Cruising in '08

Bill and I just got back from our cruise that we had been planning and paying for the last 1 1/2 years! We were going with two other couples and their kids (what started as a vacation for adults only - turned out to include the other two couples kids - a total of 2 freshmen in college and 1 junior in highschool. Poor Will and Jonathan still didn't get invited.)

Early in the morning we were to leave (1:30am infact!) the husband of one couple had to be taken to the emergency room for terrible stomach pains. Turns out - his appendix scar caused something to happen to his bowels - long story - and he had to be admitted into the hospital and stay for 4 days!!!!!!! So he and his wife couldn't go!!!! They stayed in Denton and we went ahead and took their son (freshman in college) but were SO SAD to leave the couple behind.

The cruise was everything we imagined and more....the more included Bill doing Karyoke!!!!!!!! We couldn't believe it!!!! We went to Cozumel and Progresso (Yucatan Penninsula). On the sea two days and at port two days. A wonderful experience! I sent select photos through ofoto.com to friends and family - but below are a few to give a taste of our trip.

The First Morning

Karl, Jeanne and Bill

Ryan, Ann, Paul - The Kids!

Captain's Dinner

My favorite picture of us

Snorkeling off the side of the road

Bill - singing Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall"

Life in the Bathtub

Once again, the thunderstorms have hit the area and we find Kayla nestling in our bathtub for the duration. I got her up about 6:45am to go do her business outside before the storms hit. Not a moment too soon! At 7:00am they rolled in and Kayla rolled into our bathtub. We got her blanket and foam mat to make her comfortable. She stayed in there until 1pm!

There was a break in the storm and I got her out to eat and go outside again to do her business. She is now in our closet patiently waiting out the storm.

The picture below shows her favorite spot...sitting infront of our front window with her jaw resting on the sill - just watching life pass by (notice her nose scrunched into the screen). Last night I caught her resting her top front teeth on the window sill with her bottom jaw hanging open. Couldn't get to the camera intime! LOL

Nothingness is a cherished state

After reading Lauren's blog about her weekend and how nice it was....prompted me to relish in my own weekend of nothingness! Friday ended with Bill and I chowing down on our Friday night nacho night and a movie. Nachos - good as usual....movie: Stardust. Such a good fairytale.

Saturday morning we volunteered at the Rescue Greyhound Association's meet and greet. It was held at the Barnes and Noble on Park and Preston. The same volunteers show up at these events with not only the dogs up for adoption - but the owners own dogs as well. Of course we brought Kayla with us. We are starting to get to know some of the volunteers and having something in common (greyhounds) we get a lot of visiting in: (i.e. what color is your greyhound's poop? How do you deal with thunderphobia? To paint their toenails or not paint their toenails. LOL) At this meet and greet, the guy that sales t-shirts, collars, etc on-line is there...so we got Kayla a new collar. Of course....like any girl shopping for a new shirt....we had to ask all the owners - which color, which design, etc looked best on her. It was decided to get a purple and gold design outlined in black. Very pretty on her. She was such a good girl at the event and we adopted out 2 greyhounds (one large male to a family that already had 2 dauchshunds!!!!!!)

Today, after church, we had our grocery shopping date, watched the UT vs Kansas game, went to Target to get travel sized stuff and then to TJ Max for a couple of items. Yes, Bill survived TJ Max.....I tried to make it a quick trip and when we left - he let out a big exhale. I commented that he did very good while in there....and that if I was doing serious shopping - I would not bring him along! He sighed a thankful sigh.

Oh, I'm sorry - you ask, "Molly, why are buying travel sized stuff?" We are heading out on our cruise this Saturday - heading to the Yucatan Penn. (not sure I can correctly spell the whole word) and Cozumel. It's our first cruise and we are going with two other couples. Will post pictures upon our return (of course).

So - that is my nothingness weekend - and it was wonderful.

Tagged by Hayley

Yeah! Thanks Haley - that looked so fun - I was about to tag myself as you did. So thank you! I feel like a member of Something!

