MERRY CHRISTMAS

As we tuck ourselves in on the night before Christmas I want to wish all of you a very merry one. I pray you will all remember as my 6 year old nephew Logan would say "Christmas is all about Jesus." So as you open your gifts, eat delicious food, and spend precious time with family, be sure to send up a good word to the big guy and thank him for the amazing gift he sent us on this day.
God Bless,
Greg and Hol :)

Bad luck and Blizzards

Apparently we chose to come home on one of the coldest and snowiest weeks so far. I flew from West Palm Saturday where it was a cool 65* and into Detroit just after they had a few days of snow only to be greeted by weather ranging well below 20* (dad even said he saw it at 5* at one point!)

I had high hopes to travel to Chicago with my mom this morning for some shopping, which happened to be foiled by days and days of seemingly endless snow and a train that was delayed 5 hours. But we managed to spend the day shopping none the less up in Grandville. Where to my delight we didn't have to spend the day walking around in Chicago's -20*, so I think it was meant to be. My blood has thinned quite a bit, I am pretty much always cold here, I rarely take my coat off in restaurants and as I sit here in front of the fire with a blanket on me and long pants and a hoody wondering why I have a chill.

Greg's supposed to be flying in tomorrow since we thought he had to work. But, we hope he can make it in and we hope we can get him safely into town from Detroit since the roads are not so great and there is more heavy snow on the forecast. He was not due in until about 11:30 PM. So in his attempt to avoid the bad storm he is headed to Ft. Lauderdale early to try and catch a flight on stand by. So, let's hope he makes it and we have the Merry and White Christmas we had hopped for.

Happy Anniversary Baby!

Greg,
Who would have imagined 7.5 years ago when we snuck our first kiss in the arc on the beach that today I would be happy to call you my husband and be so proud of the man you are. Well I am! Do you remember our vows? We promised to love each other more each day. At the time it was cute and lovey but it really has been true that the more I know you and the more we are together I Love you more and more! I am proud of you, how you love me, how you provide, how you are able to communicate to me with love, and how you are always striving to be a better man and husband. I especially happy that you are able to put up with me and seem to enjoy it! That in itself is a large task, I know I can be a handful at times.

If I ever had to go without your big bear hugs and your forehead kisses I don't know what I would do! I love you Baby and I can not wait for 50 more years, happy anniversary!

Exam Week

Sorry for the hiatus...we've been busy at work, at Disney, and shopping! Today marks the last day of exams at PBA and students will be heading home so really my break started last Friday. I have been able to lower my hours this week and next week before I head home on the 20th, which has given me an opportunity to get some shopping done. We got a wreath to put on our front door and Mya is not too sure about it.

We took our own picture in Santa's seat in Disney, he wasn't there, so I got a picture with the other big guy available at the time :)

After much debate about whether or not to get a tree this year Greg found a great deal on a fake pre-lit tree that was too good to pass up.

We plan on opening our gifts to each other on the 17th, anyone know what special day that is :)I'll let ya know if I get anything good.

PBA Here I Come! ...Again! (Greg)

Well, it's time that I dust off my book bag and sharpen my pencils, I'm headed off to school...again! I just recieved word that I got accepted into the Masters Program here at PBA! I will be going back to get my MS in Organizational Leadership. Classes start first thing in January, so i'd better remember how to study and quick! Exciting and expensive times in the Hill houshold! Luckily PBA will be paying for 50% of my program being a "distinguished and valuable employee". Woohoo, I guess being chief button pusher has finally paid off!

Happy Black Friday

Oh and Happy Thanksgiving too! We had a great one, I got pretty fancy with the spices and made some herb stuffed turkey breast, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pan gravy. It was pretty good. We were also lucky enough to be able to share the day with Greg's parents and our fellow relocated Michigander Matt. It was a good time. We dragged Greg's folks to the park with Mya to scope out some locations for us to get our official pictures taken (which will be done in a few weeks) since we are going to be married 3 years and the last official pics we have are our wedding ones. So here are some make shift poses...



Don't mind the hair in my face on this one. These were taken on Sunday, on Monday morning I had my hair trimmed and died dark brown.





We headed out this morning and managed to make off with some great deals on clothes and shoes and spent some quality time together FINALLY. All in all I would say it has been a great day. We will just leave the part out about me having to go to work today.

Sam's Club Special

It is no secret that we dote on our little puppy po baby face, MYA (aka: Booger, BOBO, or just "NO"). This weekend on a little stroll through Sam's Club Greg spotted a large dog bed at a reasonable price so after we picked one out we spotted the cutest little doggie bed with dots, and knew we had to take it home with us for our little Booger. I think she likes it, it is the perfect fit! Here she is at 8 months old, pretty much fully grown at 24#.

Snow in West Palm Beach (Greg)

Yes folks, believe it or not that is SNOW that you see in that picture of Downtown West Palm Beach Florida! We live in a town that has so much money they don't know what to do with it, so why don't we just make our own snow here in south florida?! Its pretty cool actually (no pun intended). It's not real snow mind you, that would just turn to rain. What they did is create some sort of soap like micro bubbles that actually resemble a very good snowflake! So that in conjuction with some good old fashioned Christmas music durring a fountain show next to a 45 ft. tall christmas tree and a bunch of palm trees wrapped in christmas lights and you've got the idea! Good times in South Florida!

The New Job (Greg)

Hello all, alot of you have been asking how the new job is going so I thought i would just give a quick update! Things are going really good. Its definitely a change from what I am use to. The longer I'm here, the bigger the job becomes and the more responsibilities I inherit. Thats not a bad thing mind you, but my job description is very vague but now includes alot of marketing and PR work, I'm now responsible for editing additions and updates to our webpage(s),developing new web materials, any form of external communications etc. So in short I still couldn't tell you exactly what I do except that it encompases pretty much every form of communication throughout the entire college.

