Journey back to ME!!- I'm getting bugged!!

[toystoryduo]

Let's here it for single digits until Florida! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!

 

[traceycooper]

Today is SINGLE DIGIT DAY!!!!!!

NINE days til Florida!! Boy, am I more than ready!!!

Lucky you, wish mine was that close

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Julie, sounds like you are doing really well with your food, resisting DQ cake is pretty amazing, how do you do that? Wow, your trip is right around the corner, what a nice thing to look forward to! I hope things are going okay with your brother? That sounds scary and a good lesson for us all to take care of our bodies. Hope things are going great today!

 

[CACruisin']

Hi Julie, WTG on your exercise challenge!

 

[goldcupmom]

Wow! Long time no post!!

This has been SOME week!!

DS20 car was supposed to be done on Friday, needed a gasket, Monday DH didn't even get a chance to check his phone. They called & just said "we need to talk to you about your Kia". Sent me into a panic. Tuesday morning they said it needed a battery. So I picked DH up at 10:30, they hadn't had a chance to go get one. We went to 4 places before we found one, got there, picked the car up , went 3 blks to get gas & the check engine light comes on & the engine is making a noise. Back to the shop. They had used the cam something from the old engine & it was bad, causing the light to come on. No big deal we can order & plug in. After 3 HOURS, they decided the whirring was the pcv valve, again , not a huge problem, but we need to order and put it on. At least we have the car. And, the A/C no longer works. DS20 went ballistic, but since it sat for 10 mo I imagine it's a freon issue. NOT my problem!!!!

DD's knee is killing her! I figure it's because of leg presses a the gym (she does WAY too much/many, but who can tell a 14yo. Plus we ran on the TM on Sunday, and she biked. So, I haven't been to the gym as if I go, she will and I think it will get worse. I've been too busy anyway getting everything done for the trip.

We had 3 nights of storms here which were Wonderful!! more rain in 1 night than we've had since September. Unfortunately, the streets are now covered with the rock/sand dirt from people's yards. I'll take the rain any day, tho!!

Finally got hold of my SIL in OKC. Dbro came home on Monday. (I was calling his law office, not his home - oops!!) Doing OK, says he feels like a stripe on the pavement. His diabetes is way out of control - has to take insulin if he eats even a bite of something. But, they're working on it. He admits that he thought he had had a heart attack, but didn't want to tell anyone or go to the Dr. DUMMY!!!!!

I still have tons to do since DD and I will be gone almost 3 weeks. I'm really hoping & praying we can get a cheaper train ticket home & go that way. I NEED the 3 days of doing nothing that the train trip provides!! It's too much at present, but hopefully it will go down as it gets closer if it doesn't fill first. If not, I just may have to try to take the train when I hopefully go in Oct for DNiece baby.

I've been OP, doing ok on the water, just minimal exercise. This week I lost .8. I didn't make what I had hoped before the trip, but that's ok, I'm down. My goal is to be within 3 lbs of last Thursday's WI weight when I return - in other words, don't gain more than 1 lb/week. I'd like to stay the same, and will try, but am not going to make it a huge issue.

DS16 'friend' is planning a surprise party for him here on the 3rd. I'm supplying food & location. Hopefully they can pull it off. He got his ACT scores back & got a 25, so he won't have to retake them. Not bad since he has never set foot inside a school in his life & has never taken a standardized test. And, it's way more than the 16 he needs to go to a state school here, which is his plan as they have a really good pharmacy school.

Off to get some things done.... later......

Hope everyone is having a good week! I may be absent, but you're in my thoughts!!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Julie,

Man are cars a pain or what? I hate having to deal with my own car, I do not look forward to when my kids are old enough to have cars and I have to deal with theirs too! Glad that your brother is recovering at home, keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers. Your trip is almost here! You are doing great with your food, exercise and weight loss, congratulations on all that you have accomplished!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Florida trip is coming up! im sure you have a lot to do but i hope you have some time to relax this weekend--ENJOY!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Julie,

I want to stop by and WISH you a wonderful vacation, filled with fun, rest, and relaxation. Have a great time in Florida!

 

[Foxfiregrrl]

Hey, Julie! Just wanted to stop by and say that I hope you have an AWESOME vacation! Get some rest & relaxation! Have lots of fun! And don't stress too much about your diet while you are gone!

 

[ScoJo15]

Julie - Have fun in Florida!!! and I hope you have a GREAT 4th of July!!! You do soo much thru the week that you deserve a nice vacation!!

Have a great time!

 

[Lizzydoll73]

Have a great trip! You deserve it!

 

[pearlieq]

Hi!

Long time, no see! I hope you have a wonderful time in Florida, and congrats to your DS16 on some very solid ACT scores!

Take care!

 

[Lesli54]

Just checking in. I am so glad that you have been stopping by my journal from time to time.

So now it is time for me to get into a better routine and check on my friends. I love how you are still dealing with your stresses by writing them out. It will make for a healthier you in the long run.

Hope your trip is a fun one.

 

[CACruisin']

Have a fantastic, fabulous trip! Relax and enjoy your time away.

 

[goldcupmom]

Sitting in the dark at the OMNI while DS16 and DD sleep. DH just left for the day of meetings. My typing on this laptop isn't great, but in the dark it's even worse!!

Arrived in FL fine. Flight from ABQ was about 1/3 empty so had room to stretch. By the time we were on the plane we were so tired DD slept almost the whole way, I napped for over an hour.

