Howdie Family and Friends - here are the going ons in the life of me. Stew shows up frequently. My family and friends visit a lot. My nieces and nephews are represented throughout. It's all about me and how I'm traveling along in this thing I call my life.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

POTD: July 31, 2012

Enjoying the Olympics in my hotel room.

Journal: July 31, 2012

Performed what may have been my best pre-study visit today and it has very little to do with me.  The site was phenomenal.  They are completely on top of their game.  They have some concerns about our study, but I think we can get those addressed and get them on board.  It's a shame that I won't be monitoring at any of these sites because sites like the one I met with today make the very best sites.

Got done with the site pretty early and went to Target.  I needed toothpaste and saline solution.  Found both of them but also found the women's section in this Target - unreal.  So many cute dresses.  I bought 8 dresses and a bathing suit.  Probably shouldn't have spent the money, but they were too cute and inexpensive to pass up.  I can't wait to wear them all - only problem is I need to buy some bras to wear with them because the cuts are all different and my "control back fat" bras sit up too high to be worn with these dresses.  A trip to Victoria Secret is in my future.  I don't care what anyone says, they make the best bras.

Following Target, headed back to my hotel and went for a walk on the Riverwalk - must say, it's so darn hot down here.  103 today.  Wow.  And this is humid heat, for sure.  Didn't walk long because I didn't bring water or anything like that on my walk.  Ordered dinner from the hotel cafe and settled in to watch the Olympics - totally obsessed with them this year, which is odd because I've basically ignored them, especially the summer games, up until now.  I'm really enjoying watching them.


Monday, July 30, 2012

Journal: July 30, 2012

Well, it was a day.  A chaotic, crazy day.  I don't have not one picture from the day and as I write this I look around my hotel room and think there must be something I can take a picture of just to have one, but quite honestly, it's a typical room at the Courtyard.  Two double beds - not liking that and I'm staying on the riverwalk in San Antonio - unfortunately, my room view is a parking garage.  Totally nondescript room for a completely nondescript day.  Woke up and from the minute my feet hit the floor it was just running around and trying to get things prepared for this week.  Printing slides and itineraries, entering expense reports, writing trip reports.  Traveling at the end of the month, being away from my home office for the end of the month reports is kind of nuts.  So it was a race to get all of those things prepared and then it was a trip to the airport (which my husband was kind enough to drive me) and then it was the flight to San Antonio - which was LONG.  I slept and read for most of it.  And now, it's a hotel room and I have to get up early tomorrow and get to my site with plenty of time to meet the sponsor's representative - so I'm going to get in bed, turn on the Olympics and get some sleep.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Journal: July 29, 2012

Still so very tired today and in quite the mood, I might add.  It was a good morning, however.  Any time I get to wake up to the sounds of my kids in my house is a wonderful start to the day.  I woke up and Ms. CEH was eating and Ms. GDH was downstairs watching tv and "eating" - that is to say she was picking the marshmallows out of her Lucky Charms and had to be coaxed by her dad to eat the other parts.  I'm with her, I don't understand why the other parts are there either.

We spent the morning hanging out, watching the Olympics.  I don't know what it is this year, but I'm super into them.  I've never in the past been interested in the summer games, at all, except when Greg Louganis was diving - loved him!  But this year, I'm watching swimming and gymnastics and heck, we even watched women's skeet shooting.  Kim Rhode was incredible!  She hit 99 of the 100 targets.  That's just unbelievable.


I don't know what it is - but like I said, I'm pumped about the Olympics.

My idea for the day was to just hang around the house - but Stew gave me the big guilt trip about going to lunch (he didn't really, but he was pretty stern about wanting me to go), so I got in the shower and we headed off to Red Robin.  I was seriously trying to be good about eating - seriously, I was.  So I ordered a salad and told the waiter specifically that I didn't want cheese on it.  When it came out, it had cheese.  So he went to get it re-made and while he was doing that, I was watching everyone eat their burgers - yeah, so I ordered myself one of them.  I'll have the salad for lunch tomorrow.  I did drink water the entire time.  Yes, me, I went to Red Robin and didn't get Freckled Lemonade.  What is the world coming to?

GDH and CEH were as good as can be at lunch.  CEH slept through most of it and GDH played with her handheld game (leap pad maybe or something - I don't remember) and then she ate without any problems.  They're a treat.

