Finally!

Finally!  The day that I have been waiting for for over 8 months is almost here.  I can't believe its been that long! Today is my last full day here, because tomorrow I leave Rochester, and Monday I fly out to Chicago, then get bussed to Navy RTC.  I'm so excited to get this process started, but mostly excited to get it over with!   The last couple weeks have been quite an emotional whirlwind, it seems like there are too many goodbyes, and I haven't even made the most important (and hardest) one, saying goodbye to Ben.  I almost feel like I don't have enough left to get through that!  There is a quote that I saw on facebook about a week ago from an Eastman friend:

‎"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -Carol Sobieski

This is exactly how I am feeling.  Family, friends, colleagues, students.  They were all so hard to say goodbye to!  I was a sobbing mess on my last day of work.  I didn't realize how much those people truly meant to me!

The last time I took on a crazy challenge like this was when I moved to Rochester to come to Eastman.  The only difference then is that I had Ben with me every step of the way.  This time, I'm truly on my own.  That's what I'm anxious about!  Not boot camp itself, but being able to do it on my own two feet without a shoulder to cry on when things get super hard.  

I'm sure I'll blink and the next thing I know it will be 8 weeks from now and I will be writing a blog about my experiences.  Everyone says it goes by fast, and I'll be especially busy because I'm going to be in the "900" division, which is the performing division...so I'll get to play my instrument (well not mine, but whatever hunk o' junk they give me to play LOL) and play for graduations and other ceremonies.  

So that's it!  I'm giving Ben full access to my blog and my twitter account in hopes that he will update it once in awhile while I'm away.  I'm deactivating my facebook for now, but keep checking back here and on twitter.  Oh and please don't email me!  I'm anticipating a large amount of emails when I get back and I'm just going to delete all of them, because there is no way that I'm going to sort through all of that madness.  So if you need something, email me in August!  

I hope to come out of this experience and better and more awesome me.  And I think know I will.  

Catch you on the flipside!

Colorado trip

I'm back from my trip to Colorado last week.  It was great!  I brought my clarinet, but I ended up not playing at all.  Its ok though!  It really isn't a priority for me right now.  I'm going to get plenty of playing in the next four years! (or 20!)

It felt really good to be home, especially right before a such a life change!  It kind of helped me to clear my head a little bit.  Thin air and good mexican food will do that ;-)  Some highlights of the week:

Fun 50's themed party that my sister took me to on Sunday night.  She found this really cute dress for me to wear, since I didn't bring anything! 

Eating at 2 of 3 of the Man vs. Food places.  Cherry Cricket - best burger I've probably ever had (I had cream cheese and jalapenos on mine - Ben had bacon, peanut butter, and smoked cheddar).  Jack n' Grill - super delicious!  Green chile was soooooooo good.  But I opted out of the 7 pound breakfast burrito that was on the show, haha.

We also made our way to the Stranahan's Colorado Whisky distillery.  Ben's become somewhat of a whiskey snob, and he really loves their whisky!  The tour was very cool, and we got to sample some whisky of course!

Also, the moment I have been dreading for months...I cut my hair for the Navy.  I totally cried, I definitely was not ready to part with something so vital to my identity.  Here's a pic with my hairdresser, Bekkie, my hair, and we're looking sad (because I was!):

Unfortunately, my hair isn't quite short enough, so I'm probably going to have to have it chopped again.  But I think this was enough on my poor soul for now. 

On Saturday my mom, Ben, and I ran a 5k.  My friend's mom, Jean, also joined in, but she walked the race.  My sister made some great t-shirts for us, they were pink with a stencil on the back with my face in a navy hat and the words, "Sailor Sandy Support" (of course mine said only "Sailor Sandy).  It was super fun, and I got a great time, 27:17.  My mom also got a great time, getting in under 30 minutes.  The thin air got to me a little at the end though, was feeling like death for the last half mile or so!  But I made it.  I think I want to come back next May and do the Colorado half marathon next year...or marathon....maybe.  We'll see what the next year brings!

After the race, it was party time at my parent's house!  It was a great opportunity to see everyone, and had some great fun too.  I was sad I didn't get to see everyone that I wanted to, but we only had so much time.

Overall, the trip was exactly what I needed.  Now to get focused, take care of business for the next two weeks and then I'm off!  I'm nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time.  But the closer it gets, the more focused and excited I become.  The first 8 weeks are going to be the toughest, but after that I get to play my clarinet for a living, and be paid for it!

...12 days!