1. A freezing fog warning this morning...who in the heck has ever heard of that?
2. We're taking a normal vacation! No sleeping in tents, bathing in rivers, or not bathing at all! Rather, it will be a week of fun with Tim and Anna in North Carolina. After many "we-could-do-this" discussions, we've settled on sticking around their town and staying busy with Frisbee golf, volleyball, gym climbing, biking, golf, games, food and other forms of fun. We'll be sleeping in a real bed and not cooking over a campfire - aren't you proud? I have to say, I'm terribly excited and wish we could leave right now!
And now a house-hunting update: we looked at a couple more places over the past week and a half, and haven't found anything we really like. One place was right on M-20, and I'm not all about the main roads; one place was in the middle of a stinky cornfield, by a railroad track and had a goofy floor plan; and one had the most messed-up floor plan I've ever seen. It felt like someone stuck all the rooms in a bag, shook the bag, dumped the rooms out, pushed them together and said, "A house!" So, we're still checking online every once in awhile and plan to attend a home builders show next month to see about the feasibility of new construction.
Work is insane but thankfully, it's very fulfilling and challenging. Some days are getting a bit long, and everyone in my office is getting pretty burnt out, but we're not even close to the home stretch, so we better get a second wind soon! I think the above-mentioned vacation time, followed by a week of being out of the office for college fairs, will do me some serious good.
The first of my six student appointments for the day is here, so I'm off and running!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Little Miracle
Last night, a couple from our church small group welcomed their new son, Mason, into the world. We met them relatively recently, but they still invited us to the hospital less than two hours after he was born. It was amazing...he is so small, and all they seem to want to do is share the love they have for him. We were his first visitors, other than Megan's mom. I got to hold him and so did Mitch, but my husband got a little scared when I told him he looked cute with a baby in his arms. No, that's not really in the plans right now, but you know what God often thinks of our plans.
What warms my heart most is how Chris and Megan welcomed us into their special day. They don't seem to have the same reservations I have when meeting new people. They almost remind me of kids on a playground, with no inhibitions or insecurities cautioning them from walking right up to someone who looks nice and saying, "Want to play?" And not to compare a new baby to a favorite toy or possession, but how often are people selfish with their favorite things? Megan and Chris took their son, who has already given them more joy than I can imagine, and happily laid him in my arms. It nearly took my breath away.
What warms my heart most is how Chris and Megan welcomed us into their special day. They don't seem to have the same reservations I have when meeting new people. They almost remind me of kids on a playground, with no inhibitions or insecurities cautioning them from walking right up to someone who looks nice and saying, "Want to play?" And not to compare a new baby to a favorite toy or possession, but how often are people selfish with their favorite things? Megan and Chris took their son, who has already given them more joy than I can imagine, and happily laid him in my arms. It nearly took my breath away.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Winter Workout Weekend
A prayer I've been praying for almost a year has been answered: Bruce is back in the states after his second tour in Iraq. I'm so thankful that God protected him and brought him back safely.
And now for my weekend: it was a blast! We skied at Crystal Mountain on Saturday, after watching Bobby take fourth place in slalom. Ray met us up there and we tore it up all day long. Bobby placed somewhere in the top ten in giant slalom on Sunday. I can't believe this was the last time I'll watch him race, at least in college. And then there was our Sunday afternoon adventure...
Ice skates for Mitch, who's never owned a pair: $60 on sale at Dunham's
Skate guards to protect above skates: $4
Two cheap snowshovels that definitely don't compare to the heavy metal "widowmaker" with which I grew up: $25
Spending an hour and half shoveling a skating rink on the drainage pond behind our apartment complex: PRICELESS
Follow that up with two hours of open gym volleyball (we never made it off the loser's court but we started to play much better as a team) and you have a fool-proof recipe for one very sore couple reluctant to get out of bed on Monday morning!
And now for my weekend: it was a blast! We skied at Crystal Mountain on Saturday, after watching Bobby take fourth place in slalom. Ray met us up there and we tore it up all day long. Bobby placed somewhere in the top ten in giant slalom on Sunday. I can't believe this was the last time I'll watch him race, at least in college. And then there was our Sunday afternoon adventure...
Ice skates for Mitch, who's never owned a pair: $60 on sale at Dunham's
Skate guards to protect above skates: $4
Two cheap snowshovels that definitely don't compare to the heavy metal "widowmaker" with which I grew up: $25
Spending an hour and half shoveling a skating rink on the drainage pond behind our apartment complex: PRICELESS
Follow that up with two hours of open gym volleyball (we never made it off the loser's court but we started to play much better as a team) and you have a fool-proof recipe for one very sore couple reluctant to get out of bed on Monday morning!