After Red Robin, Matt took me over to Office Depot so I could get toners for my printers.  It seems like all three of them ran out at the same time.  Ridiculous - and since I have a lot of printing to do for my visits coming up this week, I really needed toner.

After that Matt and family headed home and Stew and I sat down to rest in the family room.  I did some laundry and we watched our DVR'ed shows, watched some Olympics and watched that damn Jimmie Johnson win Indy - again!  I like the dude, but I totally wish he'd go away already.

A good Sunday....

POTD: July 29, 2012

GDH donning the Michael Jordan look as she concentrates on her game.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Friday, July 27, 2012

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Journal: July 26, 2012

Well, I should know better.  That's all I have to say.  I woke up this morning to get ready for my flight to Greenville and decided that I would just wear my shorts while traveling and change into my business clothes when I arrived.  I've been traveling for far too long to make a silly mistake like that.  I had a layover in Atlanta of all places before my trip to Greenville - Atlanta, Gina!  What did you think could possibly go wrong?  Sigh.

I got to Greenville just fine.  My bag on the otherhand.  Yeah, didn't make it's connection.  Due to arrive in Greenville just as my pre-study visit is about to begin.  That's not going to work.  Thankfully, I had enough time to go get some clothes for the meeting, because I really doubt the site would have appreciated my showing up in shorts.

I know better.

I did get some cute shoes out of the deal, even though they've killed my feet.

The visit was awesome.  Site was great.  No issues there.

Headed back to the airport and missed the earlier flight by 10 minutes.  Grrrrrr.  Oh well, read some, got some work done, then headed home.

I love you Southwest.  I do, I do!

Got home and Stew, Kelly and Matt were watching tv.  My girls were in bed.  Stew took care of finishing the cleaning while I was gone and went to the grocery store.  I'm so thankful for that because I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out how I was going to get it all done.

I'm excited for the weekend.  Lots of time with my two little cuties!

(Stew went to see the hand doctor today.  He thinks the bump on his pinkie is a cyst and just wants to keep an eye on it for now.  Otherwise, he thinks his hands are doing great and will see him again in October.)

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Journal: July 25, 2012

One more night in Montreal.  Pretty easy day today.  It's awesome to go to a site to do an initiation visit and the site knows the study and has everything prepared.  Makes my job 100 times easier.  One slight problem, however, this site is definitely going to need a French speaking monitor, so that means that I'm going to be moving off of this study and on to another one.  The one they have in mind actually puts me at Hopkins.  That will be awesome!

Other than the site visit today and ordering some food, I haven't done anything.  I'm not used to traveling like this and I'm exhausted.  I have an early flight tomorrow, on my way to Greenville, SC.  Talk about culture shock.

I'm ready to go home.  Exciting weekend ahead - Kelly and Matt are bringing my girls down.  They'll be there when I get home tomorrow night.  I'm super excited about that.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Journal: July 24, 2012

I'm in Montreal tonight and let me tell you, I don't think I very much like this city.  Mostly, it's a language thing.  I can read French pretty well thanks to my 5 years of it during middle and high school, but to trnaslate it while people talk to me - that's a no go and Montreal is no where near as bilingual as the other parts of Canada that I have been to.  It's a good thing that I know the directions in French - East, West, North, South, or else getting to my hotel would have been a much more interesting adventure than it was.

I'm feeling like a road warrior in every sense of the word this week.  Airports, hotels, rental cars, taxi cabs, go, go, go, go.  Three different cities in three days in very geographically different places.  Insanity.  I haven't traveled like this in a long time.

I woke up this morning in Baltimore.  Went to the airport and hopped on a plane to Detroit.  Caught a taxi and headed to Ann Arbor for my visit.  Finished my visit - called the taxi to come take me back to the airport - waited, and waited, and waited, until finally he realized he was sitting at the wrong building.  Back to the airport, another plane, and land in Montreal.  Rental car, to the hotel room and I'm exhausted.  It's time for me to sleep.  At least tomorrow there's just a site visit.  No travel.

POTD: July 24. 2012

Always makes me think of something from Star Wars or something - a walkway at Detroit airport.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Friday, July 20, 2012

POTD: July 20, 2012

It's the economy size - these should last me awhile.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

POTD: July 18, 2012

This was a row in the movie theater when Stew and I walked in - their stuff is there, they, however, aren't.  Good idea.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

POTD: July 17, 2012

It cannot be - Christmas decorations filling the shelves at AC Moore - ALREADY! 

