Another Day At The Office

"How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!" 

~John Muir ~

Sunrise over Utah. The view from Christopher's office.

Reflections On Thankfulness

It's only November 3rd and lists of "What I am Thankful For" are floating around the social media world. Each day many of us see or remind ourselves of what we are thankful for. But this time of year we get an extra dose of thankfulness. Its a good thing to do.
 

The early lists got me in a reflective mood. Maybe its not the lists I have seen, maybe it's the hours of down time that I have had the last three months. So, yes, I am going to inflict a list on our readers. Most of you do not know very much of the back story...someday I will get it up on here. But for now, here is my list of four things I am thankful for.

Not So Sure, St. George

St.George, Utah - August 1-2, 2014

Okay - so I have tons of fun with feeling a little naughty following my husband in uniform down a hotel hallway at 11:30 at night. We look like two teenagers and we have fun with that too.

This trip to St. George was supposed to be a romantic weekend out with most of Saturday to ourselves and a new town to explore. Together - we love being together...so I like to try to follow him whenever I can.

The Man With Stinky Feet

Salt Lake City Airport - August 1st, 2014

I plan to apply (very soon) to be on the TSA Pre-Check list. With the amount of flying that I have been doing and will be doing...it just makes sense. Then Chris and I can go through security together and no more panic attacks in long security lines.

This last time about did me in...

Our First Two Weeks Cooking

July 2014 - Salt Lake City

Cooking with one (borrowed) stainless steel pot and one cast iron pan is awesome...but difficult if I want more than two dishes. Last night for example: Chicken Curry w/Rice. Simple right? I started the rice, brown rice. I mixed up the sauce and placed it our recently bought and one and only baking dish. Then decided that the chicken would take forever to bake in the oven. I took out the chicken and started to cook it in the cast iron pan. The rice is finished – put that in our recently purchased glass storage container (Den Mother, you have forever spoiled me!)  Rinse out the pot and put the green beans in to cook. Chicken is cooking and I add the sauce. This is working out lovely. But....Chris is working on a baked oatmeal for breakfast the next morning. He needs to melt some coconut oil. We have no little pan and no microwave. In the oven it goes. We dance in our tiny kitchen – cherishing our happy moments of carefully coordinating pots, pans, and the use of our one spatula.

You Got Mail

Salt Lake City, July 2014

Growing up, getting the mail was a big deal. My brother and I would race down after “it”came and tried to get there first and be the one to carry “it” up to the house. It was a sacred daily ritual. When a holiday came – we would morn. Up until I moved away (and when I am back home) I cherished my walk down to the mail box. I love that walk!

The Ghost of Jeeves

July/August 2014, Salt Lake City

Our first apartment building was built in 1909. Each unit is super unique and each one different than the other, just like it's residents. When we first walked in when an employee was showing us studios...I stood speechless. 

"Lydia The Tattooed Lady"

(What to do in order to fit in with the 20something crowd in our neighborhood)

July, 2014

Portlanders are very vocal about being and staying weird. SLC folks are quiet about it. They are unique, hip, kinda “Portlander” but different. The look – hipster/grunge. Sun kissed with really really nice hair. The men – many are very well groomed and could be models. Maybe they are? The women – hipster, vintage, some rather punkish, some very Jess from New Girl. Many have tattoos.

The Great Scare

Rock Springs, Wyoming. July 27,2014

The alarm went off at 5:00am (the day before it went off at 4:30am) and we tried our best to wake up and roll out of bed. We rolled out, but far from awake. We got ready and were down at the lobby to wait for the airport shuttle in record time.

Before I move on to tell you about “The Great Scare”, I should say a few words about Rock Springs.... I wondered why a gate agent in Denver chuckled at the fact that I was overnighting in Rock Springs with Chris. Now I know. The airport is in the middle of nowhere. When we landed, it felt like I was on another planet. Dry, dusty, and very rocky. We landed and walked out to “the gate” and walked through the tiny terminal and out to wait for the shuttle. We had to wait a few minutes, so I explored some. We were surrounded by canyons and rocks....lots of rocks. I kept expecting a heard of buffalo to appear with Indians riding horses behind them. Our shuttle came before the buffalo..so we were sad to miss that. Our drive to the hotel was long and it was quite some time before we even saw a town. Just road and rocks. Anyway – the scenery was really cool and I wish we had more time to explore, but food and sleep were at top of our list.

The next morning came and you already know that it was early. We piled into the shuttle with the captain and flight attendant and drove off to the tiny airport among the canyons. Chris went off to start his job for the day and I had to go through security like a regular boring person. Easy right, just like in Laramie?? Well...

