Wednesday, December 3, 2008
30 years of marriage and Thanksgiving
Mark and I had our trip to North Carolina and it was beautiful. We usually have to suffer for our trips and, with his daddy having cancer, we had a couple of months trying to decide whether to go or not. We decided that staying for that reason was akin to saying we had given up on his battle so we went. What a wonderful trip!
The weather was beautiful, highs in the 50's everyday, sometimes in the low 60's. We walked and walked and walked on the beach and laughed and laughed and laughed with our other family. I picked up so many shells that we had to ship them home. They made our suitcases overweight and trust me, we pack lightly! (We did Italy for 12 days with carryons alone!) Mark got to fish and smoke cigars so it was a good trip for him.
Susie and Daryl are just the best other husband and wife that a couple could have. They are so much fun. We have been friends for 16 years now and it just gets better every time we are together. They have such different lives than we do but we still connect in all the important ways.
Their girl, Katy B, is a junior at East Carolina University and marches in the band. She has a serious boyfriend with the nickname, "Cha". We got to meet him for the first time and he just fits. It is like he has always been part of the family. He is hilarious with not a shy bone in his body, smart as a whip and best of all, he is crazy about our girl. The tradition at ECU is for the band to march up the hill to the stadium for games. Cha (Derek) just busts out in dance while they are marching. You just can't imagine how funny it is until you see it and trust me, Susie has tried to explain it to me many times.
Katy is in nursing school. She is a person that I would like even if I didn't already love her. She is my third girl. We took a walk together on the beach and just caught up with each other. She thinks I am funny. One of my funniest memories of this girl was when Susie and I were having a girls drinks after work. Katy was probably 4, maybe 5. She was with us and needed to go to the bathroom. We went together. In the bathroom, I told her that it was one of the funniest things ever if she walked out of the bathroom with toilet paper hanging off her shoe. She totally blew me off but just 30 minutes later, went to the bathroom by herself and sure enough, here she came, trailing through the restaurant with a huge piece of TP following behind her. The look on her face was just priceless. She took a chance that my sense of humor was really funny and man, oh man! Did it work!!
Zakary, aka SnackPak, aka Z Man, is their 16 year old son. Do you know how amazing it is to spend a week with a kid that age? He could have avoided us all week or been a huge PITA but no.... Zak is such a good kid. He is another smart one and a sense of humor that just makes me bust out with laughter.
We played Guitar Hero. Did I mention that the last video game I played was Duck Hunt? Squeezie, D and I had never played before but we had so much fun! I sucked at it but Zak told me that he liked playing with me on multiplayer because, every time I screwed up (which was a lot!), I laughed at myself. Their family is very competitive. I didn't realize how much I was no longer that way until this trip.
Our anniversary was very low key. We exchanged cards and enjoyed the scenery, the company and each other. Quite the difference from our wedding day.
Thanksgiving was a true test for me. Since our first married Thanksgiving, I have felt compelled to turn out this incredible Martha Stewart style meal. Everyone comes to my house for Thanksgiving and everyone gets to pick their favorite dish. That means a lot of cooking and preparation on my part. This year, not so much. We had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy from a jar, rolls, dressing and I made spinach souffle and cheesy potato casserole. Spinach souffle is my favorite holiday meal and I don't like mashed taters. If you have never been to Thanksgiving at my house before, you just don't know how different that menu was for me. Yet I was fine with it. I was happy. Susie's dressing was better than the one I make and it didn't even bother me! I was just so happy to be at the beach.
I did miss my family to a huge degree though. In one way, I felt like I was relieving my girls of a responsibility of showing up at my house for a holiday. In another, I just missed spending time with them on a holiday. I wish that they could have been with us, enjoying the sand and the dolphins and the sunsets and the relaxation.
The weather was beautiful, highs in the 50's everyday, sometimes in the low 60's. We walked and walked and walked on the beach and laughed and laughed and laughed with our other family. I picked up so many shells that we had to ship them home. They made our suitcases overweight and trust me, we pack lightly! (We did Italy for 12 days with carryons alone!) Mark got to fish and smoke cigars so it was a good trip for him.
