CRABS!!!!!

When John and I were first dating, he introduced me to Guster, a band I had never heard of. Now, I rate their music at the top of my favorites list. There is a song they sing that starts out: "I woke up today, to everything gray....." It is a catchy song and the tune often gets stuck in my head. Well.... I woke up today....but everything was NOT gray. It was sunny, but that is beside the point. As I sat up in bed (John had already gone to school), I squinted as I thought I saw a bug running across the floor. I jumped up and could not believe my eyes. It was a sand crab! Still half asleep, I almost lost my balance as I scanned the room for a shoe. I intended to smash the crab (hey, my adrenaline was flowing), but instead I missed and only broke off one of its "crawlers". It crawled into the closet and out of sight. As my reticular activating system did its daily job, I realized that I was standing in the middle of the bedroom with a shoe in my hand, armed to destroy any other intruders. So far, so good..., no other critters IN the house today.

The Big 2-9

Happy Birthday to me! The best birthday present I could ever receive was having my parents here to celebrate it with me. Of course mom and dad spoiled me with the traditional birthday "week" celebration. Each day, starting with Day 1 of the birthday "week", I received all kinds of goodies! Then, on day 7, they surprised me with a ZEN! MP3 player! Later that day, we had dinner at "EATS", and John was able to join us after his evening class. Then we partied it up Cayman style back at home. Dad was a terrific bartender as always. Laura and Brenda came over and we had a ball! I am blessed to have met such good friends here, and I could not have been happier to have us all together on my birthday. All the fun made me forget that I am a year closer to 30!

Let the fun begin!!!!!

I am so grateful for such awesome parents. They arrived on Thursday, June 1st, in the afternoon. John had class, so I headed to the airport to greet them. While waiting, I decided to walk around the side of the building to where I could see the passengers coming off the plane. I felt like a little kid when I spotted them coming down the stairs from the airplane. I started jumping up and down waving crazily, yelling "MOM! DAD!" (like they could hear me). In the midst of my excitement, I felt a stinging sensation on my foot. When I looked down, my eyes spotted ants crawling all over me. It startled me AND it hurt, so I was then jumping up and down trying to get my shoe off in a hurry. It wasn't until after my performance of the Ants-Go-Away-Dance that I noticed several security staff staring at me from the other side of the fence. One guy was laughing without any effort to hide his amusement. Covered with sweat and insect bites, I put my shoe back on and walked coolly back to greet mom and dad. I was so excited to see them! We headed home from the airport and they both took in the initial uneasiness of traveling on the left side of the road. It was fun for me to see their reactions, for it wasn't that long ago that it was me experiencing the same thing for the first time.

Company!!!

I could not be more excited! My mom and dad are coming to Cayman to visit for a week. We have promised them sunshine, a beautiful ocean view and a laid back vacation they both deserve. Time for them to get away from a barking dog, a yelping puppy, inspections, griping parents, hit-and-run drivers, etc.....

I look forward to being hostess to them for a change and showing them the way we live here. My friend Laura also has friends visiting this week. We had to laugh at the fact that our apartments have never looked so clean.

I can't wait for them to see the view from our front door. Although I will be ready to get back to the U.S. when our time is up here, I know for a fact that I will miss starting out each day by looking out to that beautiful, blue Caribbean Sea.

Did you miss me?

Yes, I know, it has been a long time since you've seen something new from me.

I've heard that you are sick of looking at this cute little dog, so I'm back, with a new picture. Are you happy now Kerri? :)

Back on the blog and back to Cayman. It seems so much easier to write here. No pressures, no worries, everything slows down and relaxation sets in.....well, not for everyone, like John, and the other medical students who inhabit the island. They continue to experience the daily stress of trying to stay afloat during their quest to become physicians. The rest of us seem to slow down to the pace of the island and take things one at a time. I realized during my flight back here that this is my last stretch of time to live on this beautiful island. In August, we leave it all behind to head to an entirely different climate. I made a vow to myself to savor each day here and enjoy the luxury that living on the ocean provides. Each morning I look out at that gorgeous warm blue ocean water and say a prayer thanking God for all the wonderful things I have been blessed with in my life. I think I finally learned how to laugh at all the things that can go wrong here, like our car not starting and being stuck in traffic or unreliable Internet service. It is all part of the package, one that, in the distant future will all seem like a blur as we pack our bags and head north again.

