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.