2nd and 9 (Football reference)

Day 2 and nine states to go. 
Left Bedford at 11 am after getting some spiritual nourishment and losing most of our water weight from our tears saying goodbye to our son Brock.  We bought "flat"  Brock with us on our trip.  He has been pretty quiet,  and great for photo shoots.  Always smiling...

Kurt and Sophia had the first leg.  What was I thinking going on the Mass Pike on a Sunday or any day at that matter.  Slow and steady with all the D-bag drivers from  NY and NJ.  Not sure why they think they don't need to follow the rules.  If you are from these locations and you are offended from my observations then you might be one of the drivers I am referring to. 

At the most random times I would just sob and poor Kurt would look helplessly at me hoping it would pass quickly.   I think he could have whiplash from the emotional changes I would go though in just a few short miles. 

Having our girls following us in my car was another stress.  Making sure we stayed together,  had to watch our speed,  communicating to what our plan was makes it a bit challenging, mostly when I jack on the blinker to find food. 

Found a great diner in NY by Marist College.  Great lunch/dinner.  The waitress asked us why we are moving to a state that was a financial mess.  Our response... It doesn't snow.  I think she got it.

Abby and I did the 2nd leg,  six hours.
So many beautiful sites and we are taking in the greens, rivers, lakes, and rolling hills.  The sunset last night was  beautiful.  We had light until about 9 pm. 

Driving highways at dusk and dark is so sketchy.  We had see so many deer and critters that had been squished  by cars and trucks.  We should of played Roadkill Bingo,  I would of totally won for sure.  Poor furry friends.  

Not knowing the area and the poorly lit roads made for a tough ride.  I think every 18 wheeler was  on the road and I seemed to always pass it them on corners.  Total white knuckling.  Oh ya the fog.  Did I mention the fog?  Yikes.  I was waiting for a deer to be kicking it in the roadway in all the fog banks we crossed. 

I have this thing I do where I have  a contest in my mind.  My challenge from last night was to make it to Ohio on day one.  We were  25 miles from Ohio and was losing my vision due to contacts that felt like potato chips in my eyes,  but had to push on.  The girls called to say they had to pee,  but I refused to stop because of that goal I had.  So they might have UTI's but I completed my goal.   We can see the Pennsylvania and Ohio state lines from our hotel, but I win in my mind. 
Goal for today,  Des Moines Iowa. 

Join us for Our Cross Country Journey NH to CA

So we had a 1-3 year plan to move to California to be with our 2 girls, son-in-law and new grandson.

We came home from February vacation in San Diego and with in 5 weeks Kurt had already landed a job at an elementary school teaching 4th grade and coaching high school football at a small Christian school (350 students).  How everything has fallen into place we know we are on the right path.  

I have applied for over 33 jobs, but realize the issues with trying to find a job for me from across the country.  I am not going to panic till mid August.  

Selling a home is quite a task.  We did have 3 offers on our place in 36 hours.  We have been getting the house ready for a family that we hope will make great memories like our family of 6 did.   The memories we have had in our 1700 sqft  home would have filled a 20,000 sqft home. 

We have lived in this home for 18 years and the amount of things we have done to this property has been a great feat.  We learned to install hardwood flooring, dig sump pump hole, install gutters, use a chain saw, build stone walls, paint, repair walls (thanks Brock), and build a huge composite deck.  

This home was a great place for us!  Now looking to leave the snow and owning a home has lead us to a new location. 

We will be living southeast of San Diego in Chula Vista.  This is 25 min from Kurt and Sophia's school.  They will be driving together each morning.  Still haven't figured out the return trip as Kurt has football into the evening.  We are really winging it, which we do best!  

So one of the toughes part of this new adventure for the Hines Crew has been leaving Bedford Football.  As you all know Kurt started this program and the amazing success it has had.  We really saw ourselves here forever and Kurt retiring from Bedford in 30 years.  

***Volume starts 14 Sec in...

We start driving across the U.S.A. on Sunday and will be documenting our travels.  I will be Blogging, Snapchatting, Facebooking, and Tweeting while Kurt is driving.  

