Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tulip Time

Holland Michigan offers Tulip Time every May. This year, Tulip Time will be May 2 - May 9, 2009. Living in West Michigan allows for the opportunity to participate (or not) in the festivities which includes parades, street scrubbing, klompen dancers, dutch meals, shopping, tours, tulips, tulips and tulips. If the weather cooperates, Tulip Time can actually be a rather exciting time of year for visitors as well as residents.

LL and her baby were planning on coming in for a visit this upcoming weekend. We planned it a while ago. I haven't seen her daughter since early winter and she's growing like a weed! Unfortunately due to car issues LL called yesterday to cancel. My mom and her friend had wanted to come visit and check out Tulip Time, but with LL being in town and then being at my mom's for Mother's Day weekend, there wasn't an opportunity.

Considering being selfish and not hosting company, I debated whether or not to inform my mom of the change of plans. Of course, I called her immediately and left a message. Within minutes, my mom had called back to say that of course her friend was ecstatic with the change of plans and they would be up Friday afternoon! So instead of power cleaning for a crawling baby, I'll be cleaning to impress my mom's friend - otherwise, about the same difference!

Regardless, it's nice to have company and actually have guests be interested and willing in staying at my house.

Baseball Update

Little League is clearly underway. Opening day was last Saturday and due to poor coaching (my son's other parent) the game ended in a tie. I'm beginning to think that I need to take control and coach third base and give him the score books!

Last night was the second game which began in a light continuous rain. I took shelter to keep the score book dry and was joined by JA as her son was on the opposing team. We muddled, err mastered the score board as well, until she left and then I had to do the book, pitch count, score board and hold a conversation or two. Obviously I wasn't at peak performance at that point! Our team lost, but if we had to lose, at least it was to JA's son's team. Although I'm pretty sure that we have quite a few more L's in the future!

Sunday we met TS at an indoor batting cage, after a late night of bowling where she managed to bowl a 65 and her average is about a 150! We were at the cages for well over 1.5 hours and T was able to use his new bat he purchased Friday night. We even snuck into the training tunnels and I pitched TS slow pitch softballs and T tennis balls. We finished just in time as staff came to clean up the tunnels and lock the room. We later learned that to rent a tunnel was $35 for a half hour. TS and I didn't feel bad at all since T and I looked for staff on four occasions to assist with the batting cages, to no avail. Unfortunately after T batted upwards to 350 swings with his new bat, he wasn't able to get a hit in his two attempts, although to his credit his first at bat was four straight balls. There's always next time...

AA Group Needed

It is becoming apparently obvious to me that I have a strong inclination for a need for AA groups. Not the typical Alcoholics Anonymous group, although this past weekend I became more enlightened that the paternal side of my family has a long history of drinking. I have always wondered who in the family has the strong alcohol consumption genes as I seem to be able to drink most of my friends under the table!

In the past, I've blogged about my need to find an Anger Anonymous group. Today, I'm in search of an Auction Anonymous group. Auctions, while different then gambling, I'm sure have the same form of addiction - although I'm not quite certain as I've never had a gambling addiction or well any addiction that I can recall - unless of course it's chocolate!

While I vowed to steer clear of the WGVU auction for Grenada and the way that staff didn't respond to our concerns and issues of our "Paradise Resort", I found myself drawn to the online auction. It was if there was someone pulling my strings, pushing my buttons, alluring me to the unknown, beckoning me to the dark side. Of course I rationalize that they all seem like good deals - until of course I GOT to Grenada - or in general terms until I go to use my recently acquired purchases.

Last night the auction ended. I had bid on six things and despite my ailing internet connection due to storms and troubled lines, I managed to be the high bidder on four items. Surprisingly so, since when I went to bed last night I thought it was only three! The downfall of auction winning is that you pay for the items immediately when the use of them may not be for some time, like my winter condo for next year! All of my purchases were in mind of sharing with other people (cost too!) so enjoying my winnings comes at the cost that others will follow through with wanting to participate as well! If everything works out, there should be some great times in the future!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Freudian or Typing Error?

I was just surfing through the latest news and headlines online. I came across a brief article about the number of people reporting partial to full paralysis in the United States. Many suffer from paralysis as a result of a stroke. As strokes run in my family, I was intrigued to read more.

However, I was slightly amused and slightly appalled to read the following:

"Thirty-sex percent of those who reported being paralyzed said they had 'a lot of difficulty' in moving, while 16 percent said they were completely unable to move," the researchers wrote.

With cutbacks in the United States, apparently editors and the ability for people to proof read are becoming obsolete. Or in fact, was the author's mind really somewhere else when considering the ramifications of being paralyzed.

Makes one wonder...

