~WOW~Chicago

This is what we woke up to in the morning....

How lucky am I? I work with the best group of people and call them my team. I have the best family. A husband that cooks, kids that try to help out, everyone is healthy and ... and... I get to live in America. How blessed am I?

He looks happy...and the party hadn't even gotten started!

Well...lemme tell ya. See, this company I work with has something they call Camp Wow. Apparently, every year they take my company and all the sister companies on a trip somewhere. Spoil the employees rotten for the weekend and ship us back.

Now you see what I have to work with....

To be honest, I really wasn't going to go. I was going to stay home with my family. We get the email for roomies and I had three people ask. Then, I still wasn't for certain I was going, till I had several people ask if I were sitting next to them on the bus. Hmmm.....maybe I oughta go....Alright, I'm going!

Now the party was started.....but we weren't that far into it....

The energy these people emit as the time grew closer, the excitement, the chatter...it's a shock we got anything done. They were a bustle. 'Remember last year when.....' 'Do you think they'll....' 'Who do you think will win......' 'What are you going to do on your free time?' 'What does your outfit look like?'

See that lovely lady in blue? Ms. JT, she's very good people!

I have to admit, I was just as excited as they were and I had no idea what I was heading into. My biggest regret? My memory stick for the camera went kaputz and I had no option but to use the tiny one and my blackberry. (which took some good pics I might add)

NOW the party had gotten started. (the girl in the back is leaning over to listen, not falling out)

The night before I'm picking out outfits, trying on clothes, driving my husband crazy, laying out this, thinking out loud, taking the kids' advice and opinion....packing....and...I'm done. No more.
That day, everyone was chattering about stuff. It was so great. I so enjoy to see people excited and buzzing about something that brings them so much joy.

That afternoon my two men (the big and the little of it) came in town to take me and some of my girl friends to lunch. It was so much fun! To have him involved in my life at work made me feel like he was more a part of my life and that it wasn't so separated from him.

HAHAHA~! He thought he was going to get me first~

Bubs shocked me by starting off shy and then demanding he go home with each of them. They cooed over him. I got to love all over him before I left. It was a great time and all have said we have to do this again. (hubby even strongly suggested we have that cookout sooner) How great! How blessed am I?

Back to work. Ha! Who could concentrate enough to work? (um....if my boss is reading this, check my incidents....I worked!) It's an hour before....oh time will never get here. And.....sync up a palm pilot for a friend.....(TOYS!)....head out for the bus! Yay! Here we go!

Hey! It's 'SANDY'! (ask him about his ding dong cakes...and hotdogs...)

There were two huge buses. Now I have never gone anywhere on a bus and now I can understand the movies better...my friends who have traveled cross-country on them...those who are claustrophobic...

Oh oh oh. Did I ever learn more about the people I work with! Ha! There are those I thought were a stick in the mud - not so much. Those I figured would party thier booties off and be intolerable....not so much. There are those I gained more respect for. Those I was disappointed by. Those I came to like even more. All company I enjoyed!

First night:
Loud yet entertaining bus ride to Chicago. Great conversation that lead to deepening friendships. A few topics that alarmed me a bit. (it's just those things that make you go hmmmmmm.....) And would you believe, there are more people out there just as weird as I am! (scary huh)

Get there and have a mixed social. This was great! I got to meet people I talk to all the time but because of where they are stationed, I have never had the opportunity of meeting. Like those in the UK. There is one sweet bachelor that travels so often, he doesn't experience jet lag. His body just does what it has too.

There are a couple here in the States I got to meet that are just as much of a hoot as they are over the phone! Oh, how I enjoy those people! Mrs. B is expecting a baby which means my whole goal is to rub that swollen belly filled with promise! She was so precious ~ all aglow. :)
Mrs. K is so much MORE of a hoot than would have been figured. How much more of a personality does she possess in person than over the phone, HA! And a fellow programmer as well...she's a smart lady too boot! ;)

Got the opportunity to talk more with some others from the company that the daily grind doesn't often permit and then the fun began. How do I describe this person. Not my favorite in the whole company. It's not a romantic thing, more of a brother thing. He's a really good person deep down. Full of character and discipline. Sweet as can be. He recently moved with is better half to the East Coast and I miss him so, as does so many others in the company.