My Overnight Plight

The overnight shift at the crisis line.... what fun! It is actually a nice change of pace to work this shift since the call volume is low and the atmosphere is quiet. It always amazes me how many people are up at all hours of the night with complaints of insomnia and how much sleep plays a role in our wellbeing. I think about how I've felt the next day after a night of not sleeping well and how grateful I am that it is not a regular occurrence. Sleep deprivation can make people ugly!

Sleep disorders affect up to 70 million people in the United States. This costs about $100 billion each year in accidents, medical bills and lost work. (Statistic from Brain Facts, Society for Neuroscience, 2002)

Let's see what else I can intrigue you with.... Sleepwalking is also known as "somnambulism"; sleeptalking is also known as "somniloquy."

My expert tip of the day: Get enough sleep. Brilliant, eh?

John's homecoming

John and I spent the last 2 days at my parent's house. Sasha was elated to see him again and she rarely left his side. At bedtime, she squeezed in between us and it was nice to have the 3 of us all together again. That night, Eric and Sarah came out to welcome John home and congratulate him on completion of his first semester of medical school. We also celebrated his "birthday week" with gifts from mom and dad. John shyly opened his gifts that included a brick of cheddar cheese, white t-shirts and a gift certificate to Circuit City. John entertained us with riddles that resulted in me actually getting a headache from laughing so hard. Sarah is just too funny for her own good. We were only allowed to ask yes/no questions in an attempt to solve John's riddles. The game was fun and we now have enough inside jokes to last us for quite awhile. The question, "were they molested?" still evokes uncontrollable laugher when I picture Eric asking it. The next day we headed to grandma and grandpa's house and they too were thrilled to have him back. Being at home now provides an even greater sense of security and comfort. Seeing the beautifully lit and decorated Christmas tree, the wrapped presents underneath of all shapes and sizes, and listening to Christmas carols during dinner paints a picture of what I consider heavenly. I am truly blessed to have such an incredible family.

WAFFLE FRIES!

Last night after work I headed down to the city to meet two dear friends (Renee and Kerri) for dinner. I felt nostalgic as I passed the "Laclede Station Road" exit on Highway 44, the way I took home so many times. The fond memories I have of my first apartment (the GT crizzo as I like to call it) in the big happenin' city of St. Louis all started to come back to me. I thought about how much I miss good ol' Georgetown....the red brick buildings, the leaves that pile high in the fall, the nights that John and I sat on the patio listening to music and conversing about life. As I cruised along the highway I remembered how giddy I felt the first time I wrote my return address using "St. Louis, Missouri". How silly is that!

Anyway, we met at "Biggies", one of our favorite places to go for waffle fries and unlimited refills of superb iced tea. All week long we sent emails about ordering those famous waffle fries. However, upon ordering, I blurted out, "baked ravioli please" and disregarded my week long quest for criss-cross potatoes. Dinner was delicious and I had a blast catching up with the girls. Upon leaving, I told Renee I intended to follow her down the side streets to the main road. She relayed to me her route and told me to follow her until the road came to a dead end. At this point I was to go right. I didn't listen. She turned at the first street we came to, and I didn't. I honked, waved and coasted right on by. As soon as I did it I realized that I had not followed directions. I busted out in laughter as my cell phone rang. On the other end I heard Renee's familiar hearty laugh and we could barely get words out as we giggled about what had just happened. I laughed about it for most of the drive home. I laughed again on my drive into work this morning. To me, this is what life is all about. Those special moments shared with loved ones, the times when "you just had to be there" to get the humor in the situation.

the JPH

I miss my husband!!!! This is the longest period of time we have ever been apart and it is agony!! I can attest that the old saying is true.....absence makes the heart grow fonder. I now have 6 pictures of John in my bedroom so that I can be reminded of his gorgeous blue eyes and sweet, reassuring smile until he finishes that grueling first semester of medical school. Next week the JPH will be reunited. I have a feeling that the next week of waiting is going to feel like a long, long time.