Monday, April 20, 2009

Vegas Move & Meet the Parents

I don't exactly have another vacation planned. Prior to Florida, JC had hoped that we could go on a vacation. With his race schedule he anticipated that we could go sometime in...August. Of course that didn't fly with me, so I found a way for him to accompany us on most of our Spring Break trip. I would have to admit that he was pretty thrilled to be on vacation, but missed his "kids" and his routine. The dogs proved to be fine as he was rest assured upon his return home.

As we were arriving at the airport for his departure, he received a phone call from his father (I would call him dad, but JC calls his ex-in law "dad" and his biological dad "father"). He called him back once we were in the lobby of the airport outside of security. His dad discussed plans of moving back to Michigan and the adventure that would pursue - flying out to Vegas and packing for 3-4 days for the trek across country that would take another 3-4 days. JC suggested that his father speak with his sisters about the arrangement as he wouldn't be the only sibling to assist with the move. His parents also hoped to be moved back to Michigan somewhere amongst the children by Memorial weekend.

Since that day, I have offered JC my assistance. As it is a weekend without T, I offered to go to help pack, drive, keep him awake, etc. He thanked me for the offer but declined stating it wasn't something he would want to do and I would likely become irritated and frustrated at his family. Mind you, that initial phone call, his father stated that there would be 4-5 vehicles that needed to be driven back to Michigan - an RV towing an old car, a mini van, a truck, a u-haul towing and another truck. Needless to say, JC didn't realize that all of the adults would therefore be driving separately, until later that is, much later.

On Easter I had the opportunity of meeting JC's two sister's and their families as the holiday was at JC's home. I had expected the worst from things JC had stated about his sister's but really didn't fear meeting them at all. I figured his stories were the difference between male and female, brother and sister relationships. Nothing I was familiar, but also nothing I was concerned. Easter went without casualty. The move was discussed this time with the three siblings stating that the parents had to pack themselves and they would offer one day of packing before hitting the road and anticipated returning back home within three days (although it's a 36 hour trip averaging 60mph and not counting ANY stops!).

Last Wednesday JC and I had a long discussion about "us". We covered our vacation, our relationship and how we communicate. He also again mentioned Vegas and how I felt about going. And that was that. My next adventure will include flying out to Vegas to meet his parents and assist in packing them up and driving across country. We purchased the one-way tickets on Friday and now we have to figure out the transport to the airport for the five of us flying out to Vegas. In addition, I haven't had the gall to ask about whether or not we will be stopping and lodging en route since clearly as a caravan we can only be as fast as the slowest driver. Fortunately JC and I will be driving together, but I still can't imagine that we will drive through the night. The fartherest I've ever driven on my own in one day was 10 hours. JC has a CDL license but said he gets tired after 200 miles and has never driven farther.

I can only imagine (Clearly my new theme song for my next adventure - which I have until mid-May to partake!)...

Madness to Mundane - Florida Vacation Recap

My first post of April and amazing how quickly the month has flown. I've been super busy and obviously have been neglecting my self indulgent mental release otherwise known as blogging. There have definitely been things potentially worthy of blogging about, all which seem irrelevant and ages ago.



I finally managed to find the time to upload the software for my new Nikon Coolpix S610. I even copied (on the second attempt) the pictures onto a disk for JC as well as uploading some of the pictures to Facebook. Progress.



Florida was a fabulous vacation. Of course a trip of mine wouldn't be a trip without some issues. The hotel in Chicago for the park and fly was merely a place to park the car and the pool...was outdoors. Needless to say that $119.00 fee covered the room, taxes AND 8 nights of parking, so anything more than a tent would have been sufficient! I was even pleased to find that my booking was accepted without any issue as well!



We headed to the airport two hours early, as that was the only shuttle option. JC was on an earlier flight so we hoped that T and I could fly standby, but was promptly told...SIX...times that it wasn't an option. Needless to say, the male agent appeased me and put us on standby regardless. Fabulously, we (along with two others) made the earlier plane with one seat to spare! We arrived in Orlando three hours early!



The rental car...If I've never mentioned before, I used to be a rental car agent for Budget rent-a-car. To think I could have been someone or somewhere today (digressing...) if I had only, anyway...of course that was some, well in 1993, years ago. Things have changed from the small airport where I was employed. So we were somewhat challenged by the whole experience, obtaining the paperwork and sent on a mission to find the car. Except it wasn't a specific car. Which I discovered only after talking to yet another agent in the premise of the rental cars. A two door full-size car, any of our choosing down row E. Mind you, luggage and back packs galore, there wasn't a single two door full size car in row E. Finding the closest employee of a different agency, we were informed to take any car. Easier said than done. Since making a decision proved a little challenging but not as much as actually trying to start the car. We chose a Dodge Charger, a fabulous car that averaged 24mpg which I would consider purchasing for my next Chrysler vehicle, anyway only determined AFTER we learned how to start the car. After about five minutes and me sweating like a dog in heat in the blistering car and frustrated beyond belief, I asked some nearby travelers for assistance. Fortunately the woman came to our aide and started it right up! So we learned that the key fab and panic button is actually the key and the smaller door key in the door is just that, a door key.






