Monday, March 31, 2008

Men with blue paint on their heads

Wow, I have been busy lately! It's been a fun busy though. A few weekends ago, I went to see STOMP! and I have to say that it was FABULOUS! We had great seats (2nd row) and were able to see everything. The way those people can make music out of anything really amazed me. It also takes a lot of strength in order to do what they do. I highly recommend it if it ever comes near you. Here is a link to a clip on youtube. Click here to watch the clip! It isn't the same cast as when I saw it but they do just as amazing things.

Also, I went to the Blue Man Group a week ago. I have to say that I was pleasently surprised! I had heard they were good, but I didn't realize how big of a production it would be. I really enjoyed the band too and the songs they played. How to be a Megastar was hilarious and I loved how they incorporated that into the show. It was also very interactive and they brought people from the audience as well. I have heard that the Vegas show is better, but since I have never been there, I felt this one more than stood up to its reputation! I would also highly recommend this if you are able to see it.

Tomorrow, I am taking my mom to see Carrie Underwood in concert. I really liked her on American Idol and continue to really enjoy her voice. My mom really likes her too so we're going!

Other than that, this past weekend I went up to Eau Claire to visit some friends and go out. I had a wonderful time and had some much needed time going out with friends. I hope to be able to do that again soon! Work is keeping me busy but it's a good busy. I really am enjoying what I'm doing and for the agency I work for which definitely helps :)

What's going on with everyone else?

Monday, March 24, 2008

Easter Weekend

Well, it was Easter. This is the first year I didn't have a basket, but my easter bunny (my mom) is in FL so that makes it difficult to hide the basket from there. I'll live though, I swear.

Saturday, my dad and I took my mom down to the airport in Milwaukee. Now, I realized that it being Easter weekend that the airport would probably be busy, but seriously. The day before, all the flights had been cancelled due to weather, so there were people EVERYWHERE. There were also news crews everywhere interviewing people who were "stranded" at the airport. I had printed out the flight information for my mom and we went to stand in line at Continental. Her flight took off at 10:31am and we got there around 8:20am. We were still in line at 9:15am and still about 50 people back in line. I finally went up front and asked a new man what was going to happen with people who needed to get on flights that were in about an hour. He asked which flight I was on so I told him that I was flying to Detroit (no time to explain that my mom was the one flying!) and he informed me that "We don't fly to Detroit". Uhhh..yeah you do, it says so right here on my itinery. Well, he informs me that we've been in the WRONG line the entire time and that we had to go to Northwest. Nowhere on that paper did it say she was flying Northwest. Needless to say, I was angry. So I cut in at the Northwest line to ask a very rude worker what is going on with the flight leaving in an hour and thankfully she (rudely) informed me that there was a small line on the side that they were having for my mom's flight to make sure that everyone got checked in. So, whew. We got my mom checked in, her luggage was set, and she made it through security with enough time to use the bathroom. So, dad and I get back to the car and start the drive home when my phone rings. Her plane had just arrived (10:20am) and they were delayed until 10:48am. Ugh. Thankfully it wasn't a long delay and she still made her connection in Detroit (although she got there, had to find her gate, and get on the plane right away). She is now safely in FL, but who knows what her return flight will bring!

Sunday, we had a really nice meal with two of my cousins and their families. My dad grilled out steaks (marinated...yum!) and we had twice baked potatoes, pasta salad, veggies, macaroni (for my two year old cousin), and dinner rolls. For dessert we had a HUGE chocolate cake. We all rolled away from the table when we were done and then we just watched basketball for the afternoon.

It was definitely hard to go back to work today, but thankfully I have another fun weekend to look forward to!

Monday, March 17, 2008

A Look Back...

When I went to South Carolina in December, we spent some time in Charleston. There was the most beautiful bridge that had been built a few years back to connect two cities (darn if I can't remember the cities though!) My aunt had said that when the bridge was finished, they spent a ridiculous amount of money on fireworks when it was officially opened. But it is beautiful. When we were on the boat going out to Fort Sumter, it was great to look back and see the bridge get smaller and smaller.

South Carolina is beautiful to me. I am really enjoying being able to travel as I get older. I appreciate the trips more and enjoy the experiences of seeing different parts of the country. Having gone abroad to Germany and Amsterdam in high school, it's amazing to see how much there is in the United States. I hope to continue to see different parts of the U.S. and really want to accomplish seeing all 50 states. That does however mean I may have to come stay with some of you! What do you think about that?