Monday, July 16, 2012

POTD: July 16, 2012

This is how I felt the entire time we were driving to Georgia - makes me crazy!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

POTD: July 15, 2012

I love to travel - but boy, do I love to come home.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Friday, July 13, 2012

Journal: July 13, 2012

Ohhhhh, it's Friday the 13th, scary.  I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was funny.

I'm not very superstitious so this day really means nothing to me.  I mean the last few years, I've had flights on Friday the 13th and today, I spent the day in the car.  No issues.

Stew and I continued our journey down to Greenville, SC.  I asked Stew if he wanted me to drive, but I think he's really enjoying driving the Escalade because he wouldn't give up the keys.  We drove through lots of rain on and off.  I slept a lot.


At one point, we saw a sign for Alan Jackson Blvd.  Stew said, "guess how long it's going to be named that."  I said, "how long?"  "At least for the next 30 years."  Yeah, that would have been funny my love, if Alan Jackson sang that song - which he doesn't.  LOL.

Heading into Georgia, we saw a water tower painted like a peach - I thought it was cool.

We met up with Shawn at our hotel and then headed out to dinner.  We tried a barbecue place.  Stew said the ribs were second only to those at the place we ate in New Hampshire last year.  Shawn got chicken fingers and said they were good.  I got pulled pork - not my favorite.  They did have some funny things on the menu and even a red solo cup reference. 




Tomorrow we're headed to the drive through safari.  I'm excited to go!




POTD: July 13, 2012





Water tower seen in Georgia - painted like a giant peach.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

POTD: July 12, 2012

Funny sign seen at Chapala.

Journal: July 12, 2012

The busy day that I was expecting was exactly that.  Woke up with a list of things to do a mile long.  Finished my work related stuff while I did laundry.  Mostly setting up Pre Study visits for this new study to which I'm assigned.  Finally going to be doing some traveling - that's very good because my frequent flyer programs are going to go away if I don't start traveling soon.

I packed all of our stuff and had to go to Target to get car chargers for our phones.

I went and had my nails done and my eyebrows waxed.

Then it was time to come home, change clothes and hop in the car to go get Stew so we could start our long drive.

We are headed down to Georgia to take my brother his car.  We drove to just outside of Charlotte tonight and then we'll finish the drive tomorrow.

Picked up Stew from the airport since he drove his car over there so we'd have it when we get in on Sunday.  He was wearing his work clothes - meeting with the big boss today so going casual to work wasn't an option.  I brought him car clothes and he proceeded to change in the car.  Men are so easy that way.


While we were headed south on 95, we talked about where we should stop to get something to eat.  I wanted something more than fast food.  Stew said, "you know what's on the way, don't you?"  Nope, I didn't know but he soon informed me that Chapala wasn't too far out of our way - yay!  Decision made.

The place was empty which suited us just fine - though when customers did start to arrive, Stew and I spent a long time trying to figure out if these two men who entered both dressed in business suits were partners or father and son.  I don't think we ever came to a consensus on that.

The food was delicious as usual even if the service this time left something to be desired.  The queso - they can bottle this stuff.   I'd buy it.

Stew and I ordered our normal meals.  I got the quesidillas and he got the fajitas.  The food didn't disappoint and was  basically rolling out to the car by the time we were finished.



Stew likes to put some of the queso on his fajita - he uses a chip as a queso delivery system.  I offered him my knife, but then he said, "Nah, this way I get to eat the chip, too."  Good point, my friend.


One thing that did aggravate me is that the Holiday Inn where they hold the Con had a flag hanging that had no business being on display.  Once a flag becomes tattered it should be taken down and disposed of properly.  This one is beyond that point.  It's just one of my little pet peeves.

The drive tonight was complicated by lots of traffic due to construction (thanks, Barack) and weather.  There was a good deal of rain.

We made a few pit stops along the way, to WaWa and then also to an auto part place.  We had to get coolant for Shawn's car since there's something wrong with the air conditioning.  I almost bought 7 cans of the stuff that had the leak stoppage in it.  Oops.  I'm glad the cashier spoke up because I really didn't know what I was buying.  I felt bad too because after helping us figure out what we needed, his register went on the fritz and he couldn't get credit for the sale.  His coworker did and she even gave us a discount because we had to wait.  I felt like I should have been the one that was tipping them.

