By All Means, Travel!!

So.....we got back last night. It was a whirl-wind two-week trip to all the biggies in Western Europe (London, Paris, and Rome), and while I'm already planning our next trip (though not quite on that scale), Kevin's response last night to whether he was sad this one was over was, "No--I'm ready to be home."

And though I am already ready to be traveling again (just can't help that one), it is good to be back in the familiar, English-speaking land of America. I hope to post more pictures in the coming days, but for now, I've chosen one from each stop to share with you, along with some things that crossed my mind while we were across the pond. Hope you enjoy!

1. I can live on much less than I would have ever thought possible. While there's nothing wrong with keeping just-in-case things around (like that Galileo thermometer in case the actual thermometer goes out or something), simpler is better.

2. Souvenirs are nice, but by all means not necessary. I bought one really nice ring in each city we stopped in. And that was all. We bought a couple, well-chosen gifts for family, and that was all. I must have asked Kevin ten times if he was going to get something, and his response every time was, "The pictures are great souvenirs for me." What a fantastic philosophy!(from the London Eye, overlooking Parliament--the ONLY day it rained on our entire trip!)

3. Spend time (even if only a few days) in a place that does not speak your mother tongue. It's uncomfortable and awkward and very eye-opening (especially for us Americans who tend to think the literal world revolves around us).

4. Along with that, accept that the American way is not the only way. There were no "free refills;" we paid for tap water; we had to sit outside at restaurants because the owner wanted us to pay to use his air conditioning; and public restrooms were not always free. While the American in me cried "foul!" to many of these, it's not necessarily wrong. It's different. Appreciate the differences.(The Eiffel Tower, as taken from the second level of the tower, at night, looking straight up.)

5. One thing I was continually amazed at was how well Kevin and I enjoyed being with each other throughout the entirety of the trip. It's one thing to be married and spend the evenings and weekends with each other, but to spend 24/7 with each other is a completely different ball game. And I loved it.

6. It continually amazes me to see how big our world is, and yet, the Lord loves each of us and cares deeply about a relationship with each of us. Six billion is a lot of people, but not for him. I say that because it's very easy for me to limit Him to my human capacity. His ways are not my ways; nor are my thoughts His thoughts.
(The Roman Colosseum, Rome, Italy).

7. Be proud of your heritage. When we first arrived, I was so paranoid and self-conscious about being an American. I know our reputation is not always the greatest in terms of foreign relations, but we do hail from a great country that affords a lot of rights and freedoms not afforded in other countries. While respecting other cultures is important, I don't think it's any less important to value the parts of our culture that we are blessed to partake in.

Lord willing, there will be more pictures forthcoming. It sure was a trip to remember!

Surprise--We're Here!

For those of you who don't remember, last March, Kevin and I flew out to Texas and surprised my mom just for the fun of it. It was a hit, and recently, Kevin was getting a hankering to do it again. The only thing was this time, we were driving North, not flying West.

After a whirlwind planning (pulled off in less than 3 weeks), we jumped in the car and drove to Pittsburgh, PA last Thursday, spent Friday and Saturday with Mom and Dad Skidmore, and then drove back on Sunday (also known as "Easter"). Fortunately, my mother is a very easy person to surprise because she's sort of clueless when it comes to being suspicious of things. (So, that's where I get it from!?)

I didn't bring our camera, but we did get a video of the actual surprise. Kevin took the video while holding his iPhone against his chest, so it's a little shaky, but definitely worth a look-see. :)

Have Passport; Will Travel (Part II)

So, while the rule in the previous post about knowing where something is until the exact moment you need it still applies, the second part of that rule reads as follows:

"Once final and thorough means to locate _______ have been exhausted and means to replace _______ have been enacted, ________ will be found." [once again fill in the blank with lost item of your choice.]

We knew it was going to happen. All members of my immediate family that I consulted regarding replacing said document affirmed that it would be found...eventually. So, the semi-rational part of me was thinking, "If that's the case, let's just go file for the darn thing and I'll find the old one all the sooner!" Never mind that it's not cheap to replace them--I was just wanting it found.

