SHOPPING...

So I get accused of 'shopping' a lot. Mark seems to think it's a big pastime for me.

Maybe he's right...

Point in case... the other day, I stopped to use the restroom, and was overtaken by a great piece of furniture. I took a picture of it, but resisted the urge. I didn't really have a place for it, and it could necessitate a whole room full of new furniture.  Redecorating can be that way....ugh...

But, a couple days later, I was forced to go back to the general area of the store (really it was a legit errand), so I thought I'd go in just to see if it was still there.  I was pretty sure it wouldn't be, it was really fab.

It was there, waiting for me!  Wow, meant to be, I'm telling you.

Another lady stopped to comment to me on how cool it was. I suggested SHE buy it, so I couldn't.  She just laughed. So....

I bought it.

Isn't it great? I'm not totally sure what I'm doing with it yet, it's traveling around in my house.

Mark, who was around this last week 'working from home' watching it move around from room to room, pointed out to me, that although he did think it was great, but.....just because I go shopping and fall in love with something, doesn't mean I HAVE TO BUY IT. I pointed out that, that isn't the case at all.  I go shopping and don't buy things quite often. His eyebrow disappeared into his hair line, and he just smiled that snarky smile at me.

So today, I proved him wrong.  Very wrong.  I can and do go somewhere and NOT buy something.

I totally resisted this.

So there Mr. Smartypants.....

Seriously, where does one store this until you 'need' it? And, what if you decide you want something different?  Then what? Throw that bad boy on your garage sale?

Really????

SAILING PARTY....

Last Saturday we had 10, count'em people on the boat. I was afraid it'd be to many...but it was fine.

No one fell over, or was knocked unconscious by the boom, and everyone had a good time. More or less.

We had my husband's siblings, cousins and their respective spouses. Fun people~ but then would you expect anything less, knowing us?

We watched the 'marine website' that my husband swears by, all week with cautious optimism. It appeared that the weather was going to cooperate. Sunny, a little cool and low waves.

Sorta.

It was indeed sunny, a little cool, but delightful, and as for low waves? They missed it that time. It was rough. Not too rough, but rough enough to make some people feel a little nauseous.

It had nothing to do with the large amount of beer consumed.

Nothing at all.

WHERE AM I???

I've been traveling.

Again.

A couple weeks ago, I flew down to Houston, hung out with Mark, and we flew over to Pensacola for a wedding.  We thought we'd enjoy the beach for Labor Day weekend.  What we didn't enjoy was Tropical Storm Lee.

We flew on a tiny plane (which I totally hate) through the nasty clouds, bumping along... in the exit seats, from which I expected to be sucked out from at any moment.  I wasn't, obviously, but it really did cross my mind.  Anyway, we landed in a steady rain, collected our car and luggage and headed out to the beach.  As we drove, the weather got progressively nastier.

We arrived at our hotel, settled into our room with a lovely view of the tumultuous ocean, crashing into shore under a very dark, windy, wet sky.  Ah, lovely.

Look very closely, there's a pier in this picture, I TOLD you it was storming.

 The next day (when we thought we'd hang out at the beach) we took a drive along the coast. We were actually out on an island of which half was just natural beach.

We drove along and met a couple other crazy fools out driving.  We commented on how the sand looked like snow, then we saw an end loader clearing sand off the road. Reminded me of good old Chicago in the winter.

Between storms, we decided to get out and walk on the beach, and get exfoliated.

The sand was blowing so badly, it hurt. I had to wear my sunglasses to keep it out of my eyes.

It did wonders for my hair.

We had a snack at Hooters. Really??? Let's just say, I've been there. Period.

The wedding was lovely. And in spite of the 'ugly day, ugly bride' saying, she was beautiful and it all came off splendidly.  The storm halted for a few minutes for the sword 'ceremony'.  After the wedding,  the bride and groom came out of the church.  A group of sword bearing soldiers assumed their positions at the foot of the stairs along the sidewalk.  They held the swords aloft, and the couple walked under them. It was pretty impressive, I have to say.  They went back into the church for photos, we made our way to our car, and it let loose with another delightful monsoon.

The reception was at the officer's club on the base, and I looked a little like a woman who's been rained on.  Pretty cool. 

Started in the bar, for cocktails then on into the ballroom.  We had a very nice time.  They are fun people, and the evening ended with dancing and singing and craziness....

The next day, we had hoped to spend basking in the sun working on our sun damage.  Not so.  It was still raining, windy and foreboding looking.  We attempted to get on an earlier flight. Us and everyone else on the island obviously, as there were no seats. So we had a long wet day ahead of us.

We headed back to the base and went to the National Naval Aviation Museum. I'll admit, I wasn't thrilled at the prospect. But went along.  It was really interesting. I enjoyed it!  Saw some delightful war clothing (a couple stained with what I am certain was blood spatter), old planes, blimps, fighter jets, space ships... flying things.  Did find this display of The Blue Angels interesting. This is an actual formation. Those babies are really close...there will be no mistakes.

