THANK YOU

Thank you to my wonderful family for all their supportive comments. They mean more to me than any of you know.  I'm sorry for such a depressing blog, but sometimes it feels good to just put pen to paper, so to speak. Things are getting back to normal. Sometimes I just dwell on things too much and they become bigger than they really are. I find that I probably need to change my actions so I don't expect more than I get, and that is something I will work on. Thank you all again for your love and support; it means the world to me. You're the BEST!

Until later,

Ciao Baby

BLOGGING ETIQUETTE

Is there blogging etiquette?  Are you allowed to blog when you are depressed, or only when you are happy?  That's the question for my fellow bloggers.  I am probably going to break blogging etiquette because I am depressed, hurt, sad, and unhappy. What got me into this state doesn't really matter. Let's just suffice it to say that it has been a hard week; with work and family.  The question is, how do you break out of this depression?  When I am depressed I really and truly don't want to talk to anyone or take any phone calls.  I literally force myself to do what I have to do. I'm a firm believer that depression runs in my family; whether that is true or not doesn't matter.  I feel fortunate and am thankful that I can pull out of my depression by myself, although it takes a few days.  Sometimes I wish that I could just run away and hide. So, for all you who get depressed, truly depressed, don't feel alone, we all go through it. I just thank God for friends and family that help to get me through it, even though they don't know it most of the time. And, for those of you whose phone calls I may have ignored, please bear with me, I have faith, and I know that things will get better.  Thanks for listening, and I apologize for such a depressing blog, but I truly feel that blogs should be honest, or else we are just kidding ourselves and other.   

Until later,

Ciao Baby! 

PHOENIX AND THE LASEFICHE SEMINAR

We had a blast at the laserfiche seminar. Cindy and I left on Tuesday. The seminar started Thursday evening, and ended Friday. Thankfully, they sped through it and we were done by about three on Friday. We shopped until we literally dropped. We left at 7:15 Tuesday morning, as JR had to drop me at Cindy's and he had to be at the golf course by 7:30, and believe me, nothing interferes with his golf. Cindy and I arrived in Phoenix about 10:30, picked up some beading thing she needed from someone she found online. JR made me promise to carry my pepper spray everywhere I went. I told Cindy since we didn't know these people she was getting her "tumbler" from, the plan would be for me to wait in the car (with my pepper spray handy) while she went into the house. Well, I waited, and waited, and waited.  Thought maybe I should call her on her cell, but saw it was still charging in the CAR! After thirty minutes she finally came out. The people were old and wanted to show her all their jewelry and even invited her to stay for coffee. She told them she had a friend waiting in the car (I think she had coffee with them). We usually have a special mission when we go to Phoenix, and this year it was to get Cindy a Wii, which you cannot get in our neck of the woods. Well, since we were somewhat lost trying to get to the mall, we decided to stop at the first Target we spotted to check out the Wiis. Well, first stop...successful. There were four Wiis just waiting to be bought. Cindy told me to stand guard over the Wiis while she went to find some help. I questioned why I needed to stay with the Wiis since there were four of them and no one else around. Well, I thought we were just going to buy a Wii, but after she got the Wii from behind locked doors, she went insane! She started grabbing every Wii thing imaginable, covers for the controllers, more controllers, battery chargers, etc. It was amazing....I could not believe it....  awe struck, that was me. Well we finally got out of Target after receiving directions to the mall. Cindy was so excited about her Wii she was beside herself (I learned more about Wii this week than I ever needed to know). We spent the remainder of the day at the mall. Found some great buys! Got to the hotel about 4:30 and checked in. Decided to go over to the bar for a drink and dinner. I ask for a Lemon Drop and Cindy asks for Chivas. The waitress comes back and asks if 12 year old Chivas will be ok.  Cindy says sure (she is not a drinker) and I'm thinking "how about 12 hours old." After we ate I told Cindy her drink was probably going to cost more than our dinner and she couldn't believe it.  Sure enough, when the bill comes, her drink is $18.00 (I later pointed out at Costco that she could have gotten a whole bottle). There goes our per diem! Just joking, this was our money that night!! I also pointed out that I could have had about three Lemon Drops! That night we go to the pool. I tell Cindy it is her turn to be in charge of the pepper spray (the thing is getting on my nerves, as it does NOT fit in my itty bitty purse). We grab the pepper spray and head down to the pool, which we find loaded with dead bugs (seems they are having a bug problem and the filters can't keep up).  We find a little spot with no bugs so we sit in the pool for a little bit. Decide to head back to our rooms and Cindy says "are we allowed to take the towels?" I say "who's going to stop us?" Get back to the room and want to get ice for the ice chest. Cindy is going to carry baggies to get ice in.  I say bring the whole ice chest (it has wheels) to the ice machine. Cindy says "can we get that much ice?" I say "I think the ice cops are off duty now." Man, talk about following rules! Wednesday we shopped from 9:00 in the morning until about 8:00 that night. We also bought more Wii stuff. We were exhausted. I'm still carting the pepper spray....only people we have wanted to spray are the drivers! We decided to try our clothes on Wednesday night and find that we need to go back to the mall Thursday and make some returns. Yes, we tried them on at the store, but, hey, what can I say....we're women, we change our minds. Thursday, back to the mall to do returns, but not to worry, we found a whole bunch of new stuff! Head back to the hotel about 3:00 and meet up with another girl from work at the Golden Spoon Yogurt Shop. Get back to the hotel and are too pooped to attend any seminar classes (which are really for IT administrators anyway). Went down to their welcoming party about five, then went over to the bar about seven. Thankfully, Cindy decided to join me in drinking Lemon Drops that night! We had a great time, and then went to gamble a little at the casino, with my pepper spray! Only thing to spray is a frog, but no one will let me! Friday attended the seminar, where we ate breakfast from 9 to 10, had classes from 10 to 12, ate lunch from 12-1, had classes from 1 to 3 (except our classes were 1:15 to 3:00 since Yo misread the schedule). Got out at 3 and they had a big old ice cream cart, soft pretzels with cheese, candy bars, etc. Basically, all we did was eat that day!!! Since it is early, Cindy, Yo, and I decided to go to a little mall by the hotel, where, you guessed it, there is a Target. Cindy needs a nunchuk! That night Yo and I went to the bar and then to the casino and Cindy stayed in the room and rented Sex in the City. Cindy insisted that we leave at six Saturday morning as she had commitments for that day back home. We were home by 9:30, and I was pretty pooped out, but can hardly wait until next year!

