Our trip to San Antonio!

Wow...it was a whirl wind trip, but so much fun! We left on Sunday (March 22nd). The five of us plus T brought Erica along. We drove half way which put us in Lubbock, TX. We got to San Antonio Monday afternoon where we stayed at the Comfort Suites Hotel. We also stopped in Junction (on the way to SA) at Cooper's BBQ and took dinner "to go". We ate after we got to our hotel (Yummy!)...After 2 days of driving, we were tired and decided to just "stay in" Monday night and rest/relax.

We got up Tuesday (March 24th, also Nolan's 55th Bday) and headed down to the River Walk. We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe...then did some shopping, sight-seeing, boat tour, etc. OMG...the weather was perfect and the RW is just awesome.



Then Tuesday night...we left the kids at the hotel and Nolan and I went out for dinner at Joe's Crab Shack...what a blast that was!! Chris called me that night...he's still in New Hampshire, but will be shipping out to Hawaii (poor thing, LOL) here shortly. I guess his 22nd bday was the 8th and I completely forgot. Sounds like he's doing well though. Oh yeah, after dinner...we headed over to the Mad Dog Brittish Pub for a couple beers. The bouncer was wearing a kilt, LOL...but he was cool!





Wednesday...we were off to Corpus Christi to tour the USS Lexington...aka The Blue Ghost! We saw it back in 1998, but both T and C were too young to remember it (and of course, P wasn't even born yet, LOL). It was so neat. We also got to see a movie in their theater called "Fighter Pilot". C was watching with a real interest. Yeah...I guess I can see C flying an F15 fighter plane someday, LOL! I got Dad and Kay to nice coffee cups (like the one I got him 10+ yrs ago)...he's always loved that mug, but all the writing had worn off. He'll be so excited! Dad gave each the kids $100 spending money...so they really had a hay day!!

After the Lexington, we stopped at the beach and let the kids play in the water. They loved it...I loved it (the beach that is...OMG, I'd trade the Rocky Mountains for the ocean any day...in fact, moving to the gulf (TEXAS) is all part of my diabolical plan, hee hee)...

Wednesday night...we grabbed dinner on the way home and I discovered a new love:



It's the most delicious "Boi-guh" I've ever had (well, a close tie with the "Five Guys Burgers" in Blacksburg, VA)...anyway, perhaps it's just because we don't have Whataburgers in Colorado that makes me love them so...but they are just way yummy! Thursday (our first day at Sea World), we got up to a drizzley rain...but no worries, The Weather Channel assured me that by noon the sun would be out and all would be good again in the world...Sea World that is, LOL! Sure enough, as soon as we stopped at Target and bought umbrellas...it quit raining. Murphy's Law in full effect, LOL! So we get to SW, get parked and up to the gate when Nolan realizes he's forgotten his wallet. Oh boy...I was not happy...but what could we do. The kids and I waited while he ran back to the hotel to get his wallet. By the time he got back and we all got checked in...it was 2 o'clock. We hadn't had lunch, so we grabbed a bite to eat and then off to ride rides.




C,T and E got on the Great White first. I wanted to ride it, but not right after eating...but the kids rode it (several times). Paige wasn't quite tall enough to get on the Great White, but she was just barely tall enough to ride the Steel EEL. Now...I've riden the Great White many times. I love it cause it's a short, intense ride. With the track hanging above you and your feel dangling in the wind...it has one main drop then a series of up-side-downs...cork-screws...twists...turns and 45 seconds later...you've had the ride of your life. I, however, will not ride the Steel EEL as it is extremely "tall" and has 15 story drops...ummmm, no thanks on that one...but Paige was determined to ride it. So...off she went. She rode with Erica and T & C rode together as Nolan and I waited at the gate. When she got off...we knew she'd either be in tears or be a roller coaster junkie like the rest of us, LOL! Here's the result:

Yeah...she's a junkie, LOL!!

Friday (Day 2 Sea World)...we started off with the Shamu show which was awesome...though it was neater the last time we were there and Chase was picked to be in the show. Had a few beers then Nolan and I got on the Great White...oh yeah baby...what a rush!! Paige again rode the Steel EEL and everyone (but me) did the Journey to Atlantis ride (it's a soaker)! All in all...a fantabulous day!







