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I know many of you are wondering where I have been. Well, if you know me well, then you have guessed I have been busy with work. It's pretty hectic this time around the holidays. I can't make any promises that blogging will get any better after the holidays, but I will make more of an effort to come around.

I have also been working on a special project. I can't reveal it until summertime. It's a long wait, but I guarantee it will be worth it. So no questions!

Hope you are surviving the holiday madness. Seems slower this year than any other year.

Have a super weekend!

Oh, and Seth! I can't forget about Seth!

Greetings... For Now

I have been a very bad blogging friend. I am sorry about that. This time of year gets so busy and quite frankly, I just don't have that much time. Well, that is not entirely true. I do have some pet projects I have been working on, but nothing I feel comfortable sharing at the moment.

I am on vacation the rest of this week. I am heading to Kansas City to visit my brother and finish my Christmas shopping. I have about 15 nieces and nephews to buy for every year. I love doing it.

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season. Greetings to Cheryl, Becky, Terri, David, Seth, The Diva, Andrew, Annabel, Jenni, Norrbu, Sally, Crusty, Melon, Lois, ANDFRE, Leann, Jamie, Austere, and Phelan. If I forgot you, I am so sorry. Drop me a line so I can stop by and visit.

Love you guys and gals!

I am still here. Had a great holiday week. Didn't have to cook like last year, thank goodness! How are YOU doing?

Addicted To My iPod Touch!

I have been totally distracted by other things. Things being my iPod touch. I have been playing games on there and it is so addicting! Just a bunch of useless time I won't ever get back, but I guess you could call it "me" time. lol.... sounded good anyway!

Hope you have all been well. I am getting over tonsillitis and a double ear infection. The antibiotics seem to be working! I have to put in a half day at the stores, so I will catch you all later!

Thanks for sticking with me!

I have not been motivated to blog at all! Help!!! I just don't have the time, especially with the holidays coming.

Stress is at an all-time high. Tis' the season....

I am off this weekend with lots to do! Errands, cleaning, school projects, and cooking dinner. Whew! Who wants to help?

My parents' neighbor won the lottery.... $96.6 million.

WOW!

Tidbits Here and There, This and That

Howdy! It's been go, go, go again here at the Wheel. My brother had surgery on Thursday and is doing very well. Thanks for your nice comments!

I am listening to a conference call as I type this. I know that is not a professional thing to do, but I just can't get any more out of these afternoon conference calls. Boring!

The weather has been great the past week and today was rainy and more like fall weather. I love it! The kid raked up all of the leaves last week. We did not have as many as usual because of the huge hailstorm we had earlier in the year. That hailstorm took about half of our leaves this summer. The kid was quite happy about that. The usual 30 bags of leaves turned into 15.

Well, I am off to get dinner prepped. Have a great evening.

I'm still here. It's all about work, work, work. The blog will just have to be put on hold while there are so many more important things to do. Spending time with the kid has always taken priority and with him in high school this year, it is go-go-go!

My brother is having knee surgery tomorrow. I am planning to head to G.B. to see him at my parents' house. I will return on Friday evening. Hope he is not in too much pain.

Have a great week!

I am heading out tomorrow to see my folks. Won't be back until Sunday. Hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

Why oh why can I not get motivated to post more often about things that are significant. I guess this is a "checking in" post. No time!

This weekend off has been great! I have gone grocery shopping and done a few chores around the house. I am caught up on all my shows from the DVR. I love DVR. I can miss anything and go back to see it later in the week.

I am leaving soon to go get the hair done. Thank goodness the salon is open on Sundays. Have a great day!

Wow. It's been forever and a day since my last post. Where has all of the time gone? I have been so busy at work, there is literally no time to spend on the computer. I have this weekend off, so hopefully I can get caught up.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Two more days until I start vacation. I am so excited. I have been looking online for weeks now, choosing restaurants and tourist attractions to visit. My friends D and D from Omaha are coming and meeting Josh and I in Colorado Springs on Monday. We always have a great time together.

Work has been work. I have been off the last two days and have enjoyed every minute of it. I need this vacation because once I get back, we are doing some major overhaul in two of my departments. This will span over two weeks, affecting 19 stores. I hope my team is ready to roll this out!

The kid is doing awesome! We had parent/teacher conferences yesterday. Ugh! Do you remember those when you were a kid? He is averaging a 3.5. He could be a straight A student, however, he has a C in English. We talked with his teacher and she said he could pull an A if he does well on his book project. The kid and I have been working on that book project together, so I am hoping it will be okay. He has done all of the leg work: reading the book, working on the PowerPoint presentation and the written portion. I am just proofreading everything to make sure it coincides with the book and presentation.

The kid is in the top of his class in Keyboarding and History. He has a 98.7% in History. Can you believe it? He has a 99% in Keyboarding. The kid has informed me that Keyboarding is super easy and he plans on taking Computer Apps. I next semester. I am so glad he will have those skills at an early age.

He has an A in all other classes, although Biology is very close to a B+. We discussed getting better at the assignments so he can maintain an A.

All of his teachers are super nice and have told me the kid has potential to be a straight A student. They have all said he actually cares about his grades. One teacher told me he is the "minority" in her class because he actively participates and wants to do a good job. She said it's like pulling teeth to get students to behave and want to work. Sounds like my job.

Anyway, I am finishing up on the laundry. Have a great day!

later...

One More Week!

Good morning. I have an extremely busy week ahead. One big meeting this week will be conducted by myself, then I have several small meetings to attend. After Saturday, vacation starts. Did I tell you I am going to Colorado? Yes! I have never been. I can't wait to see my first mountain.

We will be staying in Colorado Springs. I want to stay away from the Denver area, however, we will be visiting the Coors Brewing Co. in Golden. That is as close to Denver I want to get. I am super excited! We have awesome plans set up for each day and I can't wait for next week to get here. Of course, I will try and do a day by day with pictures again.

Hope everyone has a great week!

later...

I am heading off to work. Won't work all day, maybe until 3. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. It's been overcast here and rainy the past week. Fall has set in.

later...

A Much Needed and Deserved Weekend!

Okay, so don't be mad at me! But I did not take any pictures of my trip out of town. I brought the camera, but totally forgot about any pictures. I was having too much fun! We left Friday after picking up the kid from school. We arrived in KC around 6 and checked into our hotel. We had dinner at Minsky's downtown with the same family members from our Ohio trip, except my friend Deb came down to spend the weekend with us.

After Minsky's, Deb and I went to Savvy's coffee and wine bar in the power and light district. We then headed to the Cosentino's downtown market to pick up a few things. I crashed as soon as we went to the hotel.

Saturday we got up early and ate breakfast at the Corner Cafe in Riverside, MO. This is a place we always visit when we get a chance. They have the best biscuits and gravy! After breakfast, we headed to the City Market in downtown KC. I love going here and looking at all of the fresh food stands and shops. People come from everywhere to show off there fresh fruits and veggies in hopes patrons will buy everything. It's a foodie wonderland!

Deb and I headed back to the hotel for rest and relaxation while my brother, Josh and the kid headed out to play some golf. Boys! I found out that the kid rammed the golf cart into a tree, luckily no damage to himself or the cart. Let's say the driving privileges were taken away immediately!