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
For all you future parents...
...who will have future children who will pursue higher education in the future: please remember to teach them some common courtesy. I hate it when I call a student and they decided to make a game out of how rudely they can tell me they aren't coming to Alma. I hope they feel a little ridiculous and maybe the slightest bit bad when I tell them how excited I am for them that they have chosen a college and wish them luck in everything.
What is the problem with kids these days? My parents would have rung my neck if I was disrespectful like that! So please, I know all of you reading this blog will raise wholesome, good, respectful children, but remind them when it's time to peddle their talents to colleges that the reps deserve the type of common courtesy you should offer to anyone.
And I'm done. Sorry, it's just so frustrating!
What is the problem with kids these days? My parents would have rung my neck if I was disrespectful like that! So please, I know all of you reading this blog will raise wholesome, good, respectful children, but remind them when it's time to peddle their talents to colleges that the reps deserve the type of common courtesy you should offer to anyone.
And I'm done. Sorry, it's just so frustrating!
Monday, February 05, 2007
House Hunting Update
Thanks Charlotte and Tim for your awesome insights! Here's the current scoop: we learned from our realtor that the house with which we are in love has a pretty fixed price. Someone made an offer just $1,000 below the buyers' minimum, and they did not accept. Their minimum is too much for us, so we are going to watch it for the next couple months without making an offer, and see if it moves. If it's still around in about four months and we've not transferred our adoration elsewhere, we'll make a reasonable offer.
In the meantime, we looked at another house (not good) and have requested that our realtor choose some other places that meet our criteria: outside of town, at least an acre, and within our price range. As she begins to show us places, I'm sure we will get more specific, especially in terms of aesthetics. (Actually, I really don't want to look at anything that resembles a double-wide, which many places around here do. But I'll let her figure that out as we go along.) We prefer a full basement also.
***
OK, I'm changing the subject to something that happened over the weekend that made me a bit angry - probably because it seems to be a fairly common misconception I doubt I'll ever correct. We had the first of two big scholarship competitions on campus last Saturday, and I was speaking with a family at lunch who was asking about the marketablilty of an Alma degree. As I was pointing out the benefits of a liberal arts education (critical thinking skills, flexibilty, the ability to solve complex problems, etc. etc.), the mother looks and me and goes, "Well, you're not using your Alma business degree to its full potential doing this."
Ouch.
Actually, I politely pointed out, I am. My focus was marketing communications and there's an immense amount of strategy involved in college recruitment. I have my finger in so many pies that my project plate is just about overflowing. It's so much more than just "talking about Alma," as so many people imagine. I could elaborate, but then this would turn into a resume, and convicing you, my friends, is not the point, nor do I believe it's necessary.
I guess what kind of gets to me most is that I had the same misconceptions when I entered this. I worried about it being an easy job that might not sit well on my resume, but we were so desperate to get out of Cadillac that I was willing to take the chance and even considered it a bit of a time filler. I know there were people in my life who saw this as just "going back to Alma" and who don't recognize the challenges of this unglamourous and under-appreciated job, but now I do, even though I don't plan to make this a career. And I'm confident that when I'm ready to move on, I can make it pretty clear to prospective employers how involved it can be to work in college admissions.
In the meantime, we looked at another house (not good) and have requested that our realtor choose some other places that meet our criteria: outside of town, at least an acre, and within our price range. As she begins to show us places, I'm sure we will get more specific, especially in terms of aesthetics. (Actually, I really don't want to look at anything that resembles a double-wide, which many places around here do. But I'll let her figure that out as we go along.) We prefer a full basement also.
***
OK, I'm changing the subject to something that happened over the weekend that made me a bit angry - probably because it seems to be a fairly common misconception I doubt I'll ever correct. We had the first of two big scholarship competitions on campus last Saturday, and I was speaking with a family at lunch who was asking about the marketablilty of an Alma degree. As I was pointing out the benefits of a liberal arts education (critical thinking skills, flexibilty, the ability to solve complex problems, etc. etc.), the mother looks and me and goes, "Well, you're not using your Alma business degree to its full potential doing this."
Ouch.
Actually, I politely pointed out, I am. My focus was marketing communications and there's an immense amount of strategy involved in college recruitment. I have my finger in so many pies that my project plate is just about overflowing. It's so much more than just "talking about Alma," as so many people imagine. I could elaborate, but then this would turn into a resume, and convicing you, my friends, is not the point, nor do I believe it's necessary.
