September 16 was Mexico's Independence Day. I know this because 18 years ago I was in Cancun with my friends sitting in Senor Frogs. All of the bars were filled to the gills with locals watching El Presidente on TV give a speech. At the end he declared VIVA MEXICO and the crowds erupted with their own VIVA MEXICO!!! We could hear people on the streets cheering. It was crazy. Fun, but crazy.
Two days later we returned home. It could have been Montezuma's Revenge, but it started to sneak into my mind the possibility that, um, maybe, seven years after my last child that I could possibly be pregnant.
That little guy in my header walking on the beach in Destin Florida was my Montezuma's Revenge. It makes me a little weepy to see him so little. He's a senior this year, working, contemplating college, tall enough to touch the ceiling, strong enough to lift big heavy things, mature enough to understand, compassionate enough to care... sigh... none of that matters, though. He will eternally be that little boy walking on the beach in my eyes.
18 years ago was one of the coolest vacations I ever had and it was the turning point of a major life change.
¡VIVA MÉXICO!
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Friday, August 10, 2012
Friday August 10, 2012
I made a promise of sorts at the beginning of the summer to commit more time to blogging. Well, life has definitely gotten in the way over the past few weeks.
There is a whole lot that I can't or shouldn't discuss publicly, and that just kills me. I like this venue to chronicle my life and discuss what's going on. It's a healthy means to work out details. The key, however, is to know what to publish and what to keep quiet. All of that said, I'm doing good, my family is happy and healthy, and the heat wave has broken (woohoo!)
There is a whole lot that I can't or shouldn't discuss publicly, and that just kills me. I like this venue to chronicle my life and discuss what's going on. It's a healthy means to work out details. The key, however, is to know what to publish and what to keep quiet. All of that said, I'm doing good, my family is happy and healthy, and the heat wave has broken (woohoo!)
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Punishment of a Day Off
I have a theory that however many days you were off work it will take twice as many to catch up. So, if you take a week from work it will take two more to get back to normal.
Think about it. I'm right.
It is with trepidation that I plan to take a few days off next week. I know the Hell I will be facing when I return. It's not like they hire Peggy from Account Temps to fill in while I'm gone. Nope, they pile it all up and wait until I come back.
And the curse of the IT department everywhere is that even when you're gone you still get panic calls. I always felt sorry for my supervisors when I had to be the person making that panic call. With my predesseor it seemed like every time he was 24 hours out of town one of the servers would crash. EVERY. DAMN. TIME.
Turns out those stupid machines have latched their affections onto me so now when I leave everything falls to shit.
I should feel honored or something.
It's like having a sick kid at home. At some point you're going to wake up to a vomit soaked munchkin and will spend the next hour restraining your own gag reflex to mop the bathroom, change sheets and hose down the sick kid. You don't look forward to it, you sure as hell don't enjoy it, but it's just part of the job.
In fact, I would much rather deal with random server-is-down panic calls than a sick kid ANY DAY.
Now the return to work and trying to catch up while getting my bearings and suffering a little post-vacation depression? I might consider a round with a sick kid as a trade off.
Think about it. I'm right.
It is with trepidation that I plan to take a few days off next week. I know the Hell I will be facing when I return. It's not like they hire Peggy from Account Temps to fill in while I'm gone. Nope, they pile it all up and wait until I come back.
And the curse of the IT department everywhere is that even when you're gone you still get panic calls. I always felt sorry for my supervisors when I had to be the person making that panic call. With my predesseor it seemed like every time he was 24 hours out of town one of the servers would crash. EVERY. DAMN. TIME.
Turns out those stupid machines have latched their affections onto me so now when I leave everything falls to shit.
I should feel honored or something.
It's like having a sick kid at home. At some point you're going to wake up to a vomit soaked munchkin and will spend the next hour restraining your own gag reflex to mop the bathroom, change sheets and hose down the sick kid. You don't look forward to it, you sure as hell don't enjoy it, but it's just part of the job.
In fact, I would much rather deal with random server-is-down panic calls than a sick kid ANY DAY.
Now the return to work and trying to catch up while getting my bearings and suffering a little post-vacation depression? I might consider a round with a sick kid as a trade off.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I'm BAAAACCCKKKK
Blogcation is over.
Did you miss me? I definitely missed you. Something would happen and I would think "damn this would be a good blog topic" and then forget it ten minutes later. I don't regret taking the time off. My poor little brain was so pooped from everything all going on at the same time. I was still surfing the internet but I spent my time playing Words With Friends and posting on Pinterest. That was about all I could muster.
So, like taking vacation from work it takes a bit to get back into the groove. I'll try to keep posting, even little blips like this.
I'm here.
