Monday, July 30, 2012

California Dreaming

Since we're in California there are quite a bit of places that we would like to experience/explore before we leave. Some of the places on our list include:

{SAN FRANCISCO}
Source: goo.gl via Rowan on Pinterest

{SAN DIEGO}

{CATALINA ISLAND}
Source: google.com via Krissy on Pinterest

{LAGUNA BEACH}

{BALBOA}
Source: google.co.uk via Kara on Pinterest

{LOS ANGELES-we've already explored some of L.A., but would like to explore more}

{BIG BEAR}
Source: google.com via Debbie on Pinterest

{NAPA}

{YOSEMITE}

{BIG SUR}

Since we'll be here for probably the next 3-4 years we should be able to take quite a few of these little trips. Some of them are day trips and some of them would be good for the long weekend. We will be in San Diego the beginning of November as Ryan is running the color run with some friends so we are going down. Also we will be near Balboa around Christmas time (Newport Beach area) because they have a Christmas Light Yacht Parade. It's apparently rated in the top 5 for the best Christmas lights in the country. We recently learned about this and are really looking forward to this. Who knows if at that time we'll actually be able to explore Balboa or if we'll go another time. Those are just the little trips that we have planned in the "near" future.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Luncheons

Since Ryan and I have lived in California we've really been blessed with a lot of amazing opportunities. While our life is far from perfect, we've been able to attend some pretty cool events.

Our favorite is by far the 1st Carrier Classic on Veteran's Day 2011. Ryan and I even got into an argument about the fact that he got tickets and I didn't. At the last minute, he was offered another ticket and I was able to go too. It was silly, but I was SO jealous. We had a great time and it really was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to be able to go and watch Michigan State.
Another fun event that we got to go to was the American Country Awards in Las Vegas. In California you're able to get free tickets for quite a few live tapings. Some of them all you have to do is put in the date and they send them to, while others you have to send in a "I want to go" request and sometimes it requires pictures and other information. For this event I submitted our pictures and the request and surprisingly we were able to get tickets. We made a day trip out of it and while it was a long day it was a fun one.
In January, Ryan got free tickets to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. We were really hoping Michigan State would be there, but they weren't. Ryan went with a friend and it was such a good time for him. I watched from home, I was newly pregnant and it wouldn't have been fun for me at all (not to mention, they only had 2 tickets).
This morning Ryan called me at work. He rarely calls me during the work day because normally we're both busy and unless it's something important we rarely talk unless it's through text. I answered and he asked me if I wanted to attend a luncheon tomorrow with the Joint Chief Of Staff's Wife. Let me be the first to tell y'all, even though I'm a military spouse I know absolutely nothing. (side note, Ryan asked me if I knew anything about his job the other day and I said no...it's the truth!) So he asked and I said, "not really." His response was basically, "okay, so it's tomorrow from 12:30-1:40 and it's business casual at the club. I'll let Sgt. L know that you're gonna attend." I don't really enjoy going to military functions without Ryan.I am not part of any spouses clubs and the spouses I do know are either from Ryan's shop or my neighbors. I like it that way, but I will do things for Ryan that will help him in the long run. To be even more honest, it's kind of an honor that I was even asked. Let's be honest, he would have never volunteered me had he not been asked by one of the supervisors in his career field.

So for those of you who don't know who the Joint Chief of Staff is, he is Gen. Martin Dempsey. If you click on the link, you'll notice he's the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is also the nation's highest ranking military officer. His wife is Mrs. Deanie Dempsey (who I'll be having lunch with). From the research that I've done, she meets with military spouses at many different bases and talks about military life and other matters (along with many other duties).

So with all that said, I am normally pretty shy in these situations, but I am looking forward to the luncheon tomorrow. I was pretty annoyed with my husband for "volunteering" me, but like I said it is a pretty big honor that I was even asked and will go along with ~25 other spouses. Now hopefully I don't make a fool of myself...or Ryan. :)