Hawaii - I Never Finished

I realized I never finished blogging about my trip to Hawaii. So I'm throwing in all the days in Maui into this post.

We had to cancel our helicopter tour because of weather but that's ok. I just spent more time relaxing listening to crashing waves. I highly recommend that!

Sunsets were gorgeous from our lanai

We drove halfway up to the volcano and this was our view down

We heard people talking and couldn't figure out where they were. Look up!

More sunsets (couldn't get enough of these)

We drove the Road to Hana. Its an all-day trip with hundreds of hairpin turns. At the end the road is a National Park that is gorgeous. We didn't get to spend a lot of time there because we had to drive back the whole way. Got home in the dark but it was worth it.

I definitely recommend Maui as a spot to visit (over Honolulu). I would stay at the same place we did before also.

Merry Christmas Hodgepodge

I can't believe Joyce had time to write this week's questions. Her daughter is getting married in less than three weeks and Christmas is next week. Super impressed.


1. Time magazine has selected The Ebola Fighters as their person of the year for 2014. Do you agree, and if so who would you say is a close second? If you disagree with their choice, who do you think should have been chosen?

Is it wrong of me to think that Time Magazine is from a by-gone era and it really doesn't matter what they write about? Its like they put a bunch of choices into a hat and draw one out.

2. This question comes to you courtesy of Susan who blogs over at Stew Mama Says. She knows we have a wedding happening any minute now, and she asks, 'What's your favorite-something old? something new? something borrowed? something blue in your home? Be sure you hop over and say hi to Susan today!

Something old - a mantle clock
Something new - my new dining room table
Something borrowed - I really don't borrow anything
Something blue - My Snow Miser bobblehead

3. Fudge-yay or nay? Your favorite flavor? Do you make it yourself? With nuts or without?

I'm not a fudge fan. It is always too sweet for me.

4. December 17th is Wright Brothers Day, commemorating the first successful flights made by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. How old were you when you made your first flight? Do you like to fly? Have you ever been to Kitty Hawk or other parts of the North Carolina Outer Banks?

I believe the first time I flew was when I was 13 and moving from Wisconsin to Florida. I've flown a whole lot more since then. I really like to fly and am an expert at navigating an airport by myself. Last flight was delayed in San Diego and I just sat at a bar and ended up talking to someone else who had been at my conference. It didn't bother me at all to be delayed (not really anything I could do about it). I've never been to the Outer Banks although I would like to some day.

5. Do the people in your family tend to follow a particular career path, and if so what's the path?

There is not a pattern of career path in my family. And Whitney isn't going into any field that either Dan or myself are in.

6. What is one thing you absolutely, positively must accomplish today?

Go grocery shopping. I'm out of stuff for lunches and I really don't want to eat out the next two days.

7. This Christmas I hope___________________________________.

To enjoy the season at a relaxed pace.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Whitney comes home tomorrow for winter break. She'll be home for about three weeks before she starts her last semester of college!

The Weekend that I met Olaf

As I mentioned on Friday, our church was holding its Christmas Spectacular this weekend. One of the special things they had was Elsa and Olaf along with pretend snowballs and the movie Frozen playing constantly. I kept trying to get my picture taken and either the line was long and I didn't have time to wait or they were on break. Finally during the last show I caught them right before a break. I told Elsa that I really only wanted my picture with Olaf and she was very nice and moved to the side.

And then Olaf gave me a hug. I was a very happy girl after that!

Friday Fragments - I'm Alive!

Believe me the last few weeks have had me swamped at work with little time to think so I haven't be able to blog. I even had a whole week where I couldn't read anyone else's blogs I was so busy. But I'm taking a breather this morning to participate in Mrs. 4444 Friday Fragments.

So what have I been doing the last few weeks? Two people's jobs that's what. My assistant took another job a month ago so I've been trying to parcel out her work to others in my office which requires extra supervision. Because I could do it but then I would be violating separation of duties and I can't have that. Good news is I've hired a new person but she isn't starting until we get back from our winter break. 

The other reason I was so busy was we had a site visit from our major sponsor get thrown at us right before Thanksgiving. For last week. So I spent the week entertaining them, planning the visit and all around drop dead tired activities. I wasn't home until 10 pm for several nights. I don't do well in that kind of environment. I needed a break.

Last Friday I took Whitney to see Justin Timberlake in concert. It was a good concert and he is a great entertainer. At one point there was part of the stage that moved over the floor all the way to the other side (much closer to us).

Our view of the stage

After the stage moved closer to us

It seems to me that we have a few houses in our neighborhood that are trying to out Griswold each other. We've always had one but a couple more joined the party. I need to take photos to do them justice.

This weekend is our church's Christmas Spectacular. I can't wait to see what they do this year. Every year is different and it is always entertaining. We'll be attending tonight with both grandmas and Whitney coming down from school. She still has finals next week so she won't be home officially until next Thursday.

