Liz's Gypsy Journey

I like me better

June 9, 2019 Liz's Gypsy JourneyLeave a comment

Wow what a crazy Spring it has been! It’s been awhile since I have taken the time to catch up on my blog and I apologize for that. This year so far I have made some changes and learned even more.

January was a busy one like normal. With the new year being here, Bull Sale, ISE and trying to get ready to find the best of the first month of the year. The month definitely brought some lasts as well. One of my best friends Callie that worked for Girls With Guns worked her final ISE show with Alecia and I. It was a happy and sad weekend that we definitely made the most of. January also included getting to watch my oldest niece Makenna play volleyball.

February brought the baby shower of my good friend Jen. She was welcoming baby O to the world and all of us couldn’t have been more excited. The month also brought Sounders (my boston terriers) first trip to the lake and getting to go to work with mom up in Paradise on the fire cleanup. It also was the beginning of softball season and for some crazy kids that meant working in the shop trying to get them ready for the season ahead of us.

March brought softball season. I had the honor of not only coaching a local middle school team but also a little league team. One thing I enjoy is getting to spend time with the youth and getting to coach softball makes it that much better. Alecia and I also decided that we wanted to explore the area we live in even more. We were able to located some pretty creeks and waterfall. We definitely have more waterfalls on the list to see but the one we hiked down to was incredible.

April brought on the last of the middle school softball season. I was super proud of the girls they played great. I was able to take a trip to the Pismo Beach area and visit my best friend Megan for four amazing days. We went to Hearst Castle and a few wineries but mainly just enjoyed getting to spend time with one another. I love getting to see her when we both have a chance to get together. I ended April being able to harvest my first tom turkey thanks to Maggi. It was definitely worth the early wake up.

May brought more work up in Paradise CA on the clean ups. It also brought the Tehama District Fair where I worked for my 10th year. It was great fair. I had the honor of taking my Ag teacher from high schools daughters senior pictures. The best gift I have received in a while has been my digital camera. Getting to spend the evening with her and her mom was full of laughs. She is going to accomplish amazing things. May also brought a bucket list game to the Bay Area. The USA women’s national team was played South Africa in a send off game for the 2019 FIFA World Cup. Most people probably don’t realize that I am a huge fan of the US Women’s Soccer team so when I found out they were coming to my “backyard” I bought tickets for a friend and I to go. Needless to say that game was amazing! And getting to see the girls play live was definitely a check off the bucket list. The next weekend I also took a little road trip to Reno Nevada for Mollys graduation. Anytime I am able to spend time with the Murphy/Fregoso family is time well spent.

Overall the beginning of the year has been an awesome one. I have been able to spend a lot of time with loved ones that I haven’t since I was on the road so much. This year is definitely full of changes but I feel like they all are for the better. I love getting to see my family and friends more often. And I have also decided to go back to school….But the next blog will have more on that and my thoughts.

Free

December 31, 2018 Liz's Gypsy JourneyLeave a comment

As we say good bye today to 2018 I find myself looking back over the past year. It was a year of love, hope, travel, sadness and learning more about who I am. I love reflecting on the years past. I love to look back and see where I was and where I am today. My goal for 2018 wasn’t to be anyone but me. I wanted to focus on myself and do what I wanted to do. For me traveling gives me the time to think and ponder about life. It is my me time. The time that I give to myself to think through life.

This last year I learned to say no to things I didn’t want to do. I learned that you can be yourself and that the people that love you will still be by your side. I learned that even tho you love someone it doesn’t mean that you are always going to agree with them but you can still respect them. I learned that diversity is one of my favorite things now days. I learned that I am a total gypsy. I would rather be traveling, learning on the road and seeing new things every day then staying in one place for a long time. I have learned that you can be a good person and love your family and friends while you are on the road.

I have been in big cities, small towns, listened to the waves crash in the Pacific ocean and listened to the waves crash in the Atlantic ocean all in this year. I have met people that would give you the shirt off their back and people that wouldn’t. I have come to love the noise of the big cities. The sounds of cars, people talking, tall buildings surrounding you and just the amazing sites you can find in the big cities. I find myself feeling so small in those busy cities and sometimes find myself standing against a building just soaking in the hustle of the busy streets and smiling.

I learned that even while being away from “home” you can find home wherever you are. You can still be a true friend that is only a phone call away. You can be an aunt that is trying to show the little people in her life that it is ok to chase their dreams and if there is a will there is a way. Life isn’t about being unhappy or money but life is to be lived. My all time favorite quote is “To live would be an awfully big adventure!” and believe in that quote full heartedly. I have coached some of the greatest girls in little league and learned that even while being competitive it is ok to just fall in love with the game all over again.