Retrieved our luggage - 8 suitcases, 2 laptops, 3 carryons & 2 purses. DH decides we don't need a cart or skycap & we need to WALK to the other end of downstairs to National to get the car. Get there and, as I knew, Emerald Isle goes right to the parking garage. So, we walk back, the length, then outside in the rain the length to get back to the end we were at to go up to the garage. DD has a meltdown as one of the bags she is dragging is heavy. DS16 adds it to his and puts one on his back. Then she fussed that she only got to take 2. UGH!!! Come to find out, SW had broken one wheel off of DS16 new Dockers bag - "sorry, we don't cover wheels!"

Get to National in the Garage & DH has us stand in line at this counter, now drenched. Of course, they say just go to the aisle & get your car. Get over /& there are no midsize. DS16 wants a souped up 2 dr Monte Carlo - NOT w/ 4 people and 15 bags. DD wants a pretty blueLe Sabre. DH heads back to the counter & the line again. Finally comes back & says take anything on the aisle. The car debate continues, getting louder. I finally go open up the tail of a Saturn Vue, put my stuff in and wait for them to figure it out.

DNiece calls as we are leaving the parking garage wondering if we're off the plane....I answered, didn't I????

Then everyone needs to eat. DH wants McDonalds, so I guide him to the drive thru one near DVillage. They have 2 places to order, 1 w/ a full menu and he can't figure it out, and DD & I don't know what we want. Finally we order & are on the way. The Vue sits REALLY low in the back seats where I am and I can't see anything to give directions. As we pass I spot the Polk Pkwy sign as being a few miles ahead & warn DH. He and DS16 decide at that moment to begin playing w/ the radio & miss the exit. It's the only route I know the way to get to my DSis. After many phone calls to DNiece we finally get there, unload, eat again, visit, & get almost a real nights sleep. Before bed DH informs me that I'd better set my alarm to call DS20 so I can wake him. So, I got up at 6 while the rest slept until 10:00. DSis, DNiece & I went to Panera for breakfast before DSis went to work.

10:00 I wake the crew. They sit around while I pack. We leave 3 suitcases w/ DSis, Call DonCesar & are told we will be able to check in about noon. Off we go.

 

[goldcupmom]

So, I called the DonCesar at 10:30 and was told by the desk that if we leave soon, our room will be ready when we get there around noon. AWESOME!! So, we leave DSis around 10:45, arrive at the Don at 12:00. Check in & desk tells us the room is ready, just need to check it, why don't we go have lunch & come back in about 1/2 hour. So, we drive around, eat at chickfilA, drive some more & get back at 1. Rooms not ready, they're sending someone to check it, about 15 min. 1:15 - our computers are down, they're upgrading, 30 more min. We - and MANY others- were given excuses all afternoon. Meantime they told me they could bring our luggage to us in the lobby & we could go thru them, find our swimwear, change in the lobby bathroom & go to the beach. Sorry, I"m not unpacking in public!! So we sit, and sit and sit.

When we got back at 1 there were 3 families from Scotland also waiting. All but 2 dad's eventually left for the grocery. Finally about 3:30 the real manager came out, talked to them, told them whoever they reserved thru (Loews) sold them rooms that didn't exist, and wanted the PHOTOS they had seen of their rooms. Mgr told me he'd be 'right back' to talk w/ me. I had now parked on the windowsill at the front desk. About 4 when the mgr never again appeared, the men from Scotland began singing quite loudly. It was too funny!! Finally at 4:45 after the Bulgarian lady was told they changed her from her ocean room w/ balcony to a parkinglot room& by the way your room will be ready between 7 - 8, & she went really ballistic, and the lobby was full of angry patrons ( but they were really good at saying "can I buy you a drink" and "about another 15 minutes") the Scots told them the hotel was buying all 17 of them dinner and left for a bit. Shortly after this a man comes in about ready to 'go postal'. They bell guys unloaded his luggage to store & they went to dinner while waiting, only to come back to find all their luggage still on the sidewalk outside after over an hour, in the sun, unattended. The little clerk came over & again told us our room was ready & she was going to check it & be right back. DH was present now. at 5, she came back to the desk, wouldn't make eye contact & never spoke to us again. at 5:30 after they had given away at least 3 rooms like ours, only to have her deny that she ever told us our room was almost ready, said she had never told us she was going to check the room(but she did offer me a drink again) I lost it, LOUDLY. Asked again for a manager & a different 'front desk manager' appeared & took us a bit behind the front lobby - sorry, I'm not going to be quiet, others need to hear what you've been pulling. So, I go thru the saga of the last now 6 hours & he says he'll get us our room now. I politely told him I'd believe it if it happened. 30 min later, he appears & says DH has a key. I go find DH talking w/ the real manager from earlier. They finally comp us 1 night & we get to a room.

Room is small, but it's historic, & it's very nice. I, of course, ask DH if I should call about our Loews Welcome gift & he forbids me from talking to anyone. So, we finally after 7 head to the beach. Stay out til about 8:45, when the lightning began. Went to eat at a pizza place, came back & our water & fruit appeared, as well as a card & bag addressed to me. The front desk clerk had written an apology & sent up 2 ice cream bath balls & a candle from the Spa.

And that was Thursday. Fun, Fun, Fun.

 

[joelyfaithsmommy]

long time no talk to...how are things going with you? i miss all you guys...i started a new journal and i'm back on the swim .....hope to "chat" with you soon!

hugs
jen

 

[Lesli54]

Well, Julie, I can say that your vacations are never dull. I hope that the rest of the trip goes much better.

Enjoy!

 

[ScoJo15]

Hello!

Sorry to see that the vacation had a kind of rough start, but at least you got a comped night and some freebies!! it's a sign that things are gonna be great for the rest of the trip!

Have fun!

 

[CACruisin']

Hopefully you have gotten the "bumpy part" of your vacation out of the way and the rest of your trip will be smooth sailing . I don't handle that sort of thing well at all, especially when tired. I would have been the "postal" gal.

PD that the rest of your trip is relaxing and enjoyable...