I'll start visiting again.
Did you miss me? I definitely missed you. Something would happen and I would think "damn this would be a good blog topic" and then forget it ten minutes later. I don't regret taking the time off. My poor little brain was so pooped from everything all going on at the same time. I was still surfing the internet but I spent my time playing Words With Friends and posting on Pinterest. That was about all I could muster.
So, like taking vacation from work it takes a bit to get back into the groove. I'll try to keep posting, even little blips like this.
I'm here.
I'll start visiting again.
Friday, August 05, 2011
Friday Fragments - August 5, 2011
I took some time off work and somehow that translated into a vacation away from the Blogosphere. Did you miss me??? On the upside I have all sorts of stuff to share!
Last Thursday was my birthday. I decided to share the day with my mom and daughter, all three of us Majority Members of Job's Daughters International. It happened that Job's Daughters was holding their Supreme Session, their annual international conference, in downtown St. Louis. So my plan was to take off work and sit in on the Supreme Bethel meeting at 7:30 am and then come back that night for the Miss International Job's Daughter pageant.
IT WAS FABULOUS!
Okay, it was boring and we each knocked out several sheets of a sudoku puzzle book I brought along. My mom said afterward she was glad she got to attend. Some people travel to these meetings every year, but for most of us it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Actually this is my second session as I went to one in Indianapolis in 1983. The three of us stood with a room full of both active and majority members, renewing the obligation we took at initiation. The words came easily and it was meaningful.
Every Job's Daughter meeting concludes with a closing formation, frequently a cross although other options are available, and singing Nearer My God To Thee.
We had lunch at Crown Candy - this time I got a picture of the bigass BLT they make.
Isn't that HUGE? My mom scraped about half of the bacon off and took it home for breakfast and lunch the next day.
Here are the three of us getting ready to watch the pageant.
Tuesday we gathered at my son's sandwich shop (did you know my son is a business owner??? Quite proud). My college roommate was in town and met up with us. She and I need a lot more time together but squeezing out a little time for lunch was wonderful. Her mom is very sick and not doing well (end stages of Parkenson's) so Vicki is spending most of her time at the care center. Please keep Vicki and Virginia in your prayers.
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Last Thursday was my birthday. I decided to share the day with my mom and daughter, all three of us Majority Members of Job's Daughters International. It happened that Job's Daughters was holding their Supreme Session, their annual international conference, in downtown St. Louis. So my plan was to take off work and sit in on the Supreme Bethel meeting at 7:30 am and then come back that night for the Miss International Job's Daughter pageant.
IT WAS FABULOUS!
Okay, it was boring and we each knocked out several sheets of a sudoku puzzle book I brought along. My mom said afterward she was glad she got to attend. Some people travel to these meetings every year, but for most of us it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Actually this is my second session as I went to one in Indianapolis in 1983. The three of us stood with a room full of both active and majority members, renewing the obligation we took at initiation. The words came easily and it was meaningful.
Every Job's Daughter meeting concludes with a closing formation, frequently a cross although other options are available, and singing Nearer My God To Thee.
We had lunch at Crown Candy - this time I got a picture of the bigass BLT they make.
Here are the three of us getting ready to watch the pageant.
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Monday was spent tooling around the house and playing with quilts. I need about 30 more days like that. I might get my recipe cards sorted out, the bathroom scrubbed, the basement rearranged and several Christmas gifts made. Oh well, one day was enough to get me back on track and itching to sit at my sewing machine.◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
Tuesday we gathered at my son's sandwich shop (did you know my son is a business owner??? Quite proud). My college roommate was in town and met up with us. She and I need a lot more time together but squeezing out a little time for lunch was wonderful. Her mom is very sick and not doing well (end stages of Parkenson's) so Vicki is spending most of her time at the care center. Please keep Vicki and Virginia in your prayers.
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GRANDBABY IS DUE!!!! At some point in the next 72 hours I will be a grandmother. Induction has been scheduled for Monday, but bets are on anytime this weekend. If I was smart I would compile my Sunday post now because I'm pretty sure I'm going to be busy. YIPPEEEE!!!!
And yes, I will be posting all sorts of bragging grandma pictures.
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Make sure you check out everyone sharing their fragments!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Mental Health Day
No, I'm not talking about some nationally recognized day to observe something special. I'm talking about a day OFF.
I do this frequently, but my spousal unit does not seem to understand the concept. He is greedy and thinks it's a day devoted to him.
Uh no.
For someone whose job is devoted to taking care of other people a true vacation is one where she does not have to take care of anyone else but herself. That includes having a conversation. Sweet hell, all I do everyday is talk to people so what I'm looking for is a little peace and quiet and a whole lot of NOTHING.
