Tornado Alley...I. Loathe. You.

A week has already passed since returning from the 5 day cruise to Bermuda, but I still have my suntan and I'm still holding on to that feeling of relaxation (although this past weeks levels of stress have been through the roof). 

The story of the night before departing for the cruise is actually the most entertaining bit I think I have of the entire trip however.  Well, entertaining now....Antithesis of entertaining as it was happening. 

The abbreviated version went:
-crazy last day of work before week away
-rumors of bad weather
-upgrade to Tornado Warnings
-upgrade to 2 Tornadoes in Stl Metro Area; one will be north of our house and one will be south
- one Tornado destroys Stl Airport
- announcement Airport shut down indefinitely
- go to computer to see about changing my flight to leave from Chicago (next closest Southwest Airport)....and computer has been fried (I dont have any pictures of the TV radar captions or what it was like as it was near our house bc somewhere between the time I downloaded the pictures and when I went back to check flights is when it reached it's untimely death)
- frantic phone call to Southwest to change my flights; flight changed to leave from Chicago at 8am
- pack (new life lesson...pack a day ahead so in the event of something catastrophic, like ohhh I dunno... tornado destruction and having to drive 5 hours in the middle of the night after a 14hr day, that you aren't going to have to be worried about what you need for the next 10 days)
- drive 5 hours to Chicago

Things I learned:
- Stress I can handle....Anxiety I cannot.  They are two very different beasts, and anxiety got the best of me this night.  Stress are things that I am able to control; Anxiety are things that I can't....and I don't handle that well. 
- Terry does not respond well to my anxiety.  It's hard for him when there isn't any way that he can help me.
- I have wonderful family and friends.  For the few of you who talked to me during my hysteria drive and my airport meltdown, I love you tremendously. 
- Red Bull really does give you wings.
- It is possible to pack 10 days worth of clothes, shoes, and necessities in a carry-on (there was positively no way I was checking luggage with the luck I was having)
- Southwest is an AWESOME airline. Between the guy switching my flights and the airline attendant who only finally woke me up after the entire plane had de-boarded, I can't give them enough praise.
- Tornado Alley is no joke, and it's the devil!!

I promise I didn't jump overboard in Bermuda

To say that things have been a bit chaotic around here since I have been back is an understatement.  Between having to drive to Chicago the night before my flight to catch the cruise because a tornado destroyed the St Louis Airport, the home computer getting electrocuted from the storms and sorting out what to buy to replace it, getting flu-like symptoms upon my return, my final Anatomy and Physiology Exam, and the unanticipated and high-stress events that have happened at my job in the past 4 days (I will not be writing about that on here, but if you have interest, I'll be happy to tell you ALL about it), I have not had the time to update on here. 
Unfortunately I am still going to have to keep you waiting for a bit longer, as I am trying to get out of work at a reasonable time today, so gotta keep moving!!  Here's a few pictures to hold you over though until I can tell you all about the fun getaway!

  

Cruisin' to Bermuda

I will be absent all of next week as I will be on a cruise ship bound for Kings Wharf, Bermuda.  I am overdue for some relaxation, so it's going to be the perfect escape to bliss!

This post may seem reminiscent from one last year but the itinerary and the travel companions are different this go round. We are going straight out to Bermuda and will be there for two days, so I can't wait to explore more of the island (on land and underwater!) 

I'll be traveling with the Finleys (from here, here and here) and am really excited because we always have a blast on vacation.  We've been on a cruise together before, and its hard to believe that has already been 5 years ago!

We booked with Royal Caribbean and I've never been on one of their ships before, so I'm anxious to see how it ranks.  I've heard and read wonderful reviews, so I'm bouncing through the roof for it to just be Saturday already!! Anybody have Royal Caribbean input? (Side note: There is an ice-skating rink on this ship. What?!!?!!  Here's hoping I don't sprain an ankle while skating over bumpy seas.)

I hope that you all have a wonderful week!  Expect multiple posts when I get back!

Barton Hollow

Have been addicted to this all week.  Thought I'd share.  Her voice is so intensely precise and their voices complement each others so well! (and it doesn't hurt that he looks like Johnny Depp :-)~ )

My Do Good of the Month: Walk for MS

I've been needing to add "volunteer" to my personal expectations here recently.  Working at one of the largest hospital conglomerations in the country made the task so easy that I'm a little lot embarrassed that it's taken me this long to act.  I decided to give up my Saturday morning to instead give to the Walk for the MS in Milstadt, IL which was the closest walk location to home.  Last year, I was a participant in the Walk for MS at JMU while I was there for Low-Key's 10-year reunion.  This year, I helped make the event as memorable as it was for me last year for all of the participants in St Louis this year.

When we woke up Saturday morning, the weather was dreadful.  It was the perfect stay snuggled up in bed, listening to the rain fall on the roof, reading a book, snoozing through the day kinda Saturday.  I would be lying if I said I didn't consider backing out of going, but then I thought about the fact that those who are battling everyday with MS don't get a choice to have or not have MS for the day.  It was then very easy for me to crawl myself out of bed and start finding suitable rain-and-gusting-wind outdoor clothing. 

I helped set up tents, hang balloons, greet walkers, and then register the 210 participants who showed up for the walk.  It was such an amazing turnout for such a small town in the country-side of Illinois. 

I hope that I am able to volunteer again next year.  It was mentally and emotionally draining, but it was so worth it.  It's all the small things in life that make it so amazing.