t h r e e m o r e

yall.  I only have THREE more trips to Africa.  I cannot believe I'm really saying that!

I have to say that I think this has been the fastest rotation yet.  It has been NON-STOP...lots of issues, but also lots of successes.  I've learned SO much, and I'm realizing now that I ONLY have 3 more trips to keep soaking it all in.  My field days are numbered...soon enough I'll be in the office for really the first time ever.  I'm most excited about getting my office attire up to speed, I mean, who doesn't love an excuse to go shopping?!  Being able to come HOME every night is going to be a big plus too ;) 

I'm heading home Tuesday and then straight to the beach for a long weekend of family and one special set of friends - the Kennedy's!  It's going to be perfect timing because my sweet Kennedy clan of 3 is about to become a family of 4!  The second precious Kennedy girl is arriving in September, so we will have one last hurrah because she gets here.  It's also been over a year since I've see Miss Brooklyn, which is just ridiculous.  Not to mention that we will have two other pretty special babies, so it's going to be a really great trip :)

The biggest house update this week is my built-in and all the other sheet rock touchups.  Chad did such a good job putting in a tile backsplash, so just some shelving, molding, floors, and paint and the living/dining room is ready for furniture! 

                                    





26 days down, 2 to go!  xoxo...

roommate*

I owe my sweet roomie an apology for bashing her in my last post.  I guess she really does love me because she happens to be one of my avid blog followers...and she didn't appreciate my jokes (woops).  Long story short, AB left on Tuesday and I have been soooo lonely without her!  I don't have anyone to keep me up at night talking about dew point and cricondenbar (our bedtime talk was REALLY nerdy).  And I don't have anyone yelling at me at 4:47AM when my alarm goes off.  Mostly I just miss her because now everyone out here hates me because I have my "own room"...


In other news, I'm feeling SUPER isolated because for some unknown reason, my cell phone decided to just stop working.  And no mom, I did not drop it in water or sit on it....although I have been known to do such things...it just stopped charging!  Luckily, the 7 people that I talk to on a regular basis are the same 7 avid blog readers mentioned above....so if you've tried to text/Snapchat/Instagram me at all, I'm NOT ignoring you, I'm just out of commission until I get home....probably longer knowing my general laziness when it comes to getting things done... 
 


I haven't mentioned that while I've been here, my sweet Chad has been working double time as my general contractor.  Not to mention his wonderful parents also devoted a weekend to free labor in Houston last weekend.  Most of the work that's getting done right now is the electrical and prepping the front of the house for painting!  Most importantly getting the closets done because I need that storage :)  I have to say that Chad is pretty much the best at visualizing something and making it happen.  Unfortunately, he's not the best photographer, but you get the jist... 

Chad and his dad built a built-in!

Denise is my personal recessed lighting planner...

LIGHTS! 
For everyone who's been tasked with helping me pick out a grey, take a look at this photo and let me know what you think...I think I'm leaning towards #7





More lighting

Back bedroom / office closet

Office closet

Front bedroom closet

Bathroom storage!

Kitchen lighting

And Chad's favorite....garage lighting.

So I'm down to single digits, and I will be home before I know it!  This is kind of my favorite part of rotations because you're way on the downhill slope but not in crazy panic mode just yet.  I mean I'm always in crazy mode, but the panic to "finish" everything doesn't really set in until later this week when I have like 4 days left.  Then the scramble to get my turnover notes starts and the realization that I haven't accomplished ANYTHING sets in.  And then, just like that, I'm home and I don't care about anything work-wise for the next 28 days :)   


19 days down, 9 to go!  xoxo...

roommate

Ok, so this week has been ridiculous.  It wasn't until Thursday that I actually paid attention to what day it was and realized that a week had gone by.  I think I've mentioned this before, but this is one of the things that I both love and hate about this job.  The days go by fast, so my time out here goes by fast, but at some point it starts going my too fast and I end up having so many things to do with no time left to do them! 


The biggest change that happened this week was that I moved from the boat (Camelot) that's been my home for the past 19 months to the platform.  The Camelot is demobilizing and will be sailing away the beginning of July, so everyone from the boat is either leaving the project, moving to the platform (Living Quarters Building), or moving to a smaller barge called the Ayang-2 that holds around 200 people. 


