Thankgiving Musings

I had plans to post sooner, but the plague stole all my energy and prevented me from sharing my Thanksgiving weekend adventures. I love Thanksgiving! It is representative of the fall season, includes a large family meal featuring all my favorites, kicks-off the holiday season which requires decorating the house while reminiscing over the various ornaments and trinkets, and the weekend is dominated by state rivalries in college football.

Dad, Mom, Mel & James

My mom is the youngest of eight kids, meaning we have a large family who are scattered across the US so it is rare for us to get together. Though our last family reunion was almost twenty years ago, I remain close with some of our relations while there are others who I haven't seen in what feels like forever.

My Aunt Kay does not realize that I have been aware of her struggles and they have greatly influenced my life. I admire her strength and perseverance, her friendship with her ex and daughter, and her love of my mom. Kay survived breast cancer at a young age but required a full mastectomy. She was one of the women whose silicone implants leaked, poisoning her body and destroying one of her lungs. Kay's remaining lung is failing and she was denied a transplant hence a decision was made to have a reunion, in order to have these final memories with her.

James and I drove to a little town outside of Pittsburgh to spend Thanksgiving with almost fifty other people, most of whom hubby had never met. In order to prepare James for the mayhem of a loud family reunion, we began our road trip with lots of loud singing, i.e. my singing. REM was the band of choice for this trip but Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Linkin' Park had quite a bit of airtime.

Dale sharing his genealogy research

I spent the majority of the trip discussing family history with my Uncle Dale, who has researched with me in Salt Lake and more recently reviewed my brick wall. Dale brought more than a hundred pages of research with him from Denver because he wanted my opinion on his recent discovery. Following the trail I had given him in October, he had finally uncovered the missing link that had hindered my research for more than a decade and had progressed back two generations. One of my proudest moments at the reunion was listening to him share his findings with his siblings. He was really enthused and a quick study. As he was showing off one document, he pointed out some random numbers and remarked, Melissa says this indicates his property. He went on and on and on, detailing my explanation of what it signified and how he should approach the next steps of his research as well as my remarks on military research. I appreciated hearing him tell the family that I really knew my stuff, especially since my family doesn't understand my work.

Rose, Kay, Mom, Dale, Ken & Arthur

Though I spent time with my parents on Wednesday night, Mom was busy with her siblings, leaving James and I to entertain dad on Thanksgiving. It was worth the drive, in order to be with my parents for the holiday. Unfortunately, Kay's health had taken a downturn and she could not travel to Pittsburgh, so my uncle rented a van and the siblings drove to Baltimore to spend the day with her.

James and I returned back home with weekend plans, but the plague set-in delaying our decorating and preventing me from watching football. Through the power of drugs, I managed to see Catching Fire with Becky and Erin as part of our semi-annual movie night though it's a bit of a blur, which means I now have an excuse to see it again. The plague took its toll on me, but I still had a nice holiday with my parents, had James setting up the Christmas tree and taking care of me.

Relaxing Techniques

Day 2, Monday

12:00 am - 4:30 am When we entered Delaware County, the road essentially disappeared. So much for getting a nap while on the road though I found our conversations interesting. My boss kept asking if his driving was making me nervous, which it wasn't but the other idiots and the road conditions had me a bit concerned. Around 2:00 am, my boss quipped that it was only midnight in SLC. I pointed out that I was typically in bed at that time, with Saturday being the exception. A little after 2:30, we exited the interstate and followed James' tire tracks to the gas station.

Arriving home,  Bartle and Cleo greeted me rather enthusiastically. Since my last meal had been lunch at the airport, I was starving and pleased to discover James had made pumpkin muffins. He did this upon my return from the FGS conference as well so this is becoming a nice tradition. After a desperately needed shower (I feel gross after flying), I was happy to see some of the dryness from SLC was already dissipating. The dry air in SLC had wrought damage to my hair and skin. In the meantime, Bartle enjoyed some misdeeds, which caused me to yell at him. James gleefully informed me that Bartle had not exhibited any of these behaviors while I was gone and that I obviously bring out the worst in him.

Before falling asleep, I told James to wake me so I could clear the drive since he needed to go to work.

11:30 am -  2:00 am I slept through my alarms which was expected and received the wake-up call from the pets who were crawling over me trying to get my attention. Getting up was difficult and I had to hunt for my meds and recall my routines which had been altered while I was away. I had not unpacked my suitcase and nothing was laid out for the morning so I was in a state of confusion. I eventually discovered James outside clearing the last section of the drive. He hadn't wanted to wake me which was sweet.