I guess what kind of gets to me most is that I had the same misconceptions when I entered this. I worried about it being an easy job that might not sit well on my resume, but we were so desperate to get out of Cadillac that I was willing to take the chance and even considered it a bit of a time filler. I know there were people in my life who saw this as just "going back to Alma" and who don't recognize the challenges of this unglamourous and under-appreciated job, but now I do, even though I don't plan to make this a career. And I'm confident that when I'm ready to move on, I can make it pretty clear to prospective employers how involved it can be to work in college admissions.
Friday, February 02, 2007
House Hunting
So as I wrote in my last post, we started looking and houses and have been out to see one so far. Last night was our second visit there, though with a different (more competent) realtor. Let's recap:
Nice things about the house
1. Spacious - open floor plan, cathedral ceilings, full walk-out basement (half finished)
2. Gorgeous kitchen with real wood floors
3. Wrap-around porch covered in the front
4. Great lot size: 1.5 acres
5. Great location: about 5 miles outside of town
6. Attached garage
Things we wish were different
1. Only full bath is the master bath, which can only be accessed through the master bedroom. We do, however, think there is room to move a wall and add a shower to the half bath on the first floor.
2. Garage is only one-car, but it wouldn't be hard to enlarge it. Or we could deal with it.
Two of the biggest things for me to get over
1. This is the first house we've looked at! People don't try to buy the first hosue they look at, do they?!?!
2. I still have trouble accepting that we can in fact afford a house. And I wonder about the unforseen expenses: we'll need a way to plow the driveway, mow the law, we don't have enough furniture to fill it, energy costs are higher, etc. etc.
Very few of my friends have purchased houses yet. Tim, I know you and Anna considered it for awhile - any thoughts? I'd love comments from the rest of you, too.
P.S. Mitch is doing a mortgage pre-approval today and calling the realtor about checking out another house in which we are mildly interested...
Nice things about the house
1. Spacious - open floor plan, cathedral ceilings, full walk-out basement (half finished)
2. Gorgeous kitchen with real wood floors
3. Wrap-around porch covered in the front
4. Great lot size: 1.5 acres
5. Great location: about 5 miles outside of town
6. Attached garage
Things we wish were different
1. Only full bath is the master bath, which can only be accessed through the master bedroom. We do, however, think there is room to move a wall and add a shower to the half bath on the first floor.
2. Garage is only one-car, but it wouldn't be hard to enlarge it. Or we could deal with it.
Two of the biggest things for me to get over
1. This is the first house we've looked at! People don't try to buy the first hosue they look at, do they?!?!
2. I still have trouble accepting that we can in fact afford a house. And I wonder about the unforseen expenses: we'll need a way to plow the driveway, mow the law, we don't have enough furniture to fill it, energy costs are higher, etc. etc.
Very few of my friends have purchased houses yet. Tim, I know you and Anna considered it for awhile - any thoughts? I'd love comments from the rest of you, too.
P.S. Mitch is doing a mortgage pre-approval today and calling the realtor about checking out another house in which we are mildly interested...
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Making time
Work has been really busy lately - there's the pressure to get the numbers, which means the pressure to implement new strategies and keep up student contacts like before. I'm not complaining; in fact, this makes my days feel productive and go by quickly, but I haven't had much time to update! I have, however, been composing blog ideas in the car, so here are some things I've been thinking lately:
1. I really like country music now. Don't laugh, I know I was never a fan before moving here, but I've come to appreciate the generally wholesome messages. Last week, I made a point to keep track of the songs I heard on my way to work one morning, and all five mentioned God or church or prayer. Three of those songs held faith as a central point, and the other two were no less genuine in their references. I'm not saying the messages are always like that, but I've found most ounty songs tend focus on things like family and lifetime commitments rather than one-nighters and promiscuity.
2. Certain things are very satisfying, like the crashing sound the grocery cart makes when you roll it into the parking lot's cart corral. Or spraying the dirt off a filthy white car. Or sipping a cup of hot chocolate.
3. We're looking for a house! We actually found one we like, but our first visit was with a really crappy realtor, so we're going back with a different one tomorrow. Things we like best: it's about five miles out of town with an acre and a half, plus the option to buy more; it has cathedral ceilings in the living room and an open floor plan, so the living room, kitchen and dining area are all together; it has a half-finished walk-out basement; it has real wood floors in the kitchen and beautiful cabinets; and it has a wraparound porch on three sides of the house. I'll write more after our second trip out there.
I think that's all I have time to write today. I have to run over to the Alumni House now and grab some more kilts so I have enough for the OCs to wear in their welcome video; then I have to continue writing content for the new accepted student Internet portal, plus write the letters/emails we'll use to communicate their new access; then I have to take time to talk to a family, send out an email blast about the upcoming theatre performance, put together another email blast about the upcoming music performances, and pack my materials up for tonight's college fair in Birmingham. And I have until 3 pm to take care of all of that, plus whatever pops up in the meantime. Have I mentioned I really like my job, because I do!