Let me go back abit here and give some history for those of you who don't know. I accepted the position of Communications Supervisor (Coordinator/Director) for Admissions at Palm Beach Atlantic University. All in all the job seemed pretty straight forward -Oversee the communications flow and mapping for all prospective students from inquiry to matriculant, also oversee the daily operations of our Telecounseling division. But as I mentioned above that job description is becoming very grey and is now including a mass amount of other responsiblities. Thats what I do, but how is it going? Its going great! It's fantastic to finally be apart of an organization that is Christ focused and is LOOKING for changes and new ideas. Too long have I been apart of organizations that are so stuck in their 100 year old traditions that are irrelavent and pointless. Almost the entire staff (all but 4 people) are brand new in the entire department so we are all in the same boat of finding new best practices and developing a new PBA.

The moral of the story is that the job is going well, it is an exciting place to work and I FINALLY get to use that degree of mine! Now I'm contemplating getting my masters in Organizational Leadership as PBA pays for 50% of it! So who knows what the future holds. For now I'll just enjoy the ride!

Snowflakes

So Cityplace, basically downtown West Palm for those of you who have never been here, has it's annual tree lighting festival on Saturday. They started playing their Christmas music, and have hung snowflakes in along the main road, between the buildings. They have not lit them yet but it makes for a beautiful effect and I love it. Here is what one of them looks like in the 75* heat of noon. That feature is new this year and I for one appreciate it.

Very excited for everything to be in lights! As of Sept 15th they are also starting to have daily evening snowfalls. Which I anticipate to be bubbles, but nevertheless this is Florida's attempt at enjoying some of the seasonal perks those of you who actually have to shovel, be cold, and scrape off your cars have learned to enjoy.
Too bad I am going to miss it, Men's basketball has a tournament in Alabama that I have to, I mean get to go to. But it is in the 50's in Alabama, should be fun.

Let the Christmas music begin

Greg started working at PBA this week, the house is a mess and he is running out of dress shirts and ties to wear, but so far so good. We both are working a lot right now, and looking forward to thanksgiving break (which for me is a whole day).

But you know what starts the day after Halloween in this house? Christmas music! Thats right, why wait for Thanksgiving when you can enjoy the festivities for 2 whole months. Mom started to ask me already what we wanted for Christmas. She always has a way of asking when that is like the farthest from my mind. But since I managed to wash and dry Greg's pants last week along with his entire wallet, we got to take a trip to the Fossil store for a new one. That is where I decided this is what I want this year.





Oh yeah...bags :) I am due for a new one it has been over a year. Nothing like soft brown leather to get a girl happy for Christmas.

Greg is hoping for bigger and better things, like you know a motorcycle, or possibly a MAC computer, or a freakishly huge and expensice camera. He has always lacked creativity or reality with the Christmas ideas. What is on your Christmas list?

Happy Halloween

Since we get to spend our Halloween in a van driving the women's soccer team to St. Pete for a game against Eckerd, I thought rather than delight you all with the Halloween costume I am not wearing and Pumpkins that I did not carve I would find some comics, so here you go...








Happy Haunting>

GO VOTE!!!!!!

I think the scariest thing on my mind in this time of spooks and ghouls is the chance that my country which was founded on Biblical teaching, freedom, and the "American dream" may be turning into a socialist nation. I am fearful that the American people are so unaware of what Obama will be capable of and so blinded by he sweet words of spreading the wealth and change that they follow blindly and put no effort into determining what that change will be and where that wealth is coming from. America needs to wake up. We need to stand up. And we need to go back to the roots of the Constitution of which this AWESOME nation was founded on. Bring God back, let each person decide what their "American dream" is, and most of all preserve our FREEDOM that can and will be taken away if America does nothing.

I feel like one of the few who can see through the lies and look into the future to what our blessed nation could truly become. I am not saying that the other option will be the best choice, but I do know that it is a much better choice for the future of our freedom. Maybe I have been reading too much, and maybe I have been listening to too much Glenn Beck, but maybe we just need to tell all our friends and loved ones that if they love this country and they want to see the freedom that they enjoy stand for their children they need to go vote!

Catch up

Everything is bigger in Texas. Well at least in my recent experience things were a lot cooler and more refreshing. Texas trip went well, the girls lost one game and then had a great win in the second overtime of the second game. I got a nice rosey glow on my cheecks, one of the AD's who traveled with us got lost like 5 times and could not stay with our caravan of 4 cars (so annoying), and I got to go play at Dave and Busters. All in all a good trip.

I have been getting that creative bug and feeling like I want to make things, so I decided to get a sewing machine, I had been looking for one for a while but yesterday I found a brand new one on Craigslist (have I mentioned how much I like that thing) for 60$. So I can not wait to get home and start playing with it. Things like that make me feel real country.

I also got up early this morning and got my butt handed to me by a personal trainer. I decided that I needed to MOVE!!!! I have been a lazy pile. So I think I am going to join Bally. I got a free session with a personal trainer but the only time I can go is in the mornings. But silly me did not eat anything this morning so silly me turned into dizzy me and dizzy me decided to sit down and drink something before I turned into passed out me. Moral of the story...I am tired and sore, why do people work out in the morning?

But yay it was in the 50's this morning, I actually busted out a hoodie and I am loving every minute of it. As my athletes come in this mornign complaining of how "FREEZING" it is outside I cant help but chuckle to myself and tell them this is what pleasant weather feels like, they have no clue what freezing is.

