Saturday, January 5, 2013

The Wanderer

This Christmas break has been so crazy and hectic!  Sorry I haven't been able to keep you all updated with every single detail via my blog, hopefully you are following my facebook, my twitter and my instagram (thegirlwhocaughtfire) though!  If you do, you are more than likely aware that I have been traveling quite a bit.

Before hitting the road for the long haul, I took a tiny road trip down to Rochester to hang out with the amazing Miss New York, Mallory Hagan.  We had some much needed girl time as well as a sleepover.  The next day, we visited two different schools as well as Strong Memorial Hospital for a competitive game of Bingo with some pretty cool kids.  Strong is a local Children's Miracle Network hospital in the upstate area and they really were great.  Not only was the hospital staff great, the kids were awesome and I really had a wonderful time getting to know Mallory better.







It was difficult to really get one-on-one time during Miss NY week this past June, so I was hesitant so see what a full 24 hours with a this BQ would be like.  I am pleased to tell you that I am pretty sure I have a new lifelong friend.  Not only did she drive by herself from the city to Rochester, she then did five appearances in one day, three the next day and still found time for girl talk.  I really enjoyed Mallory before but now have a whole new respect for her.  She is able to all of her duties and more while still finding time for her friends and family, and never forgetting where she came from.  I am confident that she will do awesome next weekend at Miss America!  If you think so too, please get in your last second votes for America's choice!!  It is super easy, you don't have to give any personal info and you are literally only 3 clicks away from helping her after you click this link > Miss America Voting.

So after my visit to Rochester, I came home and finished my second-to-last graduate level course!  Whoa, what?  I have about one more month before I am done with school, (hopefully forever).  As if things couldn't get any better, my Marine came home to visit me!

My boyfriend Aaron and I took a trip up to Watertown to visit my Miss Thousand Islands family.  I had such a good time at our Christmas gift wrapping fundraiser and hanging out with my "little" Joelle!


After my trip to Watertown, I went down to Ithaca, NY to spend Christmas eve with my boyfriend's family.  I love going to Ithaca, it is small but incredibly gorgeous with cute shops and great food.  I had a great time with Aaron's family and felt relaxed, which barely ever happens.  Christmas eve, we made the hike back to my home to spend the night and Christmas morning with my family.  It was nice to have my family of six, who are usually running around like crazy, in one place.  My mom always unnecessarily spoils me every Christmas, but this year insisted that it would be a "light" year.  I don't blame her, the economy is awful, everyone is hurting, especially myself, being an unemployed graduate student.  She had told me and my sister in advance that we would be receiving Taylor Swift tickets for Christmas (only because she knew we would impatiently go and buy the tickets on our own if she didn't).  I had felt extremely guilty because she told me that the whole concert had sold out and she had to buy the lowest end tickets available on a third party website for triple the price.  So boy was I surprised to open my last gift that read that my ticket was NOT the "lowest end" at all but included:

One Incredible Top Price Reserved Floor Ticket in the First Twenty (20) Rows*
One Autographed Copy of ‘Red’ – Taylor Swift’s Fourth Studio Album
One Entry Into the Official Preshow VIP Party, Which Includes:
  • Separate Preshow VIP Lounge – Let’s Have a Blast Before the Show!
  • Food & Drinks Galore – Expect All of Your Favorite Foods and Drinks**
  • Don’t Forget the Sweets – A Fantasy World of Sweet Creations Awaits You
  • Preshow Prizes & Giveaways – Includes Memorabilia & Limited Edition Items (Subject to Availability)
  • On-site VIP Paparazzi to Capture the Preshow Action & Moments
  • Access to Secure On-Line VIP Site Where You Can Download Preshow Images for Free
  • Preshow Party Music Playing Your Favorite Taylor Swift Hits and More
  • Dedicated On-Site VIP Preshow Host
Exclusive On-Site VIP Perks
  • VIP Priority Check-In*** (Where Available)
  • Separate VIP Entrance*** (Where Available) o VIP Customer Service Hotline
One Premium Taylor Swift VIP Gift Bag
  • Created Exclusively for Taylor Swift VIP Package Purchasers
  • Gift Bag Also Contains One Commemorative VIP Laminate & Matching Lanyard
 
UM CHEAYHHH!  This was my face, and my tears ^  VIP pre-show party?!?  Ahh!! Taylor goes to those!!  Mom, you rule!!

After I finished crying my tears of joy, I packed up and hit the road with my boyfriend and my dog.  We headed to Virginia where my daddy lives because he will be taking care of the pup for awhile while I finish up school.  It was great seeing my dad again, it has been awhile so It was nice to let loose and do what we do best...


Shoot at inanimate objects. =)  Now I know most of you know I am country and love shooting but I have to admit that this was my first time with a pistol.  I did alright but I should probably keep practicing if I am going to make it through a police academy.

After visiting my daddy's for Christmas, we went back toward Quantico, VA.  I got to tour Aaron's Marine Corps base and see the National Marine Corps Museum which was breathtaking.  For New Year's, our friends all split and amazing hotel suite near Washington, D.C.  We got to dress fancy! :-)

There was even a fun dance-y place that the owner was from Buffalo!!  Awesome flag.

The next day we toured Washington and saw, the Capital, the Washington Monument, and a few of the Smithsonian museums.  One of the museums even had my favorite prop from my favorite movie; Dorothy's shoes from the Wizard of Oz! 

So now I am back at my daddy's house in Chesapeake,VA, just a stone-throw away from where I was born a Navy brat.  I have had an awesome time spending time with my boyfriend, family and making new friends on my journey.  Now I am filling out boatloads of paperwork (getting a police job with Federal government is not easy), and sorting out all the school work I have to do when I get back.  I have five weeks left of graduate school so I am going to be a very busy, stressed, and bored girl for the next month or so.  I will try to keep you all updated on my life, although I can't promise that it will be extremely interesting!  I will find time to take a break and watch ABC next Saturday though.  I hope you all had a relaxed, happy and blessed Holiday break!  I will be flying into Buffalo tomorrow after yet another long drive back to DC.  

Until next time,

Lonna



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