Southern California

Last week, work took me out to Anaheim and Los Alamitos. I stayed for a few days after to start looking at areas to live. Yes, you read right, I'm moving to California! This last winter in Colorado pushed me over the edge! This cajun girl was built for flip flops and shorts, not for mountains and snow skis! I've endured being called a "wimp" for four years when it comes to the cold and I've had enough! By the way, for all my winter-loving friends out there, why don't you come run a 10K in Baton Rouge in August with me and we'll see who's the wimp then!

Anyway, I've been granted a transfer to our Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA which is just south of San Diego. I don't know for sure yet when I'm moving, but I wanted to get a feel for different areas while I was down there. I don't know if the universe in general has a sense of humor, but it was chilly and overcast most of the time I was in southern California! I kept hearing the phrase "May gray, June gloom." The first picture is from the pier in Pacific Beach in northern San Diego. Figures I go out there when it stays in the 60s! Still, 60 degrees is better than 40. . .

One of the many benefits of having been in the military is that I have freinds EVERYWHERE!!! In what was a major coincidence, two of my good friends that lived in the same apartment building as me back in Rota, Spain are now stationed in San Diego! I spent the first couple of days hanging out with Whit & Kathie, then stayed with my friend Stephanie and her family. Whit was taking classes for some architect exams he has to take, so Kathie and I drove all around San Diego looking at different areas.

I've been very fortunate that I've gained some really close friends when my Navy buddies have gotten married! I don't know how or why, but Kathie and I hit it off immediately when Whit first introduced us and we've been like sisters ever since. We were quite productive and looked at just about every area in San Diego that could potentially be a new home for me. We got some playing in there too though. We all went to the IMAX movie Hurricane on the Bayou which parts of were filmed in Houma, LA!! It also features a native Houma Blues artist, Tab Benoit that I've previously done a post on. I highly recommend the movie when it comes to your town. We also went to an exhibit called BODIES. It's an exhibit of human cadavers that have been meticulously disected and preserved. Even as a physiologist, I had never seen such a complete and educational anatomy exhibit. I realize this probably sounds gross to my non-science friends, but it was truly amazing.


After hanging out with Whit & Kathie, it was time for me to head south to stay with Stephanie in Chula Vista. Stephanie's husband is the XO of a ship and Stephanie just recently became a civilian. Her parents were also there visiting with her and their two kids, Grace and Homer, Jr (AKA Gunner). We just couldn't believe that it had been 10 years since we lived next door to each other in Spain! The last 10 years have seen 4 college degrees, 2 kids and many foreign countries between the two of us. We joked about what the next 10 years might have in store for us!


Stephanie's dad, Gary had read an article in the San Diego Union Tribune about a scenic drive that circled all of San Diego county. It seemed like a good idea, so we loaded everyone up into two vehicles and headed for the desert. Even though the universe thought it would be funny to keep me chilly in southern California, it relented and gave me some nice hot temps while in the desert in my rented Mustang (a snafu at the rental car place put me in a Mustang for the same price as the economy car I had reserved!!). In the picture is Stephanie and the two kids with her parents Gary and Lynn.


Along the route, we encountered a pink ice cream stand (with your choice of chocolate or vanilla only!), the Hot Rod Cafe, Desert View Tower Oasis and some scenery that could've been mistaken for southern Spain!

It was a great trip and I'm looking forward to going back permanently. I'll keep everyone posted on when the big move will happen. In the meantime, I'm heading to Louisiana in two days to attend a conference for work in New Orleans and to recharge my batteries in Houma! Hopefully the next post will include pictures of seafood and family!!!!

Tailgating at work!

Today was a fun day at work- we tailgated out in the parking lot! Over the next few days, the U.S. Olympic Committee is hosting several disabled military veterans as part of the U.S. Paralympic Military Program. So, to show our support, USOC employees dressed patriotically and decorated trucks while BBQing for the veterans participating in the program.

Since 2003, the USOC has been hosting programs that introduce newly, severely disabled military veterans to sport. For individuals who are used to being very physical and leading active lifestyles, injuries resulting in physical disabilities can turn their lives 180 degrees from where they thought they'd be at this point in their lives. During programs like the one going on right now here in Colorado Springs, elite disabled athletes are showing the veterans that not only does life go on, it can be quite rewarding and competitive.



One of the attractions during the BBQ was the CNN Warrior One. This Hummer was used by embedded CNN journalists in 2003 to cover the war in Iraq. It came back pretty beat up, but was customized by TLC's "Overhaulin" and Chip Foose. It was auctioned off to benefit Fisher House, an organization that donates homes built on the grounds of major military and VA medical facilities where families can lodge while their loved ones are receiving care. Warrior One is now on a national tour sponsored by RE/MAX to help raise awareness and money for severely injured service members.


The group of people you see on this truck are my coworkers. We make up Performance Services of the USOC. This group represents the components of Performance Services which are Sports Medicine (Certified Athletic Trainers and Docs), Sports Sciences (Biomechanists, Physiologists, Performance Technologists, Dietitians & Psychologists), Coaching Education, our leadership & administrative support. We have a great group and as you can see, we like to have fun! Our group won the "Most Original Decorations" award. I think the judges just really liked the fact that we left the BBQ pit in the back of the truck to cook!

One of our administrative assistants, Sara made these cookies. Not bad! All in all, it was a fun day with good food for a good cause. Hopefully this event helped these veterans in the process of reclaiming their lives and maybe even inspired them to train for one of the sports they are being introduced to. Most importantly of all though, I hope that you are reminded that freedom is not free. No matter your view on the war, please remember that those are real people out there with real lives that are sacrificing for our ability to do whatever it is we want to do back here in the States- even tailgating at work!