Houston or Bust

I am getting on a plane in a few hours for my first trip to TEXAS. The women's soccer team has a couple games in Houston this weekend, so I get to go along for the ride. The team, 2 coaches, one athletic trainer, and one AD. Don't ask my why the AD is going. But the coach has made it very clear that this is a soccer trip not a fun trip. I ask, why can't it be both! So as I sit here in anticipation of getting on a flight for a few hours with 4 people, only to wait in the Houston airport for another 3 once we get there to wait for the remainder of the team who are traveling on a later flight. Should be an interesting trip. But I will be happy to check Texas off my list of states I have visited.

Greg Hill - Communications Supervisor for Admissions

The power of prayer is evident in this day! Greg got the job at PBA! They gave him a great offer, more than we had been expecting anyways. He will start November 3rd. We are so happy. Things have a funny way of working out, every time we talk about when and if we should head back north God keeps opening doors down here.

Spitting in faces

So we can plan to hear from PBA in the next few days. During the exit interview that Greg had yesterday with the Dean of Admissions (after a full long day of interviews and meeting pretty much every person on campus) Greg was told that unless he spit in someones face he should be getting an offer on the job as the "communications Supervisor for Admissions." So now we pray the offer is a good one and that this job is a blessing. Thanks for the prayers and the support as we continue to wait for God to open the doors.

PS....

Greg is at his dinner with the VP for student development and the Dean of Admissions as I write. Pray it goes well. Tomorrow he has a full day of meeting people schmoozing at PBA. Let's hope...

Pumpkin time

This is the season for Holly to rekindle her love for Brach's candy pumpkins, not the candy corn, and not the autumn mix. PUMPKINS are the way to go! I will grab a bag or two bring them to work and announce to my team that I have "trainer treats" and they too get to enjoy the pumpkins that have brought many a smile to my face.
What is even better today is that I went to the dentist this morning. Not only did I go to the dentist but my 25 year and 4 month streak of no cavities has not yet been broken, the dentist said I was "perfect." What better way to celebrate clean teeth and a perfect smile than a Venti skim peppermint white mocha, and a bag of pumpkins? I know, I couldn't think of anything better either.

PUBLIX..new found appreciation

One of the big things I miss about MI is MEIJER. The only option we really have here for our grocery shopping is Publix..."where shopping is a pleasure." they kinda have a Monopoly down here. They are like Starbucks there is one on every corner. It is basically a Hardings or a small grocery store with just grocery, unlike meijer and it's one stop shoping. Well there are 3 within a 2 mile radius from our condo. We had shopped at two of these locations, but it was not until last week that Greg suggest we try the third one. I walked in yesterday and was immediately surprised at the layout, the huge produce, and the cleanliness. It is good because I always get so frustrated when I am grocery shopping at the other ones. So this is a praise! Yay Publix on Haverhill.

The Epic Puking

There is nothing more pleasant to wake up to at 5:30 in the morning to than the sound of your dog blowing chunks on the carpet. About 3 weeks ago poor Mya started not eating and from time to time would vomit up just clear stuff. Recently she began eating again and now she eats all her food twice as it ends up back on the carpet about 8 hours later. This has been ever troubling because she is like our little baby and we cant understand why it is happening. So we took her (well Greg took her) to the vet on Wednesday and they did some tests and gave us some pills for her (the same pills they gave us when she had her puke and poo fest after her surgery). But the pills don't seem to be working because last night and the night before around 6am by the bedroom door she left us a nice gift. So we don't know what to do, feed her less, feed her at different times, make her sleep in her crate,no clue. The next step from here is to wait until Wednesday this week and take her in for blood tests. I would like to think it is not that serious, but the poor girl. I feel like the only excuse for someone to be vomiting every day is they are a raging alcoholic or they are pregnant, and I am happy to report that no one in this house hold is any of those things.

Fall Mood

As the leaves change and cool breezes blow, and the smell of crumpled leaves on the lawn waft under my nose...Oh, wait I live in Florida. As the salty air blows the humidity and heat around and the green palm trees rustle I am reminded how much I miss wearing hoodies and what I had lovingly termed "football weather." As some may wonder what is wrong with 24/7 "beach weather" I tell you nothing is. It is just when you are used to a change in seasons and it is ever neering Halloween and the sun is still beating down on you that you begin to miss the cool wind and the colors of fall. So I am jealous of you all up north enjoying the beauty around you as all I can do is change my blog background.

Best new find

So my lovely husband discovered something the other day while we were looking for plane tickets home (www.visitdirectair.com). It is a new air line that flies directly to small air ports around the country. There is a direct flight from the smaller air port in Orlando, FL to Kalamazoo,MI! I know crazy! Its pretty sweet, we are excited, this cut our price home by like $300. I thought I would share.

Dolphin Mania

This was the scene right before the Miami Dolphins took the field yesterday. We got free tickets to ride the party bus (free beverages and snacks the whole time) from WPB and Miami. It was a match up of Miami Dolphins vs. San Diego Chargers, Miami pulled off a win. There were some really entertaining people on that bus let me tell you. The game was cool, the stadium was not as big as I was expecting, but there were lots of crazy drunk people, lots of rain and sunshine, and lots annoying football fans. It was fun to be there although we are not really Miami or charger fans. We definitely had an entertaining afternoon.

Holly... (Greg)

Another update... Holly watches way too many cartoons! She definitely started quoting Sponge Bob Square Pants at lunch today... yah, I think she's got issues :-) Love you babe!