The next day we were introduced to the other 8+ sister organizations that we have. Finally got to see the owner of then had a keynote speaker. Now I gotta say, at first, I didn't think I would be able to handle the full length of his speech. From no fault of his own, the man is physically handicap.

When he was born, he went 24 minutes without air. This caused him a phyiscal handicap where he speaks strangely, moves oddly, and has great difficulty doing any normal task. Listening to him at the beginning was painful. The further he went on, the better he got. The man has not just accomplished and overcome amazing feats for a handicapped person, he has accomplished so much for a normal, healthy person. He even skis with his son, daughter and wife.

She's got more personality inside her than previously experienced. :)

This was followed by a meeting in which a good friend of mine won an award. Can you believe it, she made the boss cry. I mean he's a big boy too...he cried. It made us cry too. If you knew her, you would understand why he cried. She works very hard. Has a great attitude in the midst of a big, long, and ongoing challenge. She deserved it hands down. I was so happy for her!

The award winner herself!

After giving us all cash for lunch money, (whoo hooo!) two of my favorite peeps took off downtown. Actually, our whole team went to lunch together. It was so much fun. We had the slap happy giggles which I'm sure made us look silly but we didn't care.

The mall we went to was beautiful! Four stories high. Decorated to the hilt with Christmas decorations. We walked in (and almost into) two people dressed just like court jesters. It was so fun! Between the escalators there were these platforms that kicked up droplets of water. At the top of the escalators was an old fashioned quartet singing Christmas carols. How quaint!

Plus, while we were walking around, there were all these people wearing their fur coats! Yes! My friends nudge me, 'what kind is that'? Coon. Next one, 'is it real?' Yes, and it's beaver, plucked and shaved. (yes, they died laughing) Then there was the chinchilla wrap, the full length, GOOORRGEOUS mink coat. They were everywhere! Yay! It was great. They were so beautiful!

This is the decorations from the ceiling.

Off to the planetarium. Keep in mind, two of us have been looking forward to seeing the IMAX at the Adler Planetarium for the past two weeks. It's so funny. We went walking around, rubbing moon rocks, taking pictures with remade moons, poking fun at each other...off we go into the IMAX.

I was looking at something when I noticed......these were hanging from the ceiling.

Front row seats. Right there up front. Kick back in the seats. Crack a couple of jokes. Lights dimm. Darker.....darker....darker. And then it happens......the monotone voice of the unseen narrator comes flooding through the sound system...into our bones....into our minds....and.......out we all three go.

This has all the planets and their orbits in real time.

Yeah, it's great to wake up with a start and try to nonchalantly look over at your girlfriends....uh huh.....knocked us all three out. We waited how long to do this? Plus, when did a museum store become so interesting? We are SO geeks! (it's great!)

This is a replica of the moon. It was kinda neat to examine.

Return back to the hotel for the big event, the banquet. This gets us girls all excited. Does this make me look fat? Do I have my make up on too dark? How long before you think I'll fall off these heels?

J & J chatting at the social. She looked so good in her dress!

Down we went to the banquet dressed to the hilt and had a blast! Everyone was all dressed up and may I say, we have some good looking men when they clean up! ;) Then we had a dinner with some sort of the best truffles I have ever tasted. Sat next to someone I don't normally get to talk to and found out some of the most interesting information about the company and the owner that made me respect the man even more.

After all that was done....back to the other room we went where there was a live band and pool. Ok, I must just be getting old because the music was too loud. To the point the person I was talking to and I left the room to hear each other. In which case my wonderful room mate and I challenged he and another co worker to a game of euchre. Euchre!

Camp W O W!!!