And, alas, I wish I could tell you I saw a vision in the heavens on my drive home from that infamous Post Office (anyone for the miraculous gifts of the Spirit?). Or even that I was holding it in my hands all along, just like happens with my keys, oh, every other day! Or even that when I got home, it was right underneath the desk that I've searched within an inch of its life over the last month and a half of looking.

But it's not that exciting. I was cleaning out a shelf at work (AT WORK, I tell you!), and there it was--inside an old day planner (a DAY PLANNER, for goodness sake!). Why did I put it there? I don't know. When did I put it there? Haven't the foggiest. Would I ever, in a million years, have though to look there? No on your life!

So, as Kevin says, it was meant to be. I must trust that since my old passport was due to expire next year anyway, there's a reason the Lord wants me to have a valid one for the next ten years. (which, I'll admit, kind of excites me :).

The new one is joining me for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between (short of maybe a bath). I'm stapling this baby to my backside and not letting go.

'Cuz look out, Europe!

Here.

We.

Come.

Have Passport; Will Travel.

It’s got to be somebody’s law: You will always know where ________ is until the very moment you need it (fill in the blank). Over the last couple of months, my blank has been filled in with “passport.” I got my passport almost 10 years ago, and it’s got all sorts of fun stamps from places like Prague, Copenhagen, and Krakow in it. It’s been floating around our apartment since we moved in, and I’ve known where it was (roughly) until Kevin and I actually decided to put them (he’s gotten one recently) to good use. And that’s when it went missing.

I’ve searched as many places as I could think of—boxes, books, shelves, cupboards, closets, you name it. No passport.

My decision to bite the bullet and replace it was two fold:

1) We’re traveling the end of May, and should there be any complications within the 5-week window you’re to allow for processing, we’ll at least have some time, and

2) It expires next year anyway, so why not?

With that in mind, I set out this morning, paperwork in hand, to file for a replacement. The plan was to leave at 8, arrive at post office, file, and be home by 8:45, 9 if we’re being generous.

Well, I didn’t drag my lazy self out of bed until 9:45. The morning is not my friend, and I was doubtful of my own self-discipline to leave at 8 to begin with.

First stop: Post Office near home. I walk in to find a sign reading, “Sorry for the inconvenience. Today [only] we are not accepting passport applications.” Other USPS offices are listed, but, being the rebel that I am, I head to my second choice—the County Clerk’s Office. The time is roughly 10:06.

I drive the few miles in between, and my heart sinks as I catch a glimpse of the Clerk’s parking lot—it’s empty. Oh, wait! There’s one car. I must be the only interested party today. Lucky me!

Lucky indeed—their office is only open Monday—Friday (something I would have known had I taken the time to check).

“No matter!” I think. I grab my trusty GPS and type in “Post Office.” Perfect there’s one just down the road. According to GPS (or Gepus, as we affectionately call him), my arrival time will be 10:27.

I arrive at USPS location #2 and though my heart drops at both its size and the volume of cars in the parking lot, I assuage myself with the thought that they’re not there for passports (how common could the need for them be, anyway?). The though is short-lived, as I enter to find a line no shorter than 20 people—all waiting for passports. And they're having a great time, too. Alas, I cannot partake of such frivolity at a time like this.

I text my husband to tell him of my travails and ask his opinion. He suggests just waiting until Monday. I consider this, but my impatience gets the best of me, and I search for another Post Office location. It’s only 4.2 miles away. Not bothering to check the arrival time, I head out, hopeful that this location is smaller, less crowded, and I can make it home by 11:30.

Well, I got my wish. This Post Office was indeed smaller, and there was only one patron in line before me. However, taking in the outside, inside, and manner of the single employee behind the counter, I’m not so sure I would entrust a postcard for their delivery, nonetheless a document that requires everything short of a blood sample to obtain. After a brief internal struggle, I retire once again to my car, not caring whether they actually do file for passports or not.

At this point, I was starting to feel like I do when eating from a bag of potato chips—“Just one more; just one more.” I also shortly entertain the thought that maybe the Lord just does not want me to go to Europe. That thought is short lived, as I decide that He’s going to have to be slightly more forceful if that’s the case.

The clock reads 11:02, and Gepus told me I could be to the next nearest Post Office location at 11:24. Can’t pass up a deal like that!