Job Update! (Greg)

For those of you that have been praying and following my job search efforts I've got a promising update for all of you. I got a call back from PBA the other day stating that I am their top candidate for the Communications Supervisor for Admissions position. It's a position that I would be in charge of a lot of the marketing and other PR communications for the college as well as run the tele-counseling office for admissions. It is looking fairly promising, the Dean of Admissions and the VP of Student Development are taking me to dinner on the 14th and then they want me to come in on the 15th for an all-day "interview". So I'm fairly certain as long as I don't screw anything up during the dinner that I have a pretty good chance!

So there it is, the update that a lot of you have been asking for! So thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers on the subject and please continue over the next couple weeks as I prepare for the dinner and interview on the 14th and 15th! The job would be a great blessing to Holly and I and would get me out of The Breakers if nothing else! :-)

Holly Hill Lazy Pants

So I am in a good mood today but not so much of a good mood that I want to sit through my own lecture. I teach Intro to Athletic Training, there are 19 students in the class. I anticipate today to consist of me watching students fall asleep, asking dumb questions, and wondering what is going to be on the test I am giving next Tuesday only to find out I have not written it yet. I love my job, don't get me wrong, but sometimes this teaching stuff is way overrated. They are learning about Head, face, eyes, ears, nose, and throat injuries today. I got some sweet pictures on my power points to help spice things up a bit (plus I like to watch the freshman in the second row squirm), but I'd much rather just hand the slides out to the class and leave than lecture for an hour. Glad I did not go to school to be a teacher, I would have never made it.

What a day to be a Sailfish

So they finally updated my photo on my little blip on the athletics website. www.pbasailfish.com check it out, kinda cool.

Got to work on time today and have managed to accomplish nothing in the hour I have been here except balance my checkbook, listen to some Hope College Chapel music, and check my email about 5 times. Oh, how I love the lazy Friday.

I am beginning to wonder how much stress I am really under here at work. I had a dream last night that I went to the health and wellness center here at PBA and told them that I just could not take it any more, so they put me on anti-depressants, and then when I took the drugs back to the training room the athletes bombarded me and took the pills and were interigating me about it. YIKES, I think I need this lazy Friday!!!

Update on the big guy:
Greg had his phone interview yesterday. He gives himself a 7.5/10. But we are always harder on ourselves I am sure he was an 11.4/10. So now we get to wait some more to find out if he is one of the few who gets an on campus interview. We will find that out in 1-2 weeks. But, the hard part is over for now, it is out of our hands.

Officer Patterson

So proud of you Eric! Pops and Grams just look cute too. Eric is now and officer in Indianapolis, IN. All he had to do was get sprayed with mace and tazzed. Sounds fun to me, sign me up!

God's Purpose

Yesterday I was thinking a lot about God and the way he likes to do things. Sometimes I wonder what purpose he had in bringing Greg and I down here and what we are supposed to learn in all of this. As glamorous as it may seem to be in bright and shinny West Palm Beach, it is also a struggle at times to be away from family and friends and all that is familiar. Yet, I am at peace that it was God who opened all the doors for Greg and I to come here. So what is the lesson he wanted us to learn? Lean on him? Independence? To grow closer as a couple? To make a difference at PBA in the live's of my students? I think that it is when we have learned that lesson we will have doors begin to open for us elsewhere to a place we have more lessons to learn. It is only when we are listening to God and walking in his path that we can be ready for all that he has to throw at us. Sometimes I think the waiting and the listening can be just as hard as acting.

Hmmm...maybe that is what he is trying to teach us, to wait and listen, how to follow him. I have a lot of learning to do.

Prayers Por Favor

Oh, also, keep Greg in your thoughts and prayers. For his positive attitude, know the right things to say, and be the right guy for the job. Greg has a phone interview with PBA on the 18th. He is being interviewed for Communications Supervisor for Admissions. He really needs to get away from the Breakers and into a positive and Christian work environment. I think this could be a great thing for both of us! So put in a good word with the big guy for us :)

Evil Cone of Diarrhea

Here are the Cone head pictures I promised. Note the sadness in the eyes, the way she makes the cone look so heavy and cumbersome. This was before all the evening's excitement when I thought it was cute and funny enough to take pictures. She gets her sutures out on Wednesday, then we can give the poor girl a bath that she so desperately needs.

the "witness"

What could be more fun at 6am than dragging athletes out of bed and asking them to pee in a cup for you? I got to be the witness today for our drug test which means that I got to verify the sample which means I get to stand in the stall with the athlete and make sure that the pee that goes in the cup came from them. This is one of those glamorous sides of athletic training that we try not to advertise. We don't want anyone getting jealous. This is the time of year when the whole modesty thing has to get thrown out of the window and I have to ensure that the girls are not hiding another up of pee or the Wizzinator 2000 or something to taint their sample. It is crazy, talk about stage fright. We have to get the sink running, sing some songs, pee a little come back and pee some more so they get up to the line. Oh man, let's just say I am glad we don't have to do that again soon.

$$$$

So we have been switching things around this week, due to the fact that I was getting tired of paying 275$ per MONTH on our car insurance, and the fact that our 1 year sweet deal with comcast had exprired. So since we have turned 25 and that magically makes you a better driver in case you were not sure, we have managed to save 120$ per month on our car insurance (FYI FL car insurance is crazy rediculously expensive if you are wondering why we would even pay 275 in the first place.) Yay! And we changed our cable and internet around so we saved $50 on that. So overall we have managed to save ourselves 170$ / month! That is like a lot of Lattes! That is over 2000/year! Wow, I am happy about this if you could not tell, now if only we could figure out a way to get our gas and rent at a much cheaper price that would be delightful! (sorry lot of exclimation marks!!!!)

