Confession: I am a self-proclaimed Vegas hater. I know loads of people that have been to Vegas and they've said they loved it. I just have no desire to ever go there.
For starters, extreme sunshine and me aren't the greatest of friends. Of course one could counter and say that in Vegas most of the festivities begin once the sun goes down. I see that point, but I'm more of a morning person. Staying up until the crack of down isn't really one of my favorite activities.
I'm not a gambler. I don't have enough money to "throw it away." I'd rather spend money on shoes or purses and not drop $300 on a craps table. I'm 26 years old and I've never even bought a lottery ticket.
I have absolutely no desire to ever carry around a three foot alcoholic beverage or try to drink the strip (both of which are favorite activities of my brother-in-law).
If I see the Paris hotel in Vegas I won't marvel in it's grand nature, instead I'll be wishing I was in Paris. The same thing goes for the Venetian. Except, there I'll just start reminiscing about the wonderful time I had in Venice.
Anyway, I could go on a total Debbie Downer rant and list a million other reasons I'm not a Vegas person. Unfortunately, my hubs is a Vegas fan. He goes every year with his brother and every year he tries to list a million reasons that I should go with him. Until now, he hasn't been successful.
That all changed yesterday. We've talked about going to Vegas in November. There was an actual adult discussion and it didn't include me huffing and puffing and crying, "I don't want to go!" Instead, we agreed to go with one very big condition. I would take my hubs away from the Vegas glare for a day, while the two of us spent eight hours on a bus so that we could visit the Grand Canyon. Give me an amazing natural formation and I'll hang out with you in Vegas for a few days. I'll even put on a smile.
Oh, Southwest pushed us toward finalizing our Vegas trip. Fares are on sale right now (until midnight). I believe fares start at $30 and head on up to $90. We're flying to Vegas for $90 each. Then, we're flying to Phoenix from Vegas for $30. We're spending a few days with my mother-in-law, which should be a nice time. Then, we're flying back to Baltimore from Phoenix for $90. I don't fly all that often, but those prices sound pretty frickin amazing to me!!!
So, if you've been teetering on whether or not to go somewhere this fall- head over to Southwest and make up your mind already! Who knows, I might see you in Vegas.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
4th of July recap
I ditched the hubs this past weekend. My family was having a little shindig up in New York and all the hubs wanted to do was play video games and veg out for three days. To be fair, he's insanely busy at work and we have plans every weekend from now until mid-September. The guy is definitely entitled to some peace and quite every now and then. Nothing says "take some time for yourself," like being left home alone.
Thank goodness I no longer have to drive up to New York by myself. I can now tag along with my brother, who unfortunately suffers from male-fall-asleep-as-soon-as-he's-not-driving-syndrome. That guy has got it bad!!! Seriously, he used to fall asleep all the time when we were kids, I'm amazed that he can stay awake long enough to drive his car.
Instead of boring you with all the standard family get-together hoopla, I'll just share a few things. One, my Grandpa Joe turned 90 and as anyone who is that close to 100 years young gets to do, he imparted some health advice. Unfortunately, his advice was to give up coffee. Yikes! Well, it doesn't look like I'll be living till 90 in this life time. Maybe next time. Two, never, ever show off to a 9 year old and throw a bocce ball up into the air and catch it. The kid will try to replicate this action and it may or may not split his or her lip open. (Thank goodness Denzel just split his lip open and didn't break a tooth or anything like that.) Finally, always have a hoodie in your car. I was freezing all day and had to bum a hoodie off of my sister. As did my Aunt Ev and a few of my sister's friends.
I left my camera stashed in my bag most of the weekend so I only have a few pictures to share.
A Sonic opened in Wilkes Barre, PA and I begged my brother to take a small detour and stop on by. I've never had Sonic before and after years of seeing their commercials I wanted to give it a try. The verdict- eating fast food while parked is kind of weird, but the Peanut Butter milkshake was divine. Plus, it was pouring, so it was nice to park the car and try to wait out the rain (like that ever works).
Great Danes like to roll themselves into the smallest balls possible. Jasmine wouldn't pose for any pictures and it seems she isn't a fan of cameras in general.
I can't wait for Christmas this year and see how Jax and Jewels react to such a big dog. Oh, it's going to be so much fun.
One of my lifetime goals is to have a little cabin in the woods somewhere. Specifically, it could look like my grandpa's old cabin
or it could just have a view like this.
