Short on Time....

Sorry, I'm a little short on time right now, but here are a few pictures from my weekend in Monterey! The first is me in front of Monterey Bay! Unfortunately we only spent a short time there and did not get to the aquarium this trip! There is definitely time for me to take the family back there!! The 2nd photo is from our bedroom deck on the beach house! It was awesome! We slept with the door open every night! And the last is Toni enjoying a Ghirardelli favorite!!! Yum!!!

We had fun this past weekend camping up by Central City! It was quite relaxing and enjoyable despite the inconsiderate people blasting their music! We're off again this weekend to Buena Vista for a day of hiking and a day of rafting! Will be fun!!!

CA Trip

Time flies when you're having fun!!!

I just returned from my mini-vacation outside Montery, CA! It was absolutely wonderful! The Seasoned Survivor CJ Group united for the first time as one for a weekend of PJ's, Chocolate and Creating!

It meant so much to me to match the CJ's with the actual people behind them! Listening to their voices instead of wondering what they sound like from an email was fun, fun fun!! They were way more fun, way more creative and way more "real people" than I was expecting! (Although I'm not sure what I was expecting!) From the minute Debbie picked me up at the airport to when I meet them all at Cranberry Hill, I thought I knew them forever!!

My adventure began when I left work on Friday around noon and got an unexpected ride to the airport from a co-worker! The plane was delayed because of mechanical problems and I thought I was going to pass out with lack of fresh air when they turned off the A/C for 1/2 hour, but eventually I touched down in CA and everything got happier!! And when Toni and I landed at the beach house and called dibs on the master with the ocean view, things got even better!!!

Saturday I woke up to the cool breeze from the door, realized I was at the beach and couldn't sleep another wink! The day was PACKED (and I mean packed) with scrapbook and craft classes taught by all the talented ladies in the house! We went from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. with strategic breaks out on the beach! I learned so much and brought so much home to finish too! During that time we were fortunate enough to shoot a few group photos! I'll get those posted as soon as they are available! It was an awesome day!

On Sunday we spent some relaxing time in Monterey. I was able to meet up with my dear friend Sandra and she gave me an awesome tour of the town and the hotels! And the topper was the awesome dinner that her husband cooked! Monday we moved from the beach house to MJ's house in San Jose and relaxed by the pool making lavender wands! And before I knew it, I was back at the airport headed home once again! It all went by so fast!

It sounds like everyone else had an awesome time too and they want to make this an annual event! Won't that be fun!!! I'll be back later with some photos once I download them!!

Dear Dad:

My dear, dear friend Toni has inspired me to take a few minutes out on Father's Day to write about you Dad! What a great way to wind down this beautiful day! Hopefully someone like my sister will read this to you!!

My eyes are filled with tears tonight as I am not able to spend this special day directly with you. But I think you know how special you are to me (and the rest of the family) and I am so thankful that you are still here with us! I know that the rest of the family had a wonderful time celebrating with you today - I wish I could have been there too. Thankfully I was able to do that just a few months ago as we spent the week together in London.

Speaking of London - it was such a special time to share a family vacation once again with Dad. I have such happy memories of all the trips you took us on as kids. The month long trip to the California or hiking by Yankee Doodle Lake on the 4th of July or riding the Wizard at Six Flaggs or driving around Lake Michigan or going to Disney World or even just hanging out at our cottage. There are so many fond memories that I have stored up! I have you and mom to thank for my love of traveling! I hope someday we can share another trip together!!

Dad, you taught me a lot over the years. How else would I have learned that elbow grease is the best cleaner? Or that my left back pocket was the place to store everything? Or to ask Sam Schwartz the answer? Seriously, you taught me about working hard to get what you want. To never give up. To be honest and caring. And of course you taught me how to be patient. Yes, I learned that from you!!! I appreciate everything you have taught me Dad!

So as I say goodnight tonight, please remember, I LOVE YOU VERY, VERY MUCH!!!!

Love, your "favorite" daughter!!!

The darn tree.....

You've probably heard me complain about this before... the darn tree!! We have fixed frequency Internet through a dish on our house and we need direct site to the bluff across town. Our house sits at the top of the hill and normally it's not a problem to get to that bluff... until the winds start moving and the trees in our neighbor's yard start swaying. Then they get in the darn way!! The past 2 nights have been unbearable... intermittent Internet to say the least! You get logged in and boom, it's gone! I tried to post to my blog, do some much needed work for the office and nothing! It didn't make me happy. :( Nice to see the winds died down tonight and I can finally post!!! The solution... we're going to chop down some of that tree (with the neighbor's blessing)! And if that doesn't work, we might need to move that dish...

Here are a few cards I made for Father's Day with the help of dear old Toni!!! She had the stamp and the talent to color them for me! Aren't they just so cute! I love these moose and plan to buy a few of my own! I think I can handle coloring them!! On this last one, I used a TCP Tuesday sketch challenge from several weeks ago! I love this one the best! Too bad I hadn't gotten it made to submit in time for the challenge! It just shows how behind I am...

Just a week left until I go to CA! It is going to be so much fun! Off to finish a CJ tonight!

10 days....

I have been busy! I can't believe that it has been that long since I last wrote!!! Time sure flies when you're having fun... or better yet when you're just swamped!!

Very quickly... work is just crazy right now and I'm swamped. I'm trying to get organized for my new assistant to start on the 25th! I'm re-working the processes that were in place, trying to streamline them since I'm going from a FT to PT assistant! The gal I hired seems very smart and I'm hoping is greatly organized and detailed. The sad part is she was born the year I graduated from HS!!! Boy does that really make me feel old!!!

It's just 10 days until I leave for CA and our Pajama Party Weekend!!! The gals our there have put together a great itinerary for the whole week! I just wish I had gone out early because I'm missing the sailing trip on the Bay and the day of shopping!!! At least I'll get to enjoy all the projects that are being taught and the time on the beach! I am really looking forward to checking out the area and hopefully seeing Sandra while I'm there!!

I have a million and one things to do before I can go, including finishing up a CJ and packing! I'm off to see what I can finish up in the few hours left to this day!!!