Admirals Hockey Game

Last night was my first ice hockey game. I was way too excited about this game. Started out my friend Jody is raising money for Relay for Life and was selling tickets. Purchased tickets for hubby and I, I've never been so thought it would be exciting. Years ago hubby would take our girls to the games when I worked on Friday nights, but I was never able to go. Anyway, tickets were purchased, Jody and I made plans for dinner and we were off. Dinner with friends, then the game. The game was not very exciting...the Admirals lost, and there were no fights! What's up with that? All I have ever heard was there are so many fights at ice hockey games, blood flying. teeth flying and lots of penalties. No blood, no teeth and only 2 penalties. The night was not a total loss, had a great dinner, with great drinks and great friends. As we left I told Jody, "I must come back to see a "real" exciting game". And I do plan on it. Happy Sunday everyone!!!

Empty Nest...

Today we moved my youngest daughter Amanda out of our house to an apartment. What an excited young lady she is....what a sad Mom and Dad that have been left behind. The day started out with a flurry of things to do....get our new ID cards, pack the truck and the two cars, get Amanda to the apartment complex by 11:00am, get the new dryer fixed and keep myself calm! ID cards done, truck and cars packed, Amanda made her appointment on time and then hubby waited for dryer guy. I took a load and when I arrived at the new apartment Amanda and her best friend Ashley were beaming with excitement! They had the keys and were just waiting to show me their newly painted two bedroom apartment 5 blocks from the oceanfront. Do you remember when you were young and had that dream to move out with your best friend and have tons of fun? Well these two girls have had this dream as long as I can remember. They had been best friends since elementary school and have always wanted to live together. Ashley has lived here at our home so much that I wanted to claim her as a dependant! And Amanda was at her home just as much! I do consider Ashley my 3rd daughter and love her as much!! So today when I saw these two with as much excitement as they had I realized that their dream has come true! How many of us can say that? We moved all their "stuff" into the apartment and of course they are on the second floor, so I did get my workout today up and down those stairs! After all the moving in, hubby and I took the girls to dinner at one of our favorite little oceanfront restaurants. Then had one more dresser to bring to the apartment. Once that was delivered and we were ready to go, I was about to lose it...but instead, gave both girls a huge hug, kissed them and told them I loved them both. As I walked out the door, the last thing I did say was, "Be sure to lock your door". The Mom in me just doesn't stop! :) The ride home was terrible...I wanted to cry, I wanted to turn around and go back, I wanted to rent the apartment next to them...but all I did was get into the truck and hubby drove me home. On the way down the interstate I said to hubby "20 yrs ago we came down this road to get our baby, and now we are going back down this road to drop her off and I don't like it one bit!" I can hardly believe it's been almost 20 years since I delivered that round faced sweet girl and now she's all grown up. It was difficult when my oldest moved out, she was the first and now with the youngest moving, well she's the last, the baby...my mini-mi... (she will laugh at that). Empty nesters we are now...what will I do with all this free time? I'm sure I'll figure out something but until then.......Good night my sweet girls, sleep tight and I love you!!!!!

Friday Night....

Tonight has turned out to be a nice relaxing night. I made spaghetti tonight for the first time in over two years. Because of food allergies, the hubby has not been able to eat many foods, but tonight we tried spaghetti and it was delish!!! As of right now two hours later, he is fine. So we are watching a movie, eating popcorn and enjoying our evening. Why am I on the computer, well not sure. Ok, so I'm done here...hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy a night with your significant other.....

My Happy Place....

"My Happy Place"

I told a friend at work today that I was going to my "Happy Place". That place you visit in your mind when things just get a bit too much. We all have those places, whether it's a beach, mountain, forest, ocean or hot tub...it's all the same for us. Some would call these moments, meditation, some would call it vegging out, some would just call it dumb. Me, well...for me it's a moment to get away from whatever is in front of me at that time. Examples of when I need a minute away....nerve plucking co-workers, screaming children or a busy day when I just need a moment to unwind. This "mini' vacation can happen anywhere...just not when you are driving down the road! So my "Happy Place"...it's on the beach, walking either at sunset or moon light, waves crashing around, a warm night....and I could be alone, walking with hubby, family or friends...but remember it's quiet...so no talking!!! Hope you too have a happy place and visit there often!

