The best birthday gift ever!!!

I would like to tell you about my birthday gift from the kid and the boy. They had planned for a year a trip to New Orleans and Memphis. They had plan to take me to Graceland (the palace of tacky & I love tacky). They had booked my favorite hotel in New Orleans. And they both know how much I love New Orleans. If I had to live in a big city of my choice it would still be New Orleans. I was there 10 months after Katrina hit & it had lost some of it's shine. But I still love that city and it should be rebuilt. And all the people who left should move back. I have seen the world and there's no place like it. Okay I'll get off my soapbox and tell you about this gift.
Unfortunately my mean mudder got very ill and I did not feel comfortable going so far from home with her like that. And she was legit being sick. I have to say that cause she tried to get me not to go in her own round about way. Put it this I was going on 2 trips. One physical and one guilt. Needless to say I didn't make it to New Orleans. The kid and the boy where understanding.
So we took 2 mini trips. First we went to the Wisconsin Dells. We stayed at a lovely resort that had an indoor water park. My first time at a water park and I had a blast. And an appropriate start to my second childhood. I played I splashed I swam and the next day I couldn't walk. But I had a great time and the room was lovely it had a fireplace. So I fell asleep watching the flames.
A few days later we went to Galena IL and Dubuque IA. The drive there was wonderful lots of fall colors. The kids got us a wonderful whirlpool suite in downtown Dubuque. It was so fancy it had a pillow menu. We spent part of one day noodling around Dubuque and then we drove to Dyersville IA. The home of the field of dreams. Yes that where that movie was filmed and it is a lovely place. I like going to that town for 1 reason, to eat at the Country Junction. Probably one of my favorite restaurant. Good old fashioned cooking and generous portions. As much as possibly everything on the menu is locally grown. And you can taste it. The town has a great antique mall and a beautiful Basilica. Well worth the trip.
The following day went shopping in Galena before heading home. Galena has a bunch of those nifty speciality shops. And it was in one of those shops I found the purse I had been looking for 7 months. At the PLA convention I saw a woman with the neatest purse. I stopped her to tell I loved her purse and to find out where she got it. She couldn't remember but she lived in Montana or someplace like that. Now I wasn't" real hopeful I would every find this purse, but I did! And it's funny but I never go into purse shops but for some reason that day I did. It was like the purse was calling me. I love that purse. Of course the kid thinks it's awful. But I love it. After we shopped Galena we headed home. It was truly a great trip and a the absolute best birthday gift ever.
They say it's the thought that counts. And never has that saying been more true then in this case. The thought the kids put into this gift was beyond wonderful. My favorite things to do and places to be. I only wished I could of gone on that trip. But they were so kind and understanding when I couldn't and they still managed to give me one heck of a birthday present. It simply was the best and so are the kids.

Checking A New Box

So as you know I just had a major birthday. And I have just recently did a survey, which meant I had to check a new box. That just irritated me to death. Less then a week ago I could check the previous box. I also know that the older you get the less people want your opinion. My Aunt Nity when she turned 70 the online surveys she was offered was less. So she emailed and told them that they were ageist. Now she gets them again. You would think as you get older people would want your opinion more not less. Life experiences should count for something. Now that a generation I am in has the highest population numbers, we should not be ignored. Now I understand why some people lie about their age. So I guess it's time to come clean I just turned 36!

Blogging Again

Ok so it's been awhile since I last blogged. Don't ask me what I have been doing cause I don't have a clue. I seem busier now then when I was working. And we did have the Olympics (yea Michael Phelps) which as usual I was glued to the TV. And then I have been reading a lot. So those are some of the reasons I have not blogged much this summer. Besides when it's hot out my computer is next to the ac and the combo of noise and cold doesn't lend itself to being on the computer much.
And I may not blog for awhile still as I have a big old birthday coming up. And the kid and the boy are taking me NOLA and Memphis. So I am very excited. What great kids I have. I am truly blessed. NOLA I love that place. I love walking in the French Quarter, Bourbon St and the garden district. And don't get me started on the food! I can't wait to go!

Happy Birthday Cindy!

Today is the fourth of July and it would have been Cindy's 46th birthday. I do miss her. So Happy B-day Cindy where ever you are.

100 Bottles of beer on the wall

You remember that old stupid song 100 bottles of beer on the wall. Has to be one of the dumbest ever! But has anyone ever sang it all the way down to one bottle of beer on the wall. And is there a chorus after that? I know I never sang it all the way down nor have I heard anyone sing it either. Hmmmmmmmmmmm!

Cracking the glass ceiling

I am rather sad today. Two things happened today that reminded of my youth. First Jim Mc Kay died. I grew up watching the wide world of sports. I hate sports but they always showed stuff like skiing, loge, weightlifting, etc. He was the voice of the show and the Olympics. I will miss him say "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.". He will be missed.
Second is Hillary Clinton bowed out of the race for the democratic nomination for presidency. I liked her and I have to admit I liked her being a woman. In my youth the women's movement was strong and I had hope to see someday a woman president of the USA. But as she said in her speech today "we have put cracks in the glass ceiling.". So maybe someday I will see that come true.

Barbara Walters and me

I had a wonderful night yesterday. I got to meet and shake the hand of a personal hero of mine, Barbara Walters. She was doing a speech and book signing at a college in my area. The kid, the boy and I went to see her. She was very elegant melodic smart and just about anything you could think about her except one thing. She is a very tiny petite woman. Some how I always thought of her as tall. But I believe she shorter then I am. Barbara Walters has been a role model of mine for years. I remember watching her as a little girl and being amazed that a woman was doing a mans job. At a time when there was no women really visible doing such things. Except weather girls and Miss America neither one I wished to be. I think she was the one who really spoke to me about what a woman could do. Let no one or no man stand in your way .Because of her I believed I could be whatever I wanted. Before I became aware of her I really didn't want to grow up. All I had seen was housewives and Mothers. Being a Mom didn't bother me but being a housewife did. Unfortunately I didn't follow her example but it was nice to believe I could. Like I said to her last night I'll say here thank you Barbara Walters.