This past weekend was awesome. The story starts last Tuesday. I was sitting at my desk a little bored and an email comes in from my Mom. She had forwarded me an Evite to my cousin’s birthday get together for Sunday, May 27^th. So, since I was bored, I thought I would just look at flight costs for the fun of it. Well on Cheapoair.com, I found a pretty good deal. I called Pete to ask him if it was ok, and then call my Mom and aunt. Within an hour, I had tickets to go to California for the weekend.

I left early Saturday morning and arrived in LA around noon their time. My aunt picked my up at the airport and brought me to one cousin’s apartment to waited for another one of my cousins. We then went to lunch and shopping in Beverly Hills. It was pretty cool. It was good to see my aunt and cousins. I hadn’t been to CA for 20 years. Saturday night we spent the night at another cousin’s apartment. I think that maybe I should mention that my cousins are identical triplets. We had dinner in and watched a movie. It was a long day.

I woke up Sunday morning to the cats staring at me and crying. One was eating the ribbons off my suitcase. I was up before anyone because I was still on East Coast time. I showered and read a book. Around 9:30, one of my cousins came to pick me up so we could go get Sprinkles cupcakes for breakfast. They were really good. Around 10:30, another one of my cousins got home from her trip and she and her boyfriend took me to In and Out Burger and then for a tour around Hollywood Blvd. We met up with my aunt and another cousin to shop at The Grove, which is a really cool outdoor mall. My aunt bought me a new purse. There was an American Girl Store there, so I bought my friend’s daughter dresses for her dolls. That place is very overwhelming. It is huge and there is a ton of stuff in there. Thank goodness that a sales person came over to help me, otherwise I would have been wandering all over that place for hours.

Sunday night was my cousin’s get together. We have dinner at a cute little restaurant and then their friends joined them later on. I met a bunch of people, whose names I can not recall. I stayed at another cousin’s apartment for the night.

Monday morning, she drove me to the airport. My first flight was from LA to Phoenix. My cousin had checked me in the night before and got my exit row seats on both my flights. The seat next to me was empty. It was going to be an great flight, until a very large women sat next to me. I couldn’t even read because she was half in my seat. The flight attendant knew she wasn’t supposed to be there and let her stay. It sucked. Thank goodness it was only an hour long flight. I don’t think I could have flown across the country like that.

My next flight was much better. I was in an exit row with no seat in front of me. I was able to stretch my legs all the way out. I passed out while we were still in the gate. I missed that we sat on the ground for a half an hour with mechanical difficulties. I finished a book and got some sleep. It was a great flight.

I am really glad that I went this weekend. I had a great time and it was good to see my family, but I am glad to be home. Pete cleaned the entire house while I was away.

Work is crazy. There is less than a week until the conference and people are running around with chickens with their heads cut off. I will be very glad when it is over.

Great news though. Jesse will be here in 2 days, 17 hours and 33 minutes. I am super excited that she is coming for the weekend. I can’t wait. It is going to be a long 2 days.

Weekday Field Trip

Monday Night, Pete, Zora and I took a field trip to the Roxboro Walmart. They were the only Walmart in the area that had the elliptical in stock that we wanted. So after dinner we took a car ride. Zora enjoyed driving through the country and it was a nice night out.

We got the elliptical and a few other things, like a cup holder for my car to replace the one that Zora broke by standing on it. We also got little things to fix the roof of my car. You twist them through the fabric and it stops the sagging. I like driving in my car without the roof touching my head.

It was fun trying to get the elliptical up to the 3rd floor. We didn't assemble it because it took all our energy to get it up the stairs.

Last night after a yummy dinner of Lettuce wraps, we did assemble the elliptical. Pete was intent on using the drill, so while he tried to find a bit, I got through 3 steps on the instructions. In the end it is put together. I haven't used it yet, because we forgot the mat the goes under it to protect the rug.

It is almost time to go home, so until another day.

Mother's Day in FL

This past weekend I spent in Florida with my grandmother. I went for a long weekend to spend Mother's Day with her. It was good to get away for the weekend, but I missed home. Her new apartment was really nice. It was a good size just for her. They serve you two meals a day there in a dining room with linen tablecloths and waiters. The food was pretty good and there was dessert everyday.

We visited my grandfather. He did not know who I was, but did tell me I was pretty. He then fell asleep. He sleeps a lot lately. He looked pretty good though.

As much fun as traveling was, it was good to get home and see Pete and Zora.

For my 100th post, I though this would be appropriate. It is alot harder to come up with 100 things then I thought it would be.

1. I was born in Springfield, MA
2. I was adopted at 6 weeks old.
   
3. I have bright red hair.
   
4. And I do not like it.
5. When I was little, I tried to sell it to my hair dresser.
   
6. I have 3 siblings, an older brother, and an older stepbrother and stepsister.
   
7. I am not close to any of them.
8. I have 3 nephews and 1 neice.
   
9. I was an aunt for the 1rst time at the age of 16.
   
10. I don't get to see the kids enough.
    
11. My parents were divorced when I was 3.
    
12. My mom remarried when I was 6.
13. I spent entire months in FL growing up with my Dad.
    
14. He owned a resort in the FL keys.
    
15. I have swum with manatees in the FL Keys before.
16. I have been to Disney World 4 times.
    
17. One visit, I slept in a closet with my cousins.
    
18. I lived in the same house and room in West Springfield, MA from the day I was adopted to the day I graduated college.
    