It took a great deal of willpower but I forced myself to truly take the day off. Within a couple of hours, I felt the need to be productive so I washed one load of laundry. Following a change in routine, I am supposed to grant my body a day of complete rest, but I rarely adhere to this because I'm conscious of the work that is waiting for me. Today was a rarity. I remained in my pajamas all day and did not work on any programs or open any work-related emails or complete the household chore list that appears to be the same length as when I left. I took the snow day and enjoyed a book and periodically napped but this also led to me remaining awake late into the night.

The Road Back

A year ago, I followed Janssen's example of chronicling my life for a full week. Being on vacation this week, I'm hoping that my entries will not be as intense as the ones last year when Bartle had his eye tumor removal and I was working on my SoCal lectures.

Day 1, Sunday

12:00 am - 3:00 am Final night of a conference, where else would I be except in a dueling piano bar. I would have to say that Keys on Main in Salt Lake City is one of the best piano bars I have visited. Following last call and a brisk walk several blocks in the cold to the hotel, we were met by the Hog Convention attendees who were lingering outside the entrance. After printing boarding passes, I called James to report the night's activities and discovered I was too wired and unable to sleep so I began packing for the next day.

7:30 am - 10:30 am Amazingly enough, I woke with the first alarm, packed and got dressed quickly to meet my boss for breakfast. For some who have never seen me in a more casual setting, my appearance may have been a bit startling. Not many people have seen me in a ponytail and minimal makeup. It was humorous how many times we were stopped for conversation on our way across the lobby. It was also enlightening to hear my boss jokingly inform a group that he had made a smart decision in promoting me (It is nice to hear.). Then I received a hug and praise from a colleague who typically ignores me which prompted my boss to remark that he did not receive a handshake and yet I received a hug. Then we met two other colleagues for breakfast.

10:30 am - 3:00 pm I spent more than two hours on the phone with Mich playing catch-up followed by a nap before heading downstairs to meet my boss and our shuttle. After a round of final goodbyes we headed to the airport. Amy was still in the terminal so the three of us had lunch which was humorous. Anyone who has ever been around Amy and I together can attest that sometimes the conversation filter comes off. We're very similar in our thoughts and humor, which my boss has not witnessed in tandem.

3:00 pm - 12:00 am Our flight was on time though the weathermen were predicting six to eight inches of snow in Indianapolis. Upon arrival, the snow did not appear too bad until we reached the parking lot and the shape of the car was disguised by the layers of snow. Most of the interstate signs were covered and the roadway was icy through the city. As soon as we reached I-69, the road appeared to get worse. With the snow coming down in a thicker mist and no snow plows in sight, the drive became more difficult. Our speed ranged from 20-40 mph based on if other tire tracks were visible, if we could see the road, and other drivers. We were on the road longer than expected.

Dangers of Letting Us Out

Ladies of the GC

Dawne, Delia, and I are a dangerous group of ladies but especially when we're allowed to take a road trip and room together in Birmingham, Alabama for a genealogy conference. There was a lot of food, conversations, laughing, and work at this event. We had numerous food moments on the road trip alone, such as the wish for a Long John Silvers followed by a parting of the clouds revealing a LJS at the next exit, our ice cream stop, candy bar runs, and our KFC experience. We visited KFC in Kentucky, where the floors, chairs, and tables were covered in grease, we fought the flies for our food, and a young man in neon green socks thought it was easier to hop around with his knees locked in place rather than pulling his pants up. At the conference, many activities took place around food, including a required rib dinner at Dreamland BBQ with Kris, dinner at a Thai restaurant with Dawne's group, crawfish, shrimp grits, lobster macaroni, every food category at Casey's Sports Bar, Delia's never ending patience with my morning coffee ritual, a cheesecake run, and gallons of sweet tea.

