Grill

Cory's mom and dad gave us their grill they had from their camper. They sold it and no longer needed it as they already had one at the house. It was so nice of them! We have never had a grill. I was very excited when I heard they were giving it to us. We got it Sunday. We went to the grocery store and bought all the fixings for a grill out. After we were done working in the yard we grilled out. I turned out great. Cory made steaks. We also grilled corn on the cob and potato packets. Wow...its going to be great having a grill now.

Bearded Tongue

Well the plant is officially bearded tongue. I love it. I have another one that I planted in the back yard too. I picked up some astilbe yesterday at Lowe's for .75 cents. I also got a rhododendron for .50 there too. Our Lowe's puts there flowers on clearance all the time to get rid of everything. I love that. I have bought a lot of my flowers there for less than 1.00. I just wait and go there early on a Saturday and Sunday and go right to the clearance rack. You just have to be patient. I found out that one of the plants my mom gave me is called a hot poker. It is just stating to bloom. I love my Annabelle Hydrangea right now. Wow is it pretty. I will put some pictures on here soon of my flower bed.

Skype

Well yet again I am surprised by all the high tech stuff out there. I cant believe I wasnt aware of Skype. My mom told me that Jason and Brady Skyped her. She told me all about it. You have to download Skype which takes less than 5 minutes. All you need is a webcam and the other person has to have a web cam also. Best part is its free. You can see the person you are talking to. So mom was able to see Brady and Jason and talk to them. I downloaded it yesterday as mom was going to babysit Brady and I haven't seen him in a while. When you download it you have the option to put in your email address so it will check all your contacts and tell you who else has Skype. My friend Jane was on there so it asked if I wanted them to send a message to let her know I was now on Skype. I did. So after I was done which again took all of 4 minutes to down load and set up, I was getting ready to do some errands. Then all of a sudden Jane Skyped me. It really is neat. I got to see my friend as I talked to her. How cool is that. I got to see Brady that night too as we Skyped each other. Kris and Diane, you guys should get that and you guys can see each other while you talk. You can also Video conference so all the sisters could see each other and talk together too. I love that its free. I plan on Skyping Brady and Jason all the time. My friend Jane told me that it was really useful when her daughter moved to London and she got to see her and her grandchild using Skype. Let me know if anyone else has ever heard of Skype.

Coming home

It has been a long week. I need a vacation from my vacation. lol We have been busy so that is making the week go by fast. Of course Cory has to work this weekend so I wont be able to see him. I have a lot to catch up on this weekend. I have laundry and there are so many weeds that I must pull. My mom gave me this plant last year at the end of summer. I planted it and cut it off and covered it for winter. It came back and I was asking about this plant. It is so boring. Just does nothing. Just leafy. I was wondering if that is all it does. Don't get me wrong the leaves are pretty they have a reddish tone. She finally told me its called a bearded tongue. She said to give it time and it will bloom. I had almost gave up hope......and magically it started to change and it bloomed. I love it. I immediately asked me mom if she has any more to give me. I took a picture of it to show everyone....enjoy. Keep in mind that it looked so much better before yesterday as we have a down pour of rain. So far I have not killed any of my plants and flowers. I have learned so much about planting. Since it was my first time I have already thought that I should move stuff into better areas and so on. Its a learning experience but wow what a feeling it gives you. I feel like they are my little friends. lol

Dogs are still doing great. Get along perfectly. I think Farley needed a buddy. I found out that Brady is having surgery next Wednesday. He is having tubes put in his ears. Its for the best as he always has ear infections. Jason and I are going to skype so I can see Brady and talk to him. Crazy. Since we both have a webcam we can get on Skype and we can see and talk to each other over it. Its crazy. Times are sure changing.

*****all right I was just told that this is not bearded tongue. It is phlox. What does this bearded tongue look like?******

Cruising

I got home late evening last night. I was so tired. I just could not stay up. I was out like a light by 10:30 pm. It was nice to come home and see Cory and the dogs. And of course my own bed is always nice. Kaitlin met us in Ft. Lauderdale and spent the night with all of us so she could spend time with everyone. The cruise was fun. I loved checking out Key West. I even had a piece of Key Lime pie there...yum. It was so hot that day. I would definitely go back for another visit. Cozumel was hot too and boy did it change from the last time I was there. I found a lot of stuff there I really liked. I bought a few loose stones so I can have Frank the jeweler make a ring or necklace out of them. There was no rain our whole trip. You couldn't have asked for better weather. All and all the cruise was a big success. Have many more pictures....

Parker

Well we finally named the puppy! It took forever. We tried a million names and just nothing clicked with me to say....that's it! Cory told me yesterday that if I didn't name him before I left he would name him while I was gone. So I figured I better get on the ball. I told Cory when we got the puppy that he looked a lot like this dog on a movie I watched on Life Time with Elizabeth Shue. I knew when I watched the movie I really liked the name of the dog but could not for the life of me remember what it was. I finally decided to research this movie and found it on line and watched it and as soon as I heard the dogs name Parker I looked at the puppy and said....that's it! So Parker it is! The puppy naming saga is over.