19. In high school, I played soccer, softball and raced downhill skiing.
    
20. Because our school was so small, I raced against boys.
    
21. One year I ended up 15th in the Western Mass.
    
22. I graduated high school in a class of 28.
    
23. Only 8 of those 28 were guys.
    
24. With that, I really didn't start dating til college.
    
25. I went to an all women's college.
    
26. It was in downtown Troy.
    
27. We had low income housing behind our dorms, so you had to be carefully not to shower with the windows open. They would look in.
    
28. I was a Purple Cow in college and I am proud of it.
29. I met my husband in college.
    
30. He fixed my computer.
    
31. The first 2 years we were dating, we spent 11 months of it apart.
    
32. I had a contraband hamster in my college dorms.
33. She was a birthday present from Pete.
    
34. Her name was Fluffanutter.
    
35. She traveled from NY, to MA, NC and SC.
    
36. We smuggled her into Myrtle Beach one year.
    
37. When we put her to sleep, she had $140 in vet bills.
    
38. I didn't leave the US until July '06.
    
39. and it was only to Canada, for an IBM sponsored honeymoon.
    
40. When I graduated, it was either live with my parents or move to NC to be with my boyfriend.
    
41. I chose NC.
    
42. and I am never going to willingly leave.
    
43. I got my dog as a Christmas present from Pete.
    
44. She is the best gift ever.
    
45. Her name is Zora Bing.
    
46. One of our friends named her Zora in the shelter and we thought it fit her.
    
47. Bing is what Pete wanted to name his younger brother when he was born.
    
48. I got engaged in Aug '04
    
49. Under the stars in Myrtle Beach with Pete and his parents and brother.
    
50. I can't sleep in an empty house.
    
51. I am afraid someone is going to sneak in and kill me.
52. I also can't sleep without my feet covered.
    
53. I am afraid someone is going to cut off my toes.
    
54. I worked for UNC Chapel Hill for 3 years.
    
55. I learned more about life in those 3 years.
    
56. I also learned how sheltered I grew up.
57. I love animals
    
58. I want more, but we don't have the time for them yet.
    
59. and Zora would eat most animals that I want.
    
60. Pete and I got married in June '06.
    
61. It was almost a perfect day.
    
62. I don't remember much of it though.
    
63. It flew by.
64. We took dance lessons from Orshi as a surprise for everyone there.
    
65. We were too drunk to dance well, but other people enjoyed it.
    
66. I rode a mechanical bull at my bachelorette party.
    
67. I also took my bra off in the middle of a bowling alley.
    
68. We bought our 1rst house Jan '07.
    
69. We only looked at 6 houses and only looked 1 day before bidding on a house.
    
70. Our first offer was accepted within hours.
    
71. I love our house.
    
72. Zora tried killing our neighbors cats withing hours of closing.
    
73. I don't recommend that as a ice breaker for new neighbors.
    
74. We have 2 entirely empty bedrooms.
    
75. I could live alone in our closet.
    
76. I am addicted to chocolate.
    
77. I have large stashes of it hidden in the house.
    
78. I try to forget about them.
    
79. I drive a '91 Buick Century.
    
80. It only has 40k miles on it.
    
81. I got it in '03 and it only had 22k miles on it.
    
82. It was a graduation gift from my stepfather.
    
83. He rocks.
    
84. When I got it, the back seat had never been sat in.
85. The carpet was brand new.
    
86. Zora has fixed that problem.
    
87. The brake line rotted out from old age.
    
88. That made stopping at red lights interesting.
89. Putting 14 bags of mulch in it makes the rear bumper touch the ground.
    
90. It stalls when it is hot out.
    
91. I find it part of his charm.
    
92. Yes, it is a he.
    
93. His name is Alfred.
    
94. His nickname is Big Blue.
    
95. I love him, but want a new car.
    
96. A Honda CRV to be exact.
    
97. I think I have awhile to wait.
    
98. I don't want to work anymore
99. Which is good, cuz its 5.
    
100. Pete is waiting for me downstairs.
     

Zora

Sometimes I wonder about her. She can always keep us entertained. We have started a new game with her. Part to get her energy out and part to save our hardwood floors. When we get home from work, she is very excited and gallops around the house digging up the floors, so now we take her outside with a racquetball. We don't have to throw it, we just have to bounce it. As it bounces she jumps up to get it and continues to bounce along with it until it rolls and she can catch it. It get rid of some energy and she will keep at it until she remembers that there is a cat living next door and she forgets that the ball exists. We did learn the hard way that you can't play this game when it is really hot. After we played one day, she went up to the attic and threw up. It was a lovely surprise.

She has broken another harness. She was outside with Pete, tied up with her airline cable under the tire of my car. Apparently Peaches came out and made a sudden movement and Zora raced around the side of the house and hit the end of the cable around the third or fourth step and snapped the clip on the harness and took off after Peaches. Peaches got away and Pete had to carry Zora back into the house because she refused to come and was backing out of her collar. We think she tumbled down all the stairs because the mulch was messed up at the bottom.

She never seems to surprise us. We got spike pads to keep her off the couch and guest bed, so now she sleeps on Pete's side of our bed. I haven't made a huge fuss because it is his side, but today we put some spike pads from the guest bed onto our bed. We will see if she sleep on her beds or gets up somewhere else.