A Paused Blog...

You may have noticed that I have not written about anyone for quite some time. I should explain that I am reserving my "dedications" to times when I am far away from loved ones, once I am back on the island. So, for now, I plan to have a little fun and post about whatever comes to mind.

Karen Paruch

My K-dawg! What an awesome sis-in-law she is! Of course she has the “Paruch” traits of being generous, kind, and loyal, like the rest of ‘em, but she also defines what I believe is the PERFECT sister-in-law. We began bonding from the start. Such fun memories we share together…..seeing Tim McGraw and Smashmouth in concert…..heading to Qdoba for those burritos we just HAVE to have sometimes, eating chocolate chip cookies the size of our heads… shopping, talking and of course, our biggest deal of them all…..JAZZERCISE!!! It is the most fun I have ever had working out and is the # 1 reason why I want to get back to St. Louis ASAP….so that we can resume jazzin’ it up! Karen hosted my super fun bachelorette party and is always the first to offer her assistance in planning a holiday party or special occasion. She is the first to call and wish me a “happy birthday” and gives the most special gifts. She is passionate about what she likes and is dedicated to her children at school.

The other day I listened to a phone message left by Karen. “Hi Heidi, It is Karen. Hey, I got you a ticket to see Keith Urban December 2nd.” As soon as we talked on the phone she said, “and no, you are not paying me for the ticket. It is my gift to you.” I am so excited! I miss us hanging out and spending time together. So many times I am walking on the beach and will see 2 girlfriends laughing together and it makes me wish that Karen was here with us on Cayman. Not only have I been blessed with a one-in-a-million sister, but also a very dear friend.

Courtney

My cousin and closest friend… Sometimes I think we are twins that were separated at birth. There is no one else quite like her. She is extraordinary and extremely special to me. Her friendship is authentic and rare. She is the one who genuinely feels hurt when I am hurting. She has an incredible ability to empathize and show support, even if it is thousands of miles away through email. She has insight and has taught me that I need to sometimes listen to my heart, and not just make decisions based on what is rational. During one of the low points of my life, I remember Courtney saying to me, “it is gonna be alright. I know it is.” She said these simple words with such conviction and concern in her voice that I became convinced she was right. And, she was! She just has a way.

My Aunt Nonno (Courtney’s mom) recently said that Courtney and I “laugh to the beat of a different drummer”. I could tell the same story to 5 different people and only Courtney would find it as hysterically funny as me. Actually, she is the funniest human being I’ve ever known. She has the ability to laugh at herself and knows that most of the time life should not be taken too seriously. One of my favorite things to do is to get together with Courtney and reminisce about old times. Our favorite story involves a game of hide and seek when we were kids. Another involves a piano recital at SCI. I think we laugh more each time we re-tell the story. There is something about the “Heidi-Courtney” combination that results in humorous outcomes. A few years ago, we road-tripped to St. Louis to visit our good friend, Becky. When we arrived at her apartment complex, we were perplexed as to how to get to her front door, as the building was on a hill and there was no obvious way to get up there from the parking lot. We grabbed our overnight bags and pillows and began climbing to our destination. Once we hit the top, we found ourselves at the back of the building without a route to the front door. Up and down hills we went for the next 45 minutes in the dark trying to figure out where we went wrong. By the time we rang Becky’s doorbell, we had grass stains on our “going out” clothes and we were covered from head to toe with mud. I can still picture the look on Becky’s face when she swung open her front door and saw us. I still laugh to this day when I think about Courtney falling out of her sandals and sliding backward down that steep hill of wet grass.

