Cowboys, Horses, and Indians!

I really liked Oklahoma City and we visited the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum there and that was way cool! This Statute called "End of the Trail" is the first thing you see when you enter.

And this is beautiful of Abe.

And Matthew again with the Duke.

And for as long as I can remember I've wanted to own some Cowboy Art and I couldn't resist these paintings by Nancy Glazier. Matthew is going to frame these for me for my new room and I 'll take a better pic of them then when they are on the wall but I wanted to share them now. They are only 9 x 12 prints but for now that starts my collection.

Waking Up in My Brand New Room

I woke up this morning in my new room, freshly painted and decorated, complete with the french doors, at my new home. Amy bought me an old four poster bed frame and the neighbor down the street, who refurbishes furniture painted it an off white and I love it. I bought a new mattress and box springs yesterday.
My room wasn't quite ready the first night I was here so I slept on the couch but the kids worked hard yesterday to finish it up and so tada! This morning I feel like a queen.
Today I will begin to unpack my things and fill my room with personal stuff.
It is still kind of not real to me that I am actually here but here I am.
SO, lots to do today. In the mean time here are some pictures of the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Matthew and I were there on a quite morning and it is so impressive and so touching. It honors not only the victims but the survivors as well.

Matthew left a Sticker on the fence.

We're Here

We drove and drove yesterday and made it here around six o'clock in the evening. Amy had a chilli supper ready and Matthew and I passed out but not before lots of hugs from Haleigh.
The dogs are getting to know each other and I feel a little out of place but today we'll get me moved into my room and I can start to put some of my things around me.
I'll post more pics soon and write more, just wanted to check in to let you know I'm here safe and sound and happy to be here!
Love,
Robbin

 

We had a nice view here at this hotel. We are up early, getting ready to start our day of travel. For someone like me who loves rocks and the Native American way of life, this trip has been a dream come true. I got to buy jewelry from the Navajo lady who made it. I've gotten to see rocks smoothed by years of time and I have seen first hand where the art and colors of the Southwest were inspired.
But now I am ready to get to my grandchild. I am ready to hear her laughter and feel her in my arms. After all, that and her parents are the reason for this trip, my destination.

Mormon Country

We visited Salt Lake City today and then drove to Brigham City Utah where we are staying tonight. From here on out it is our goal just to get home. I am ready to be with Haleigh and I'm ready to get settled. We've had such a good time, but I am tired of bouncing up and down in the U Haul and just want to get to Washington. SO hard driving tomorrow and we could be home by Friday.

Petroglyphs

 

One of my most favorite things was getting to see the petroglyphs. These were done by the Pueblo Indians eight to nine hundred years ago. They are etched into the volcanic rock that is scattered all over the Southwest. Some of them are symbols for trade or culture, some the means aren't known so Matthew and I had a good time trying to figure them out.

 

This is the Great Salt Lake. The mountain right there in the lake is called Castle Rock. The water is green! It is too early for the beach area to be open but we were able to get close to the water at the marina where I stuck my toe in. The lake is probably three times as big as Salt Lake City. It stretches for more than 70 miles along the interstate. There are no fish because of the high salt content.

We Made It

 

We saw the Grand Canyon and it is true, pictures can't tell the story. You have to see it yourself and then you can hardly take it all in. It is breath taking.
We stayed the night in St. George, Utah which is where we still are this early morning.
We are headed to Salt Lake City today and then we will drive on to Washington. There is a storm system we are keeping our eyes on and may have to change our route accordingly.
We've had such a good time. Yesterday we also saw some more ruins of the Pueblo people. They are too cool. I'll post some pictures.
Anyway, that's it for now. Hope you are having a good week.
Love,
Robbin

Tonight we are in Flagstaff Arizona and our hotel is on the famous Route 66 highway. It is also known as the Will Rogers Highway.
We stopped at a National Park today and saw what is called the Painted Desert. We also saw ruins of a Pueblo nation at the Petrified Forest National Park. Very cool and beautiful.
Tomorrow the Grand Canyon! I can't wait. Actually today, I write this in the early Tuesday morning.