Well, my husband and I finally came to an understanding. It took a lot of huffing and puffing and steam rolling out of my ears, but he heard me. At last. This time I took TWO days off, one to devote to him and one to devote to me. Sound fair?
Lots of people seem mystified by the whole notion of taking off for the sheer joy of being away from work. To take a little PTO for a reason other than to run errands and doctor appointments. Vacations don't always have to be scheduled out of town or to visit anyone or to do anything special. TIME OFF.
It's not a luxury everyone can enjoy. When I had younger kids all off my time away from work was devoted to doctor visits and errands. My time off was centered around them. Today that's not necessary and I have a very generous leave package to boot.
Many of the same people who look mystified by my taking a day off for the sheer joy of it are also the ones who work through lunch and never walk outside for a smoke break. I don't smoke, but I do take a few minutes everyday to sit outside and breathe fresh air and allow the sun to shine on my face.
I think all of this makes me a more efficient worker. Whether I'm stepping away from my desk for a few minutes for a few days, I come back energized and more able to focus on the task at hand. Now as to what I plan to do for my self-imposed four day weekend? Not a damn thing. I'm recharging. There ought to be a day where I sleep in. The weather today is GLORIOUS so I might find a pretty park and do lunch with the birds. If I were really up to the challenge I would head to Dog Town for the St. Pat's parade today, but I doubt that will happen.
I do this frequently, but my spousal unit does not seem to understand the concept. He is greedy and thinks it's a day devoted to him.
Uh no.
For someone whose job is devoted to taking care of other people a true vacation is one where she does not have to take care of anyone else but herself. That includes having a conversation. Sweet hell, all I do everyday is talk to people so what I'm looking for is a little peace and quiet and a whole lot of NOTHING.
Well, my husband and I finally came to an understanding. It took a lot of huffing and puffing and steam rolling out of my ears, but he heard me. At last. This time I took TWO days off, one to devote to him and one to devote to me. Sound fair?
Lots of people seem mystified by the whole notion of taking off for the sheer joy of being away from work. To take a little PTO for a reason other than to run errands and doctor appointments. Vacations don't always have to be scheduled out of town or to visit anyone or to do anything special. TIME OFF.
It's not a luxury everyone can enjoy. When I had younger kids all off my time away from work was devoted to doctor visits and errands. My time off was centered around them. Today that's not necessary and I have a very generous leave package to boot.
Many of the same people who look mystified by my taking a day off for the sheer joy of it are also the ones who work through lunch and never walk outside for a smoke break. I don't smoke, but I do take a few minutes everyday to sit outside and breathe fresh air and allow the sun to shine on my face.
I think all of this makes me a more efficient worker. Whether I'm stepping away from my desk for a few minutes for a few days, I come back energized and more able to focus on the task at hand. Now as to what I plan to do for my self-imposed four day weekend? Not a damn thing. I'm recharging. There ought to be a day where I sleep in. The weather today is GLORIOUS so I might find a pretty park and do lunch with the birds. If I were really up to the challenge I would head to Dog Town for the St. Pat's parade today, but I doubt that will happen.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Sunday In My City - August 1, 2010
Last weekend we were at the Lake of the Ozarks - an annual trip we make, staying at the vacation home of a friend's family.
We took a different route to the lake this year, the old one, driving across Bagnell Dam. My picture doesn't do it justice. It's an old 1930's WPA project. It's ornate and beautiful. Yet every time I come to the lake I can't help but think about the end of O' Brother Where Art Thou, the families who gave up their land so the government could flood the valley. glub glub.
Even though this is a fairly busy house with regular visitors every weekend, we still have to knock down spider webs and sweep out dead centipedes.
We tend to come to the lake on Thursday night or early on Friday to allow for two full days out on the water, but this year no one had enough vacation time to allow taking days off work so we all arrived on Friday night, sitting around on the porch catching up with our surprise guests from Illinois.
The next morning we made a proper breakfast of bacon and eggs and rushed around to prepare for the water. We made our special jungle juice, a recipe that varies from year to year depending on who does the grocery shopping, but basically it's a combination of fruit juice and gin. From there on out it's a matter of getting to the cove, dropping anchor and then RELAX
Best friends working hard to keep our cups above the waterline (we're sitting on WetBuns, makes that whole drinking thing in the water MUCH easier)
Look how gorgeous and serene this is
A few short hours later a big ugly black cloud arrived and blew the chairs off the porch and rained and rained and rained all night long. I'm glad the storm waited - I really needed this weekend.