We had dinner at Bennigan's restaurant:




We took off Saturday morning. There was a blizzard in Colorado while we were gone (insert evil laught here) and even into the Texas pan handle. We drove back to Lubbock for the night. We had dinner at the Tokyo Japanese Steak House. Hmmmm how can I describe it? Well, if it wasn't for the beer...I'm not sure I would have stayed there. It was "okay", but it sure wasn's any Benihana's or Gasho's.

Here's the view as we headed back into Colorado Saturday afternoon:

Dropped Erica off at home around 6 pm:



All in all...it was a wonderful trip (notice I said trip). A trip is when you go somewhere with your kids. Now, I'm ready for a "vacation" (a vacation is when you go somewhere without your kids, LOL)!!

My lunch with Elvis...

OMG...I am home now, thank God! I am seriously pissed! I can't believe Elvis. We've been friends for 5 or 6 yrs now (our boys are best friends)...but today was definitely my last straw with that man. While I know I'm Elvis' only friend, well, it's more like I'm the only one that will give him the time of day...I have put up with a lot of his babbling bullshit...but now I'm done with it! How can I describe Elvis? Hmmmm...well, aside from being socially retarded and boring...he gets on people's nerves. Even his own sons can hardly stand him. While he has piloted small planes (commuter or sky diving planes)...he has never held a job (that I'm aware of). He still lives at home with his "mommy" and he's 47 yrs old, WTF?? Well, Norman Bates kind of comes to mind here, LOL...anyway, it's a long story how he got the code name "Elvis", but suffice to say...he cannot sing worth a crap! Oh, and if that's not enough of a description...how bout the same "velour" shirt he always wears "out" or the wire-framed aviator glasses he con't to wear despite the fact that it's no longer 1979. Is this picture becoming any clearer?? LOL

So...lunch today??? OMG, I only agreed to go to lunch because I thought we were friends and while he definitely grinds on my last nerve, I have kinda felt sorry for him. Anyway, first he was late...okay, no biggie. So we're seated in a booth and he wants to move to the back of the restaurant. Magpies is a fairly tiny restaurant which is in the middle of our historic district...so it happens to be long and narrow...but has a very quaint, charming atmosphere as well as very delicious food. Anyway, it's no secret that Elvis has a crush on me (and uhhhh...the feeling is NOT mutual), but we've been friends for a while now and I've kinda gotten used to his sugary compliments, etc...but today...oh today...he crossed the line! So while we're waiting to order, I feel his feet touch mine...so I draw mine back towards me...then I feel them again (all the while, he's making "goo goo" eyes at me). Just his eye contact was seriously making me uncomfortable...then the foot thing. He must have sensed my blood boiling and makes some off the wall comment about playing "footsies" and don't people play "footsies" anymore. WTF??? Seriously?? Ummmm, no dude...I only play "footsies" with my HUSBAND!

Ewwwwww.....that's all I can say! I muddled thru the lunch and left in a hurry. I'm sure he's aware of my unhappiness with how the lunch went. His "advances" made me seriously uncomfortable. Shoot, Tim and I go to lunch together all the time as friends...we are good friends...but if he ever tried something like that...it would ruin our friendship. I just don't think I can be friends with Elvis any longer...he just crossed the line and forever changed the dynamics, kwim? He just called my cell phone a few minutes ago, ewwwww...I will not talk to him. Thank God for caller ID. Also, thank God he didn't leave a voice mail, yuck! I never want to hear that voice again.

He seriously gives all male/female platonic friendships a bad name. I have several male friends, but none of them have ever (nor would they ever) do anything to jeopordize our friendship or disrespect Nolan. Actually, this is one friendship that I can honestly say I'm not sorry to end...it's just one less person to suck the life out of my battery! Good riddance Elvis!!

I need an Alka-Seltzer...

Hmmm, Thursday...