After taking a nap, Deb and I headed down to the Plaza. I don't know. There just wasn't much to see. Everything is overpriced and there weren't very many people there for a Saturday. Must be the economy. After the Plaza we all had dinner at Bristol's in the Power and Light District. The place is okay. The food is way overpriced and my salmon came out raw. It still did not looked cooked the second time around. I did get a free dessert out of it though. I couldn't believe how much people pay for those small meals. You can buy your own fresh seafood from your local grocery and prepare it at home for loads less than what they were charging. It was ridiculous.

Deb and I headed to the store after dinner to get our supplies for the potato salad and tomato/cucumber salad for the game on Sunday. We headed back to the hotel and prepared everything for the next day. I also packed up all of our things and got it ready so we could leave bright and early. It was nice staying in the penthouse suite at the Marriott for two days. I wouldn't mind staying there again.

We got up early on Sunday and were out the door by 6:15. We met at one house and drove to the stadium. We got there around 7:15 and of course had to wait at the gates to get in. My friend Deb was amazed at how many people go so early just to wait around for the gates to open. After we got parked, we started grilling. The ribeyes were delicious and our salads hit the spot. After the food part was done, Deb and I got out of there. We had an entire day of shopping ahead of us. Yep, I did not go to the game. I gave my ticket to my brother and decided to go shopping. We went to Legends mall and I spent about about $300 of my $500 allowance. I spent the rest of my money at another store downtown. I did not spend it all on myself. I always think of my kid and bought him two t-shirts at Urban Outfitters and two pairs of jeans from the Buckle. He totally liked everything I bought. I would like to think I have good taste. He agrees.

I dropped Deb off at her car around 2 and waited for everyone to get back from the game. I hung out at the City Market area for about an hour and then met up with the family. We headed straight home. I was pooped, but so glad I was able to spend time with family and friends this weekend. I needed it!

I am out of here! I will take some pics while I am gone. Have a super weekend!

Here's A Quickie

Just a quick post before I head into work. The day is starting early and sure to end late. What a life.

This weekend was nice. I was able to sleep in a couple of days, even though I had to work. I went to Newton yesterday. It's a nice town. It seems very laid back.

Today will start off with a meeting at a store. Then I have to sit in on a department head meeting with another store. Lunch will roll in there sometime after that. This afternoon consists of two conference calls and another short meeting. I am hoping to only work from 6 to 6 today. It would be nice to get home at a decent hour to cook dinner for my family.

Did I tell you I am going to Kansas City this weekend? Yes! I am meeting a friend there on Friday and we plan to shop the whole entire weekend! I am so excited! We will be shopping for our vacation trip to Colorado. It's going to be so nice! Can't wait until this weekend!

Have a super day!

later...

It's another late start to the work day here at the Wheel. Okay by me. I am just waiting to hear from my boss. We are going to visit two stores together today.

It's been raining off and on for about a week. Everything is green and wet. I guess we need one last soak before the leaves start to change color and begin to fall. I am not looking forward to the raking again this year. Good thing the kid is at that age where he can do yard work!

Well, I better hop in the shower and get ready for work.

Later...

Cake For Breakfast

This Viennese blend Starbucks coffee is tasting so good right now with this big piece of chocolate cake! Yep, sometimes you just have to have cake in the morning. The kid made a cake from a box mix last night, so I had to do a "quality control" test this morning to make sure it was okay to eat. hehehehe....

This past week has been crazy. I was off on Monday but Tuesday started at 5 a.m. and lasted until 7:30 p.m. On Wednesday I worked from 5 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. again and yesterday was a 3 a.m. to 4 p.m. day. Whew! I am tired!

I am suppose to work today, but won't go in until later. Just too pooped out right now!

It's been raining here quite a bit. My vegetable garden is still doing well. I am picking the bell peppers today and tomorrow. The tomatoes are still green. Those might not make it to color, but that is okay. I love fried green tomatoes. I have one baby eggplant and several peppers. It will be a small harvest, but due to the hail storm a couple of months back, well, I am lucky to have anything left.

Guess I better get out to read your blogs so I can head out to another fun filled day at work.

later...

Off To Work

I AM SO TIRED!!!!

Out Of Here

Just worked a half day and am ready to head out to my parents' house for the holiday weekend. I won't be back until Tuesday. Work has been crazy as usual.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

Later...

Daydreaming

Ugh, tired this morning! I woke up last night around 1:30 with major heartburn. The sausage with peppers and onions I made last night with the cilantro rice did me in. It was so bad I had to go to the store to get something for it. Never had to do that before. Yuck. It's weird walking around the grocery store so late at night. Eerie! Anyway, I am feeling much better today.

I have been pondering about my job lately. I am a food lover, all kinds, it doesn't really matter. My favorite, of course, is Korean. My Asian background has matured my palate and I find myself yearning for more than just your average restaurant meal. Don't get me wrong. There are many places I have eaten where the food has been delicious, but I dream of having visitors over to cook authentic cuisine. Unfortunately, the friends with the food heritage I am looking for is bleak to say the least. What does all of this have to do with my job? Well, absolutely nothing. I just wish it would.

Working for a major grocer in the United States is okay at best. Because of my limitations on moving at this point, I am not able to relocate closer to the "Mothership" of my company. I would love to work in the gourmet foods and spirits department. This department specializes in cheese, wine, imports, etc. It's a food lover's dream job, unless you are Anthony Bourdain, of course.

I am scheduled off today, but type this as I am on a conference call. Mornings like this allow me to daydream about what could be. Anything is possible at the age of 35. Right? Indulge me, please.

Later...

I'm Finally Back

Well, it certainly feels like I have been gone for a week. I was in Omaha from Wednesday thru Sunday. I was helping out some stores up there. Glad to be home!

Work is getting crazier every day. The economy plays a big role in our jobs. I mean, if people don't have money, they aren't going to shop as much. What irks me is that many people think Wal-mart is cheaper and they really are not. They do a great job of giving people that perception.

Anyway, it's a new week and I have lots to do today. Have a great one!

later...

Naughty Girl!

I am being so naughty! I am blogging while listening to this boring conference call. The conference call usually lasts for an hour and a half. Blah, blah, blah....

The kid and I headed off to Target early this morning only to find out that it does not even open until 8 a.m. Rats! Oh well. We are going shopping today after school. We will pick up some shorts then.

There is an insurance guy here to estimate the damages from that weird hail storm we had. Hopefully it won't be too bad. We are definitely going to need a new roof.

Okay, I don't have much to say, so I will catch up with you later.

Later...

Unproductive Sunday

Today was a very unproductive day. I went to work late this morning and only worked a half day. I didn't get much done today around the house nor did I have any fun. My afternoon nap didn't even work out. What a blah day! I did have lunch with a friend, so that was nice.

