Busy Busy Busy...

Whew...how come things always have to move at warp speed? One would think that I would be use to the hustle and bustle of the family I work for, but I think when there gone I get too used to a routine and steady rhythm. It's just been a really busy week and it's not even Wednesday. The family is leaving tomorrow for the rest of the week and I am following behind them since I am going to NYC on Wednesday afternoon. The days before the family leaves town is always cram packed with stuff to do and it's the same way when they return. Needless to say, next week is going to be INSANE, but I am going to enjoy my trip to NY and not think about all that next week will hold.

I am still making time to work out and on Monday night I finally got to go to spin class (it's my favorite instructor). I also weighed in and have lost another pound and a half. That's 3 lbs in 2 weeks...it feels good to see progress being made but mostly it just feels good to be back to running and working out. And when I left the Y on Monday night, they are getting in those Pilate machines and are going to be offering classes so I am super excited to start that in February. I have heard amazing stories about people that do Pilates. I still hate that the Y makes you pay additional fees for classes but this is something that I am willing to invest in. I am not going to run away and hide this spring when it comes time to buy a new swim suit.

And here we go....

Back to the routine of life. The holidays are over and my travels has ceased, momentarily and now it's time to get back into some sort of routine. Work has been good mostly because my boss is still out of town so our communications have been via email and phone calls...and while I still have plenty to do, it has allowed me to create my own routine. I must say it's so nice to pretty much be your own keeper of the schedule. I don't have a rigid work-day schedule or specified lunch breaks...its nice to just let my day unfold on it's own accord. Then there is the much needed routine of getting back in shape. I currently have planned 5 days each week that I can work out and of course, if things should come up that would not allow me to workout, backup plans have been devised. So far so good!

Monday was a day spent with travels to West TN for work and thankfully, I made it back in time to get in a run and also meet up with friends to see Joel & Luke perform at the Exit Inn. It's been about a month since I got out and saw live music and I must say that I love doing that. It's great to get an up-close view of musicians and to be able to study them while they perform. It's no shock that I love all things musical and that's why I am so excited that my friend Patrick is going to give me guitar lessons. I have a musical background but have always longed to learn to play the guitar....so there is no better time than the present!

Last night my friend Cathryn hosted our book club. We didn't meet in December because of the busy-ness of the season and yet, I still managed to NOT read the book. I know....I know.....what the point of being in a "book club" if you don't read the book. I can throw out many excuses but reading has always been a challenge and maybe...just maybe this will be the year that I finally get into reading....year round. Don't get me wrong...I do read books....it's more the issue of being consistent. I pick up and start many a books...it's the follow thru that gets me. Maybe I am a bit ADD when it comes to reading. Who knows....

Happy Birthday Elaysha and Holly

This weekend I once again traveled to Indiana to celebrate some birthdays with the family. My niece Elaysha had a birthday on January 5th and is now 8 years old. I can hardly believe that she is 8 already. I remember vividly being in Colorado working and getting the phone call that she had been born.
Holly's birthday is actually today, January 11th so we celebrated after church by the traditional family lunch, presents and cake and ice cream. Happy Birthday Holly!

I could not help but give this cake the nickname of "Ghetto Cake"....They had cake left over from Elaysha's birthday on the 5th and Holly didnt want another cake so my mom used this cake...really the candles on the slice of cake...well it's just priceless.

Elaysha was on this kick of Jazz Hands so I had to capture the moment on camera! Silly girl!

A New Year...A new adventure...

So I guess it's no shock to you that I enjoy traveling. My sister, Robert and myself headed over to New Orleans, Louisiana on Friday to meet up with our friend Jennifer and friend Michelle. Amy and I had never been to Louisiana before so it was a fun thing to experience together and with other friends. It's only about 3 hours east of Pensacola so the drive really was nothing. We got there around noon and after refueling on a much needed Starbucks, we took to the sights. One thing we forgot about was the fact that the Sugar Bowl was on that Friday night and the game was Alabama vs Utah so the city was crawling with those college football enthusiasts....the people watching was FANTASTIC! I had talked to my friends and knew what places I wanted to see/experience. The Audubon Aquarium was our first stop and it was okay. I wasn't overly impressed but I would definitely say the highlight was the Stingray Touching pool....it was basically filled with stingrays and you could put your hand in the water and touch them when they would swim by (naturally...they didn't have their barbs or teeth so they were harmless). It was pretty cool....I would describe their texture as a slippery velvet...very interesting texture. They also had a baby nurse shark that you could touch and that was cool too. It's texture wasn't as fun as the stingrays. We piddle paddled around in the aquarium and then headed down the riverwalk to grab a quick bit to eat before seeing more of the french quarter.

Amy, Michelle and Jen

Amy, Jen and I

I told you what we had some fun. They had a small frog exhibit and I was teasing my sister about kissing her frog so she could find prince charming....

But what she didn't expect to find...was that it was Robert! Only kidding but it was this funny moment that I just couldn't help but get on camera!

They had this HUGE aquarium that had the "big" fish in it including the sting rays, a sea turtle, schools of large fish and none other than the sharks!

Once we grabbed a bit of lunch we walked around the square and then over to the infamous Bourbon Street. Some things I thought that were interesting about being out and about was there was always music in the air....the architecture to me seemed very old world/European and I loved the building structures...some of it reminded me of the stylings I saw when I was in Charleston. There was also plenty of palm readers and voodoo shops/temples and of course bar after bar after bar. Like I said...it was definitely prime people watching.

Amy and I at the "Court of Two Sisters" restaurant. Sadly my camera would not cooperate with Jen and so you can't see the sign :(

The only place Robert wanted to visit was the House of Blues so that is where we had dinner. The atmosphere did not disappoint and I had to snap a picture of this artwork that was in our booth....something about it just struck me.

After we indulged ourselves on more than enough food, we walked back down Decatur street because I absolutely didn't want to leave New Orleans without enjoying a beignet & coffee from Cafe Du Monde. It was the best dessert and the Cafe Au Lait was delicious....I mean really any dessert with that much powdered sugar can NOT be bad!! It was a full day but a fun one. I can't say that I'd be rushing back to visit anytime soon but it was a fun, new experience.

Amy, Me, Jen and Robert

Happy New Years

Wow...I can't believe that 2009...a new year...is already here. What happened to 2008? I was just getting used to that year and as in life...just when you get comfortable, things change!

I rang in the New Year in Nashville with a bunch of friends from church. Tim was a gracious host and had people over to his house. It was a great time. I restrained from partying with the best of them as I got up early on New Years Day and drove down to FL to spend the long weekend with my sister and other Pensacola friends. Amy and her roommate had their Seven22 Community over on New Years Day for an evening cookout and it was a great way to start off this new year. They have such a great community and I have new friends because of it. It was a great night of fun and fellowship.

Amy and her best friend Charity

Sweet Baby Brayden, the son of my friends Derrick and Kaye

Amy's roommates dog, Chloe Monster...but she is so cute!

The girls hanging out

Some of the guys hanging out