I'm going to miss the Mom's weekend at her college tomorrow. Just didn't seem like a reason to go this year since we wouldn't be attending any of the shows they are doing. So she had better get my ornament that they give out. I need it for my collection.

Just a few things but I needed to prove I'm still alive and kicking. I seem to be able to post more on twitter so you can always follow me there!

Winter Book Reading Challenge

Rebecca Jo challenged us to cuddle up and read this winter. Here's the books that have kept me company since November 11 when she started. I got all of these free on my kindle app (I am so happy I found out how to do this).



You can see from my list I seem to go for romance novels and nothing too taxing on the brain.



The Trouble with Holly by Bonnie Blythe

Choices by Marie Ferrarella

The Daddy Pact by Kristy James

Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

You Had Me at Merlot by Marley Gibson

Married for Christmas by Noelle Adams

Winter Interlude by Sandy Loyd

Moonbeams by Joann Bergen

Don't Break My Heart by Laurie Kellogg

Maybe next month my choices will expand outside of cheap romances but I doubt it. I need my escapism where I can get it.

Thanksgiving Hodgepodge

Made it to answer Joyce's questions this week. I give thanks that every week she comes up with them and lets us play along.

1. Besides U.S. Thanksgiving, it's also National Game and Puzzle Week...what game have you played most recently, and who were you with? Have you worked a puzzle of any kind in the past week?

This is the puzzle I finished this weekend. I play Frozen on my ipad all the time (rather obsessively).

2. What is one place you were thankful for this year?
Maui. You can't argue with sunsets like these.

3. Take a nap, watch football, go for an after dinner walk, or hit the stores...which ONE is on your must-do list for Thanksgiving day? For those of you playing along who aren't in the US, answer as it relates to any big holiday meal.

I'm going for a before dinner walk by doing a 5K Thanksgiving morning.

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite home cooked meal?

Ham with broccoli and scalloped potatoes.

5. What product from an infomercial would you most like to own?

Well I did own a topsy turvy tomato grower. It worked for awhile until I overwatered it. But it sure was heavy with all the dirt in it. You would never be able to just hang it from any overhang like in the infomercial.

6. Christmas shopping? Have you begun? Finished? Will you shop on Black Friday? How do you feel about stores opening on Thanksgiving Day? What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?

I've started all online. I've also bough the foster kids gifts that we adopt every year by going to a store. I avoid the Black Friday shopping or anything similar to it. Too many people. There is no need to open early because sales start way earlier than Thanksgiving now. I think it is just a sport to some people.

7. What are you most grateful for that adds beauty to your everyday life?

My hair. That sounds funny but coming from a family where the women have thinning hair when they get to be my age I don't take my full head for granted.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I hope to have all my decorating done by being off work for four days. I won't have any time for fun stuff for awhile so I must get it done.

A Cold Hodgepodge

Joyce was off last week moving her daughter back home before she goes and gets married and moves all the way across the country. She deserved a break. But she came back this week with more questions.

1. We celebrate Veteran's Day in the US of A on November 11th. When did you last interact with a member of the armed forces (either currently serving or retired)? Have you ever written a letter to a soldier, bought a meal or coffee for a solider, said an unprompted thank you to a soldier you encountered out and about somewhere? If you're not in the US, comment on a similar holiday in your own country.

I work with a few retired veterans but I never think of them that way. I appreciate what they've done for our country but I've never done anything like those listed.

2. You can have fifty pounds of anything at all (except money)...what would you choose?

I won a 10 pound chocolate bar once and that was way too much chocolate. Maybe 50 pounds of wine? I wouldn't need to buy any wine for at least a year.

3. When did you last receive an invitation in the 'real' mail? What was it for and did you attend? When it comes to RSVP-ing, are you an 'early responder' or a 'last minute, barely-under-the-wire' kind of guest?

I got a wedding invitation this summer. I don't like to wait until the last minute to RSVP. I should be able to make up my mind quickly if I can go to something or not.

4. What's something you really don't like to waste?

I hate to waste anything I paid for. LOL

5. Cheers, Friends, MASH, Seinfeld...of the ones listed, your favorite long-running sitcom?

Of those I was a huge MASH fan. It was a family event to watch it. I remember the final episode still (the highest rated single show ever). You know...before you could DVR it and watch on your own schedule.

6. What decision are you glad you made?

Going back and getting my masters degree. It definitely has propelled by career and helped expand my mind.

7. In this month of 'Thanksgiving' what is one thing that's different today than it was a year ago that you're grateful for?

I'm thankful that there is only one more time to pay tuition! Whitney's last semester starts next January and then she'll be a college graduate.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm joining up with Rebecca Jo on her winter reading challenge. I probably read 4-5 books a week on my kindle app so this will be great. Go check it out!