10 Years ago...
We had just moved to Columbia, MO. We were renting a small home and I really didn't like it - no trees, just blah. The school was across the street - so that was cool for Jonathan (11yrs). Will (14 yrs) was in this school that a lot of rural kids went to and never did their homework. I wasn't working - and just had a hard time meeting anyone. This was a very difficult move for me. Took years before finding any friends. Plus - early 40's - you start to cross that bridge trying to accept that you just don't look that hot in a bikini anymore (at least for me).

Things on my to-do list today:
*Bible study - done
*Get a bathingsuit - done (for cruise - yeah!)
*Get black patent kitten heeled sandals - done (you got to love Payless!)
*Walk Kayla - done
*Cook dinner - coconut shrimp (Grammy's recipe) - in process
*Go to library - maybe when Bill comes home

What would I do if I became REALLY loaded: (actually I was thinking of this just the other day!)
*Give $10,000 to each of my nephews and neices (even to their spouses)
*Give $50,000 to each of my siblings and Jon and Will
*Take Grammy and Pop on a cruise to the Panama Canal
*Buy Bill a RangeRover - or Landrover (can't remember which he wants)
*Pay off all debt (of course)
*Give some away
*Laser the hair away on my body!

Three of my bad habits:
*Take conversations to a deeper level than some people want to.
*Pretzel talk (also called spider webbing - beat all around the bush before coming to the point)
*Try new projects...and not finishing.

Five jobs I have had:
*Draftsman at an engineering company - I was the only girl - and - the youngest one! Fun yet challenging - before sexual harrasment - I only stayed 9 months....but liked drafting.
*Executive Secretary at Peat, Marwick, Mithcell (big 8 account firm). I had never been a secretary before - and here I was an executive secretary to the partner-in-charge. I really enjoyed it.
*Nursing assistant on the graveyard shift at a hospital. Too tiring for me on that shift....but I loved drawing blood - and helping people to be more comfortable.
*Spec and Plan girl at University of Missouri - worked with the contractors...bidding jobs - progressed to Office Manager of dept. Loved being there.
*Women's Boutique co-owner. Was a wonderful experience... got some great clothes, traveled, met all sorts of people.

Five things people don't know about me:
*I have a tattoo
*I am very shy
*I like to feel my pulse in my wrist when I get bored or when I am listening to someone go on and on and on about something.
*I got the cartalage of my ear peirced - twice; got my belly button peirced - all have grown shut.
*I've been skydiving - would definitly do again.

Now I tag - Will Morgan!!!!!!!!!

Whew!

Time to produce a "catch up blog".

I just returned from Columbia, MO where I was for the past week getting our house ready to put on the market. As of this morning (Monday, March 10) we have had 6 showings already! Getting the house ready was truly a testament to our Lord at work. When I got there Sunday evening, I was a bit overwhelmed with all that I needed to do and coordinate. We had painting, carpet cleaning, yard preparation and deep house cleaning arranged to be performed by others...so that part was off my mind. But still, coordinating where and when everyone would arrive - not to be overlapping and getting in eachother's way...was a bit of a dance. Then there was the going through every drawer, cabinet, arranging, moving, lifting, scooting - just getting it in showable condition. We had bags upon bags of stuff going to Goodwill, trash, and even had people going through our trash on the curb to see if there was anything they could take to sell at their flea market booths! LOL

Not only did the Lord provide me with peace of mind to take it room by room, drawer by drawer and not be overwhelmed....He also provided a wonderful miracle for me. At Christmas I hurt my spine (did I blog about this?) and it was still not completely healed. Monday morning I prayed to Jesus to place his wonderful healing hand upon my back to protect it from all the lifting and moving I was going to be doing. For the first couple of days the muscles in my back were sore (nothing that Motrin couldn't handle) - but after 3 days - my spine was completely healed. It has never felt this good since before I hurt it at Christmas! Was this a miracle - you bet it was! I sit here and marvel that we may only but ask through our Lord Jesus Christ and he will provide! :)

Now I need to be provided a manicure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also - I had another visit to that talented stylist - Will Morgan! See the results below!!!!! Thanks Will again for being there for me, with me, and just having fun talking and being together......and, my new do!