have been the rebound! Although it's safe to say, I've never dated her husband and she never dated mine! We didn't really start hanging out until high school but I remember when Amy moved here from New Mexico. I think we were in 7th grade. In high school we just clicked. When I went on my 1st date (with Tim Gansen), we ran into Amy and Matt Harris - this made my date a little less awkward! Amy and I played soccer together, did the Reverse Dance thing together, and sat in seminary together. Amy's Uncle was our seminary teacher - he was pretty cool. Until the invention of the blog, Jill was my "Amy update"! Amy's little girl is so tall and is pretty freakin' smart!

Sara - Sara and I have been friends since High School. I remember Sara in Jr. High but not very much. We did everything together in high school. We went to the dances, played soccer, hung out after school, stalked the boys, did the slumber party thing, and went to Sonic, Taco Bell, and Wendy's all the time! One time, we made up our own game of water polo - it was amazing. We would go watch her brother (and Chet!) play hockey. She learned how to drive the Subi with me as a passenger! We think we are hilarious! We scared her sister and friends so good in the basement - I wish I would have recorded it! Sara made me a blanket one year, we still use it! I sent a singing telegram to Derek (from Sara) and Jeremiah Neil sent one to Sara (from Derek) and they didn't figure it out until that night! Boy that was good! I could seriously go on and on with how much fun we've had and the countless hours of talks! We don't get together that often but we still talk all the time.

The best part about growing up is that I still have these friends. I remember people telling me "when you grown up you won't have the same friends as when you were little". It's good to know they were wrong. Maybe it's because of the Internet - maybe not. There have been the friends that have come and gone but we've really all stuck together. Even those that leave, we still get the updates of what they are doing every once in awhile. So until the next shin-dig. Peace out.

El Torrito

El Torrito has a place in everyone's heart in Henderson. It's this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant that has been around FOREVER. It's cheap, fast, and SO good! Technically, I've only eaten the Bean and Cheese Burrito, but it's amazing! Last time we were together (Jill, Melissa, Amy, and I) was at Melissa's baby shower. So a year of so later, we got together for a nice lunch at El Torrito. We had a lot of fun catching up on babies, boys, and life in general. Thanks to Melissa our photo shoot was a hit too! (I stole all of these pictures from her blog!)Melissa, Amy, Jill, and I waiting for our food!Jill eating her salad!

Melissa snacking on chips!

Me drinking water!

Amy and her not-so-huge belly! You can't even tell she's got a bun in the oven!

Melissa and Amy

Jill and I! (Melissa - I'm not sure the whole chin down and head tilt is doing my round face and knobby nose justice!)

After 2 1/2 hours of gabbing and eating!

Next time we'll have to plan with more people or anyone that comes into town. We definitely need to get together again! It was totally worth it!

Updates and Crazy Eights

The job hunt is still continuing but it's looking a little better every day. I officially applied for a state job, a county job, and the FBI. I'm still going to hit up a couple private entities next week but those three are a good start. The state job would be ideal except getting selected is the hard part. It's a Probation & Parole position. I have a little pull...but not much. My professor put in a good word for me through his buddy (or so he says). The county job is a little more social work-ish. It's a Juvenile Counselor. The down fall is the pay is low (equivalent to a social worker) and I'll have to negotiate and that will more likely decrease my odds. The FBI is always hiring and as long as I can pass all the exams (not too worried about) I'll be fine. The down fall is that it's a long process, my station will be in the Portland area, and I'll have about a 21 week training in Virginia (I think). There is nothing wrong with Portland - just another big city. And yes, Jake would go with me to Virginia. We'll see what happens. I'm still on the hunt. The hiring process is crazy for government jobs in my field. I have to close my myspace (not that we had anything on there of ever used it) but it's against policy to have one. I don't know about Facebook or blogspot. I do know they check out my friends so I might have to get rid of a couple of you...Just kidding! As for everything else we are plugging along.

Here are my Crazy Eights!

8 t.v. shows that I love to watch:

Intervention

Cold Case Files

Forensic Files

Dominick Dunne's Power, Priviledge, and Justice

American Justice

Amazing Race

House Hunters

Home Make Over Shows

8 Favorite Restaurants:

Applebee's

Olive Garden

Fuddruckers

Famous Dave's BBQ

Chili's

Some Bar by my house has really good food!

Red Robbin

El Torrito (I stole this one from you Sara!)

8 Things that happened yesterday:

Cleaned the Stove

Dropped my brother off at his buddies

Ate a bunch of crap

Applied for a job in Eugene, Oregon

Watched t.v

Played the Wii

Did homework

Took the dogs to the park

8 Things I am looking forward to:

Finishing school

Moving out of Vegas

Having kids

Being able to go camping where it's green!

Going fishing with Jake

Selling our land (accepting all offers!)

Going snowboarding

A new year

8 Things I love about Fall:

The weather

Halloween
Football games (even though I think the game is dumb)

Not running my A/C anymore!

Girls on campus having to wear clothes!

Work actually picks up so we're not bored

My dogs don't over heat

It's okay to have open camp fires

8 Things on my wish list:

A house of my own

New hair clippers for the dog (and my husband)

A new bed

A personal trainer

Some new clothes

Lasic eye surgery

A tandem bicycle! Wouldn't that be so fun to own!?

Socks...you can't have too many

8 People to tag:

I don't know 8 people that haven't done this...

Jaimie

Carolyn

Amy

Shanae

Britney

Mom

Beth

Jacque