I was born and raised in Mooresville, IN. For the last 4 years of high school all I could think about was leaving IN. I went to college in Bloomington and still only wanted to leave the state. In Jan of 1998 I moved to St Louis, MO; in Feb 2003 I moved to Denver, CO, Feb 2005 Silverthorne, CO, Sept 2009 Portland, OR - as far west in the US as I could go (almost). In May 2010 to NY - as far east in the US (almost). Now...I miss Indiana.
I am not moving back (I promise, Andy).
My room at my parents is not the same - it is set-up as a guest room - but it will always be my room. Marcus and Cari would the say the same. Some of our high school stuff still remains in the closets. The high school has been expanded but the smell and feel is the same. I am still a Pioneer. The restaurants around Mooresville have not changed much - Gray's Cafeteria has had some recent fame being on Man vs Food but the mac and cheese hasn't changed. Biff's is open again and though I have not been back in to try a Bismark I hear they are still sweetly amazing.
I am thankful that via FB,Marcus and Jamie I have been able to keep up with some friends from HS. It gives me even more reason to come home. Having TRUE friends makes a big difference. Learning over the years to be a good friend has made all the difference.
Getting over my ego, myself or whatever obstacle I dreamed up - good therapy made me see it was crazy. I always came home for holidays and when Josi was born I came home 8 times a year. But, I never really did anything - I didn't want to interact with anyone from HS. Just see the family in and out in 3 days. Now, a week is not long to see everyone and enjoy what IN has to offer: renewed friendship, Colt's games and some great restaurants (next article).
We will probably never live in Indiana but going home will always mean going there. I am proud of my up- bringing and have truly enjoyed remembering all the good parts of my childhood. I am thankful for an amazing family who told me I always had a place to call home.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
There is a hole in the sky.....
When Andy and I bought our first home aka House Car we knew we needed to replace the A/C unit. As Earl was threatening to hit the east coast Andy was removing the original unit at Manning Imports. He was on the roof of the RV most of the day and came to a few conclusions.
One was that the previous owner failed to mentioned the reason the A/C didn't work was because they had clearly attempted to drive under and underpass that was not quite 10.5 feet high! The cover didn't fit because it was not meant for our Coachman! Bummer.
The second thing was that we needed to replace the entire unit not just the fan and it would take 7 days to arrive. Double Bummer!
Did I mentioned Earl was heading our way - you know the Hurricane??
Okay...so this is what we had - a nice sun roof in our home! We had to drive up to Nyack - about an hour north for the next job. The storm was brewing!
Andy covered it up (no picture) for the drive up. I had to drive the Pathfinder with trailer and tools so I couldn't keep an eye on the hole in the ceiling. The sun was shining, he covered it up, we should be fine. Now, we are more than a little nervous about water - remember we already had an indoor water fountain and hope to not install another!
When we got up to Leah's house in Nyack we realized Andy had lost the cover he had put on! Thank goodness no rain or birds or other foreign objects came in. He re-applied the cover - it was really quite impressive using wire, duct tape and a dome feature - I wish we would taken a picture. Then we waited for Earl to hit....and waited and waited and waited.....no rain, no hurricane, nothing - just a lot of heat and humidity with no A/C...but not rain inside our home..whew!
The A/C came in a week later and we drove down to Manning Imports for Andy to pick it up and install it. THEN the rain came and it cooled down. No need for the A/C but very nice to have the hole replaced - much much nicer!
We also found that we have 2 heaters! As winter is approaching it is good to know. We actually turned the propane heater on for a few minutes the other night - it was toasty warm - very nice.
The week that was hot, humid and we had the whole in the roof...we were also parked on a tilt. Our bed was flat but the rest of the RV was slanted and it was ANNOYING! Cabinet doors slamming on my head, uncomfortable to sit at the dining table as I am falling forward, more slamming cabinets. I asked nicely that when we returned from LI that Andy park flat.
Check out the orange levelers....Ahhhh so much better!! Love it!!
I have so much to write about Nyack!! We are LOVING being up there - a great little town. More to come..keep reading! Please please make a comment, subscribe, email, tell me what is going on with you!!
One was that the previous owner failed to mentioned the reason the A/C didn't work was because they had clearly attempted to drive under and underpass that was not quite 10.5 feet high! The cover didn't fit because it was not meant for our Coachman! Bummer.
The second thing was that we needed to replace the entire unit not just the fan and it would take 7 days to arrive. Double Bummer!
