Home at last

Well, I'm home.  I'll probably post the last of the images tonight.  I left work at 2 (the others from the trip came in late, so I went in normal time and left early.)  I picked the girls up at school and got them started on homework, then told them I was going to take a nap.

I went to bed at 3:30.  Kevin woke me up at 6 and asked if I wanted dinner.  I hadn't had lunch, so I was starving!  I ate, then sat on the couch nodding off.  The family agreed that I should go to bed, so I did.  I slept another 10 hours!  I couldn't believe it.

I've not slept that long in years, but it was incredible, and I feel human this morning.  Ready to get back to work and put a thought together without feeling disjointed.  I still can't believe I slept that long.  sheesh.

Tampa, Day 3

Today was crazy busy, but less crazy than yesterday.  It was fun, and insane, and frustrating, all in one.  Anyway, there were plans made for dinner.  Plans for a group of 18 to ride the trolley to a restaurant with Flamenco dancers and wonderful food.  I didn't go.

Yeah, I agree that it sounds like fun.  I like fun.  Dangit, I'M A FUN GIRL!  I'm also tired.  I took customers out two nights in a row, and I had to beg out of this one.  I hope they have a great time, but I had a room service sandwich and a couple of beers.  VERY light beers, Pam.  Kevin calls it "water beer" actually.  The other beer drinkers that I travel with enjoy incredibly dark beers, and they make me a bit ill.  Michelob Ultra, all the way.

Now, it is 7:10 here, which means 6:10 at home.  Believe it or not, I'm about ready to head to bed.  I won't sleep right away, but I'm going to watch TV in my PJs and just kick back.

Oh yeah, this morning.  I have to tell you about this morning.  I was on the balcony, and saw about 25 or more employees of the hotel heading across the street.  They got over there and gathered in an obviously pre-determined spot.  I called out to my roomy to check it out. 

If there was danger, they would let us know, right?  She looked at me like I was insane for talking so calmly and being my usual smart-ass self.  I asked, "Do you think I should put my shoes on, in case we have to run wildly down the stairs to save my life?"  She was unamused. Soon, a fire truck showed up, sirens blaring.  Still, I watched.

As we discussed the possibilities, the lady on the balcony below leaned out and looked up at us, saying, "We called down, and there's been an alarm, but they said not to worry."  HUH?  Are they nutty?

Before I could get mad at them, the fire truck left, and everything was fine.  I still don't know what the hubbub was about.  I don't care, really, just so there's no fire.  Maybe I should care more.  Maybe I should contemplate that while drinking that bottle of water over there:

Or not.  Can someone loan me $6?

Back home tomorrow.  I can't wait!  See you tomorrow, family!

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Tampa, Day 2

Every muscle in my body hurts.  Yes, folks, you will be shocked and astounded, but I'm out of shape.  I've walked and walked and walked, and we're only halfway through this trip.  I guess it makes up for the dinners I've been eating.  Last night, it was a Hawaiian place called "Roy's."  The night before, it was Bearn's steak house, Amy.

OK, I'm going to get to the shower, if my legs will get me there. They are protesting.  I'm thinking that tomorrow should be better.  If the soreness is better tomorrow, then I need to keep walking so I can get into shape.  I may as well take advantage of this jump start...if only I can make it across the room.

One thing at a time.

Tampa, day 1

We left Kansas City at 7 yesterday morning.  It was actually pretty nice at home, for January.  My employer moved his plane to another airport, which is MUCH closer to home than the downtown airport, and he has a giant hanger out there.  After they pulled the plane out, the pilot told us to put our cars inside!  That was cool.  It means, if the weather is bad when we get home, our cars will be warm and dry.

They had originally said we'd stop for fuel on the way, but we didn't have to. We got here with no problems, Talk about WONDERFUL weather!  It is so pretty here.  We worked our TAILS off setting up the booth, but a few of us girls got to walk around for a bit.

There are 9 of us at this convention.  That tells me they plan on us being VERY busy.  I'm traveling with a pretty good group of folks.  We took a few customers to a nice steak house last night.  I ate too much, but also got more exercise than I usually do in a week.

OK, enough chatter.  I have to finish getting ready for breakfast.  It's going to be a LONG old day, but if we're good and busy, it'll go by fast.  Today is the day that I get to meet one of my favorite photographers.  We're also taking them to dinner tonight. He is wonderful at his work, and his wife is a doll.  We'll talk each others ears off, I'm sure.

