It's All About Me

This post was inspired by new friends on Facebook.  And since the number one reason I journal is to remember, it is also to give a snapshot of my life.

I was raised in a small town in southeastern Idaho, Declo.  I had THE greatest childhood with no worries.  My favorite memories always involved my bike, the telephone, my friends - namely the Osterhouts- and visiting my cousins in the Boise, Idaho area.  Which is where I went to graduated from college at Boise State University and lived for 13 years.

I met the love of my life, Travis, when I was 17, on the night of my senior prom.  I knew that night I was going to marry him.  We dated 5 years before we got married in June of 1998.  We built our first house in Meridian, ID and lived there from Sept 2003 to Oct 2006.  We moved to Stevensville, MT in Oct 2006 and love living in the peace and quiet - next to the greatest neighbors (Jim, Maura & Nani) on earth!  Here's a photo of our house.  A big thanks to Pete Sestina for the beautiful pic:



I have worked for DIRECTV since June of 1997 and have had a range of jobs, working in my dream job right now.  I am learning a lot in the Strategy and Innovation department of IT, where I've worked for the last year or so.  Travis has worked there since July of 1998 and as you saw in an earlier is now the Training Manager at the Call Center.  We live about 40 miles from work.  I have a chauffeur everyday, one of the many reasons I am spoiled rotten.  Last year Travis became a licensed hunting guide.  He now gets paid to do the thing he loves to do the most.  So, if any of you want an expert to take you hunting, I know a guy!

We chose not to have kids, but we have three little people with fur living with us.  Bela is our 8 year old blind gimpy black lab who is the sweetest, most loving dog ever.  Just please don't tell her she's blind.  She doesn't know.  Riley is our 8 year old working hunter black lab.  She LIVES to work for Travis - her person.  She is the happiest when retrieving ducks and geese and will play fetch until she can't move.  Zoomer is our 15 year old Russian Blue.  She is my longest relationship by choice, next to Travis.  And she tolerates him living in her house.  I think if it is possible for 2 souls to inhabit 2 beings at once, this is us.  We both love to sleep, are picky eaters, VERY selective about the people in our life, loyal, trusting, SUPER affectionate, and spoiled!  Pics of all three to the right.  Here is Riley:

And here is my favorite picture of Bela & I.  She poses for cameras - not kidding - and smiles as big as she can. 

I have the greatest siblings anyone can have.  My younger brother, Matt, is a Pediatric Anesthesiologist with the Air Force and lives in San Antonio.  My younger sister, Nicole, works at DIRECTV and is going to college with the goal of teaching English.  I adore their spouses.  Maria works for USAA, and is a genius like my brother.  She beats me in nearly every game of scrabble that we play online and we could spend hours discussing the latest movie, great new song or family gossip.  Ben works with us at DIRECTV and is the kindest soul I have ever met.  He is also in college going for a business degree, focusing on non-profit organizations.  I enjoy Nic & Ben living nearby and dream of all of us living in the same city.  I can't say enough how much I love these wonderful people.  They are so fabulous, I would be friends with them even if I didn't have to and a ginormous thank you to my parents for the gift of my brother and sister.  Here is a picture of all 6 of us this summer.  Thanks Dennis Webber - love the pics (which can be found on my Facebook).  From L to R:  Maria, Matt, Travis, Laura, Ben, Nicole. 

My in-laws are just amazing.  Travis has 3 awesome brothers and 2 of them are married.  I am very blessed with darling sister-in-laws.  Tyson & Amber have 2 sons, Cooper & Caleb and they live in Boise.  Traig and Kortnie have 1 daughter, Addison.  They live in Burley, Idaho where my in-laws live (where Travis was raised...7 miles from my parent's home, where I grew up).  [Side note:  I dreamt of marrying a big city, probably French, guy.  No no.  My true love was in my back yard.  I'm grateful now, when we travel home we get to see both families!]  Shaylon lives in Tulsa, OK and I see these wonderful people far too little.  We took family pictures this summer, but I haven't downloaded them yet.  This one will have to do.  From L to R: Traig, Kortnie, Travis, Laura, Shaylon, Amber, Tyson.

I love to travel.  My dream since I was a teenager is to be kissed under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and 9 of my current 19 item bucket list have to do with travel.  I want to be in all 50 states, I have been in 34.  I collect postcards from my many adventures.  Chronicling my travels in the number one reason I decided to blog vs. journal.

My hobbies are reading (I read, on average, a book a week), going to movies, watching my DVR - I call it business research - yeah right, I just love TV, listening to music, porch dwelling (I wish you could see my view every night), playing pinochle (my sister and I play often at the Senior Citizens Center) and am currently looking for ways I can volunteer my time.  I will find a worthy cause that is flexible with my schedule since I travel for work and play so much.  I love to learn.  I am so curious and find such joy trying new things - especially foods.  I am so open to what life has to offer, and how will I know unless I try it?

I have self-diagnosed OCD.  I don't flip the light switches up and down numerous times, but they have to be all the same direction.  I don't color code my clothes, but my hangers are all white.  And I can't work productively unless every thing on my desk is in just the right, very straight spot.  I see through a lens of efficiency, logic and positivity...well, efficient and logical to me anyway!  I am super analytical, and thoroughly enjoy a good conversation.  Here is my favorite picture of myself.  My BFF, JD, took it while I was in Denver (my favorite city o' travel right now)

I just read a saying that I LOVE that sums up my life's philosophy:  I'm in love with words. So I find strength, peace, comfort, laughter and inspirations from so many quotes. Words make me happy (when used to construct not destruct) ... simple as that. 

Words are so powerful.  The quote at the bottom of my blog is my compass - it is so true that what you think about, what you voice, what you focus on will come true.  And it is no wonder that I have the greatest life, one that I enjoy and am so grateful for every moment.  I am very spiritual, I believe in God, and feel His presence constantly. 

Pretty fortunate am I.

Love, La

p.s.  My nickname, La, was shortened a few times from other nicknames that I didn't love, and given to me by my best friend, Scott. Over 10 years ago.  It's the name I call myself in my inside voice!  haha