We have a fun weekend up at Cedar Point with DuWayne and Danielle, but it sure was a whirlwind.
We left Friday night and drove up to Cleveland to take advantage of a discounted hotel room before hitting the park Saturday morning. We got to the park--after eating breakfast at Bob Evans--at 11 a.m. and went full force until about 8 p.m. We would have stayed later, but it started storming like crazy and we had to make a run for it.
My favorite ride was by far the Maverick. If you've haven't been on it, you have to try it. My second favorite was Dragster. It's only 17 seconds long, but you literally go 125 miles per hour. Nuts!
The bottom line, though, is I'm worn out. Work seems uninteresting to me and the gorgeous weather isn't helping me focus. Hopefully the rest of the work week will go by quickly so I can get some rest this weekend. We're going two see the Reds play on Friday and Saturday, but that will be pretty low key.
In other exciting news, Jane and I booked our girl's trip. I can't wait to show her Key West--I love that place!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Relaxing at Home
Brandon and I had this past weekend unexpectedly open up, so we were able to relax. It was nice to not be on a schedule for the first time in quite a while!
Saturday we slept in as much as the cats would allow and then went hiking at Caesar Creek State Park in Waynesville where I grew up. It always amazes me just how little of the park I explored while living there. We started at our normal spot--Flat Fork--but continued on to Fifty Springs. (We estimate the hike was about 9 or 10 miles round trip.) It was fabulous! We found an off-shoot of the lake that was covered for about 300 yards with giant lilypads. They had gorgeous yellow flowers on them that looked like a cross between a dahlia and a mum. I didn't take my camera though (DOH!), so hopefully we'll get to go back soon so I can snap a few shots.
Sunday went spent most of the day in our backyard taming the beast that is the hedge around our back patio. Brandon slept on him shoulder funny so--for once--he reliquished a bit of control and let me us the hedge trimmer for the ground work. Whoo hoo! All appendages are still accounted for, so I'd say I didn't do half bad. It does give me a renewed respect for the work. My arm is sore today!
Today I got home to find my copy of the fourth vampire book--Breaking Dawn--had arrived. I decided to reread the first three books to get fully back into the story, but I am VERY tempted to crack open the last book. Patience is a virtue I have never fully mastered.
Saturday we slept in as much as the cats would allow and then went hiking at Caesar Creek State Park in Waynesville where I grew up. It always amazes me just how little of the park I explored while living there. We started at our normal spot--Flat Fork--but continued on to Fifty Springs. (We estimate the hike was about 9 or 10 miles round trip.) It was fabulous! We found an off-shoot of the lake that was covered for about 300 yards with giant lilypads. They had gorgeous yellow flowers on them that looked like a cross between a dahlia and a mum. I didn't take my camera though (DOH!), so hopefully we'll get to go back soon so I can snap a few shots.
Sunday went spent most of the day in our backyard taming the beast that is the hedge around our back patio. Brandon slept on him shoulder funny so--for once--he reliquished a bit of control and let me us the hedge trimmer for the ground work. Whoo hoo! All appendages are still accounted for, so I'd say I didn't do half bad. It does give me a renewed respect for the work. My arm is sore today!
Today I got home to find my copy of the fourth vampire book--Breaking Dawn--had arrived. I decided to reread the first three books to get fully back into the story, but I am VERY tempted to crack open the last book. Patience is a virtue I have never fully mastered.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
ALOOOOHA!
After much debate, Brandon and I finally broke down and purchased our plane tickets to Hawaii this week. Airfare prices have continued to climb and the flight schedules are getting less desirable. We found a good flight schedule at a decent price, given the current market, so we scooped it up. Although the flight isn't perfect (we're headed though Chicago, which can be a gamble), we are flying out of Cincinnati which is a major perk!
In less than seven months, we'll be celebrating Valentine's Day on Napili Bay in Maui. Ah, Hawaii. Here is a photo from our condo lanai:
It's not the Big Island cottage we rented this past December, but the location is great.
Maui was where my addiction to Hawaii began in 2004 when Brandon and I made our first trip to the islands together. Here a few of my favorite photos from the trip:
Sunrise from Haleakala Crater:
Sunset from our lanai:
The one and only authentic Hawaiian luau, Old Lahaina:
The smooth, clicking black rocks of Waianapana State Park beach on the Hana Highway:
I have many other favorites, but they aren't all loaded on this computer.
In other news, last weekend we spent Saturday doing a psycho-clean of the house and had a nice relaxing evening, enjoying a bottle of summery chardonnay on the back patio and a practically free dinner at Bonefish Grill. (We had a gift certificate.) Sunday I spent a leisurely afternoon with Dad at the dog park while Brandon chipped away on the golf course with Kevin.
The weekend before that we hosted Anna and Andrew at our house. It's always great to have them in town--we played Cranium, went to Ikea and to a Reds game.
This weekend we were supposed to host Anna, Andrew, Willard and Ann but our plans have been postponed due to a death in Andrew's family.