Either way, I think I need to have a house on a lake. Plus, the hubs wouldn't have to go far to go fishing. It seems it has rained almost every day in the Hudson Valley and this past weekend was one of the few nice days in a really long time. Sweet!
Of course it wouldn't be a trip to the woods without a wildlife encounter. As my brother and I were driving away I saw something move in the woods and I immediately shouted, "bear cub!" My brother instinctively jammed on the breaks, asked where and then threw the car in reverse. There are two things to keep in mind when you're within 20 feet of a bear cub: don't get any closer and have plenty of eyes keeping a lookout for mama bear.
Sure, this picture is horrible, but you can clearly tell that's a bear cub and it's not a fuzzy picture of Big Foot. In my own defense, the cub was hanging out in a dimly lit part of the woods. I was wearing flip flops and I wasn't about to enter said woods. And the little guy started to move once he realized I was there and I wanted to jump back in the car before the little one made that terrible bear cub cry and mama bear came over and showed me that it is rude to take pictures of a kid without asking mom for permission first. There are a few animals I don't mess with in the woods: rattle snakes, copperheads, raccoons, coyotes, and ticked off mama bears. That's just practical logic in my mind.
I hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday weekend.
Thank goodness I no longer have to drive up to New York by myself. I can now tag along with my brother, who unfortunately suffers from male-fall-asleep-as-soon-as-he's-not-driving-syndrome. That guy has got it bad!!! Seriously, he used to fall asleep all the time when we were kids, I'm amazed that he can stay awake long enough to drive his car.
Instead of boring you with all the standard family get-together hoopla, I'll just share a few things. One, my Grandpa Joe turned 90 and as anyone who is that close to 100 years young gets to do, he imparted some health advice. Unfortunately, his advice was to give up coffee. Yikes! Well, it doesn't look like I'll be living till 90 in this life time. Maybe next time. Two, never, ever show off to a 9 year old and throw a bocce ball up into the air and catch it. The kid will try to replicate this action and it may or may not split his or her lip open. (Thank goodness Denzel just split his lip open and didn't break a tooth or anything like that.) Finally, always have a hoodie in your car. I was freezing all day and had to bum a hoodie off of my sister. As did my Aunt Ev and a few of my sister's friends.
I left my camera stashed in my bag most of the weekend so I only have a few pictures to share.
A Sonic opened in Wilkes Barre, PA and I begged my brother to take a small detour and stop on by. I've never had Sonic before and after years of seeing their commercials I wanted to give it a try. The verdict- eating fast food while parked is kind of weird, but the Peanut Butter milkshake was divine. Plus, it was pouring, so it was nice to park the car and try to wait out the rain (like that ever works).
Great Danes like to roll themselves into the smallest balls possible. Jasmine wouldn't pose for any pictures and it seems she isn't a fan of cameras in general.
I can't wait for Christmas this year and see how Jax and Jewels react to such a big dog. Oh, it's going to be so much fun. One of my lifetime goals is to have a little cabin in the woods somewhere. Specifically, it could look like my grandpa's old cabin
or it could just have a view like this.
Either way, I think I need to have a house on a lake. Plus, the hubs wouldn't have to go far to go fishing. It seems it has rained almost every day in the Hudson Valley and this past weekend was one of the few nice days in a really long time. Sweet!Of course it wouldn't be a trip to the woods without a wildlife encounter. As my brother and I were driving away I saw something move in the woods and I immediately shouted, "bear cub!" My brother instinctively jammed on the breaks, asked where and then threw the car in reverse. There are two things to keep in mind when you're within 20 feet of a bear cub: don't get any closer and have plenty of eyes keeping a lookout for mama bear.
Sure, this picture is horrible, but you can clearly tell that's a bear cub and it's not a fuzzy picture of Big Foot. In my own defense, the cub was hanging out in a dimly lit part of the woods. I was wearing flip flops and I wasn't about to enter said woods. And the little guy started to move once he realized I was there and I wanted to jump back in the car before the little one made that terrible bear cub cry and mama bear came over and showed me that it is rude to take pictures of a kid without asking mom for permission first. There are a few animals I don't mess with in the woods: rattle snakes, copperheads, raccoons, coyotes, and ticked off mama bears. That's just practical logic in my mind.
I hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday weekend.
Friday, June 26, 2009
This is either creepy or cute
The hubs has been plagued with this horrible nagging sensation for the past few years. No, it hasn't been me, but instead he's been tossing around the idea of whether or not he should try to play baseball. He plays in two different softball leagues and it seems neither one of them is providing the hubs with the competitive nature that he craves.
