A Break at Last!

Well, it's a break anyway. It's been seven weeks since I've been home and I'm ready to do something fun. How about an RV Show? The big one for Florida is this weekend at the Tampa Fairgrounds. We've been to it once before and it was fun to look around. I still think having an RV or trailer would be great, but we are not in a position to buy. Looking, however, is almost free.

So, my mind gets to spinning. The fairgrounds are right next door to the Hard Rock Casino. Hmmm... I had gift cards to cover a hotel, but the Hard Rock sent me a comp room for a night in January---FREE ROOM! I also have $30 in free play on my card and a free lunch for two at the buffet on Sunday. I'll pay for the one on Saturday night so Marcia can eat all the crab legs she can hold. Then we have a gift card to Cracker Barrel from Christmas that will be breakfast and I also have a $50 Shell gift card.

Laurel was available to pet sit and Marcia didn't put up a fuss about being gone over a weekend, so Tampa, here we come!!!

A Few Pictures

I've been back for seven weeks or so now and I haven't had much time to update the blog. Christmas was wonderful but very busy and I just haven't gotten back into the swing of things yet.

I did finally download my pics from Egypt. I'm waiting for Elaine's pics as she took a lot more than I did. I don't know about writing a review--the trip was amazing and overwhelming and would be difficult to distill into a coherent review. I guess we will try when we put a show together so everyone can see what we were up to for two weeks.

Until then, here are some pics:

Just a taste until I get organized!

Getting Ready for Christmas

I'm back from Egypt and had a wonderful time. When I get around to downloading my pics I'll post some of my favorites and write a short review. But now it's time to get ready for Christmas.

We got the yard scene out of the garage yesterday and set it up. Three pieces (manger scene) so that was easy. Brought out the Christmas tree that stays decorated and covered all year in the garage. The lights work, but it doesn't rotate any more. We've had it for eight or nine years, so I think we've gotten our money back.

We aren't doing much in the way of presents this year but are putting money toward the cruise instead. We are getting a few things and I got most of Marcia's stuff today, though I'm still looking for that Gator polo shirt she wants. Mom and dad will get stuff from Omaha Steaks (already ordered) and the boys will get a gift card to the Outback.

Now I have to start cooking. I need to make blueberry jam tomorrow and start the Christmas cookies. I have the list of stuff ready for the Christmas Open House, but I need to make a shopping list of ingredients. Then I need to get the ingredients for the dishes for the Christmas dinner at Linda and Elaine's.

Then we add in a Christmas play, at least two, maybe three choir performances, a movie or two out, a drive to see the lights, a trip to NFRMC to see the pond all lit up, a Christmas party at Curves, shopping with Armando, and a couple of basketball games. All of that is ON TOP of our normal crazy schedule.

I might complain a bit, but I do love the holidays. I just plan on sleeping when they are over.

Getting Ready for Egypt, Final Edition

Three days to go!!! It really came a lot quicker than I thought. I've been busy this last week to get those little items taken care of and marked off the list.

First, do you know how hard it is to find a small brush nowdays? I want to take 2 little brushes with me--one for the toiletry kit and one for the carry-on bag. Took me weeks to finally find something close to what I was looking for.

Second, if I'm 5'10" and have a 30" inseam, why did the scrub pants I ordered in average length need to be taken up 4 inches just to get off the ground? I couldn't believe how long they were. I got some of that tape you iron under hems to shorten the pants, but there was a problem: neither one of us knew where the iron was (yes, it has been a long time since it has been used). I had to go borrow one from our neighbors.

Third, why is the backpack for daytrips heavier than what is in the suitcase? It's amazing what goes in there: sunscreen, bug spray, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, pens, a snack bag, a water bottle lanyard, a clip on flashlight, a hat, sunglasses, a first aid kit, extra medicines...it really is quite a production.

Anyway, the last load of clothes is in the washer right now and I can finish packing when it is done (socks). My ipod is loaded and charged, the camera batteries charged and ready, all memory cards clear, the adaptor packed, all addresses written down, the car was washed and vacuumed out today (don't want Elaine to have to ride down to Orlando in a smelly heap), wallet packed (!), passport ready.

At 115pm on Thursday I'll pick up Elaine and we head out to the airport. When I get back I'll figure out how to post pictures. Back after Thanksgiving!!!