Check out everyone else sharing their city:
We took a different route to the lake this year, the old one, driving across Bagnell Dam. My picture doesn't do it justice. It's an old 1930's WPA project. It's ornate and beautiful. Yet every time I come to the lake I can't help but think about the end of O' Brother Where Art Thou, the families who gave up their land so the government could flood the valley. glub glub.
Even though this is a fairly busy house with regular visitors every weekend, we still have to knock down spider webs and sweep out dead centipedes.
We tend to come to the lake on Thursday night or early on Friday to allow for two full days out on the water, but this year no one had enough vacation time to allow taking days off work so we all arrived on Friday night, sitting around on the porch catching up with our surprise guests from Illinois.
The next morning we made a proper breakfast of bacon and eggs and rushed around to prepare for the water. We made our special jungle juice, a recipe that varies from year to year depending on who does the grocery shopping, but basically it's a combination of fruit juice and gin. From there on out it's a matter of getting to the cove, dropping anchor and then RELAX
(yes, I managed to lose my sunglasses when I jumped in)
Best friends working hard to keep our cups above the waterline (we're sitting on WetBuns, makes that whole drinking thing in the water MUCH easier)
Look how gorgeous and serene this is
A few short hours later a big ugly black cloud arrived and blew the chairs off the porch and rained and rained and rained all night long. I'm glad the storm waited - I really needed this weekend.
Check out everyone else sharing their city:
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday Fragments - July 30, 2010
Yay! Time for Friday Fragments when we get to share all the pieces of our lives.
*Birthday Month has come to an end. My Birthday Party Blog Hop was a tremendous failure. NOBODY participated. BOO! On the upside, I figured out how to set up a blog hop AND I'm not defeated. There will be more. I have an idea for a regular one, so we'll see.
*Last weekend was the Friend's Trip to the lake. It did not fail to deliver and as always I came home relaxed - the whole goal of a good vacation. There's just something to sitting in the water to erase all of your tension. Or maybe it's laughing your ass off. Whatever, it works. Also, like every year, I came home with a rash. I swear it's a mild form of poison ivy and everyone asks if maybe it's something I pick up in the gross lake water. Well, no, it's always on the back of my upper thighs, sometimes with a distinct line where my swimsuit sits. This year I also had it on my back just above my swim suit. The best I can figure there's a weak amount of poison ivy oils on one of the seats on the boat because it is very much restricted to areas where I sit and shows up almost immediately after a boat ride. Fortunately it doesn't spread and it's not very severe. In the future I hope I remember to sit on a towel.
*With work and the lake weekend I haven't yet visited the kids in their new house. I'm hoping to make a trip out there this weekend. I'm very excited to see how they've transformed the house from Granny's into their own (my two oldest and their significant others have moved into my former MIL's house). This is a very solid move into adulthood and I'm sure they'll make it a successful living arrangement.
*My grandma is also moving - into the memory care unit. Grandma's dementia is getting progressively worse. My mom has been losing a lot of sleep worrying about her mother so hopefully this will help. Now we have to worry how she will accept living a roommate. All bets are on "not at all". She is a very paranoid little woman convinced everyone is out to steal her stuff - and that was before the dementia kicked in. She has chased nurses out of her room with her cane and does everything she can to lock her door almost to the point of being a fire hazard. Getting a roommate is going to be interesting.
*For my birthday the coworkers went all out and completely blocked my desk. It took nearly a half hour to clear away the crap just so I could sit down! I'm slowly moving the rest of it away. They also took me out to Qdoba for lunch - YUM. Then hubby and my mom took me out for dinner - another YUM. It was a very nice day - YAY!
*I can't believe school is starting in just a few weeks! We have doctor appointments and shopping to get in next week. But first I think I'm going to take care of a little ME shopping. I cannot express how much I adore Kohl's with their coupon weekends and Kohl's Cash. Add that to a giftcard from my mom - WOO HOO!
*Birthday Month has come to an end. My Birthday Party Blog Hop was a tremendous failure. NOBODY participated. BOO! On the upside, I figured out how to set up a blog hop AND I'm not defeated. There will be more. I have an idea for a regular one, so we'll see.
*Last weekend was the Friend's Trip to the lake. It did not fail to deliver and as always I came home relaxed - the whole goal of a good vacation. There's just something to sitting in the water to erase all of your tension. Or maybe it's laughing your ass off. Whatever, it works. Also, like every year, I came home with a rash. I swear it's a mild form of poison ivy and everyone asks if maybe it's something I pick up in the gross lake water. Well, no, it's always on the back of my upper thighs, sometimes with a distinct line where my swimsuit sits. This year I also had it on my back just above my swim suit. The best I can figure there's a weak amount of poison ivy oils on one of the seats on the boat because it is very much restricted to areas where I sit and shows up almost immediately after a boat ride. Fortunately it doesn't spread and it's not very severe. In the future I hope I remember to sit on a towel.
