Happy Cinco de Mayo!

In lieu of a margarita, I am, at this moment, enjoying my very first iced latte of the year. It’s getting that warm outside. Yay. And I am wearing open toed shoes and white pants.

Now if only I could somehow work in some palm trees, a 5 star resort and a pristine and sparkling swimming pool……

10,000 years can give you such a crick in the neck!

I snoozed for an hour and a half this morning. I think it goes without saying that I am having a hard time getting back on schedule from our vacation. All I can think about is sleep. I can’t get enough caffeine in my system and I had to go reload my Starbucks card. $4.08 triple grande lattes will eat up your balance so quick and they are only good for a half a day’s energy. Does anyone else notice that their pee smells like coffee after drinking Starbucks coffee or any strong coffee for that matter? Oh no? No one else? Well, me either. I just made that up ;)

In other news, B-girl has been at her mom’s house this week (spring break) so it was been pretty quiet around our house. Sam is still there, but he is a lot less in your face than Becca.

I booked the Grand Hotel vacation I was talking about previously and I am so excited! I can’t wait to tell Becca when she gets home. She is going to be so excited. As you can see, I am doing everything I can to pass on my extravagant travel bug to her. Uh oh!

Vegas Report

We’re back from Vegas. Actually we got back last Thursday night, but two things have kept me from posting. #1 I have been recuperating and #2 We came home to find that our wireless router had died, therefore no internet on my laptop. I hijacked Dave’s computer since he has broadband service, but I ran out of time before I could complete anything.

So here’s the skinny on Vegas. This was our first time there and it was pretty much like we expected. In short, it was crazy. We had fun, but it was not relaxing. Also, two events occurred that put a little damper on the trip.

#1 I sprained my foot. I use the word sprain not as any sort of technical medical diagnosis, but instead because I don’t know what else to call it. All I know is that I did something to my heel the first full day we were there which prevented me from walking on it for the rest of the trip. That kind of sucked, but I hobbled around anyway. And we took a few more cab rides than we normally would. A little heartbreaking as I adore walking, but I’m over it (kind of) (okay, truthfully, I am trying not to be bitter about it)

#2 On our last night there, Wednesday night, I came down with either a wicked case of food poisoning or the stomach flu and was violently (and I mean violently) sick all night long. Ya’ll this is the sickest I ever remember being in my life and compounded by the fact that I was in a hotel, it left me begging for mercy. We considered staying an extra day because we weren’t sure if I would be able to leave the hotel or to board a plane. But I desperately wanted to go home and I think it was by sheer will that I stopped puking about an hour before we had to leave for the airport. It was not pretty and God bless my sainted husband who carried all our bags and supported me through the pain of airport check in and security. Sidenote: because of the 6 hours of puking and my completely empty stomach, I was afraid to take any Motrin which is what I had been using to numb the pain in my foot all week. So that left my foot throbbing and me only able to hobble my pathetic self through the airports in both Las Vegas and Detroit. That was the longest flight of my life.

Not to say that we did not have some fun. We went to some nifty clubs (which made me feel old and why didn’t anyone tell me that I was supposed to buy a dress that only fell 1 inch below the bottom of my butt cheeks. I was very overdressed. And by overdressed, I mean that my dress feel well below by ass but well above my knees), we ate some good food (with the exception of possibly Wednesday night’s dinner – the jury is still out on if it was food poisoning or the flu), and we kept some good company (our friends over the weekend and my parents during the week). We also saw the Hoover Dam, the aquarium at Mandalay Bay and “O” the most amazing Cirque de Soleil show at the Bellagio. Things we did not see that one or both of us wanted to see but we just ran out of time, The Erotica Museum (Dave), The Titanic Exhibition at the Luxor (me), Peepshow with Holly from Girls Next Door (Me), A titty bar (Dave), The Venetian (me).

So Vegas left me kind of exhausted. I would post some pictures for you, but in my usual fashion, I kept forgetting to take the camera with me on our excursions, except for the Hoover Dam. Dave had the camera for most of that, so I am guessing that when I do get the pictures off of the camera, there will be about 100 pictures of the dam with no people in it. We’ll see, maybe he’ll surprise me.