Did I mentioned Earl was heading our way - you know the Hurricane??
Andy covered it up (no picture) for the drive up. I had to drive the Pathfinder with trailer and tools so I couldn't keep an eye on the hole in the ceiling. The sun was shining, he covered it up, we should be fine. Now, we are more than a little nervous about water - remember we already had an indoor water fountain and hope to not install another!
We also found that we have 2 heaters! As winter is approaching it is good to know. We actually turned the propane heater on for a few minutes the other night - it was toasty warm - very nice.
The week that was hot, humid and we had the whole in the roof...we were also parked on a tilt. Our bed was flat but the rest of the RV was slanted and it was ANNOYING! Cabinet doors slamming on my head, uncomfortable to sit at the dining table as I am falling forward, more slamming cabinets. I asked nicely that when we returned from LI that Andy park flat.
I have so much to write about Nyack!! We are LOVING being up there - a great little town. More to come..keep reading! Please please make a comment, subscribe, email, tell me what is going on with you!!
Pictures....
We had a great New Year and I wanted to post the couple of pictures we remembered to take. I need to be better - pictures really make a difference..I know!
Here is our dinner table at Nina and Stu's. We are digging into the famous traditional Matzo Ball Soup. It is not a Jewish Holiday without it - unless is one where fasting is required!
This one of my favorite dishes (besides Stu's Matzo Bri - it is by the far the best!) it is Potato Knick - it is potatoes and a bunch of other yummy things Nina threw in :) We had it the next day with breakfast too - so good.
Now all I can think about is all the amazing food at Passover! I am not sure if I want to go eat or go for a run to make room!
What is your favorite holiday dish? Come on...I want some feedback!!
Here is our dinner table at Nina and Stu's. We are digging into the famous traditional Matzo Ball Soup. It is not a Jewish Holiday without it - unless is one where fasting is required!
What is your favorite holiday dish? Come on...I want some feedback!!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Happy New Year..
Last night at sundown begin the Jewish High Holidays - beginning with Rosh Hashana - New Year. Yom Kippur (the other High Holiday) is ten days from now. This time period is now called the Days of Awe.
I am no expert on the Jewish holidays or traditions. I have been blessed to marry into a Jewish family and Saved by a Jewish Carpenter Jesus. My in-laws gave me the book The Jewish Book of Why. This book along with the Old Testament have given me some great insight on why these days are celebrated and how they have been and are celebrated. These days, as our all Jewish holidays, are rich in history and tradition.
There are many reasons I love taking part but one main reason....Jesus did too. The Torah is the Bible Jesus read. As a Christian I cannot deny that my Savior is in fact a Jew. He too celebrated Passover, Rosh Hashana,Yom Kippur and Purim. That is fascinating to me!
Andy's family observes these days as all good Jews do and I have a deep respect for their beliefs. It is time for his family (our family) to be reminded of their culture, believes and history. And is always fun to get together for a meal with the Held family :)
I believe, Rosh Hashana is a day all believers should observe. It is a day of reflection and renewal. This is the seventh month of the year - Tishri and is celebrated for one long day*. Rosh Hashana is about returning to God who is in His mercy is willing to receive penitent, forgive sins and offers an opportunity to being the New Year fresh. Christians believe that Jesus died for our sins once and for all - I believe that. But, the Bible still calls us to repent of our sins. Paul says that before we take communion we should look within ourselves and see if there is anything separating us.(1 Cor 11:28 "But a man must examine himself.." Rosh Hashana is much like that - take a look in the mirror and come before God and ask for His Grace.
The book of Why says these two holidays " ...holy convocations..They emphasize spirituality morality and holiness, and unlike other holidays are not tied to national historic events. They celebrate God's role as King of the universe and Judge of all man's actions. ....holidays which are devoted to self-examination and are not considered joyous..."
During these Days of Awe the gates of repentance are open along with the Book of Life, Book of Death and The Book of Those in Between. The believe is that God makes His decision on life and death during these days. Some Jews will visit grave sites to ask their relatives to plead their case for them.
The gates are closed after Yom Kippur - the Holiest of Days (after the Sabbath - the Sabbath remains the holiest of all days). This is day of prayer and fast. There are five services during the 24 hour period. The shofar** is blown and the congregation is now ready to face a New Year.The fasting requirement comes from the book of Numbers 29:7 - "And on the tenth day of his seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation and ye shall afflict your souls..."