Neglected

I am sure you all feel neglected. But I assume since no one is posting comments I feel as though no even reads this. Life is getting into more of a routine for me and I am in the thick of things this Fall semester and season. Not that you would know that it was fall around here. It is more like the heat of hurricane season. Last week was a good one for the most part I have been starting to feel better, sniffle, cough, and hack have left me. However,last Friday Mya got spaed and we had to put this evil cone collar on her so she wouldnt lick her wound. Well she did not know what to think of that thing, she refused to move with it on. She would not walk, lay down, or sit. She did however proceed to vomit and have diarrhea all night due to the stress of the evil collar as I like to call it. We brought her back to the vet for fluids and meds and we have not put the collar on her since. She is doing fine, back to her sock stealing, morning barking, toy romping self.

Cleaning up dog vomit and poo at 4 am did make me think, is this what a child is going to be like? Then I was glad she was a dog and we could put her in a crate when we left the house, cant do that with a kid and not go to jail for it that is for sure! Greg was generous enough to hold the dog while I cleaned up the nastiness.

I am going to pickup running again, this time for real. I have a running partner and we are going to start tomorrow morning. 1.5 miles we shall see how I do. I have not done much since the 15K in May. But heck I ran a 15K in May! 1.5 miles should be nothing right?! Stupid hot and humid FL. I am not looking forward to it. I am however, trying to get Greg started with me since I am not on high milage anymore. I think that would be great if we could do that together.

Ok I assume I am rambling at this point. I will get some pictures up of Mya and her EVIL cone later since they are priceless. But for now I need to get lunch before I teach my class about the pain response in the body...ahhh the life.

Mya the Lizard Slayer

Last night I watched a baby lizard make its way around our ceiling from one end to the other. It was dark and our house is white so the baby lizards "pop" against the background which makes them easy to pick out. Usually when we see them and they are low enough on the wall we have grown accustomed to catching them in a glass and putting them outside. But this one was happy and fancy free to just walk along the high ceiling. So I would glance up from my book every so often and look at Greg and say Lizzy has made it to the other side, or where is he now? It was cute and lizards crawling around our place (the baby ones anyways) don't creep me out quite as much as it used to when we first moved down, and is nothing compared to a RAT!

Well, when we went to bed the baby was still up high and we said good night and thought it would make it's way back to where ever it came from. But Mya had other plans. Apparently according to Greg's report shortly after he let her out of the room this morning he saw her in the corner chewing on it. Oh our innocent little puppy, and the poor baby lizard. Don't let her fool you she is a lizard killer and I think she was proud of it. I promise we feed her. Silly Booger.

She has her 4th obedience class tonight, lets see if they say anything about table manners. (such as dont eat the other guests)

Sniffle, cough, & hack

A few new friends have come into my life, sniffle, cough, and hack! I started feeling the sniffles last Friday, then the sore throat came along, soon to be followed by one of the yuckiest sounding coughs ever. It basically kept me in bed all day Sunday, until I had to be full of drugs so I could go to work in the evening. I am running on 15 days straight of work and no days off, not that I am complaining because this is what preseason is all about. But my body is deciding to reject me and everyone around me is having fun pointing out the fact that I am sick. As if I did not already know. Do they want me to walk around with a smile on in the midst of this grossness. I am happy I mustered the strength to take a shower today, let alone come to work and not be complaining. I just am being. I am here, I am doing my job, and I look forward to going to bed. What more could they ask for. A smile...not happening today I don't think. I could barely chew at lunch and breath at the same time. I think smiling may kill me.

PS- Happy Birthday Karen, I hope your in better condition than me today!

The eye of the storm

This morning I awoke to Mya pulling back the curtain in our bedroom. Seemed she wanted to see what was going on outside. We had been in a tropical storm warning, and not long after 5am the storm had made land on the west coast. Where we were on the east side of the state was getting hammered with rain and lightening around 6am, and we had been getting rained on since 10am Monday morning. I quickly checked my phone to see if coach had called me because I was supposed to report to work for an early morning practice, but no message. So I got my raincoat on and grabbed my umbrella and headed into the storm (after getting dressed of course). It was raining hard! not very safe driving conditions but basically just a very heavy rain, lots of lightening, and windy, very windy. Not too different from any other storm except for the fact that it was so continual.

All that driving and risking my life to get to work only to learn the girls practice was cancelled (no surprise to me, no one ever calls the athletic trainer) and the parking lot was now a lake and my shoes and socks were soon squishy. I waited for the ladies to come in at 8 entranced by the radar and the eye of the storm which was slowly making its was from south west of my location moving in a north east direction. The e-mails came flooding in from PBA administrators telling us all to get to work yet at the same time don't risk our lives to make it to work (a little to late for me). The the AD sent out messages to the coaches that all practices indoor and outdoor are to be cancelled. So that means I get to go home. Thank you Fay. I need to catch up on some sleep.

This was/is my first tropical storm...how exciting.

The Florida Ic

So far so good with preseason. We had a practice this morning and we have 2 more later today. Well, when I say we I mean them. I just sit and watch, but honestly I do not know what is worse. Sweating like someone with a hyperactive gland problem just watching them workout or sweating during a working out. 2 days ago I wore a grey shirt, and managed to have that thing sweated through by the time practice was over (a reminder, I was just walking and sitting). The next day I chose a navy shirt which was equally as sweaty but not as detectable yet twice as hot (not to mention I had lots of sun block on and I was quite sticky). Today I thought a white top would solve all my problems. I also used a different sun block in an attempt to not feel as utterly disgusting between practices. I managed to stand in the line of shade cast by the lone palm tree on the field. But when I am in my sweaty mess and feeling like I just want to sit in the AC and take a shower my real work begins, getting girls treated, recording injuries, running around making sure everyone has what they need in a short time so that they can make it out the door and get to lunch in time. So, now I rest in anticipation for this to begin all over in a couple hours, only to be outside longer this afternoon, add more sweat and sunblock to my layer of the Florida iciness, run home afterward get a shower in before I need to be back here again to get the girls ready for their evening conditioning.