Set to sail

Tomorrow I leave for my vacation. I am really tired right now. I got up at 5:30 am to get ready for work. I left work early today around 2ish and I am home relaxing. Still have some stuff to do. Want to get a pedicure and get a "real" book. Have to pick up my sunscreen too. Then pack all my stuff into the suitcase. I have things setting out that I want to take, just haven't packed it yet. I plan of going to bed very early tomorrow as I have to get up at 4:30 in the morning. We get on the boat Thursday afternoon. We go to Key West first then Cozumel. Be back home Monday early evening.
Hopefully have lots of pictures when I get back. Bye for now.

Sunday shopping

I was so tired Saturday night. I just couldn't stay awake. For some reason I wasn't in the mood to go shopping. I don't know why. I think it was because I was tired. Baby doe slept the whole night with me. Sunday I had a lot of random things to do. I had to still find a bathing suit. I finally found one that I can live with. I still cannot find a formal dress for the formal dinner night on the cruise. I am getting very stressed out about it. I had bought one a while ago and it doesn't seem dressy enough now. So I ran around a little more today and all I wanted to do was stay home. We worked out in the yard all day and the puppies played all day in the back yard. I still haven't packed. I am really nervous about going on this cruise for various reasons. Today I work my regular shift and tomorrow I work days then I am on vacation!

Cruise shopping

I picked up the puppy in the morning and was very nervous about how Farley and him would get along. It was Farley's house first. But they did. They played all day. We still haven't named him and we cannot think of a name at all. We have been calling him doe (as in john doe). Anyone have any suggestions?
Met everyone at Olive Garden and had a nice lunch. We started out at Kohl's, then Old Navy, then to the mall. Finally we all went home. I ran over to Target real quick to check out the bathing suits. I still need a bathing suit and a formal dress. I will be running out today to check out Gap and Elder Beerman. I want to work out in yard today. Have weeding to do.

Hockey

This week at work has been so busy for me. I cannot believe it. I could not catch up. Then yesterday it was slow. That is how it is at my job. You just cannot predict how busy it will be day to day. I was just so happy to be able to leave work last night and put the whole week behind me. The Stanley cup play offs were last night and the Red Wings were playing. I work with mostly all men and they talk sports non stop. So it is no surprise that they love the Wings and they have talked hockey for......it seems like years....but only since the the hockey season started. I mess with them about the Wings all the time. They played the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. I came into work yesterday wearing this shirt with a penguin on it. They were not amused. They gave me grief all night long. I just couldn't resist. lol
My friend Laura asked me to stop by her house as they were having a bon fire so I headed over since I knew Cory was at a baseball game with his friends. Had a nice time and met a lot of new people. My husband and one of his friends ended up showing up after the game.
I have a big day today. I am going to pick up this puppy that someone had left at the Monroe Animal Shelter. I am shocked I am getting another puppy. Have not came up with a name yet for him. I am bringing him home today. Then I am meeting the girls at Olive Garden today for lunch and then we are all going shopping for cruise stuff. I cant believe I leave on Wed. I am staying home the rest of the weekend to pack and clean the house and spend time with my hubby and the dogs.

Hi Tech

I feel so high tech. I was on my itunes over the weekend and decided to rent, yes rent, a movie. I can download it to my iphone to watch on the plane. Then I bought a audio book and downloaded it on my Iphone. Gone are the days of lugging a heavy laptop and dvd player when you go on trips. I have it all on my iphone. How cool is that. I am all set up with something to do on the way there and on the way back on the plane now. I bought myself a lands end tote a week ago as they were on sale and there was free shipping. So I bought a med. size bag and got it embroidered and it should be here this week. I plan on taking that on the plane with me. I had gotten a small lands end tote many years ago as a white elephant x-mas present and fell in love with it. They are really nice bags. I am on my way to being all set for my trip.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAITLIN

Yesterday was Kaitlin's birthday. I really wish she was here so I could celebrate it with her. I did find out recently that she might move back home. She called a couple of weeks ago when she left here to go back home and said that it may be time. She is all by herself now since Tara (her roommate) left to move back home. So she is thinking it may be to expensive to do it on her own. I was excited but kept my cool. I talked to her yesterday and she is around 98 percent positive she is coming back. Her lease is up Aug. 26th. I will go down there to help her pack and move her back up here. I do think its the best thing but will support whatever decision she makes. Happy birthday Katie. I love you!!!

Iced cappuccino's

What is going on with all these coffee drinks? I went to a Starbucks one day and it sounded like all the people in front of me were talking a different language. Like they were part of some club and had their own language they spoke and I wasn't privy to it. I felt silly when they got to me and I ordered a regular coffee. I think I kinda startled her because at first she didn't say anything then starting asking me all these questions. Apparently they have different blends of coffee. Good grief. I just make my Maxwell House and enjoy that. Well someone at work was bringing in these coffee drinks from Tim Horton's all the time. I finally asked what they were and was told they were iced coffee drinks. I wasn't really all that interested as I am a creature of habit and that would have upset my apple cart trying something new. So this week he brought me in one out of the blue. I tried and and loved it!! Where have these been all my life?? Ever since I had one I have been thinking of them constantly. I finally stopped at Tim Horton's and picked one up on the way to work today. It was just as good if not better. I have to say I am addicted. I am up early this morning as I cannot sleep (hopefully not because of the iced coffee I drank earlier). I am actually thinking about running up to Tim Horton's to get one right now. I am positive there is something in that drink that makes people addicted to it. So I am going to enter this strange and fascinating world of coffee drinks. Maybe I can talk this strange, yet fascinating language when I order there.

