Summer Vacation 2010

This year we did it again, our Annual Summer Vacation with the entire family at our local beach. We've been taking a family vacation of this sort for over 25 years and this year was no different. For hubby and I it's only a 45 minute ride, for the rest of my family it's about 2 1/2 hours. We all arrive with big smiles and tons of food! If nothing else, we eat very well that week! Loads and loads of bags of food, luggage, beach chairs, floats, toys and anything else we could fit in the truck was hauled up the stairs, one by one. This year in attendance were my parents, brother, his wife and two children, sister, her hubby and two children, my youngest brother, my hubby and two daughters. So we had quite the crowd! I am so very proud that I have a family that enjoys being together, there is no fighting, no arguing and no drama. What a fun time we have. We do enjoy just hanging out on the beach or by the pool and just relaxing. Isn't that what a vacation is all about, relaxing? We did our share of it. Long walks on the beach, long runs along the beach, great seafood and long sleepful nights. This year there was even time for some basket weaving. My Mom and two Sisters did a great job! Oh and a couple highlights...got to spend time with my daughters, time with my niece and three nephews and my bro-in-law and I were the first day's Cornhole Winners! So yes it was a great vacation and I cannot wait for the next one!

Mini Working Vacation

Last week I had to go to Charleston for meetings and decided to take the hubby. The meeting was attended by three of us from my office and we brought our spouses. Charleston is such a beautiful city that I was very excited. The hubby and I left on Monday morning and drove the red Mustang. Hubby had washed, cleaned, buffed and shined the Mustang for the trip. We packed, left and drove about 7 hours to our hotel in Charleston. One of my co-workers had arrived and he, his wife and hubby and I all went to dinner at a little quaint place. The next day we were picked up by the boss man and headed to the first of three days of meetings. Our meetings went great, I met many people that I needed to meet. The evenings were met with great dinners. What a nice time that was...other than the heat, it was really cool. I was worried that the hubby would be bored, but not him, he exercised and toured the city each day. The last night there was really cool..we took a carriage ride through downtown historic Charleston, after the carriage ride, we (four of us) went to dinner at a really neat little pub. Dinner and drinks all night long, we had way too much fun! On this trip I learned a lot about my co-workers. He and his wife were so much fun. On Friday we left Charleston, my work was complete. Hubby and I drove to Myrtle Beach for a few hours then headed north. As I was looking at the map I decided we should drop by Wrightsville Beach. What a neat little area. After three hotel stops, we finally found a room. After checking in to the beautiful Holiday Inn, we changed clothes and walked to dinner. It was about a mile walk until we found this very busy seafood restaurant, after being told it would be a 45 min to 1 hour wait, we went to this great little Mexican restaurant, Tower 7. It was so busy we sat at the bar, which was really nice. We had dinner and drinks and it was delish! After dinner, a little souvenir shopping and then the hike back to the hotel. We had a really nice night. The next morning we left and headed to Swansboro to visit my favorite Marine. This retired Marine has been a good friend of ours for many years. We don't get to see him and his wife often, this was a great treat. After hanging out with them we decided to stay the night. Sunday morning it was time to come home. Our trip home was uneventful. It is always good to take a trip and it is always good to come home. Had a really nice time exploring the east coast from South Carolina to Virginia and cannot wait to do it again!

My First 5K and Happy 4th of July

Today was the day, I did it, I ran my first 5K run. It was soooo incredibly exciting! Crossing the finish line...I did it!!!! Let me back up a bit, you know I have been training for a 5K and just have not been able to actually sign up. I have searched the local races, thought I would sign up for this race or that race and just never made the commitment. Friday I was watching our local morning news channel and one of the anchors mentioned an Independence Day race benefiting the YMCA and the best part was you could sign up the day of the race. I thought a moment, OK maybe I will, maybe I won't. I still could not commit. Then I told my sister I was going to do it, well after you tell someone you have to go through with it! I would have looked like silly had I not. I told hubby and he was all for it. The hard part was going to be waking up so early, we needed to by there around 6:30am to register. Then Saturday night we attended the Tidewater Tides Baseball Game. Fun game and the Tides won, well the game didn't get over until around 10:30-11:00 pm, then a nice fireworks show, then the drive home and then trying to sleep. The anticipation was getting to me, I saw the clock hit 1:00am! My alarm went off at 5:00am and I was awake and nervous. After showering, makeup, hair, light breakfast and a few trips to the ladies room, I was ready to go. Hubby asked, "why are you doing your makeup and hair?" My reply, "Two reasons, pictures and you never know who you might see!" We drove over to the YMCA, I registered and then waited, and that was getting to me. Finally it was time to line up and get ready for the start. The gun was fired and the bunch of us started running. I remember that everything I read was to not pace yourself with everyone, you can burn your energy really quick. I kept playing that in my head, so I was the slow girl in the back for about the first mile. Then the second and third mile I was moving up the line, I kept my continued pace and kept saying, "I just want to cross the finish line!" And in 36.25 minutes I did it! I really did it! Hubby was waiting there so proud and taking pictures for me. I really am proud of myself. I have never been a runner and then a friend motivated me to start training. I put my mind to it and I did it! I told hubby on the way home, "Now I want to sign up for another one!" On my goodness, we have created a monster! And I'm loving it!!! Happy 4th of July Everyone...I am proud to be an American!