Oh I just LOVE PRESEASON.

Olympic mania

Sheesh I am pooped. Didn't they know that it would be opening week of PBA athletics when they planned the Olympic games. They are so inconsiderate. I love the Olympic games, the level of competition, the strange "sports", the bringing together of the World. It kinda gives me warm fuzzies. But staying up till 12 ever night is beginning to take its toll. I have been spending my days out at practice in the hot sun, getting paperwork imputed on our AMAZING new computer program, keeping the athletes healthy through their 3 workouts per day, all while trying to figure out when I might find a chance to eat and be able to get home to see my hunny and my baby.

Volleyball is currently playing on the TV in the athletic training room and I am waiting for my athletes to start trickling in for the afternoon practice. I am just thinking that I could really use a nap but I wont take one, because when I get home it will be time for the Olympics to start and it will take every ounce of my energy to stay awake and watch the excitement.

Rattus Rattus

Greg and I were having a nice evening enjoying some olympic swimming when Mya looked to the kitchen and began barking. We both glanced in the direction of her bark only to sea A HUGE RAT climb from on top the refrigerator onto the cupboards and scurry away. Up until that time I would have never thought there would be a possibility of a rat getting into our place. Aparently it has been feeding for some time on the hambuger buns we had been keeping on top of the fridge.

After getting the heeby geebies, dry heaving a few times, and repeating in my head the image of this long tail and big furry body in our home Greg and I discover on a chair and with flashlight in hand a huge hole by the upper windows that allows perfect access for the little rat colony (made up of HUGE RATS)into our home. Outraged and utterly discusted we head to walmart in search of rat poison and traps.

Once we have all the sticky traps set and the poison in place on top of the cupboards where Mya wont get them we try and calm ourselves as we watch the US swim relay kick France's butt! Shortly after however, not more than 15 minutes since we have set the sticky trap we hear a scuffle. As we look at each other in fear of having to remove whatever may be stuck up there we hear more scuffles and screaches. Greg gets his leather gloves on and I am holding the garbage can (well I put it on the table and ran away when the screaching became more threatening and gross). Greg put the baby rat (still the size of what would be considered a big mouse in MI) in the bucket and took it out to the trash. So not only do we have one HUGE rat this rat has babies and who knows how many more are in the wall just waiting to come out and feast.

After all this excitement it is safe to say I will look at the movie Ratatouille a little differently. Rattus Rattus (the roof rat) are NOT cute, and they are even more not cute when they are eating your buns and scurrying in your walls!



We have terminix coming this evening with a good plan of attack! Watch out rats... your going down. Need I just say it, EW and gross!!!!

Hard at work

August has begun and I am hard at work as you can tell from the fact that I am Blogging :). The athletes do not report until next Tuesday and that is the point at which I will fall off the face of the planet, eyeball deep in sweat, blisters, ice bags, and tired hot athletes. 2-a-days are nothing but craziness and conditioning.

I do feel blessed that I get to work with a fun group of ladies who are all going to be a part of a bible study. We will be reading the book "The Lies Women Believe." so far it is really good I suggest any woman read this book.



Beth, Me, Jen, Kimmy, Staci, and Karem at Boomers.



This is the "white team" about to go into battle of laser tag. We dominated by the way, "Blue team" had no chance.

Please send up some prayer for Greg, he has applied to a position at PBA in the department of admissions. He needs a change from the rich folks on the island, and PBA is a great place to work, and would be a good chance of pace for him.

Big Kids and Boomers

Our staff meetime last night ended at Boomers. Basically a big arcade with lazer tag, mini golf, and go carts. It was a good way to end a meeting. I have never played a more agressive game of lazer tag or had to be such a defensive driver on the go carts that last night. people were spinning out all over the place, at points I was worried I was going to get thrown from my car. It was fun. I was sweaty by the end of the night after 30 minutes doing dance dance revolution. Almost got to have a match up with coach Primm (who is like a 6'6+" basketball coach) and then they decided to close, it was 10 pm. Who would have guessed playing arcade, ski ball, go carts, tag, and dancing would be so much fun and dangerous all at the same time. But I have to head to the meeting room for more of the not so much fun part to our staff retreat. Away I go...

go green, blah

Green is becoming a new 4 letter word to me. It makes my skin crawl. Maybe it is because I come from the era that was raised saying "give a hoot don't pollute." Maybe it is because I don't believe the planet is in a state of global warming that is all the fault of us evil humans. maybe it is because I am tired of liberals trying to make the rest of us feel bad because we have a "carbon footprint" and the world will be a horrible place for our children if we don't act now! Ug, go green, blah! There is green food, green cleaning supplies, green houses, green cars, green TV channels, I am wearing a green shirt! When will this end, when will green go back to being a color and stop being a movement.

Don't get be wrong, I am all for helping the environment and taking care of the world God gave us, we recycle, we throw our trash where it belongs, we have a short commute to work, I would dare say our footprint is small compared to the Al Gore's of the world. I am just tired of hearing all the ways that the government is going to to stop global warming, or charge this tax and that tax to corporations for their carbon footprint, and how England is already giving its people a carbon allowance and if you go over that you have to buy carbon credits!

