Time Off

Well it's been quite some time since I've had a post and since my summer has come to an end for the most part, I figured I would get back to my semi daily posts. So, what's new? I guess I can fill you in on my summer.

Not much exciting really happened. I worked most of the month of July down at Measured Progress which was good. They said that since they built the new building we've been working in, that they want to contract more work for next year since they spent half a million dollars on it and it's silly for it to sit empty for 9 months out of the year. This is good news for me because more work = more money and chances for me to work. After the first of the year, John will be going back to shift work (which I am NOT excited about) so it'll be nice to be able to work on days he's either sleeping or at work. Plus, the extra paycheck I bring in is nice to add to the bank account. We're working towards the goal of socking away enough money for a decent down payment on a house when we're done up here.

We were excited at the end of July to have one of our friends from Washington come and stay with us overnight while they were moving to Rhode Island. John worked with Steve on the Seawolf out there and his wife Mary and I are good friends, so it was really great to have them here for a night with their daughter Sophie who has gotten so big! I was her first visitor when she was born almost 2 years ago, so to see her as a big girl now was great. We had so much fun catching up with them.

I went to Cincinnati for a visit in August, followed by a trip to Vegas. Well, it was really a night or two in Cincy, a week in Vegas, and then another week in Cincy. The whole reason I planned it was because John was supposed to be working crazy hours those two weeks at work and he said I might as well get my trips out of the way since he wasn't going to be home. Of course though, his schedule got shifted and they did all that work the 2 weeks before I left. Go figure!

I enjoyed both trips. Being in Cincinnati is always great. I got to see my Aunt Susan who moved to South Carolina when she retired. She was up for a visit the same time as I was, so it was great to see her (and all my other aunts) for an afternoon. OH! And I also found out my cousin Sarah is pregnant, so that was super exciting to find out!! Spending time with my nephews was special as always. Charlie finally doesn't look at me with the "stranger danger" look so that was exciting. JJ is still my huggie bear, while Ben and Max are growing up so fast. I love them all so much and miss seeing them on a daily basis. I'm looking forward to the day when I can see them more frequently.

The other highlight of my trip to Cincinnati was going to the ATP with my friend Matt. We went to the semi-finals and the finals, and finally, after years and years of waiting, I finally got to see my boyfriend Roger Federer play...and WIN! We had great seats for the semi's...but crappy ones for the finals, until we decided to self upgrade. We pirated the same seats we had sat in for the semi's. The whole first set, we stared at them, sitting empty. After the first set was over, we decided we were gonna go sit in them and pray no one was going to boot us out. Mission accomplished!! It was a great match and the seats were SO much better than where we had been.

Other than that, I don't think much else happened this summer. So that's where I've been and what I've been up to. Hopefully you've missed reading this and I'll promise to get back to the grind of posting on a semi-regular basis.

30

Is just a number and how old I am today. Seems weird, but I plan on rocking the hell out of it!

I Hate Preparing For Trips

I feel so overwhelmed to pack and get things done in order to leave on Thursday. I could do it tomorrow, but it is my birthday tomorrow, and I really just want to enjoy it! Sadly, I feel that I will be stressed for most of the day. I have packed a good portion of things, but all the last minute things still remain and it doesn't help that I'm a last minute packer as it is. The best thing to do would be to say screw it, and not worry. If I can have that seep into my brain overnight...I'll be golden!

Recoup

What a weekend!!! My cousin Sarah and her friend Trimble came up to see me this weekend and what an awesome weekend it was. I haven't seen anyone from my family or my friends since Christmas time so it was really nice to have someone who is family and a friend to come visit. We dubbed it the birthday week kickoff.

Friday when they got here, we relaxed for a bit at the house, had some drinks, then went out for dinner downtown at Circus Cafe, followed by some drinks at Trotter's. The drinks were unintentional since we really went there just to use the bathroom, but had to have at least one since my bartender friend Jill was working.

Saturday we went downtown again to walk around, had lunch at The Stadium, did a little gambling at the racino and then came back to clean up and have dinner at Sabina's, followed by more drinks at Trotter's.

Sunday was Adirondack Extreme Adventure course which was fantastic, minus the mosquitos. I have a giant one on the base of my skull and another behind my ear that itch something fierce. Sarah complete 3 of the 5 courses which I am super proud of her for! I did 4, and Trimble was our hero doing all 5. I was tempted to do the 5th, but was more talked out of it by fear rather tiredness. If I go back again, I'm starting out with the 5th one right out the gate so I know I have full strength and can't give any excuses for why I can't do it. I'm such a quitter sometimes.

So today is recoup day since they left this morning. We had so much fun and I am so lucky to have such a great family. I still have a million things to do around the house now as the clean up after people leave seems like the cleaning before they come. I'm not sure that I'll get to it all though since I have a million other things I need to do in order to prepare to leave for Cincy on Thursday.

Here are some pictures from our adventures this weekend!

No Sock Spin

Today was my first day back to spin class in a little over 3 weeks and wouldn't you know, I left my socks at home like a dummy. I wear flip flops if it's nice to the gym, then change into socks and shoes once I get there. I was so mad I forgot. I wasn't about to go home, so I just put my gym shoes on my bare feet and spun away. I was ultimately grossed out after I was finished with class and kinda want a new pair of shoes now, but oh well, what can I do.

I also got a much needed haircut and summer highlight today. I'm not quite sure exactly what product she used as the leave in conditioner but my hairs smells amazing! My hair never smells that good when I wash it at home, but maybe that's because I don't have the same products. But, you'd think that my hair would smell like what I do use.

And finally, my nephew Ben turned 5 today! I feel like such a horrible Sissy because I forgot to call and tell him Happy Birthday. I sent a card but I know there is no way it got there today. Plus I have his gifts here to give to him when I am home next week, so all around I feel like a crummy aunt. I can't wait to live near by so I can actually go to their birthday parties and see them more. I sure do miss their happy smiling faces!

Book Fair

Working at the Scholastic book fair is one thing that I fully enjoy doing and look forward to doing. The people who run it are great and I get along famously with them. They actually yelled at me today because I wasn't at the last sale they did in December. I yelled back though because I signed up to work and no one ever contacted me. So that is how I spent the majority of my day doing that and will again tomorrow. The only down side, and this may come as a shock to many of you, is I actually miss my temp job! I found out that they are now grading 7th grade writing (my forte) when the whole project was supposed to end Monday since it ran over from last Friday. I really like the people I worked with and the work itself isn't awful because it's related to my field. But, that just means I'll do it any time it comes back, which reminds me, I need to call for the dates of the next project!

Winner

John ran the Prospect Mountain road race yesterday which was a 5.63 mile uphill run. It was raining, cold, and windy. I opted to stay home and sleep in our warm bed while he went (he had to leave at 7am). When he got home around 11 I was dowstairs running on the treadmill and he came down and told me he was home. He finished in 49 minutes and some odd seconds! He's quick! My neighbor Melissa also ran and texted me later and said that John had won 2nd in his age division! She brought over his prize which was a mug and she also ended up winning first in her age division. I'm surrounded by quick runners!! I'm just happy to be able to finally run pain free.