This year has been a learning year. It has been a year where there were moments where I just wanted to sit down and cry while other days I couldn’t be happier. I think that is how every year is but this year I feel like I grew more into the person I wanted to be. I quit thinking so much about what others think and just let down my guard and said this is me. I pierced my nose after wanting it for years and one of my best friends told me “hey it’s your life and you have to do what makes you happy and forget what others think, just be you.” Thanks Em for always having my back and supporting my crazy ideas. I love with everything I am. I try to see the best in everyone. I would give anything I had to the ones I love and overall just try to be a good human.

I am definitely not perfect and I have definitely made my mistakes but everyday I try my best to find the good in the world. I try to find the happy in every day. I try to be there for my people and I try to be there for myself. As I continue to say goodbye to 2018 I also want to thank this year. Thank you for teaching me, opening doors, keeping myself and loved ones safe and thank you for the memories. There is so many amazing memories that happened this year. Thank you for true friends that are there no matter what. I have some of the best in my corner and I don’t know where I would be without my support system.

So here is to 2019! A year of more change, travel, friendship and a year of becoming more of myself. Happy New Year!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year..

December 27, 2018 Liz's Gypsy Journey2 Comments

As December came in fast I feel like it is leaving just as quick. After only a couple of days home I headed to Billings Montana for a quick trip to pick up a couple dogs for some friends. The drive was beautiful and showed an amazing winter wonderland. One the way back from Montana I was able to stop for the night and visit with Arlene and Kelly. It is always great to see them. I even got to stop and give my sister Britt a quick hug which is always worth the trip.

One December 9th I got to board one of Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and was once again Seattle Washington bound to visit family. This time my carry on bag didn’t hold the normal extra things you need to travel but instead held my new digital camera that my dad gave me for Christmas. I definitely couldn’t wait to use it in Seattle. A quick one hour and thirty minute flight and I was safe and sound in one of the best cities.

The trip was amazing as usual. Christel took me to all the tourist spots, we hit the Seattle Underground tour, the museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass and Smith Tower. I also took a afternoon to walk from my cousin Kirsi’s building where she works up to the Gum Wall and Pike Place Market. The gum wall was definitely a sight to see. I found it so interesting and just artistic in a weird way.

The Underground Tour was very neat. They taught us all about how Seattle started and all the struggles that took to build it. It was so neat to see the buildings that were still under the newer buildings and how they built the underground. After the tour we decided to walk across the street and tour the very first skyscraper built which is the Smith Tower. It has a amazing bar at the top of it that once you go through the self guided tour you can ride the elevator up and have a drink as well as walk around the top of the building and see the sights of Seattle.

The Museum Of Pop Culture is definitely always a favorite of mine. I love to go see the exhibits that showcase the bands that are from Seattle. This time the main exhibit was the Pearl Jam exhibit. I loved getting to learn more about the band and all the trials they went through to get to be where they are today and some of their stage props and instruments. Along with the Pearl Jam exhibit they also have an exhibit that showcases Nirvana and Jimmy Hendricks. It is definitely a place to check out.

After the Museum Of Pop Culture we went to the Chihuly Garden and Glass. This exhibit was absolutely incredible! Chihuly’s glassblowing is absolutely breath taking. His work is above and beyond what I thought it was going to be. I loved every room in the exhibit. Each piece left you wondering how did he decide to make that piece. I loved that in some of the rooms they actually featured the painting that went with the blown glass art work. He has an incredible talent!

The rest of the time I was spending time with my family. Enjoying my cousins and learning about photography from my cousin Ken. The last night I was there I met up with my cousin Kirsi and her friends. We found this bar called the Pie Bar and yes they served homemade pies and alcohol. How can you go wrong? I spent my last day in Seattle with Kirsi attending the farmers market and eating amazing Italian food before I had to take off back home.

Once I was home I had got to pick up my puppy. I couldn’t wait to have Sounders home with me to snuggle and love. He is a pretty cool little guy and I definitely am in love.

I also had a week to get everything done and ready for Christmas. This year I actually wasn’t shopping last minute. I spent some time in the wood shop finishing up the gifts I wanted to make. I spent Christmas Eve with my friend Alecia and her family. It is always a great time with them. I love the laughter that happens and just getting to spend time with them.

Christmas Morning I got up and went to Dave and Connie Simpson’s home where I married them in front of the Christmas tree in a short ceremony in front of their closest friends. It is always an honor to marry couples and this one I couldn’t be happier for. I spent the rest of Christmas visiting the neighbors who are like family and went to Jen and Jon’s to finish up the afternoon and evening. It was my fourth year with them and I love spending Christmas with them.

The day after Christmas it was time for Christmas with my dad and my sister Nicole’s family. We had a great dinner and enjoyed spending the evening together. The kids are definitely fun to watch open their gifts. Christmas through a child’s eye is definitely a great way to celebrate.

As we say good bye to 2018 in a couple days I can definitely say the last month of it was a great one. I will try and do one last blog before the new year reflecting but if I don’t get a chance to get it done. Happy New Year!