Anticipation Lost

I don't play sports. I barely watch sports on TV. The Olympics has always been an exception to that for my husband and for me. We love watching the opening ceremonies and the swimming, gymnastics, and diving events. Most of the time, watching these events "live" is not an option due to the various time zones the games are played in. We'd come home, and while eating dinner, we would watch all of our favorite events, and sometimes even the ones where most people would ask: "That is in the Olympics?" It's all good, and the athletes are awesome.
Now we have YouTube, texting, and instand messaging, and we have somehow lost the delicious feeling of anticipation that comes when we wait for something we really enjoy. We no longer need to wait to find out if the U.S. has triumphed again, or if our favorite gymnast or boxer has made it through their routine. All information is available almost immediately. Sad, really.

Monday, Monday

I swear that there are NOT 24 hours in Saturday or Sunday!  Where does a weekend go? But, I guess without a Monday we would not have a Friday, and I oh so love when Friday is at hand. My husband let me ride his brand new Harley Davidson Street Glide yesterday. Granted, I had to stay in the subdivision, but it was great fun nevertheless. I might have to borrow it here and there (he's not convinced...).
I will be teaching our standard "Introduction to Lean Manufacturing" class over the next three days; it is usually an interesting class, but it does take a lot out of me physically and mentally. It is not a complaint...I love my job. It is never boring and I work with some great people.

I wish everyone a great week - just remember - Thursday is Friday Eve, and Friday is just around the corner.

I like it, I really really like it

Who knew that writing a blog could be so cathartic? I can be funny, I can be serious, I can talk about politics or religion, I can let loose with whatever is on my mind. After all, if nobody wants to read it - they don't have to! (Well, at least not once school is finished). It is very liberating and stress reducing. I can highly recommend it.

A new love keeps life interesting

Yes, I have a new love!  She is beautiful (yes, it is a She!), and my husband loves her too. She is white as snow and black as night...yes, she is the most beautiful BMW X3 35i you've ever seen.  She was build just for me right here in South Carolina.

Homework?  Who has time for homework when there are so many new buttons to push, so many things that go round and round or up and down, and so many roads to fly over (at the speed limit, of course).

What do you think, isn't she awesome?



2013 BMW X3 35i



Abbreviations of my Life

 Hi - this is me:  Barb Orthman. Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, I moved to Washington, D.C. in my early twenties via a job share. I hated D.C.!  Where were the cowboys I had read about, and the prairies? Luckily, I had good friends who lived in Texas - so, off I went. Landing in Dallas, I knew I was home.

I met and fell in love with an Air Force fly boy and, wouldn't you know it, within six months I was back in Germany - he had gotten orders.  But, just a couple of years later we came back to the States and made our home in San Bernardino, CA.  Loved it! So much for the "early years."

Between then and now I

• joined the U.S. Army
• got divorced
• got married
• got out of the Army
• lived in Washington state, Ohio, Indiana, Colorado
• got divorced
• got married
• lived in Colorado (again), Texas, Virginia, Nevada
• got divorced
• lived in Indiana, Colorado (3rd time!)
• got married
• have lived happily ever since!

Going back to school at  Ashford University has been my latest adventure. It is so interesting to learn a little bit about the lives of other people, and to hopefully learn things that can be of benefit, even at this stage in my life. And now a blog; I've never dreamt I would write a blog. Who would care what I have to say? Wow...

The Adventure Begins

I guess it had to happen eventually, I am a Communications major after all.  My first blog! First step:  choose a template - done.  Now what?