FSAF #1 DESERT LOVIN'

No, not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter! Ever wonder why we like something? I'm not talking about Facebook, I'm talking real life. Today I took Vincent on a trip up to Lake Pleasant to get some pictures and be outside in the beautiful weather. We drove around inside of Lake Pleasant State Park, checked out the visitors center, took some pics of where I almost rolled our truck into the lake last weekend (that's a story for a different time), and walked around on the trails looking for wildlife I was going to head home. When I got back to Castle Hot Springs road I knew I should go left and head home, but instead I went right. While I was doing this Theresa's words were running through my head. When she had called less than an hour before, she said something to the effect of "don't do anything stupid, you have our son with you. You know sometimes you take dirt roads and trails and realize after it wasn't the best idea". She was right, that's how I almost put us into Lake Pleasant upside down in the Montero the previous weekend. So even with her voice in my head telling me not to, I headed north on Castle Hot Springs road off into the desert. Vincent was asleep so I reasoned that if it got really bumpy or sketchy looking I'd turn around, after all I had very little water for myself, no extra bottles for him, and no tire repair kit. As I explored, and took more pictures, I was thinking about the fact I love the desert. I don't know why, but I find it absolutely fascinating and beautiful. It could be because it's the polar opposite of the terrain I grew up around. Back in New England it's all grass and trees, it rains frequently, it snows way too much. Here we get almost no rain, no snow at all, the trees are few and far between, there are cacti everywhere. See, totally different. But I love it. I know it can be deadly, there are venomous snakes and lizards, the summer temperatures always exceed 100 degrees, the winter nights can get down below freezing. So, why do I love it? Is it because we can camp all year round? Is it because it's so different? Is it all the unsettled land we can go out and explore? Is it because desert racing is so friggen cool? Is it because of all the great mexican food? Maybe. Here's some pics (click on the thumbnails for bigger pics), enjoy!

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we've been busy...

Which is why we haven't posted in a while (not that I post that much...). Guests started arriving Monday February 16th, and everything went into fast forward. Wednesday Anna (muchacha) and T started to make the cake. Thursday I went and tried on my tuxedo to make sure everything fit correctly, met up with all my groomsmen and some family there. Later in the afternoon I went and got a haircut, then we went down to Theresa's parents house for an excellent dinner with family and friends. Following the dinner everybody in the wedding went to Holy Spirit in Tempe for the rehearsal. I was sweating profusely I was so nervous. Friday morning everybody met up at the Kolberg's again, and the girls went to do their spa thing while I took all the guys to Dave and Busters for some lunch and games. After we had spent enough money we headed back to Theresa's parents house for another great dinner with family and friends. After that T and I had to split up and go to seperate hotels for the night. I went to the Hawthorne Suites in Tempe where most of my family was staying, and Theresa went to the Fiesta Inn where a lot of her family and friends were staying. I probably wouldn't have slept at all without a sleeping pill that night, and even after taking one I only slept about 6 hours. Saturday morning I had breakfast at the hotel with the fam, then went to run some last minute errands. First stop was Target (I needed black dress socks!), then Starbucks, then back to the hotel to check out (forgot my hiking boots there, they still haven't turned up). Went to a drug store and got nail clippers (gotta have the nails neat in case the photographer wanted those "both our rings together" pictures. Had lunch with Ray (stress doesn't seem to effect my appetite) and headed over to the church. Briefly considered running to Mexico (just kidding !!!!). I waited anxiously in the Sacristy, peeking out the door as the church filled up. The ceremony went off with only a small hitch (apparently fingers get swollen and make it hard to get rings on), that most people didn't even notice, and everything went beautifully! After about 3.5 billion photos we made our way over to the reception. Everything was perfect, we had great meal, danced more than we ever had before, 2 million more photos, hours spent talking to friends and relatives and then it was all over way too soon, but it was the one of happiest days of my life. The hotel hooked us up with the Presidential Suite that was nicer than I thought it would be. Sunday morning we slept in, then headed over to pick up our precious little puppy, then went to Theresa's parents house once more to hang out with family, and open presents (we are working on the thank you notes now, they may take a while because people were too generous). Monday the real world made a brief appearance when my truck wouldn't start, but we didn't let that ruin our day, we just loaded up the car and took off ! I'll let T tell you all about our camping trip in a later post because I need to go to bed !

