STS-126 Launch - 11/14/2008 :)

Below is a video clip of the STS-126 Shuttle launch this weekend - carrying CIR - the Combustion Integrated Rack :) (one of the projects I used to work on :) - too cool :) )

We had the incredible opportunity to watch the launch (the last scheduled night launch) from the VIP site. (Thanks Lorraine!)

I am amazed every time I see a launch. I apologize for the shakiness - I was very excited...and trying to hold back tears :)

A few descriptions so you can imagine being there...and get the whole effect...although...if you've never seen a launch I recommend trying to get down to see one before the shuttle retires (currently slated for retirement in 2010...possible it'll get extended a bit - we'll see)

* The bright dot - off to the left - was a full moon - beautiful (I can't wait to see some professional pics) :)

* You can actually feel the sound wave when it hits - such an incredible experience!

* Sorry I stopped the video so soon...it was starting to go out of my frame..and I was trying to keep the water at the bottom of the frame.

Will write more later about it, but wanted to post the video for my dad to watch :)

The Date is Set....FINALLY!!!!

JUNE 28TH, 2009 - That's the BIG Day!

Yes...it is a Sunday and I do apologize for that, but on the bright side (as George mentioned) it gives you an excuse not to go to work on Monday - no one likes to go to work on Monday anyway - right?

I can't tell you how difficult getting a date was...I know many of you have heard the stories...or have just been curious as to what was taking so long. We had so many different constraints we were trying to work with (Family coming home from overseas, other weddings already planned, hall, church, and band availability...etc. etc.) and it didn't help that the timing we needed to have the wedding was during the most popular wedding season (May-June)....but nonetheless...we finally have a date! :):):):) I can't tell you how relieved we were once we realized it was finally going to work this time. ...I can't tell you how many times I said....'We should have the date by the end of the day' - ha ha :)

But, it's official - I just went and put our deposit down. Details will follow, but mark your calendars!

Now let the fun begin!!! It was hard to move forward with the rest of the Wedding planning until we had a date...everyone wants a date :)

We look forward to sharing our adventure of planning our new lives together with you! Thanks for sharing in our excitement!

I'm Engaged :)

Yes - You read it correctly....George and I are engaged! :):):)

He asked me last weekend while we were home in the mountains to celebrate my mom's 60th B-day (Happy Birthday Mom!) and I knew that GG had planned to ask my dad for their blessing and permission, but I had no idea he was going to ask me this weekend too :)

It was kind of hard to slip away, because I wanted to spend as much time with the family as possible (it's a rarity that we all get together). So - yeah I was giving the poor guy a bit of a hard time in him getting me out of the house alone :) But, we were finally able to slip away for a few min. before loading up his truck and heading back up north (thanks to his persistance and a little help from my Dad - he was in on GG's plans).

So, we headed up into the mountains, to this beautiful overlook area, just minutes from my parents house.

Here's another view of the Mountains from the propsal site - BEAUTIFUL - boy do I miss my Mountains!

Here's GG with Shelby and Skyler before he proposed. He's so slick...he was like let me go over here and 'kneel' down with the puppies :) Does he look nervous? This was the last picture I took before he asked me.

So, yeah he's kneeling down and goes 'So...since your Dad gave us his blessing...' and I noticed him fiddling w/ his side pocket on his cargo shorts...and was like oh my gosh...he's getting ready to propose....and sure enough he pulls out the ring and goes... "Will you Marry me?"

Now...we all know what the normal response would be - right? But nope...I had to make it rough on the guy...and my response was..."That's It?" - not meaning the ring (trust me - he did a good job picking out a ring - it's beautiful!)...and obviously by the look on the poor guy's face he wasn't sure what I meant either.

So...I explained myself to him and let me explain myself to you...so I don't sound so horrible. It's just that I was expecting a little more of a lead-in to THE BIG question...you know...a little bit about why he wanted to marry me...isn't that how it's supposed to work ;) So after making myself and my rediculous comment clear...as well as saying YES! He proceeded to tell me why he wanted to marry me and then asked me 'You said Yes RIGHT?" :) Poor Guy! and I said "Yes, I said Yes!"

We of course shared some giggles and a few tears (me) in the mist of all this - with him promising NOT to let me forget my response for a long time :)

So -here's a picture of the newly engaged couple - seconds later :)

And the couple - showing the ring and the beautiful scenery!

Along with some congrats kisses from the puppies :)

And the BEAUTIFUL ring!
So after taking some pics of us and having loaded up the pups in the GG's truck, he says to me - 'Hey...I know this moment is about us and all...but would it be okay if we take some pictures of the truck.' :)



Now for those of you who know GG and his love of Ford Trucks...you will get a good laugh out of this!


So, after harrassing him about 'loving' his trucks more than me (this is something we've joked about our whole relationship) he says - nevermind...and I'm like 'No, I'm just joking :)" Afterall that's why I thought he was so insistant on getting out into the mountains all weekend anyway...so he could take some more pictures (we took pics. of his old truck in the Mtns. last time we were home) - didn't realize he was actually going to propose! :)

So, here's the pics we took of his new truck under the covered road just 25 yards away and the beautiful scenery engagement site. Typical boy and his toys!!

So that's the story :) and while neither of us were necessarily 'good' with our words this day and in the moment - it makes for a good story we won't be forgetting anytime soon :) and just shows us that we both love each other despite our quirks and silly comments :) :) and are looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together.

I told GG - on our drive back up to KY and OH - how much it meant to me that he proposed at home in my mountains not only b/c it is absolutely beautiful and an area that I love, but most importantly because I was able share the experience with my family and see their reactions face to face :)

Thanks for sharing in our excitment! We are still working out details (It's only been a week!), but we are looking at a June 09 wedding (of course that all depends on getting the church/hall/etc.)

