Happy Birthday Zilla!

Three years ago, we took on new roles in our lives...
I even got a new name: Nana or Nan as Zilla sometimes calls me.

Zilla has become a huge part of our lives!
I cannot imagine life without him.
From the pool to the quads... it has been such a joy in our lives!

Happy third birthday buddy!
Nana and Papaw love you.

Gen, Gen!

Namaste.

80th

Grandpa,

Happy 80th Birthday. Today, I am planning your birthday party in my head...Cake, friends and of course, lots of family would fill the room. I can't believe you've been gone 15 years!

Now that I'm a grandparent, I truly understand the love that I saw in your eyes when you looked at me. How I wish you could meet your great-great grandbabies. You would crack up at Zilla's "gain, gain" and PipSqueak's "mo, mo". Everyday something new to make you smile and put that twinkle in your eye

So today, I am going to shed a tear or two and celebrate the man that everyone loved. If we were allowed to talk to a person in heaven for an hour, I can't even imagine how long your line would be.

I miss you like crazy and will always cherish the time that I had with you.

I love you.

Love,

Grandpa's Girl

Happy Birthday MBB!

Happy Birthday to
the love of my life...
my partner in this thing we call marriage...
my other half...

I love you honey!

And now we begin the best season of the year.  :)

Namaste.

Not Wasting My Time...

And this is why I haven't memorized the colors of the balls...
I have found three different color sets, but the numbers never change!

So, I'll just keep looking at the numbers!

Namaste.

So True...

Namaste.

14 Years Ago...

I can't believe that it has been 14 years.

Sometimes it feels like yesterday...
Sometimes it feels like it never happened...

And that scares me even more.

And after visiting the memorial this year, I am reminded need to ensure that we
never forget!

Namaste.

#Owningmyweakness

I am the first to admit that I don't like driving our truck.

 

It is MBB's truck.  The Camry belongs to me.

Yep, sounds right to me.

 

Every 5K miles, I have to drive the big monstrosity so that it can get checked out.

But the problem is, I have to park it at the Big T for the morning, before it goes for its appointment in the afternoon.

 

Have I have mentioned that I don't like driving our truck?

 

So, I found a parking spot that allowed me to back straight up (into another row) without having to worry about cutting it too sharp or swinging the front too quick, etc, etc, etc. 

 

I don't want to have to tell MBB that I wreaked his baby...
So, I planned ahead and parked accordingly.

Helped me get a few extra steps too!  :)

Namaste.

Working on Improving...

Here is the week of 8/2 - 8/8:

And the week of 8/30 - 9/5:

What a difference a month makes.

I finally got back into the exercise mode...
Well, if you consider 10K steps a day as exercising.

Trying real hard to keep it up every day!

Namaste.

Like it

I am not a fan of beer...

Back in my college / early 20s, I could be found with a jolly-ranger flavored Zima, but those days are distant memories.  Along with that particular boyfriend!

Current day and age, I can drink an Angry Orchard with a shot of fireball (no lie - it tastes like an Apple Pie!)... And now this beauty!

Yes, this stuff is amazing... And I'm not even a big Root Beer fan!

Now, to just have my local grocery store carry it!!!

On the other hand, it may be a good thing that they don't!

Namaste.

Getting Ready to Say Goodbye

About 19 years ago, I made a huge decision...
I bought my first home.
A 22 year old, on a mission...
Or having lost my mind...
Not sure which one.

Did I just reveal my age.
Oops.

When I moved in with MBB eight years ago, the market had tanked and I decided to rent it out for a bit.  One tenant, back rent owed, and some damage from his dog all lead me to today.
Big T moving us north in a few years forced our hand and we are now getting ready to sell my first baby.

It is bitter sweet - I still feel a tinge, even though I haven't lived there in a very long time.
I may even shed a tear when it is all over...
Though, whether the tear is because we are selling...
Or the amount of money we had to put into it to get it ready to sell...
Not sure on that one either.

If anyone in the Cincinnati area knows of someone looking for a 2-bedroom condo in a great area...
We should talk.
I just have a few more things to get done (new carpet anyone?) and then it will be time to rock n roll!

There may be a discount if I get it sold before it gets listed with a realtor!

Namaste.

Success!

Yes, I played pool at the Championships in Las Vegas.

I was super excited to get this patch first (before MBB - though he did get it two days later)!

Now, full disclosure - I was competing on a Jack n Jill team, so I only made half of the shots...

But I MADE HALF OF THE SHOTS!!!

Namaste.

Genius

Yes, I get involved in the "over vs. under" toilet paper war...

I will switch the role if it is going the wrong direction!

During one of my many travels (I think in June), I walked into an airport bathroom and saw this...

The person responsible at the Atlanta Airport was a GENIUS!!!

Namaste.

Another Girl Creation...

I am making a HUGE assumption that since my boy creation from yesterday was delivered, that this one was received as well.

Crossing fingers!

I was going for a purple (the nursery was painted a light purple/ almost gray) butterfly theme on this one...

Namaste.

Another Boy Creation...

I had this post in draft for quite a long time as I was waiting until the "gift was delivered".

From life getting in the way to it being pasted around for awhile, it took a bit longer than I expected.

Happy to say that a special little man now has this blue and brown monkey quilt!

Namaste.

A Food Review

If you are heading to Las Vegas anytime soon, I highly recommend stopping by Guy Fieri's Kitchen & Bar at the LINQ.  

I have to say that it is obvious that Guy Fieri's expertise is food.

And he does that very well!

On our first visit, I had the Monte Que Sandwich (pictured below).  

Delicious! But very messy...

I ended up having to eat most with a fork as the sandwich was so full, it just kept falling apart,

The fries are great - four different styles mixed together.  I might try to recreate for a party in the future...

MBB had the Bacon Mac-N-Cheese Burger.  I wasn't a fan, but all three guys at the table who ordered it liked it (one ordered it again on our second visit). 

Guy's Cheesecake Challenge (also pictured below) - unbelievable.  I never thought that potato chips would go good with cheesecake. 

Yep!  It does.  I was not a fan of the pretzels, but others at the table were.

On our second trip, MBB and I split the '68 Cajun Sandwich (minus the hot sauce) and I must say that isn't a repeat for us.  Others at the table recommended it to us, but it just doesn't make our list.

The concensus at the table (and we had a large table with everyone returning a second time), was that the Tatted-Up Turkey Burger was the best thing on the menu (out of everything that we tried... and we tried a lot).  I will make a return appearance to order one for myself! 

NOTE:  This masterpiece is not available on their late night menu. But should be!

I mentioned earlier that Guy knows food. 

What Guy does not know...is Service.

Be warned that the service at this restaurant is HORRIBLE.

But, the food is so great...that even I, the quickest to tip and the quickest to take away, can overlook it for that food (with a lower tip, of course)!

Namaste.

Time is Flying!

I blinked and...
July and August are both gone.

I have no excuse for not blogging in July.
None.
I didn't travel for work (that one day during working hours doesn't count)...
I just spent lots of time with family and getting some stuff done.

August had a big chunk that we spent in Vegas on vacation...
Yep, I'm using that one for August.

September finds me traveling again for the Big T, but I do have a lot of posts in draft form.
See, I do think about the blog on occasion.

My dilemma now is whether to back date the drafts...
But then it looks like I did post during those months and hey...
All about transparency here...
And the cat that keeps trying to lay on the keyboard right now...
Yes, as I type.

I have the evening to myself...
Other than making my fitbit happy...
So, I am going to try to get some blogging done.

Namaste.