This weekend we picked Zach up on Saturday and took him to Pied Piper Pizza, and then he spent the night. He is so fun to have....he has so much energy and so much curiosity.  JR and I laugh at his antics all the time. JR taught him how to make scrambled eggs from start to finish....he did really good, only burned himself once. I miss him when he leaves!

Today (Monday) is a holiday. Just got odds and ends done. Back to work tomorrow. Primary election in Mohave County and we are on pins and needles waiting to see what some of the outcomes will be.  Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Until later,

Ciao Baby!

LAWRENCE WELK WEEK

Well, we're back. We had a nice vacation at Lawrence Welk with Donna and her family. The trip didn't start out so great since the air conditioning in the car went out midway through the desert. However, nowadays you can't even think things will be better when you get out of the desert, because it seems the desert never ends!!! The coolest it ever got was 86 degrees when we arrived in Escondido, which actually felt like heaven!!!  Sunday we had family and friends over for a visit. My wife-in-law and her husband got me a most luscious birthday cake......pure chocolate!!! We enjoyed that all week. Monday we went to Valley View Casino for a "free" buffet, which entailed many long waits in lines (yes, that's plural for both).  However, it wasn't all bad because I hit four aces for $200. Other than that, John did a lot of golfing, and I did a lot of hanging around the condo and the pool. Friday, after golf, JR took me to my favorite pizza place for dinner after we hit the bar with Donna for our favorite drink....chocolate paradise! It was fun getting to see the nieces, nephews, kids, etc. Donna and I did manage to get in a day of shopping. We got our AC fixed and it worked great on the way home. Bad news.......JR and I both gained 3 pounds and I believe I can add Donna to that list too!  Now it is back to work for a day and then off to Phoenix for my next adventure with my girlfriend from work!!!  I'm posting a few pics for everyone to enjoy!!!

Friends and family on the patio

My granddaughter, Taylor Margaret Romero - 13 years old

John and I

My niece, Megan, reading all the boys a book

Ryan and Caleb feeding the ducks

Ryan (almost two) and his brother, Noah (3 months old)

Caleb, almost two (born one week after Ryan)

And, last but least, Caleb and Ryan with their favorite uncle!!!

Until later,

Ciao Baby!

I'M WELL!!!

OK, it's been a sucky week.  I was sick with a bad cold, but I managed to nip it in the bud with lots of over the counter meds.  I was off all meds by Thursday night.  This weekend I decided to take it easy and get caught up on my rest, as next weekend I start getting ready for trip to Lawrence Welk.  Lots to get done, but too early to start, I hate that!  That's about it for my boring life, what's everyone else been up to?

Until later,

Ciao Baby!

MEGAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEGAN!

HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. WE LOVE YOU!

JULY 4TH UPDATE

WOW, the three days go waaaaay too fast. We had a great 4th.....BBQ with the kids, shot off some firecrackers with Zach, and then they left around 9:30. Unfortunately, they got stuck in after fireworks traffic down in BHC. 

Saturday....decide to run down to Laughlin to attend a wine tasting event. Turn onto Hwy 68 and there is a big accident.....just happened....tanker truck in flames and a car carrier truck already burned on the other side of the freeway. Decide to go the loooooooong way on I-40. Took about one hour and fifteen minutes to get there. Needless to say, we missed the wine tasting!!! Went with our friends to happy hour and had an enjoyable evening with them. Broke even on the gambling, so that was great. Got home around 9:30. Heard the highway had been closed for 5 hours, so apparently it had just reopened when we came home. Would have been a bummer if we had to go home the way we came. Trav and Traci would have been entertaining overnight guests!!

Sunday, vegged out and did nothing. We also managed to watch four movies over the three days.  

Now I am bummed because there are no more holidays until September. July is going to be a long month because I only have one scheduled vacation day (so far!)  August is going to be great because I am only working about two weeks out of the whole month!!

Hope you all had a good fourth!!!

Until later,

Ciao Baby