Today is THE day

I am finally trying to obtain one of my many New Year's resolutions. TODAY IS MY QUIT DATE. I smoked my last cigarette last night before bed and woke today ready to take this next step. I showered, got ready for the day and put on my 1st patch.... THEN the anxiety kicked in and the cravings and the irrational thoughts.
This all seemed very strange to me because I rarely "crave" a cigarette in the morning. It's just habit that I smoke 2 every morning. I was 20 minutes early to work because I needed to leave the house after breakfast because I wanted a cigarette so bad. I cut a straw in half and have that in my car so that I can hold it and chew on it. I have the candy dish on my desk filled to the brim with 2 bags of reserves in my drawer. And I have 3 packs of gum ready to go.
I know the next few weeks are going to be hell but I have to just look to the bigger picture. I know I want this I just need to get over the hill. I've done it before, I can do it again. But I can feel myself on the edge ready to snap in a second. I am definitely a bitch today! But I have a lot of support behind me. I. can. get. through. this.
Wish me luck!

Hotter than H-E-Double Hockey Sticks

I'm sorry to my friend Jaime over at Our Crazy Life but this post brings terrible news.

There is NO WAY I would ever move somewhere warm-for year round at least! I could however see myself being a snow bird!

The current conditions in Wisconsin are 92* and 70% humidity but it feels like 120* and can't even breath. I unfortunately don't have air conditioning in the Blazer, so in my 13 minute drive from work to home to let Daisy out, all of my makeup along with part of my face melted off into my lap, my back and boobs were sweating and making marks on my shirt and my hair is a big puff of frizz. Fortunately, we have air at home but even Daisy didn't really want to leave the comfort of the house to go out and go potty. The worst part about today is going to be playing volleyball at 6:20 in an un-air conditioned building. You don't even want to know how J is feeling at work today- he said it's 117% humidity and bleeping, bleeping hot at his machine.

Ooh, gotta run- one of the supervisors brought in ice cream treats for the plant and the office! Probably going to have to fight to the front of the line!

Attack of the pleather ottoman

Yes, you read right- I was attacked by my new pleather storage ottuman. And... it BROKE MY TOE. Just flat out call me a clutz or call it exercise karma since I should have been at yoga class- which ever- I stubbed my toe and yes, it broke. To clear up any miscommunication- I did not kick the ottuman in a fit of rage and I was not running when I hit the ottuman. Simply put the damn thing jumped in my way as I was walking through the living room.
I will save you from the pictures I took as they are pretty gruesome. I did send a phone picture to a friend and she replied back that it was a good thing I had my toenails painted because at first she didn't know what the picture was.
The victimized toe _lets call her Mindy- is the next door neighbor to the baby toe on my left foot or the "ring" toe if you will. And although all of my toes are a little stubby and a little fat she is about double the size as her twin sister on my right foot. She is also a beautiful shade of purple black that would actually make a great shade of night time eye shadow! Mindy has been getting up close and personal with my middle toe as she has been taped together with him for a couple of days now and seems to be getting better. I have gotten a new walk which now includes walking on my heel with my toes up so that I don't put any pressure on her. I have now perfected this walk so there isn't so much of a "hobble" to it! However, I am moving round like a stelth bomber as to not run into anything, let the dog jump on it or drop anything on to it. I had to get a sub for volleyball on Tuesday and my have to get one for next week as well. Such a stupid little injury... really sucks!
Oh, hell I can't keep the picture from you.... wait for it.... wait for it....
Bam!!!! Sorry for the poor quality picture it's off of my phone.

My Trip to Central America- Part Cinco

Part Cinco- Costa Maya Mexico

Even though it cost us a little extra we had decided to see the countries we were porting at and did onshore excursions at all ports. Our first port was Tuesday March 31st in Costa Maya, Mexico. The ship docked at 7 am and it was already 90*!

Costa Maya was hit by a hurricane a couple of years ago and they are finally starting to rebuild. One thing that I thought was great was that all the construction sites had hammocks so the workers could take their afternoon siestas! It's a practice I think employers in the US should adopt!

Our excursion- Kohunlich Mayan Ruins left at 8am with a 2.25 hour bus ride from the boat. Most of the small "towns" that we went through would consist of a random speed bump in the middle of the highway and where there was a speed bump there was a vegetable/fruit stand and a few houses. We did go through 2 larger towns that had restaurants, convenience stores and churches and they were the size of Dunbar or Pembine!

Our tour guide was Luis and once at the ruins he would blow into a conche shell to round up our group! The ruins were so amazing and the stories/theories were even more so. Restoration on the Kohunlich ruins was started in 1969 and continues today.

Because Costa Maya is a small town and not yet overrun by tourists it makes it a very popular area for running drugs. There were Mexican Army troops with scent dogs posted at our ship to ensure no one was bringing drugs into Mexico or trying to bring drugs back on our ship. There were also random army checkpoints along the highway we took to and from the ruin sight. Infact, going back to our ship after the tour there was a car pulled over and the troops were going through the car.

Once back to Costa Maya we did a little shopping and walked along the beach in the water. The wind had really picked up and the waves were amazing. Little did we know that those waves would enable us from getting off of the dock that night and we would actually get stuck in Costa Maya for the night. Missy and I went to one of the fancier restaurants that night and had a nice bottle of wine and delicious Beef Wellington only to have the captain come on the speaker and announce that we were trying to get off the dock but the wind and waves were just crashing us back into the dock (yes, the boat was rocking terribly). We apparently got off the dock sometime around 4AM which was much to late to make it to our Wednesday port in Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatamela. We would have an additional day at sea.

To view the slideshow below click on the arrow. Once the slide show starts click on the button in the lower right corner to maximize the screen. To end the slideshow click ESC.

IF....