Well, nothing real interesting today! I did an invoice for Nolan (how could I say no, LOL), but it really bugs me having to work for nothing. Oh well...I have not got crap done today, or yesterday or the day before, LOL...I still haven't fed the kids and it's almost 8:30 pm (no school tomorrow) but I really don't feel like cooking at this point. Last night, I got away with having "franks in blankets" or hotdogs & cheese wrapped in crescent rolls, LOL! I would say it could just be a "cereal" night, but we don't even have any milk. I'm trying not to buy anything since we're leaving on our trip on Sunday...so the pantry and fridge are looking a little bare. Nolan's still in Denver, so I'm enjoying a Rolling Rock and soon...I'm going to get in the tub again and take a few Advil! Oh, and I'm having lunch with "Elvis" tomorrow and no...it's not the Elvis you're thinking of...though he is still around:



Yeah...obviously, Elvis is a "code" name...and yikes, I'm not sure how I got myself into this one...but, I'm sure I'll have something to report, LOL! He was suggesting that we get "one" Subway footlong and split it...OMG, can you say cheap?? I said that we're going to a real restaurant and I'll treat, LOL! This ought to be interesting!! Maybe I should call Aaron and see if he wants to come along as I know how Elvis is one of his favorite people and customers ((snort snort))!!

My psychotic nerve...

Oh yes...I have a psychotic nerve all right, unfortunately! Well...after some internet surfing, I think I've figured out the source of my problem. It's called: Piriformis Syndrome. It's a small muscle located deep within the pelvis (buttocks) which when overworked or injured can put great strain and pressure upon the sciatic nerve. Unlike the last time I had a nerve issue (August 2007), my back does not hurt (that's a plus, LOL), but rather the pain originates in my right hip/butt then shoots down the back of my leg. With my first back issue, I could hardly walk, or bend or sit or pretty much do anything other than lay flat on my back...but with this, normal activity isn't that bad, but just plain sitting is excruciating.

OUCH!!

Tender piriformis/sciatic junction: Pain with digital or other pressure just below the mid-buttock. Occasionally this may induce or exaggerate the sciatica.

Overuse: More than 3 miles/day running, high-performance athletics such as tennis, fencing, pole-vaulting, or sitting for hours at a time are examples.

Strangely enough...this pain began near the last week or so of my 4 mile walks. In fact, I remember specifically the day the pain began. It was my "beautiful day in the neighborhood" walk on the McCulloch Trail. It's 2 miles down hill, then 2 miles back (uphill). I remember feeling a pain on my way back going uphill, but thinking it was "just" my hamstring pulling a little. Because I usually walk on the treadmill (flat) I wasn't used to walking uphill and I'm sure that's when this happened. So....now that I know what it is, what to do? Well, with our up and coming trip, I'm not worried about Sea World, etc...but rather the drive ...as sitting is what hurts the most.

Ordinarily, I would contact the doctor (our new doctor now) for at the very least some pain meds for the trip...however, if I go into the doctor's office, I risk catching something, then being sick on the trip...so I've decided that the psychotic nerve pain is the lesser of two evils (butt pain or possible illness)...so at this point, I'm going to self treat with Ibuprofen, heat, stretching and deep massage (whenever Nolan is around to do it, LOL)...hopefully between now and Sunday...the pain will subside...otherwise, I'm just going to have to grin and bear it! As a pre-emptive measure, I think I will go ahead and schedule an appt. with Dr. T for when we get back. That way, if it's still bothering me, I'll already have the appt...otherwise, I can cancel the appt if all is well.

Now I really need to rethink my workout routine. Here I thought walking 4 miles a day was a real victory...when instead, it was a huge mistake. I think for now...I'm just going to take an indefinite hiatus from my workout...then when I resume, I'm only going to do one or two miles a day along with my strength training and functional exercises. I mean it's really not doing me any good pushing 4 miles a day if I end up injured and then can't exercise at all. So...I guess it's slow and steady wins the race after all, LOL! I think a Jaccuzi bath is definitely in order tonight...

Headin' South!!