It was so much fun! All night long we were running into people and having a great time. By the end of the night I knew more about people than I'm sure I'll remember. We had so many laughs. One friend who claimed to be sober (he SO was not!), tried to prove it by walking a line. Oh my, that is NOT the way to walk a line. He's so funny! It was just a good time all around.

J - You were the best room mate ever! You deserved that award and so much more. Where would we be without you? You are a good person and I'm glad I know you. We're back in the gym after the New Year.

A & K -You two. Here is not the place to put what I think and feel because there isn't enough space. Moving into your group was something I looked forward to but never did I figure it would be anywhere near this much fun! You bring out the best in me and reign me in when I get out of hand. Thank you for being who you are.

You know, I only chased her face around all weekend till I finally got this shot!

To everyone else in the company that will read this.....Oh, thank you for the fun! For the stories! For the memories and for making me feel like part of the group. I enjoy you all!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Annoyances

Stress. The confusion caused when one's mind overrides the body's desire to choke the living daylights out of someone who really deserves it. That's stress for you.

We all have them. Those little things that tick us off. Drive us insane. Bring us to the brink of ourselves where we have to make a choice.....do we do what is right or do we do what our mind is screaming out for us to do?

Revenge - not always the best method....

It's the people in traffic. Which is more aggravating....? The person on your tail pipe close enough to change your radio station - or the person in front of you going 5 miles under the speed limit when you are on a deadline?

The irritating list of things you have to do that seems only to grow as you finish one measly task.

That one person who seems to have it out for you. They have you in their cross hairs when you previously had no need for knowledge of this person's existence....yet....they have it out for you and will rest at nothing! Nothing! Till they see your demise. THIS has to be the hardest to walk from.

Hmmm.....do I ... mess with their heads? Do I torque them to oblivion? Do I call the white coats for that long sleeved jacket we ALL know they need to be wearing? Slip exlax in their brownies? Innocently spin them into a tirade?

We all know the right, boring, less exciting nor satisfying 'right' thing to do. Why oh whyyyyyyy does God make things so hard on us? Why? Why God? Why can't I play with this small, irritatingly, moronic person's brain till they leave me alone?

Ah...He has a reason. In His infinite, incomprehensible, seemingly senseless Way, He has a reason. He always does. Think about it. Puberty. Growing spurts (both physical and maturity). High School. College lectures. Colicky babies. In laws. Parents. Teens. And that one person on the face of the earth you so desperately wish to squish out of existence.

See, I don't have just one of those, I have two. They take turns as to which one pesters me the most. One can't take a hint and the other can't take a leave. Though I have to say, they volley for which is my 'biggest fan'. I say that to point out that they make sure they know everything about me and what is going on in my life. Funny, I don't find myself that interesting. Maybe I need another view point.

Growth. That's what I'm getting at. Personal growth. Paul had a thorn in his side. Everyone figured it to be his hatred for women. I don't think he hated women parse, I think possibly he saw the folly they presented him.

We are a dastardly bunch, aren't we? Vindictive. Conniving. Witty. Charming. Deceitful. Picky, petty, childish and sometimes just down right rude. We've all done it. We've all known them. We've all loved/hated/despised/envied and strove to be them.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day on the way to the gym. "Quiet women never made history." (Apparently they missed the day on Helen Keller?) It wasn't the mere fact they were loud that got their names in history, it was that they accomplished something great. Read more - shout less....

Should be my bumper sticker...

Rarely have I been accused of being quiet. By the two thorns in my side I have been accused of everything but a white woman (which I are by the way....). Greatness I will achieve - yet not in the manner I previously believed.

Age has a way of changing one's perspective. (I say this realizing I'm not 'old', yet not a wee lass any longer.) Before my value of friends was of little quality. Today, the women I hold dear to my heart are as strong willed, bull headed, brassy, intelligent, spunky, full of pep, shout downers, build upers as I hope I am. They don't give a rats patoot if you like them or not - they like them and truly, that IS all that matters. They know what they want in life and have already started a road towards it. (subject to change at will as with any woman) They won't be stepped on, down-trodden, pushed to the side or belittled. They possess more love than one though imaginable and I'm certain can take this world by hand if needed.