If time and money were no option....

* I would buy a new vehicle
Betsy, the Blazer, has been on death row for a while now and it's only a matter of time before her number is called.

* I would buy a house
Renting has been nice- not having to fix anything or do yard work BUT I would like privacy back- especially if privacy comes with a fenced in yard and a doggie door for Daisy.

* I would get my bachelor's degree
I have an associates degree in something I haven't done in 7 years. I feel like I've got a lot of working experience in an office setting and no credentials to show for it.

* I would get my Broker's License
I wouldn't have to pay to park my real estate license anymore.

*I would travel the world
Getting a little travel taste in my mouth from that cruise has made me want to travel the world and see the sights.

* I would fly to Atlanta this weekend to see my friend
No plans, no Parker, I'd just hop a flight and go. And I'd buy stuff from Ikea this time!

* I would have J's X & Y chromosomes sorted
I'm shallow and spoiled and want my way all of the time. If we ever have a baby I WANT A GIRL. I've helped in raising a boy already- he won't let me paint his nails or curl his hair (even though it's long enough).

*I would have lasik surgery done for my whole family
The amount of money we spend on vision appointments, contacts and glasses every year for all of us is ridiculous.

* I would take up photography and get a nice camera
I love taking pictures- it would be nice to have a decent camera to do so and the knowledge of how to take them.

* I would write a book
I have a lot of stories and I like to tell them

I would do all of these things if money was at my disposal and we had 36 hour days! Gotta go- I need to stop and get a lottery ticket

Ugh...

Today is one of THOSE days. I am standing here with both arms held high and both middle fingers extended up to the world. I hate everything and everyone. Nothing has happened, nothing is going wrong, no one has done anything. It's just one of those days. I feel like I could get into a fist fight with a pissed off grizzly and send him -wimpering- back to his den in the first 10 seconds.

I woke up this way and I'm pretty damn sure I will be going to bed this way.
I HATE DAYS LIKE THIS. J and Daisy don't particularly like them either, I'm sure.

My Trip to Central America- Part Cuatro

Part Cuatro- Our 1st Day at Sea

Our first day at sea we woke early and went down to Raffles Buffet to grab some breakfast. I was in awe of the amount of food and how good it was! We walked around the pool area for a bit and decided to fill our soda cups and go back to the room to get ready and hang out on the balcony for a while. We took our time getting ready and read our books on the balcony (in the robes from our room) for a couple hours then decided to get on our swim suits and hit the pool area. It was about 90* with 90% humidity and coming from freezing Wisconsin it was perfect. I lathered on some sun screen and took a nap on a lounge chair overlooking the ocean. Missy had made quick friends with a bunch of people in one of the hot tubs and we told life stories and ordered buckets of beer all afternoon! After spending all day in the hot sun, applying and reapplying sunscreen it was time for another shower and we ended up just drinking on our balcony in our robes! And once the bucket of beer was gone the only logical thing to do was wear it and take pictures!!! We never left our room the rest of the night-except to fill our soda cups. We ordered room service for dinner, listened to music and drank & chilled on our balcony! It was a perfect start to an even more perfect vacation!

I have also included some pictures of our "towel animals" and housekeepers. Each day our housekeepers-Wilfred & Rachel would make animals out of our towels and leave them. We had a bunny, a duck, elephant, monkey, and mouse. They were awesome and made our day, every day!

June...... smells like graduation!

It's that time of year again, yep, graduation time!

We had Parker's 8th grade graduation ceremony last night at the Crivitz Middle School. I was actually impressed with how nice the ceremony was!

Parker was the proud (and surprised) recipient of this years Presidential Physical Fitness Award & Medal (the only one in his class). A very big honor for a kid who is extremely into his fitness and all sports. It's really hard for me to realize that he is starting High School in August. And Sara informed us that next summer starts............... drivers ed............. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Congrats, Park- Please slow down- you're growing up WAY too fast!

Another special guy recently graduated as well!

Ayden graduated from Pre-school and will start Kindergarten in August. We were bummed that we were there a week early and missed the adorable ceremony. Isn't he a handsome little graduate?!!!

Baby Gas???....

We had the pleasure of spending Memorial Weekend with our great friends- the Payne's-in Atlanta. J and I are god-parents for their first born- Ayden and Jamie and Jason asked if I would be god-mother to their newest addition- baby Ava. Ava's baptism was the main reason for the trip south.
It was awesome to be able to hang with our friends and to play with the kids. Baby Ava- as seen below- is the most beautiful baby and J and I both were smitten very quickly! J a little more than anyone!

Time- Memorial Weekend

Location- Tyrone, GA- Payne's garage

N: Isn't Ava so precious. I just want to squeeze her!

J: She's the cutest thing I've ever seen. I WANT a baby girl!

N: (eyes as big as Frisbees) Gulp! (walk away hoping it seems like I've not heard him)

Time- 2 days later
Location- Home
J: Are we going to have a baby?
N: Um... (gulp) can we discuss this after I turn 30?
J: Yeah, that's fine
N: (big relief sigh)

Time- 4 days later
Location- driving in truck
N: I can't believe you really want to have a baby!
J: Well, we can just get another dog if you want
N: What?!!! What happened to "I want a baby girl"?
J: Well, I'm out of the baby gas now!
N: Out of the baby what? What is that? What does that mean?
J: The Baby Gas. Babies omit a gas when you are around them to make you want one. Then once your out of and away from that gas cloud for awhile you come to your
senses.
N: Baby Gas, hey? I think you're right. It makes perfect sense- the little buggers. It's all a conspiracy. What kind of dog should we get?

Viewer Discretion Advised. Be very careful while viewing the above pictures. Do not stare into the baby eyes for long periods of time- you may be overtaken by Baby Gas.