*With work and the lake weekend I haven't yet visited the kids in their new house. I'm hoping to make a trip out there this weekend. I'm very excited to see how they've transformed the house from Granny's into their own (my two oldest and their significant others have moved into my former MIL's house). This is a very solid move into adulthood and I'm sure they'll make it a successful living arrangement.
*My grandma is also moving - into the memory care unit. Grandma's dementia is getting progressively worse. My mom has been losing a lot of sleep worrying about her mother so hopefully this will help. Now we have to worry how she will accept living a roommate. All bets are on "not at all". She is a very paranoid little woman convinced everyone is out to steal her stuff - and that was before the dementia kicked in. She has chased nurses out of her room with her cane and does everything she can to lock her door almost to the point of being a fire hazard. Getting a roommate is going to be interesting.
*For my birthday the coworkers went all out and completely blocked my desk. It took nearly a half hour to clear away the crap just so I could sit down! I'm slowly moving the rest of it away. They also took me out to Qdoba for lunch - YUM. Then hubby and my mom took me out for dinner - another YUM. It was a very nice day - YAY!
*I can't believe school is starting in just a few weeks! We have doctor appointments and shopping to get in next week. But first I think I'm going to take care of a little ME shopping. I cannot express how much I adore Kohl's with their coupon weekends and Kohl's Cash. Add that to a giftcard from my mom - WOO HOO!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday Fragments - July 23, 2010
Yippee! It's Friday Fragment time! What are the bits and pieces of your world?
*It's Birthday Month. Have you gathered up your pictures for Wednesday's Bigass Birthday Party Bloghop? You can do a montage of birthdays or highlight your children or pick on your siblings (isn't that STILL a blast?) or you can be a complete attention whore like this Leo and make it allllllllllll about yourself. Be creative and have fun. But do not miss out, I want everyone here and having fun. Got it?
*We're headed to the Lake of the Ozarks this afternoon. So far the cooler is packed with beer and vodka and my suitcase has flipflops. That's it. Last night I pulled out my swimsuit, but it's still sitting on my dresser. Looks like I have my priorities for the weekend straight, don't you think? If I have any decent pictures I'll post them next weekend.
*More from the land of "I never" - I NEVER EVER thought I would be a calorie counter. I'm the daughter of a professional dieter and there is a whole set of issues related with that which is worthy of an entire blog to itself. In other words I'm the anti-dieter. Then earlier this week someone pointed out this cool site that's FREE (hello, I'm alllllllll about the free stuff) that tracks your food and activity. I really like this site. I still don't consider myself counting calories basically because this site does all of the work. It also breaks down all of your other nutritional needs. So far my meals have been low in cholesterol (awesome) and one meal was high in calcium (but not overall, so I need to supplement). Because I know I have to chart everything, it's sort of making me accountable and I'm avoiding some bad food choices when my afternoon munchies kick in. But I'm not dieting, do you hear me?
Okay, I'm keeping this short so I can get ready for this weekend. Y'all be good while I'm away. Keep it cool during this heatwave - my butt will be bobbing in the lake trying not to scorch my delicate skin. Check out everyone else's Friday Fragments:
For more fun, join the Crazy Brunette Chick in her Friday insanity. Like the name implies, she's bold, so only join up if you can strictly follow the rules
*It's Birthday Month. Have you gathered up your pictures for Wednesday's Bigass Birthday Party Bloghop? You can do a montage of birthdays or highlight your children or pick on your siblings (isn't that STILL a blast?) or you can be a complete attention whore like this Leo and make it allllllllllll about yourself. Be creative and have fun. But do not miss out, I want everyone here and having fun. Got it?
*We're headed to the Lake of the Ozarks this afternoon. So far the cooler is packed with beer and vodka and my suitcase has flipflops. That's it. Last night I pulled out my swimsuit, but it's still sitting on my dresser. Looks like I have my priorities for the weekend straight, don't you think? If I have any decent pictures I'll post them next weekend.
*More from the land of "I never" - I NEVER EVER thought I would be a calorie counter. I'm the daughter of a professional dieter and there is a whole set of issues related with that which is worthy of an entire blog to itself. In other words I'm the anti-dieter. Then earlier this week someone pointed out this cool site that's FREE (hello, I'm alllllllll about the free stuff) that tracks your food and activity. I really like this site. I still don't consider myself counting calories basically because this site does all of the work. It also breaks down all of your other nutritional needs. So far my meals have been low in cholesterol (awesome) and one meal was high in calcium (but not overall, so I need to supplement). Because I know I have to chart everything, it's sort of making me accountable and I'm avoiding some bad food choices when my afternoon munchies kick in. But I'm not dieting, do you hear me?