This week will be pretty busy for me. Tomorrow will be a long day. The kid and I need to run to Target in the morning to purchase some black running shorts for his P.E. class. We are going to attempt to go shopping tomorrow after school. The kid wants to get more shorts for school. He doesn't know where he wants to go, but he knows he wants long shorts. Okay. That narrows it down (not really). At least he wants to get clothes. I was worried because last year he could have cared less about clothing. This year he is a little more aware of styles and what he likes. I guess high school does that to you. Good thing his mom likes to spend money on clothing for him! I have been waiting for him to want to buy clothing now for about 4 years. Finally!

I know what the routine will be though. He will want to get in and out as fast as possible. He will find his size, try on one pair and won't want to try on anything else. Unlucky for him, I make him try on absolutely everything! I refuse to leave a store unless I know it's going to work. I hate returning things to the store. It's a waste of time. I would rather get it done right the first time. Know what I mean?

Have you ever tried the Del Monte Fruit Chillers Freeze and Eat Tubes? They are so good! One freeze tube is only 55 calories and zero fat. My favorite is strawberry. You can find them on the canned fruit aisle of your grocery store. You freeze and eat them. Yummy! I am enjoying one right now. But it's hard to eat and type at the same time, so I am saying goodbye!

Later...

Saturday Stuff

I decided to take the day off today. I was suppose to work, but I ended up putting in 13 hours on my day off Tuesday, so here I am.

I am sipping on coffee in the early afternoon and just finished my cinnamon toast. I woke up around 8 this morning. I am glad I was able to sleep in. Between doing laundry and watching the Food Network, not much else is going on. The kid is going to his cousin's birthday party later this evening while Josh and I plan to visit his sister's family.

The boys are outside doing yard work right now. Josh went and bought a new weed eater for the lawn. I loved how he asked me if it was okay first. I have a pretty tight grip on the expenses in the household, so it was nice that he asked. A month ago he tried to purchase a laptop for me, but it was something that we did not need, so I made him take it back. It was suppose to be a gift, which I thanked him for, but we did not need it. I would rather spend that money on other items, like a weed eater. Call me crazy.

I really need to tackle the unorganized spare bedroom. It has a million books and needs to be organized. It's kind of that room where you throw all of you "extra stuff" into. It's getting a little out of hand. I counted four boxes of stuff and that is just too many. We'll see.

Later...

Vacation - The Last Days

Well, in conclusion to my vacation we had a day of rest on Friday. We went through my grandparents' house and packed things we wanted to take back with us. I brought back two hand bells and a whiskey statue. We loaded the rental car up Friday night and woke up early on Saturday morning to head back. We left Fostoria, Ohio around 5:45 am and made it to Kansas City by 3:30 p.m. central time. It took us an hour to drop off the rental car and transfer everything over to our car. We made it back to Wichita by 7:30 p.m. I drove from Ohio to Kansas City and Josh drove from Kansas City to Wichita.

I had such a good time on vacation. It was nice to have my son there to enjoy my past memories and make new ones. We look forward to when we will be able to back again, perhaps in a couple of years. Heck, maybe the kid will be driving by then. I won't get ahead of myself.

We enjoyed Sunday at home resting up from our vacation and then it was back to work for me on Monday. The kid started school last Friday and just finished his first full week this week. He likes it so far but he has been unusually quiet. There are lots of kids at this school and it is the biggest school here. I hope he does alright.

Anyway, it's back to the daily work grind. I won't try and bore all of you every day with my temperamental stories about work. I'll try to change it up here and there.

Thanks for letting me show you our journey on vacation.

Later...

Vacation - Day Seven at Cedar Point!

The first coaster - Millennium Force. This was the kid's second favorite coaster and my brother's favorite.

I took this photo on the way to the Maverick.

This is the Maverick. This was Josh's favorite coaster and the kid's third favorite coaster.

There was only a 15 minute wait for the Mean Streak. It is one of the park's oldest coasters.

Josh hated the Mine Ride. He said it was way too jolty.

Here is the Gemini. This is where two coasters race each other, blue vs. red.

This is the kid's favorite coaster - the Magnum XL-200! He rode in a car by himself.

This one is the Corkscrew.

Iron Dragon

The Mantis was my kid's fourth favorite ride. It is a stand up coaster.

This was the last coaster. The Raptor is one that you sit in and your feet dangle. This was the kid's fifth favorite.

There was another coaster before the Raptor. It was an inside coaster and was totally in the dark. I couldn't take a picture of this one. The kid and my brother wanted to ride on the Top Thrill Dragster, but it was down for repairs. Too bad because that was the main one everyone wanted to ride. Guess we have a good reason to go back soon.

Cedar Point was so much fun for the kid. My mom and Aunt Jo came with us also. I can't do the coasters anymore because I get motion sickness. But we rode the train about 6 times and my mom just loved it. The kid was very happy and said it was the perfect end to his summer. I was glad he had a great time. He rode 11 coasters with my brother. We were there from 10:30 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening. Not bad for 11 coasters. The kid did not ride on any other rides except for the coasters.

We headed back to Fostoria and ate dinner at Frickers in Fremont, Ohio. I was extremely tired. I hit the hay as soon as we came home. Friday was going to be a day of rest for us and we would be driving back on Saturday. I will post tomorrow about the last two days.

Vacation - Day Six (Plus Extra!)

Day six of our vacation brings us to Wednesday. This is the day we decided to have our mini family reunion. We had it at the retirement home my grandmother was living in, since she is not able to travel. It was nice. Most of my cousins were there and all of my aunts and uncles were there. The Kid was able to officially meet his great grandmother for the first time. He is the oldest great grand child, so it was nice to get a picture of them.

We ate dinner and had family discussions. Half of the group went out to the local pub afterward while the other half went back to the house. I went back to the house. My dad, the "rebel" was the only adult that went out with the younger group. Of course....

In the first picture is my Uncle John, my dad, my Aunt Ginger and my Uncle Scott with my grandmother seated in the middle. These are my grandmother's four kids.

In this second picture is my tiny mom, my Uncle Bob and my Aunt Jo. These were all of the in-laws.

In this picture is the kid with my grandmother. This shot was taken by surprise and I love the outcome. It wasn't staged and those usually make the best pictures.

On a side note, the kid started his first day of school. He is now a freshman in high school. Girls, watch out! He's a cutie and a quite the teaser. I am sure this school year will prove to be interesting.

Vacation - Day Five

Wow, we are moving right along now aren't we? Day Five brings us to Tuesday. We stayed the night in Cinci because it was an evening game the night before. Wow, talk about being tired. Josh slept in until after 9 a.m. For some reason, my brother and I kept getting up super early. We would get up around 6 or 7 in the morning and that was at Eastern time. We are on Central time back home. It was strange.




Anyway, we got our things together and decided to have breakfast at Bob Evans. You can't come to Ohio and not eat at a Bob Evans. They have the best home-style breakfast and the service was great. I got their 2 egg special with hash browns, sausage, and pan cakes. It was delicious!





After breakfast we called my other cousin who lives in Columbus. She is the older sister of cousin Chuck Norris (lol...). We figured we would get there around lunch time. She gave us the address and we set our Garmin for the destination. That darn Garmin got us lost. Actually, there were several bridges out and we had to take the long way around to get there. We took mainly back roads and went through a very pretty little town called Lebanon. Holy cow was it beautiful. I did not take any pictures because I was getting frustrated with all of the detours. We finally arrived in Columbus a little after 1 p.m. Not exactly on time, but we were there.