These are the people I lean on. They love me when I need it. Curse me when needed. Cry with me. Laugh with me. Plan some evil person's demise (though we both know we aren't going through with it) They get angry with me. Rejoice in my victories. Dance through life with me. Crawl through hard times with me. These are the women the joke says: "A true friend will be sitting in jail with you saying 'we screwed up'"

These are my friends. And I love them every one.

To the two thorns in my side. It's a pity you don't have friends like mine - or you wouldn't be the miserable wenches you appear to be today. Had you not crossed me - perhaps I could have supplied you with a bit of what you need. Regardless.....God loves you. I have to love you because of it (though no one said I had to like you....) Because of this, I'm not allowed to dismantle you as would be so satisfying at times. (sigh)

May God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom...........

TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!!! (not bury the bodies of those who annoy me!)

Truly, one day I will be 10 feet tall in person, strong in might, and give to others as God has used others to give to me. Till the day I become what He desires (and y'all know THAT'll be a bit down the road....) may I not fight the Teacher who provides the Lessons.

Rumpelstiltskin's Gold

There was a time when Fall brought on an non-understood depression within me. A sadness overcame me and I would be moody for a long while. I know now this is because when I was a child, we always (and I do mean always) moved around Fall.

This is what my entire yard looked like yesterday morning.

Now, I look at fall with a childish glee. Oh the pretty leaves! The maples are my favorite. Such deep reds, such brilliant yellows! I love it! Yesterday morning I looked out the window and much to my delight (though not so much to my neighbors - who cares- did we ask?) the entire yard was covered top/bottom, left/right with all these brilliant yellow leaves. It was gorgeous!

I just wanted to go running out in the yard kicking up the leaves and rolling around in them. Instead, we did the next best thing. I take great delight in burning leaves. The smell needs to be captured in a candle for me. I love to baste in it. I love to have that aroma in my pillows. The scent in my hair, on my jacket......gently rising off my skin, filling my nostrils when I breathe in the scent of my son held close. Yum!

The beginning of the pile - my little helper out there working.

Though greatly advised not to, I started a small fire and much to my fright the wind did just as I was warned.....it swept the brightly burning embers towards the huge piles nearby. Picture me rushing over with the rake trying to smash out the embers before they flamed, only to have their sisters flying past me to the still covered yard ahead of me.

It took a little work, but I decided the advice I had been given (by my second half no less) was keen and should be followed. I stamped it out and helped with piling more leaves. Oh now this was so neat! Here we girls divided into teams to see who could move the most leaves the fastest.

Keep in mind this daughter is already 5 inches taller than me.

I must admit, there was a plot to this. See I tired of their lack-a-dasical attitude and decided, for lack of a better word, to light a fire under their butts. This was so funny. We were piling leaves on the tarps and wading through waist-high piles to dump them before going out for more. This was so much fun and we had many giggles.

This picture does not give justice.

You'd get a running start, hit that humongous pile of leaves which would not just slow you down but stop you dead in your tracks, causing your partner to fall onto the colorful sleighful being hauled just in front. Face first.........plop! It was just like being a kid again!

Here is B-Bug standing in the middle.

I'm not exaggerating, our stash is enormous! It's more than waist high and can be called nothing short of a fort. You can run, jump and land unharmed in the stash, slowly watching the daylight being extinguished as you slowly sink into the crisping, crushing harvest. It's great!

Such an innocent smile for such a mischievous little boy.....

At one point, Bubby was flying through the air and then, in just a split second, gone! Like quick-sand. Here one sec and not a trace the next. Oh for a set of flashlights!

How time flies. I remember when this picture was taken......

This is a recent picture...how quickly they grow up....

Dancing with God

Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
I Hope You Dance !

~What a Wonderful Weekend~

Anyone who has been married for more than 3 years will tell you it's not easy. In fact, marriage is the hardest thing you will ever do - if you are willing to work at it. Too often people decided they want out for some of the most idiotic of reasons. She's fat. He drinks. I think my step-son is smoking pot. (not made up - heard recently)

Really people. I'm not saying there aren't circumstances that don't call for a change of the norm, but to rush to divorce as the answer to anything/everything......what happened to the definition of commitment?


