Maui - Day two

After a good night's sleep, Day Two began. I got up this morning and made breakfast for us. Who wants to spend $10 on breakfast when I can whip up eggs, bacon and toast in no time?!?! I'm really loving having the full kitchen.

After breakfast we hit the streets. Lahaina is an old Whaler's village. It's very quaint and interesting. There are lots of jewelers and art galleries around. Not to mention all the tourist swag. I made Mondale stop at every little store along the way. He's such a trooper with all of my shopping.

I found no less than $7000 dollars worth of merchandise for Ms. Stella, but I held back. She's getting some awesome stuff though. And I sent post cards to folks today as well. I may beat them home, but who cares?!?! I'll also be shipping home the souvies. There's no way anything else is going in that suitcase!

We enjoyed a break under the Banyan Tree. What an amazing place! The tree was planted in 1873 and was only 8 feet tall. Now it shades 2/3rds of an acre and has 12 trunks. Awesome stuff.

This place is really just amazing. I'm shocked at every turn.

We headed back to our favorite dive, Betty's, and had a little lunch.

Afterwards I hit the lounge chair for some time in the sun and a little pool time. Since "sunning" is not on Mondale's important list, he hung out in the room for a while. LOL

Plumeria is everywhere. I've had one in my hair just about all evening and bought a silk one to bring home for the memories. It smells so wonderful. And it grows on trees. In all colors. Lovely.

We finished the night at Bubba Gump's. Now we are back and ready for rest. I'm not sure we've acclimated to island time just yet. We'll probably be used to it just when it's time to leave.

Still having a blast. I can see myself vacationing here again soon.

Maui - Why did I take so long getting here?

Last year around this time, one of my best pals, Mondale, and I were discussing vacation. We had met up in New York in the past and enjoyed vacationing together. We both talked about wanting to go to Maui. Then, almost simultaneously we both said, "I'm not kidding." LOL So here we are, one year later, and we are IN MAUI!!!!

It may be corny to say so, but I have never seen a place so beautiful in my whole life. The scenery is mesmerizing. We are very tired right now as we have been awake for 22 hours, but this is going to be the best week ever. Here's a taste. I'll post all the pictures on facebook.

Weary, but happy travelers.

Pulled over while driving to the hotel for this. Amazing. Just amazing. 

The wind is crazy and the sun is crazy bright, but here I am. 

I hope to post here often with the adventures!

Playing Catch Up

Chicago was just grand. I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and learned so much. I ran into really amazing people such as the beautiful man from Amsterdam whom I could have listened to all day, Fiona, the Irish woman currently working in Singapore and oozing charm, and Lucy, the live wire from Toronto who was completely full of life. It's moments such as those that stay with you forever.


Chicago is an amazing city. I hate that it took me almost 33 years to get there. If you go, take my advice. Go to the top of something and watch the sunset. I went to the Hancock Observatory. You just can't have these experiences everywhere. I took this picture. With my own camera. I feel like a real photographer!! 

I came home to a very happy Harry. He was as ready to see me as I was to see him. We have been doing a lot of snuggling since Wednesday night. I am home for a while now and happy about that. Things are changing some at work and things are getting busy. I like it that way, though. It keeps me on track. Should be interesting.


Today was the Hair Man's birthday. He had his favorite, McDonald's French Fries, and finished that up with Frosty Paws ice cream. He also got a new toy. It's always a treat to give him a new toy. He hugs on it forever. Just like he knows it came from me. He's a special boy.

I think that catches you up on everything. Pray hard that I get to start a new class at UOP next week. If not, the Hawaii trip is not going to be nearly as much fun. :)

I love to travel.

I flew to Chicago today. I'm in town for the American Society for Training and Development Conference. I'm nerd enough to be very excited about this. :) I've never been to Chicago, so I have really been enjoying the site seeing. I've been a complete tourist today. Looking straight up at all the buildings, walking annoyingly slowly down the sidewalks. You know, all those things the locals hate.

I drove into Nashville this afternoon and caught my flight. I flew Southwest. I hate to fly Southwest only because of their seating fiasco. Even if my seat is crappy, I just want to know where it is. This way I don't feel that I have to apologize to the person I sit by. Sorry, sir. Looks like you're stuck with me. *Big Cheesy Grin*

Today we are all lined up like cattle preparing to board the plane and a large group of family members moved into place. Each of them had a different seating line-up assignment. So, as a family would, the longer they stood there the closer they got to each other. Well, some woman stuck in the middle looked at one and said, "You need to get all these people in the right place. Three have passed me already." That's when the fight started. Everyone got moved back into place, but the conversation just continued to get louder and louder. It was hilarious. I could have completely been a member of the offending family.

Things calm down and then we all start moving toward the plane. About the time we get on I hear one of the family members say, "No, those are our seats right there. Fo and five. Fo. And. Five. I laughed so hard. Quoting Cedric the Entertainer at a time like that is something I would most certainly do. Now I'm really great friends with this Chicago family. All because I laughed.

I hope to keep up the blog, but if I can't, all pics are being posted to Facebook.

Chicago - It's my kind of town.

Photo Journalism

We went to Mobile, AL last weekend for the Annual Education Conference for Junior Auxiliary. Although I could spend lots of time telling stories from those days, I would like to share these gems with you instead.

Gas Station Stop


Looks Promising


Or Maybe Not


This is obviously the result


Thanks, Caruthersville!!!

I have a man.

If you follow me on Twitter or you are my friend on Facebook you may realize that I talk about my dog, Harry, very often. I was a hard core no pet person for a very long time. Who wants to deal with that noise? Who wants something peeing on your carpet - and only on the carpet, not on the hardwood or the linoleum where it would be easily cleaned - or pooping in your house? I figured when I was ready for that, I would have children.

So enter Layla into my life - Sis's dog. I started to get it. Holly called one day and said a lady had Schnauzers available and wanted to know if I wanted one. I hedged on it for a while and then gave in. It was a good thing since they were already on the way to mom and dad's house. :)

So I met Harry. I love that dog. So much. I'd give him a big hug right now if he weren't already in bed. LOL

I love a party

Turns out that lately I will not clean my house unless someone is coming over. No one ever just "drops in" so I'm not in the habit of keeping things nice all the time. Now, many people would stop by and think nothing was bad except maybe some clutter here and there, but I know it's not clean.

Therefore, I've been hosting dinner or Sunday lunch or random to-dos at my house on occasion so I'll get up and get things done. Turns out that the Harry man just doesn't care enough to say anything. He also doesn't care enough to ever help. Ingrate. LOL



If you get a random invitation from me, there's a good chance that I've discovered a new recipe and I need to clean my house. Don't worry: I do really want you to come by.