My cousin drove us over to the Ohio State Campus so we could gawk and wish over and over we went there during our college days. This is our family's favorite college. We root for them all the time. Go Bucks! This is the Big O in front of the football stadium.














This is the Kid with my brother across the street from the campus. It was so funny because there was a lot of traffic and people were actually trying to slow down so we could get a picture. We totally looked like tourists!










Here is the Kid and my brother in front of the football stadium. My brother is 6 ft. tall. My kid is almost getting there and he is only 14.



After touring the campus, we decided to grab a late lunch over at Eddie George's restaurant. It was awesome. I had a mushroom swiss burger and it was one of the best burgers I have had in a very long time.

While there, we all had to use the restroom. The guys told me that you could see out of the window/mirror at the televisions on the restaurant floor while you were doing your business at the urinal. They also told me that the urinals had an upside down M for those poor Michigan fans who dared to enter and eat at this fine establishment. Too funny!

After lunch, we said goodbye to our cousin, but not for long. She was coming back to Fostoria for our family reunion the next day. The family reunion is what we will cover tomorrow in Day Six.

Vacation - Day Three and Four

Okay, so we arrived in Fostoria around 7:30 p.m. We had to wait for my uncle to get there because my grandparents' house was locked up and he had the key. My uncle ran up town to get some pizza for us so we wouldn't have to worry about dinner.


While we waited for him to get there, we walked around the two acres of land the house was on. My uncle decided to put up the traditional vegetable garden. When my grandfather was alive, he was a true home grown gardener. He could grow any kind of vegetable and had the most beautiful flower gardens in the neighborhood. I wish I had a picture to show you, but I was so exhausted from driving the whole 11 1/2 hours that I forgot. Yes, I drove the whole way. I am must like my dad. He drives a tanker and has driven trucks his whole life since he was a teenager in the Army. I can drive for hours and hours. I love it.


So, we settled in, ate pizza, talked to my aunt and uncle, then went to bed. The kid got to sleep in this little twin bed that I used to have to sleep in when I was a little kid. It was soooooo weird seeing him in that bed when it used to be mine as a kid. All of the grand kids have had to sleep in that little bed from one time or another. It brings back such great memories of our summer vacations there. Here is the bed. This is actually how the Kid sleeps sometimes. Weird, huh?


On Sunday, we headed up to the store and bought lots of groceries since we were staying for a week. When we returned home, I made hot Italian sub sandwiches for everyone at lunch. For dinner I made my famous oven fried chicken breasts with garlic mashed potatoes and green bean/onion saute. The family loved it! My aunt, uncle and cousin (Chuck Norris) loved it. My kid is a Chuck Norris joke fanatic and thought my cousin looked like him, thus came the nick name Chuck. It's one of those "had to be there" moments.


Anyway, the family brought over lawn darts and we were all outside playing and having fun. No television, no Internet, and barely any bars on my cellular phone. I had to drive into town to get any phone service. Now that is a real vacation!


Monday morning came quickly and I made breakfast for everyone. Biscuits with butter and jelly, fluffy scrambled eggs and hickory smoked bacon. Uh yeah, no leftovers for that meal! Josh, my brother, the Kid and I all got packed and left for Cincinnati around 9 a.m. We decided to go to a Reds game Monday night and stay the night in Cincinnati. We would travel to Columbus on Tuesday morning.



When we got to Cincinnati, we headed to the Great American Ball Park and bought our tickets for the game that night against the Cubs. There were so many Cubs fans in town. That's all we saw that afternoon. We then headed over the river and through the woods to Newport, Kentucky. We had ice cream at Graeter's and headed for the shops. It was a beautiful day, as you can see from the picture I took of my brother, the Kid and Josh. After walking around and looking at all of the shops, we decided to check into our hotel and grab an early dinner. We had dinner at the Machine Room at the ball park. It was pretty good. The Kid got the usual, a bacon cheeseburger and fries.













The Reds lost that night, but we had a great time. The crowd was lively and a home run was hit right into our seats. We didn't catch it though because we left 30 minutes before it happened. We saw it on the highlights back at the hotel. The kid was upset about it, but soon got over it. We were all so tired! I slept great that night.













Stay tuned.... our visit to Columbus to visit my cousin and the OSU campus will be the next post.

Vacation - Day Two

Day Two of vacation consisted of a 12 hour drive through the Midwest. We left Kansas City around 6:30 a.m. We ended up taking two vehicles. My dad drove his truck and took my mom and my brother with him. I had Josh and the kid with me in the rental car.

I am a speeder. I never go the speed limit. I usually go about 9 miles over the speed limit. My dad, however, does not speed at all. So, whenever we had a pit stop for gas or bathroom breaks, we would have to wait around 10 minutes for him to get there. We never stopped for food because I packed lunches for everyone. We had ham and turkey sandwiches, chips, baby carrots with ranch dip and Bing cherries. I also provided each vehicle with a goodie bag of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, cereal bars, cookies and candy. We also had a cooler in each vehicle with plenty of soda and water. This way, we would not have to stop and get food and drink on the way there. It also saved us a ton of money getting all of the provisions at the grocery store.

While on the road you always see interesting things. There are always strange names for some of these little towns and my favorite part is when we are crossing rivers and creeks. Those names are quite unique. One creek we crossed was called Nameless. Yep, pretty interesting.

I thought of my blogging friend, Seth, while driving through Indianapolis. Buddy, what is up with the speed limit? It's a racing town for goodness sake! Nothing like doing 50 miles an hour the whole way through. Anyway, Josh got really excited when he saw the Lucas Oil Stadium. He says it looks like a huge barn from far away. This is where the Colts play. I told him to take a picture so I could post it for everyone. It looks like a nice facility.



As we kept driving, I was anxiously anticipating the Ohio state line. I always get really excited when we cross over. My son kept commenting on how I was acting so different. I tried to explain to him about all of the awesome memories I have as a kid doing these road trips. It brings back such wonderful memories for me and that is something I want to continue with him. He completely understood and told me he liked seeing me that way. I was also finally starting to unwind from work. It takes me a couple of days to decompress. My job is very high stress, so I need a few days to unwind.

Welcome to Ohio!!!

Well, this concludes my second installment. My next post will include Day Three and Four. Have a great day!

Vacation - Day One (yes! pictures included...)

Well, I have been gone long enough and I can't procrastinate these posts any longer. I am back from vacation and it was a loooong one! Much needed though. I told all of you I would post pictures, probably against my better judgement, but whatever. You will not be seeing any pictures of myself, but you will get to see pictures of my family, Josh and the kid. The trip was fantastic, so I thought I would do a day by day play per post. This is Day One.

We decided to stay in Kansas City overnight and leave from there on Saturday morning. We drove to Kansas City on Friday and met up with Josh's brother and wife and my brother. Josh's brother and his wife live in downtown KC, while my brother lives in Lenexa. We all met downtown at Minsky's, which is our favorite place for pizza. There was plenty of beer, food, laughter and excitement that night. The kid wrapped his retainer in his napkin and forgot to put them back on after eating. We got about one block from the restaurant before freaking out. I called the restaurant and the kid was able to go back in and dig through the trash for his retainer. Lucky for him, it was right on top. Yes, lucky for him....

