Well maybe not a nutshell, but as I sit here, I am reminising on the past.  its been one hell of a great year, the best year of my entire life on this earth yet.

I landed the best job ever.  I to this day cannot believe i have the job I do.  I never thought it could be this good, the grass is truly greener on the other side, that's a true statement.  My job has not only brought me NO STRESS in my life,  but daily satisfaction, and I know I will have a long time career at this company.  My company recognizes and appreciates what someone does for it.  I have excelled and exceeded my own expectations, only by being myself.  I want, yearn and strive for more daily, my hard work and dedication has definately paid off.  I thought I was lucky to be able to be a part of a project and go to Carlsbad in Carlifornia in October.  I never thought that would start a life long journey of traveling to countries I have only had dreams of seeing.  Going to Melbourne Australia in November, was the icing on my career.  australia???? I was from time to time looking in the mirror and saying to myself.  Me? You? Val? Australia?  I went, and I have never ever ever been to a more beautiful country ever.  It was breathtaking in so many ways.  Memories are burnt in my mind forever of what I was so lucky to see and experience.  And now off to Japan.  Japan???  OMFG.  Really?  I am going to Japan 1/31.  I cant belive it yet.  Again like I said, countries I had only dreamed of being so lucky to be a part of and here I am.  In real life.

I have really been thru some shit with some people in my life.  It was worth the outcome to feel how I feel now.  I miss some of them.  Only a few, but it is what it is, again I have good memories of them.  I have vowed to not be dramatic about past experiences.  Bringing on Drama is only  bringing up bad memoires,  and I want to only have good ones of them  We are different beings and have different sets of morals and beliefts.  I have accepted that.  For whom they are.  We will never agree on anything and i have also accepted that.

I have learned that Beer is not my best friend.  I almost lost my husband over it.  Its not a priority anymore.  and that makes me happy.  I would drink beer to be happy, not even realizing that I have everything to be happy about.

with that being siad, i have met my soul mate.  Marrying Kyle Stabler on 7/10 was the best thing that has ever happened to me too.  He is everything to me, my best friend, buddy and soulmate.  I  couldnt imagine life without him.  Every day is a new day and another day for memoires

Well, So far this has been an interesting journey.  I never imagined this would be as it has so far.  From the start, my plane flew out of  Buffalo New York on Friday at 3 pm, 11/19.  I didn't know what to expect.  My flight from there to Chicago was not bad at all.  1 hour 55 minutes.  Nice flight.  From Chicago we had no layover.  Just enough time to walk from gate to gate.  I got on to the plane taking us to Los Angeles, and I thought the window seat would be nice.  Well this time my closterphobia kicked in.  I could not wait to get off the plane.  I thought OMG I cant stand this flight, how is the flight form Los Angeles to Melbourne Australia going to be.  And then I am thinking OMG that's a long flight, there is no where to land if something happens to the plane, and what am I going to do about leg room.  Our layover was 4 hours.  We immediately were rushed form regular flying, put on a shuttle and bussed off to the international portion of LAX.  We got there, got in to customs and were up at our gate.  Not realizing that this international terminal had NO FOOD.  We should have stayed in the area and got a bite to eat, since we both didn't eat all day.  We found this little place with cold pre made sandwiches.  After not eating for almost 24 hours, that was the best disgusting dry tuna sandwich I ever had in my life.  I mowed it down.  Then I was ready to crash.  Finally 1030 came and we were able to board our plane.  I never ever ever expected a plane to be so large as it was.  A double decker plane,  3 isles on one side, 3 on the other and 4 in the middle.  This mother ship could carry over 600+ passengers.  I lucked out too.  I got the first seats after business class in the regular section.  TONS of leg room.  I couldn't have been happier.  I found myself stressing.  Over how big the plane was, how the hell it could fly in the air, blah blah blah.  But after take off. this mother ship really felt like a ship.  I was totally amazed.  While on the mother ship, we were served hot meals, snacks, drinks you name it.  at night, as we were flying we got a pillow and a blanket and the lights were turned off. Made it much more relaxing to fly.  Getting in was a different story.  we landed got our bags and then proceeded to wait outside, after of coarse our booking of a couple of tours.  We paid for a shuttle and waited two hours.  after much huffing and puffing on my part, my counter part went in to complain, we finally came to our hotel

The hotel is nice. Marriott.  But.. its different.  I came in and trie dto turn the light switchs on.  I discovered aftera  few minutes and thanks to my cousin Sean, you have to stick your hotel card into a slot to get the lights to come on.  Intereesting.  the room is very modern.  the toilet is another weird thing,  I found out that Australia has been in 10 years of draught.  No water.  so they have two differnt flush levesl.  One for a half bowl and one for a full bowl. I assume #1 or #2...but the water does go down the same way!

Most of the cars here, with the exception of a ford or two are all Audis, VW's, Mazdas, Isuzu, etc.  You don't see any american cars here.  I was told its a treat to have one.  Ford is the best I have seen.  And of coarse they drive on the opposite side of the road and the opposite side of the car.  Takes some time getting used to that one.  So glad I don't have to drive!