Susie and Daryl are just the best other husband and wife that a couple could have. They are so much fun. We have been friends for 16 years now and it just gets better every time we are together. They have such different lives than we do but we still connect in all the important ways.
Their girl, Katy B, is a junior at East Carolina University and marches in the band. She has a serious boyfriend with the nickname, "Cha". We got to meet him for the first time and he just fits. It is like he has always been part of the family. He is hilarious with not a shy bone in his body, smart as a whip and best of all, he is crazy about our girl. The tradition at ECU is for the band to march up the hill to the stadium for games. Cha (Derek) just busts out in dance while they are marching. You just can't imagine how funny it is until you see it and trust me, Susie has tried to explain it to me many times.
Katy is in nursing school. She is a person that I would like even if I didn't already love her. She is my third girl. We took a walk together on the beach and just caught up with each other. She thinks I am funny. One of my funniest memories of this girl was when Susie and I were having a girls drinks after work. Katy was probably 4, maybe 5. She was with us and needed to go to the bathroom. We went together. In the bathroom, I told her that it was one of the funniest things ever if she walked out of the bathroom with toilet paper hanging off her shoe. She totally blew me off but just 30 minutes later, went to the bathroom by herself and sure enough, here she came, trailing through the restaurant with a huge piece of TP following behind her. The look on her face was just priceless. She took a chance that my sense of humor was really funny and man, oh man! Did it work!!
Zakary, aka SnackPak, aka Z Man, is their 16 year old son. Do you know how amazing it is to spend a week with a kid that age? He could have avoided us all week or been a huge PITA but no.... Zak is such a good kid. He is another smart one and a sense of humor that just makes me bust out with laughter.
We played Guitar Hero. Did I mention that the last video game I played was Duck Hunt? Squeezie, D and I had never played before but we had so much fun! I sucked at it but Zak told me that he liked playing with me on multiplayer because, every time I screwed up (which was a lot!), I laughed at myself. Their family is very competitive. I didn't realize how much I was no longer that way until this trip.
Our anniversary was very low key. We exchanged cards and enjoyed the scenery, the company and each other. Quite the difference from our wedding day.
Thanksgiving was a true test for me. Since our first married Thanksgiving, I have felt compelled to turn out this incredible Martha Stewart style meal. Everyone comes to my house for Thanksgiving and everyone gets to pick their favorite dish. That means a lot of cooking and preparation on my part. This year, not so much. We had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy from a jar, rolls, dressing and I made spinach souffle and cheesy potato casserole. Spinach souffle is my favorite holiday meal and I don't like mashed taters. If you have never been to Thanksgiving at my house before, you just don't know how different that menu was for me. Yet I was fine with it. I was happy. Susie's dressing was better than the one I make and it didn't even bother me! I was just so happy to be at the beach.
I did miss my family to a huge degree though. In one way, I felt like I was relieving my girls of a responsibility of showing up at my house for a holiday. In another, I just missed spending time with them on a holiday. I wish that they could have been with us, enjoying the sand and the dolphins and the sunsets and the relaxation.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Halloween has come and gone
This year has gone by so quickly! Halloween was a lot of fun. Thomas and William went trick or treating in my neighborhood. Thomas really enjoyed it. William didn't understand but had a good time anyway. Thomas went as the Count from Sesame Street and William was his bat. How appropriate is that? Thomas is the funniest little guy. William is at that adorable, cuddly age that I adore.
Biz is doing well, has an ultrasound planned for the 13th of this month. Wouldn't it be great if she had a little red headed girl!???
The next few weeks are going to be crazy with work. I am soooo looking forward to going to North Carolina for our anniversary and Thanksgiving. The beach house is ocean front. The company will be excellent and I hope that it turns out to be as relaxing and fun as I have dreamed.