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and went to bed early. We would have to get up at 5:00 a.m. to go and pick up our rental car at 6 a.m. And I do have stories to tell about Sunday, so I will leave you with these pictures I took. I tried to document as much as I could on the trip. Sometimes you just forget to get the camera out, you know?


My Nature's Choice Pizza at Minsky's

From left to right: my brother, Josh, Josh's brother, Josh's brother's wife, the Kid. The couple in the back ground was on a blind date. It was painfully obvious to us all. Painful being the key word here folks!

Here We Go!

I am getting so excited to start my vacation! We leave tomorrow for Kansas City. Then, early Saturday morning, we will all be heading to Ohio. I can't wait! I will do my best to take lots of pictures for all of your viewing pleasure.

Probably won't post much since I will be on the road. We are going to a Reds game, going to Cedar Point and having a mini family reunion. Can't wait to see my long distance family!

Have a great weekend and a great week!

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I have been super busy with work. I am trying to get a bunch of stuff done before we leave for vacation on Friday. I plan to take lots of pictures while we are gone.

Have a great week!

Questions

Up and at em early this morning. Helping out another store this morning. Should be a long day. Lots to do.

Question: How many of you have a good friend that is the opposite sex? Does it affect your current relationship?

This computer is still giving me a headache. Anyway....

I am heading into a busy work week. Wish me luck.

I'm Back! Did You Miss Me?

My computer has been in the shop. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I don't like posting from my iPod. But the computer is back and better than ever.

Not much has changed. Still working a lot and dealing with all of the drama at work. The weather has actually been pretty decent lately. High 80's the last two days. Can't complain about that.

Our family trip to Ohio is coming up in a couple of weeks! We have lots planned! Can't wait!

Our cars did get damaged by the hail with all over dentage (I know that is not a word) and a cracked windshield. My car received more than Josh's truck. The house did get a little damage on the roof. We need a new one anyway. I have already made a claim with the insurance people.

Thanks for the concerns. I can't wait to get into a house that has enough garages for all of our vehicles.

later...

Hail Storm From Hell

Pictures of the hail storm we endured last night. This picture is my front yard. It looks like autumn in summertime. My poor maple trees. Click on the picture to get a better view.

This is my street. It is covered in ice. You can see the hail coming down as we took the pictures.

Front sidewalk.

I am heading into work again. Had to work all weekend. I am not working all day. Just need to run some numbers. Hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th!

I'll be back later...

Happy Independence Day!

Busy Week!

Productive Day

We had a lot to do today! First, a doctor's appointment for the kid. You know, summer check up. Then we had to go get a prescription refill. After that we went to one of my stores to pick up two party platters for the orthodontist office, you know, a little thank you. After we dropped off the pinwheel sandwich tray and fresh fruit tray we decided to grab lunch ourselves. The kid and I had our favorite Chinese food for lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant. We headed home to relax and came back to the orthodontist office at 3:30 to pick up his new retainers. They all loved the food we gave them and thanked us. The pleasure was all mine! I am so thankful the kid's teeth turned out so well! He's a different kid! Anyway, after we got his retainers, we headed home. I watered the plants and much to my surprise found two baby tomatoes starting! WooHoo! I also have two peppers now. Thank goodness.

I have noticed that a few of the leaves are starting to turn a little yellow at the bottom of the plants. Is that because I am over watering or not watering enough? I never know. I guess I could google it.

Hope you all had a productive day and if you didn't, well, good for you!

later...

Milestone Day

My goodness! Another milestone passes today. The kid got his braces off. Wow! He looks great. I am so happy that he will be able to start high school with beautiful teeth!

Of course, the whole time I was at the ortho, I was on a conference call. It lasted almost 4 hours. It was our period review. Those are 4 hours I won't be able to get back. Good thing they took breaks. I must have looked weird with the phone to my ear the whole time and not talking. I did take some pictures.... yes! I am one of those moms! But for personal reasons, I don't post any pictures of my kid on this blog. I have a couple of pictures on my Facebook for those of you who know where to go.

After the conference call, I headed back to the stores and did some work. I got around 6. I totally did not feel like cooking and practically had to beg Josh to make dinner. I know he works hard too, but can't he make dinner every once in awhile? Unfortunately, this boyfriend does not come equipped with household duties. I do all of the cooking and cleaning.... usually. Unless I gripe about it long enough, like tonight. I just don't want to have to gripe to have him do these things once in awhile. Can't a guy surprise his girl every once in awhile? Geez!

Okay, enough ranting and raving. I am pretty tired tonight. It's spaghetti and garlic bread and then a quick walk on the treadmill before I head to shower and bed. Did I mention I am suppose to have tomorrow off? Yep. Quick visit back to the ortho to pick up the kid's retainer and then we are free!

later...

The kid and I are on our way to get the braces off!

WooHoo!!!!!

Shopping and Dinner

Dinner was over here tonight. It turned out great. I love to cook.

I went grocery shopping today and bought about $250 worth of food or two whole shopping carts full. Lots of stuff for the kid and his lunches. He can really put away the food. And he stays soooo skinny! It's depressing!

I am throwing some clothes in the dryer now and then heading off to bed. Hope you all had a great weekend.

later...

Ibuprofen Anyone?

I am home and off today. My body is hurting! I worked 14 hours on Friday, starting at 4:30 a.m. and worked another 10 hours yesterday, starting again at 4:00 a.m. I am wore out. I was in so much pain last night, I actually had to take some ibuprofen. For those that know me well, I never take any pain relievers, but I just had to last night. The things I do for this company!

I woke up around 8 this morning, with every intention of sleeping until 10. But with all of the early mornings this past week, I was pushing it with 8 a.m. Grabbed some breakfast and started watching some of my recorded shows. I watered my veggie plants. I have one tiny little pepper growing on my pepper plant. I will take a picture of it tomorrow and post it. That's exciting! I have yet to see a single tomato though. I am getting worried. The plants are about chest high and all I have are a few buds. Any clues out there for me?

This afternoon I plan on doing some much needed grocery shopping. I also want to tackle our spare bedroom. Right now it is a catch all for extra storage and it could use some organizing. I am just so tired!

Hope you all had a restful weekend. I'll try and post some more later.

later...

Heading in early today. Have to go to Pratt and help out. woo.hoo.

Hope your day is going to be better than mine.

later...

Vacation's All I Ever Wanted

A day off. It started off with a phone call from my best co-worker friend at 7:15 a.m. I was a little irked at him, but forgave him once I fell back asleep. I had a conference call at 9 a.m. I had another phone review at 10:15 which lasted until 11:00. After lunch, I took the kid to his dentist appointment. Then came home, took a short nap, cooked dinner, watched my shows, talked to my two best friends on the phone about our next vacation and now I am here.

