Sometimes it is so right on the nose...

My horoscope for yesterday:

"Emotions could be stirred up for a while today. Later, you may wonder what the big issue was, so don't take major action while under the influence of these transitory feelings."

Boy, that could not have been more accurate for yesterday. I started thinking about my upcoming vacation to Boston. Already, the schedule is starting to get closed up with things, leaving less and less time for the things that I would like to do. I mean, yes, I am going up to visit family, but I also want to have fun!! I probably won't get a chance to get out of town again this year, so I want to make the best of it. I started getting all spooled up about how my vacation was going to be disappointing, and it hasn't even happened yet! Thank goodness I did not confront anyone while I was in a tizzy. I think that would have definitely put a damper on the trip.

Congratulations Michelle and Jon!

I am so pleased to say that our friends Michelle and Jon became engaged over Memorial Day weekend!!

I met Michelle at McKinney where we both worked for a year (I have moved on). We hit it off right away and became fast friends. Later, we wound up sitting right behind one another at our 10 Carolina Hurricane hockey games. Through the games and lots of beer drinking, Bill and I got to know these two well. We were able to give Jon the name of a great jeweler (the one who sold Bill my ring) to purchase a ring for Michelle (as you can see, he made a great choice!). I am so happy for these two - they are such a great couple.

"Going to the chapel and we're gonna get married!!" - soon!

INDYtastic!

Bill and I turned on the Indianapolis 500 Sunday afternoon. I don't think we really planned to watch it in depth, just really see the start - "Ladies and Gentlemen start your Engines!" and all. I must admit, though, I got completely hooked. I can see why our friend Jon loves racing so much. I really found on Sunday that it is so much more that just driving fast in an oval. It is really all about strategy - when to pit and when to continue.

I thought it was just fascinating that the winner, Dario Franchitti, won because he did not pit during the restart after the rain delay. Had he not been forced to pit earlier due to a cut tire, he most likely would not have won the race. Since all of the drivers in front of him did pit, he was able to take the #1 stop during the caution. Due to the multiple accidents after the restart and the additional rain, he stayed in #1. How interesting!! Wow, is NASCAR as interesting? I may just have to find out - I love a good drama!!!!

The Holiday Weekend is Near!

Yes, finally, a three day weekend!! After all of the running and work we have done over the past 3 weeks, I am so glad to have a weekend with no big plans, a weekend to catch up on some rest. That is, of course, until I got this list from my darling husband this morning of things he wants to do this weekend:

work on the deck- get it 90% finished (at least)
go to the gym and go running
sit and enjoy your company (I want to do this a LOT)
check out the cooler at bed bath and beyond
try to find a frame for my poster
walk Sammy
visit with Lisa and Kevin (if you want)
take the Camaro out for a spin
wash the cars
bottle some beer
drink some beer
clean the bathrooms
work on the car club newsletter

Plus, we are going to dinner at his parent's house Monday evening. So, I guess I may be able to rest sometime in July.

It's Been a Long Weekend - Sunday & Monday

So, after our day long car show, we readied ourselves to drive to Asheville on Sunday. I got up at about 7:15 am so that I could get in my morning run. Someone else (who shall remain nameless) decided to sleep a bit longer. After my run, I got back and started getting ready to leave. We stopped at Bruegger's for breakfast (pretty much killed the running for me), and headed to A-ville. It was a nice drive over- no real traffic, but we did see several classic cars. We also saw several motor home prompting our idea for vacation next year. We would like to rent a mobile home for about 10 days and head up to Minneapolis and back. We would go through several states I have never seen (Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota) and just enjoy our country. I am really excited by the possibility.