We have tickets to see the Bob & Tom Comedy AllStars show on November 15th. Can't wait for that, either! That will be another item on my list that I can mark. I have done well with taking a multivitamin, though they have been making me sick to my stomach. No problem- just have to eat a little something before I take them. The bed has been made every single day... until yesterday. Damn, I was so close too! We went to the Farmer's Market even though there was nothing there but gourds and politicians. Hard to tell the difference between some of them. :)
I took a chair to be reupholstered and I can't wait to see how it comes out. I did find an upholstery class so technically, I should mark that one as done. I just don't have time to take a class right now... though the goal was just to look for a class.
Eating fruit has turned out to be harder than it started out to be. I just keep trying. Sweeping the porch hasn't been too hard, too.
I have an appt this week with a bride and her mom. Maybe we will book another wedding! Who knows?
Biz is doing well, has an ultrasound planned for the 13th of this month. Wouldn't it be great if she had a little red headed girl!???
The next few weeks are going to be crazy with work. I am soooo looking forward to going to North Carolina for our anniversary and Thanksgiving. The beach house is ocean front. The company will be excellent and I hope that it turns out to be as relaxing and fun as I have dreamed.
We have tickets to see the Bob & Tom Comedy AllStars show on November 15th. Can't wait for that, either! That will be another item on my list that I can mark. I have done well with taking a multivitamin, though they have been making me sick to my stomach. No problem- just have to eat a little something before I take them. The bed has been made every single day... until yesterday. Damn, I was so close too! We went to the Farmer's Market even though there was nothing there but gourds and politicians. Hard to tell the difference between some of them. :)
I took a chair to be reupholstered and I can't wait to see how it comes out. I did find an upholstery class so technically, I should mark that one as done. I just don't have time to take a class right now... though the goal was just to look for a class.
Eating fruit has turned out to be harder than it started out to be. I just keep trying. Sweeping the porch hasn't been too hard, too.
I have an appt this week with a bride and her mom. Maybe we will book another wedding! Who knows?
Sunday, October 19, 2008
A nice Sunday at home
I have had a nice few days. The weather has been gorgeous here. Thursday night, we went up to the Walton Arts Center to see "Slow Dancing" and wow, really wow! Kate brought the boys over for dinner before hand. We had breakfast for dinner and Thomas ate 5 pancakes, at least. William is getting such a sweet personality, just smiling at me all the time. It warms my heart.
Friday night, Mark and I sat out by the fireplace in the backyard. I have been working on my 101 goal of cutting up my magazines and building binders. He even brought out a lamp for me so I could keep going after dark.
Saturday, Kate got to my house at 8:30 and we set off for War Eagle craft fair. The weather was perfect. We got there at the perfect time and we had a great time. I had expressed concerns that the crowds were dying out at the craft fairs over the last few years. For so long, the exhibitors had sold little wooden signs and very country type decorating items. Let's face it, not many of us decorate like that any more. I was very pleasantly surprised by how awesome some of the booths were! Beautiful glass work including this place www.themeltedpane.com and very modern runners and pillows at another. I fell in love with a wooden carved Santa on a crescent moon but hey, $215 is out of my budget for one Christmas decoration. We scored on some wooden toys for Thomas. Ate some really bad fair food. Next time, we will take a picnic.
We got out just as the crowds were getting really big. Another pleasant surprise.
Today, I talked to my sister and did some catching up. I love her so much but we just don't have enough time together. It was good to hear that she and Emily were as excited about a girl trip as I am. :) The rest of the time, I moved furniture in my living room to accomodate my new chairs. *Check one off the list!* They are much bigger than I expected. Now I need to get rid of my sofa. It is just too big for that room.
This week is going to be very busy. Lots of early mornings and late nights at work.
Friday night, Mark and I sat out by the fireplace in the backyard. I have been working on my 101 goal of cutting up my magazines and building binders. He even brought out a lamp for me so I could keep going after dark.
Saturday, Kate got to my house at 8:30 and we set off for War Eagle craft fair. The weather was perfect. We got there at the perfect time and we had a great time. I had expressed concerns that the crowds were dying out at the craft fairs over the last few years. For so long, the exhibitors had sold little wooden signs and very country type decorating items. Let's face it, not many of us decorate like that any more. I was very pleasantly surprised by how awesome some of the booths were! Beautiful glass work including this place www.themeltedpane.com and very modern runners and pillows at another. I fell in love with a wooden carved Santa on a crescent moon but hey, $215 is out of my budget for one Christmas decoration. We scored on some wooden toys for Thomas. Ate some really bad fair food. Next time, we will take a picnic.