My friends and I are thinking of taking a 4 day trip to Colorado. Our plans are to visit Canon City area, the Royal Gorge, take a dinner train, and visit the winery. I think 4 days is plenty of time. It will be about a nine hour drive from Wichita, considering I have a lot of 2-lane traffic on the way there. I love interstate highways. You can pass with ease. Anyway, we are looking at going the first full week in October, perhaps a Monday thru Friday trip. I am pretty excited about it. We love experiencing new foodie things, so the winery and the local restaurants are the biggest must haves on our list. I can't wait.

Speaking of vacations, my brother and I are planning the trip to Ohio in August with the whole family. My job is to find all of the accommodations, set reservations, find any good deals and well... I guess I am pretty much doing all of the leg work. That's okay. I like planning those types of things. Little brother is worried about the money situation and having enough to bring. He is also looking at taking another vacation later in the year. I told him not to worry. That is what big sisters are for. I know what it used to be like when I was young and single with no kid. You didn't have any worries. He doesn't either, but he is frugal with his money. I guess all of us kids are. I don't mind spending my money on things I know I deserve, like vacations.

Okay, enough talk about traveling. It's making me antsy. I can't wait to go now. I am off to visit your blogs.

later...

Headache

I had a headache today. It finally went away this evening. I have had it since yesterday. Must be a stress headache.

Today was a day from hell. Headache for most of the day caused me to not work up to my potential. I gave about 60% today. Oh well. I had a conference call this morning, a meeting at mid-morning, a work luncheon at lunch and store visits in the afternoon. I still have a lot to do. I will have to work a little bit tomorrow on my day off. That bites. Oh well.

Not much to say tonight. I will probably get to bed early. I plan on checking in with all of you tomorrow.

later...

Wild Woman Needs To Get Away!

I have decided tonight that I need to go on a mini vacation, a weekend road trip perhaps. I just need to get away and enjoy myself. Run amuck with other summer travelers, even if it is just for two-three days. As long as I get somewhere rather than stay here, I won't go crazy.

I am thinking about the weekend after the 4th of July, maybe July 10, 11 and 12. I mean, why not? I live in Wichita, KS. Where could I go to get away for awhile? It needs to be somewhat close with activities to do. Any suggestions out there? I am all ears?

I just need some me time. We all want and desire it from time to time, but actually having it is something we only aspire to do. I've got to make it a reality. Or I will go crazy. Work is driving me crazy. This house is driving me crazy. I just want to be free sometimes. Don't you?

Okay, I guess the crazy woman in me is done with the rambling..... but I really can't wait to get away!!!


Let's change the subject. I got my hair done today. It looks great. I scheduled my next appointment right before we leave for Ohio in August. That way I won't be completely hideous to the relatives I haven't seen in over 5 years.

I also took another nap today. I am contemplating on going in to work extra early tomorrow to get some things done. Such an overachiever, right? Nope. I just want to get the work done and over with. The bad thing with my job is that there is never a finish line, never and end result. I basically put out fires and prevent new ones from happening. It's stressful sometimes, especially now with the economy the way it is and all of the lay offs our city has faced in the aircraft industry. It's never good for business. People are definitely counting their pennies when last year they were throwing them away. Losing your job changes your entire life. I am thankful I have mine even though certain days drive me absolutely crazy.

Well, I am off to read about your weekend. Hope it was good!

later...

Happy Father's Day!

To all of the dads and the future fathers to be -

Happy Father's Day!

Finally, A Day Off!

It's good to be home. I pretty much slept all day. Two and a half days on the road can be pretty tiring. Yesterday I went in to the store around 3 a.m. I started my drive home around 1 p.m. It was a long day. I am just glad to be home. I was able to see my brother Wednesday night. We had dinner here.

It was good to see him. It's always a treat. Between he and my sister, we get along better. Neither of them read this blog, so it's safe to say. Anyway, today was totally uneventful and it's almost a shame. It was a day wasted on sleep. Oh well, I guess you have to have them from time to time. I didn't wake up until nine, went out for breakfast, came home and watched my shows on DVR, took a nap around 2, got up around 5 and started dinner. We had turkey burgers with chipotle chili mayo and cream cheese corn. Not exactly a meal with working parts, but hey, it worked tonight.

Tomorrow I am working for a couple of hours, getting my work mail caught up and visiting two stores. I have a hair appointment to touch up the gray areas around 11 a.m. I think the girl that does my hair is afraid to cut it. Every time I mention a trim or a hair cut, she seems a little leery to do so. My hair is past my bra strap, so it's getting pretty long. It was down to my waist earlier this year and I had her cut about 8 inches, and then three months later I had her cut another 6 inches. My hair grows super fast. I need a touch up on color every 4 weeks. Sometimes I can stretch it to 5. This time I went almost 6 and my eyes are begging me for a trip in. It looks ghastly. I wish I lived close to Cheryl. I know she does great hair. She wouldn't be afraid to cut my hair.

I also need to do some grocery shopping. I have to pick up a few cleaning supplies and a week's worth of sack lunches for the kid. He is enjoying the teen day camp very much. Every day I pick him up he has an entourage of tween girls surrounding him. Here we go..... It turns out they like him because he is nice to them. Most teenage boys won't give them the time of day, but it turns out my kid is actually nice. He gives them a hard time here and there, but for the most part, he treats them like little sisters. They practically cling to him. I have a feeling this won't stop until he's older.

Well, enough rambling. I believe it is still raining out. We have had storms off and on all week. It is helping my vegetable garden. Good thing I have not had to water the plants for almost a week now. They are getting to be huge. I wonder when they will start producing. Hopefully soon. Have a great night.

later...

Jayhawk Country - Here I Come!

I am heading for KU country today. I am needed to help out one of the stores up there for a grand opening. Woohoo.

I've been rather busy these past several days. Lots going on at work. I have not had a day off since last Sunday when I came back from vacation. Let's see, I am going on a ten day stretch with no day off until Saturday. Ugh. That's almost two weeks in a row. Lovely. What I do for this company!

Good thing I will have Saturday off and I only have to work four hours on Sunday. It will be a great weekend!

Well, I better get on the road. It's a two and a half hour drive to Lawrence, so I better get on my way. Have a great week and I will be back on Saturday.

later...

I am getting ready to head out the door. Not working all day, so that should be a plus. We had storms last night so my vegetable plants should have received plenty of water. I already have blooms on my zucchini and tomato plants. I haven't seen much from my pepper plants or baby eggplant yet, but hopefully I will soon.

Have a Super Sunday!

later...

Most of you may be thinking TGIF, but not I. I have to work all weekend! Not looking forward to it.

Keeping it short and sweet tonight. Will post more tomorrow.

later...

Long Day

I am so tired this evening. Sometimes when returning home my body just wants to sleep and I end up taking a nap. That's what happened tonight. Now I will be up until late.

I have to work in Hutch tomorrow. I tried getting a hotel room, but the whole city is booked. Can you believe that? Oh well, good thing it's only a 40 minute drive.

Today was pretty uneventful. I went to the store this morning to grab lunch for the kid, dropped the kid off at camp, drove to Hutchinson, spent most of the day in two different stores, drove back to Wichita, picked up the kid, headed home and made dinner (pulled pork) and fell asleep watching House Hunters. It's such a dramatic life I have..... sigh. Now I am having the kid kill a spider. Yucky!!!!