Good Morning from...

Albuquerque, New Mexico. We got here last night and it is such a pretty town. We are going to explore it a bit today. It is very warm here and very windy.
Yesterday we enjoyed the Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City and the Memorial at the Federal building site. That was quite moving and made it very real. When I can settle down a bit I'll have some pictures to share of that.
I saw antelope yesterday as we drove, that was pretty cool. They are so small, somehow I thought they were bigger.
I love New Mexico. So far the people are nice and the land is pretty to me. We walked to the downtown area last night from our hotel and it is so cool. Very modern with lots of shops and places to eat.
From here on out, we're slowing down to enjoy some of the places we are going through and I'm looking forward to that.

A Little Snow and John Wayne

We spent most of yesterday driving across Arkansas, "HI Shirley!" We stopped right before leaving Arkansas and visited a history museum where Matthew posed with his hero.
We ended up in Oklahoma City (Hi Michelle!) and I saw more snow on the ground than I've ever seen. The storm was over by the time we got here but as we entered the state there was still plenty on the ground..

I am up early and Matthew is still snoozing. We are planning on staying here in Oklahoma City this morning and visiting the Cowboy museum and the site of the federal building explosion.
Last night we ate dinner at Toby Keith's I love this Bar and Grill. Very interesting to say the least and good food, but way too much of it. And we should make Amarillo by evening!

Good Morning from...........

Tupelo Mississippi. We got this far yesterday. Sweetie approved of our accommodations for the night and we all three slept like babies, traveling tires you out. This is the birthday place of Elvis you know. We are leaving first thing this morning to continue on. We are driving as hard as possible to get out West and then we are going to enjoy some time at the Grand Canyon and in Salt Lake City. Right now we are trying to dodge bad weather. So far so good.

At Last

Today's the day! Matthew got in yesterday morning. He visited with his grandparents most of the day and then he and I loaded the truck and have decided we are ready to leave this morning. It is two days earlier than we'd planned!
I am so very excited. I have waited for this day for so long and had to go through a lot of stuff to get to this day. AND here it is. Today one of those dreams I've stored in this old cedar chest is coming out of storage. So remember, no matter what happens in your life, dreams can come true!

Goodbye Job

I keep trying to say goodbye to people but they keep saying, "Oh, we'll see you on Wednesday", so if that is true today is going to be busy.
My boss is coming to take me to lunch. I wasn't expecting that but it is ok and a good thing, as I've known her the whole time I've worked for the company and she hired me so it is nice to get to see her a last time.
It will feel good to know when I leave that store this afternoon that I won't have to worry about customers, sales, company policies, or that whole corporate world anymore. But at the same time I will miss the people that I've spent more time with than family members, they are my family really. So it is with mixed emotions that I leave with. I've looked forward to this day and dreaded it all at the same time.
But as of around five o'clock today I will officially be unemployed for the first time in many years. That is going to feel weird! But before I have time to even think about that much Matthew will be here tomorrow and we'll be loading that truck! And before I know it, Haleigh will be in my arms and my new beginnings will begin.
SO for the next few days things will be hectic around here and if we can we are going to leave Saturday, although it depends on how things go.
Hope your day is a good one and if I don't blog for a few days, I'm ok, I'll be back soon.
Love,
Robbin

Unexpected Tears and Things to Tie Up

Another short post today as my boss surprised me with unexpected tears saying goodbye to me on Conference Call this morning. You have to understand that she is a very Professional person and I guess I just didn't expect that. So of course when she said she didn't know if she could do it, and then there was a silence while she tried to get her composure back, that caused me to cry, which I wasn't expecting. So there you have it. I'm glad that is over. As one manager put it, she and I have a lot of history together and it was she that originally hired me all those years ago.
AND.....I'm doing things like picking up my medical records, scheduling for the electricity to be cut off, closing out a local bank account, still trying to get them to pick up this dumpster, just taking care of loose ends you know.
I don't go in until noon today and I'm tired already! But I am so excited. Matthew leaves Washington tomorrow, flying through the night and will be here soon!
I am so excited I can hardly breathe, have to keep reminding myself to BREATHE!
Ok, off I go to take care of some of these things.
Love,
Robbin