The service at the hotel was mixed and created much drama for a number of people including us. I was forced to use my "you're a fucking idiot" voice while keeping my calm when speaking to the front staff when we found ourselves locked out because the hotel checked us out on Friday though we had a reservation through Sunday. My frustration was exacerbated when our room was not serviced for a full day. A slow build-up led to the grand finale. After two conversations with the front desk and one with the valet, I was positive we knew the parking rules until the parking garage refused to allow us to exit the premises without paying though we had already paid the parking fee for the week. I had a stern conversation with the front staff, who refused to refund me, but two managers later, they finally refunded the parking fee. Unfortunately, we had this same conversation again the next morning when I checked out. At the same time we were having bad service, we also had amazing service. We ate a meal a day at the hotel restaurant, Casey's, and received fabulous service every time. The valets and bellmen were phenomenal with unpacking our van and keeping track which three rooms all of the ACPL packages were assigned. And our shuttle driver, Eddie, deserves a customer service award for driving us twenty minutes out of the way and picking us up from the Cheesecake Factory.

Many great conversations were held over the conference week as well. Of course there were the badly behaved comments: "that's what she said" or he said jokes, "the device" jokes, geese pooping colored cubes, and "heavy, slippery, and my side was wet" (a description of the coffee splattered banner). Among all of this craziness, we attended sessions, met new researchers, and worked the Fort Wayne booth. Delia found time to be interviewed by the Birmingham News, while Dawne was the spokesperson for the FGS 2013 Conference. Several moments will remain fresh in my mind, such as Lou's hug and comment about being proud, Sharon's remark about the board, George's excitement at my UDC acceptance, Dawne's campaign, Amy's annual opening session commentary, and my roommates continuous kindness and friendship. The perfect ending to the week was Mich's visit; fab food; watching the Alabama vs. Michigan game with Kris, who is a huge Michigan fan; Mich's cousin, Alyssa, taking us to a local bar; and spotting the SEC headquarters.

The Fun Stuff

The gals at HATM

A while ago, I posted that some people thought my posts were negative, especially as I dealt with several difficult and stressful situations. Personally, I didn't feel negative, but thought of my blog as a way to channel and account for some of my angst rather than having to explain to each individual person the macabre details. And I promised to note the things in my life that make it so wonderful, even when I'm struggling with harsh emotions.

Though my trip to Florida was only for three days, I was embarking into dangerous territory. We have the continuous drama created by my siblings, my tumultuous emotions over my mother's health and how it affects our relationship, and reconnecting with old friends. The weekend was filled with many deep heartfelt conversations with each member of my family.


Me and C

Since mom couldn't know I was in town until the dinner, I spent Friday with Mich. You got to love our moments together since Mich arrived at the airport in Mich-time (or ish-time) while we all know, I'm a clock-watcher. We practically ran into each other when she entered the building crossing my path while I walked the hallway to the baggage terminal. After lots of hugs, I had to share my airplane story. My ticket was for seat 37C on a 36-aisle plan. Yikes! After lunch at a bistro, I got my fabulous birthday gifts, which included another set of mix CDs so I can keep up with the latest music (Who knew that Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, and Garbage were the latest music again? Hello 1990s!) and a digital photo frame loaded with our New England trip pictures. Then we were off for some Mexican food and HATM. I loved catching up with Cheryl, who is total awesomeness.

The morning after mom's dinner, dad and I had breakfast at Village Inn, where I enjoyed Banana Maple Nut French Toast. Yum! Then the family barbequed and enjoyed the pool. I was minding my own business (okay, torturing my niece, N), when my dad decided to throw me into the pool. Though I managed to escape, I knew it was only a matter of time before I ended up in the water, so I cannonballed into the pool. My nieces insisted that we play Marco/ Pollo, which became hilarious when C decided that she wanted to be it and proceeded to grab and jump on Marco.

The kids conspiring against the adults.

These are the moments I cherish and remember during the bad times. Am I upset about mom's health? Yes, but I benefited from an amazing weekend with her, where I had the opportunity to thank her for saving my life all those years ago. Am I disappointed that my brother still struggles? Yes, but I allowed him to take credit for the dinner, which helped his self-esteem and I had the chance to tell him that I want my brother in my life, not a man who thinks he owes me something for his past behavior. I am grateful for the chance to tell my sister that I'm proud of her, to have meaningful talks with my dad, and some laughs and hugs with my nieces. Though emotionally exhausting, I would never give up the memories I garnered over that weekend.

A Tourist in Southern California

Merlotte's

While staying in Burbank, it was a necessity to visit one of the studios and get my Hollywood fix, so a short cab ride later I found myself at the Warner Brothers Studio. Traveling around the back lot I was excited to see familiar places from my favorite shows and movies. The first place that got my fan girl going was Merlotte's from True Blood followed by a tour of the Gellar home from Friends. Several museums are located at the studio, including a garage filled with Batman's various cars and the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. I stood in awe at the sight of Liz Taylor's outfits from her many notable movies and marveled at her tiny waist. One section of a museum was dedicated to Harry Potter memorabilia, including the sorting hat from the first movie. Yes, I waited in line with the other kids in order to be sorted. I am apparently a Hufflepuff. Who knew? 