After that, we checked out the lighthouse.. it was (here's a shock) raining, so I didn't get out, and went down to the harbor and looked at the boats.

We did make it out that night. naturally, as we sat at the airport, the rain stopped and out came the sun. Thank you Pensacola.

Headed back to the apartment in Houston. It's quite nice, after I did a load of laundry and ran the dishwasher, I had the rest of the week to do whatever. I could get used to this life, I think. We did take a walk over to a park area that had some interesting things.  Mark sat in this half shell like thing and I sat in another and we could talk in a normal voice and totally hear each other from that distance.

It was brilliant.  I need this at home, then I could hear my family. Then again, do I really want to?

Flew back to Chicago on my birthday.  I had another one... I hate getting old. Did get some nice presents though.

Saturday, we went to another wedding.  Yep, we are on the wedding circuit.  Third one in 6 weeks.  It was very lovely too.  Another beautiful bride.

Sunday and Monday we spent on the boat, after we de-spidered it. Man those little bastards take over when we are gone.  Ugh.

So that about sums it up... I'm just such a jet setter... you'll probably see me on the new 'Pan Am' TV show.

Seriously, we had one of those cool Pan Am bags. I think they gave them to you when you flew with them.  That was back when you were treated well when you traveled, AND you dressed up.  Now, your lucky to get a swig of pop, and forget the meal... you want nuts, and a blanket?  Get real.

THE "L" WORD......

In boat ownership, the "L" word strikes fear in the heart of salty old sailors..... which is why it pretty much terrified me!!!

Not being a boat owner, you might ask, what the "L" word is?

LEAK.

Yes, I said leak, as in Titanic. As in water coming in... as in where is my life jacket??

Okay, I exaggerated a little.  We did have a small leak in a plug that was only leaking when the engine was running.  But it was eating away at my Captain.  He said he couldn't help but imagine the boat filling with water and sinking... only the top of the mast viewable. Ugh... all I could think was, 'and I spent all that time reupholstering it for nothing'.... double Ugh.

So, Saturday, we headed in to address it, and in spite of the bad back that Mark was nursing, he tackled it.  Now the poor man, had to contort himself into this hole, and reach way in there and bang the hell out of something.  And get this sticky black stuff all over him, and become way more bruised than I've seen him in a long time. This was partially caused by the fact that he was stuck... yes, I said stuck....

But, he fixed it, and all's well AND, he got out and can even stand up after. 

So, stop visualizing me  at the bow, arms extended singing the Titanic song...it isn't going to happen.

WHEW....WHAT A WEEKEND....

It was Air & Water Show in Chicago this last weekend, and if you have a boat, the place to be is out on the lake.  I kind of feel like they put the show on just for the boaters. They zoom overhead, appearing to just miss your mast, altering the beat of your heart and amazing everyone.

We headed in on Saturday, in spite of the fact that it was really overcast and beginning to sprinkle. We had sunshine in our hearts... not for long.  Loaded up the Rover with Jessica and Blain, Corbin and Ally, Mark and I and enough 'stuff' to go around the world, a time or two.  It poured on the drive in. I mean REALLY SERIOUSLY NASTY poured. We kept driving.

Got in there, parked, marveled at the soaked people who were packing it in and going home.  What, have they no faith?? We meandered our way underground through the parking bowels of Chicago and popped out on Michigan Avenue and headed to a restaurant we've taken a fancy to. We'd have a drink, wait out the storm. Mark assured us, it'd just be another half hour. Right.


We drank our fill, and headed out, it was still a little drizzly. Made it to the entrance of our garage and it let loose again.  We waited, Mark stood by his 'another half hour' thing (we were now at 3 half hour increments of time).  But, lo and behold, was that blue out west? We headed to the pier.

Guys got the boat, and we loaded our stuff.  Heading out, the sun broke through the clouds and it became a beautiful day! The show resumed and because so many people gave up, we got in pretty close!! It ended up being a 'shorter' version of the Air Show but, we saw the fighter jets, and oh my, it is so brilliant to see.  Here's a few pictures to show you what you missed....

We headed in on Sunday, this time with my mom, Scarlett and Corbin.  Dan was in Florida, visiting his grandpa, and Ally had some stuff she needed to get done. My sister's family was going to come, but decided against it, so off we went. This time, the weather was perfect! Sunny, hot, breezy - delightful. 

My good camera, that had given me such great pictures the day before, really let me down... the battery was dead. I was so disappointed. I had my little one, that is actually a really good little camera, but not so great for catching a flying by jet.  There's no viewfinder, so it's hard to follow through the LCD.  Anyway, here's the few shots I did get from Sunday.

Mark can NEVER just sit still!!

We had a great time, but, as Mark said, we need to go back to work to relax!!

Too bad, I don't work....no rest for the wicked.. or something like that.