We got out just as the crowds were getting really big. Another pleasant surprise.
Today, I talked to my sister and did some catching up. I love her so much but we just don't have enough time together. It was good to hear that she and Emily were as excited about a girl trip as I am. :) The rest of the time, I moved furniture in my living room to accomodate my new chairs. *Check one off the list!* They are much bigger than I expected. Now I need to get rid of my sofa. It is just too big for that room.
This week is going to be very busy. Lots of early mornings and late nights at work.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday was a good day. I have one customer that is extremely high profile. They implemented a new system that has caused a lot of issues. My big boss asked me to take the lead on organizing the clean up, so to speak. That was about 3 weeks ago. We met with the customer yesterday (including the big boss) and the meeting went so well. There are only 4 issues left on the list of 20. The customer was very appreciative and I felt good about the outcome.
I also ate a fruit, made the bed and took a multi vitamin. My list includes researching upholstery classes in my area. That has been done but I don't want to mark it as finished (though technically it is). I researched it but I can't find a class that I want to take.
Swim lessons are pretty important to me, too. I don't want to let Tanya down, for one thing. The Red Cross offers adult classes but they are already booked for this session.
Meg is going to send me a recipe to make pizza from scratch- pretty excited about that. :)
Today I have already accomplished my daily stuff. It has been surprisingly easy to eat a fruit every day. Driving through Chick-Fil-A, I realized that I could have a fruit cup instead of fries. Yeah! There was a service breakfast at work today and they provided fruit. It is almost like fruit is falling in my lap!
I also ate a fruit, made the bed and took a multi vitamin. My list includes researching upholstery classes in my area. That has been done but I don't want to mark it as finished (though technically it is). I researched it but I can't find a class that I want to take.
Swim lessons are pretty important to me, too. I don't want to let Tanya down, for one thing. The Red Cross offers adult classes but they are already booked for this session.
Meg is going to send me a recipe to make pizza from scratch- pretty excited about that. :)
Today I have already accomplished my daily stuff. It has been surprisingly easy to eat a fruit every day. Driving through Chick-Fil-A, I realized that I could have a fruit cup instead of fries. Yeah! There was a service breakfast at work today and they provided fruit. It is almost like fruit is falling in my lap!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Thanks Meg and Jodi for leaving me comments. :) These lists are very personal insights, aren't they? Jodi, I never realized that you were also of Irish descent until I read your 101 list. How much fun would a group trip to Donegal be? TONS!
So far this morning, I have made my bed, eaten watermelon and taken a multivitamin.
So far this morning, I have made my bed, eaten watermelon and taken a multivitamin.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Just following the trends....
Okay, I am in for 101 in 1001 days. This is going to be tough- not necessarily achieving the goals but making the list. So I will start with that as the first goal. :)1 Make the list
Health:
2 Take a multivitamin every day for 6 months straight (34/183) This goal is not going to happen. The multivamin was making me nauseous. edited to add that I am taken Vitamin D6 for over 2 years.