Hoping to make it to Cleveland on the first day, Des Moines 2nd, Longmont to see family, Canyon lands in Utah, and then into San Diego.  That is the plan, but leaving a a day or two for weather or touring some cool places.  

Sophia and Abby will be following us in my car and Kurt and I will be in the Tundra.  I am sure we will rotate, but the music choice in the girls car might be a bit rough. 

Moving truck comes today, we will be "camping out" in our house for the next few days.  We have a going away party at Shorty's tonight, a wedding tomorrow night, Saturday to say goodbye to my parents, church on Sunday and then we hit the road.  

Bring on the memories and the new experiences ahead! Hope you will follow us and we plan to be back next July.  Can't miss the Chatham 4th of July or the RI garage party! 

Recap of a Few Years...

So I want to try the Blog thing again as it helped keep me somewhat sane and also kept a history of our family.

Here are a few pictures recapping a few years since my last post. 

Abby graduated 2013

Prom 2013 w Peter

Typical Kurt Hines and daughter pose

Halee's engagement party 2013 

Graduation 2013

Halee and Tyler married in Palm Desert 2013

122' during their wedding in June 2013

Abby enrolled in college 2014

Halee announced she was having a baby 2014

Sophia went to prom at Trinity HS

Kurt and Brock in PA at the FCA Camp

Apple picking in Oct 2014 Christmas photo

Baby shower in NH for Halee and TK 2014

New York City with the Uruguay crew

Last year of football for Brock

Martin came to live with us for 8 weeks in January

Cruz is born into a tough situation

Kurt's first meeting

Sunset Cliffs

Torry Pines, hiking the beach area

Cruz's first day home after 18 days in theNICU

CRUZER

Sunset Cliffs with the whole family

Happy and Healthy Cruz 

Let's give this Another Shot...

So it has been almost a year since I have posted something... Just proof that I have been busy. 
So much goes on in the Hines household in just one day that it would take me forever for me to catch you all up.  Seeing most (10 of you) follow me on Facebook you already know most of the craziness.

I have had a few people say I share way too much and put my family on display.  To them I say, don't read it, "unfriend" me, delete me.  I am who I am and my family is real and we put on no fake face.
I have been struggling with a few issues that included what others thought of me and knowing I was being judged for my choices.  MY Choices... Slowly I have let go and accepted myself. Can't make everyone happy but yourself, right? 

I figured I would come back to posting on my blog and not worry about others think.  So I am back and ready to take my blog back with the humor, sarcasm, and TMI's. 

 

I am Supposed to Write 25 Things About Me...

OK! So I was just tagged by my one of my oldest friends (Purely Winging It ) and I am supposed to write 25 things about me! Here were the rules:

Once tagged, write 25 random things about yourself

Tag the person who tagged you and 5 new people (let them know you!)

Then click post!

So here I go!



1. My husband and kids are my everything

2. It takes a lot to get me to laugh

3. I cry a lot alone, but put on a strong face for everyone

4. After 40 years I am finally comfortable in my own skin

5. I have a few close friends that really know me

6. I am the “man “of the house, fixing things, yard work, and cars

7. Learning to let go of control of things

8. Finally comfortable with my faith

9. Miss working at BHS with the students

10. I know people are “friendly” with me because of Kurt

11. Going over the Cape Cod bridge to Chatham brings a rush peace and feeling like I am home

12. Finally learned to live on a budget

13. Coupons for everything

14. Do my own hair

15. I love country music, not too twangy

16. Listen to Christian music, but not crazy gospel

17. Enjoy driving & I drive too fast

18. Spontaneous, not just because of the A.D.D.

19. If I could I would pimp out my car

20. Don’t want a bigger house, can’t handle the one we own

21. Closet “geek”, I love technology

22. Still like Tom Cruise

23. My Michael Kors watch is my favorite piece of jewelry next to my wedding rings (thanks JD)

24. You mess with me or my kids, I become irrational…

25. I am a FaceBook whore

Check out SHUTTERFLY for your Holiday cards!!!

