chicken fried and keep me in mind

 On 9/11... we saw Zac Brown Band at the Friendly Confines.  I saw them in Nashville a couple years ago.  And they blew me away.  I have been wanting to go back ever since.  It was a perfect venue for them, and they honored our heros, and those that lost their lives on 9/11... the best way they know how.

 I had never been to a concert at Wrigley so I was very excited.

The concert was wonderful as expected... just wish he sang more of his stuff and less of covers.  Either way though, I was still pleased.  

Keep Me In Mind

Chicken Fried... sorry about the bopping... I can't help it, you just have to dannnnnce.

"I thank God for my life, and for the stars and stripes.

May freedom forever fly, let it ring.

Salute the ones who died

The ones that give their lives

So we don't have to sacrifice

All the things we love." -ZBB

(like our Chicken Fried!)

Summer Lovin'

So the summer is officially over.  It's been a hoot.  And here is my mega update of all things SUMMA!  

June started with my first ever camping trip.  Not to the north woods or to Wisconsin Dells, but to Alaska.  You see, I am not a camper.  I tried to tell everyone.  By everyone... my husband, my SIL, and my MIL.  My family and friends here in IL know that I am much to diva to sleep on the ground and just chuckled and laughed and chuckled some more when they heard of my attendance on this trip.  My MIL, SIL, and hubby had faith in me, they insisted, "you'll love it, it's beautiful."  I never had any doubt that Alaska would be anything but beautiful.  Trust me there.  And it was true, it was beautiful.  But you know what wasn't beautiful? ... the bugs, the not taking a shower for 6.5 days, the peeing and pooping in a little hut with a plastic toilet that had diarrhea streaks and blood stains down the sides, (which by the way they purposely chose campsites with these conveniences so I didn't have to go outside), that dog Rufus biting my arms, and generally the whole camping experience.  It's a lot of work.  And I like to save work, for work.  You know?

This is me camping.  

While everyone else set up camp, I took pictures of myself.

I was pretty much uselss.

There's Adam.

Glacier action.  Me in the corner!

I sort of love this picture, though.  It makes camping look scenic and fun.  

And then there was that time I went fishing for the first time in my life... caught a fish, and the captain man promptly let it slip out of his hands back into the river.  Yah, that was fun.

Here are my fellow campers.

In all fairness, I would go again, if I got to cruise, or stay in a lodge... but camping... that's for the birds.  It was very beautiful, and I loved all the activities.  The three things I wanted to do was see/walk on glaciers, see a whale, and fish.  And I accomplished it all.  Also, go to Alaska if you want to see climate change/global warming in action.  It's real people.  And it's heartbreaking.

This is what we look like after 6.5 day of not showering.
Pretty, right?

And then after the shower.
Needless to say... Adam stayed a bit longer and enjoyed quality time with Morgen, while I got my little bootie on the plane and back to my bed, and my shower, and my flushable toilet.

One of our summer goals was to go to a "last minute" concert... and that was accomplished.  We saw Jimmy Buffett's Workin' and Playin' Tour.  It was great.  Seriously, it was a bucket list check off for me.  And I can't believe that guy just gets to sing poorly about cheeseburgers, pop tops, and pencil thin mustaches, dress in shorts and t shirt, with no shoes... and the crowd just goes nuts.  Including me.  Oh, and P. Kane showed up with the Stanley Cup, so major highlight!  Jim Buffett is my hero in life.  Really!  That guy is awesome.

Happy Fourth of July!

Our quarterly money meeting was called by Adam this summer.  And he prepared a Power Point presentation.  Can you tell we are childless? It was hysterical, and the best money meeting I ever attended.  Goals being, more vacations, and retiring at 50.

.

And then, there you have it ...the last official Burger Fest.  Andrea and Dave put their house up for sale, sold it by the next day, and bought another house like a day after that.  They waste zero time.  What does this mean for the rest of us?... RIP Burger Fest.  It's been 5 beautiful years.

You see this guy, that's my great-nephew Elliot... He turned 1!!!  He partied hard!!!

My friend Tami is having a baby girl whom she already named Josie.  Her baby shower was just as adorable as Tami is.  Our activity was making head bands for little Josie, which entailed actual sewing.  I told Tami to just throw mine away.

And then this girl got married.  I worked with Gena in Florida.  She is a nurse too, and she heard all MY wedding planning in detail in 2008, going on and on about how she is never going to find someone, boys are stupid and if she ever gets married she is going to serve finger sandwiches at the reception.  LOL.  Well, she met Chad, the man of her dreams... and she had a picture perfect wedding in Wisconsin.  I was so happy to be able to attend.  Also, got to spend some extra special quality time with my favorite Brits, Sharron and Colin.

Chad proposed to Gena at a Vikings Packers game.  She is about the hugest Packer's fans I know and he is quite the Vikings fan, so naturally he proposed at halftime.  They made national television when she looked up from where she was sitting, and across the field other fans were holding up letters that said "Will you marry me Gena?"  This is the groom's cake.  Gena may have had a small hand in it's creation.

And as if Gena's wedding wasn't fantastic enough... they had a full 15 minute fireworks display after.  It was totally awesome.