I drove from Maryland to almost near the North Carolina line and then that was it.  I couldn't go any further.  Stew finished the drive to our hotel.  We got in around 2:30.  We're going to catch some sleep and sleep in a bit tomorrow since Shawn won't be out of class until 3 and then we'll continue our journey.  I'm so excited to see Shawn!



Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Journal: July 11, 2012

What a day.  There was work and not a whole lot else.  I was supposed to go get this gray in my hair colored, but I didn't.  I'm just not feeling very motivated.  Considering that we're driving to Georgia tomorrow - that's a problem.  Where did my motivation go?  I hope I find it soon.  Tomorrow's going to be a fun day because today wasn't - there's laundry to do and stuff to be packed and things to be cleaned.  Ugh.  I'm tired just thinking about it.  At least I don't have to take Stew to work and pick him up.  As I was talking to Christina yesterday, she asked how Stew and I were getting home from the airport on Sunday if we were driving to Georgia in Shawn's car.  Yeah, good question.  So Stew will drive to work tomorrow and then drive to BWI to park his car and I'll pick him up from there.  Good plan!

Good night.  Lord, I pray that I find my mojo in the morning.

POTD: July 11, 2012

Uh oh - someone is photo bombing me!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Journal: July 10, 2012

More musical cars today.

Christina and GEP came to pick me up today so that we could go pick up Shawn's car from the port.  He had both of his cars shipped and the first one came while he was here and the second one came just the past week and Stew and I are going to drive it down to him this weekend.  The whole process at the port was simple and the guys there even put the license plates back on for me, which was awesome.  On our way to the port, GEP was his normal self.  I told him that his uncle was sad that he wouldn't see GEP today and I told him that Stew thought GEP was his favorite nephew (I tell all my kids that they're the favorites).  GEP said, "I can live with that."



He was oh so hungry while we were there - you'd think his parents never feed him, so I had to dig deep in the purse to get him some coins for the candy machine. 

He's too much.

All I have to say about the Escalade is that it's big - HUGE, really.  I'm used to having a little room inside the traffic lane with my small Vibe - yeah, not with this thing.  Don't even think about drifting into my lane, there's no where for me to go and I will hit you.



After getting home from that, I got a call from Stew that the dealership swears his window is fixed again.  So Stew picked me up after work and we headed over there to get his car.  (He drove my car to work today.) Hopefully, the thing won't break again.  I'm so tired of this car's window.

After we got home, we had dinner and then watched some tv.  Finding myself in a rut lately with very little motivation - hopefully that will end soon.

POTD: July 10, 2012

Just one of the many reasons, Stew and I don't drive an Escalade.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Journal: July 9, 2012

Trying to get back on the healthy track today.  Got up and did my zumba workout, then had cereal for breakfast.  I even counted out exactly one serving and measured my milk.

In between working, I did laundry.  I started by trying to clean the washing machine, but the darn thing kept telling me that there was something in there.



There wasn't.  It's just mocking me.  I really hate when machines think they are smarter than me!  Grrrr.  So after reading on some websites that this was a glitch in the software (yeah, machines, so smart), I finally just put the washer on hot, put bleach in there and ran it through the wash cycle.  Sigh....Maybe if I'd stop leaving clothes in the washer for extended periods of time the need to wash the washer wouldn't be so high.

Stew called the car dealership today because his damn window in his car isn't working again.  We have put so much money into this window and they just fixed it AGAIN right before Shawn came.  They told Stew not to use it for a week to make sure that the glue set this time.  Fine, he didn't use it for about a month.  He never really uses the window - but when he tried to use it this weekend, the window wasn't working.  He called them this morning and they said he could bring it in after work and they'd take a look at it tomorrow.  So I had to go pick him up from the dealership which meant I had to go to the grocery store with him (though I did get Outback for dinner out of it.  Score!).  I didn't want to go to the grocery store.  My conversation with Stew about that went something like this: 

S:  Why don't you want to go to the grocery store?
G:  There are people there?
S:  Are you agoraphobic?
G:  No, I'm not scared of them.  I hate them.