We got to Asheville about 4 hours later and finally got in touch with my aunt. Her phone was having problems which scared the bejeebies out of me. It was the only way I knew how to reach her. Luckily, it all worked out. We decided to meet at 5:00, so that left plenty of time for my favorite activity - shopping. Bill, Sammy, and I took in the Biltmore Village before heading to our hotel to change. We drove up to The Grove Park Inn, and I had forgotten just how beautiful the inn is. The view is absolutely breathtaking from the terrace. It was so nice to see Aunt Linda and Uncle John again. They both look fantastic, and it really seemed just like old times chatting and catching up. It was so comfortable - just the way one would imagine meeting up with family. We chatted about their day and adventures in Asheville, then prepared for dinner. We met friends of my aunt and uncle for dinner at The Richmond Hill Inn.

The Richmond Hill Inn was completely unknown to me. It is a magnificent inn not too far from the Grove Park. It was much smaller, but so lovely in presentation. We were able to tour a few of the guest rooms prior to dinner. They were just gorgeous - they seemed to fit the time period, but still had all of the modern amenities. We ate a multi-course dinner in a private room with champagne and wines. It was one of the finest meals I can remember, and the company was wonderful as well. I had the most perfect halibut fillet and a coconut macadamia cake that was to die for.

On Monday, we met with Aunt Linda and Uncle John again for breakfast. We were able to tour a bit and see their room after our meal. It was just way too fast a weekend. We hope to have a longer visit next time - maybe meeting up in Charleston. After we left them, Bill, Samantha, and I hit Black Mountain for a few hours (yes, more shopping!), then got back home around 6:30. It was a great, but definitely long, weekend.

It's Been a Long Weekend-Saturday

What a great weekend! It was extremely busy (even for us), but very fulfilling.

Several months of work cumulated on Saturday in our annual car show for the Piedmont Chevy Classic Car Club. We were at Lake Wheeler in Raleigh at 6:30 am to begin our set-ups. Everything went so smoothly and the weather was the best I had ever seen for a car show. Bill and I were in charge of registration. Things went so well - the cars seemed to flow through with no problems. The folks displaying their cars seemed happy with our set up. It was a long day, but it was most certainly our biggest and best car show ever!! I as so pleased and excited for our club - everyone put out their "A" effort - I really think we had a special day. We got out of there at about 5:50 pm. As you can imagine, we didn't do much when we got home. We couldn't even get up the strength to go out to eat, so it was leftovers and beer on the sofa while watching a DVD. Needless to say, the lights were out in the Morrison home by about 9:45 pm!!

A Happy Mother's Day

We had a great Mother's Day full of family. We went to Southern Pines to have brunch (after our morning run, of course) with the whole Morrison clan. The kids had been pretty good on Saturday (well, they did act up at the restaurant during lunch, but we had really eaten late). Matthew is such a cutie, but he is also a smart ass. Not a good thing for a 3 year old. He is so clever - he knows how to get right to the edge, but not go over. Sally will have her hands full.

Anyway, we had a great brunch, then headed back to the Morrison's place for the afternoon. Bill's mom introduced us to a really fun card game that we played all afternoon. We finally left at about 5:30 to head home.

Matthew and Tyler are both so cute. I'm not sure I would have the patience to be with them 24/7, but it is fun to be the aunt. Matthew just wanted to hang out with me all weekend - sitting next to me, being carried, etc. It made me feel very special because I was special in his eyes. I know it is probably because he doesn't see me very often. Still, it is nice to be loved by a 3 year old. I will have to remember these days when he is 16 and completely ignoring me...

A day with the family

Bill's sisters and our two nephews are coming for a visit today. It should be interesting. I really don't know what to do with kids. They should be here soon - about 11:30. I wonder if the kids will need to be fed right away. Isn't that about time for a kid's lunch? I guess we have to go out because there are limited options here at home.

What are we going to do after lunch? I had suggested the Museum of Life and Science. They have some really cool things there, but will a 3 year old and almost 2 year old like it? What about naps? Do these kids need nap time and when would that be? It is tough when you have no experience with kids to try to figure out what kids would like to do. Oh well, at least it's not raining...