Central Perk

We walked along the main street which is being used currently for both Hart of Dixie and Pretty Little Liars. The day I visited, Cate Blanchett and Cristian Bale were filming a scene for an upcoming movie. This was a squeal-worthy moment. I know this will shock you that I have crushed on Bale since American Psycho.

We toured the set of The Mentalist which is a very detailed set, down to the humorous post-it notes. Then the true fan girl scene, the Central Perk set from Friends. This was one of those moments I desperately wished my gals were with me.

Long Beach

Huntington Beach

The next day, Laura was daring enough to travel to the beaches with me. Renting a car, we headed down the 410 towards Long Beach. I didn't realize how much industrial waste is in that area. The water was stagnant and left black sediment on our skin, and the beach was filthy with trash and seaweed, though we could see the Queen Mary along our walk. After talking to some locals, we drove along the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping for dinner at Seal Beach before finding perfection at Huntington Beach. Rocky cliffs, surfers fighting for dominance over the crashing waves, and a beautiful sunset were the perfect ending to my tourist adventures in Southern California.

Speaking in Cali

I debated how to begin sharing my California adventures; should I start with the conference or my vacation? Since the purpose of my trip was to speak at Jamboree, I guess that is where the story will begin. Remember my fear at the idea of standing in a room filled with conference attendees, especially those who I respect and have long listened to in rapt attention. Well that fear disappeared when I entered the room for my first session and saw my boss, my mentor, and two of my reps chatting in the room. As I approached the podium, a calm settled over me and I felt self-confident. Even when things went wrong with cords not being properly arranged or confusion over the multiple microphones hooked to my outfit, I stepped back and let the techs handle the situation with limited ruffled feathers. My first lecture was video recorded and is available on DVD while the other three sessions were audio recorded. Shockingly enough, this didn't disturb me as much as I expected and my voice never once quavered. I had reviewed my lectures numerous times, so I was ready. And yes, I lost my place a few times, but it was never truly noticeable except maybe to those who know me well.

My most interesting session was held in the pavilion, with a room capacity of 220, two projection screens, a stage, and some very hot lights. I was quite uncomfortable. The air conditioning blew out from the stage area towards the audience making it difficult for me to hear the sound system and not providing me with any relief from the heat. Between my elevated body temperature which is typical when I speak, the lights, a crowded space, and being in a tent in California, I was unbearably hot.

Though I received many glowing compliments from session attendees, I was also attacked by other egos. One particular person was vocal that they would not attend my sessions since that person was the subject expert and the person couldn't understand why I was asked to speak. And then there was the person I have called my "hater." After my first session, she felt the need to tell me that my lecture was too general and she knew all the resources I discussed so she decided to work during my lecture. She approached me again two days later before the session to ask if it was a beginners class or if she would learn anything since my last lecture was too general. With each of these incidents, I was graceful and polite. I gave professional responses which the people did not deserve though you know the response that was playing in my mind. I truly can't understand people who behave this way because I am completely accepting of suggestions or constructive criticism, but I despise insults or questioning of my professionalism.

Jamboree is a proud moment in my career and though I missed having my gals there, it was intriguing to be supported by my boss at a non-work function. We were at this event as equals, which altered our typical dynamic. We socialized and supported each other as colleagues rather than as manager/ subordinate. Overall, Jamboree was an interesting experience and I'm glad I was asked to present. I needed the reassurance in my abilities and the connection with my peers that this conference provided.

Mad Mad World

The next few weeks are utter mayhem for me and hubby. I leave this week for California, where I will present three lectures and sit as a panelist for another session. Since I am officially on vacation, I have opted out of attending conference events and plan to only attend lectures and the exhibit hall before the panel session. Though I have a business dinner scheduled at 6:30 pm the evening I arrive, when my plane touches down at 6:15 pm. Supposedly, if my dinner partners order appetizers, the airport is small enough and close enough for me to make it to dinner. I've agreed to this, figuring after 12 hours of traveling, I'll want a real meal. I plan to play tourist during my free time at the conference, though my return home is chaotic. I have two lectures on my final day and will check out sometime in between, then make my way to the airport for the 12 hours of travel back to Indiana. The crazy 12 hours from my home to the conference is the result of a three-leg jaunt both ways.Once home, it's back to the housing grind as we'll be in the final week, with walk-throughs, closing, and acquiring the keys has been scheduled.