When the time comes that NY is under water because of the ice caps melting as predicted by Gore's propoganda (although this year they actually gained in size but no one is going to tell you that) I will maybe try a little harder. But until then you can "go green" I am just going to try and "give a hoot."

All good things must come to an end

This weekend I get to say farewell to my glorious days of nothing-ness. Yup that is right kids it is staff retreat time. A time for Holly to catch up on her bad attitude and boredom. Hours and hours in a hotel meeting room with all the athletics staff, where I get to learn of all the tedious policies and procedures the NCAA has put in place for the coaches to follow and wonder why I am there. Needless to say the best part is the coffee and doughnuts in the morning only to lead into a slow progression of BLAH! And the best part is that it takes place 3 times a year! And not to add to my bad attitude everyone is SOOOOO excited because we get to play beach volleyball as one of our "activities." Have they not noticed it is a bagillion degrees outside, and the sand is hot, and it sticks to you when you get sweaty, and I wont feel like going in the ocean to cool off because there are jelly fish. Sorry to be the spoiled sport people, but cant we do something inside? If I wanted to sweat I would go drive around in my car for a while.

On a birighter less whinny note this retreat will be the kickoff to the preseason craziness which I enjoy so much. I will get to be out in the hotness of the summer keeping the athletes alive and working on my tan (yes at long last a tan is possinle) and really getting to know my team and students. We have a new coach this year for Women's soccer so I am hoping that relationship will be a good one and that I will be able to enjoy starting the new year at work.

Poor booger wont know what to do all day with daddy and me gone away at work. I am sure she will catch up on her chewing, crate digging, napping, oh and I cant forget licking stuff, she is really good at licking stuff.

Murphy Strikes

Ok think about it, what is one of the worst things that one might have to go without in Florida? If you are not thinking air conditioning then you need to have your brain checked.

I was blessed yesterday while I was driving around town returning the books on CD to the library, grabbing lunch, running into PBA to get some stuff done on the computer when the AC in my car decided out of no where that it just didn't want to work anymore. One minute air so cool you would think you were in MI winter, and the next Hell had opened it's gates. With the windows down, the rush of hot air, and back sweat I was beginning to get flashbacks to the days of the green chevy S10 with no AC and more rust than color. I thought we had made a good choice this summer and we got the windows tinted to keep my black car with black leather cooler in the 90+ and humidity. However, without the flow of cool air it appears that it was all in vain!

I got another tease when I hopped in the car this morning and the vents were pushing out cool air. 10 minutes later about the time I pulled into PBA's parking lot the air got warm and had a distinct musty smell. I am hoping that on the way home today it will be working again, I have no clue what could be wrong but I do know that I do not want to pay to have anything fixed! Ug, cars, they make me sick sometimes.

At least my windows look good.

More pictures

also, if you would like to see more pictures, especially if you are in them (posted by me, & my moms) check out our walmart page, and you can order them right there too. I find it quite handy.

Back at last

Well, we had a great week packed with friends and family but at the same time relaxing. I am going to give you all the warning to NEVER go Ohio, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL route. A co-worker strongly suggested that way to me so I thought sure we can do that on the way home. Not only was it 3 hours longer it was full of toll roads, never ending hills, fog, EMPTY highways, and we were in OHIO FOREVER! Not recommended, just gut it out and go straight south (IN, KY, TN, GA, FL). One thing can be said though, our dog has been to many states now.

But lets start at the beginning of the trip.


First day back to Kzoo we headed over to Lansing to see Christie, Tiny,& Keller before they headed over to Iowa for a missions trip. This is Me, Christie, and Mom in front of Christie's house.



Then the (officer) "Best Man" and "Maid of Honor" came over the next day, along with other family, to Pops and Grams for a BBQ and bonfire. (enter mosquitoes)



We toasted some mallows for s'mores while trying to not get eaten alive by the bugs, but the weather was great.



Booger had fun on the lake on Pops and Grams pontoon boat.



Family photo :)






Got the group back together for some fun times at New Holland Brewery, so I could enjoy their company and the raspberry cider (but they were out and I am still quite upset about that!)



The last day there Dad and Greg went out for a 2 hour bike ride. Came back smelling like old shoes!


That was our trip in a nutshell, fun times with family and friends!

Attack of the killer mosquitoes

Itchy, scratchy, bumpy, and all over. I guess that is a good way to describe the mosquito bites that have managed to appear after spending every evening in the great outdoors. Greg and I have so many little red bumps on our feet and legs I would go as far as to compare it to chicken pox! I have never felt like such a pin cushion in my life. We are going through the benadryl spray like it is our job! So not only are we bumpy but now we are slightly sticky. I am sure we will continue to spend every evening outside until it is time to go home on Saturday, but we will now be armed with our jeans, hoodies, socks, shoes, and never to be forgotten again OFF!

Fireflies, Ghost Stories and Jiffy Pop (Greg)

"When in Rome, do whatever you can't do in Florida" Ok, so maybee thats not how the saying is suppose to go but it definitely is ringing true for our trip back home to KZoo. It's amazing to find that so many things you get use to and take for granted you realize you have completely forgotten about in a short manner of time. There are certain things we have found that just cannot be done in the sunshine state, that great state where everyone is from somewhere besides there and most of them are older than dirt, nobody obeys traffic laws, and everyone has an opinion for everything regarding anything they cannot control. But before I get on a side bar I'll step back off my soap box and into the present reality.