HALLOWEEN

I'm not a big fan of Halloween. I just can't resist the candy. I don't like to pass out treats (pretzels this year) to the kids that ring the doorbell. It drives the dogs and cats crazy and Marcia isn't here this time to hand the treats out. She likes to see the little kids in their costumes.

When I was a kid I never really liked to dress up for Halloween either. We used to have to do it for school and have a parade around the playground. My mom was pretty creative in coming up with costumes, but I've never really liked to wear them.

Going trick or treat was okay, but we were only allowed to go to the homes of people we knew. Since we lived overseas (on base) when I was this age, that was pretty easy to do and mom and dad knew a LOT of people.

Going through the candy at the end of the night was interesting. Mom would get most of the ones with coconut (I never liked Almond Joy or Mounds) and she would steal a few of the Snickers. My brother and I would trade some of our candy with each other. Candy corn was (and still is) my favorite. I, of course, would eat my candy fairly quickly. My brother would parcel his out slowly and then when mine was gone he would bribe me with candy to play with him. I would take the candy and find a way to get out of playing as fast as possible. We were both bad.

Not my favorite time of the year, but always good memories. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

SINGLE MOTHERHOOD

Marcia left at 4am to catch a plane to head to Boston to visit her mother. Yes, I get along just fine with Marcia's family, but I leave in two weeks for Egypt and can't afford any more time off.

So I'm a single mother to seven babies for the next five days. The whole week before she left Marcia was giving me reminders about their feeding schedules, their medicines, their treats, their potty times, etc. Makes it sound like I never do anything with the babies doesn't it? I do things like buy the food, keep the food containers full, and keep us in a steady supply of kitty litter. I don't usually deal with all of these other items.

I had to set my alarm thirty minutes earlier so I can take care of the kitty feedings, get the dogs outside, pass out doggie medicine and treats, and give Grayson his medicine. Pee pee pads for the dogs are changed, one cat put on the patio to take care of her business, Tigger takes care of whatever the kitties left on their plates.

I just did the dinner run. Feed the dogs (with appropriate meds), clean the litter boxes while they are eating, and then take them outside separately to take care of business. Then the kitties wanted some treats and Joel is pestering his sister Bindi.

I really don't think we pay Laurel enough when she stays here and takes care of them when we are gone.

I still have the bedtime routine to do tonight as well--another potty run, fresh water, treats, more medicine for Grayson.

Marcia is sure I'm going to forget something, so I had to run down and list everything I did today to make sure I had it all covered.

Sigh, four more days to myself (sort of)...

Friday

What a beautiful day today in Gainesville!!! Sunny but not hot, nice breeze. I'll take it.

I'm spending my afternoon being a domestic goddess. Don't laugh!! I'm on the third load of laundry and I made a triple batch of spaghetti sauce that is being canned in pints as I write. Makes for some easy dinners when we are busy.

Under 4 weeks until we leave for Egypt. I am so ready to go. The documents came by email yesterday and caused about 20 hours of anxiety. The flight to Frankfurt had been changed to three hours later than originally planned and there was very little chance we would make the connection to Cairo in only 30 minutes of layover. There was no way our luggage would have made it. We would have been put on a later Egypt Air flight and would have arrived in Cairo at 5am, after travelling for two days.

I get an email today telling me of a schedule change, but a different one than the one I discovered last night. Either Gate 1 or Lufthansa changed us to United and we leave at the same time and arrive at the same time (pretty much), but going through Dulles. We didn't want to have to change planes, as every time you change a plane your luggage has a higher likelihood of getting lost. I'm just going to pack a bigger carry-on to cover that possibility and think good thoughts instead.

The next problem was that the new reservation didn't have assigned seating. I took care of that by phone but all of the good seats (2 seats instead of the 5 across) were already taken. I owe Elaine big now as she will let me have the aisle seat and she will be the one squished next up to someone else on the other side.

Let's pray they don't change anything else!!

Now, for my Friday night...Marcia is going to an awards banquet and I'm staying home and doing research for the trip. I'm watching "The Mummy". I claim it is for research, but Marcia knows it is because I like to look at Rachel Weis for 2 hours. The things I have to sacrifice in order to be prepared for this trip! A bottle or two of the hard cider I found will also be available for my sustenance. Good thing I get to sleep late in the morning!