I posted that on Facebook and then learned that agoraphobia is really the fear of crowds, not necessarily people.  Hmm, learn something new everyday.  I still hate people though.  So if there's a word for that - that's me.

After the grocery store, I was wiped out.  Getting up early and doing what I'm supposed to wears me out.  I played in the craft room for awhile, watched some tv, and went to bed.





POTD: July 9, 2012

As I was straightening up today, I found Phill's slippers.  Since, he's had my one slipper in his work van since Stew was in the hospital - I has a good idea.  I'm going to hold his slippers hostage until he brings me back mine.  Sigh.  I gave in though and gave them to Christina.  I still want my other slipper back, though!

POTD: July 8, 2012

I started Project Life this year - well, I did the first week.  From there it's all gone down hill.  I have all of the pictures, I have all of the stories, I have all of the memorabilia to add to the binder - now it's just a matter of getting it caught up.  I'm only 25 weeks behind.  No problem.  Sigh......

Journal: July 8, 2012

The day I had planned yesterday came to fruition today.  I woke up early, headed down to the craft room, turned on my New Age Pandora station and started working on my Project Life album - want to finish last week and my goal would be to keep the current weeks up to date and if I can get an older week done then maybe, just maybe, by the end of the year, I'll have the whole project complete - yeah, maybe.  I take on these projects with all kinds of enthusiasm and then life happens.  I guess it's about what you make time for - and I seem to be more interested in organizing the craft room than actually making anything in it.

Stew got up around 11 (even I slept in this morning - got up at 7:30!  That's late for me.)  and I asked him if he wanted to do something today or hang out around the house - he said he had to check the magic number, the magic number would tell him.  I asked him if he was checking the weather - he said yes.  He didn't like what he saw, so he decided that we'd hang around the house.  We're going to Georgia this coming weekend, so a weekend of rest was good with me.  So I literally spent the whole day in the craft room - and I didn't even finish one full week of Project Life - I get distracted.  I have Facebook open, Twitter open, my Google reader, email and then there's that damn Pinterest.  If I would just concentrate on what I'm doing and not what's going on with every one else.  I might damn well accomplish something.

Stew spent the day watching tv.  I'm not sure what he watched.  When I went in there at various times I saw Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, Mythbusters and I'm not even sure what else.

We had sandwiches for dinner since we found mayo and Miracle Whip in the cabinet.  I love sandwiches during the summer.

We did accomplish some household things - we took all of the laundry downstairs.  I haven't done laundry since Shawn and his family arrived - guess what I'll be doing all week.  Yeppers.

We planned our menu for the week and I'll send him the grocery list in a bit so he can stop there on his way home from work.

And we talked about getting ourselves back on track.  We set out our workout clothes and we were supposed to go to bed at 10 - I kind of ruined that.  Damn Pinterest.

So all in all a great relaxing weekend.  We won't have another one for awhile - so we take them when we can.

I did see something on Pinterest that is now on my wish list.

 http://www.activeforever.com/p-2287-eye-vac-pro-electric-dust-pan.aspx

Mount that in the kitchen - that would be awesome.  Or get a dog.  I swear my kitchen floor was never as clean as when Taz and Molly were here.

Only one other newsworthy thing today - apparently Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson participated in a triathlon today.  Yeah, yeah, who cares - I surely don't, but when it produces eye candy - well then I care.  See below.  Kasey's ripped.

I stole the first picture from Jimmie Johnson's twitter feed.  The others come from Queers for Gears:

He credits Teresa Kelly - thank you Teresa, thank you!






Sunday, July 8, 2012

POTD: July 7, 2012

Unplanned trip to Staples proved fruitful - not only did I get toner for my printer, but found these lovely Martha Stewart tags and things to use in my Project Life binder.

Journal, July 7, 2012

When the head of Aberdeen City works calls you and tells you that if you don't have to go outside, stay in, I take that completely seriously and am all about heeding his warning.  *snerk*

Stew and I knew the weather today was going to be dreadful so all week we knew that we were going to stay in.  I planned on doing a lot of work in the scrap room and Stew planned to get caught up on the DVR'ed shows that he watches that I don't. 

I woke up pretty early and told Stew to stay in bed because we had nothing planned and then disaster stuck.