1. I really like country music now. Don't laugh, I know I was never a fan before moving here, but I've come to appreciate the generally wholesome messages. Last week, I made a point to keep track of the songs I heard on my way to work one morning, and all five mentioned God or church or prayer. Three of those songs held faith as a central point, and the other two were no less genuine in their references. I'm not saying the messages are always like that, but I've found most ounty songs tend focus on things like family and lifetime commitments rather than one-nighters and promiscuity.
2. Certain things are very satisfying, like the crashing sound the grocery cart makes when you roll it into the parking lot's cart corral. Or spraying the dirt off a filthy white car. Or sipping a cup of hot chocolate.
3. We're looking for a house! We actually found one we like, but our first visit was with a really crappy realtor, so we're going back with a different one tomorrow. Things we like best: it's about five miles out of town with an acre and a half, plus the option to buy more; it has cathedral ceilings in the living room and an open floor plan, so the living room, kitchen and dining area are all together; it has a half-finished walk-out basement; it has real wood floors in the kitchen and beautiful cabinets; and it has a wraparound porch on three sides of the house. I'll write more after our second trip out there.
I think that's all I have time to write today. I have to run over to the Alumni House now and grab some more kilts so I have enough for the OCs to wear in their welcome video; then I have to continue writing content for the new accepted student Internet portal, plus write the letters/emails we'll use to communicate their new access; then I have to take time to talk to a family, send out an email blast about the upcoming theatre performance, put together another email blast about the upcoming music performances, and pack my materials up for tonight's college fair in Birmingham. And I have until 3 pm to take care of all of that, plus whatever pops up in the meantime. Have I mentioned I really like my job, because I do!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Winter is HERE!
I just thought I'd share that, in case anyone missed it. Here are my personal top five reasons I know it's winter:
5. It's not just nice anymore - but essential - that Mitch starts my car in the morning.
4. It takes me as long to pick out a hat, scarf and mitten ensemble as it does to choose my clothes. (And I wear my hair down more often because it looks good under a hat that way!)
3. No one at works likes me anymore, because I've been not-so-secretly hoping for this weather and they all hate it.
2. I start planning out the logistics of waxing my skis in our kitchen.
1. We have to tack fleece blankets up over the bedroom windows so I don't spend every night glued to Mitch in an effort to keep warm.
Happy Winter everyone!
5. It's not just nice anymore - but essential - that Mitch starts my car in the morning.
4. It takes me as long to pick out a hat, scarf and mitten ensemble as it does to choose my clothes. (And I wear my hair down more often because it looks good under a hat that way!)
3. No one at works likes me anymore, because I've been not-so-secretly hoping for this weather and they all hate it.
2. I start planning out the logistics of waxing my skis in our kitchen.
1. We have to tack fleece blankets up over the bedroom windows so I don't spend every night glued to Mitch in an effort to keep warm.
Happy Winter everyone!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The Cruise Post
Title: My New Years Cruise
Cast of Characters:
Me, patient keeper of three boys
Mitch, the loving husband/part-time wingman
Bobby, my brother/paradoxically shy party-guy
Brian, the high school friend/fully committed wingman
Mom, my female relief from our testosterone-filled stateroom
Dad, the instigator
Grandpa, the independent octiginarian
Mark, Cheryl, Matt and Scott, the hometown family playing supporting roles
Yadi, our amazing steward
Barlaam and Jesus, our entertaining, attentive waiters
Ali, Bobby's weeklong kissy-face partner
Jess, Brian's island love
Setting the Stage: The Ship, Carnival Triumph
In total, we spent four whole days on a floating city, traveling from Miami to the Virgin Islands and back again. We spent a good amount of time up on the sunny, windy deck, but as I'm not particularly fond of laying out and burning, I hung out in the shade with a book most of the time. We ate a lot of ice cream and pizza (available 24 hours a day) as well as delicious dinners and fantastic desserts. I had my first escargot experience: chewy garlicky goodness! Mitch ordered two dinners on most nights; he'd try something new and order steak as a backup. Generally, he polished off both! After our late dinners, we attended variety shows in the Rome Lounge featuring dancers, a juggler, a comedian, a magician, and way too much of our talkative cruise director. We barely touched the lavish casino, but when we did, I won $2 in nickels. And the bars, oh the bars: nightly rituals for the boys, but a one-time thing for lightweight Laurie, whose New Years Eve was a bit more than she could handle...