I trust Courtney and I know that she is in my corner. She makes me laugh like no one else and I know that no matter what, she will “get it” when no one else seems to. Courtney makes life sweeter and is my daily reminder to stop and smell the roses.

My Grandma Jo

We’ve been close for as long as I can remember. We have always had a special bond that has kept us very, very close through the years. As a baby I’ve been told that I would stop crying as soon as I was placed into her arms, and her ability to comfort has continued over time. Whenever I’m upset, I call grandma. She listens without judging and I ALWAYS feel better after a good talk with her. She has made a point to email me every, single day since we’ve lived in Grand Cayman. Her emails are filled with support and encouragement, just what I have needed during some of the tough days here. I think she knows me better than almost anyone. She understands me and supports me no matter what. She has provided me with guidance and expert advice during times when I have needed it most.

When we were little, Eric and I got to spend nearly every Friday night at grandma and grandpa’s house. They would treat us to Vic’s pizza, and then we would play Scrabble and watch Wheel of Fortune on tv. Saturday morning we would sit at the counter while grandma made homemade biscuits. During summer vacations I would practically beg her to take me to work with her. (Of course she always said “yes”.) I would have a blast playing “office”, and I loved to eat at the underground cafeteria. It was such a treat because I could get ANYTHING I wanted for lunch.

My grandma has a heart of gold. She is loving and generous, and she would do anything for her family. She goes out of her way to make sure we all know we are special and loved. She is fun and spunky and strong. She can master any new craft she tries, and she makes the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen. I owe my new love for crocheting to her because she is the one who taught me many years ago how to hold the hook and keep the yarn tight in the other hand. We are already talking about our plans to sew when I am home for the holidays. I love the memories I have of us sewing together, talking about life, and laughing like crazy. It is as though as we are on the same page…..we “click”, which is why we are probably so close. I don’t think she will ever know how much she means to me or how much I appreciate all she has ever done.

Becky (Avart) Stafford

This week I finished my FIRST crocheted baby blanket and I plan to give it to my dear friend, Becky, for her cutie-pie, Brody. I must say that learning how to crochet was not as easy to do as I originally thought, and I am hopeful that Becky will keep in mind that her “gift” was my first attempt at learning my new craft……
This blog has the purpose of honoring the special people in my life who I feel I owe special thanks to. I definitely am in debt to Becky for the ongoing friendship she has offered me for a long, long time. Beck and I have been friends since the age of FIVE!!! We grew up together in a small town and have a special bond that has only grown stronger over time. We played volleyball together, sat by each other at Sunday school, spent the night at each other’s house whenever our parents would let us and still laugh when we talk about the night my dad teased her about excusing herself from the dinner table. Although we attended different high schools, we still were together on weekends. We suffered through the difficulties of teen break-ups and the giddiness of new romances. I have always been able to count on Becky to be there as a friend. She is loyal and fun and is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.
Our friendship grew even stronger during our college years at ISU. Our senior year we were roommates and had a blast! I’ll never forget the night we decided to take a break from partying and went to the movie theatre to see “Armageddon”. We cried for most of the ride home. The more we analyzed the movie, the more we cried, and finally we decided to never go see a movie together again. Later than night Becky knocked on my bedroom door to say something else about the movie and we cried again before laughing hysterically about how crazy we were acting! It was during this time that Becky met her future husband….Josh. I still remember him coming to pick her up for their first date. It was the most giddy I have ever seen her.
Although we don’t get to spend lots of time together anymore, I always look forward to a “date” with Becky. I will be forever grateful to her for the friendship that she has shown me during the “tough” times in my life and how she has stuck by me through thick and thin. She (and Josh) offered their home to me when I was trying to get settled in St. Louis, an offer that that came without any strings attached. She is the true definition of a friend and I am grateful to have her in my life.