Birthday In 2C

Laramie, Wyoming. July 25th, 2014

Today I flew on Chris's plane for the first time! I boarded last and got to meet the captain and flight attendant. The captain asked the flight attendant where I was sitting...I just thought Chris wanted to know where I was sitting. When the captain did his announcement he said that the lady in 2C was celebrating her birthday and the make sure to wish her happy birthday.... very funny. A few people actually did. I really could not say that I was the first officer's wife and it was a joke. So, I just said thank you and hoped no one would ask how old I was.

My stash of boarding passes by time the weekend was over!

The Time We Rode Two Trains (In An Airport)

Denver Airport. Friday, July 25th 2014

On this day we had several hours to kill while waiting for Chris's next flight. We sat, walked, talked, ate food, and snuggled (while trying not to look too scandalous with him in uniform.) We had a grand time. But then I got really hungry for a McDonald's apple pie. Yes, you did read that right. I have a major weakness for their apple pies. I was eating our packed food all day and I was really wanting something warm.

The Long Walk

Salt Lake City - July 25th, 2014

Trying to catch up with Chris in Denver. In order to catch up with my love (after the Great Disappointment the day before) I had to leave our apartment at 5:30am. No big deal, right? Right.

But...there were a few exceptions. I spent the night alone in our apartment. It went a lot better then the first time around. I actually slept well but really missed Chris.

My alarm went off at 4:30am. It was quiet out- not a sound...wait...what? There was someone digging around in the dumpster with a flash light! I have to walk right by that dumpster, up a drive/ally way, up (and I mean UP) a hill, and up again where our parking spot is. Great. It's dark, I am alone, and I will have two small carry on bags with me. I prayed that someone from our building would be going to work and walk out at the same time so I would not have to walk totally alone. (Before I go on...I grew up in the country and cities always gave me the creeps. I have been slowly getting use to the idea of living downtown in the middle of everything!)

The Great Disappointment

Salt Lake City Airport, July 24th 2014

On Monday, July 21st, we officially ended our official honeymoon. That Tuesday Chris did an overnight trip and I was home alone for the first time. I survived – but would have preferred to have Chris near by. He was home for Wednesday night. Tuesday was our one week anniversary and I decided to celebrate Wednesday night after I picked him up at the airport. I made dinner, put make up on, made my hair all pretty, and put on my LBD. I drove to the airport and picked up this hot pilot from the curb. We had a lovely picnic dinner on our floor (our table was too covered in things to unpack and organize).

Chris mentioned that he would love for me to to join him on his four day over the weekend. I loved the idea – for I was not totally thrilled to stay alone all weekend. I was pending for Delta privileges and his first flight to Gillette was a Delta flight. I was already ready to go to fly United. 
For the next couple of hours we threw ourselves into packing clothes and food for the next four days. We went to bed early and set our alarm for 4:30am. 

We then woke up and were out the door by 5:30am. Chris and I drove to the airport, parked in employee parking, rode the shuttle in to Terminal 2. The entire time Chris checking to see  if I was cleared to fly standby with Delta. We got there, double checked with a ticketing agent....and no luck. I was not cleared yet. We said very teary goodbyes and I shuffled back to the shuttle stop. Terrified to be alone all weekend. Deciding it should be a crime to separate newlyweds like that. I rode the shuttle back, luggage in hand. Got in the car...and cried. Drove home – just as the parade downtown ended (apparently Pioneer Day is bigger than the 4th of July!) So the 15 minute drive home turned into a 45 minute drive home. Crazy! I threw myself into our to-do list and did my best to push through. As the day progressed things got better.

Chris had an idea that I could meet him in Denver the next morning via a United flight. Should I go? Should I stay? Should I face and battle the giant? Or, should I go on another adventure? I decided....I would take that “Long Walk”.

Here's To Beginings!

 Welcome to our new little blog. We started a little journal (gasp! on paper) and have been taking notes since our first week of marriage. This is the place were we plan to post our adventures as newlyweds and adventurers for our family and friends. Some things will be super interesting and some things...not so much. But, we will do our best to keep our readers entertained.

Chris and I (Elisabeth) are originally from opposite sides of the country and now live in Utah. So far, in our almost two months of marriage, we have had quiet the adventures (many of which were totally not expected). No matter what is thrown at us, God is in control and we are excited to see where He is taking us.

Family, friends, and total strangers...we hope you enjoy our little blog and its various musing!