Beginning to feel only slightly anxious, I wonder what the penalty for forgery of an official document of this nature would be. Forgery can’t be too hard, can it?

At 11:23 (gotta love speeding!), I arrived at the next Post Office that the all-wise Gepus advised. Large, yes, but not overly crowded. I think we’ll be okay. The end is in sight.

But a sign out front changes all that.

“This office does not accept passport applications.” Of course it doesn’t.

“Those can be handled at our main office at [fill in said address].” Of course they can.

I began taking note as my gas tank began slipping from ¾ full to half on my way to Post Office #4, Stop Number 6. Having not eaten breakfast before leaving home (because morning is not my friend, remember?), I stopped briefly at a gas station and purchased a drink.

Upon arriving at the maze of arrows and gravel that is Post Office #4, I let out my only cry of frustration of the entire morning, as I’m routed every way but the right way to get into a parking spot.

There are only three customer-labeled parking spots, all vacant, and I snag one. As I enter the large building with a small office, I exult at the sign that reads, “This office is for passports only. All commercial post office business is taken at [fill in said address].” Now we’re talking!

The lady behind the counter seems pleasant, and I hand her my documents (everything but some blood), and begin to remove my checkbook from my purse (checks only; no debit).

“You’re going to have to take another picture.” Of course I am.

“They’ve changed the laws, and you can’t be smiling in passport photos any more. See how it distorts you face?” Hm. I’ll have to remember that the next time I’m smiling. Thanks for the complex.

“And, since you’ve gotten married since your last passport was issued, we’ll need a copy of your marriage license.” In all the fine print that I did read, obviously that was one part that I didn’t.

So, I leave the fourth Post Office of the day, still with no passport, beginning to hunger, and done attempting to plan anything else for the remainder of my Saturday waking hours. It’s 12:10, and it only takes me thirty minutes to drive from that Post Office to home, and then back to where I took my passport pictures the first time to have them redone. It’s during this trip that I wonder if Kevin can just carry me in his suitcase. He’s strong, and though I’m far over the 50-pound weight limit, the extra fee might actually be worth it.

At 12:45 the lady at the photo lab tells me I can walk around the store for ten minutes until the (unsmiling) pics are ready. At 1:01, she’s standing with two co-workers at the printer, shaking her head slowly from side to side.

“There’s a really big order in front of you, and it’s not uploading your picture.” Naturally. After pacing a few times in front of the photo counter, I break down and buy a bag of Doritos. After all, it’s going to do nobody any good if I finally make it to the passport office and pass out before the dang thing can finally be filed.

At 1:10, the photo lab manager, hands me my new photos. It’s then that I realize that smiling may distort my face, but not smiling proves that my eyes are indeed two different sizes. (Distorted picture or Igor-lookalike? Hm. Tough call.)

All documents in hand, it only takes me a few minutes in the parking lot to fill out the final paperwork once back at the Post Office. I run through the documents in my head—application, form admitting I did in fact lose my passport, marriage license, birth certificate, and driver’s license. (For only a brief second, I ponder the irony if I didn’t actually have my driver’s license, but, alas, it was present.)

As I hand it to the lengthy-haired gentleman behind the counter, I sigh. After all this work, a few staples and two checks from the checkbook that I so rarely “happen” to have on me, seal the deal.

I sign my name (in black ink only), and leave the office.

It’s slightly anticlimactic. So much work. For a little book of paper.

It’s just before 2 pm when I arrive home.

Time for lunch.

The View from the Top!

For my one and only's birthday,

I took him somewhere far, far away.

I took him somewhere exotic.

I took him somewhere only nerds like us would go.

I took him to Chicago.

But, not just to Chicago. I took him to a live taping of NPR's "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" It's probably one of the last surviving radio programs out there that isn't purely news, and it's probably THE only one filmed before a live studio audience. Needless to say, the audience was filled with people just as hopelessly nerdy as us! It was bliss!

If you're not familiar with "Wait, Wait..." you're missing out. Those two podiums on the left are for the judge/score keeper, Carl Kasell, and the one on the right is for the host, Peter Sagal. The table on the right is for the show's three panelists, who vary week-to-week. This week's panelists were Paula Poundstone (Kevin's favorite), Roy Blount Jr. (my favorite), and Faith Sailee (new to the show). We figured two out of three ain't bad!