When returning to the place you've grown up and spent 25 years of your life after a long hiatus, one goes through a process of re-discovering lifes simple pleasures- those pleasures that we so often take for granted and rarely employ. This trip/vacation/pilgramidge/Floridian Exedus or whatever we choose to deam it at the time, has offerd us afew of those simple pleasures we have forgotten. Be it spending the entire afternoon at the lake on a boat, or sitting by a campfire every night and staring up at the stars (so far we've seen 10 shooting stars and 4 satelites, a very big full moon, and many many more planets and stars than are remotely visible through our light infected sky in West Palm), hunting for night crawlers at midnight, enjoying a rain soaked round of golf in 70 degree weather (YES that is cold, and YES I had a jacket on! -I'm from FLORIDA), and more stories and memories made than the space in which I wright. And to think that it is only Monday night!

Being the first of many I see not the value in giving up my stories so easily, but suffice it to say that they are quite numerous and equally hilarious (lots of pictures too) and may, or may not, include suggestions and tips on how to talk your way out of -and almost back into- a speeding ticket for say 27 mph over the speed limit! [Disclamor: Tennessee state troopers do not appreciate individuals (who shal remain nameless) that pilot vehicles traveling well in excess of the posted 55mph speed limit down the mountain in excess of 82mph.]

But as with every day of vacation, yesterday breeds memories and tomorrow brings adventure, and as everyday comes to a close the curtain must fall for the evening. Seeing as such a time has come, I bid you all good night!

Heading north

So, we are departing this evening (once my sentence with the VB camp is through) piling into a rented car with books on CD, clothes, snacks, and our Booger (Mya's other nickname) driving 24 (or less) hours to arrive at a little place we like to call "home."

We have not seen all the splendor Kalamazoo, MI has to offer since we were home around Christmas time. Oh, the fields of corn in Vicksburg, Westnedge Avenue what with its restaurants and mall, real grass, a climate that actually cools below 85* when the sun goes down, Family, and who can forget BEANERS (Biggby, whatever)! These are just a few of the things I am looking forward to in good 'ol Kzoo. Just that feeling that you belong.

You may be wondering, why is it hard to get that warm fuzzy feeling of belonging in West Palm, Holly? Oh, I will tell you why. When the closest thing I have to designer anything is Vera Bradley bag and Gap jeans, I drive a VW and like it, I dont have a NY accent or say ya'll, I don't like to honk my car horn, I have not had a pedicure since 2001,I believe it is possible to wear jeans and a tshirt with your hair up and be cute,I run my AC all year round and don't care what my elecrtic bill says beacuse it is hot out, and I say pop which kinda has a making one stick out.

But heading north will be refreshing and fun, and I am sure when those 10 days are over I will be anxious to go "home" to the sunshine, our big bed, and our new friends, and all that I will have discovered is comfortable about life down south. I am proud of us for stepping out and having the courage to leave all that we were used to behind to begin the adventure of the Hill's being on our own away from everything we knew into this world of richies and crazies. I have to say we are doing it, and we are doing it well! Who knows how long we will be here and who knows where we will be off to next, but in the mean time I will enjoy every minute of it, or just maybe make funny observations about those minutes that are not so enjoyable.

Solo grande skinny chai, please

For all of you out there not training to be a barista I just ordered a medium chai tea latte with skim milk and one shot of espresso. My usual in the morning on my way to work. Nothing like a heaping hot cup of spicy caffeine to get your day started right. Oh, did I mention an overpriced cup of contentment, or maybe a foamy warmness that can be matched by none, or possibly a really bad habit that I can't stop, and choose not to.

A popular coffee shop that I will not name (rhymes with sublux or parflux) has managed to reel me in with their catchy marketing and stellar memories. Some may find it sad that all I have to do is walk in and I am greeted with "good morning Holly, hot or cold today" (because sometimes I get it over ice). But I find that welcome warming and it makes me want to come back, they ask me how Mya is doing and when they are going to see her again, we chit chat a bit and then I am on my way to the car, latte in hand, smile on face, dent in wallet.

Should I feel bad that I spend (blah blah blah) on coffee every month? Probably.
Do I? sometimes.
Why don't I make coffee at home? It is just not the same.
Who do I blame? Grad school, and the hours I spent at Beaners Coffee working on my thesis. I did not even like (we will call it Sublux) when I moved down here. Their chocolate is all wrong, their espresso tasted different that my usual Biggby's (apparently beaners is an offensive name for a coffee shop).
But I found a drink I love and isn't it my ultimate happiness we are talking about here? I think so...

Our newest addition..

...Baby Mya. So as a birthday gift to ourselves Greg and I got a puppy in the beginning of June. She was born march 5th and she is the best! She is a "fluffy" Corgi which means she will have a long fluffy coat instead of the short coat Corgis usually have. Her final color should be red and white.

She has already lost her baby teeth and loves to chew on everything. She is house trained and has NEVER evacuated (that is what all the dog books like to call peeing and pooping) in her crate. her current tricks are "sit" "down" "up" "roll over" and "crate time." She is such a girl and will only "come" when we have treats or it does not interfere with her finding something no doubt dirty and gross in the grass.

Her latest fetish is chewing on socks. Se does not tear them to shreds, she justs chews and licks. Clean or dirty she does not discriminate, and inspite of my best efforts to keep them off the ground and put in baskets she still manages to pop up with a sock. She is our little "sock whore."

We are very happy with our newest addition and will keep you posted on her as she grows up.

Blogging again...

Upon hearing the wonderful news that Lauren & jeff are preggers, I have come to the realizations that 1) I am totally out of touch with friends and family that are all over the country, and 2) I need to do a better job at staying in touch! 3) I am not a good phone friend! 4) I am very much looking forward to going home on Thrusday!

So, our blog will be another attempt at updating you on goings on here and hopefully you could join in the fun! Unless your my husband then you'll look at me like I am crazy when I ask if you want to blog and say "don't expect me to do that."