Last month I made the gravest of comments and told the hubs he wasn't getting any younger and if he wanted to play he better do it sooner rather than later. What can I say, I provide just the right type of encouragement (90% logical + 10% brutal honesty). In the weeks since the hubs has worked to build up a bit of arm strength and find a team. I thought it would take him a bit longer to find a team, but he met with one coach and instantly found a team.
The timetable was much quicker than either of us expected, but last night the hubs went to his first game. He didn't pitch, but he threw a bullpen session after the game and was told he'll be pitching this weekend. Nice transition period, right?
Fortunately, the game last night was held at a field only a half of a mile from our house. I walked Jax down to the game and we hung out to watch a game of baseball. Honestly, I was worried because Jax tends to go crazy at sporting events because he wants to eat the ball. At least that's what he used to do at my brother's rugby games. Surprisingly enough, Jax was pretty well behaved. He jumped on a friend of mine, but overall he was pretty good.
All bets were off when he saw the hubs pick up a baseball and start long tossing with one of his new teammates. Seriously, Jax stared staring at the hubs. It was kind of creepy.
After the game, Jax practically tackled the hubs. That part wasn't creepy or cute, but I think the hubs was expecting it.
Last month I made the gravest of comments and told the hubs he wasn't getting any younger and if he wanted to play he better do it sooner rather than later. What can I say, I provide just the right type of encouragement (90% logical + 10% brutal honesty). In the weeks since the hubs has worked to build up a bit of arm strength and find a team. I thought it would take him a bit longer to find a team, but he met with one coach and instantly found a team.
The timetable was much quicker than either of us expected, but last night the hubs went to his first game. He didn't pitch, but he threw a bullpen session after the game and was told he'll be pitching this weekend. Nice transition period, right?
Fortunately, the game last night was held at a field only a half of a mile from our house. I walked Jax down to the game and we hung out to watch a game of baseball. Honestly, I was worried because Jax tends to go crazy at sporting events because he wants to eat the ball. At least that's what he used to do at my brother's rugby games. Surprisingly enough, Jax was pretty well behaved. He jumped on a friend of mine, but overall he was pretty good.
All bets were off when he saw the hubs pick up a baseball and start long tossing with one of his new teammates. Seriously, Jax stared staring at the hubs. It was kind of creepy.
After the game, Jax practically tackled the hubs. That part wasn't creepy or cute, but I think the hubs was expecting it.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Happy Birthday Jewels!
Yes, our little girl turns four today. So of course we took her over to the pet store and let her pick out a new toy. I didn't realize that she would fall in love with a cow toy that has five different squeakers (this is by far the loudest toy the dogs have ever had).
It was love at first sight. Although, I don't think the toy is sharing the feeling.
I can't believe our baby Jewels is four already! Crazy how time flies. I wouldn't recommend watching Marley & Me for the first time two days before your dog's birthday. It leads to a lot of additional crying.
It was love at first sight. Although, I don't think the toy is sharing the feeling.
I can't believe our baby Jewels is four already! Crazy how time flies. I wouldn't recommend watching Marley & Me for the first time two days before your dog's birthday. It leads to a lot of additional crying.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Cross that one off of the list
I have an unwritten list of things I would like to do in my lifetime. It's got the normal things: see the Great Pyramids of Egypt, ride out a hurricane (not the smartest idea), run a marathon, etc. Totally normal things.
There's one thing on my "list" that scares me more than anything else: anything that involves needles. You see, I'm absolutely terrified of needles. I'd have a tattoo, but the thought of a needle pounding down on my skin over and over again makes me want to vomit.
So while I may never muster up the strength to get a tattoo (I'm so afraid that I'll pass out and end up with a "tramp stamp"*), I really wanted to cross off "donate blood" from my list.
In order to have the strength to go through with this I needed a partner in crime. My favorite partner in crime, the hubs, just happens to be freaked out by blood. Freaked out doesn't quite cover it- his mom is a nurse and anytime he visits her at work, he has to cover his eyes and stare down at the floor. So yeah, for donating blood we make quite the pair.
Thankfully, the Orioles sponsored a blood drive and to entice people to donate, the O's offered up a free t-shirt and two free tickets to a future O's game. The hubs wasn't interested at first, but after a few gentle suggestions (cough- constant nagging) he was ready to donate.