As I said, the recording is live and the panelists, who are all comedians, answer questions on the week's news. In between those questions, listeners can call in and be on the show live.

After the show, which was incredibly fun and enjoyable, the hosts and the panelists stay around to answer questions, sign autographs, take pictures, and just generally chat it up. We didn't do much chatting, but we did meet Peter, Carl, and Paula. Needless to say, I scored big on the birthday gift! ;)

Since we took all day Thursday to drive down and watch the show that night, we didn't want to drive back the next day, and why should we--it was Friday! So....we stayed an extra day and saw the sights of Chicago.

For starters, the weather could not have been more beautiful! I mean, can you see that sky?! And it was mid-50's--cool enough to walk; warm enough to not freeze.

Of course, you can't make a trip to Chicago without visiting the historic, record-breaking Willis Tower! Never heard of it? Well, you probably have, but didn't know it. It used to be called the Sear's Tower, but when the building was sold, the contract stated that the largest tenant could rename the tower in 2008. The largest tenant was--you guessed it-- a company named Willis and they renamed it last year. I agree, though, it is a little unimpressive to say, "We got to see the Willis Tower!" Doesn't quite have the punch that the Sear's Tower has.

And there's a new addition to the Willis Tower--retractable glass encasements you can step into and look down...103 stories! Are you brave enough!?

I thought I was doing well just standing there, but...

Kevin took it a step further!

This is the only picture we've got of both of us in the Tower. It's a shame you can't see any buildings, sky, birds...flying saucers....anything! It was crystal clear that day, but the sun was also shining too bright for good pictures, and, well, there's only so many pictures you want to ask complete strangers to take! :)

So, friends, that was our visit to the Windy City. Hope you've enjoyed this little taste. There was actually much more involved (Pizza! The Field Museum! Lake Michigan!), but I've got a birthday boy to tend to!

Happy Monday! :)

Visits from Afar

It's been a hectic past couple of weeks on my side. Things at work have picked up tremendously, and so often it's all I can do to fall into bed at a decent hour. With that said, we've also had several visits from some very special people!

Back in June Len Turner (who's studying at Princeton Theological Seminary) and Laura Palmer (who's studying at Columbia Theological seminary in Atlanta) stopped in for a visit. These two ladies are much of what got me through college! I could not have made it as far, and I would not nearly have the GREAT memories I have without them. I'm so grateful for their friendship, love, support, and--most importantly--brutal honesty. Yay Termates! :-)

Just a couple weeks ago, Thomas and Stephanie Russell, also friends from college stopped by. We've missed them greatly since they moved to Arkansas recently. It was a quick stop-in, but we were so grateful they made a couple hours for us. It's been fun to meet up with them on the Wii's and play some competitive MarioKart. :)

And last, my cousin, Megan came down from Michigan with an interpretive dance group to perform at a church in Loudon, just a few miles south of here. I was sad I couldn't see her performance because of my work schedule, but they did let us steal here for a night. It was super fun to see how this young lady, who I've not seen since my wedding (almost two years ago!), has grown in the Lord and matured into a young lady. I remember changing her diaper!!! :)

After a pizza dinner, we spent the evening playing on the Wii. I think we played every sport on there (baseball, bowling, golf, tennis, and boxing) at least once. Kevin showed her how to play Baseball. :)

And that's out story these days! We've been so inspired by the traveling of others that we're embarking on a six-day trip on Sunday. Where are we going? Well, maybe you should just wait and see...But I can tell you that it's supposed to rain the ENTIRE time we're there, and most of what we had planned were outdoor options....We'll be sure to let you know how it goes! :)

Road Triiiiiiiiip!!!!

A two day conference that counts for work time afforded me the day off today.  So, Kevin and I pack up and headed south for a little field trip to Ruby Falls in Chattanooga!  It's been a long day and we're both exhausted...so this will be mostly pictures, but they're worth it! :-D

Almost there...

Some self-explanatory sites along the trek to the falls....

Goofing off...

The Falls, head on:

The view from beneath the water fall...Like diamonds falling.

Praise the Lord He gave us such majestic wonders to behold and enjoy.

May they point us back to Him!