My best friend

My wonderful husband…..John Thomas Paruch. There is no way I can cram everything about this man into this small tribute. He treats me like a princess, and even calls me “PH”, which is short for Princess Heidi. He is the most exceptional human being I’ve ever known, and I still can’t believe I’m the lucky one who gets to claim him as my husband. From the moment I saw him, I have been in awe by his big, gorgeous, blue eyes. No matter how bad things get, I can look into those big blue eyes and be assured that everything is going to be okay. He is sweet and thoughtful and makes sure I know each day that I am loved and respected. John is genuine and real and selfless.
Although he is modest, he is the most intelligent person I know. He is a world of knowledge and makes learning new things fun. He always has a tidbit of information to share about the weather, insects, birds, plants, etc…. At home his nose is almost always in a book. He has the need to learn as much as he can, and is always trying to get his hands on something new to soak into that brain of his. He is definitely an “outside” of the box thinker. Actually, when I told him that he is good at thinking outside of the box, he commented, “what box? There is no box” There are no limits (or “box”) in his mind to what he can learn and explore.
John’s goal in life is to make the world a better place. He wants to make a difference, to see positive change occur as a result of his hard work. He does not care about prestige and the attention he often receives from being so exceptional. Many times, I have seen him downplay his accomplishments when he is recognized and he will slyly change the topic to complimenting someone else. It is amazing to witness how people are drawn to him. He is liked by all and has a way of putting others at ease. He lights up a room upon entering it and, before you know it….he is surrounded by individuals who he has touched in some way. He makes me proud and I know I am a better person because of him. He challenges me and does not let me take the easy way out. He constantly is building me up, telling me that I am the best, and that I can do anything I want to in life.
As we recently have moved from the comforts of our cozy little apartment in St. Louis, surrounded by family and friends, we have struggled in adjusting to a new country and way of life. Although John has had the added stress of starting medical school, he has gone out of his way to make sure that I am comfortable and secure here. He is on his way to becoming an incredible physician and the world is a much better place because of him.

My Daddio

I call him "daddio". He calls me "Ms. Staunkey". My dad. He is a true family man and he always puts his family first. He is intelligent, witty, creative and fun. He completes the crossword puzzle in the paper each morning, usually in less than 15 minutes. He is extremely generous and is always thinking of others. My dad is tough and determined. He believes in doing a job the right way and would offer the shirt off his back to someone in need. While I was growing up, my dad often worked nights, meaning that he would leave for work in the evening, and get home early the next day. I would wake up early, around 5AM, and he would share his tombstone pizza with me that he was eating for "dinner". One of the many ways he showed his daughter she was loved and to make sure we stayed close. He spent hours helping me with school projects, so that I would get an "A+". I was always proud to turn in work that paid attention to every detail and had a creative touch to it. In grade school, I had to collect and label leaves for a project. My project was the best in the class, with the first page being a typed poem about trees. (I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree.....). My dad taught us to love unconditionally and the importance of ALWAYS telling the truth.

No matter what our financial situation was, he always made sure we had exceptional holidays and super fun-filled family vacations. He would sacrifice things he wanted to make sure that everyone had gifts at Christmas and that all enjoyed an elegant dining experience. In an attempt to keep the ever-growing Danner family close, he has repeatedly offered his home as a place for the family to gather. Entertaining is expensive, yet he does so regularly, and I have never heard him say a word about it.

If my dad was here with us in Grand Cayman, life would be much easier! If there is problem, he solves it! Simple as that. He is the king of problem-solving across the board. When I need advice, he is the man I call. He is able to approach a problem objectively and develop efficient solutions. He listens whole-heartedly and is never quick to judge. He is fair and compassionate. He has instilled these values in myself and Eric and for that I am grateful, because I am a better person as a result of all his hard work.