At least Bobby met Ali, a nice girl with whom he could spend his evenings once the old married couple went off to bed:
And Brian probably would have had similar luck, except that he got sick halfway through the trip, effectively shutting down his mission.
Act One: San Juan
After two days on the ship, we made landfall in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was imperative that we find a bar in which to watch the University of Michigan lose to USC, so we ended up in a hole in the wall place called Douglas' Bar. Here's a picture of pretty much the whole place:
When it was apparent that the second half of the game would go no better for U of M fans, Mitch, Bobby, Brian and I explored a fort in San Juan while the others went back to the ship. Here's the type of awesome picture my camera is capable of taking:
Act Two: St. Thomas
Cruising through the night, we arrived at St. Thomas immediately following our evening in San Juan, and it was as beautiful as I remember from previous trips. Mom, Dad and Grandpa rode the loud, powerful "Sea Blaster" out on a snorkeling excursion, but the boys and I chose the more graceful Castaway Girl, a large catamaran, for our ride to Buck Island for some underwater adventures. You wouldn't expect to see much in sixty feet of water, but we saw a shipwreck, a sea turtle named Steve, and all sorts of other creatures, a couple of which our tour guide, Jess, brought to the surface for us to hold. A wholesome, educational experience, until the rum punch surfaced on the hour-long trip back to port. By this time, Brian was hopelessly in love with Jess...
She offered him and Bobby a place on her couch if they would like to stay on the island, and though it meant leaving a little piece of himself in St. Thomas, Brian returned to the ship with us. Having done its damage, the rum punch stayed with all three boys as they attempted (semi-successfully) to dress for dinner. Three strikes for Bobby: he forgot to put on underwear, we knocked an empty wine glass off the table and shattered it, and he couldn't articulate his order to Barlaam, relying instead on the old menu-point trick. Oh, and I almost forgot: good push!
Act Three: St. Maarten
Oh, Can-a-da! Here we raced the Canadian America's Cup sailboat, True North IV, and whooped on the American boat, Stars and Stripes. The crew truly puts everyone to work on this excursion: I worked a winch in the back with Dad, Mom trimmed the mainsheet, Bobby and Mitch were grinders, and Grandpa timed the start of the race. It was exhilarating: we sailed so fast! I got soaked when I was on the low side and we dipped the rails, and when I was on the high side, I was so high I was virtually standing up! Hands down the best experience of the whole trip.
Brian, unfortunately, was back in our stateroom, alternating between hugging and straddling the toilet due to (we think) a nasty case of food poisoning.
Afterward: Our Return to Reality
Now we're back in Michigan, with our noses to grindstone. We've returned to work, are getting back in shape after all that cruise food, and planning for a wonderful winter that will include volleyball league, a renewed small group with church, ski trips to Crystal Mountain and maybe Searchmont (if it ever snows), possibly church membership, possibly house hunting, the GMAT for both of us when the tax return comes in, and many more fun experiences with family and friends!
(To see all the photos from our trip, go to http://photos.yahoo.com/skibunny11282 and look for the album titled "Cruise.")
Cast of Characters:
Me, patient keeper of three boys
Mitch, the loving husband/part-time wingman
Bobby, my brother/paradoxically shy party-guy
Brian, the high school friend/fully committed wingman
Mom, my female relief from our testosterone-filled stateroom
Dad, the instigator
Grandpa, the independent octiginarian
Mark, Cheryl, Matt and Scott, the hometown family playing supporting roles
Yadi, our amazing steward
Barlaam and Jesus, our entertaining, attentive waiters
Ali, Bobby's weeklong kissy-face partner
Jess, Brian's island love
Setting the Stage: The Ship, Carnival Triumph
In total, we spent four whole days on a floating city, traveling from Miami to the Virgin Islands and back again. We spent a good amount of time up on the sunny, windy deck, but as I'm not particularly fond of laying out and burning, I hung out in the shade with a book most of the time. We ate a lot of ice cream and pizza (available 24 hours a day) as well as delicious dinners and fantastic desserts. I had my first escargot experience: chewy garlicky goodness! Mitch ordered two dinners on most nights; he'd try something new and order steak as a backup. Generally, he polished off both! After our late dinners, we attended variety shows in the Rome Lounge featuring dancers, a juggler, a comedian, a magician, and way too much of our talkative cruise director. We barely touched the lavish casino, but when we did, I won $2 in nickels. And the bars, oh the bars: nightly rituals for the boys, but a one-time thing for lightweight Laurie, whose New Years Eve was a bit more than she could handle...
At least Bobby met Ali, a nice girl with whom he could spend his evenings once the old married couple went off to bed:
And Brian probably would have had similar luck, except that he got sick halfway through the trip, effectively shutting down his mission.