Where is one place in the US you want to go but haven't yet? Mine is Alaska!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Busy and dizzy

I'm sick of being lost...not in the psychological sense, but in the directional sense. When I travel for work (which is about 3 days a week), I always manage to get lost. I either get turned around and can't figure out my way back, or I just take a wrong turn or something. Sometimes I think I am completely on track and oh, something happens and I am completely off base. Well, I believe I may have solved my problem today. I ordered myself a GPS. Lord knows if this doesn't work, I am just really in trouble. I am very excited for my new best friend to come in the mail. It will speak to me and tell me when I'm wrong (lets just hope it's not in a man's voice!) It's supposed to be shipped on the 19th so I can't wait!!! I am really excited as it has what are called POI (points of interest) which are hotels, restaurants, ATMs, gas stations, etc to help when I'm on the road and need to find where I can fill my tank! I'll keep everyone posted :)

Yesterday, the high was 48 degrees. Obviously, no where near the 80s I was seeing in AZ, but I'll take it. I'm not stupid enough to think it means that spring is here as I'm sure I'll see more snow before this horrible winter is over. How is the weather near you?

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

And she's back!

I am back! I wish I was still there, but I'm back. I had a fabulous time in AZ. I flew in on Friday and came back yesterday afternoon (after an hour delay!)

I didn't check my email the entire time I was gone, only talked to my parents on the phone, and read three books. It was extremely relaxing and just what I needed. It was great to see my Grandma along with her brother and his wife. I learned how to play Shuffleboard, Sequence, and Mexican Train Dominoes. I did well with all of them too! My great-uncle thought I should cancel my flight and go to Laughlin, NV with them to gamble since I was so lucky!

I also went to a spring training Brewers v. Cubs game and had a blast! It was so much fun and I couldn't believe all the WI people that drive or fly down to AZ to see spring training. Next year, I am going to take my dad! He doesn't seem excited yet, but I told him I would just book it and then he'd have to come :) I really want to go back to AZ. I've always been told it's a very "dry heat" down there but since I had never experienced it, I wasn't quite sure what they meant. I now understand. There is barely any humidity and it is soooo dry out there. But it makes the heat easier to handle. It was in the 80s while I was there and it was hard to come back to WI where it was in the 40s. (and the 40s are really good for us, but when you were just in 80 degree weather, it's cold!!!)

My biggest surprise was when I returned to my parent's house, my Easter/birthday present was already there. My parents found me a WII! My dad saw it in the Sunday paper at Toys R Us and was the first in line. Then my mom went in after my dad and got one for them too!!! So I can't wait to get that going and play! I was so exhausted last night and didn't even bring it from my parent's house but I will be playing it by this weekend.

Hope everyone else is having a great start to their week. Can you believe Easter is already next weekend? Wow!

Monday, March 03, 2008

And the little one went wii wii wii all the way home!

I want a WII. I can't find a WII. See the problem? I search and search. I swear it has become a new obsession. I can only imagine the people who line up outside stores waiting for them to open just to see if they got a wii in over-night. Okay, I'm not that obsessed, but it's close. If I go past a Wal-Mart, I stop just in case. There hasn't been one there yet, but what if the ONE time I don't stop they have one? Does everyone else have this problem or is it just me? Do other states have tons of them and WI is just slow?

Janet asked if I liked the Melting Pot. I did! I enjoyed being out with friends, and going on Ladies Night (Thursday night) was definitely a treat! The cheese was okay, but the meat, and the CHOCOLATE was amazing! I couldn't believe the dessert trays they brought out! Yummy. I can still imagine all that chocolate. I had a Carmel Apple Martini as well which was good (especially good since it was 2 for 1 martini night!) I would definitely go there again. I think next time I would get a different cheese though. They brought out apples to dip in the cheese. Is it just me or is that weird? I tried it and it was okay, but I seriously wonder who thought, "Let's put some apples with the cheese!" Oh well, we were there for 2 1/2 hours!!! And when I finally looked at the time I could NOT believe it had been that long. Definitely worth it!

Now it's getting ready for AZ on Friday. I can't wait. It's supposed to be 78 degrees the day I fly in. Oh to feel the warm sun again--yes, dramatic but when it hasn't been over 40 in the past 4 months, you would be dramatic too!!!!