Okay, I'm keeping this short so I can get ready for this weekend. Y'all be good while I'm away. Keep it cool during this heatwave - my butt will be bobbing in the lake trying not to scorch my delicate skin. Check out everyone else's Friday Fragments:
For more fun, join the Crazy Brunette Chick in her Friday insanity. Like the name implies, she's bold, so only join up if you can strictly follow the rules
Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday Fragments - June 18, 2010
Oh so much to catch up since last Friday...
*Sitting at work on Friday I pulled up my Facebook page with a friend request from my step-sister! I've been searching for her for several years. Friday night we had a wonderful phone call. So wonderful. Now we'll have to figure out a way to visit.
*On Sunday my mom and I headed to Kansas City for a little genealogy research. Due to a set of last minute circumstances I ended up bringing my thirteen year old along for the trip. I was fully expecting my research time to be hindered by a kid bored out of his wits. OH MY GOD! He was a perfect angel. Not only was he quiet and not pacing, he actually participated in the search. He did a little gopher work for the other people in our group, but he spent most of his time with his own family worksheets filling out a tree based on my sheets. Then he rolled up his sleeves and started real research. In his father's line is a relation to President James Buchanan (I think it's through the President's brother). Ian found an 1860 census of the President in the White House so it delineated the other occupants such as servants that lived there. I thought that was pretty damn cool. He also found some discrepancies in my work, the little shit.
On Monday we spent all day (9am to 9pm) at the new Midwest Genealogy Library.
In return for sitting through an entire day at the library with his mother and grandmother, we let him loose in the hotel pool.
On Tuesday we went to the National Archives
What a hidden gem! There are 16 regional archive centers housing federal documents relative to that region. The historian in me was nearly hyperventilating - primary documents right there! AND IT'S FREE! They gave our group a little tour, even taking us into one of document storage facilities. Yes, behind us are real live files. SO COOL. Each of the facilities host traveling exhibits. While we were there they were dismantling "Deadly Medicine" about the Nazi medical experiments. We did, however, get to tour the Levenworth Prison display.
I can see returning to the facility when I am more prepared with specific searches. I didn't really get anything special as a result of this trip other than some dedicated time to focus solely on research, but it was online research that I can easily do at home. This trip was my first ever with any genealogy group so I kept my expectations low, just getting a feel for what types of things I would need to know for future trips. I'm glad I got to go and, better yet, Ian had a good time and has a very solid interest in research.
*My desk fiasco from last week is possibly working out to a satisfying solution. I spent Friday settling into the cubicle at least giving it a chance. I pulled the office manager to my space and showed her how much space I lost as a result of the new furniture. By that time the whining had subsided and I was able to communicate how this would impact my job performance. I left it open ended, but I knew to sit quiet was doing ME a disservice. When I returned from Kansas City I talked to my supervisor and we formulated a couple of options to present the office manager as a way to solve my work space issues. One of the options was openly accepted as the best possible compromise. It looks like I should be packing my stuff again. While I'm still sad over the loss of my favorite table in the entire world, this is a very doable solution. YAY!
*Yesterday was my older son's 21st birthday. The last three days have been devoted to him, so pull it up and join the celebration. He was supposed to join us for dinner yesterday, but it looks like lunchtime celebrations with his friends extended later into the day than he expected. That's okay, he can have special mom-time next week.
Check out everyone else playing in Mrs. 4444's Friday Fragments:
Monday, May 31, 2010
The Lakehouse
We have regular accommodations at The Lake of The Ozarks through Ripcord. Her parents own a house right on the lake. They bought it back in the 1970's with another couple. The various family members reserve the house for their selected weekends. She opens the house to us drunks for an adult weekend right around my (and her) birthday.
The house is decorated from bits and pieces tossed out from homes redecorated thirty years ago. There is a strong 1970's theme throughout. Slowly it's progressing to the 1980's. And yes, the upstairs is carpeted in orange shag.
The closets and dressers are filled with lost and forgotten clothing - perfect for Mix Master's rendition of Young Frankenstein one night. Oh yes, the entertainment is non-stop. Like most of our parties, the height of the night is the Solid Gold dance hour. I'm sure the neighbors love when we pull into town with our 2am dance parties.
While we have endured a few rainy weekends, stranded watching Godfather marathons on a crappy TV, the focus for our adult weekends is DRINKING. Full-on, no holds barred, no-one-needs-to-be-anywhere-the-next-morning, no designated drivers needed drinking. You can already hear our livers screaming for mercy as we start to plan Adult Weekend 2010.
