Mountain Mist

I am back from my vacation and well rested.  The mountains was just what I needed to reset myself.  We stayed in Pigeon Forge, TN.  We rented our cabin from Heartland Rentals, and the cabin was called Mountain Mist.  There is endless things to do in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.  There had to be about 10 pancake houses in Pigeon Forge.  We went to a place called Laserport that  had two different laser tag areas, arcade, go carts, and Black light mini golf (which is very hard with the lights).  We didn't make it to the Dixie Stampede which is a dinner theathre. 

In Gatlinsburg, there is everything, from food (Bubba Gump Co., Hard Rock, etc.) entertainment (Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum, Ripley's Aquarium), and stores galore.  Make sure to have cash on hand to pay for parking in Gatlinburg. (about $6-8)  You will not be able to park in the hotel areas, because they have the guest mark there cars, so your will be towed, or you can take the trolley from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg. You will have to pay every time you board the trolley, so just drive there and pay for the parking space and stay there till you want to leave Gatlinburg. There is also something going on that all three towns do from November to March is Winterfest.  They decorate the town with lights till then and do several concerts and plays.  In April a ribs festival where Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge restaurants compete for the best ribs title and you are the judge.  You pay a one time fee to get a pass to try ribs at those restaurants. 

I think it is a trip that anyone would love.  Lots of things to do, Arts and Craft, entertainment, music, amusements, hiking, skiing (Ober Gatlinburg), Caverns in Servierville, TN, and Dollywood Splash Country.  This has been the best birthday I have ever had.  We loved it so much there that we are planning a trip in August to go back.  I have included some links for everyone and pics of the mountain, Laserport and us in the cabin.  There is a picture of the cabin was on my last blog.   Till then I will leave you with my little quote I said on the last day there....."I left a piece of me in Tennesse."

Vacation Here I come

     I am finish with all my assignments for Unit 3 and posted my initial discussions for both classes. I will be posting hopefully some video and pics of my trip on Monday.  I have planned a lot of trips in the past years and then had to cancel or not go because of work or no money or both.  So I am happy for my b-day getaway.  I am going to try to start packing now and getting everything straight here at my house before I leave.  It is funny because I am happy to go but sad because this will be the first time I am going to leave my dog.  She will be with my mom but I guess that it is like leaving my child.  This is the picture of the cabin we are going to in Pigeon Forge.  I will be leaving probably early afternoon tomorrow, but I will see everyone in class tonight.  So I guess since I submitted everything I need to start cleaning and packing.  See you all tonight!!!!

Unit 3: Blog

 I love being an online student.  I like the flexibility of the courses.  Last term I had Survey of Math, and it had a flex schedule to where I can choice which day I wanted to go to class.  I had three different days.  If I didn't make one I could go to the other class.  I also like that the classes are online.  I don't have to worry about driving to school, and if I had a laptop and wanted to travel I can still do my class and homework.  I think the blog is something that will bring the class closer together.  Now I am able to put a face to the names in my class.  So the blog is like meeting a person in the classroom.

Trials, Tribulations, and Blessings

      Today I have manage to get most of my Unit 2 done for both of my classes.  I will start on Unit 3 Sunday because of my trip to Pigeon Forge.  It is nice that I am finally able to plan a vacation and follow through with actually going. I am sad that do to unemployment (for a year now) I won't have much to go up there with but my boyfriend has decided he wants to pay for everything which is a little weird for me.  

     Life for me, has been tough in the last three years.  I have been fired because the employer hired a girl I trained that was there for one year.  They told me i had to many days out, which is funny because they approved the days as sick days.  Also the girl had more days out than me and no call ins within that one year she was there.  After we lost the house (evicted), lost my dog (sheba), moved in with my grandma, aunt and cousin (which was heck on earth), and then found out my grandma lied about not needing dialysis, she had a mild heart attack, stroke and have to take dialysis three times a week.  I have endured a lot of hurt from family members, and just constant stress. I know I am 25 no kids.  I shouldn't have a worry in the world but I care to much for my family and I am the person that kind of cares for others more than myself.  The last of the bad news is the cutting of my mom's time and pay, maybe losing the house she is trying so hard to buy instead of rent, my baby sister hurting me the most, and my dog being diagnosed with heart worms. 

 

     The good thing is I am still alive, and well, and so is my family and friends.  I am finally back in school and doing good with a 3.81 GPA.  We did move out of my grandma's house and into another, the one that is hanging on by strings now, and my dog is not being effected by the heart worms.  Oh, my boyfriend.  We finally started dating last year after years of knowing each other.  He is still my best friend.  I am a very optimistic up beat person.  I try make every one happy and keep the peace.   But these three years have worn me down.  I know many people have worst stories than me, and no one can truely say you know how that person feels.

     I again say I like the idea of a blog.  I am a very private person and at first I didn't want to share.  But the difference is this is school and we are all adults, either younger or wiser.  This helps to tell someone else that won't be bias to what I say, and like a diary I was able to release my feelings to the pages, but with this can come wisdom, and encouragement, or tough love comments from mature people.

Next time....a happy post, and a old poem I wrote........ 

Monique Welch

Introducing Monique Welch.......

I think the blog is a good idea. I used to do a blog on Yahoo 360. So I kind of knew how to do this but it has been a long time. I am 25, but will be 26 on Feb. 18. I am single, never married, no children, other than my Alaskan Malamute, named Nina Marie. I will blog my trip that I will be taking on Feb. 18-21 to Pigeon Forge, TN.
My boyfriend, which is a guy I have known and had a liked since 8th grade, has planned this trip for me. I live with my mom who is also taking Health Information Technology with Kaplan. I have three sisters, two brothers, and three nephews. I love my family a lot even though I have come to learn that your family can hurt you the most and deeper than any outsider can. I look forward to reading everyone's blogs. I have included pics of Nina when she was a puppy and now. Oh, I guess I should explain what is JaHaitian. JaHaitian is Jamaican/Haitian mixed together like the celebs do with TomKat and Briangelia. My great-grandfather family is from Jamaica, and my great-grandmother family is from Haiti. This is on my mother's mother side of the family.