At the same time, it has suddenly hit me that my mom is mortal. Though she is doing better on the meds, she has far less energy due to a weaker heart and a dramatically increased chance of having a stroke. I am struggling with my fears and concerns over this situation. While the tests and procedures were being completed, I was able to cope because we were in the action phase and my job was to keep her on track. Now, we're in the coping phase, when the family has to adapt to the changes in her life. For me, this is the time I realize that I could lose my mom at any moment or she can adapt and live a long life, yet nothing is set in stone. I have never truly thought about life without my mother and now that I have, it is soul-wrenching. So I spend everyday grateful for every phone call with her, yet an underlying fear, which I hope will disappear in the coming months as she improves.

With all this mayhem comes loads and loads of stress. A few weeks ago, I had a bad episode, where my body shut down and my mental faculties were almost non-existent. I was frustrated by this episode because I desperately try to maintain my regiment, but no one can be prepared for the damage caused by stress. I read a lot of material about my condition and recently one article had some interesting insight into these episodes as I can never fully explain them. The article claimed that our episodes are the mental and physical equivalent to an average person not resting, napping, or sleeping for more than 40 hours. I found this an apt description because I suffer from full exhaustion, shakiness, and the inability to think straight, much less recall things or fully function, when I am in one of these episodes.

I am trying to focus on one day at a time within my world; on finding a balance in which I can rest and relax; and seeking comfort and help from friends because let's be honest, my world is always crazy even on a slow week.

I Am a Planner

I love to plan and organize things as far in advance as possible. I have lived out of my day planner my entire adult life. I thrive on have my coming weeks mapped out so I can look forward to certain events or prepare myself for others. Once I make plans with someone to go somewhere, I like to know where we're going, when, and other details. I know this stems from my desperate need to control my environs. I recognize that it is impossible to control everything, but I can dominate my schedule into submission. When things are disorganized, I become rather uncomfortable.

When Mich and I traveled to New England this past fall, we decided to plan sections of our trip, but not to finalize a lot of decisions, so we could alter as needed. This worked out well since we had lots of misadventures thanks to the unplanned excursions, plus we added more days at Acadia, which is now my second favorite vacation spot. At the same time, not planning ahead when Mich and I visited Chicago led to us missing out on the Harry Potter display which was one of the main reasons for our visit. Don’t get me wrong, we had a blast on our trip, but I still regret missing the exhibit.

My desire to plan ahead is a running joke among my friends. They know if we want to go somewhere or do something that I'll research and coordinate the event. So imagine our surprise when we planned a recent movie night. Becky said she would check for movie times since I had a rather busy week, which led to us calling Erin to discuss our plans the night before our planned GNO. Erin remarked on her shock that I hadn't made arrangements earlier in the week. I usually buy opening weekend movie tickets ahead of time. She was worried something was wrong with the universe since I had actually passed the responsibility baton to Becky.

Currently, my schedule is in chaos. I have two conferences which require travel in the next two months, but certain details have not been finalized. I admit to feeling antsy over the big details, such as what day to leave, but am willing to wait to the last minute on planning out whether I'm carpooling, arrival times, or access to the hotel room. I can wait on those decisions, which is shocking for someone like me. Also, with the house hunt, we aren't sure of anything since everything is in the air, which is an uncomfortable place for me. Plus, with my mom being sick, I may need to make a trip to Florida in the coming months. So I am trying to tamp down my urge to plan and instead am focusing on one week at a time. It truly is amazing when you notice the changes in your own personality.

Thanksgiving in Florida

Though you can't tell from this photo, the trip to Florida consisted of a lot of DRAMA (this is said in a high pitched sing song voice). I can't even begin to discuss what all happened because I still get worked up at the thought of all the drama. Needless to say, when you combine a group of people who are stubborn, judgmental, selfish, and in denial, it leads to a huge mess, especially as one person was the driving force behind it all. My personality traits are listed here as well. Even leading up to this photo, someone was still causing drama, though we can deny it for the sake of the camera.