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It is that time again for pictures to be taken and sent out for the holiday's all ovewr the world.   I do this every year, not only to let people know we are thinking of them but to also archive each year in holiday cards. 
Life is flying by and so much is happening around us that sometimes pictures is all I can handle. 
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TEN FREE CARDS WITH THIS CODE TILL NOV 9th!

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Challeges That Make You Grow...

The past few months have been filled with challenges and growth. At times I didn’t think I was going to make it through and other times I knew it was a blessing in disguise.

On January 7th 2011 I was hit with a career changing issue which caused my "forced" resignation from Bedford High School on January 14th. I loved my interaction with students, parents and some of the staff. I was hired at BHS before it opened in 2007. I had started a lot of the programs, events, and website at the high school. In my 3.5 years there I had 4 different bosses/principals that in itself is challenging because they were all so different in how things were done. I adapted very well, I was the information hub for the school. If something was going on I knew about it, staff or even administration had questions they came to me. I bonded with a lot of the parents and students there. Many of the students I was drawn to were very much like me in high school and needed some guidance or just to know that someone cared about them. Because the school was so new, the district didn’t realize they needed some extra help in the main office for 1300 students, each day was a challenge to keep up and remain on my "A" game. I gave so much time to the district and understood why I could not be paid what others in my position were getting paid. In my years there we were never told what our jobs/responsibilities were. If something needed to be done or if someone refused to do something I would take care of it and then that job would stick. Many times I would take care of something and ask administration for help and they would say yes to my face and then drop the ball so my time was wasted. It was hard to see many situations of double standards depending on who you were not only as staff but students as well. Don’t get me started on that...

So on the 7th of January I found out who was in my corner and who was going to stab me in the back. That meeting was very eye opening. Here I was "friends" with these colleagues and they threw me under the bus and even back over me. To this day I still don't know why, and I won’t because they have been told not to have contact with me. WTF did I do? I even went to the Superintendent and he told me nothing but that I resigned and that was that... I was backed into a corner with my union rep not helping or saying a word, and she gave her notes to the SAU and the principal, total conflict of interest. Oh, and to find out she got a job a week later in the human resourse at the SAU, no wonder she didn't say anything, it may of costed her a possible job with them. Glad I paid into the union... NOT!

January 14th I was forced to resign from BHS... I was floored! Never in all my years had I been through anything like this. As I packed up my desk the principal watched me which was so humiliating. I was handed a bill for $185.00 for what they had paid me already for the week, ya I dont think so... When I turned to leave I did say, “you have no clue about the unethical behavior going on not only with staff but with your own administrators, you will look back at this situation and realize it was a huge mistake you make and karma is a bitch". Off I went with my paper box that just happened to be beside my desk. I couldn't believe what was happening. Not knowing why, then hearing rumors from so many was brutal.

For 2.5 months I applied for over 65 jobs and had too much time on my hands to get more angry and upset. Someday I couldn't even get out of bed. I cried more during that time then I had in the past 20 years. I applied for unemployment, and got $325 total, but now have to pay back because the SAU said I resigned. I even spoke to the states lawyers and they were not impressed on how Bedford handled the situation. The kicker in all of this is that Kurt works for the same district and coaches at the high school, we were known as the "power couple" of BHS. I called lawyers, my union rep for the state, and others to help me with possibly suing the district for depravation of character and wrongful termination. Hard to do when Kurt works in Bedford. I decided to walk away. Not an easy thing to do.

Going to school activities is tough; because I don't know what rumors the people are hearing and believing. Also I still to this day don’t know why and no one will return my emails/calls to tell me.

Many others at this high school have been treated this way and it is so disheartening. You just never know what tomorrow will bring. I still have good and bad days. People who I thought were my friends weren't. So that sucks, and not knowing why is the worst. If I did that would have me move on and learn from it, but how do you learn from something you don’t know about.

The up side of this is I did get a sweet job at SNHU for more money and better working conditions. It is totally different from what I was doing at BHS. With all the craziness I hear about what is going on up on the hill in Bedford it is a blessing I am out of there. I just hope that the administration realizes the problems they have and take care of them quickly so they do not have to put anyone else through what they did to me and others I watched them do it to.