Back in the desert... :(

Hello to all. Sorry it has taken so long to get up a new post. Abby and I have been really busy these past couple of days. We arrived back in Phoenix on Monday night, headed straight to chicfila for some late night dinner, then crashed out. Tuesday morning quickly came. We were both up around 8am due to being on east coast time. We packed and cleaned, then moved into our new apartment all by 1pm. Tuesday was spent buying supplies for our new place. We spent a lot of money on products to help with the "cat piss" smell. Needless to say, we jumped into renting out this apartment. This place is a piece compared to the place we were renting. The place smells really bad, there is no cable box (i.e. no sportscenter for 2 months), no DVD player, and the people below us hate us already (when i was moving stuff in, the guy said they are going to move out because they hear every noise). On the bright side, we don't share our place with random people, its dark during the day so sleeping will be great, and we "had" to go buy a DVD player (my pushing :) ). Abby was very upset when we first moved in because the place just isn't worth what we are paying for it, however she warmed up to the place and we think we can make it work for the 2 months we will be there (even though there is no sportscenter). The DVD player is nice! Just one more thing we have to try and pack into our already packed out car. I'm thinking if we buy any more clothes, toys (new TV and DVD player), and the golf clubs I want, I'm going to have to kick Abby out of the car and fly her to our new destinations. Packing the car is going to be an engineering miracle! We tried to stay up late Tuesday night to watch the Olympics, but we were just so tired from orienting to the east coast time for a week and a half, that we fell asleep fairly quick. We were up by 8am the next morning! Not a good thing since we were suppose to work Wednesday night. I was teasing Abby because we were at Circuit City (looking for our new DVD player) before they opened. A definite first for Abby (she likes her sleep). We did more shopping before heading home around 1pm to try and nap for our first night shift in almost 2 weeks. Neither one of us slept much. Maybe 2 or so hours then we were wide awake again. Luckily we received the bitter sweet call from work saying that we were on call. Meaning we didn't have to go into work at 7, but had to call back around 930pm to see if they were going to need us for the rest of the night. We didn't end up having to go in that night, so we tried once again to stay up late to watch the Olympics. The reason it was bitter sweet was because we really didn't get much sleep to warrant a safe night of work. On the other hand, we really need the money because if we don't work, we don't get paid. We already took off the week before for our vacation back to NC, so losing another shift of pay isn't going to be good for the wallet. Anyhow, we enjoyed our night off by sipping on a glass of wine, ordering out to this great Italian restaurant called Tutti Santi, and lounging on the couch watching the Olympics. I must apologize now for my sporadic thoughts and my horrible grammer and spelling. 1. It is 230am and I'm not feeling to good. 2. the call bells (from patient rooms) keep going off, so I keep getting up trying to assist all the sick. 3. Abby is working on a different floor, so I don't have the smart one in the family proof reading my work. Now back to the good stuff...

Our vacation was amazing! We realized how much we miss North Carolina, but most importantly our family and friends. We arrived in Greensboro on Thursday July 31st. Abby's dad picked us up from the airport and we headed straight to her brother Craig's house. They ordered Chinese food which looked amazing. I was unable to eat because my stomach wasn't agreeing with me. Let's just say I threw up on the airplane from Memphis to Greensboro. We flew in a puddle hopper, so trying to aim in the toilet wasn't easy. I'll stop there! Friday Abby had her appointment with the eye doctor and that night we went to hang out with her best friend Betsy. Okay, so I just received a phone call from the floor charge nurse. I am going to be getting this 16yr kid with stomach pain. Supposedly he has had gastric bypass. Can't wait to see this admit. So, I will hopefully get this post in, if not I will hope to finish later. Saturday we left for the beach with her family. We arrived at Holden Beach that afternoon quickly hurrying to the beach. The weather was beautiful all week. Her entire family was there. Let's just say that the beach trip was wonderful birth control. Lots of little ones ruling the roost. The following saturday, Abby and I took off to Raleigh to visit my mom, brother and friends. Andy was nice enough to let us borrow his car. We had dinner with my mom and brother saturday night, then headed over to my house to see all the guys. It was great seeing them all. We made home made ice cream and just sat around trying to catch up. Chuck made it back from Iraq so he told us stories about his travels and showed us pictures and videos of our tax dollars hard at work! To make a long story short, Chuck got stranded on a mountain and it took the US army to rescue him! F16's and all. Crazy story, but if you know Chuck you will understand. Fix my screens Chuck! Sunday we headed over to my brothers new house to swim in his pool and hang out with my mom, Sean, Corey and Van. After some delicious pizza Sean and I jumped in the pool. Woo quickly showed up to join us. The water was pretty cold, so Abby didn't stay in for long. Sunday night we joined a few folks for dinner at Los Tres! A great mexican restaurant in Raleigh. We then had to make a quick trip to Goodberry's, then it was home to spend some more time with my mom. Monday morning came and it was time to say goodbye and head back to phoenix. Sorry to those whom I wasn't able to see. The trip to raleigh was a short one, and I really tried to spend as much time with my mom and brother as I could. It was a great trip and it was so great to see my mom, my brother and all my buddies. We had a great time at the beach with Abby's family. So great seeing them as well. This trip made us both really sad. We just love our family and friends so much and hate that we are so far away. We are really enjoying our time on the west coast, but we are really looking forward to the day we get back to the east coast. In October we have another trip planned, but this trip will take us to NYC and to upstate NY. GO GIANTS! When we get back from NY, we will be moving to San Diego for our second travel assignment. We believe our contract there runs through the beginning of february. I told Abby earlier tonight that I have a surprise for her. I haven't told her what, and I probably won't. I am going to tell you all what I have up my sleeve, so Abby won't find out until she reads this blog. You can't tell her, she has to find out on her own. We'll see if she is keeping up with what I write! The San Diego Chargers play the Carolina Panthers on September 7th in San Diego (first game of the season). I am going to get us tickets to the game!!!! We will spend a few days in San Diego and then head to the game! Should be a great trip. I figure it will also give us a chance to try and hunt down a place to stay when we move out there. It should be a great trip! Abby packed her Panthers jersey, so this will give her a great chance to show off her Panther pride! GO GIANTS! Just remember, you are not allowed to tell her!

Well time to get ready for my admit. I hope you are all great and thanks again for keeping up with us through our blog. We don't have internet at our new place, so not sure when we will get new pictures up, but will try. We love and miss you all. Keep in touch.
In His peace,
Love Abby and Michael.
p.s. please pray for my grandma and grandpa! thanks!