Half broken leg

Well it has come to my attention that I must now speak about what happened to my leg. I haven't mentioned it because I technically don't consider it broke. I still don't understand quite what happened but it was something like this: I was working in the yard (of course) and I had the hose out and the blower was out also. It was the first time I ever used the blower and it had never been out of the box. The cord is so long so you can plug it in and walk all over to blow the leaves or whatever. My foot got tangled in the hose or the blower cord (I never took the time out from all my crying to look at which cord) and I fell. Now mind you I fell straight down but my lower leg decided to go the opposite way. Of course my leg came down on the brick retaining wall. I have all this yard in which to fall on cushy grass but no! I fall on the wall which is not even very wide. I went into the doctors the next day and they took x-rays. It is a hairline fracture. Not very big at all. But I have this ugly thing I have to wear and it makes me sweat and when I sweat then I want to itch it. Its a vicious circle really. Couldn't have happened in the winter time when there is nothing to do! Doctor said if I baby it then I should be good for my cruise. Of course I twisted it today at work. So it is back to hurting really bad. I am resting it from now on. So now you know the rest of the story....... thanks mom

Weekends plans

Here it is.....another Friday. I have one of my employee on vacation today and we have been so busy. I know it will be a busy night tonight. I have an appt. for Farley to go to the groomers tomorrow. While he is there I am running over to the relay for life for a while. Then I am coming to Jackson. Yes you heard correctly, I will be in Jackson for the weekend. My mom is out of town in Chicago with her sisters, so I want to be there in case my dad needs help. I figured I might as well take my bed and jetski back home with me too. Going to try to see my friend Debbie while I am there. Also going to pick up a worlds famous Andy's pizza!! Yum. They have the best pizza I ever had. Sunday plan of working in the yard a little.
I put together a little get together for all the girls that are going on the cruise. We are all meeting at Olive Garden next Saturday to have lunch and then go shopping for all the little things we need for our cruise. I am very excited. I got confirmation from all the girls that they can make it. I will have a very busy week. I will have to update my blogger from my cell phone and post some pictures for you all to see when I am on vacation. Time to leave.... I have a lot of errands today before work......

A friend

My friend Foy passed away today. I knew it was coming but it still was so upsetting when I found out. I posted a blog about him and going to lunch with him and his wife and some work people a while back. If you click here it will take you to the blog with his picture. He ended up going into the hospital a short time after that and kept coming down with different ailments and then getting infections and finally they decided to let him go home with hospice to go in peace. Foy battled brain tumor's not once but multiple times. He was an amazing person. I met him at work and he always said hi to everyone and had a smile on his face and would go out of his way to do anything for anyone. He was the kindest person I know. I will miss him.

Cruise

My cruise is coming up so quick now. I am so excited. I am working days on June 16th so I will go home and do last minute packing and errands then get to bed early. We leave June 17th and will fly into Ft Lauderdale. We should get there around noon so we will have all day to enjoy looking around. The next day we board the cruise line Royal Caribbean. We stop in Cozumel and then Key West. It is our yearly girls trip. The usual people are going, Lana (mother-in-law) and Linda, Lana's sister, and Melissa, which is Linda's daughter, Chris (Cory's sister) and this year Michele is going. Should be a great time!! I will have so many pictures when I get back.

Golfing

Last Saturday I went on a golf outing for my job. It was in Tipp City OH. I went with 3 other people from work. I still cant believe I went. Anyone that knows me, knows that I have only golfed 1 other time and I ended up quiting in the middle of the game and driving everyone around in the golf cart. I knew it would not be good for me to go but I did. A company that we do business with sponsored it. Luckily it was a golf scramble. Of course someone had to explain to me what a scramble was. I had to be at Greg's (our salesperson) house at 7:30 am. When we got to the golf outing we decided to go to the driving range to hit some balls. I missed hitting the ball so many times that I thought I threw my arm out at one point. I don't understand the point of this game. How am I supposed to hit this tiny ball with basically a stick. It didn't seem to me a relaxing game at all. It made me frustrated. We finally tee'd off (listen to all these golf terms I learned). Ugh it was ugly for me. I was on a team with Will and Mark, both are my employee's. Will was giving me golfing advice. I did start getting a little better as the day went on....and boy did it go on.....18 holes! But I was at least making contact with the ball now and actually hit it pretty far a couple of times. I was actually starting to have fun and understanding the game a little bit. We finally finished and there was a bbq and then a awards celebration for the golf outing. I ended up getting home a little after 9 pm. Boy was I tired! I crawled into bed. But all and all I had a great time and I was glad I went.