I ran out of toner in my printer.  Guh!  I was going to have to brave the elements to remedy this situation.  After doing some laundry so we had something to wear - we headed out.  It was like breathing through water outside.  The car was like an oven and I really felt like I was melting.  Now I'm bitching and complaining about this but understand that I do realize that there are so many people who have it worse than I do and that there are some pretty damn brave men and women sitting in full combat armor in a desert - I get that, I'm not ungrateful for the fact that I have air conditioning and things like that, but let me tell you - it was hot as hell out and that's just a fact.

We headed to Staples which was awesome.  I got the toner I needed and also found the Martha Stewart labels that I've seen everyone use on their Project Life layouts.  I spent more money than I wanted to (that's a shock, huh), but I'm still under budget for the month and I intend to stay that way.  Stew and I spent some time looking at our money and our budget today and made some goals.  So I want to do my part and not exceed the amount of money I'm given.  Of course, we didn't have a clothing budget for me this month and I ordered bras - oops.  But they had them buy two get two free and I need some new bras.  Stew put in the budget the full amount for me to get my hair colored and since I'm only getting the roots done next Wednesday, I'm hoping that that all comes out in the wash and we're still under budget for the month.  Wouldn't that be something?  Though Stew tells me when I buy my kids things just because, that comes out of my allowance.  There's no such thing as a just because gift budget - at least not until the car, roof and student loan are paid off.  Oh well.  These darn children are worth it, afterall.

After we left Staples we headed to Best Buy to look for the next season of CSI: NY - they didn't have it and yes, that would have been on the approved budget - we have entertainment money.  They had nothing - we honest to God walked out of Best Buy without purchasing anything.  I think that might be a first.

Stew asked if I had any more stops to make, by that time my fat ass was ready to get back in my arctic house.  No kidding.  Stew said he wanted to make one more stop which was fine by me as long as I didn't have to get out of the car.  We headed to Chick Fil A - to find out that the damn window in Stew's car that we have now spent over $1500 to fix is still broken.  It's been fixed three times by three different people - you'd think someone would know what the hell they were doing.  I wonder if a window place would be better than the dealership, since the dealership obviously has no idea how to fix the damn window.  I'm so over this thing.

I wasn't hungry but Stew got me chicken nuggets because they hold up well and I like them cold.

We headed home, I went in the craft room.  Stew to the tv room.

About 10 I went in the tv room and Stew and I watched the race - well our abbreviated version.  It was boring as hell until like the last 20 laps.  I'm happy to say that Tony won again!  Whooohoooo!  That's 4 times in the last 8 summer Daytona races, he's won.  Why he can't win the 500 I've got no idea.  And Kurt Busch just once again proved that he's an ass.  And what the hell is up with AJ Dinger - it'll be interesting to see how that pans out this coming week.

One cute story from the Pre-Race, it's 4th of July weekend and NASCAR tends to be a pretty patriotic sport, so they were doing their whole celebrate the USA thing (though what was up with that fly over - a B52, come on guys, give me some fighter jets, it's the only reason I watch the pre-race.)  After this was all done, they said, "It makes you proud to be an American," and some music started playing.  Uh oh, Stew hit the fast forward button.  He knows how much that song just slays me - so even though it turned out to be a false alarm and they didn't play it, he was at the ready.

The National Anthem was atrocious.  I don't know who told that cooky CNN host (who I only watch when I'm stuck at the airport during the times that she's on) that she could sing - but goodness gracious that was awful.  Brad Keslowski tweeted that it was the best anthem of the year - I like this dude but in this case he was either trying to get a date or on crack - hey Brad, watch for those random drug tests.  She sounded like dying cattle.

So that was our day - don't know what Sunday will bring.  We'll see in the morning.


Friday, July 6, 2012

Journal: July 6, 2012

Stew got up at some ungodly hour this morning to go crabbing with Mom, Dad, and Matt.  I stayed home to take care of some stuff I had to get ready around the house - yeah, I didn't do that, but more on that later.  I was on the couch when Stew got up because I couldn't go to sleep when he needed to last night and I didn't want to wake him up when I come to bed.  He woke me up when he left, per my request, and told me to go to bed in our room.  I apparently was all over this idea, except I made a pit stop in the guest bathroom with the words, "I have to piss."  Yeah, this just continues our theme of how high class we are.  So after he left I went to bed and slept until about 7:30.