3 Lose 5 lbs 4 times and not the same 5! I have lost 31 lbs since September 2010.
4. Keep it off for a year
5. Buy new walking shoes. Better yet, I bought new RUNNING shoes!
6. Yearly mammogram (0/3)
7. Be evaluated for Lasik surgery
8. Do TaeBo or walk 4 times a week for 2 months (0/24) walked and also did Couch to 5K
9. Make a menu and cook from that menu for 2 weeks
10. Eat a fruit serving every day (40/1001) Now I do. :)
Home and Hearth:
11. Establish a cleaning routine by 12/1/08 for every 2 weeks (well that didn't happen but I am okay with a new deadline)
12. Sweep front porch every week (5/143)
13. Make my bed every day for a month (59/31)
14. Clean out all cabinets and drawers in kitchen once a year (3/3)
15. Clean out laundry room cabinets once a year (3/3)
16. Take down and wash curtains every 6 months (0/6)
17. Replace all frames in hallway to be black
18. Get 1 new chair or recover chair for home office
19. Finish hanging photos and shelves in my home office
20. Buy and hang chandelier in office
22. Get 2 new chairs for living room
23. Take down divider in living room
24. Lay hardwood floor
25. Build a portfolio of kitchen and bathroom remodel ideas
26. Repaint kitchen and dining room
27. Paint kitchen hutch
28. Repaint bedroom
29. Buy a pallet of flagstone
30. Finish rock pathway
31. Trench ditch beside the house
32. Put rock in the ditch
33. Evaluate need for dirt in front yard
34. Plant grass/lay sod in front yard
35. Move plants in fence gardens
36. Mosiac tile on wrought iron table
37. Cut down blackberry tree
38. Cut down sycamore tree
39. Hang new birdhouse
40. Put up new privacy screen in front of trash can
41. Hang willow screening on chain link fence
42. Replace fascia, soffit board on north side of house
43. Build new shed
44. Strip deck
45. Buy gravel/rock for backyard
46. Remove whiskey barrels
47. Buy fountain
48. Put fountain in place of whiskey barrels
49. Hang curtains on pergola
50. Get rid of old freezer
Professional:
51. Build Signature Weddings website
52. Get dedicated phone line for Signature Weddings
53. Build a front page for MLW
54. Make detailed timelines for enrollments
55. Take free online college course
56. Go through all wedding magazines and build a portfolio (throw them away!)
57. Order shutterfly wedding portfolio
Personal and Financial Growth:
58. Take swimming lessons
59. Host a party at my house (Halloween?)
60. Be measured by a professional bra sizer
61. Take ballroom dancing lessons
62. Bake bread from scratch with yeast
63. Make pizza dough from scratch
64. Have teeth whitened
65. Pay off American Express by 1/1/09
66. Pay off American Express every month from 1/1/09 (0/30)
67. Go to at least 4 events a year at the WAC (2/12)
68. Finish my turtle painting
69. Identify 100 things that make me happy
70. Contact credit bureau regarding inaccuracy on my report
71. Make a will
72. Have 100 days where I don't spend any money (10/100)
Relationships:
73. Meet Kirsten on a trip to San Francisco
74. Meet Gina on a trip to Texas
75. Take a girl trip with my sister and Emily, Susie and Katy, and my girls
76. Get all family's birthdays on a calendar
77. Send cards to all family and friends on their birthday for a year
78. Meet Maria on a trip to Ireland
79. Send Thomas, William and Annie a card once a month (2/33)
Travel:
80. Return to Ireland, see Slieve League in Donegal
81. Take my grandchildren to the coast
82. Take the kids to the wildlife safari in Gentry
83. Take the kids to the Tulsa State Fair
General:
84. Burn all my photos to CDs
85. Subscribe to my favorite magazines instead of buying at the store
86. Go to the Farmer's Market once a year (1/3)
87. Go to the drive-in movies once a year (0/3)
88. Assign all my iPod music to playlists
89. Get a library card
Romance:
90. Give Markie a massage at least 2 times a year (0/6)
91. Surprise Mark with a romantic gesture at least 2 times a year (1/6)
92. Have a date night at least once a quarter (1/11)
Other stuff:
93. Call or mail my grandmother every month (0/33)
94. See my sister at least 2 times a year (0/6)
95. Contact my stepfather via email, just to let him know that I still love him
96. Take grandbabies to the Ren Faire in Kansas
97. Find out if there is an upholstery class in my area
98. Every day, thank God for my blessings (59/1001)
99. Make Christmas stockings for all my grandchildren
100. Plan a celebration if I complete over 50% of the items on this list
101. Execute the celebration!
Optional wishes and dreams:
See Tanya get married
Take my grandchildren to Disney
Clean out 7 years of Cooking Light magazines by building a cookbook
Blue means done
Green means it is underway
edited 12/09/08
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