I'm gonna try and get better at this blogging thing...then hopefully I can share my wedding planning with you all. I missed some other big events on here - turning 30 and my TRI in Hawaii...and upcoming TRI in DC...so maybe I'll share those stories later as well. I'm just happy I'm getting this posted one week after George proposed :) - but I wanted to share my excitement with those of you who I haven't touched base with yet!

See ya soon!

Cleveland Marathon, 10K, and TRI training...

No...I didn't run a Marathon - but my friend Ryan did while his wife Barb and I did a 10K - so we could keep ourselves entertained while we waited for him to finish. It was an incredible thing to be a part of - Ryan wasn't sure he'd be able to finish the Marathon at all, b/c he had messed up his lower back about a month ago. So, Barb had his cell phone in case he need us to come and get him - and as we began to realize that his call wasn't going to be coming in - we got more excited as we realized he was going to finish! And that he did!!! In just over 4hours - pretty impressive, especially for not having trained for the past month.

It was such an emotional experience to be down there on the sidelines cheering as all these marathoners - Barb and I were near tears more than once as the mom's and dad's stopped to take their kids across the finish lines with them, or as the runners gave it everything they had to get across that finish line - whether it was a hobble or a full out sprint....what an accomplishment! Way to go Ryan - we are so proud of you and your accomplishment!!!

While - I'm so inspired by the marathoners and would love to add my name to this elite list....I'm not sure that will be happening anytime soon - I think my knees would fall off should I try, so for now I'll stick to my Triathlons.

I had a good weekend of training last weekend - we did a 4mile run, 26mile bike, and finished with a 2mile run....it felt great to feel like my training was in full swing. Then on Monday we started Indoor Soccer - which was great fun, but I felt it on Tuesday when we went for a bike ride (only 20miles and then tried to run 2 miles). My calves and shins were killing me, I had to walk quite a bit of the last mile because I hurt so bad. Then on Wednesday during my Strength training class at they gym I was still having trouble, so needless to say the rest of the week was no existent in my training...Although..I do need to get to the pool - I have no excuse for not doing that.

So, today's 10K was hopefully a start of me getting back in gear...it was more of a run/walk - but it's best not to overdue it with my legs still hurting. I'm thinking tomorrow, I'll wear my regular tennis shoes - rather than my Samba's....gonna have to get some new soccer shoes.

Well...I'd best get to bed - so I can can make it to the gym in the morning.

Time Warp....

Ha Ha - so here we are in May and ummm yeah...I've just been re-inspired to work on my blog again. Where did all the time go?

Alot has happened in the past 3-4 months, but I'd have to say the biggest change in my life has been the addition of my new 4 legged love - Skyler - my new puppy! Isn't she cute? This picture is a little old (this was in March after the massive snowstorm we got)....she is quite a bit bigger now and I need to upload new pictures!

Besides new puppies (George got one too - Shelby - here's a pic of him from today at lunch - he's a real cutie too)....you can see just how big they have gotten...I just thought this was a super cute picture b/c of the way he was holding the smiley toy :)

I've had to move the crate over towards the front door so that I can have the other side open and the are free to roam between the entryway and the crate. Unfortunately, they have decided to chew on the trim around the door frame - so I wasn't too happy about that. Both were to blame - the evidence came out in their poop :P - sorry I know...too much information. I just hope there isn't too much lead paint in those early layers. (Did you eat paint chips when you were a little??? Well..our puppies are!!!) But, we still love them to pieces regardless.

Let's see...what else has happened??? We had our 'annual' snowboarding trip out West - for some 'real' snow and POWDER!!! Yue and I went out to Utah this year and we can't wait to go back! But, now the snow is gone (Let's hope) and Spring has been truly beautiful here in Cleveland (There are even Cherry Blossoms here in CLE...I fell in love with them when I was in DC) - don't know how I missed it when I lived here last time.

My parents finally made the trek up from NC to see my new house and to meet George's parents - it was a quick trip, but all-in-all I think it went really well. They seemed to enjoy getting to know each other :) and my parents enjoyed experiencing the Greek Orthodox Easter - church service and the traditional lamb roast.

Now, I am slowly....but surely... trying to make my way into training for my triathlon that is coming up in July. The Tinman Triathlon in Hawaii - yup...you read it correctly my sister, Jenni and I are doing an Olympic Distance (NO...not the Ironman) in HI. I can't wait...but unfortunately time has been ticking away...and now I'm only a little over 2 months away (71 days - per the website). Tomorrow - I'll do my first BRICK (Biking and running) with some friends (gotta love friends that are willing to train with you!)...so hopefully I can stick to my training schedule and get in Shape :)

Well best go - I'll try and be better about keeping this up! I know I'd enjoy going back and reading it, plus it's a good way to keep friends up to date on what is going on in my life!

Cheers! :)

Memory Horizon

My good friend,Heather, recently started her own blog and recommended that I start a blog, so she could keep up with what is going on in my life.

I'm not sure that I'm ready to do this, but thought it might be a good way for me to keep in touch with family/friends. I think I look at 'Blogging' as a form of 'Journaling' and figure it's probably not a bad idea for me to do, esp. considering how horrible my memory is. Matter of fact, Heather and I actually have an on running joke that if I don't take a picture - then I won't remember whatever it is that we are doing. How right she is...

So, maybe by me keeping this blog not only will I keep friends and family in the loop of my life, but hopefully, I can expand my 'memory horizon' :)

We'll see how it goes :) Welcome to a 'Journey in my Shoes'...