It hasn't been all roses, it hasn't been all easy, but I can say that it has been worth it. We celebrated 5 years. We met after work at a particular resturaunt that he chose. The reason: That's where we met. Awwww....he remembered! (not typical for all men....)

He made me cry too. The things he said I want so much to print because every female who reads them would do the typical female thing: "Awwwwww......" Eyes tear up. Big, wishful sigh. Myself? I cried. I couldn't help it. He's not one to say things he doesn't mean and it was so sensitive, so filled with emotion and I think his own eyes were watering up.

The view from the hottub. The detail you are missing is the rain that was coming down in sheets with the sun behind it.

When we got home that night it started to storm. (we love storms) The wind picked up. The rain came down. We stood out on the back porch and watched it. Leaves blowing all around. It was just beautiful.

The following morning promised to be warm (the weather did not follow through with the forecaster's promise) so we pulled out the canoe with a lunch and set out of for one of the nearby rivers.

This is the lowest the river has been in a great number of years. Right up in the middle there was a den.

Mind you, I have only canoed one other time so my skills are just wonderful. I don't know how to steer. I don't know all the tricks of the trade but I can get you from point A to point B in a matter of extended minutes.

Bubs had a blast during this time. He was hanging over the side, tipping the canoe over. We found several very large mussle shells that he got to pull off the end of the paddles for us. They were this brilliant pearlesc purple color on the inside. (no, it's probably not a real word)

In many places down the river, there were lines tied to various items. Tree branches that hung out over the water, branches of trees poking up out of the water, milk jugs and such. It was obvious they hadn't been checked in a while because there was an absolutely HUGE carp on the end of one. Bubs was enthralled, we had to circle around so he could look at it floating on the water. ("Why it got no eyes, Daddy?")

Painted turtles

We slowly worked our way around the banks looking at all the animal activity and dens. It's always exciting to see a beaver slide, muskrat den, mink prints and coon homes along the way. Probably because of me I didn't grow up with this, I'm getting to learn it within the last several years.

Turned the corner to find a large tree that had lost it's desire to hold to the bank and now rests in the water. Apparently it fell right in the middle of turtle heaven because there were about 20 of them scattered about. You have any idea what it's like to try to keep a 3 yr old quiet?

He got so excited he'd yell out, point, jump up and down trying to get our attention. (the fact we pointed them out to him first made no matter) He'd get excited and they'd 'plunk' right into the water. It was so cute to witness! Eventually he figured out that the quieter you are - the longer they stick around. Ever heard a 3 year old whispered-yell??? This was so much fun to see things through his eyes.

My man asks me if I enjoyed doing this with him. Are you kidding? First of all I just love to be outside and outdoor activities are something I enjoy to the hilt. My answer, of course, was: "Of course I do! It's like canoeing with the Discovery channel." (Y'all do know he's an animal expert, right?) Seriously......with all the questions I have that pop in my head, he has the honest and true answers to. Like a talking wildlife encyclopedia. He's amazing.

The sun is shining on the water and warming us. Down the river we float. We came to a place in the river where the limestone had been cut away for the railroad above and decided to have lunch here.

View left. It was so peaceful up here.

Up the hill we went. The rock to the left is where we rested to eat and listen. I should have gotten a picture of the view down below. The peaceful quiet of the place was so relaxing. The birds were singing....the breeze was blowing gently through the trees with a soft rustle of the leaves. The natural smell of the outdoors filling your nostrils with aromas. It was perfect.

Tell me this isn't picturesque!

The two boys were walking along the tracks at one point trying to push each other off. They are SO related! It's like watching the big and the little of it! If one could raise a clone of oneself . . .

As if the steep hill we had just climbed wasn't enough, Bubby had to climb up this one and yell out..."Mom! See my big muscles? I'm strong!" Yes baby, you really are!

