Guess who's gunna be a journeyman?

I just got the paperwork in the mail today. It's going to be official April 3rd. I will be 100% a journeyman. That's $32.35 an hour baby!!! So cool.

Last weekend was so fun. Did tons of stuff. Went to a wedding, went to a cowboy bar, went to a jiggy-boo bar, went to "Claim Jumper," went to a concert (Taste of Chaos), went to Anthony's for appetizer and then to the Cheesecake factory for dessert. All from Friday to Sunday. Needless to say I was exhausted come Monday morning.

I'm in school this week. My last week! No more. Done with! Woo-hoo! Don't get me wrong, I like going to school. But it's school. Not something I count down the days till. It is good seeing my old friends though. They are all doing good. Even Mike. I think of him like a little brother. He reminds me of my brother too. We have been going out to lunch every day this week and have plans on going out to breakfast early tomorrow. Stupid boy though, got back together with an ex-girl friend that ripped his heart out years ago.

I also got to see my buddy Thom today. He was in a really bad accident at work about three weeks ago. He stopped by to talk about insurance stuff with the Union Hall. He is doing good. His jaws are still wired shut, so it was hard to understand him, but he is alive and well.

I've been working on my 5th year project all week and it is coming out wonderfully. I am my own worst critic when it comes to my work and the fact that I think it is coming out good says something. I have received so many compliments on the project and for once I'm able to accept them with pride. I will be finished with it by tomorrow morning. Then I'll take a pic and put it on my blog.

TOMORROW WE LEAVE FOR LEAVENWORTH!!!

This is for the fancy-schmancy room that we rented for our anniversary. It's going to be cold out there, but that's ok, we don't need to leave the room for anything. All we need is each other. I love Ivan so much. I can't wait to have him all to myself for a whole weekend!

Ok I'll have to let everyone know how it goes, (omitting some details). So I will write more later.

Weekend at the Ocean

Last weekend me and Ivan met up with Casey and Laura at this really neat old hotel in Tokeland. I've been to this hotel twice before and I absolutely love it. All the rooms are upstairs. Not one room is the same. They are decorated with antique furniture and floral wall paper. Kind of a country feel to the rooms. You would have to see them to understand. I put some pictures in. It only gives you a feel for how the rooms look. I think they picked the most "girly" ones to put on their website though.

Downstairs they have this huge lobby/sitting room. It is a great place to hang out and drink coffee or visit with friends. There is also a restaurant that serves some wonderful food. The next room over is the fire place room. There was a great fire going Saturday night. The heat from the fire contrasted dramatically with the storm that was raging outside.

It was such an awesome weekend. The traffic sucked on the way down there, but I amused myself, Ivan and Daisy by playing with the animal calls in Ivan's truck. I rolled down the window and would make all kinds of weird noises at other commuters stuck in traffic. I got some very strange looks.

There wasn't much to do Friday night, seeing as how we got there kind of late, but I did get to snuggle with my honey and read a book. Casey and Laura showed up later that night. They brought sticky buns! YUMMY. Made plans with them to get up in the morning and have breakfast.

Rise and shine early Saturday morning. Went to take a shower with Ivan. VERY COLD. The bath tub in that shower has this goofy wrap around shower curtain. It's one of those old claw bathtubs. Well with the wrap around thing there is an opening in the curtain at both ends of the tub, letting in freezing cold air. Plus when ever anyone touched the shower curtain it's self, we were instantly frozen. It was very cold and wanted to stick to us.

But we got all pretty and cleaned and met up with the others for breakfast downstairs. After some very good hashbrowns and eggs and COFFEE... it was off to the ocean. The weather wasn't that great, but I love storms so it was all right. Daisy loves the ocean. She gets all goofy and runs around and acts all silly. We collected some shells, but soon it got too cold to stay on the beach.

Off to the Drift Wood Festival. We went more because of natural curiosity. What exactly is a professional drift wood collector? I guess it is someone who makes money from it. The drift wood show was this really cute town swapmeet kind of thing. Only everything they sold was new. Mostly hand made crafts like jelly, aprons and quilts. It was fun.

The rest of the day was spend at the hotel. Naps, reading and good fun. Saturday night's dinner was my favorite. All four of us hanging out, talking about our futures, drinking good wine. We were the last people to leave the dining room. From there it was back to our game of life. After that off to bed.

One more breakfast with Casey and Laura and it was time to go home. Completely relaxed and totally content, I look back at the weekend and can't wait to do it again.

This is where Tokeland is.

The hallway that leads to the rooms.

The lobby. Obviously the picture was taken during christmas time. We hung out here after dinner one night.

These are a few of the rooms. Each one different from the next.

This is the fireplace room. They had an awesome fire going Saturday night. We played the Simpson's version of the game of life in front of the fire.

Here is the resturant.