Act One: San Juan
After two days on the ship, we made landfall in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was imperative that we find a bar in which to watch the University of Michigan lose to USC, so we ended up in a hole in the wall place called Douglas' Bar. Here's a picture of pretty much the whole place:
When it was apparent that the second half of the game would go no better for U of M fans, Mitch, Bobby, Brian and I explored a fort in San Juan while the others went back to the ship. Here's the type of awesome picture my camera is capable of taking:
Act Two: St. Thomas
Cruising through the night, we arrived at St. Thomas immediately following our evening in San Juan, and it was as beautiful as I remember from previous trips. Mom, Dad and Grandpa rode the loud, powerful "Sea Blaster" out on a snorkeling excursion, but the boys and I chose the more graceful Castaway Girl, a large catamaran, for our ride to Buck Island for some underwater adventures. You wouldn't expect to see much in sixty feet of water, but we saw a shipwreck, a sea turtle named Steve, and all sorts of other creatures, a couple of which our tour guide, Jess, brought to the surface for us to hold. A wholesome, educational experience, until the rum punch surfaced on the hour-long trip back to port. By this time, Brian was hopelessly in love with Jess...
She offered him and Bobby a place on her couch if they would like to stay on the island, and though it meant leaving a little piece of himself in St. Thomas, Brian returned to the ship with us. Having done its damage, the rum punch stayed with all three boys as they attempted (semi-successfully) to dress for dinner. Three strikes for Bobby: he forgot to put on underwear, we knocked an empty wine glass off the table and shattered it, and he couldn't articulate his order to Barlaam, relying instead on the old menu-point trick. Oh, and I almost forgot: good push!
Act Three: St. Maarten
Oh, Can-a-da! Here we raced the Canadian America's Cup sailboat, True North IV, and whooped on the American boat, Stars and Stripes. The crew truly puts everyone to work on this excursion: I worked a winch in the back with Dad, Mom trimmed the mainsheet, Bobby and Mitch were grinders, and Grandpa timed the start of the race. It was exhilarating: we sailed so fast! I got soaked when I was on the low side and we dipped the rails, and when I was on the high side, I was so high I was virtually standing up! Hands down the best experience of the whole trip.
Brian, unfortunately, was back in our stateroom, alternating between hugging and straddling the toilet due to (we think) a nasty case of food poisoning.
Afterward: Our Return to Reality
Now we're back in Michigan, with our noses to grindstone. We've returned to work, are getting back in shape after all that cruise food, and planning for a wonderful winter that will include volleyball league, a renewed small group with church, ski trips to Crystal Mountain and maybe Searchmont (if it ever snows), possibly church membership, possibly house hunting, the GMAT for both of us when the tax return comes in, and many more fun experiences with family and friends!
(To see all the photos from our trip, go to http://photos.yahoo.com/skibunny11282 and look for the album titled "Cruise.")
Friday, December 29, 2006
Cruise!
Early tomorrow morning, we'll leave for our Caribbean cruise! It will be a great way to ring in the New Year, and I'll post all about it (and include pictures, too) when I get back. In the meantime, Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The Christmas Post
What stood out this year:
1. Spending quality time with Mitch's family, including his sister, Christa and her husband, Brian, with whom we don't get to individually bond very much.
2. Seeing my cousin's wife, Jessica, and her son, Giovanni (or "Bubba") at our family Christmas celebration. Though my cousin, Joe, is has a serious a recurring drug problem and she's threatened to leave him (as well she should, given his past behavior), she still embraces our entire family and comes to all possible events. Joe's currently in rehab and I'm praying that this time, Joe is really committed to turning his life around for his son and wife.
3. Watching my Papa walk like a champ after his recent knee-replacement surgery.
4. Being able to spend Christmas morning with my Grandpa Eccles. This is our first Christmas without Grandma, and I know he misses her more than I can imagine. (Isn't it a paradox how we want to hold on to memories of loved ones so they live on in our hearts, yet those memories hurt so much to recall because we miss them so much?)
5. Talking to my cousins from Arizona, Todd and Ryan, and learning all about Ryan's son, Landon. Though Landon was spending the holidays with his mother, we'll meet him next year "when he's old enough to actually remember Christmas," as Ryan puts it.
6. Not opening presents with my dad's side of the family, because we bought gifts for children in Detroit instead.
7. Watching Chip open and play with his new gift: a "Boogie Mat" filled with catnip!
Now we're getting ready for our cruise - countdown is four days, I can't believe it! I hope everyone had a merry, memorable Christmas!
1. Spending quality time with Mitch's family, including his sister, Christa and her husband, Brian, with whom we don't get to individually bond very much.