The common phrase used during Rosh Hashana is "le-shana tova tikatevu" meaning "may you be inscribed in the Book of Life for good"
Certain foods are also prepared: challot (which is often in the form of a bird "As hovering birds, so will the Lord protect Jerusalem" Isaiah 31:5), new fruit (apples, grapes and pomegranates and some Jews will not eat of these fruits until this day), lekach (honey cake) which means portion (served with hope and prayer that those who observe will be given a goodly portion "For I give you a doctrine (lekach), do not forsake my teaching" Prov 4:2), fish head (as to be the head/leader in the new year), beet roots and carrot tzimmes.
Andy and I will be in Long Island tonight taking part in this sacred holiday. I am thankful to be reminded that God is King and to look within myself to see if there is any sin that I too need to confess.
I wonder how Jesus celebrated.....how will you?
*In the old testament/Torah it is only celebrated one day but through the years it was two days because of the uncertainty of when the New Moon was. Throughout the years with technology to pinpoint to the second when the New Moon will appear most Jews celebrate one long day.
**The Shofar is always a Rams horn to symbolize the ram who was the replacement sacrifice for Isaac - the one stuck in the thorny fence when Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice his own son. A cow horn is never used as that represents the golden calf the children of Israel made when Moses received the 10 commandments the first time.
I am no expert on the Jewish holidays or traditions. I have been blessed to marry into a Jewish family and Saved by a Jewish Carpenter Jesus. My in-laws gave me the book The Jewish Book of Why. This book along with the Old Testament have given me some great insight on why these days are celebrated and how they have been and are celebrated. These days, as our all Jewish holidays, are rich in history and tradition.
There are many reasons I love taking part but one main reason....Jesus did too. The Torah is the Bible Jesus read. As a Christian I cannot deny that my Savior is in fact a Jew. He too celebrated Passover, Rosh Hashana,Yom Kippur and Purim. That is fascinating to me!
Andy's family observes these days as all good Jews do and I have a deep respect for their beliefs. It is time for his family (our family) to be reminded of their culture, believes and history. And is always fun to get together for a meal with the Held family :)
I believe, Rosh Hashana is a day all believers should observe. It is a day of reflection and renewal. This is the seventh month of the year - Tishri and is celebrated for one long day*. Rosh Hashana is about returning to God who is in His mercy is willing to receive penitent, forgive sins and offers an opportunity to being the New Year fresh. Christians believe that Jesus died for our sins once and for all - I believe that. But, the Bible still calls us to repent of our sins. Paul says that before we take communion we should look within ourselves and see if there is anything separating us.(1 Cor 11:28 "But a man must examine himself.." Rosh Hashana is much like that - take a look in the mirror and come before God and ask for His Grace.
The book of Why says these two holidays " ...holy convocations..They emphasize spirituality morality and holiness, and unlike other holidays are not tied to national historic events. They celebrate God's role as King of the universe and Judge of all man's actions. ....holidays which are devoted to self-examination and are not considered joyous..."
During these Days of Awe the gates of repentance are open along with the Book of Life, Book of Death and The Book of Those in Between. The believe is that God makes His decision on life and death during these days. Some Jews will visit grave sites to ask their relatives to plead their case for them.
The gates are closed after Yom Kippur - the Holiest of Days (after the Sabbath - the Sabbath remains the holiest of all days). This is day of prayer and fast. There are five services during the 24 hour period. The shofar** is blown and the congregation is now ready to face a New Year.The fasting requirement comes from the book of Numbers 29:7 - "And on the tenth day of his seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation and ye shall afflict your souls..."
The common phrase used during Rosh Hashana is "le-shana tova tikatevu" meaning "may you be inscribed in the Book of Life for good"
Certain foods are also prepared: challot (which is often in the form of a bird "As hovering birds, so will the Lord protect Jerusalem" Isaiah 31:5), new fruit (apples, grapes and pomegranates and some Jews will not eat of these fruits until this day), lekach (honey cake) which means portion (served with hope and prayer that those who observe will be given a goodly portion "For I give you a doctrine (lekach), do not forsake my teaching" Prov 4:2), fish head (as to be the head/leader in the new year), beet roots and carrot tzimmes.
Andy and I will be in Long Island tonight taking part in this sacred holiday. I am thankful to be reminded that God is King and to look within myself to see if there is any sin that I too need to confess.
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| Good books.... |
*In the old testament/Torah it is only celebrated one day but through the years it was two days because of the uncertainty of when the New Moon was. Throughout the years with technology to pinpoint to the second when the New Moon will appear most Jews celebrate one long day.