The goal is to putter the pontoon boat out to a small cove, drop anchor, and bob in the water sitting on our WetBuns sipping jungle juice. "Jungle Juice" is an ever-changing concoction of fruit juice, clear liquor and sliced fruit. Our earlier versions leaned more to the grape flavor, but more recently we've been using V8's fruit punch and rum. It's mixed into a large insulated jug with a spigot that's kept on the boat and we load it into smaller (but still rather large) drinking jugs.
It's time to pull up the anchor, head back to the house and prepare dinner when we run out of jungle juice... duh! And this is when the party kicks in - loud and silly. This is when Mix Master K pulls out a velvet robe and declares it his smoking jacket as he starts to strut singing Puttin' on the Ritz. The Husband finds our stories old and multi-times retold, but this is when we tell them yet again. And we laugh over and over again.
For after-dinner drinks we've taken to making Dog Bowl. The Nanny bought us an honest-to-God dog bowl (the largest she could possibly find) for us to make this delicacy - lemon-lime soda, vodka, ice, and sliced lemons and limes. It is a group drink that you sip and pass to your neighbor.
At some point the party melts away as people make their way to bed (or the couch). Early risers make breakfast and clean up the night before.
On Sunday (sometimes Monday) morning we clean up our mess, wash the linen, pack up and head home, sunburnt, hung-over, exhausted, and ready to do it all over again.
The house is decorated from bits and pieces tossed out from homes redecorated thirty years ago. There is a strong 1970's theme throughout. Slowly it's progressing to the 1980's. And yes, the upstairs is carpeted in orange shag.
The closets and dressers are filled with lost and forgotten clothing - perfect for Mix Master's rendition of Young Frankenstein one night. Oh yes, the entertainment is non-stop. Like most of our parties, the height of the night is the Solid Gold dance hour. I'm sure the neighbors love when we pull into town with our 2am dance parties.
While we have endured a few rainy weekends, stranded watching Godfather marathons on a crappy TV, the focus for our adult weekends is DRINKING. Full-on, no holds barred, no-one-needs-to-be-anywhere-the-next-morning, no designated drivers needed drinking. You can already hear our livers screaming for mercy as we start to plan Adult Weekend 2010.
The goal is to putter the pontoon boat out to a small cove, drop anchor, and bob in the water sitting on our WetBuns sipping jungle juice. "Jungle Juice" is an ever-changing concoction of fruit juice, clear liquor and sliced fruit. Our earlier versions leaned more to the grape flavor, but more recently we've been using V8's fruit punch and rum. It's mixed into a large insulated jug with a spigot that's kept on the boat and we load it into smaller (but still rather large) drinking jugs.
Jungle Juice jug on the left - drinking jug on the right
It's time to pull up the anchor, head back to the house and prepare dinner when we run out of jungle juice... duh! And this is when the party kicks in - loud and silly. This is when Mix Master K pulls out a velvet robe and declares it his smoking jacket as he starts to strut singing Puttin' on the Ritz. The Husband finds our stories old and multi-times retold, but this is when we tell them yet again. And we laugh over and over again.
The Nanny missed a step disembarking from the boat - WHEW, she was okay
For after-dinner drinks we've taken to making Dog Bowl. The Nanny bought us an honest-to-God dog bowl (the largest she could possibly find) for us to make this delicacy - lemon-lime soda, vodka, ice, and sliced lemons and limes. It is a group drink that you sip and pass to your neighbor.
At some point the party melts away as people make their way to bed (or the couch). Early risers make breakfast and clean up the night before.
On Sunday (sometimes Monday) morning we clean up our mess, wash the linen, pack up and head home, sunburnt, hung-over, exhausted, and ready to do it all over again.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sunday In My City - May 30, 2010
Sundays In My City is so much fun to participate in, capturing glimpses from all over the world. Today I'm highlighting a Sunday from several years ago, in Florida.
On this trip I was using a friend's digital camera and caught a serious case of shutterbug. I was very excited to see the results and haven't stopped taking pictures since.
This is by far my most favorite picture. On my first day there I was paranoid about carrying the camera to the beach so I had it in a ziplock bag. All of the shots had a hazy hue to them.
That's it for my Florida pictures! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did reliving it. I have a few more trips I can highlight so come back and see what I come up with.
On this trip I was using a friend's digital camera and caught a serious case of shutterbug. I was very excited to see the results and haven't stopped taking pictures since.
This is by far my most favorite picture. On my first day there I was paranoid about carrying the camera to the beach so I had it in a ziplock bag. All of the shots had a hazy hue to them.