Hopefully you have had a better day than I have. I am off to read your blogs now.

Later...

Whew! So Tired!

I got back Sunday late afternoon and headed straight to bed. I slept from 6 to 6:30 the next morning. I was so exhausted! Omaha was a ton of fun! I got to spend lots of time with my friends and we had a relaxing blast!

It was hard to get back into the swing of things. Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment and had to get a fasting lab. Everything is a-okay. I go back in 6 weeks. I have asked the doc to monitor my weight loss... need some help with that.

I am pooped out tonight, so I am not saying much. Will post more tomorrow.

Later...

I am here in Omaha on my friend's laptop. It's gorgeous outside. Just wanted to check in and let you all know I am having the best time!



later...

Until Sunday!

I am leaving in a half hour. I don't think I will be updating while I am gone. So, until Sunday...

Things To Do Today

I have a list of things to do today. I still need to get the car washed, although it looks like rain. At least the inside of the car will look nice. I have to go by the Korean food store to pick up some Korean BBQ sauce, Party City for the lollipop sticks, and the grocery store to develop some pictures. It all has to be done today.

I still need to start packing. I have about three more loads of laundry to do. I need to load my car up tonight with all the cookware and get the kid's stuff lined out since he will be staying with his dad this weekend while I am gone.

I went over to my friend's house last night. Matt has been around for almost 10 years now. He's awesome. Anyway, I went over there to look at some photos he took with his nephews. I got to keep a few of them. On the way home, the kid called and asked me to make a pit stop to Dairy Queen. He wanted to try the new Brownie Batter blizzard. My kid loves Dairy Queen.

Well, I better get to it. Hope you all have a great day!

later...

More Errands and Chores

Well, I was able to get three loads of laundry done last night, plus a load in the dishwasher. I still have lots of laundry to do, mostly the for the kid. It's amazing how he goes through the clothes. He keeps them all in his room until he is almost out, then he brings them downstairs. Might have to change that routine!

I didn't go to bed until 2:30 last night. I was up by 7:30 this morning. There's more to do. Right now I am listening in on a work conference call. I know, I know. I am suppose to be on vacation. I am listening in so I am not behind when I do return to work. Does that make me an overachiever? hmmmm....

Today I am going to empty out my car trunk which is filled up with work stuff. It's time to go get it washed and detailed. Then, I need to fill it back up with all of my cooking items to take to Omaha with me - roaster machine, crock pots, hot holding pans, etc. All the things I need to cook for 100 people. The graduation party should be a lot of fun.

I am leaving Wednesday morning for Omaha. I can't wait! I will be up there until Sunday. It will be a great week and I am looking forward to it.

Well, I will be back.

later...

Ready For Some More?

Okay, so we got back from our movie - Star Trek. I loved it! It was really good. We also went to the grocery store to pick up some items for sack lunches - turkey, ham, chips, fruit cups, pudding snacks, fruit roll-ups, jello cups, etc. Lots of goodies for the kid. Oh and grape Gatorade too. Can't forget that!

I came home to a funny smell. I forgot I made garlic butter pasta with mussels last night. I forgot to take the trash out right away, so there is that hint of bad seafood. Thank goodness for Lysol.

Well, I am pondering between taking a quick nap or sorting laundry. Since I am off tomorrow and plan on staying up to do laundry tonight, looks like the nap is going to win this one.

later...

Rant Here, Rant There

I woke up around 7:30 this morning. For some of you, that may be sleeping in. Not for me. Sleeping in is around 9:00. Oh well. I decided to get up and make some Starbucks coffee - Pike's Roast. Yummy! It's one of my favorites. I get the whole beans and grind it fresh. It tastes great.

I am still in bathroom remodel hell. It's been slow going. I am not going to complain about the Josh's brother, but he isn't doing so great with all of this. I mean, really? Never again!

Josh hasn't been exactly motivated either. 30 minutes ago, he came downstairs while I was getting ready to blog and said he was going to get paint supplies for the bathroom. I told him I needed to take a shower and wanted to take one in an hour or so. He gave me that "look" and said he really wanted to get the entire bathroom primed before leaving for the movie today. So, while he was at the hardware store, I took a quick shower. He just got back. What is he doing? He's in the recliner, watching his sports shows. Now, what's wrong with this picture?

Anyway, we are suppose to go and see Star Trek today. We are going to the earliest show. I also have to go by American Eagle and take the kid's shorts back. They forgot to take off the security tag. He's been wearing them anyway. While I am there, I think I will buy a few more for him.

The kid starts summer camp this Monday. It's a day camp. They are bused there and back. It has lots of activities for teens and the summer can get quite boring, so off he goes. He has to take a sack lunch every day, bottled water, swimming short and a towel, spending money and everything has to be labeled. I love making sack lunches. The kid loves the sack lunches because I always put goodies in there so he can share with friends. He should have a good time this summer.

I also have about 10 loads of laundry staring at me. I plan on doing that this evening when it has cooled down outside and not so much energy has to be used. I have heard that if you do laundry and run the dishwasher after 9 p.m., it really cuts down on your energy bill. Well, who doesn't want cheaper payments? I can make that change easily. There are so many things to do when I get home from work anyway. It just makes sense to do these chores later in the evening.

Well, I guess that's enough ranting for this morning. This being on vacation stuff is great. I actually have time to post and may have more than one today! WooHoo!

later....

Vacation!!!!

I started vacation today. WooHoo! I am off until next Monday. What are my plans? Rest and relaxation, along with a trip to Omaha to visit my best friend. We are throwing a party for her daughter. She graduated from high school.

Do you remember what it was like back in high school? I do. When you come from a small town like I did, you remember lots cuz' there wasn't much to do.

A friend of my family died this week. She was mentally challenged. My sister was her house nurse. She died in her sleep. My sister took it pretty hard. There was nothing she could have done. Our friend went quietly into the night. Goodbye dear Kandis.

Exhausting

Today was exhausting. I got home around 5, crashed around 5:30, woke up around 9:30 and now I am wide awake. Holiday weeks for retail grocery stores can be so grueling. I am thankful for the job though.

I will only work half a day tomorrow and I get Monday off. This will be nice. Next weekend I start vacation. I will be off on Saturday through the next Sunday. I will work one day that week for our quarterly meeting, but that is a total easy day.

The bathroom is still incomplete. Don't get me started. I know Josh is tired of hearing me bitch about it, but his brother has not completed the job. Of course, Josh paid him already, so not sure how that is all going to work out. We were going to pay him to do our windows, but now I am not so sure I want him to do so. It's frustrating.

The kid is looking forward to camp this summer. It's basically a day camp for teens. I think he will have fun. It will get him out of the house. The only problem with that situation is the whether or not his dad will be willing to pay for it. He is suppose to pay for 29% of everything. It's not a lot, but way more than nothing. He has never paid for anything. I finally got $20 from him for his share of a doctor's visit for the kid. Nope, he's never been financially responsible and that is a problem!

Well, I am going to check in on all my favorite blogs. Surely you all posted something since Thursday. Have a great weekend!