My dahlias grew over my head this year.  Dr. Sales passes them out in May as cutsie little baby dahlias and with my watering and tending... they turn massive.  It was my best year yet!  

ECC celebrated 50 Years of the Nursing Program.  And I was invited back as alumni to take part in the events.  It was so fun and I was glad I got to go.  We were able to tour the new building and it is just so amazing the advanced technology being used.  I met my old friend here, who I poked and proded and poked some more.  But he talks now.  It was nice to see old teachers and old (actually alive) friends too.

Our summer finished in North Carolina when we went to see Adam's dad and stepmom Barbara over Labor Day.  Brenden and Kai were overlapping our trip.  So, that was a huge high light.  Kai wants nothing to do with me and everything to do with Dad and Uncle Adam.  I think it's a boy thing.  So I won't take offense.  But I did get a selfie stick photo of him and I while he was sleeping.  Totally counts right!?

Here is our selfie stick family photo.  This was after speaking with Adam's 98 year old grandmother on speaker phone.  That lady is the cutest.  And I so wish that one day I will meet her in person.

Adam golfed everyday.  I drove the golf cart for one round.  And ate snacks.

And then here we are at the Atlantic.  My favorite ocean.  

We hope that your summer was just as fun as ours!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Little Messed Up, But We're All Alright!

Drinking gloves needed on June 6th

Why yes, Kenny, I do think your tractors sexy!  He sang it.  Last.  But he sang it.  Last week, I was scrolling thru Facebook when I saw US99 saying there was still 20 dollar tickets available for The Big Revival Tour.  I have seen Kenny before, not to mention put him on Splash Mountain and had a close semi encounter in St. John with him at my brother's wedding, so I had no intention of going until that moment.  I looked at Ticketmaster, and they were right... 20 dollars, whatta steal.  Adam couldn't go because he was on call.  I then asked around.  I only have a small group of people I know who like country.  And an even smaller group of people who can actually go on a less than weeks notice.  Jen said she would go with me, but told me to buy two tickets, one for her sis too... Well turn's out sis couldn't go... but Nate from work went with us instead.  Yah!!

American Kids

Our 20 dollar tickets were at the tippity top of Soldier's Field... but the show was obviously not sold out.  There was open seating everywhere... so we started high up and mosyed our way down to almost the floor.  We got there just in time for Miranda Lambert, followed by Kenny.

Do you see him in the middle?

 He put on a great show, just like last time.  And I was so glad to have gone on a whim.  Life is so much better when you say YES instead of NO.  I'm trying.

What is COURAGE?

Courage: n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous

It's been a buzz word the last few days in American news.  Bruce Jenner revealed himself as Caitlyn Jenner, and the world noticed.

A security guard at work about my age walked right up to me yesterday, pulled out his phone and showed me a picture of Noah Galloway, the soldier who lost both his left arm and left leg in Iraq, whom recently competed in Dancing With The Stars.  He was pretty fired up about the fact that "America has chosen Bruce as having more courage than Noah."  His words, not mine.  I don't recall voting in any kind of election on whom had more courage.  He then questioned me, "Who really has more courage?"  Ummm, hello, I don't even know this guy but in passing, and my answer is... "they both have courage.  They can not be compared."  He did not like that.  He walked away.  And he'll probably give me looks from this point on.

But when I look at Caitlyn Jenner all gussied up on her Vanity Fair cover.  I don't necessarily see courage.  I see a cover girl.  As any of us, famous or not, would look, if chosen to be on the cover of Vanity Fair.  That's not real.  What's real is what you see when Caitlyn walked into that cover shoot, before the cameras, before the make up. That was when the courage took place.

I have been thinking a lot lately about "bullying."  And how that has become a defined word these days, even though it has always existed.  I used to say that I was bullied in school.  But I wasn't.  I was made fun of and put down by some stupid boys who I will always remember.  But I was never tortured, or brought to the point that killing myself was the only way out.  I found my tribe of people and I lived thru those years.  And I stand here today.  I think about the people that maybe I wasn't very nice too and I get sad and embarrassed at the way I acted towards these individuals, now as an adult.  And I can't even imagine what some people go through on a daily basis because they feel they can't be who they are.

I for one, can't understand why celebrities and athletes get the attention they do, and make the money they do.  I am the first one to say it, usually while catching vomit in my hands, giving someone sedation to make their procedure go a little easier, wiping their backside because they can't do it themselves, placing my hands on their chest if necessary and bringing them back to life if I had too... I can't understand why our society will pay celebrities and athletes MORE money when they demand it... but my boss can't give me more than a 50 cent raise... "because times are tough, Erica."

So I get what people are trying to say... why so much attention to Caitlyn Jenner.  It's amazing that THIS is making news.  But, she is just one of many people.  She is famous, and she is doing it.  Of course, there will be media attention.  These decisions are not taken lightly, they are heartbreaking for families, and these people are desperate to live the lives they feel they should have been living all along.  I admit it is strange.  But it's strange to me, because I don't feel that way.  I like being a girl.  I can't imagine what it would feel like to be in their shoes.  Lonely, really lonely for sure.  If it's possible then why not let these people be happy?