Karen Angelina

That is what my dad calls my mom. He's right. She IS an angel, the most selfless, nurturing human being I've ever known. She has a heart of gold, an exteme amount of patience and the ability to soothe and calm like no one else. My mom has always taken her "motherhood" role very seriously. She went without new clothes and accessories and home improvements she wanted (and well deserved) for years as she dedicated herself to myself and brother (Eric). She worked out a way to make sure I could play volleyball, take weekly piano lessons and have only "good" tennis shoes for my little growing feet, all while she mixed and matched the same 3 outfits and 2 pairs of shoes for months at a time. She was up for nights on end as I lay awake coughing (an awful ailment I had for years), yet no complaints were made and her only concern was to make me as comfortable as possible. She would even make the horrible face with me as I swallowed that awful cough syrup recommended by my pediatrician and would have so many pillows stacked up in bed that I would be sitting upright (in hopes that it would ease that horrible cough). She has provided endless love and support, despite of the mistakes I've made along the way. She has always encouraged me to be the best that I can be and to never let fear get in the way of shooting for the stars. I am strong and persistent thanks to Karen Anne Danner.

In addition to being an incredible mother, she is an amazing pianist. She can sightread any piece of music placed in front of her and has awed many over the years with this ability. One of my favorite summers included the year that we were both working on our master's degrees and we stayed in my 1 bedroom apartment at Illinois State University. I think the summer consisted of studying and laughing. We were both enrolled in statistics, my course geared toward psychology, hers toward music. She would read aloud an excerpt from her notes that would make absolutely NO sense and we would roll in laughter as we tried to understand what seemed like a foreign language. My mother's laugh......I smile just thinking about it. Her laughter is contagious and she can find the humor in the worst of situations. Once she starts laughing....beware! It is common to lose control of most bodily functions. There have been countless times I've heard her laughing and before I know it, I am laughing hysterically too without any idea why. I know you all know what I'm talking about. Once, when I was in high school, we stood in line at "Subway" trying to decide what type of sandwich we wanted. We were greeted by an employee who did not speak very good English, and he asked us, "why or wee?" We both stared blankly back at him and he again asked, "why or wee?" I dared not look over at my her because it would all be over. It was too late...we laughed like crazy people the whole way home and for the rest of the evening, simply because it sounded hysterically funny to us when we were asked with an accent if we preferred "white or wheat" bread. Another time my cousin Courtney called after a family gathering (while I was living in St. Louis) in an attempt to tell me about a funny encounter with my mom. To this day I still have no idea what actually happened, except that "McDonald's" was involved. Courtney laughed so hard throughout the conversation that I couldn't understand what she was telling me. Of course, I, too, rolled in laughter without having any idea why. One other time...she and my grandma were road tripping down to visit me in St. Louis and they got lost. We got disconnected on cell phones and somehow their conversation ended up on my voicemail. I saved that message and listened to it countless times, because all I could hear was those two laughing insanely about missing a turn.

My mom has said something along these lines more times than I can count.....people will not remember what you said to them, but rather the way you made them feel. She strives to bring out the best in everyone, while giving a little extra to those in need. As a teacher she has touched many lives. The world is a better place because of my mother, Karen Angelina.

A FRIENDSHIP BLOG

A FRIEND: A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts. a person whom one knows; an acquaintance. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

These are the definitions I found for “friend”. Of course there exists a continuum that ranges from the mere acquaintance to the “soul-mate” kind and sometimes the same individual can shift to the left or right on the continuum at different times in life. As I journal each day of my experiences, I find myself often thinking of my friends and the many memories we share together. As I make new friends in a new country, I often talk about my dear friends back home, their qualities, jobs, families, and funny times shared together in the past. This gave me the idea for my very own “blog”. I can use it as a way to showcase my friends, the ones who are near and dear to my heart for so many reasons. As a counselor, I spent time helping people learn how to express their thoughts and feelings to others. In doing so, it helped me as well, as it was a reminder that people don’t always know what you are thinking. So, my blog has the purpose of expressing my gratitude to those in my circle of friendship. As I told John about my idea, he voiced the concern that I could cause hurt feelings due to who I chose to write about first. Just in case.....please note that there is no specific ORDER with regard to who I write about each day. Rather, I plan to write about what comes to mind.