We are leaving in two days and I am having massive trouble applying myself to the things I need to finish before we go. (Like work)

I was super ambitious this weekend and made Becca clean up her pigsty room (which was so full of stuff that we were considering making her watch an episode of Hoarders). I also made her try on all her clothes and managed to glean a huge bag clothes that don’t fit her to be donated to the Salvation Army. I also gleaned two bags of trash. Dave commented that he could not believe I got that much stuff out of there especially since it has been only about 6 months since the last time I did this. The amount of stuff my MIL buys for the kids borders on obscene. I think she has resorted to keeping some of it at her house so that I don’t know it exists. I have become pretty ruthless about it. If she buys something for the kids that is unsanctioned, I will take it to the goodwill. Or, for every 1 new item that comes into our house, I make Becca choose 2 items to give away (or throw away – it depends on the condition. I am a firm believer that the goodwill is not a place to unload your trash).

Anyway, in the course of all the room cleaning, I also managed to get Becca mostly packed. I just will need to do a couple loads of laundry before we go.

My stuff is half packed, which isn’t half bad for me. I am trying to avoid being up until 2 am the night before we go although I don’t know if that is possible. One thing I did do was locate the chargers to both cameras and charge them. If you recall, when Dave and I went to Arizona last spring, I waited until the night before we left to figure out that the camera battery was dead and I could not find the charger to save my life. Therefore, we did not take my nice camera and I had to buy a point and click while we were there. So this time I am lugging the nice camera and the little point and click because, as I mentioned previously, I am an overpacker. I have also decided to take the portable DVD player (even though my husband has advised against it) because my just in case mentality has caused me to consider the possibility that it is winter and it is very possible we may encounter delays flying back to the winter wonderland that is Michigan. Hey, I’m not being negative, this is a genuine possibility and I want to be prepared because I cannot handle the endless strings of “I’m bored” that would surely ensue should we encounter even a 2 hour delay. It is worth it to me to lug the DVD player. Does anyone other than my husband have a problem with that?

I didn’t think so.

I still have a list of things to buy at Meijer. Including protein bars so we don’t have to buy breakfast every day, individually wrapped butt wipes (did you know they make those?) which Meijer has been out of the last 3 times I have been there, and toothbrushes because 3 of the 4 occupants in my house use electric toothbrushes which I am decidedly not lugging with us.

I also still have not managed to squeeze in the pedi. I might have to ped-egg myself instead.

Oh and I just remembered, I need a DVD holder because I have nothing to house the DVD’s in other than their bulky plastic cases which will not do. I may be an overpacker, but I still know how to maximize space.

The Whole Truth (the quick version)

Fact: I am in a hotel by myself in Columbus, OH.

Fact: This is not a pleasure trip.

Fact: I don't like sleeping away from my man. Gag if you want, but I hate it.

Fact: I got a "friend suggestion" from one of my facebook friends and the suggestion is a person who made my life a living hell in junior high. Maybe living hell is an understatement, but it's the best I can come up with right now. I am 33 (and 3/4 but lets leave that for another post) and if I am going to a place that I know this person will be at, I break out in hives. I'm serious. I am still deeply disturbed by how this person treated me and I believe that there are portions of my personality that exist today, solely because of those events.

Fact: I ignored the friend suggestion and I hope the person in question has the good sense not to send me a request herself.

Question: Am I seriously disturbed?

Pictures as Promised

So Dave and I had planned on taking a vacation to one of the Caribbean Islands as a sequel to our St. Lucia honeymoon. But our passports took a lot longer to show up and I wasn't having a whole lot of luck finding what I felt was a sufficient deal. While I really really really (and I can't stress this enough) really, wanted to go on vacation, I told Dave it wasn't going to happen. He said he didn't care if he had to sell one of his kidney's that I was to plan something. So I starting looking for places inside the US and lo and behold, I found a phenomenal deal at The Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix, AZ. Arizona wasn't my first choice since it is no where near the ocean, but the deal was too good to pass up. And I knew it was pretty much a sure thing that it would be warm.

So we booked it and we went. And we got there and I shut down. Literally. Usually we are pretty big into sightseeing. We love museums and parks and battlefields, etc.... So I guess I was more worn out than I realized because we got there and I parked my butt at the pool are barely left the resort. Dave hiked Camelback with my brother (who lives in Phoenix) and I went to the spa for a mani and pedi. He did manage to drag me out one day to the Air Force museum and the whole time I just wanted to get back to the resort. Anyway, I read two books and it was heavenly. We really enjoyed just spending some down time with each other.

I've attached some pictures so you can see how pretty the resort was.


This was our little private patio right outside our room. It was in the high 90's/low 100's every day. The last day we were there we ordered room service for breakfast and ate at that table.

This is one of the courtyards at the resort. They had several weddings there the first weekend we were there. That mountain you see is Camelback which is where Dave hiked. He went to the top and was pretty proud of himself.