Weaving Mini-Vacation

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted...my apologies...life has been a bit crazy!! Today I am getting ready to go on a mini-vacation in the in the mountains of Virginia. I love the mountains!! I 'm taking my camera and hope to get some really good shots of the beautiful scenery. The real reason I'm headed there is to weave. Three basket cases and I are headed that way to meet up with a few other basket cases to weave for a few days. I really enjoy the company of my basket friends, they truly are the best people I know! I'll be sure to post a picture or two of my travel and creations. Have a happy, wonderful day and weekend to all!

And to my Father, my Husband and all the Fathers out there, Happy Father's Day...I love you all!

Running.....and Happy Birthday to Me!!

This morning I completed my first 5K....3.2 miles...in my neighborhood, not an official run, but official for me! Yesterday was my birthday...I turned.... (shhh, 48) can you believe it? 48...how did I get this age? It seems like yesterday that I was 18, 28 and even 38...OK so maybe the older I get the less I remember, is that it? No not really...I think age is a state of mind. I don't feel 48, but then again what does 48 feel like? I am in better shape than I have been in many years, I am running and exercising and enjoying life a bit more these days. Not worrying about the things I cannot control. Life is truly wonderful these days. One great hubby, two great daughters, a great son-in-law to be, family that I love, great friends, a great job and great boss. What more could I ask for? So I don't ask. As the new year came in this year I made a goal for myself to run a 5K...today that happened...now I'm going to sign up for an official race and do it...or should I say run it! I'm so excited....I have never been the athletic one, oh I cheered, but back when I cheered, we were the pretty ones, not the athletic ones like the young ladies today. I have taken exercise classes over the years and worked out here and there...but never committed to something...finally it sunk in...not sure why...is it that I'm more mature now and accept the challenge? Hmmmm...not sure...but I do love it and enjoy the time out there on the pavement. A friend at work is running and he and I compare stories about our aches, pains, our runs, our times...it's nice to have someone to discuss this with. He's training for a marathon, me just a 5K...but to me a 5K will be a marathon....and can't wait...gonna research it now and sign myself up. So get out there, make a goal for yourself and do it...just do it.
And Happy Birthday to Me!!! I am loving this life!!!

Flower Gardens.....

Saturday was a wonderful weather day and I took complete advantage of it. Stayed out in the yard, cleaning out the flower beds. The winter has been very tough on my flowers this year. With a couple floods and the snowy weather, they were a complete mess. So yesterday was the day. I was on my hands and knees pulling weeds for most of the morning. By noon my flower gardens were look quite pretty. A trip to Lowe's for dirt, mulch and a few more flowers (which I couldn't resist)will complete the package. OH and by the way, don't tell hubby how much I spent at Lowe's, please. :) Today is our monthly basket guild meeting, I really thought about skipping it and spending the day in the dirt, but.......the Pres called and said she might need to leave early, so as your Vice Pres, I must take on that duty....I think I still have an hour or two to play in the dirt and then just enough time to "make it to the church on time" haha. Have a great Sunday all and I'll post a few pics of my flower gardens when they are finally done.

Fridays.....

Friday...don't you just love them? The anticipation of the weekend, a day off, the jam packed day of errands and just hanging around. Fridays is one of my favorite days. When you are working on Friday that feeling of ok, it's the last day at work and when I get to go home...awww two days off. Now when you take Friday off...wow the weekend just gets better and better. I work for a company that has an alternate work schedule, every other Friday we have off. And you would be amazed how wonderful it has turned out to be! I schedule so many things on that day. Then on Saturday and Sunday I can play! Right now my flower beds are in need of major attention, so my plan is to tackle them this weekend. I am getting all my running around and cleaning done today and then tomorrow and Sunday play in the yard. We will see if my plan can be executed correctly. But you know I must be flexible, because something will come up and then plans will be changed! Have a great day all my friends and hope to see you outside this weekend! Oh and call me if plans change! :)