2. Seeing my cousin's wife, Jessica, and her son, Giovanni (or "Bubba") at our family Christmas celebration. Though my cousin, Joe, is has a serious a recurring drug problem and she's threatened to leave him (as well she should, given his past behavior), she still embraces our entire family and comes to all possible events. Joe's currently in rehab and I'm praying that this time, Joe is really committed to turning his life around for his son and wife.
3. Watching my Papa walk like a champ after his recent knee-replacement surgery.
4. Being able to spend Christmas morning with my Grandpa Eccles. This is our first Christmas without Grandma, and I know he misses her more than I can imagine. (Isn't it a paradox how we want to hold on to memories of loved ones so they live on in our hearts, yet those memories hurt so much to recall because we miss them so much?)
5. Talking to my cousins from Arizona, Todd and Ryan, and learning all about Ryan's son, Landon. Though Landon was spending the holidays with his mother, we'll meet him next year "when he's old enough to actually remember Christmas," as Ryan puts it.
6. Not opening presents with my dad's side of the family, because we bought gifts for children in Detroit instead.
7. Watching Chip open and play with his new gift: a "Boogie Mat" filled with catnip!
Now we're getting ready for our cruise - countdown is four days, I can't believe it! I hope everyone had a merry, memorable Christmas!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Another "killin' time" blog
T-minus thirteen minutes 'til my week ends, and I get a nice four days off. In case anyone is curious, here's how I'll be spending the holidays:
Dec. 23 - DeYoung family Christmas
Dec. 24 - McGrath family Christmas (my mom's side)
Dec. 25 - Eccles family Christmas
Dec. 26-29 - Working the Community Appreciation Days that everyone else has off, so I only have to take half a vacation day for...
THE CRUISE! Dec. 30-Jan. 6 I'll be basking on a cruise ship in the Easter Caribbean with Mitch, Bobby, a friend from high school, my parents, my grandpa and another family from my hometown. We're stopping in San Juan (maybe doing a biolumanescent kayak tour there), St. Maarten (sailing on retired America's Cup sailboats there) and St. Thomas (probably snorkeling there), and spending the rest of the week aboard the ship. It's our Christmas present from my parents, and it's something my mom's been counting down to for a very long time.
Nine minutes left, but I was just informed that everyone was going home, so I think I'll sign off for now. Merry Christmas to all!
Dec. 23 - DeYoung family Christmas
Dec. 24 - McGrath family Christmas (my mom's side)
Dec. 25 - Eccles family Christmas
Dec. 26-29 - Working the Community Appreciation Days that everyone else has off, so I only have to take half a vacation day for...
THE CRUISE! Dec. 30-Jan. 6 I'll be basking on a cruise ship in the Easter Caribbean with Mitch, Bobby, a friend from high school, my parents, my grandpa and another family from my hometown. We're stopping in San Juan (maybe doing a biolumanescent kayak tour there), St. Maarten (sailing on retired America's Cup sailboats there) and St. Thomas (probably snorkeling there), and spending the rest of the week aboard the ship. It's our Christmas present from my parents, and it's something my mom's been counting down to for a very long time.
Nine minutes left, but I was just informed that everyone was going home, so I think I'll sign off for now. Merry Christmas to all!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Do people really have sex in the woods?
According to Skiing Magazine's Dr. Flake:
"Yes, people do. Or did, that is. It all goes back to the 1960s and '70s when hotdog skiers discovered nothing could chill out a hot dog better than a cold snog. At the height of the free-love rut, there were reportedly more people in the bush than there were drinking Colorado Kool-Aid in the lodge. Alas, all this intercourse led to pregnancies and a generation of kids named after resorts, like Jackson and Bridger, or specific parts of resorts, like Flake's nephew Behindthewarminghut. Anyway, the introduction on the condom to ski towns sometime around 2003 changed the dynamic forever. Now nobody gets it on - you just can't open a blister pack with gloves on."
I hope someone else gets as much of a kick out of this as I did! Happy Ski Season (once Michigan gets some more snow)!
"Yes, people do. Or did, that is. It all goes back to the 1960s and '70s when hotdog skiers discovered nothing could chill out a hot dog better than a cold snog. At the height of the free-love rut, there were reportedly more people in the bush than there were drinking Colorado Kool-Aid in the lodge. Alas, all this intercourse led to pregnancies and a generation of kids named after resorts, like Jackson and Bridger, or specific parts of resorts, like Flake's nephew Behindthewarminghut. Anyway, the introduction on the condom to ski towns sometime around 2003 changed the dynamic forever. Now nobody gets it on - you just can't open a blister pack with gloves on."