Amy, your house is fine.  It says "hi."

I'm Outta Here!

Yup, I'm gone.  I'm history.  I'm like Tony Stewart.  OK, sorry for that last one.  Anyone who doesn't follow Nascar (sorry Russ) won't get the reference to "smoke." Tomorrow morning, I'll be on a plane, headed to Florida.  Yup.  I'm gone.  I'm packed and read.....wait.  Packed?

Nope.  My suitcase is still in the closet.  I haven't packed a DANG thing!  I have an explanation, though!  I had to stop at Wal-Hell, and I brought dinner home, and you see, we aren't grazing all the time like we used to and, well, I was hungry so I waited until it was done, then I ate, but while I ate I thought I should check journals and now I'm sitting here at 7:36 and IT'S NOT MY FAULT!  LOL

I just know I'll forget something.  I wouldn't be me if I didn't forget something.  I'll leave behind the phone charger, or my extra batteries for the camera, or the iPod or the shoes or the toothbrush or the underwear or SOMETHING.  I always do.  I just try my best to remember EVERYTHING, then I'm likely to only forget one thing. 

P.S. I've lost 4 lbs.  I won't brag, since my business trip will include entertaining customers at high-end restaurants.  I'll try my best to be good, though.  *sigh*  I'm not very good at being good.  Lord help me.

Leftover pictures, 'N stuff

OK, here is the missing post about our weekend.  We arrived on Friday night, and visited until bed time.  We went to bed fairly early, knowing that there was a LOT to accomplish on Saturday.

Saturday morning, Grammy (Kevin's Mom, Linda) left with some of her siblings to clean out the apartment that belonged to GG (Kevin's grandma, Ina) until her last hospital stay.  I stayed behind to watch my nephew Steven and our girls, and Kevin and his best friend Brian started on the new porch.

With GG moving in, many things needed to be changed.  Her concrete steps had no hand rail and they were rather uneven.  With Grammy giving GG her room, and moving into the guest room herself, things needed done in there, as well.  I took care of that.

For Christmas, Grammy got each of the girls a Precious Moments puzzle.  They are round, and they have a TON of blue sky.  It was a 2-day project getting most of that done, and everyone who stopped by sat down to help.  It was funny to see someone come in to say "hi", then wind up sitting down to find that lost piece of tree or something.

We headed home on Monday midday, after saying our goodbye's.  Grammy always cries.  I hate that.  She loves having her family around her, and she's going through an emotional, stressful time with her mom, so I felt bad for her.  She's tough, though, and she'll make it better than most folks would.

Monday evening, we went to a friends house for a few hours, but we were home around 10:30.  That way, we avoided the "drunk dodging" that usually goes with NYE.  The girls toasted with sparkling grape juice.  Tuesday was lazy and awesome.  I loved it.

Saturday, I leave at 6:30 in the morning for Tampa.  It's good to fly on the company plane, and avoid the airport and security, but we have to stop for fuel, so it'll be a long haul.  At least, if we're stopping, I don't have to pee on the plane.  I HATE to pee on a plane.  ICK!

Well, tomorrow I will be packing my bags, so my next update may very well be from Florida.  I've been known to hate packing so badly that I post in the middle of it, so who knows.

I'm a wild card!  Out of control!  Quite the rebel!

Or not.

January 1, 2008

I need to lose weight.  BIG surprise, huh?  I've fought my weight my entire life.  Some times, I really try hard, and get things under control...although I don't think I've ever been my "ideal" weight.  I've been within 20 lbs of it, that's about it.  Today, I can't even see it from here.

I usually don't do journal posts about it, when I'm trying to lose weight.  It's the same as not saying anything at work.  I feel like, if I fail, or order a big ol' cheeseburger, I don't want folks thinking, "So, what happened to the diet?"

Anywho, I'm going to try again.  It will help that I decided to not eat out any more due to finances.  That cuts out fast food, a big weakness for me.  I also plan to not keep "dessert" of any kind around, other than Jello (which I love) and other lower fat things.  No chips, either.  *shudder*  Did I just say that?

LOL yeah, I know how to do it, and I know how to do it without feeling cheated.  Portion control can take a lot of weight off me.  The whole family needs it, so here we go!  Happy new year!

Is it REALLY 2008?  Wow.