Is there a doctor in the house ?

Tuesday we took Lucy to the dog park, and while we were there we were kicking tennis balls for her to chase. I was wearing flip-flops, and went to really punt one. Bad idea. I misjudged my kick, and drove my foot directly into the ground, bending my foot back hard. I swear I heard a snap. After I had Theresa help me to a bench where I sat for a few minutes. I didn't think anything was broken because the pain lessened after a few minutes, and I could bend my toes. It hurt, but I could move them. On Wednesday I went to work, limping all day. When I got home my foot was swollen and had a dull throbbing pain. Today I woke up and I was limping less when walking, but it still hurts, and it's still swollen. Looks like I'll be going to the doctor next week. I'm pretty sure somethings broken. Oh well. C.E.R.N. is probably gonna blow everything up tomorrow anyway. If so, I love you all. Good Luck.

theresa made me post this

self-explanatory

Stuff

I figured I'd contribute, here's some random stuff.

It's freakin' hot ! 88 degrees today, and it's only been spring for three days. Because of my catheter, I cannot swim, and I'm not supposed to even shower. Thank God I got the fistula, as soon as it matures in a month or so I'll be able to swim, which is good because it'll probably be in the 100's by then. My fistula surgery went well, I went back to work today.

Our dog is a terror. It's like she forgot all her training, unless there's food involved. She only comes near us to nip at us, and cannot calmly sit on our laps or allow us to pet her. Occasionally she'll bring us a toy and allow us to play tugowar or throw it for her. I think she needs another dog to play with, or more training stat.

Arizona sucks for allergies. T has been sick for three days. She's pretty miserable.

That is all for now, I'm going to beat the dog.

-Joe(hammed)

I am literate

Theresa asked me to write a blog, and a certain sister of mine was accusing me of being illiterate because I never respond to emails or write blogs, so here's my contribution. I started dialysis last night , and it was interesting to say the least. I had to go straight from work to get there for 3pm, fighting traffic to drive 30 miles (I get out of work @ 2:30). So I got off the highway and look around, and realize I don't want to be in this neighborhood during daylight, nevermind after dark when my treatment is done. I really questioned whether or not the car would still be there when I was done.

I found the place and went in, and realized I am the youngest person there...by about 50 years. I got checked in and met my social worker. He's a nice guy, but he's a little weird. He ends every sentence with a laugh, he's from Maine, and he lives with his best friends wife. whatever, I go to the clinic to start my treatment and the nurse comes over to make me sign more paperwork, and there's screaming from the lobby. All the nurses run out of the room, then a few run back in looking for the "crash cart" and then leave with the cart, and don't return for half an hour. I swear some old person must have died out there. I never did get an explanation. On a side note, aren't people in the health care industry supposed to be healthy ? One of my nurses (who I'll call tiny) must have been 400lbs. But I digress. So I finally got hooked up to the machine, and the procedure started and really the only side effect was weight loss (4 kilos) and hypothermia...they keep the clinic at a balmy 32 degrees and you have to have your access site exposed at all times. Your access site being where the machine is hooked up to, in my case a catheter in my neck, so I had to wear a tank top for 4 hours. I watched TV, read a magazine, and finally it was over so I went looking for one of the 2 nurses that spoke english to ask them questions, but apparently their shifts had ended and they went home leaving me to ask an asian nurse who sucked at the english questions. I still don't know what the answers are. At least the civic was still there when I walked out. I called United Health Care today, I'll be switching clinics ASAP.

Voila, there's my contribution.

Joehammed