I got up and work began.  It's weird to me that my busiest day at work is Friday.  At my previous company, it seemed like everyone checked out on Friday - this new company, it's like Friday's the hardest working day of the week.  Doesn't bother me either way - I have to bill 40 hours a week regardless of what day that occurs on, it's just a weird observation.

After making sure that work was calmed down - I went down to the scrap room and found a picture of all the little lovelies that Mom, Dad, Matt and Stew were catching out on the boat - not too many bugs this year.  It figures since the fear of the bugs was one of the reasons I decided to stay home.

Look at all the good eats we're going to have soon.  Yippie!

While Stew was off doing that, I got a call from Shawn and we made his travel arrangements for him to get to class at Fort Benning.  We went back and forth about how to get him there, how to get his car to him and on and on until I realized that the easiest way to do it was to just stick to our original plan.  Duh.  So next weekend, Stew and I will drive his car down to him, take his rental car back to the airport with us and fly from Atlanta back home - while getting to spend some time with him in the interim.  Good plan.

Stew got home rather early.  Here's some pictures from his trip - he actually asked me last night what camera he should take.  I'm so proud of him - he's so getting on board with my obsessive picture taking.  I love it.




 He said that they saw a juvenile bald eagle out and about while they were on the boat - awesome!  But I sent him with the little camera, so he doesn't have any pictures of it.  I'll have to see if Mom does when I go up to their house and steal their pictures.  All in all they caught about 90 crabs and from the email we received from Dad it sounded like he really enjoyed his father's day present.  So double awesome.

After Stew showered (crabby ick), we headed to Shoprite to get stuff to eat.  With the heat being what it is tomorrow, we don't want to leave the house - so we wanted to get the stuff we needed today.  We got sandwich stuff to have for dinner and it was delicious.  I love sandwiches.

I took this picture at the seafood counter - lobster, before and after the cooking process.  Don't you think it's cruel to put the live ones next to the dead ones - it's like, "look buddy, you're next."



We then looked for things around the house to watch.  I was tired after not having slept very well last night and I didn't really feel like doing anything.  Stew was tired after getting up at the crack of dawn, no actually, I think it was before dawn and he didn't feel like doing anything, so we settled in and started watching the original CSI again.  This show annoyed me the first time I watched it - I mean really, it doesn't rain that much in Vegas, but this time, I'm kind of enjoying it.

I ended the night on Pinterest - damn Pinterest.  It's addicting.  There's so many good ideas there and so many things that look cool to do - but really, we're not going to be doing them.  Though Stew does want to re-tile our basement bathroom ourselves.  Maybe after we tackle that and see that we can indeed get this stuff done, we'll be more willing to do other projects.


POTD: July 6, 2012


90 crabs caught = good eats for me and dad when we make crab cakes.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Journal: July 5, 2012

The house was silent today - it's such an odd feeling after the last few weeks.  I've really enjoyed having all of the family here and at the same time, I'm ready to get back to my own routines or what are routines to me, anyway.  I'm going to hope to hop back on the get fit bandwagon on Monday, but haven't really been sticking to any kind of eating or exercising since Shawn and Meli arrived.  Need to work on that because seriously, seeing all of these pictures of me in a bathing suit recently - not happy with how that looks at all. 

I'm pretty happy with my tan though.  Christina said to me the other day that she thinks this is as tan as she has seen me in 12 years.  She's not wrong.  I'm typically a hermit come summer time due to my general dislike of the heat and the sun, but starting with our trip to Ocean City and then being out in the pool with the kids all of the time, I'm really getting some color (okay, color for me, anyway).  I didn't know you could tan through sunblock that has a SPF of 50 or higher, but you can.  Haven't burned at all though, so that's good.

Today was the day of my late meeting.  It was moved from Wednesday to Thursday due to the holiday.  That meant that I could start working later - which gave me some time to mostly put the scrap room back together.  It still has some minor things that have to be done, but it's getting there.  I just want it done because I'm really itching to scrap.  Christina and I had a date to scrap on Tuesday but due to the power outage and the general mess of my scrap room, we didn't do it - hopefully, we can reschedule that.

Since I had the late meeting that goes from 5 to 6, it was Stew's job to handle dinner.  Awesome job he did, too - he stopped and got me fish from La Tolteca.  I've been craving fish for a long time so it definitely hit the spot.

