Closing out 2012!

Due to lack of internet and fighting with my phone, I am STILL behind on posting photos from leaving Lexington, our trip to Las Vegas, and our first Christmas here.  All coming soon, I promise!

Dad and I had an awesome trip from Kentucky to Nevada.  I'm so glad he was with me for the drive.  First, because it was great to see so much of America for the first time together; secondly, the second day of driving was difficult and I'm glad he was behind the wheel!  The last 200 miles were the toughest but we made it.

More details and pictures to come, but in brief, Albuquerque was GROSS, Flagstaff was magically beautiful with snow, and there wasn't much in between!  Dad had a fun couple of days with us in Vegas.  He was surprised at how nice our house is, how green the landscaping is, and at how boring we found the slot machines!  He called the Strip "Gatlinburg on steroids"--and I kind of agree!

Things here so far have been very busy but I'm settling in okay.  The last couple of days have been very welcomed--we've been on the go since I arrived.  Unpacking, having Ryiah for several days, getting HR tasks accomplished for work, having Sean's family here, and having Christmas activities wtih them and Ryiah has left little time to relax.

I've only been lost a couple of times--thank God for Nav on the iPhone!  The most frustrating and difficult thing so far has been getting around to things we need.  There is no running around the corner for toilet paper or milk; everything is a stop or two up or down the freeway.  And I am most annoyed at the retail landscape here.  EVERYTHING is tucked back into shopping centers designed to conceal things from the road so it is VERY hard to SEE a store even when you have the address.  Most notably, I drove around shopping centers searching for the drug-testing clinic (for my new job).... couldn't find it and looked for so long that I finally had to give up and go to the bathroom at a McDonalds!

It's also been tough to have so many friends on east coast time and so few friends on Vegas-time so far. I keep wanting to call Marilee, Mark or my mom at 8:30 or 9 p.m., only to realize they would have some choice words for me being it's night-time in Kentucky!  I will be very glad to meet some new friends here, soon.

Sean has been pretty patient with me and in return I've tried to be as independent as possible.  We have both loved getting to see and have Ryiah so often.  It is, however, hard to suddenly learn how to help care for a three-year-old!  I've been informed on a few occassions that I'm not very good at fixing hair and breakfast yet, but I will learn.  Ryiah is hilarious and sweet and definitely the whole reason we made this move, and I am loving that she has two houses near each other now and can see her dad all the time.  We have spoiled her with worms and fish for Christmas--another post with photos to come

I start my new job Wednesday as the Vice President of Business Development for HCA's Far West Division.  They have been sending me documents and background information to prepare.  I'm VERY excited and VERY nervous to dig into a new industry and new position.  But I am definitely ready for the challenge.  This is the biggest challenge I've taken on in my career since WEG, and I'm so lucky and happy for the opportunity.

All in all, 2012 was a year of transition for me.  I'm looking forward to getting into the swing of a routine with a new job, new family, new city, and new life in 2013.  Sean and I have truly been blessed in our careers this year and with that the ability to be with and provide for Ryiah.  Here's hoping that the New Year fulfills the promises and desires that we have worked so hard to achieve!

Wishing all my friends and family--near and far--and prosperous and joyous 2013.  Please visit us soon!

XO

Amy

On the road

Thanks to my Internet being turned off at my house, I am way behind on updates from my last days in Lexington! I will post pictures soon but first, a quick update from the road.

Dad and I will have traveled 16 hours and about 1100 miles by the time we get to Amarillo in two hours. Things we learned today:

1) that smell in Missouri wasn't us or the dogs. It was the cattle farm next door. We swear.

2) Missouri is not very creative in naming roads. Those weird white square signs with one letter on them at interstate exits? That's signifying road k or road mm.

3) If you accidentally take the lane for people with the Oklahoma toll road pass, no one chases after you.

4) verdict is still out on whether or not you get caught on camera and mailed a ticket.

5) somewhere in Oklahoma there is a national site for baby Jesus of Prague. No clue.

6) windmills are creepy.

7) anyone who believes the world is overpopulated has never driven through the Midwest.

More soon!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Oklahoma somewhere

FOUR: A note about some really awesome people who (sometimes) wear red shoes

Last night was my last meeting with the Red Shoe Society, the young professional board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass.  And it was the first time I've been sad about leaving Lexington!

For those who do not know, the Ronald McDonald House of the Bluegrass serves Kentucky by providing families a comfortable, compassionate and convenient place to stay while a child is in the hospital in Lexington.  Many of these families are here for months at a time, and stay at the house for little to no cost while also getting assistance with transportation, meals and other needs.  Because children unfortunately always have illnesses, the need for the house never goes away.

The Red Shoe Society started in 2010 to get young professionals engaged in the charity--and I have to say it's the BEST volunteer group I have ever joined!  This group is ambitious, driven, and FUN!  How many organizations do you know that, in just its second year of existence, can throw a fashion show with stars from Project Runway?

I hope my Lexington friends will keep this organization growing! We raised more than $15,000 for RMHC of the Bluegrass this year, and from last night's meeting, I know that great things are in store for 2013.  I hope I get to come back for a least an event--or two.