**The Shofar is always a Rams horn to symbolize the ram who was the replacement sacrifice for Isaac - the one stuck in the thorny fence when Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice his own son. A cow horn is never used as that represents the golden calf the children of Israel made when Moses received the 10 commandments the first time.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Give us this day our daily bread.....
I know when Jesus prayed to His Father he was talking about giving us our basic needs each day. This is a verse from the Lord's Prayer Jesus prayed when the disciples asked him how to pray.
The problem is cousin Leah...she introduced me to Rockland Bakery. Now I feel my daily bread can only come from Rockland Bakery - right out of the oven and still hot. Now, Leah did not force me to grab a bag and a glove so I could pick from hundreds of different hot dough items: bagels, dinner rolls, pretzels and baguettes but she took me there. I did think about the manna and how it went bad if the children of Israel took more than their daily needs. I was conservative - 2 bagels, 4 dinner rolls, 1 pretzel and a croissant. I really thought Andy and Leah would try something....despite that they are both allergic to bread in some way - yeast, grain, whatever! Really? Why would Jesus pray for daily bread and then make my husband allergic! (Sorry, Andy, I know you LOVE bread and it makes you sick. I promise I will try not bring it home to tempt you again.).
Rockland Bakery also has an entire pastry section. Seriously! I gave up deserts the night before! Leah - really? I of course had to buy a few different cookies for dinner that night: chocolate fudge sandwiched between two butter/sugar cookies, chocolate rugula fruit tart: amazing butter pastry with fresh blackberries and raspberries on top - maybe some apple filling on top to hold it all together.
I had the pretzel (see picture) for lunch. It was perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside - still hot from the bakery. It had a flavor I couldn't quite place - the sea salt on top was just part of it. Andy couldn't help himself. The onion bagel smell was strong and yummy through the paper bag...he just had a bite and than went to a mental happy place.
The deserts we ate after our raw veggie, hummus, tzatziki, spinach dip dinner. Leah and Andy tried the butter fudge cookies and I concentrated on the FRUIT tart - it was soft, buttery and yummy. Andy and I have been trying chocolate rugula almost at every bakery or coffee shop that makes them in NY. We are pretty sure Rockland Bakery has the best but need to re-try the bakery in New Paltz to be positive.
Now, Andy and I are talking about doing a cleanse. After all the wine and desert Leah has forced down our throats (hehehehe) we feel it is time. Of course....we are leaving here and heading to Afton where the Main Street Bakery does make the best scones I have ever had....
I may need to go back and re-read Jesus' prayer as a reminder about my basic needs...
(Ummm you can order online...just saying)
Rockland Bakery
94 Demarest Mill Road
Nanuet, NY 10954
(845) 623-5800
(845) 623-6921
The problem is cousin Leah...she introduced me to Rockland Bakery. Now I feel my daily bread can only come from Rockland Bakery - right out of the oven and still hot. Now, Leah did not force me to grab a bag and a glove so I could pick from hundreds of different hot dough items: bagels, dinner rolls, pretzels and baguettes but she took me there. I did think about the manna and how it went bad if the children of Israel took more than their daily needs. I was conservative - 2 bagels, 4 dinner rolls, 1 pretzel and a croissant. I really thought Andy and Leah would try something....despite that they are both allergic to bread in some way - yeast, grain, whatever! Really? Why would Jesus pray for daily bread and then make my husband allergic! (Sorry, Andy, I know you LOVE bread and it makes you sick. I promise I will try not bring it home to tempt you again.).
Rockland Bakery also has an entire pastry section. Seriously! I gave up deserts the night before! Leah - really? I of course had to buy a few different cookies for dinner that night: chocolate fudge sandwiched between two butter/sugar cookies, chocolate rugula fruit tart: amazing butter pastry with fresh blackberries and raspberries on top - maybe some apple filling on top to hold it all together.
I had the pretzel (see picture) for lunch. It was perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside - still hot from the bakery. It had a flavor I couldn't quite place - the sea salt on top was just part of it. Andy couldn't help himself. The onion bagel smell was strong and yummy through the paper bag...he just had a bite and than went to a mental happy place.
The deserts we ate after our raw veggie, hummus, tzatziki, spinach dip dinner. Leah and Andy tried the butter fudge cookies and I concentrated on the FRUIT tart - it was soft, buttery and yummy. Andy and I have been trying chocolate rugula almost at every bakery or coffee shop that makes them in NY. We are pretty sure Rockland Bakery has the best but need to re-try the bakery in New Paltz to be positive.