I'm not going to lie, I had every urge to sprint away once the volunteers took the hubs to his donation bed. Thank goodness, the nurse who was overseeing my donation was incredibly kind, patient, and humorous. Although, he was a bit stern with me that I was pumping too fast. Apparently, it took me less than six minutes to fill up my bag and that's a bit fast. Whoops!!! At that point I just wanted to be done and proclaim that I actually went through with it and survived being impaled with a needle (okay, that's a bit over dramatic).
Unfortunately, the woman next to the hubs fainted (twice!) and that wasn't good for the hubs. Next thing I know I look over and the hubs is laying down and being attended to by a crowd of nurses. It seems he got a bit dizzy and the nurses weren't willing to take any chances after their last patient fainted on them. He was fine and as soon as he was given the okay to get off the bed he was ready to get the heck out of there.
My brother-in-law had the hubs and I over for a BBQ after we were done donating. Nothing makes us feel better than BBQ and cake.
Yeah, we're rocking out our arm bandages. I had the hubs picked to choose hot pink, but apparently his nurse didn't give him a choice.
It seems it isn't quite a BBQ with my brother-in-law unless something catches on fire!!!
*this is a How I Met Your Mother reference
There's one thing on my "list" that scares me more than anything else: anything that involves needles. You see, I'm absolutely terrified of needles. I'd have a tattoo, but the thought of a needle pounding down on my skin over and over again makes me want to vomit.
So while I may never muster up the strength to get a tattoo (I'm so afraid that I'll pass out and end up with a "tramp stamp"*), I really wanted to cross off "donate blood" from my list.
In order to have the strength to go through with this I needed a partner in crime. My favorite partner in crime, the hubs, just happens to be freaked out by blood. Freaked out doesn't quite cover it- his mom is a nurse and anytime he visits her at work, he has to cover his eyes and stare down at the floor. So yeah, for donating blood we make quite the pair.
Thankfully, the Orioles sponsored a blood drive and to entice people to donate, the O's offered up a free t-shirt and two free tickets to a future O's game. The hubs wasn't interested at first, but after a few gentle suggestions (cough- constant nagging) he was ready to donate.
I'm not going to lie, I had every urge to sprint away once the volunteers took the hubs to his donation bed. Thank goodness, the nurse who was overseeing my donation was incredibly kind, patient, and humorous. Although, he was a bit stern with me that I was pumping too fast. Apparently, it took me less than six minutes to fill up my bag and that's a bit fast. Whoops!!! At that point I just wanted to be done and proclaim that I actually went through with it and survived being impaled with a needle (okay, that's a bit over dramatic).
Unfortunately, the woman next to the hubs fainted (twice!) and that wasn't good for the hubs. Next thing I know I look over and the hubs is laying down and being attended to by a crowd of nurses. It seems he got a bit dizzy and the nurses weren't willing to take any chances after their last patient fainted on them. He was fine and as soon as he was given the okay to get off the bed he was ready to get the heck out of there.
My brother-in-law had the hubs and I over for a BBQ after we were done donating. Nothing makes us feel better than BBQ and cake.
Yeah, we're rocking out our arm bandages. I had the hubs picked to choose hot pink, but apparently his nurse didn't give him a choice.
It seems it isn't quite a BBQ with my brother-in-law unless something catches on fire!!!
*this is a How I Met Your Mother reference
Friday, June 19, 2009
What to do this weekend?
If you haven't made plans for this weekend, then I suggest you take a trip to one of our country's national parks. This weekend is the first of three free weekends that the U.S. National Park Service is offering this summer. You can read more about this special offer here.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Yes, we're definitely related
If you have siblings, then you know what I'm talking about. You and your siblings have those little quirks, mannerisms or traits that make it completely obvious that you are definitely related. Of course you're not mirror copies of each other, but there are certain similarities that can't be ignored.
My little brother now lives a whopping twelve miles away from me and I couldn't be happier. It may take the hubs some time to get accustomed to hanging out with two red heads (the smell of sunblock can be overbearing at times), but he likes my brother so it's all good. I can't wait for more baseball games, rounds of golf, tennis matches and random good times with my brother.
My little brother now lives a whopping twelve miles away from me and I couldn't be happier. It may take the hubs some time to get accustomed to hanging out with two red heads (the smell of sunblock can be overbearing at times), but he likes my brother so it's all good. I can't wait for more baseball games, rounds of golf, tennis matches and random good times with my brother.
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