That's right...it's official...we're heading south next week!! San Antonio to be exact!! Wow, this is really unexpected as I figured Nolan would be dragging us up to Steamboat (for snow and cold), LOL! Well, here's the story. Sunday, Taylor says that E has invited her to go to California with her, P and P's boyfriend and later, P calls me. She says she wants Taylor to go, but of course (as is the case with P & T), Taylor would have to pay her own way. I'm sorry, but in our family, when we invite one of our kids' friends (so our child will have he/she as a companion) then it's our treat, our expense. However, P & T do not operate like that and the last time Taylor went to California with them, we paid for everything for Taylor. Anyway, when we got to adding up the cost of the airline ticket ($350), entrance into 2 theme parks ($100), food ($100), spending money ($100)...we felt like, so....Taylor gets this fun vacation for ($ 600), and what do Chase and Paige get?? We figured, shoot...for that much money, we should just put it towards a family trip that we can all enjoy. It was actually Nolan's idea (yeah, don't faint, LOL) to take the kids back to Sea World...and since we'll have a few more days than the last time, we might drive down to Corpus Christi for the day and also we want to spend a whole day at the River Walk. The plan is to leave this Sunday and we'll get back next Sunday...woo hoo!! I'm excited and can't wait!! I've got a lot to do between now and Sunday!




Here's a blast from the past of our last trip to Sea World in 2007 when Chase got to be the star of the Shamu show...it was awesome!!

Back on track (no pun intended LOL)...

Okay...well after a much need exercise hiatus, I am back at it today! After fighting a cold most of all of last week, I was only able to work out 1 day. Between that and my psychotic nerve acting up (in my right hip), I just needed to rest (which I did). My cold is almost completely gone, but my hip is still hurting. It's better, but not completely good yet. Anyway, I'm back to the 3 miles daily plus strength training and functional exercises every other day with my Sunday's off. It was a nice little rest, but I'm glad to be back on track!!

Pops' 77th Birthday Bash...

Well...March 13th was Dad's birthday, but we all took him out for his birthday on March 14th. We all met at Park East Restaurant at 6 pm. Started the evening out with cocktails. I have to say, I was not having a good day when I first got to the restaurant. Here's what happened. My sister and her dh came from Boulder and left my nephew at our house. Taylor was suppose to babysit...however, she had gone to Erica's house and then on to tennis practice around 1 pm. Around 5 pm, I began texting her that it was time to come home...but I got no response. Calls and texts went unanswered (which is so unlike Taylor...infact, when her battery dies, she usually will call me from someone else's phone to let me know in case I need to get ahold of her). By about 5:45 pm, Peg & Keith headed over to the restaurant while Nolan was out looking for Taylor. He went to Erica's and no one was home. He checked the tennis courts...the high school, etc...no Taylor. He came back around 6 pm at which time I left to go to the restaurant (I was already late at this point so I was upset and very angry with Taylor as she knew she was suppose to babysit). Nolan was calling me periodically with updates. He got the girl next door to come stay with the kids so he could look for Taylor. As I was driving to the restaurant, my blood was absolutely boiling...but as time ticked on and we couldn't locate Taylor, my anger turned to fear...complete and utter fear. Taylor is just such a responsible young lady that this was just not like her and soon I was a wreck. On the drive to the restaurant, I was really beside myself. I was trying not to cry and I didn't want to ruin Dad's party. When I got to Park East...I had a martini to calm my nerves. After about 20 minutes, Nolan called and he finally got a hold of Taylor. I guess Erica's mom had taken them to the movies and she said she just lost track of time and also she had left her phone in the car. As angry as I had been...I was so relieved that she was okay...I could not be mad at her, LOL!

Anyway...Nolan was then able to join us and strangely enough, he showed up right when they began taking our orders.

Okay...so, I don't know where Broken Angel was (the duo that usually performs/sings), but instead there was a guy (aka Tiny Tim LOL) who played the piano, guitar and sang. He was actually really good and had a great variety of music. We did "Happy Birthday" to dad (which the whole place sang along) and Peg and I gave dad the picture we did of us (also known as Mutt & Jeff...which Dad so lovingly refers to us LOL)! Anyway, there's nothing more dad loves than to have us all together. So, here's a few pics from that night:


Dad & Kay...


Me & Nolan...


Me & Pops...


Me & my BIL Keith...



Me & my brother Kenny...


Me & my brother Mike...


Me & "Tiny Tim"...


More photos of everyone...











Me & Sis (aka: Mutt & Jeff)

Anyway...it was a great night...Dad loved it!