Never Any Time

Bill and I are both taking half days at work today. Why? To clean our house. Bill's family is coming over on Saturday. We don't have time to do things on the weekends, and we are tired after work (on the days we actually get to go home), so we are taking a personal day to get things done. We were going to stain our deck this afternoon, but the weather has not cooperated with us. It needs to be dry for several days to put down the stain and get it to set. Maybe by Memorial Day...

In Sammy news, she is doing fine after her vet visit. The vet believes that she cut her leg on something, not that she bit it. We still can't figure out what happened, but Sammy does seem to be OK. Her leg is bandaged, but it doesn't seem to slow her down. She has stitches and has to take a pill 3 times a day. All in all she seems fine. Fine enough to stand on the curtains in the living room, rip a hole in them, and bend the rod that holds them. Trust me, injury or not, I was not pleased when I found that yesterday.

Ham and Yam

What a weekend!!

We had such a busy weekend. Saturday night, we went to our friend's Derby Day/Cinco de Mayo/Birthday/House Warming/MBA party. It was fun and the food was wonderful. Gotta love multiple reasons to have a party!

Sunday was car day. We took the newly restored (and almost done) Camaro out to Smithfield for the annual Ham and Yam festival. At least the day wasn't too hot, cause downtown Smithfield doesn't have too much to offer. We walked around a bit, got lunch from a stand, then spent the better part of the day kicking back and reading our books. At least the folks seemed to enjoy seeing our car. I even got to drive it on the way home. It handles so much better now that it has a new suspension and brakes. It was fun to drive, I may have to do it again soon.

The weekend ended with a not so good event - Sammy bleeding on the floor. It seems that she likes to chew herself so much that she actually chewed a gash into her back leg. She is with the vet right now, so I will keep you posted...

For the Dogs

Last night, Bill and I went to the APS (Animal Protection Society) of Durham's Diamonds in the Ruff Gala event. It was the first time that I had ever been to a gala charity event. We went for the silent and live auctions/cocktail party. There were so many auction packages to see and to bid. There were a few different packages I would have liked to bid on, but I actually bid on only 4. we did win one of them-a basket full of gourmet dog treats. It figures that we would go to the event and walk away with a gift for our dog. Sammy has appreciated it so far, so I guess it was worth it. Anyway, I had a nice time, and enjoyed the free bar. I wish there had been more food (we thought heavy hors d'oeuvres would actually be enough for dinner), but we wound up at Carolina Ale House at about 10:30 for food. At least we were dressed very nicely and received 2 compliments!! Anyway, the event was for the dogs and for that reason alone, I was glad to attend.

Becausa They Are Legends!

Last night, Bill and I went to see Legends! starring Joan Collins and Linda Evans, both formerly of Dynasty fame. I had a great time! It was a wonderful play - a story of two rival actresses who never got along who are now asked to be in a play together. It was hilarious to see these two go at it with one another. The supporting cast was wonderful, too - an actress who played the maid nearly stole the show, the male stripper who caused a riot of laughter, and the play producer who was a fast talking manipulator. Still, the divas where the center of the show. These two ladies could not have been more perfect for the roles. They still look fabulous as well. Both were gorgeous, even through my binoculars which were trained to the stage for most of the play.

If Legends! comes your way, go see it.

It's a Classic

I just finished re-reading To Kill A Mockingbird last night. The book is our April selection for book club which we will discuss tonight. I am so glad that we have added at least one classic a year to our book list. I read this book back in the 9th grade. I remembered the basic storyline, but really enjoyed re-reading it as an adult. I think I got so much more out of the story this time.

I think my favorite part was when Scout realized that her teacher is a hypocrite. The teacher did a lesson of current events about Hitler and how evil he was. She went on to say that it was a crime to persecute the Jews who had given so much to society. Scout recalled the same teacher leaving to courthouse saying that Tom Robinson deserved the sentence because he is a black man and should not be treated any better. Scout knew it was wrong - all people should be treated the same regardless of race or color. It's simple human kindness. It is a lesson that we can still use today. Perhaps everyone should be made to read the book again.