In less than seven months, we'll be celebrating Valentine's Day on Napili Bay in Maui. Ah, Hawaii. Here is a photo from our condo lanai:
It's not the Big Island cottage we rented this past December, but the location is great.
Maui was where my addiction to Hawaii began in 2004 when Brandon and I made our first trip to the islands together. Here a few of my favorite photos from the trip:
Sunrise from Haleakala Crater:
Sunset from our lanai:
The one and only authentic Hawaiian luau, Old Lahaina:
The smooth, clicking black rocks of Waianapana State Park beach on the Hana Highway:
I have many other favorites, but they aren't all loaded on this computer.
In other news, last weekend we spent Saturday doing a psycho-clean of the house and had a nice relaxing evening, enjoying a bottle of summery chardonnay on the back patio and a practically free dinner at Bonefish Grill. (We had a gift certificate.) Sunday I spent a leisurely afternoon with Dad at the dog park while Brandon chipped away on the golf course with Kevin.
The weekend before that we hosted Anna and Andrew at our house. It's always great to have them in town--we played Cranium, went to Ikea and to a Reds game.
This weekend we were supposed to host Anna, Andrew, Willard and Ann but our plans have been postponed due to a death in Andrew's family.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Football is Almost Here!
Well, it's almost time for my favorite season of the year - FOOTBALL season! I am looking forward to spending crisp fall Saturdays drinking beer and cheering on my favorite team, THE Ohio State Buckeyes.
I have been following numerous preseasons publications - most seem to have the Bucks ranked in the top 3. Personally, I think it is a three game season (all road games: at USC, at Wisconsin, at Illinois. I hope the Buckeyes can win their third consecutive outright Big Ten title and return to their third consecutive BCS Championship appearance. Hopefully third time's a charm all the way around.
Anybody want to go over/under with me on Beanie Wells's rushing yards this year? I'll bet anyone $10 who says it will be under 1,700.
Well, gotta go - Rivals, CFN, Sporting News, and others should all be posting their Buckeyes preview soon. Until then, Beanie Wells forever, Dirty Sanchez NEVER!
P.S. Carson Palmer is a pretty-boy bitch who is going to enjoy the Bengals 9999th losing season in a row!
P.P.S. For any of you who even REMOTELY know me, you'll know that something is up when you read this. Yes, as you can probably guess I forgot to log out of my blog and a dirty pirate named Brandon stealthy jumped in to write.
I have been following numerous preseasons publications - most seem to have the Bucks ranked in the top 3. Personally, I think it is a three game season (all road games: at USC, at Wisconsin, at Illinois. I hope the Buckeyes can win their third consecutive outright Big Ten title and return to their third consecutive BCS Championship appearance. Hopefully third time's a charm all the way around.
Anybody want to go over/under with me on Beanie Wells's rushing yards this year? I'll bet anyone $10 who says it will be under 1,700.
Well, gotta go - Rivals, CFN, Sporting News, and others should all be posting their Buckeyes preview soon. Until then, Beanie Wells forever, Dirty Sanchez NEVER!
P.S. Carson Palmer is a pretty-boy bitch who is going to enjoy the Bengals 9999th losing season in a row!
P.P.S. For any of you who even REMOTELY know me, you'll know that something is up when you read this. Yes, as you can probably guess I forgot to log out of my blog and a dirty pirate named Brandon stealthy jumped in to write.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Memories
Last week, my aunt Brenda's battle with Alzheimer's ended. She was only 60 years old.
We will all miss her dearly--she was a kind, gentle and funny person. I'm glad her suffering is over, though, and will choose to remember the happy times rather than the sad.
Two of my favorite memories involve Brenda and my mom. One is of then sitting in Brenda's kitchen talking nonstop and laughing. They lived 3 1/2 hours away from us, so when mom and Brenda did get together they always seems to enjoy their time together even more. The other memory is of mom, Aunt Brenda, Aunt Gail and Grandma Jo shoved into the tiny kitchen of Grandma's house cooking for our biannual family get togethers. Being the pushy country women they are, they ALL had to be in the kitchen helping. I loved those family parties.
When my mom moved downt to Kentucky seven years ago, I think it was meant to be because Brenda began showing signs of illness around that time. She was able to be their to help her sister when she needed her most. I can only imagine how hard it was for mom to lose her big sister. I took the entire week off last week to spend with mom and my family down in Kentucky. Although the circumstances for being together were bad and sad, it was still nice to have everyone together.
Mom and I made matching wreaths for our front doors during the week, which I think turned out pretty nice:
My mom is very creative and crafty. Perhaps I get it from her?
WWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGIIIIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!!! (Brandon invasion--sorry about that)
Tuesday night we went to see Tom Petty and the HeartBreakers at Riverbend with Paula and Kirk. What an awesome concert! Although it's rough going to a concert on a weeknight, it was well worth it to see a rock legend!
Tomorrow night we've made a pact to finish the trim painting in the kitchen so we can be done with it once and for all. We also need to hang the new curtains and signs I bought. Here is a picture of the curtains and one of the signs:
We will all miss her dearly--she was a kind, gentle and funny person. I'm glad her suffering is over, though, and will choose to remember the happy times rather than the sad.