I do have some fond memories of the trip. I cooked Thanksgiving with my sister and mom, which is a first. I played cards with my nieces, including a fun game of poker. Mom, my sibs, hubby, and I taught the girls how to play. I had an interesting conversation with my brother which helped me see him in a different light, though we have far to go. I hung out at Gators with my gals and niece, N. It was the first time I was able to spend quality time with her and sharing something unique for the two of us. Having the younger niece, C, run up to hug me and when I asked if she knew who I was, she exclaimed, Issa. Watching football with dad, as we always do. Hanging out with the in-laws, who love to feed us and remind us that hubby does have family. Seeing my BF, Michelle, who actually trusted me to meet the boyfriend. She'll be shocked to hear me say, he was personable and good looking. These were precious moments for me, but I seriously struggle with getting passed the drama.

Nano No More

So I've been a bit delinquent on the blog, what with the trip to Florida and getting horrifically sick. I plan to write about my trip, but haven't had the inclination to upload my pics. Truly, I have felt that crappy. Another thing that my ailment affected was NanoWrimo. I ended the month at a little more than 40,000 words. I would have finished if this stupid cold hadn't gripped me. Either way, I have to thank the gals in the writing group, who helped me stay on track. Writing weekly inspirational emails to them helped me focus when my life felt a bit chaotic.

You might ask where does this leave my writing? I'm still waiting for the reviews on the current manuscript, but this hasn't stopped me from continuing to work on my Nano project because the story wants to be told. While working on my beloved manuscript, this other idea (Nano project) popped in my head and I was forced to outline it, so I wouldn't forget the critical details I had in mind. Though I failed at Nano, I am now at more than 56,000 words on the 2011 Nano project, so I plan to continue working on it, while the ideas keep flowing.

As for my beloved manuscript, I'll wait for the reviews and eventually return to my labor of love. My Nano project in 2010 was portions of book 2 and book 3 of the continuing saga of my completed manuscript, so I have the foundations when I'm ready to continue that project. The manuscript idea was book 1 would be about discovery, book 2 would focus on acceptance, and book 3 would question survival. As for the Nano project 2011, it is outlined to be 3 stories as well, yet they are all focused on the same character arc. I hoped to show the evolution of a person discovering their identity.

Either way, it appears I have a busy writing year ahead of me. I thought on December 1st that I would take a break from writing and regroup, but found myself wanting to work on the story. And who am I to deny myself when I'm enjoying it so much.

FGS Conference 2011

FGS was great this year with lots of interesting presentations and enjoyable activities, but I'm sure you'd like to hear about the funnier events of the past week. Let's begin with the never ending drive. I-69 was backed up, IN-5 had construction along with every other highway we took, all leading to a longer drive to Springfield, in which we arrived an hour late, but we did discover Fickle, IN. Who else can say the same? Later that evening we took the very long route to dinner while Curt tried to navigate from memory, so two memorable car rides in one day. I saw many friends and acquaintances throughout the conference and shared some funny moments, like Tony B regaling Steve and I with his recent adventures. We were in stitches for hours. Or my adventure to Coldstone with Amy, where the server offered up regular size conconctions as test subjects before we ever ordered our desert. And I was rather annoyed to receive this bill for my drink one night. Do you see what might have annoyed me here? And I was impressed that Steve and Kris still have stomach linings following their experience with the horseshoe, which is the equivalent of a heart attack on a plate. And finally I have to thank my social coordinator, Dawne, who arranged several of my social activities directly and indirectly. Looking forward to next year's conference.

Return to Florida

My mom turned 60 this past weekend, so I made a jaunt down south to visit and celebrate this momentous milestone. Thursday arrived with Michelle and Crystal picking me up in Sanford (the ticket was direct and cheaper). We spent the afternoon playing board games and relaxing with Gatsby. Michelle and I began the trip by visiting one of my favorite restaurants, Carabbas, before heading down to Ybor for an evening of music. We had a few misses, like the jazz club with the black light bathroom, Coyote Ugly with its silver walled bathroom, settling on Green Iguana, which had an amazing duo performing on guitar and drums.
The next day we visited Pass-a-Grille and ate lunch at The Hurricane. Can we say fresh shrimp and grouper? Yummy. Our waiter informed us the water was too cool to go swimming and only tourists were out there. Yes, I'm a tourist, I went in the water and collected shells on the seashore. We popped into Gators Bar for some desert so I could soak up the ambiance. I spent the evening with my in-laws and ate dinner at Beef O'Bradys. Yes, I had some fabulous wings. Michelle and I were off to Channelside to visit my favorite bar, Howl-at-the-Moon and met up with Jen and Cheryl. We had a fun night, though I lost the bar to some Georgia Bulldogs.