That's it for my Florida pictures! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did reliving it. I have a few more trips I can highlight so come back and see what I come up with.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Florida - The Kids
The awesome thing about hanging out with my friends is that all of our kids get along. Really well. And while the adults turn most every gathering into a drinking event, this outing was a family vacation. Honestly, it was all about the kids.
This picture is posted specifically for Kelly who commented yesterday. It was from the first Florida trip on the way home. The group of kids may get along well, but the siblings sometimes have issues. There is some wisdom in traveling with the kids separately. I was on the verge of smacking a couple of pissy boys upside the head with their bitching and bellyaching but then I turned around and saw their sourpuss faces and just had to take a picture.
We just didn't have big blow ups between the kids on either trip and I think a lot of that had to do with having plenty of space to spread out. They also broke up into different groupings at various times. Sometimes it was the girls one direction and the boys another. Other times it was the big kids escaping the little kids. The parents took turns escorting kids to the pool or to the beach - again in different groupings depending on the day, time or mood.
The boys bonded... frequently. There were several wrestling matches.
The siblings had a few go arounds. Amanda and Keith were smacking the shit out of each other in the pool
But like I said, overall they all got along very well
This picture is posted specifically for Kelly who commented yesterday. It was from the first Florida trip on the way home. The group of kids may get along well, but the siblings sometimes have issues. There is some wisdom in traveling with the kids separately. I was on the verge of smacking a couple of pissy boys upside the head with their bitching and bellyaching but then I turned around and saw their sourpuss faces and just had to take a picture.
We just didn't have big blow ups between the kids on either trip and I think a lot of that had to do with having plenty of space to spread out. They also broke up into different groupings at various times. Sometimes it was the girls one direction and the boys another. Other times it was the big kids escaping the little kids. The parents took turns escorting kids to the pool or to the beach - again in different groupings depending on the day, time or mood.
The boys bonded... frequently. There were several wrestling matches.
The siblings had a few go arounds. Amanda and Keith were smacking the shit out of each other in the pool
But like I said, overall they all got along very well
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Florida - Playing In The Sand
First, I may have the name of the town wrong. I hate how I screw up names. I thought it was Sea Grove, but when I look at the map we might actually have been in Seaside. Whatever. It's Florida. On the beach. That's all that matters.
When pilfering through my vacation pictures one very common theme on this trip was playing in the sand. What I don't have a picture of is the sand creation I did one night after a few dozen cocktails. It was quite obscene and remnants were still visible (if you squinted) the next morning. I'm sure the daytime visitors were shaking their heads in disgust at the stupidity of unruly teenagers left roaming the beaches at night. So I acted all offended too. Damn drunken teenagers.
Nighttime walks along the beach were mandatory. Piranha, Booty and I fell in love with the ocean at night on our Cancun trip so we flock to the beach after sunset every chance we get. One night after the kids were down for the night (we have old teenagers supervising the scene so pipe down) the girls went out into the water. The guys stood on shore holding cameras and all non-water friendly items (and somehow losing Piranha's camera). They kept joking about us being shark bait and then Ripcord announced that she might be even more baitlike as she started that morning. I swear we ran out of that water cartoon style!
The kids were taken with all of the crabs that came crawling out of the water at night.
Our little bucket was filled with crabs. When we decided there was nothing to DO with a bucket full of crabs we released them and they all scampered back to the ocean.
There was the obligatory sand castle
But then they got creative with what my daughter called an ALMAGATOR
And then there was a sand turtle
I was surprised to see my son, Keith, sit still as the girls heaped sand on top of him and give him pointy mermaid boobies
When pilfering through my vacation pictures one very common theme on this trip was playing in the sand. What I don't have a picture of is the sand creation I did one night after a few dozen cocktails. It was quite obscene and remnants were still visible (if you squinted) the next morning. I'm sure the daytime visitors were shaking their heads in disgust at the stupidity of unruly teenagers left roaming the beaches at night. So I acted all offended too. Damn drunken teenagers.
Nighttime walks along the beach were mandatory. Piranha, Booty and I fell in love with the ocean at night on our Cancun trip so we flock to the beach after sunset every chance we get. One night after the kids were down for the night (we have old teenagers supervising the scene so pipe down) the girls went out into the water. The guys stood on shore holding cameras and all non-water friendly items (and somehow losing Piranha's camera). They kept joking about us being shark bait and then Ripcord announced that she might be even more baitlike as she started that morning. I swear we ran out of that water cartoon style!
The kids were taken with all of the crabs that came crawling out of the water at night.
There was the obligatory sand castle
But then they got creative with what my daughter called an ALMAGATOR
And then there was a sand turtle
I was surprised to see my son, Keith, sit still as the girls heaped sand on top of him and give him pointy mermaid boobies
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