Two of my favorite memories involve Brenda and my mom. One is of then sitting in Brenda's kitchen talking nonstop and laughing. They lived 3 1/2 hours away from us, so when mom and Brenda did get together they always seems to enjoy their time together even more. The other memory is of mom, Aunt Brenda, Aunt Gail and Grandma Jo shoved into the tiny kitchen of Grandma's house cooking for our biannual family get togethers. Being the pushy country women they are, they ALL had to be in the kitchen helping. I loved those family parties.
When my mom moved downt to Kentucky seven years ago, I think it was meant to be because Brenda began showing signs of illness around that time. She was able to be their to help her sister when she needed her most. I can only imagine how hard it was for mom to lose her big sister. I took the entire week off last week to spend with mom and my family down in Kentucky. Although the circumstances for being together were bad and sad, it was still nice to have everyone together.
Mom and I made matching wreaths for our front doors during the week, which I think turned out pretty nice:
My mom is very creative and crafty. Perhaps I get it from her?
WWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGIIIIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!!! (Brandon invasion--sorry about that)
Tuesday night we went to see Tom Petty and the HeartBreakers at Riverbend with Paula and Kirk. What an awesome concert! Although it's rough going to a concert on a weeknight, it was well worth it to see a rock legend!
Tomorrow night we've made a pact to finish the trim painting in the kitchen so we can be done with it once and for all. We also need to hang the new curtains and signs I bought. Here is a picture of the curtains and one of the signs:
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sara's Wedding
This past weekend was spent celebrating my good friend Sara's marriage. Friday night, of course, was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Saturday our day started at 9 a.m. with a much needed (at least on my part!)manicure and pedicure. We then helped Sara finish setting up the reception hall and had a nice, leisurely afternoon of girl time that afternoon at her sister Gina's house.
We had pre-wedding photos taken at Ault Park, which is beautiful. The wedding went off without a hitch and now Sara Brausch is Sara Mason. Whoo hoo!
Sara wasn't a bridezilla at all. In fact, I'd classify her as a giddy bride. She was so happy all day that it was a bit infectious.
The reception was fun, and we saw a few old band mates from OU at the wedding. Brandon even line danced for the first time. I never though I'd see that day.
Here are a few pictures from the big day--these are from my digital camera. The others are on film.
Sara and I, pre-wedding waiting for the limo...
Sara, stuffed into the back of the limo on the way to Ault Park...
Sara's dad with her neice, Jolie...
Sara's beautiful flowers...
I love weddings. They always make me think about my own marriage and remember all the wonderful things about it. It also makes you think about what it means to married and the vows you take to always forgive and love unconditionally. It's good stuff.
We had pre-wedding photos taken at Ault Park, which is beautiful. The wedding went off without a hitch and now Sara Brausch is Sara Mason. Whoo hoo!
Sara wasn't a bridezilla at all. In fact, I'd classify her as a giddy bride. She was so happy all day that it was a bit infectious.
The reception was fun, and we saw a few old band mates from OU at the wedding. Brandon even line danced for the first time. I never though I'd see that day.
Here are a few pictures from the big day--these are from my digital camera. The others are on film.
Sara and I, pre-wedding waiting for the limo...
Sara, stuffed into the back of the limo on the way to Ault Park...
Sara's dad with her neice, Jolie...
Sara's beautiful flowers...
I love weddings. They always make me think about my own marriage and remember all the wonderful things about it. It also makes you think about what it means to married and the vows you take to always forgive and love unconditionally. It's good stuff.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
A Bad Start
I'm convinced a bad start to the day can sometimes be an indicator for the rest of day.
This morning it started when I didn't have enough milk for my cereal. I usually eat it at my desk first thing while I'm checking email. This morning, my raisin bran was mostly dry. YUM...or not.
I'm blogging right now, though, because I forgot my darn tennis shoes for spinning class. I HATE MISSING MY WORKOUTS! It's my stress relief and energy boost. Unfortunately, no one wheres the same shoes size as me so I had to skip. BOO! My dress shoes aren't really condusive to a walk. Instead, I'm stuck at my desk for lunch. Oh well!
Last night I was marveling on how different the kitchen looks, so I'm posting some before and after shots.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
Obviously we still have a good deal of touchup and trim work to do, but we're taking a break.
This morning it started when I didn't have enough milk for my cereal. I usually eat it at my desk first thing while I'm checking email. This morning, my raisin bran was mostly dry. YUM...or not.
I'm blogging right now, though, because I forgot my darn tennis shoes for spinning class. I HATE MISSING MY WORKOUTS! It's my stress relief and energy boost. Unfortunately, no one wheres the same shoes size as me so I had to skip. BOO! My dress shoes aren't really condusive to a walk. Instead, I'm stuck at my desk for lunch. Oh well!
Last night I was marveling on how different the kitchen looks, so I'm posting some before and after shots.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
Obviously we still have a good deal of touchup and trim work to do, but we're taking a break.
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