After we slide back down the hill (in which case the oldest member of our group acquired poison ivy), back in the canoe we jumped to paddle back the way we came. May I mention that it wasn't near this difficult on the way up here?

It's funny. Bubby was fussing that he wanted to take his life jacket off and his Father mentioned, "No, you have to keep that one. Just around this corner will be a Conservation Officer and he'll give us a ticket."

Never spoken truer. The boy kept the life jacket on. (with many protests mind you) Up around the corner we found, to my surprise, a Conservation Officer who did give us a ticket. Apparently you have to have half as many buckle life jackets as you do adults. The rest can be tossables (which is what we had). Fortunately he just gave us a warning.

This was an island we went walking about on. See my two boys balancing on the fallen log? How sweet is that? Had the water level not been down so far, we wouldn't have been able to see even the top of that pile of logs.

I have to say, this was the best way to have spent the day. It goes in that collection of good memories that I savor from time to time.

Playin' With Fire

When I got to work on Friday, this fellow was in my chair. Lookey, I got a date!

So today, we decided we should actually do some work around the house. I do mean around the house because I was inside, outside, under and actually on the roof at one point. (wanted to desperately to cry out 'I'm on top of the world!')

I have NEVER had so much fun with a leaf blower in all my life. We had one kid mowing, one raising cain over at the neighbors (two guesses, you won't need the first one), and the other two helping us. We got this huge pile of leaves together and I got to my most favorite thing this time of the year.....I got to start a fire. (insert high-pitched female sound of glee...)

This is while it was still small

Oh yeah baby! And on the first match, whooosh! Having been advised by my better (and often-times smarter) half to just do a small batch of leaves at a time, I got the joy of scooping, stirring and adding to this pile. (I now know where the phrase, 'stirring things up' comes from)

The boy came over to um.....er....help me some. We were told that we are just alike around fires. We both are fascinated and we both have to constantly poke at it. He, on the other hand, also likes to try to fall into them. And take my rake from my hands. And throw stuff in them. And tell Mom why she shouldn't be telling him no. (when you make the money, then you can tell ole Mom how to do things...)

"The boy must grow to be a man!"

We had so much fun! (childish glee inserted here as well) How much I love that smell of camp fire, burning leaves all in my clothes, hair and on my children. I sat sniffing his hair all night tonight. They all jumped in the leaves. We're looking around, there will be 10X's more leaves to fall before the trees are bare. How much fun will THAT be!


After getting things cleaned up..ain't nobody gonna believe this. Even the oldest couldn't believe it. I'm told to go up on the roof. (picture short little ole me standing by this ladder looking alllllll the waaaayyy up to the roof. gulp!)

Okay, must face fear to conquer. Up on the roof I go. Now mind you, the two of us installed our own satellite. He had down all the degrees and angles, I got to use the man tools and drill holes in the roof. Here we go again. Up on there, tighten some bolts. Put emastic (sp?) tape on wires and things. It was so funny....and sweet. I put my head right in the middle of it to look at something. He's all...."DON'T DO THAT! There's microwaves going through there.....!" Awww....he's afraid I'll fry my brain. So his last comment before he leaves me to do this is "Remember, what ever you do, don't put your head between these two things...I mean it."

Look closely by Bbug's elbow and you'll see Dink peeking up over the leaves

I tighten bolts, he and the kids do some things, he asks me if I'm through. Nah, I wanna clean out the gutters while I'm up here. (not relishing the thought of being so close to the edge with concrete that far away mind you) He says, "Hold on, I'll get you the leave blower."

Leaf Blower? For the gutters? You're handing me man tools? Alright! He gets to the top of this ladder and starts pulling the cord to start the thing. I'm trying not to be obvious that I'm holding the ladder so he doesn't fall backwards.

He hands me this and it was on! I have NEVER seen anyone blow out the gutters like I was doing. It even blew out the birds nest that was right over the downspout! I'm thinking to myself the whole time, I know my neighbors think we're wierd and rednecked, but how much more are their stories going to improve with this one!