Love my Red Shoes! 

Forgetting details

A couple of quick weekend updates.

Stella is getting accustomed to her seat belt... but she's not happy with me about it!  Only a few days left to practice before she's stuck in there for the long haul.

My mom came up Sunday for a girl's day in Lexington.  No packing involved! We had an awesome breakfast at Shakespeare and Company and spent the afternoon at the Marriott Griffin Gate spa getting massages and pedicures. Thanks for footing the bill, dad! And mom didn't even cry when she left. I was very impressed!

I'm a bad daughter and didn't get any pictures of us.  All I have to share is the Charlie Brown Christmas tree mom brought to me because she is afraid we won't have any Christmas decor in the Vegas house!  It even plays the theme song :)

FIVE

Well, today I cried.

Not because I'm sad. I just officially lost my "I can do all these things by this deadline" mojo.

The moving van has come and gone.  There was a brief but significant tussle with the movers; they tried to tell me that they could only pack the number of boxes quoted on my estimate.  Which was 19. And I had 38 boxes sitting around my house.

Just how were those boxes, then, supposed to get across the country? 

A few phone calls and, um, stern remarks later, the problem was solved thankfully with no additional fees. 

So now I sit with little more than a mattress and a small TV to get me through until Saturday.

But now, back to the crying.

After the moving scuffle, the refrigerator repairman (yes, they do exist) came by and told me that 1) my icemaker was not covered under my home warranty and 2) it would cost $700 to fix.  

Ugh.

Then, upon finding the extended warranty purchased by the original owners, that warranty company would not dispatch service until the warranty was transferred into my name.  And in our glorious world of technology, Assurant Solutions Warranty will only accept transfer request via mail.  Snail mail. As in write a letter, put it in the post box, wait for it to arrive and be processed.

So sorry renters--you are going to have to buy bagged ice for a couple of weeks.

Add to that a list of school work and work tasks to complete this week, and you get a crying mess in the kitchen floor.  But a couple of minutes later I realized that no one was going to rescue me so I might as well stop. 

So, day five done.  Packing and shipping out: done.  Goodwill run: done.  Icemaker: in (slow) process.  Calls to the vet for sedatives and to LFUCG ahead. 

And SO looking forward to drinks and dinner with all of my WEG PR girls tonight!!!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

One Down... Three to Go!

Ladies and gentlemen, Sean Doane has left Kentucky!

Our first wave of goodbyes came last night as we were so thrilled to have so many friends visit Sean at a little going-away gathering for him.  We've definitely made some great friends who feel like family here, and you all better come visit us!

I didn't think it would be hard to see him leave, but I was really surprised at how sad I was last night!  This is the place we met, where we bought our first house, where we've learned how to be a family with Ryiah, where we've laughed and loved and fought and everything in between. It's so strange to know he will not be back in this house with me!

And I'm angry about that, too.  Because he didn't quite finish his honey-do list and I have a LOT of packing left to do.

We are so blessed and fortunate to have met so many wonderful people during our time in Kentucky, and we will miss you all very, very much.

But Cassie, Stella and I are not leaving just yet... so who wants to bring some boxes over and help me pack?

Sean and his "son" Justin. 

Telling Stella she'd be a show girl in a couple of weeks!

Last time leaving our home :(

Big Changes

Well kids... we are Las Vegas bound!

We had been contemplating a move to Vegas sometime in 2013.  But, in one week's time Sean and I both received amazing job offers and so, away we go in just a few days!

I will be starting a job doing business development for a company called HCA Healthcare, which manages several hospitals in Las Vegas and California.  I'm SO excited... it's a new field and a new career direction for me, and it's going to be a great challenge.

Everything has somehow fallen into place very easily so far.  Sean found a townhouse for us that met all of my requirements, including:

1) Grass (don't laugh; it's rare in the desert)
2) A tree (ditto)
3) A community pool
4) A fenced in backyard
5) A park
6) Nearby shopping

Yes, I'm high-maintenance. But I'm moving to the desert. It's going to take a few things to make me happy.

So now begins the process of packing up the house, selling what we can't pack, renting the house, and driving to Vegas.

I didn't think I'd be packing up all my books AGAIN.  YUCK.  And we are having massive yard sale in the very near future.  How did I collect all this crap in just one year?

My friend Hollis is making the drive with me, Cassie and Stella.  I'm so grateful to her and I know it's going to be a big, marathon adventure! But how many times do you have good reason to drive across the U.S.?  We're planning to take the southern route, so if anyone knows any quirky stops around Arkansas, Texas, or Arizona...let me know!

Sean has told Ryiah and she is excited but a little confused.  She was sad that she wouldn't see Cassie and Stella anymore. She thought they were stuck in Kentucky!  Hopefully it will be a fun surprise for her to see them arrive--and stay--in Las Vegas.

It's going to be a wild few weeks... and then a wild new adventure as life begins in a new place!

But first things first... anyone need to rent a house in Lexington?