My booth at the trade fair

The Road Less Graveled

Today I represented our apprenticeship in this trades fair that was geared towards women. This trades fair was held up in Bellingham (about an hour and a half away). This is the second trades fair I've gone to to help our our program. Last year was the Women in the Trades that was held in Seattle Center. This one was a smaller scale of that one, but this is the first one I did all by my self.

Last night I was all kinds of scared and nervous. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It turned out awesome.

I showed up at Bellingham Technical College at about 7:30 this morning. Got my booth all set up.

* NOTE: Last night Garrett helped me figure out how to set up the back drop thingy. I didn't want to look like a retard trying to figure out the thing in public. Good thing too, in my living room, I had the thing upside down and backwards. So glad I figured it out earlier.

My booth was right next to the Iron Worker's booth. (lucky me) The guy and gal running that booth were cool people. I remember the guy from the Women in the Trades Fair last April. He is also the president of their local. He sent me an Iron Worker's T-Shirt last year for my birthday. (well it just happened to show up on my birthday.) It was nice to have a familiar face there.

It took a whole hour to set up the back drop and set out informational packets, stickers, and other neat goodies to put on display. I had a lot of the other trades come over and talk to me, wondering where the heck my partner Eric was. Eric is one of the head guys at school. I go to him when ever I have any kind of problem that needs fixing... schoolwise, that is. Today Eric was in Idaho with the Regionals Competition, that's why I was flying solo today.

By 8:30 I was extremely nervous. Trying to talk to the other tradesmen/tradeswomen made me more nervous. They had all done this type of thing many many times. They all knew exactly what to say to these young minds that were coming up to our tables trying to learn about our particular craft. Me, I was trying to remember how to talk.

There was this table that had coffee, and bagels and tea set out. I opted for the tea hoping that having something in my hands would help, but with out the jitters that coffee gives me. Good choice. At 10:15 the "resource table" portion of the event started. This little cafeteria was PACKED with men and women. Young and old. I started talking to people about sheetmetal. How I got started, the work I've done, the places I've been. How I stand out, how I make a difference. This odd adrenaline rush kicked in.

I was standing (not sitting like the other people) behind my table. I kind of hop around, and talk with my hands as I tell my stories. There is constantly a huge crowd at my table. My confidence is through the roof. All nervousness and shyness forgotten. I did awesome! There were so many young minds out there I was able to reach. I could see it in their eyes as they watched me talk about sheetmetal. I hope that some of them find the courage within themselves to make the call and get started.

By 11:30, my throat and feet were both killing me. The crowd thinned dramatically. I was able to sit and talk to people on a more one on one level.

1:30 was time to go. I was ready to leave when this young lady came up to me. She wanted to ask some more questions on how our schooling works. How to get signed up. I really wanted to leave, but I went with instinct and spent another half hour there. Just me and her talked. I really really hope she signs up. I think she might.

A job well done. I made some notes to myself on how we can improve our booth by the time this year's Women in the Trades Fair comes to town. Can't wait to report to Eric on Monday!

Day two

Day two was almost as boring as day one of this "Stand By" thing.

I ran out of mine and Ivan's laundry to do, so I started doing Garrett's. Cleaned up the computer room and mowed the lawn. Woo-Hoo.

I did get this marinade for some venison steaks started early in the morning. I didn't much care for it, but I got it done none the less.

Thank god I have some thing to do today and tomorrow. I'd lose it if I didn't. Off to the union hall.

Back by popular demand

Due to the large amount of people asking me about my niece and sister, I've posted more pictures. Both ladies are doing wonderful, although sis isn't getting much sleep yet.

Isn't she sweet?

Sleeping beauty

Beautiful Briana

Day One

Day one of being on "Stand By" went fairly well. I'm not much on just sitting around watching TV, so I've been trying to accomplish things around the house. I managed to do a mountain of laundry. I almost have it all completely done. Washed, dried, folded and put away. (I have a hard time getting laundry put away for some reason. It just sits in piles of folded laundry...hmmm). I made some protein bars. They turned out gross. I'm not quite sure if any of those nutritional bars actually taste good, so I don't feel too bad.

I rode my bike around town for a while today. That part was fun. I had Daisy with me. She did pretty good running while I was riding.... Until she decided to take a crap on the sidewalk. Oh well. After the bike ride, I did more boring stuff like dishes and meatloaf. At least I got some grocery shopping in tonight. That means I can cook an awesome dinner tomorrow.

So for now, that is my super exciting life. I'll let you in on all the fun and exciting things about tomorrow, tomorrow.

Home on Monday?

Yes that's right, I'm at home on a very beautiful, sunny Monday morning.