Mom's birthday happened to fall on a major college football day. Dad and I spent many hours in front of the tv watching the games. We had lunch at Cheesecake Factory, in which C, had a child's portion of pasta (looked like too much food for an adult), which she scarfed down with a fork in each hand. John asked if we could talk privately, so we headed out to his favorite pub and had a drink. Jo arrived later and we headed out to dinner for mom's birthday.

Michelle and I were up early Sunday morning, and headed out to Islands of Adventure with N. I could write a full post on the Harry Potter world. It was very impressive. We rode the rides, bought several gifts, tried ButterBeer, which is delicious, and ate at the Three Broomsticks. All around, it was a lot of fun.

Monday morning dawned early, with Michelle, Crystal, and I heading to Village Inn, my absolute favorite breakfast place. We visited my old library and spent time with some old friends. It was strange to be in the place and visit the people who played such a large part in the beginning of my career. The place has changed in a lot of ways and so have I. We went to lunch in South Tampa at Datz, then headed to the airport.

It was a lengthy weekend with lots of treats thrown in, but also a lot of emotional moments.

Duh! Why didn't I think of that?

Hubby and I finished watching the National Parks documentary by Ken Burns. I absolutely recommend it. The amazing views of the various parks were breathtaking and made me want to pack my bags and go. The story was actually quite interesting considering all the passionate outdoor lovers, political squabbles, and those who's childhoods were impacted by parks. As I watched the documentary, I pointed out the places we had visited when I was a child and started sharing family stories. It made me yearn to share the experience with other people, especially to make an impact on a child.

I realized my nieces may never get the opportunity to experience these types of family trips, yet I send N postcards when I travel, in an effort to entice her to want to see the world. Why don't I show her the world myself? Why couldn't I dedicate one week a summer to show my nieces that there is this wondrous world out there, full of scenery, culture, and history.

So it's a plan. Maybe not this year, since things are so confusing right now, but definitely a plan for next year.

Oooo, I've Been There

Since I've been laid up for a few days, I've had plenty of time in front of the tv and I've noticed a strange phenomenon. While watching a movie or tv show, I'm recognizing the localities. While watching Bride Wars, I perked up realizing in one pivotal scene, they are standing in front of the 72nd St. Subway Station which is very familiar to me from my visit to NY. While watching Prison Break, I recognize many cityscapes from Chicago. I've even found myself checking the background when a window appears in a scene. Charmed features many scenes from San Francisco. I find myself thinking, I've been there and there and there when watching. Do you recognize places you have visited when watching tv or movies? Care to share.

Michelle's Visit

Michelle flew from Florida on her birthday to visit for a few days. As soon as she stepped off the plane, we both nearly cried. Yes, we were the huggy people in the terminal who wouldn't move out of the way. We started our vacation with a birthday dinner and some True Blood. Michelle is a major Sam lover!

The next day we went to Grabill for some homemade candy and fudge along with a stroll around the antiques area. Michelle got to see the Amish, corn, and avoid poo. Then we were off to lunch with my lunch buddies at the Dash. Exceptional food and conversation, followed by a tour of the grand library because I had to show off where I work. After a brief change of clothes we were off for a GNO that included the hubby. Dinner at Henry's, the International Fest Block Party (love men in kilts, good music), Flashback (the pregnant woman was the only one to hit the dance floor, but we could talk, since no one else was there), and Rum Runners (seriously, last call at 11:30). Normally, I would have pics, but the battery on my camera died.

The next day we were out the door early for the Johnny Appleseed Festival. Lots of caramel corn, apple dumplings, apple petals (the best), apple cider, steak sandwiches, turkey legs, hay, and many bought items, we were ready for Chicago. One of the things I love about Michelle, she doesn't mind my singing in the car. We arrived in Chicago only to receive a suite instead of our normal room on Michigan Ave. Yea!!! We had dinner at House of Blues (great southern food), drinks and a quick viewing of some football games at PJ Clarke's, Navy Pier (I chickened out on the Ferris Wheel), Reagle Beagle (Stay Puft Smorestini is awesome deliciousness, along with great 80s music), and Second City (amazing show followed by a rehearsal of their new material, 2.5 hours of great comedy).