All In One Day

I am up and at em this morning. I was going to get to work really early and thought to myself, WHY? I am not going to kill myself trying to get the impossible done.

The kid has his last vocal concert tonight. Can't wait. It should be really fun. He will be with me this weekend - Thank Goodness! We should have a great weekend.

I was off yesterday and it was totally uneventful. I slept in until 7, got up and took the kid to school. When I came back home, I played around on the computer, watched several shows I recorded on DVR, read through my Taste of Home magazine, picked up my new glasses, picked up the kid for his orthodontist appointment, came home and started cooking dinner.

I picked up my first pair of glasses! It's hard to get used to them. I only need them when I have to sit in the back of the meeting room and look at small numbers or words on the screen during meetings. I don't have to wear them all of the time. Thank goodness! I tried to wear them while I was driving yesterday and they made me dizzy with motion sickness. Ugh!

The kid will get his braces off on June 30. I think I am more excited then he is right now. Probably because he also has to have two fillings put in the two cavities the dentist found. Our dentist and orthodontist are two different guys, but they are both great!

The bathroom is still not complete. This is what happens when you rely on unreliable family to do the job. Josh's brother did not even show up yesterday. Great! The tile work needs to be made waterproof and the sink still needs to go in. I am tired of brushing my teeth in the kitchen.

Wow, I guess this enough rambling for a post. Catch you later...

Pssst!

Dinner is over here!

In A Rush

Good morning. I am getting ready to drop the kid off at school. He only has one more week and he will be done with Junior High School. I can't believe it! High school next year! I am pretty sure that will fly by also. I just got to thinking. I will still be under 40 when he graduates. WooHoo! Kind of glad about that one.

Anyway, what have you all been up to? My bathroom is nearly complete. The sink goes in today and the painting should be completed by tomorrow. The floor and shower walls have the beautiful tiles in place. I am so glad!

Well, the kid is getting anxious to get to school. Talk to you all later...

Remodel Hell

Today is the first day of remodel hell. The remodel is happening in my bathroom. So far, the tile on the walls are off and the two electrical outlets have been put in. Tomorrow, well, I am not sure what they are going to be working on tomorrow. I do know we are putting up new tile in the shower /tub area, painting the tub, putting in a new porcelain pedestal sink with Moen fixtures. We are also putting in new sheet rock, fresh paint, new floor and new window. I think the new window part may be happening tomorrow.

Anyway, I am being told they will be done by Sunday. Thank goodness. I leave town on Friday and won't be back until Sunday. Hopefully, Josh and his brother will be done. Cross your fingers.


Well, dinner is almost done. Not only am I putting up with all of the remodel crap, I am cooking dinner for the boys. How sweet am I?

We are having Italian pork chops which are seasoned with some oregano from my herb garden. We are also having garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and cream cheese corn (crock pot corn). Yep, I am loved.


Well, have a great evening!

12 Hours of Needed Sleep

Okay, so we went to dinner last night with Josh's family. I was so tired through the whole thing and didn't say much. Everyone kept saying I looked tired. Gee.... thanks.

Anyway, we got home around 6 and I went straight to bed, slept 12 hours and now I am up on the computer before heading into work. My poor kid. I went to bed so early, I didn't get to play any games with him. I am making him breakfast this morning.

Have a great week everyone!

Happy Mother's Day

It's a rainy Mother's Day. Okay by me. Slept in until 8:30, but didn't get to bed last night until 2 a.m. The reason I was up would be the gallon of iced tea I drank after the hour long nap I had around 6. Yeah, that will do it to you.

I hope all of you have a happy Mother's Day. If it weren't for each and every one of us, the holiday wouldn't be possible.

We are eating early dinner with Josh's family. Should be an interesting evening. I will update you later...

Have a great day!

Drowning Herbs

I am slightly upset this evening. I had to replant my herb garden. I left it too close to the edge of my front porch and the storm we had last night (the one I slept through and didn't hear a sound) drowned my poor herbs. The basil was a complete mess this morning and the chives are looking droopy. I cut some of the herbs down and replanted. I used some of the basil this evening to make basil mayo for our burgers. Josh did a great job grilling... thanks babe!

Hopefully the herbs will survive. If not, they can be easily replaced. I just don't like rework. I get enough of that at my job, don't want to have it at home.

How are your gardens growing?

Full Summer Ahead

I feel better today. Probably because I am off. Yesterday was a hell of a day. Too much to do. I actually am finishing up on some work at home this morning. Ugh... will it ever end?

I am going to Omaha in mid-May for a graduation. The first week in June will be my full week of vacation. I will be going back to Omaha to help out with the graduation party. I am doing all of the cooking. It's a huge menu with about 100 people coming. It will be my first big event.

Some things on the menu are:

BBQ pulled pork sliders
teriyaki beef and chicken skewers
mini bratwurst
spareribs
deviled eggs
corn salad
BBQ baked beans
collard greens
fresh fruit salad
raspberry cheesecake bites
brownies
sangria
mojitos

Many of the people visiting have southern culture in the family, so my greens and BBQ was requested. Okay by me, I love to cook! Of course, I am throwing in a little Asian flare with my spicy BBQ sauce and teriyaki skewers. It should be a great time in June.

Are any of you doing anything for summer vacation? I think we are heading up to Ohio the first week in August. I am taking Josh and the kid along with my family for about 10 days. We all want to go to Cedar Point. It's the roller coaster capital of the world. There are fanatics in my family. Not me though, I get motion sickness easily.

Well, hope you all have a great week! Happy Hump Day!

Venting Ahead

I am starting to dislike my job. Too much micro-managing going on. Can I just do my work?

Ugh... I hate working for the corporate world sometimes. Fortunately, this corporation is putting major bucks in the bank and has awesome benefits. What's a girl to do?

Complain to all of you!!!

Today we had our monthly review on sales and such. The meeting lasted 4 hours. Then, we had another meeting with our direct report for another hour and a half. We were basically told that we need to manage our time better, have a plan, blah, blah, blah....

We were also told that we could get a call from a v.p. anytime to do store visits. sigh.....

Really? Is this what it is coming down to? Me and my fellow co-workers feel as though our integrity is in question and we are feeling the pressure of micro-management. Help!!!

I am reading a book about accountability and this just irks me to the umpteenth degree. I feel like I am doing all I can and constantly ask myself what more can I do for this freaking company?

Okay, done venting now.

How was your day?

It's been a long day. Supper is ready. Spaghetti. I am going to read blogs now. Later.

Working In My "Garden"

I am a bit tired tonight. I decided to work on my vegetable "garden" today. I have decided to plant vegetables in their own individual pots. It's easier to take care of. I planted 4 tomato plants and 1 bell pepper plant, then planted an herb garden in a long box. The herbs I have selected are basil, oregano and chives. I use these quite often when I cook.

The herbs will last all year, at least that is what I am told. I still have to plant one more bell pepper plant, one Anaheim pepper plant, baby eggplant and a zucchini. I love all of these vegetables. I almost thought about other vegetables, but thought I should keep it small this year. Hope all turns out well.

If you have any advice or any suggestions, let me know.

Talk to you all later...