The Dress

Remember when you were a little girl and thinking about your wedding, do you remember the thought of the dress? I remember wanting the big Cinderella dress, the beautiful long white, huge gown. And when I married 28 years ago, it was totally different than I had imagined. Well daughter #1 is getting married April 2, 2011 and we are in the planning stages. She has everything planned out so far. Saturday was dress shopping day. She has tried dresses on a couple of times, but yesterday she found "The Dress". About 2 weeks ago we attended a fashion show at our local bridal shop to see new designs from a designer she has been following. As she tried dresses on, there was one that was perfect. She put the beautiful dress on, walked out and wow she was absolutely beautiful. I know that I am biased and yes I should be. :) As my daughter narrowed down her choices, she continued to go back to the one white dress that she felt like a Princess wearing. The dress was put on a second time and she wore it about 20-30 minutes around, walked, admired herself in the mirror, tried on veils, shoes, discussed hair dos, up dos, down dos and jewelry. She was so comfortable in the dress that we knew it was the one! So after our discussion ...."Are you sure this is the one?" discussion it was decided that we purchase the dress. And I did. Of course I did! My daughter was beaming with this purchase, she is so excited and so happy. The hubby and I are so excited for her. So as I walked out of the bridal shop we decided to check out other dresses and guess what? I found my dress. Yes, I did. As I put the dress on, my daughter immediately said, "Mom that is you!" And yes, it is me. I really like everything about the dress. I, too, will be purchasing my dress, soon. Now two dresses down, one more to go, (daughter#2's dress). This is such an exciting time, we are all enjoying it so much. Oh and as I told hubby about our purchase, his comment was "Don't tell me, I don't want to know!" He is too funny. He would buy the girls anything they wanted so it's a good thing I carry the checkbook!

Trip out West part 2

As our plane left Chicago it was snowing...yes more snow. Was I ever going to get out of the snow? Three hours (or so) later we arrived in San Diego. I was so glad to get off a plane and be somewhere! As I de-planed with my co-workers we were making bets that our luggage was making it's own trip...somewhere and we were right. We waited at the baggage carousel and the our bags never appeared. So to another counter we go. We all put in the paperwork and filed the claims and off to the rental car place we go. That part went uneventful, thankfully, we were so tired I don't think we could have taken much more. Next we checked into a great hotel on the beach. I opened up the door and looked right out to the waves crashing on the sand...heaven...my whole day just suddenly disappeared. What a great evening it was turning out to be. After a quick dinner and a trip to the drug store to pick up a few toiletries, sleep was calling my name. By the time I went to bed I had been up for 22 hours. No luggage, no clothes, no toiletries, but a beautiful view and no snow. The night was turning out to be great. Luckily, the next day was filled with meeting, we only had our airport clothes, which those at the meetings understood. Very productive day and when we returned to our hotel that evening, our luggage was waiting. Yes, it was there...I finally had my clothes and my hair products. That morning I had styled my hair with a blow dryer and my fingers! I did remember to carry on my makeup...if not, I would have been in a world of trouble! Over the next two days, I ate at great places, had great meetings and walks on the boardwalk...wonderful. We left to come back to the cold late on Thursday on the red-eye flight home. Uneventful on the flight home, we made all our connections, and our luggage came off the baggage carousel! The hubby was waiting at the end of the walkway as I came down and it was very good to see him. After being awake for so many hours, you just don't think straight and he was there to think for me. Thanks honey! It's always fun to go on a trip and it's always good to home back to home sweet home! Thanks to my co-workers for a great trip. Can't wait to see San Diego again!

Trip out West

This week was a very interesting week. Took a trip to San Diego for work. We, myself and two co-workers, took off at 6:15 am from Norfolk headed to Cincinnati then on to San Diego. Our drama started in Norfolk. It was very cold that day and we had to be "de-iced" before our plane could leave. We boarded the plane, the de-icing truck came by and was not working, so truck number two came by, and it wasn't working either. So now we are about 2 hours delayed and missing all our connecting flights. By this time passengers on the plane were getting very vocal and about 8-10 passengers got off the plane. I sat and watched and listened, what more could I do. At this point my stomach was starting to hurt, nerves, probably or maybe it was the fact that I had gotten up at 3:30am and had not eaten anything, I had planned breakfast in Cincinnati. The weather warmed up and we finally took off. The pilot and crew apologized numerous times. It wasn't their fault, it was the weather, truck mechanical and just ...well "stuff" happens. We arrived in a blowing, blizzard storm in Cincinnati with 3-5 inches of snow on the ground and ice. Our pilot was wonderful...he very carefully landed, no sliding, no shaking, no skidding. I just knew we would be sliding off the runway. As we walked into the terminal there were many people there and many upset people. Flights were being cancelled all over, tempers were high, and the airport workers were doing their best. We went up to the counter and proceeded to try to find a new flight. ......The drama continues....we were booked on a new airline, at a new terminal, in just 25 minutes....so we all booked down the airport hall and headed to our gate as fast as our legs could carry. One of the gentlemen that traveled with me has a difficult time moving quickly, so I walked fast to make sure to hold the plane if needed. Well as we arrived, the plane had not even boarded, they too were running behind. We finally left, in the blowing blizzard snow and we were on our way to Chicago. I made the statement...maybe I'll see Oprah while in Chicago. :) My journey to San Diego will continue in my next post.....