The next day (no hangovers for us gals), we left for the Adler Planetarium and wounded up at the Tailgate Party for the Bears vs. Steelers game. We never made it to the Planetarium. We drove down to MOSI to see the Harry Potter exhibit, but only got to see the Ford Anglia instead. We did go on a fantastic walk thru Hyde Park, ate at a cute neighborhood restaurant, and went on an excellent tour of Robie House. Drove back home in time to have our garlicy leftovers from the birthday dinner and watch Twilight and True Blood.

Overall, a wonderful vacation, in which I remembered why I adore Michelle so much. Can't wait to see you again in 6 months.

Traveling

I love to travel! There, I said it...but my hubby is iffy on traveling. He complains a lot about it, hence why I take trips with my girlfriends instead. The past week, I've been a little more vocal about wanting to travel again. I've been saving this year and holding out on big trips, but I'm yearning to plan a nice vacation. I'm jealous that Crystal went to England (I've been asking for 5 years). The hubby says we'll go one of these days. I asked about attending Comic-con next year. He says sure, we'll go. I want to go hiking in Brown County (I've been asking for 2 years) or in the Smokies (I've been asking for 7 years). Maybe this fall is the response I get. Abby returned from NYC and I asked her to take me next time (I've asked the hubby for 6 years) and she agreed. The hubby is upset because he lived there for a while and wants to show me the town. I reminded him I've waited for him to take me and he never has. He now wants me to plan our trip to NYC. Until the plane is booked, why do I question it? I guess I should continue planning my fall adventure with Michelle :)

Visit with Cheryl

Cheryl and family were visiting Cleveland, so I took a jaunt over to see them. It was so worth the trip. We had a blast hanging out. We went to the Leaping Lizard for lunch with Phil and the girls (finally some great wings). Followed by a day at the Rock Hall of Fame, which I need to go back to visit, since we closed the museum and there is so much to see. The last 15 minutes included us running upto the top two floors to see the Springsteen exhibit. I thought no one could shop like Michelle at Margaritaville, but Cheryl has won the prize. The moment she said, I need a mouse pad for work, I knew I was in trouble. Did you know Cleveland is on Lake Erie? One of these days, I will know my geography of the Great Lakes. I was duly impressed. We ended the day having dinner in Little Italy, which I hope to return as well. Overall a great day! Nice to see a friend and have fun conversation. Now, all I need is for the rest of my Florida friends to visit and I'll be set. Thanks to Phil for watching the girls so Cheryl and I could hang out, to my hubby who took care of the animals, and to Cheryl for showing me around Cleveland and taking time out of her busy travel schedule to hang out.

NGS Conference

I have returned from the NGS Conference in Raleigh, NC. It was very informative, educational, and a great networking opportunity. I got to spend time with old friends and make some new ones. Lots of food, southern accents, and genealogy lumped into one week.

There were a few humorous moments of course cause...well...I'm traveling. Dawne, hot drink, and an escalator is a bad idea; Sue needs help with hung, I mean hanged; Rev. MacDonald buying a round; yes, it's a family room; beware who's on your floor; "womanizers" don't mix well; drool; what were they thinking prom dresses; Kim telling Sue to behave; the "talker"; many meaningful looks exchanged; yes, the world really is that small.

I have to say Dawne was a great roommate! We had a lot of fun together! One problem, I only took 2 pictures the whole conference, so I need to steal some of Dawne's.

The Earlier the Better

As some of you know, I had some travel mayhem returning from Florida. And there is a lesson in it as well. I wrote last August about how pleased I was with a specific airline for their help in retrieving my lost wedding ring. That same airline is now on my s*%& list.

As I returned from Florida, I was laid over in Cleveland for 30 minutes. Due to bad weather, we hovered for a while before landing leaving me 10 minutes to catch my next flight. After we landed, I shoved my way off the plane and hightailed it across 2 terminals and up 4 flights of stairs to the gate. I made it to the gate according to their clock at 3:15 for a 3:20 flight. I couldn't breath as I handed my ticket to the attendant who told me the flight had already left.

I can't stress how furious I felt. Come to discover after talking to some people from said airline, they reserve the right to close the gate anytime before departure. They can even close it 20 minutes before if they feel the need.

I am someone who believes in being on time. If I'm told 7:00, I'm there a little before or at 7:00. If I'm unsure if I'll make it by 7:00, I call it 7ish. Apparently according to said airline, time falls into ish zone. It's not an exact time, it's an ish based on their whims. My piece of advice, be very early for your flights.