On Friday before the work day was over, the HVAC crew in our shop got put on "Stand by." Stand by means that we get to sit at home on unemployment and wait for our shop to get busier than it is. I guess what the journey men do is go out and look for work without putting their names on the books at the Union Hall. If they find a job, great. If not, they wait for the shop to pick up again. My shop foreman came up to me on Friday and asked me specifically to not look for a job. If I do have to go get a job, he wants me to call him first. He might be able to bring me in and have me sweep the parking lot or something like that.

I will give PSF three weeks to find some work for me. I would go crazy being at home any longer. Besides I turn out in April. I become a journeyman, not an apprentice. I want to make the good money. Not that getting paid $455 a week to sit at home isn't bad... Just getting $32.15 an hour every day is a little better.

The last union meeting I went to I was offered a job with a company that I worked for just before PSF. Also there is a company that is really busy doing stainless work, (my specialty) and is headed by a group of people that I've worked for before. There is an excellent chance I could get in to that shop. The second shop is WAY closer to home too.

But in the mean time, I'm going to enjoy my time off. A wonderful time to get the house back in order.

Our anniversary

New Seasons Suite will take your breath away. Large and elegant, yet comfortable and romantic it features an in-room 2-person10-jet Jacuzzi bathtub surrounded by Paradiso Classico granite with ambience lighting, our amazing view, an abundance of local art and a freestanding fireplace with remote control. The simply elegant private bath features:
A Bidet for the ladies
A custom designed vanity featuring a curved Sucuri granite counter top
A 2-person Jacuzzi J-Dream II Shower/Steam Bath with stereo/CD, 2 wands, 16 body sprays and seats under a waterfall
Local art depicting nature
A heated tile floor for your comfort



This is where me and Ivan are going to spend our anniversary. We have our reservations made for this specific suite. I can't wait!!!

Part of Garrett's new room. See the chair in the corner? nice touch. It all looks better in person though. 

My first full weekend

This weekend will be my first whole weekend this year. Hard to believe huh? It's already March, and I haven't had that much time off, but I got tons of stuff done already.

Last weekend me and Ivan totally redecorated Garrett's room. See the den was where we put all the stuff we didn't quite know what to do with yet. It became a storage room of sorts. It had a stove, a freezer, an entertainment center and a whole closet full of our crap in it. Combine that with all the stuff he had when he moved in... Well it created some sort of a disaster area. Garrett went to his mom and dad's house for the weekend to help them clear their property. While he was gone, we pulled all of our stuff out of his room and re-arranged his furniture just so. We built and hung shelves for his wall. I put my recliner in there in the corner for him. His room looks awesome. It being a den, it's huge too. If I wasn't so fond of Garrett, I'd be jealous. Guess that means I need to re-do my room too huh?

In the process of organizing Garrett's room, we had to do some thing with all of our stuff. So we built these heavy duty shelves for our laundry room. We also (just for the fun of it) painted our laundry room a bright blue. We made the shelves a bright pink, and painted the washer and dryer purple. I know that these colors may sound funny, but believe me... It all works out well. We got all of our tools organized and have a well functioning utility room now.

This weekend me, Ivan and Garrett are going to go to Garrett's parents house. We are going to help clear some of the bushes and stuff off their land. We are going to dig a huge hole and build a huge bonfire in it. I guess Garrett's dad has a quad that I get to drive to drag trees over to the burn pile. I know that it is going to be a lot of work, but it is the fun kind of work I love doing.

Friday when we get to the Spokane area, we are all going to hang out with Joel and Jessie, some really good friends of the boys. Joel is a cool guy. He stayed here for a weekend once. We all stayed at their place once last summer too. I guess we are going Go-Kart racing. Should be fun. Maybe I should try to run my sweetie pie off the road... Just for kicks.

I have such a busy schedule for the next few weeks. It is going to be crazy, but it will be fun. I'll keep you all posted.

So Sleepy

Lately I've been car pooling to and from work with Ivan. I'm working about 15 minutes from where Ivan is working. Only problem is he is working ten hour days while I'm working eight. So we get up really early in the morning, take him to Sea-Tac, then I drive to our shop in Tukwilla. I work my shift, then drive back to the airport and wait. Today wasn't so bad because I fell asleep while waiting, but Monday was really hard. I read a whole novel. (ok so I finished a novel)

Tuesday he had to start at 4:15 in the morning. So I had to kill time before work. Breakfast at Denny's and a newspaper was all I needed. The waitress seemed bored and she bullshitted with me. Time passed quickly. Before I knew it it was time to go to work. Me and Ivan got off work at the same time, but we had to head off to a union meeting. We didn't get home till about 10:30.

Mondays and Wednesdays Ivan goes to the chiropractor after work. We don't make it home till 6 something those days. This car pooling thing is going to be rough. I can tell.

The good thing is, is there are two libraries and an internet cafe between my job and his. I'll get to know the area more the more I'm there. I'm just tired and grumpy and looking for sympathy.