Now, Andy and I are talking about doing a cleanse. After all the wine and desert Leah has forced down our throats (hehehehe) we feel it is time. Of course....we are leaving here and heading to Afton where the Main Street Bakery does make the best scones I have ever had....
I may need to go back and re-read Jesus' prayer as a reminder about my basic needs...
Rockland Bakery
94 Demarest Mill Road
Nanuet, NY 10954
(845) 623-5800
(845) 623-6921
Saturday, September 4, 2010
I miss my House Husband....
I was offered the position that same evening. After a fabulous dinner at Red Iguana in SLC (some of the best mexican food - amazing moles....a must go when you are in SLC. Be prepared to stand in line - outside but I promise it is worth the wait)(736 West North Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3352 (801) 322-1489)
we headed to Price Canyon for the night. The next morning we hiked to the top of mountain and Andy proposed saying he wanted to have epic adventures, blah blah blah. He gave me a ring he had made out of silver - his first of many silver pieces to come :) I said yes...
That weekend we planned the wedding for seven weeks later. We got married on a boat in Freeport, NY with just family and a few of my very close friends (since a lot of my family were unable to come to NY) on September 11, 2009. That was a Friday. On Monday we flew from JKF to PDX and moved into our temporary housing. That afternoon I went to work at Columbia.
Andy has started as learning carpentry at age 15 and has since become a master at the skill. He does amazing work - custom furniture, trim, restoration, crown molding - pretty much anything dealing with wood he can do. I am so amazed and proud of his work. But....he does not enjoy it...bummer. He wants to do something different, something that does not break his back and something that would make a difference or at least lead to making a difference. So...when we moved to Portland I told him that he should take the next 6 months to figure out what he really wanted to do - play around with some ideas, businesses, etc.
It was awesome...for me. He cooked, cleaned and did all the laundry. He unpacked, organized, hung the pictures and put away everything at our temporary housing and then again at our new apartment. Andy did most the apartment hunting while I was in China and we signed a lease on a place I had never seen. I didn't care - I trusted him and I didn't have to think about anything...just sign on the dotted line. I went to work and balanced the check book - he did everything else. Every morning he made my breakfast, coffee and packed a lunch. And then....my job was eliminated, I was fired, whatever you choose to call it - I was no longer working an 8-5 job at Columbia. It was a blur of a week - we packed, put things in a POD, some things in a trailer, said our goodbyes and drove east. Driving east felt weird - I had never moved east....
And then it happened...Andy went to work and I lost my house husband. He didn't really like the job but I am thinking he misses it as he is icing his back right now after tweaking it pounding nails yesterday. I miss having every meal prepared and never having to go to a grocery store.
That being said, I did luck out in that fact that I am a house wife who lives in an RV :) There is not a lot to clean and we have very little stuff to unpack and organize. I am working and trying to get our new company off the ground so he never has to pound nails again and maybe someday we can hire a house person (probably not while we are living in the RV - that would be a bit awkward).
I will say that being an RV house wife is not easy. I have to take the trash out 1-2 times a day. Close quarters means 1. A small trash can 2. Smelly stuff needs to get out of the house fast. Since we do not have a ton of clothes I do a lot of laundry and clothes cannot sit on a piece of exercise equipment or on the floor. We have no equipment and floor space is almost non-existent. We have 10 bins - 5 a piece - pants, tops, shoes, work/workout cloths and hoodies/sweaters/jackets. I will post a picture. I have to clean daily - wipe down tables, vacuum and sweep. Think how dirty your car gets when camping - well this is our house so it can't be just a campsite! Things have to be put away - no leaving things out on tables, chairs or sofas - we have no chairs and if you leave something out it will end up on the floor rolling around the moment we take off! It is my job to make sure everything is secure.
I do have a nice easy way to make coffee and tea every morning. I LOVE my new Keurig coffee make Nina and Stu bought us for our house-warming. I can make my own single cup of coffee or buy single coffee cups. The pre-made cups are great because they are mess free and so easy. But, there is a lot of waste and it cost about $.60 a cup vs about $.30-$.40 making my own Rocky Mountain Roaster Coffee (which is WAY better tasting but a little more effort involved).
We have not used our new convection oven the Held's bought us. It has been too hot to use any heating device. Until our A/C is installed we are eating raw veggies and cereal or using our neighbor's (Leah) kitchen.
I love the RV life-style....I just miss my house husband.....
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