Susie navigated us around Orlando and Daytona very well; however, she did become hoarse somewhere along the trip and stopped talking to us. This proved to be somewhat challenging, but we prevailed. After taking JC to the airport (he departed two days before T and I) T figured out that somehow Susie GPS was in some foreign miming language that we clearly were unable to hear, recognize or decipher!


After arriving at my mom's we headed to check out a friend's Jeep that JC was interested in possibly purchasing. It proved to be more work than he was willing especially for the price. We then headed to my uncle's home where I had my first issue. We were entertaining ourselves amongst his various orange trees taste testing, pulling, peeling, spitting, etc. When, what have me, several stings to find that I was being bitten by red ants! Ah fabulous. Back when T was three, I had managed to set him down in a pile of red ants when we were in Florida. I don't recall his reaction from the bites being the same as mine. I welted and then each bite, approximately ten of them, had a white head like a pimple and itched something mad. Being myself, I had difficulty not picking at them and spent much of the trip trying to absolve myself of the itch and the pimple like whiteheads. I think I've managed to obtain scars from the picking, but I'm hoping that the marks that remain today will fade in time.


My next issue came when we decided to take advantage of the warm weather and go roller blading. Mind you, I've never been able to stop. There is a fabulous bike trail near my parents which travels 5 miles to Winter Garden and back. I've taken the path several times over the years, but this time, we decided to have T bike and venture on the roads from my mom's house (clearly NOT a good idea). Mom sent us on a wild goose chase to find a dock to search for gators. JC clearly an avid skater suggested I take the dock to the water slowly and hold on to the handrail. Clearly my blades had another idea and I ended up grabbing the side of the banister while flying down the dock! I managed to get a 2" splinter into my palm, and a bruise on my inner right arm as well as my left from trying to stop! Needless to say, I took my blades off after that and left them where they lay and walked the rest of the way down to the water. Humiliated and bruised, I acted like it was no big deal.

En route back to the house, coming down the same dead end street we had gone up, I once again found myself out of control. I attempted to slow down with no luck. JC was across the street attempting to come to my rescue. I was gaining speed and heading toward rocks, debris and a dead end guard rail. I did what I could do and went to the small patch of grass on my left, which launched me into a full frontal face plant into the ground! Ah fabulous! Feeling like a complete ass, I got up without JC's offering of assistance, dusted myself off, acknowledged my newly grass stained shorts and open road rash cuts and kept on blading home with my head down the whole way back (of course to prevent any further injury or insult!).



So within less than 24 hours of leaving Michigan, I managed to be attacked and swollen by red ants and had two roller blade falls. I had road rash and bruises up my left arm, on my right arm and on my legs as well as my feet swollen from the bites. And to top it all off, I managed to get sunburn as well.



Fortunately, the rest of the trip went superb. JC and I got along fantastic. We enjoyed the beach and our jaunt to Daytona Beach. We loved the tour of the Daytona 500 speedway, especially my new sunglasses (which coincidentally I did buy a real cheap pair since I left the other pair in California). We hit the flea market, the beach, my timeshare and all day golf as well. Back in the Orlando area we just enjoyed each other's company and the warmer weather. JC and I had two nights out, one in Daytona where we heard a live band and walked the boardwalk and then another in Orlando area without T. All in all, I couldn't ask for a more fabulous vacation.



Even after I took JC to the airport...I went back to pick up T and we headed to my dad's place about an hour away. The visit was what I expected and he looked better than I anticipated. We stayed for 24 hours and T and I both managed to get much sun despite our sun block. We fared better at Blizzard Beach the day of our departure as we lathed on 70spf! The flight home was much more turbulent and I was smashed between rude over sized travelers. I couldn't have imagined a better time to pay for the upgrade. Back in Chicago we had to wait on the shuttle and when we arrived at the hotel, my car was dead. Sigh.






The shuttle guy aided me with jumping my car, due to the trunk light remaining on again. We finally made it back home shortly after 3a.m. on Saturday morning without further incident or not.






JC had his big race on Saturday but excitedly was going to be at my house waiting for me when we arrived. I couldn't be happier. I was so excited to see him, even if he was going to be asleep when we got home. However, I had completely forgotten that I locked ALL the screen doors when leaving the house so that when JC arrived at my house at 12:30a.m. Saturday morning, he was locked out. Coincidentally I received his call inquiring about getting into the house (which I had the ONLY key) at the exact same time that I discovered my car was dead.






But life is good. We made it home safely and I survived waiting another 12 hours before seeing JC at his race. Another great vacation. While very different from San Francisco, it was a very relaxing, family oriented vacation that I enjoyed almost every minute!