Long story short, no one is happy about this change.  Our walking track, basketball court, mess hall, and most importantly SINGLE ROOMS are gone.  Everyone is moving into either 2- or 4-man rooms.  I can't really complain toooo much because I've moved into a 2-man room with Anne - my girlfriend who is currently my girlfriend, but may turn into my worst enemy if she doesn't leave soon.  I'm only joking, but kind of serious. 


I've learned a few things about myself since having to share a room with someone.  I do snore on occasion, but every time I do it's so loud that I wake myself up.  So my conclusion from this is that I can't really classify myself as a "snorer" per say, because once I wake myself up I don't go back to snoring.  Every time I do this (it's been once, for the record) I think of my Dad laying on the floor in front of the TV watching something (usually golf) and jerking himself away....I cannot deny that I am my Daddy's girl.


One of our Korean mechanical commissioning engineers demobilized from the project a few months ago, and he will send me a text every once in a while just checking in.  JH Cho is his name, and he's the one that I wrote about a while back who loved our nightly "chit chats."  Anyways, he mostly just sends old project pictures or selfies on his new project...which I just love.  So yesterday he sent me these two pictures, which I thought were pretty timely...

The Camelot attached to the LQB attached to the PPP with Centro wellhead platform in the back

Not sure what this one is, but it looks like I'm being somewhat annoying....weird?!

One last thing....one of my favorite people in the world has a birthday TOMORROW.  Alanna you are one of the biggest blessings in my life...I actually don't know what I would do without you.  So in honor of your birthday, I'll just share my favorite picture of us with the world.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! 



12 days down, 16 to go!  xoxo...


 

what in the wooooorld?!

Well, it's been quite a while since I got on here and I honestly don't even know where to start.  So my last post was in February, it was pathetic and I failed to follow up.  There have been a few very important things that have happened since then...so I'll just run through them right quick...

Quick getaway to Colorado with my girls....

Home away from home...Aspen Crest

These are my people.

In January I hit 4 years with my babe AND we had the Super Bowl in Houston

I was able to be home in February for my sweet Papa's 90th birthday

We got FIRST OIL, which meant the beginning of demobilizations and lots of parties offshore!

I was able to get home a little early (deported due to visa problems) for Pa and Robert's induction into the Carrier Hall of Fame...bonus - fun weekend in NOLA!

Most fun (and longest) train ride I've ever been on...luckily I had great company

Then we had babyyyyy #2...clearly, not me, but my cousin's sweet wife.  Beckett Marshall Wurzbach blessed us on St. Patty's Day...lucky us!

Cousin's first meeting

I was able to get out to California (it had been WAY too long) just before Easter to spend some time with my sweet, sweet Carrie who is now is CANCER FREE!  Sadly, I took zero pictures with her because I was too distracted by this precious one....

Miss Addalee Posey

During another round trip back to work, my bestie (Courtney) turned 30...then Chad turned 30....then I turned 30...and we survived.

The face of 30...yikes

My sweet friend Anne planned an ammmmmazing Colorado trip...



When you see your college roomie and this is the best you can do for a picture...

And just like that, I'm a HOMEOWNER!  This little 1920 bungalow is alllll mine :)  It needs a little love, so Warning:  This blog will quickly become a renovation update... 
 

Annnnd lastly, we are Godparents...
 

Godfather and Godson

Mr. Beckett and THOSE EYES!

I don't think I could be more proud to be this babes Godmother

So here I am, back at work, and attempting to get my life back on track.  I feel like I've been in a wind tunnel for the past 6 months, and I need to just take a breather.  The funny thing is I haven't even been doing my normal travels this year...come to think of it, I haven't even left the country besides work...that JUST dawned on me.   Well, I'm not really sure how 6 months have already gone by.  In my ripe old age, I've come to realize (and more or less accept) that there's no stopping time... 


OH, I forgot the most important update of all...beginning January 1, 2018 I will NO LONGER be an employee in Angola, Africa!  I've accepted a job in Houston, so once we finish up here...I'll be back in America...full time!  Just working Monday through Friday.  I couldn't be more excited to get back home and just have a normal(ish) life.  I think my mom is a little excited too :) 


One last thing...happy happy happy Father's Day to my sweet Daddy and allllll the other fathers out there...you have the most important job in the world!




5 days down, 23 to go!  xoxo...