What about Bob?

Celebrating birthdays of friends old and new I took a short trip to Arkansas this past weekend. One friend has been there for me all 30 years of my life, while others I just met. What a wonderful time we all had together. I showed up Friday night in the middle of a storm. It was beautiful looking out of the plane and watching the lightning light up the clouds. (Perhaps I should have been nervous, but all I noticed was the beauty.) Safely landed I was greeted at the airport by Stephanie (who was born 17 days after me and has been there for me through everything in my life), Allison (a friend I met in school growing up, who is one of the most vibrant people I know - and I don't see her enough), and Laurie (a friend I met in Japan, with whom I share some of the most incredible memories of my life - she did after all help me get Michael Young's autograph). More friends (Gronow and Jamie) waited at the house and what a wonderful time we had. Fun, games, and an abundance of food and fellowship - and Stephanie's surprise was still to come.
It's time for dinner Saturday night when suddenly the doorbell rings. There stands Bob - our limo driver! Boy did he get an earful on the ride, since he never put the middle window up - I really hope he enjoyed our conversations. It's a good thing he left the window down though or we quite possibly would still be out there somewhere. Just getting to the house he got lost and he couldn't find the restaurant - seriously, how do you become a limo driver and not know your way around? After dinner we decided we needed to make a pit stop at Target (yes, in the limo!) Once again Amy, Jamie, and Steph (as Bob liked to call her) had to give Bob directions. We somehow arrived back at the house - though I am not quite sure how Bob made it to his next appointment without someone to give him directions. What a memorable 30th birthday celebration!

It just reminded me how blessed I am. No matter where I have been in my life I have been surrounded by the most incredible friends possible. In my hometown I grew up with seven friends who endured the best and the worst together. They encouraged me and loved me when I didn't think too highly of myself (and still do to this day). Off to college and I'm on my own - or so I thought. How wrong could I be! Once more I was given above and beyond what I had imagined. Friends who challenged me, taught me, encouraged me, and strengthened me. All of these friends have held me up when things were tough, and have always kept life entertaining and full of joy. So, in case I haven't told you before - THANKS! I love you all!

the tiger, the knight, and the dragon

Okay, for all of you still wondering about our Sunday School scavenger hunt let me give you my short version. First off let me just say that for the first time in about 2 months I was on time! Only who would have known it was not necessary. The first thing we are told when we arrive is "Most of our class is late, we've been trying to get them here earlier." Boy were they late all right! They never even showed. It was just us and the teacher who I believe was in her forties and we really didn't have a lot in common. Needless to say it was a bit awkward for everyone involved. Well, it turned out that one of the girls in the class did show for church and came over to welcome us. "Eye for detail" Jessica noticed an engagement ring and seeing as how hers was one of only two names mentioned in the class the hopes of more people another time are not, well, let's just say I'm not in danger of breaking anything if I fall from this height. Oh, one more tidbit. It turns out the sign for the class did say 22-35 (so we 30-31 year olds are not lost and forgotten - maybe the others just didn't know they had a class either!).

This weekend I made it back to my roots to visit my family (well, most of them - Joanna has to wait until Christmas). My mom had just recently made a trip to Indiana to bring back my grandmother for a visit. She is 90 and I am amazed at how alert and active she is. She takes a trip out west every year with my aunt. She can work any word game faster than most people I know and definitely faster than anyone in the family. I also got to see my brother, his wife, and yes, most importantly my THREE nephews!

Stacy, I know you are really the rockstar, but to these guys I get to be it - though I am pretty sure it has little to do with me and LOTS to do with my fun red truck! Saturday was BOO at the ZOO! What a treat! It was fun, though my brother ended up calling it BOO-HOO at the ZOO! Elijah just wanted to play on the bouncy toys and lost it when we had to move on and do something for Zeke and Micah. Zeke lost it when two men running the bouncy toys tried to talk to him because they liked his dragon costume. Nothing was easy, but boy were they a sight to see. While in town my sister-in-law decided she wanted me to meet this guy she has been telling me about. He is a friend of my brother so that speaks well for him I have to say (I have the best brother in the world!) She has been trying so hard not to be obvious, so when I go with them for a get together she manages to introduce me to everyone there but him! It turns out I met him several years ago with my brothers' friends. I don't know if he remembers. He does live in this area, but who knows when of if I will see him again. Sure I could get his number from my brother, but it is just not my style to be the pursuer. I have to say he has a lot of good qualities - he works with youth in his church, he is hilarious and seems to be outgoing in any crowd, my nephews love him. Maybe my sis-in-law can do a little prodding on her end, since I don't like to be the pursuer and am a disaster at flirting.

get away days

Well, I don't think Jessica will believe I am doing this, but I say "What better way to procrastinate doing more school work than finally starting a blog." Jessica and Stacy, I do hope you were sitting down. I would hate for you to be injured from the shock. I decided since I actually have some trips to share about now was as good a time as any to get started. Now what happens after this one when life goes back to a dull routine is yet to be determined.

By now you have all heard about the New York trip so I won't elaborate too much except to say I had a great time! It was my first time there and so I pretty much bid them to drag me wherever they wanted (or maybe I dragged them - to all of the places they had seen before)-so sorry Jessica for the dragging to the Empire State Building - won't make that mistake again! I don't think I had quite as much fun as Stacy because I didn't make such an impression on any handsome cops (or frankly any handsome men in general) - you have to give me your secret - though if it in any way involves flirting I think I am a hopeless case since even my mother tells me I should flirt more! I know - pathetic! Okay, well back to NY - I did take in a few things the others did not. For one, I had to experience ice skating in Rockefeller Center - though I am not really sure you could call what I did skating! My self esteem went up a few notches though when several businessmen came out and all immediately fell in one huge pile - I at least waited to fall until I had made it around several times. I also had to make an early morning excursion out to Yankee Stadium being the baseball fan that I am. Granted it was pretty much dead to the world since the Yankees had just been eliminated, but I did get to see it. Probably a good thing I went by myself - I just don't think Jessica could have stood the excitement! I think they pretty much covered the rest of the trip. I would go back in a heartbeat - or anywhere else for that matter - so let me know if you're up for a trip!

My next trip was just such a spontaneous excursion! Another teacher and I are huge baseball fans, so after game one of Detroit vs. Oakland we started discussing going to a playoff game. Well, it just so happened they were in Detroit for game 4 on Saturday so we went from discussing to buying. Our coworkers thought we were crazy, but no way were they going to rain on our parade. We were dreaming all week of a sweep and being there for the final victory! We left Saturday morning at about 3:45 (talk about dedication!) - my friend was so excited she didn't sleep at all the night before. We had heard so many times to be careful, it's not safe, and it's dirty, but everywhere we went people were friendly and helpful (if we had been A's fans it might have been a different story)! We got to the ballpark so early the gates weren't even open! (And we stayed so late they had to kick us out.) The game was incredible! It would be impossible to try to describe the atmosphere with mere words! You truly had to be there. We couldn't have asked for a better game - bottom of the 9th walk off 3run homer for the SWEEP of the series! I don't guess I will go into more details - I am sure I have already lost quite a few of you who could care less about baseball or sports in general, but I must say it was worth every penny of that ticket that was more than my flight! It was quite tempting to go back for the World Series this weekend - but I suppose that might strap me for cash a bit. Back at our hotel (amazingly enough after the taxi driver who drives 80 on the back streets!) having dinner we are dining just tables away from Lou Pinella (and the other men who announced the game) - apparently we chose out hotel well. We basically filled up on some good food and good fun all weekend long! Then sadly came the return home and to work. Why can't I just travel all my life?!