Just like.... a soldier in war demonstrates courage... a woman who leaves a man who beats her to a pulp demonstrates courage... a musician who heads to NYC to live the dream of making it big demonstrates courage... a fire fighter running into a burning building demonstrates courage... a kid on the playground who asks the outcast to play with him demonstrates courage.... a 50 year old decides to go back to school and get a degree demonstrates courage... it's also being famous and known, and reassigning your gender and saying... this is who I am now, knowing that the media is going to eat you alive for probably your entire life, that also demonstrates courage.

And if you want to bring church into it... do as Christ would, and love them.  Don't degrade them.  It is not your struggle to understand.

People need to stop comparing and judging.  Be nice, let her be happy, let them be happy.  Let them be and feel courageous.

JuliaIsOne

I am good at 3 things... scrap booking, singing lyrics of songs from years and years ago, and attending first birthday parties.

Last weekend was Julia's first birthday party!

 How cute is she?

 We had V&V, burgers, and Costco cake.  Boom!

And here is a picture of Amanda and I.... "same kitchen girls, just a different light fixture." 

- Mrs. Smith

my second home....

Orlando, Florida... for a few years I called home... and a couple weeks ago, I was back for a visit.  Adam had a conference to attend, therefore, I had some attending to do myself.  The Disney itch had been activated like 6 months ago in which all of my thoughts are directed to walking down Mainstreet U.S.A., riding Splash Mountain, drinking a beer in Germany, and eating teriyaki chicken in Japan...  the thoughts don't leave, til they are satisfied.

I flew in early on Saturday morning.  Adam picked me up and then Ashley and I went to Typhoon Lagoon for some Lazy River cruising.  That night we were supposed to meet up with friends for the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight.  But a lot of people dropped out last minute and we didn't have a place to go.  The bars were packed with people at 5pm.  We did get to see a good handful of Adam's old friends so that was nice, but it was certainly a no go on the fight.  Who knew?

Sunday Adam and I picked up Ashley and headed straight to Cocoa Beach.  Afterwards, we dropped Ashley off, and then met back up with her later at Bubbalous.  Picture perfect day in every way!

Monday was my day without Ashley because she had to work, so I was planning to go to Epcot by myself.  That was until Kelli signed up to hang with me last minute!!!  I couldn't be happier... we started at the Animal Kingdom and ended at Epcot.  It was such a great day.  While waiting in line we discussed books, and our favorite parts about our Kindle Paperwhite... we caught up on the amazing life that is Kelli, she works on cruise ships, so I have plenty of questions and she has plenty to say... we contemplated talking with the Disney Vacation Club so that we can go see the tree houses that people stay in... we talked of Baltic vacations,eeeee,....  we people watched... Kelli got a kick out of me trying to operate my selfie stick... not to mention she also almost dropped it in a toilet.. we visited the Cretaceous period... we smelled perfumes in France... and watched men log rolling in Canada... we visited the future...  Our adventures are always endless and fun, and it was so awesome to see her!!!

Flower and Garden Time at Epcot

Tuesday was Magic Kingdom with Ashley!  Our goal was to do things that we had not done before.  And so we headed straight to the Mine Train.... so cute, and worth the wait!  We then rode Astro Orbiter.  Oddly enough neither one of us has ever been on it, so we were surprised when we both had to sit in a rocket and one seat belt was supposed to wrap around both of us.  I laughed the entire time.  Other high lights of the day... Hall of Presidents... sitting in front of the castle... they have fake grass now where you can just hang out during the day... and then at night it's fast pass viewing for the Fireworks... riding the carousel and The Liberty Belle boat.  

One thing I wanted to do while we were at Disney was see Hoop Dee Do Revue at Fort Wildnerness Lodge.  I had seen it once before and it did not disappoint the second time around.  It just so happens that one of Ashley's friends was in the show that night, and it just so happens that it was her LAST show ever.  It was pretty special to be there and to see all her friends come out and support.  Also, in true Disney fashion... they went around the room and made shout outs for particular birthdays and anniversarys... we clapped for an 8 year old celebrating and then for a 90 year old celebrating... but there was a girl there who wasn't celebrating her birthday or an anniversary... she was 19 and celebrating being cancer free.  She sat right behind us... and she was the one that got the standing ovation.  It was quite special and a honor to stand up and cheer for this girl who spent all of her teenage years fighting for her life.  I was able to talk with her briefly after the show and congratulate her myself.  Pretty awesome.

Wednesday we met up with Lacey, her mom, and her friend Tiffany while they were all driving thru Orlando.  It was a quick meet up at Downtown Disney, but a Floss Reunion none the less.  Afterwards, we headed back to Saratoga Springs.... and just enjoyed the beautiful resort pool before Adam had to drop me back off at the airport.

On a side note, Saratoga Springs was a beautiful resort, and we had the best room ever.  If I actually got paid to write this blog.  I would write more about it, but mostly what you need to know is that it had 2 pools, and a washer and dryer in the room.  I would stay there again in a heart beat.

I had a pretty amazing time, and of course, can't wait to return.