After my teleconference, Stew and I hung out downstairs with the tv - we're just so tired.  He didn't sleep well last night and I don't know what's wrong with me, but I think I could sleep for days, so we just vegged.  We pulled CSI back out and started watching that again.  It's not annoying me as much as it did the first time we tried to watch it, which I guess is good.

Tomorrow, Stewbert's off to go crabbing with his dad and Matt - I'm staying home to get some kind of order in this house.  I'm always better at doing that kind of stuff when Stew's not here.  I don't know why, but that's just the way it is.  Hopefully I'll be able to get to sleep soon, but after drinking two Mountain Dews tonight, I'm not sure when the sand man will arrive.

Stew's already in bed - he has to leave at 3:30 to meet Matt and Dad.  Better him than me.

POTD: July 5, 2012

Stew after I told him that he was going to sweat his balls off on the boat tomorrow.  He said, "no, no, not my balls."

We're so classy!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Journal: July 4, 2012

Lovely time with family today.  In fact, I was so busy enjoying everyone's company and having a good time, that I didn't even break out the camera.  What few pictures I have from today, Stew took on his phone, and I'm okay with that.  Sometimes it's nice to just be and not be behind the camera lens.

The morning started out pretty lazy, to be honest.  Well, not for Phill - that kid doesn't know how to sit still.  He was cleaning out the refrigerator, preparing burgers, making chip dip, cutting up watermelon, you name it, he was on it.  He can't just relax.  He's go, go, go, go.  He makes me tired just watching him.  I'm getting pretty spoiled with family being here.  I haven't cooked in ages - loving that. 

Phill made a bunch of food on the grill - hamburgers, hot dogs, a roast, ribs.  The roast and the ribs went home with him since Stew and I aren't going to eat all of the food that we had here.

We also had corn (early MD corn - yummy) and baked beans.  Well, I didn't have any baked beans and I'm not sure at all what GEP ate - I know he had a hot dog - but there was plenty of food to go around.

Steve came up, too, which was good since I haven't seen him in forever.  I can't think of a better way to spend any holiday than with family.  Of course, while we celebrate together, I always keep in mind our men and women who are around the world protecting us and allowing us to live our lives the way we want to.  Those that sacrifice for the rest of us are never far from my mind.

GEP spent the morning playing on the Wii and then on the computer - he's playing some game with a penguin.  He named the penguin Batman - well, it's not really a penguin.  He told me time and time again what the character was but damn if I can remember now.  There's just too much for me to keep up with.  The interests these kids have - makes my head spin.  I don't know how parents keep up.



After we all ate - and GEP gave us a demonstration of his tongue talent, the kid's tongue is the longest I've ever seen and he's not shy about showing it off - we headed to the pool.  GEP and I played volley ball for awhile and then he played Monkey in the middle with Stew and Phill.  He's getting really good at swimming and is loving showing everyone how he can do front and back flips and twists in the water.  I spent most of my time just floating around, though GEP and I had fun knocking Phill and Steve off the raft - there's no relaxing when we're in the pool.  Stew's hands did pretty well in the pool though the water was pretty drying, so we lotioned them up as soon as he got out of the shower after the pool.  I was glad to see him get in the pool with all of us.  It was a really good time.  GEP and Steve were doing cannon balls and GEP was very happy that the strong men were in the pool with him so that they could throw him.  Aunt Gina doesn't throw as high or as long.  It makes me nervous, not these other guys though - they just toss him around.

After the pool, Phill, Christina, GEP and Steve headed home.  GEP didn't want to leave.  Poor little guy, but since there was electricity back at their house, it was time for them to get back to their house.  I'm sure Phill will appreciate not having that longer commute anymore.  I think he drives farther than Stew every day and that's saying something.

After the house was empty, I went and took a shower and then Stew and I cuddled on the couch to watch some tv.  We got caught up on our DVR'ed shows including The Glades (not enjoying this season as much as I have past seasons), Rizzoli and Aisles (wish they would bring the older brother back more - love him), Pawn Stars, and Hell's Kitchen (my god the drama on this show this year, as Stew said, "This girl's team could give Project Runway stars some tips).

After that it was bed time.  Back to work tomorrow.  It's hard having a holiday in the middle of the week - it's like having two Mondays in one week and that is definitely not a good thing.