Different Time Zone, Different Place, Same Me

Greetings from the "wild wild west" aka Yuma, Arizona.

I arrived in Yuma on the 18th and have successfully survived 9 days without dying of heat stroke. Getting off the plane was a huge shock. When I left Michigan it was in the high 60's. When I arrived here, eight hours later, it was somewhere around 115. I walked off the small putt-putt propellor plane and was hit by a wall of heat and sun. Definitely a system shock.

Arionza is sooooo different than Michigan, which I guess I knew before coming here. But still, actually being here in this foreign environment isn't something I could've prepared myself for.

I have actually been avoiding going outside during mid-day hours where tempuratures average at 115 degrees. Arizona lacks the humidity factor that Michigan has so it doesn't feel all nasty sticky outside. Instead, it's just pure heat that causes instant sweating. I absolutely hate to sweat, in fact I tend to avoid it at all costs. This is why I have resorted in hibernating in the air conditioning during the day and venturing out at night. I have been contimplating exploring the pool, which is just down the street from where our apartment is. No fear, I will be coated with gallons of sunscreen.

The ungodly heat isn't the only significant difference between Michigan and Arizona. I guess it's stupid to point out since the change is obvious going from a temperate forest biome to a desert. Before coming out here, I'd never really been to the desert. Everything here is brown. There are palm trees and cactuses everywhere. It is so strange being able to look out my window and see palm trees and sand instead of pine trees and lush grass. There isn't a lot of noticable wildlife either, at least not during the day, which understandable I suppose. I mean if I were a bird I wouldn't want to fly out in the hot sun either.

Speaking of wildlife... I'm so afraid to go outside and face all the creepy crawly creatures that are lurking about, especially black widows and camel spiders. If you don't know what they look like feel free to google at your own risk. Yuck!

Our apartment is about 15-20 minutes off base. It's a military housing community. There is a pool, as previously stated, and a bunch of play sets. I really love our apartment. It has two bedrooms and is pretty new. We have a little closed in patio area. I took some pictures and did a video tour of the apartment, but I can't seem to get my computer hooked up to the internet. I wanted to upload everything onto mine, but I might just end up using Josh's computer. I'll put a link to the video when I get it set up.

Yuma is a pretty nice town. It isn't big or anything but there are some nifty things.
There's an outside mallish-type thing called the Yuma Palms. It has a bunch of stores, restaurants, and a movie theater. It's basically like Eastwood Town Centre but with palm trees. Yuma also has all the major fast food/sit down restuarants plus some that aren't in Michigan, such as Carls Jr., In-N-Out, and Sonic. Fun fact about Yuma: it is home to the states largest Burger King playplace. OOoooooOO impressive right?? But seriously, every fast food place down here seems to have a playplace attacted to it. So far I've seen two Burger King, a McDonalds, and a Carls Jr. I guess all the military brats that live here need some form of airconditioned entertainment and avoid frying in the sun. I just found it especially amusing.

The base is also pretty cool too. It's small as well, but the airplanes are big and interesting. I had to go onto base last week to get my military ID, get signed up with medical, and meet the FRO (Family Readyness Officer?) Master Sargent(maybe) Pou. He was really kind, friendly, and informative. There are a lot of resources that are offered on base which we will definitely be putting to use.

I can't wait until I get to move all my stuff down here. Having all my stuff here will make it feel more like home. Plus, organizing everything will give me something to do when Josh is at work.

BIG NEWS!!!! There will be a new addition coming to the (Mc)Boyce family. No, not a baby, even though my mom seemed a little to excited when she thought that's what my news was. Josh and I are getting a Yorkshire Terrier. It is in Michigan right now, and we'll be bringing it back down with us when we drive back. The name is still to be decided but we've got some in mind. I can't wait to see him! I'll be sure to update when we get him.

I don't really know what else to write about. I'm sure I forgot something, but it's obviously not important enough for me to bring up here. I'll let everyone know when I'm coming home. It should be soon, I know I keep saying that, but this time it's true.

I love and miss you all. See you soon :)
<3 Amber

Current Location: Yuma, AZ
Time: 7:26 p.m. (10:26 EST)
Weather Conditions: 111 and sunny
Quote/Lyric/Thought: I should probably go lay in the sun at some point so people stop commenting on how pale I am.

Ugggggggghhhhhhhhhh

Helllllllloooooooooo.

I really jinxed myself with posting up the moving plans and making it "official." As soon as I did, everything decided to change on me. Isn't that just how life seems to go though? At least for me, plans don't stay the same for very long. I should've remembered this before announcing things to the world. But I got my hopes up that this time would be different. Oooooooooooooooooh well.

So I really have no idea what's going at this point. More waiting. It might just be that time where I hop on a plane and come back to get my stuff later.
We'll see.
I'll update when I know.

Until then...

<3 Amber

Current Location: East Lansing, MI
Time: 8:20 p.m.
Weather Conditions: 75 and partially cloudy
Quote/Lyric/Thought: I'm ready for a rooaaaaaaddddd trip!

News....FINALLY!

Heyyyyyyy.

This is a very special and exciting update about my life. After months on wondering and waiting I finally have an answer to the infinitely asked question...
"So, when are you gunna get to move out to Arizona?" Not always worded so, but it's usually along those lines. Every time this question has arisen I've had to give the same answer. "I'm not sure yet. It all depends on blah blah blah...(insert circumstances here)." Trust me when I say it has come quite often from a lot of different people.
But now the time has come where I can answer this question with more than "I don't know" which is quite relieving.
So here it is the long awaited, at least to me, time line to the move to Arizona
The paperwork for Josh to come home should be in on Monday. The Marine people want 5 days in between paperwork being in and him coming home. This put him coming out at Friday. Once he's here we have 10 days to get back to Yuma. We're going to be getting a U-Haul and moving our stuff down there that way. It's an estimated 3-4 days drive. Now that I've actually looked at a calendar it appears that it puts it at the 16th, Thursday, or the 17th, Friday. Which is a lot closer than I thought. Ecccckkkkk.
I cannot express how amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing it felt to put my 2 week notice. I have been looking forward to being able to do that for a very long time.
I'm excited. And nervous. And scared.
That's all to be expected though I suppose.
I am one of those people that is a creature of habit and definitely not a big fan of change. I try to keep things as familiar as possible. Moving to a whole new place, with new customs, new people, new climate... I'm kinda freakin out about it.
But it's a new chapter and time to experience new things, things outside of Michigan.

Hopefully all will go well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I should probably try and get some sleep considering I have to be to work at 7:30. I would normally be dreading it, but I won't have to say it much longer which makes the situation much more bearable.

Goodnight and pleasant dreams.
<3 Amber

Current Location: East Lansing, MI
Time: 2:27 a.m.
Weather Conditions: 60 and partially cloudy
Quote/Lyrics/Thought: “Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.”