I have learned that the Suburu Brat has come to form here in the shape of Toyotas, they are called "Utis".  Australian for Utilities.  They are minni  car trucks with beds.  Many of them are tricked out.  Interesting to see!

There is no ozone here.  So you go out on a sunny day, you will get burnt.  and you will get burnt mega more than you would in the UsA.  they have 85 SPF here!

I saw young men walking down the street, with bottles of beer in thier hand.  Bottles.  Its normal and ok.

I have observed for the most part, Aussies do NOT smoke.  Interesting.

As far as food goes, you do NOT tip.  You do NOT tip a taxi driver either.  Its a do not do type of situation.

Interesting so far.  More learning to do...

More to come!.

So... something weird about me I had to post. 
I'm known as the Party animal, the party event coordinator... there is always a party where I am at.
For some reason, well I know the reason, I have changed.
Going out at 10 pm on a Friday or Saturday night in the past, was a huge part of my life.  I couldn't wait for it.  I had to get a new "going out shirt"..and just coudn't wait to go.  3 am came too soon for me most nights.  The next day, I'd wake up feeling horrible and my day was ruined.
Now.. I can't stand it.  I drive by a bar on the way home from somewhere on a Friday or Saturday night, see it packed and think... Thank god I am not there.
The usual bar skum show up, the bar flies, and its the same thing..every week.
Don't get me wrong.  I love to go to a a bar, on a Friday or Saturday night with Kyle, sit there, have a beer and watch whatever is on TV and have conversation... but the whole night club going out all night stuff, is a past for me.  I found this out last night.  I organize a Xmas party every year for all my friends that worked at Delphi.  I got in the bar around 7, got hit on by 3 folks within a half hour, even with my engagement band on.  They could have cared less.  By 830 I was ready to go home.  Its just not for me anymore!
I have "grown up" and am happy with my new life, and Kyle is the reason!

Parties.

Just me being my new blunt self and blogging here.
I know there is more to having your candle parties, purse parties, tupperware parties or anything else you can think of, than just trying to make some money or get free stuff.
I know it's a time to socialize, and see people you haven't seen in quite some time.  For me and my personality, If I want to see someone, I'll see them, and for me, if I want something I will get it.  I feel an incredible guilt trip if I do not buy something at one of those parties.  I for one for the most part cant afford to spend money on something that I don't need, and two like I said, if I want it, and need it I will buy it.
in the past I would make up an excuse why I didn't go.  Now I will be honest and tell whomever invites me in the future, that I am just plain not interested.  I have said that in the past and most comment back "Oh you don't have to buy anything".  I totally disagree.  So please don't take this personal, as there is no need.  Its just part of who I am…and who I will always be!!!!

I thought I'd start a blog because I get so angry and want to vent my feelings and MySpace and facebook does not seem to cut it for me....

Why do folks in your network get mad because you are so happy?  I don't personally care what they think... but, to an extent I guess I do.  I think I care because they are so unhappy, in their lives, that they just cant accept that there is happiness out there.  Everyone is in charge of their own lives and their own destiny.  You choose what you make of it.  And you make it what it is.  If you don't like your life, change it, or buy a new one. I didn't choose until was forced to choose and now I see the light

I went thru some hell in my life.  I will get into that in a later blog, as I think blogging will really help me deal with my anger, my happiness and my emotions.

I dated a man... he proposed to me once, and then I said no.  He did it 6 months later with another ring and I said yes.  Back then I was a different person.  I was a bit insecure and not very confident.  I was looking for a good guy who could take care of me, with a good job, and provide me with what every woman wants in life... a house, money.. the finer things in life.

Unfortunately, I was missing the key thing.  That connection, that love, lust best friend feeling.  He was a wonderful man.  A great guy.  He was kind, and sweet, a little quiet and timid.  I just settled at the time.  but of coarse as I write this, I was a different person.

Now a year and a half later, after I was issued a divorce notification...my life is just indescribable.  It is truly changed forever... I can't even begin to try to tell the emotions but I will....

I met Kyle on a whim.  I found him via a friend on MySpace . I thought he was attractive and told him.  I met him at a local band area in Lockport, and we just immediately clicked.  I still in the back of my head was not planning on dating or getting serious.  You know what, when you least expect love to happen it does.  I never ever thought I'd be here today, expressing how I feel about a man that has really touched my heart in ways I cannot explain.  Kyle is my everything.  He is my best friend.  We do everything together, yet we live our own lives too.  He does his hunting, and I do my thing with my friends.  Its weird to live each day, every hour of my day, excited to see him, hold him and hug him. I can't wait to be with him. Every day is another good day to come.  No matter how bad of a day him or I have.. when we hold each other it goes away. I've never had that.  I never will again because I have found it in Kyle.

I have come to realize the finer things in life are not what's important.  Its what you have in the present and what is in your heart mind body and soul.  I don't need a new build house, the gobs of money i have no idea went, the toys etc.  As long as I have Kyle...life is 200% complete!!!