Conference Call Day, My Last One

I'm about to join my very last conference call for this company and you know that does not make me too sad. Although I will miss some of the other managers, the call is not something I will miss at all. I had thought maybe I wouldn't need to be on this one yet my boss thought I needed to be, to say goodbye. And so I can do that.

After today, I have one more day of work. It is kind of bittersweet to leave a company you've been with for almost 15 years. Yet I don't regret the decision at all. It is time to move on and I am glad I have the means and the opportunity to do so.

I will continue to blog as much as I can during our trip. AND will share as many pictures I can.

And I am so ready to go I am about to bust!!

Closer and Closer

My counter is a little off. I was counting down actually to my last day of work but that's changed a little. I actually have only three days to work this week and then a total of five or six days that we actually pull off.

Last night Matthew and I got on the phone together and mapped out our trip. We are going through some really cool places for someone like me who likes cowboys and indians. I can't wait.

How I will ever get though three more days of work is a mystery to me but I got to do what I got to do. But actually it is better than me being home waiting for three more days.

Anyway, that's all that is on my mind of course. I can't believe this is finally going to happen. It has taken me years to make this decision and then a couple of bumps got in my way but now the road is clear and this is really going to happen. So look out Washington State, I'm nearly on my way.

A Good Night

We had a great time last night at my dinner. This is a pic of me and the girls and my little namesake, Robbin who is Steph's daughter. Remember my post here about my french doors and flowing robes? Well, that's exactly what I got! Two beautiful silky flowing caftan robes to walk out on the deck in. They are beautiful!
The Dr. and his wife gave me a very generous gift of cash which will come in handy for sure. He specified he wanted us to use it as "fun" money on our trip.
I took my travel journal that Tammy sent me and asked them all to write me a little note in it.
I'm going to miss these people very much and they will be in my heart forever.

Dr. P

Vicki

Steph

Lonieze (we call her Loni)

Kathleen

Kayla

AH AH CHOO!!!

That's all I can seem to do this morning along with blowing my nose. But I'll take this lovely spring weather any old day even that yellow pollen that comes with it.
After work the girls and I and their husbands are going out to eat to celebrate my "New Beginnings". I like that so much better than a Going Away party.
After today I have only three more days to work. Matthew will be here Thursday. My brain is mush. I don't think I have a complete thought in my head but it feels good to be ahead of the game and be all packed up already. In fact, I can't believe I've accomplished all I have.
I have in fact worked so hard to keep it together the last few months that I hope when I can let my guard down, I don't crash. After the dust settled a little I sort of had a little break down that I had to work through. There were times when I thought I was losing it, times that I questioned everything. And I'm not the same person I was this time last year. I know this, I know I am less confident in my job, in my decisions, in almost every action I take. And so, nobody really knows how hard the last few months have been for me to get through. Staying busy, as to not have to think, concentrating so hard on just trying to get through each day and putting all my trust that moving is the best decision for me.
And so, the time is almost here to start my new beginning, to just take the time to heal completely, physically and mentally. To be with my family, to love my grandchild in person. I'm so ready.

I'm READY FREDDIE!

Ok, I'm ready, where are you Matthew? How can I wait another week? Oh but I must, I have to but it is not going to be easy.
I've found things I had lost, things I'd thought I'd thrown away and things I didn't even know I had!
But at last I've got what I'm taking packed and other than a few pieces of furniture, this is all I'm taking.
Everything else is either thrown away or given to charity. SO there! Now where oh where is Matthew??? I'm ready to load that dang truck!