This is another courtyard where at night you can sit and have drinks. Did anyone else know that you can get Absinthe in the US now? I had my first taste of it here and it was gross. I did not see the green fairy.
I don't have any cute pictures of us together because we really didn't do anything. This is our traditional self portrait. I thought it was cute even though half of my face is cut off.

I'm not dead. Here's the short version.

We have been laying people off at work. It has been sucky.

Dave and I have been experiencing some trials and tribulations of late (see secret blog that does not exist yet). We're okay but it's been sucky too.

Saturday we are leaving for a week in Arizona. Much needed for our mental sanity, our relationship, and our pasty white skin.

On a spiritual note, not to be too cheesy but even with all of the above going on, I have felt the most at peace with my life that I have felt in years.

I want to expound on these things, but there is neither the time nor the will right now.

On a lighter note, I finally got my passport and the picture is worse then my drivers license. I look like Fred Flintstone, my head and face take up most of the picture. I'm pretty sure you cannot get a passport picture retaken just because you think you look stupid.

Hmmmm.

Oh the Places You'll Go

These are the places I want to go:

Barbados
St. Thomas
St. Croix
St. Maarten
St. Kitts
St. Barth
Hawaii
Napa Valley
Tahiti
Australia
Cuba (someday after they aren't communist anymore and it isn't illegal)

These are the places I can afford to go:

Pittsburgh
Indianapolis
Grand Rapids
Dayton
Toledo

Places I can neither afford nor do I care to visit:

Detroit (see earlier post)

GUESS WHERE I AM

Bet you can't guess.

Go ahead.

Guess.

Give?

I'm sitting in a hotel room in Columbus, OH. By myself.

So much for being a stubborn bitch. I caved to the threat of ice and snow. I thought getting up at 4am and driving 200+ miles might be kind of sucky. And, since my real drive to work can stretch, in bad weather, from 45 minutes to 2 1/2 hours, well, you do the math.

But I didn't tell any of the boys I was coming so I didn't have to go to dinner with them and instead when I got here I took myself to the big old mall across the street which is where I feel most at home when I'm not at my real home.

Now I'm watching an E True Hollywood Story on Jenna Jameson. I guess my job could be worse.

I'm sleepy and grossed out because I forgot to bring any Clorox wipes for the TV remote.

Good Night.

Finally

See that palm tree to the left of this post? That is where I'm going to be for 8, yes 8, luxurious and relaxing days with my husband.

We leave Tuesday.

Cleaning House

I have been in a post funk for the past few days. I've been blog surfing, but I just haven't had the energy to type anything up. So this post will probably be all over the place.

First of all, I did make the Oven Baked Almond Chicken. It was good and everyone ate it. It came with sweet and sour sauce so the kids dipped in that. Which they would probably eat just about anything if they can mask it with some sort of sauce. I don't think I crushed the Almonds up enough though because the kids just picked them off. Next time I think I will throw them in the food processor for a few seconds before I coat the chicken.

This week I took out of the freezer, Chicken Paella and Beef Stew. Dave and I are leaving for a little vacation on Thursday afternoon so I'm only thawing the two this week.

Okay. The vacation. Thursday afternoon we are leaving to drive to New Jersey to visit Mandy (you have to call her Miranda), her hubby Karl and little baby Max. Of course I can't stand babies so that has nothing to do with us going :) Just kidding! So we are spending Friday night and Saturday night with them and then Sunday we are leaving to drive to Gettysburg, PA. If I haven't mentioned it before, my husband is a history junkie and has been wanting to go for years. We are staying in a Bed and Breakfast called The Brickhouse Inn which I am really excited about because it looks adorable and it got rave reviews. I love staying at B&B's. So we have been watching Ken Burn's documentary, The Civil War in preparation for our trip. I have booked us a personal battlefield tour and dinner at some sort of ancient restaurant which was recommended by the B&B staff. I'm so glad I married a man who likes to do more than just watch sports 24/7.

Needless to say, we are both ready for a few days away.

On another note, I made the mistake of surfing my way over the the Walt Disney World website yesterday and have discovered that I can book us for a week in January for quite a bit less than we paid last year. And I really really want to do it. The kids had so much fun and they still talk about it. There are two problems. #1 Dave doesn't know if he will be able to get away. With his business in the baby stages, it's hard to know. I'm already feeling a little worried about taking him away this week. #2 I couldn't find a very good deal on flights. If I were to book a flight now, it would cost me over a grand for the four of us.

So for now, I've pushed the whole thing to the back of my mind the best I can. But for those of you who know me - once I get my mind set on something, I tend to obsess about it until I make it happen one way or another. We'll see.