I hope someone else gets as much of a kick out of this as I did! Happy Ski Season (once Michigan gets some more snow)!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Haha!
Robin, thanks for your comment! The funny thing is that Mitch recently upgraded from a single, basic multi-tool for bike repair to an entire kit! Oh my goodness, what a downward spiral we're caught in!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Sports Observation
So you decide you want to start mountain biking. You buy a bike and a helmet, thinking, This is all I'll ever need. What an easy sport to get into.
Pretty soon you buy a state park sticker, because paying for daily passes gets too expensive and when you ride in, you don't get the convenience of the trailhead. You get some blisters, so you think gloves might be a good idea. Wow, this is great! I'll never ride barehanded again!
You secretly laugh at all the people decked out in their goofy padded shorts, until someone suggests you try them. All of a sudden, you can sit down and pedal over rough spots without severely bruising your buttbones. I'll never ride without bike shorts again!
Then you watch all these people killing you on hills with these fancy shoes that let them pull up and push down on the pedals. Cool, you think. So you buy clipless pedals and the necessary shoes, and voila! So that's how they do it!
A Camelback for hydration, non-cotton clothing (including socks) to wick the sweat away, glasses to keep the branches and mud out of your face, upgrades to your components...then you decide it's time for a new bike, because you've found the limitations of your "starter bike." Still, as with everything else you've invested in this sport, you're hesitant. Can it really make that much difference? Then you suck it up and spend your whole "spending money savings" on it, and the first ride is amazing.
Does this ever stop, or will I be finding new things I can't bike without for the rest of my life?!?!?
Pretty soon you buy a state park sticker, because paying for daily passes gets too expensive and when you ride in, you don't get the convenience of the trailhead. You get some blisters, so you think gloves might be a good idea. Wow, this is great! I'll never ride barehanded again!
You secretly laugh at all the people decked out in their goofy padded shorts, until someone suggests you try them. All of a sudden, you can sit down and pedal over rough spots without severely bruising your buttbones. I'll never ride without bike shorts again!
Then you watch all these people killing you on hills with these fancy shoes that let them pull up and push down on the pedals. Cool, you think. So you buy clipless pedals and the necessary shoes, and voila! So that's how they do it!
A Camelback for hydration, non-cotton clothing (including socks) to wick the sweat away, glasses to keep the branches and mud out of your face, upgrades to your components...then you decide it's time for a new bike, because you've found the limitations of your "starter bike." Still, as with everything else you've invested in this sport, you're hesitant. Can it really make that much difference? Then you suck it up and spend your whole "spending money savings" on it, and the first ride is amazing.
Does this ever stop, or will I be finding new things I can't bike without for the rest of my life?!?!?
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
*Scowl*
Sometimes I hate being the nice one. Buttface co-workers rescheduled our after-travel celebration because another rep couldn't make it tonight, even though I told them I couldn't come on the new evening. And I told them it was OK. I was really excited about it, too...
Monday, December 11, 2006
Supermom
I really don't know how my mom does it. She's the most selfless, amazing woman I know. She works all day as an operating room nurse, and when she comes home, she doesn't relax on the couch and pick up a book, like I tend to do: she makes a wholesome, homemade dinner. My dad often helps, especially with grilling, but she rarely asks him to help. She sees something that needs to be done and she does it. She puts everyone else's needs before her own. I look at the last piece of candy and my first instinct is to eat it myself, but hers is to offer it to someone else.
Is this from years of practice, or is she really closer to deserving her "St. Joan" nickname than any of us realize? Lately, I find myself asking, "What would Mom do?" Mom wouldn't ask her husband to go out in the cold and turn off the Christmas lights - she'd do it. She'd offer to make lunch, not just suggest it was time for lunch. She is the wife and mother I want to be!
Is this from years of practice, or is she really closer to deserving her "St. Joan" nickname than any of us realize? Lately, I find myself asking, "What would Mom do?" Mom wouldn't ask her husband to go out in the cold and turn off the Christmas lights - she'd do it. She'd offer to make lunch, not just suggest it was time for lunch. She is the wife and mother I want to be!
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The Good Old Days
Commence "Old Lady in Rocking Chair" mode:
I remember the good old days when the Alma College climbing wall was a place with routes for all abilities; a place where the best climbers honed their skills and set routes to help others develop theirs; a place where technical routes were more plentiful than look-at-this-big-move-I'm-such-a-badass routes.
Ah, the good old days...
I remember the good old days when the Alma College climbing wall was a place with routes for all abilities; a place where the best climbers honed their skills and set routes to help others develop theirs; a place where technical routes were more plentiful than look-at-this-big-move-I'm-such-a-badass routes.
Ah, the good old days...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)