Palm Springs

Thursday, Day 1:

The trip started off a little rocky. We arrived at the airport at 11am and our flight was scheduled to depart at 11:45. We were flying US Airways. I proceeded to check in at the convenient little kiosks. I key in my confirmation number..."Confirmation number not valid, please see attendant." HAHA. OK, I'll try again. "Confirmation number not valid, please see attendant." OK, now I'm not laughing. Dylan finds an attendant and they begin to tell us that the plane was downgraded (they have a smaller plane than originally scheduled) at 9am and we have now been placed on a 7pm flight which would get us to Palm Springs a little after 1am. Well, these are the situations when I just lose it, I sternly asked why we were not notified of this and was told that because it was done at 9 am (2 hours earlier) they were unable to notify anyone. That's funny because when you book flights, they make you give them your phone number as well as an email address. They would only have to contact those that were booted off the flight, which I don't feel is impossible. At that point, I stepped back, let Dylan take over cause he is MUCH better in those situations. And I just end up calling people names and yelling and screaming. As I get older, I realize that only works with my Dad so I let Dylan tell them how it was unacceptable and that we are American Airlines Frequent Fliers and thought we'd try US Airways out for a change but clearly that was a mistake and that he had a mtg to be at by 6pm and wasn't going to miss it. They said they found a flight that would get us to LA and then we would have to rent a car to Palm Springs. I'm pretty sure he told them to shove that idea, since we paid a pretty penny to FLY to Palm Springs and renting a car and driving for 3 hours was not included in the deal. I'm not exactly sure what else he said, but it worked. Next thing I know he is calling my name and telling me we need to check our bags. I have to say, I was very proud of him and realized why it is that we get along so well (most of the time, anyways.)

We are now on the plane headed for Phoenix where we will get on a connecting flight to Palm Springs. Half way through the flight Dylan needs to go to the restroom. We were sitting in row 5, which is 2 rows behind first class and there are about 30 rows total in coach. Dylan gets up and walks to the front restroom that is located in first class since there were about 7 people waiting in line. The flight attendant stops Dylan and tells him that he has to use the restroom in coach because there was no cart in the way. Keep in mind he was about 2 feet from the empty restroom in first class and about 20 yards from the coach restrooms with 7 people waiting in line. One of the restrooms was not working so there was 1 toilet to service 200 people and 1 bathroom for the 12 first class passengers. Does that make any sense you to at all? Needless to say that was strike 2.

We arrive into Phoenix a few minutes late but no worries since we have about an hour till our next flight. We get to the gate and get a bite to eat then board the plane when its time. We are taxing on the runway and I think we are about to take off when the pilot gets on and tells us that we are going to wait a few minutes in hopes that a storm passes. Other flights were taking off but our pilot said he wanted to play it safe. I'm cool with that. And have I ever told you that Dylan is scared to fly??? Either way, every 10 minute they tell us it will be about 10 minutes more then 30 minutes later they said it would be a least 45 as they have grounded ALL flights. So at this point we are stuck on the runway, can't get out of our seats and are told it will be at least 45 minutes. About an hour later we finally take off. There was a little turbulence that Dylan wasn't too fond of but he made it so that's all that matters now. We get to Palm Springs 2 hours late, thankfully the shuttle was waiting for us so all we had to do was get our bags and go. I see my bag coming out and...this is what I found.

Those idiots tore off the entire wheel and anything that was connected to it. I have a whole matching set and now the biggest bag is ruined. Palm Springs has a very small airport so the person that unloads the luggage from the plane is also the same person that checks bags in and deals with customers. Our shuttle was about to leave so we couldn't file a claim right then. I was fuming at this point and to make matters worse, I was trying to visualize myself at the pool and thinking that in just a few more minutes I can relax and forget about all this. We were in a place that only rains 6 times a year with an average of 2" of rain a year and ITS RAINING! UGH! We finally got on the shuttle and were on our way to the hotel.

This was the view from our room

We finally get to the hotel and met everyone at the dinner reception. The food was good. They had a ice cream sundae buffet kind of thing at the dessert table. I loved it! By the end of dinner I was exhausted and it wasn't even 9pm. With the time change and all the events of the day, I was spent.

Friday, Day 2

Today has to be better than yesterday. That's all I kept telling myself. Dylan had a meeting so he was gone by 7am and wouldn't be done till 12. I on the other hand had a HUGE day ahead of me...Kickboxing at 9, massage at 1:30 and then hanging by the pool when I could fit it in. I went to my class in the morning got a little work out in, then to the pool I went. When it was time for my massage, I made my way in. I had the Esmeralda Stone Treatment a.k.a. a massage with stones. Instead of them putting their hands all over you they rubbed me down with hot smooth stones. Very nice. I wanted to mud wrap but they were booked and that's a whole other story so we will move on. Dylan got out of his mtg and went golfing so, I just read and played sudoku and enjoyed my peaceful relaxing day. Once Dylan got home we went to dinner with some others from the Fort Worth office. It was a really nice day.

(I'm pretty sure he lost his ball here)

Saturday, Day 3

Dylan had another morning meeting then met me at the pool. A few of the guys decided to get a little game of touch football going. About an hour, I thought I'd go see if Dylan wanted me to order him some lunch since he said he was hungry before he left to play football. I guess I got there right in time cause Dylan managed to pull his quadricep and limp off the field...whimp!

Saturday night was the awards dinner, which was the main reason we were there. We had nice dinner and some of the pictures from the night are below.

Sunday, Day 4

Our last day to relax. Thankfully Dylan didn't have any meetings on Sunday so we finally got to hang out just the two of us. Most of the others had already left for home but we had a later flight.

We had breakfast at this cute little restaurant outside by the pool and then layed around at the pool the rest of the day. I read my book, Dylan took a nap, we played in the pool and just relaxed for a while.

When the time came to head to the airport, I was a bit nervous to see what the airline had in store for our return but we managed to get on the plane (the people in front of us were booted off) and safely return home.

Pictures of the hotel

Gym Divas

Today, I got up at 5:15 to work out. It was kind of nice since I actually got to have a conversation with Dylan in the morning as opposed to only speaking at night when he gets home late. Usually he is long gone by the time I get up, some much to do so little time, I guess.


Back to working out. I got up, was at the gym by 5:30, met my friend, working out by 5:45. Spin class is the bomb. Ya that's right, the bomb. Today the instructor wasn't all that great but we'll let it slide this one time. I pedalled my little heart out. We were up and down and running and jogging...all on the bike. I just kept thinking about me in a bathing suit by the pool...TOMORROW! AGGHHH!!! So I just pedalled harder and harder and harder. PHEWWWW it was a good hour of sweating and working off those calories.








A few things I pondered this morning...

1. I think I will get re-certified to teach aerobics classes again. I loved teaching classes in college and why not get paid to do it, right? Maybe I'll open my own gym...OK, well, probably not the last part, but those were just my thoughts at the time.

2. If you are planning to get ready/shower at the gym, be sure to leave your class about 5 minutes early or you will wait for a shower. I thought waiting in line for a shower was only something that happened in college dorms? I was wrong. For those that were curious...I didn't have to wait for a shower, but I cut it real close.

3. There are 10 showers and about 3 outlets. Does that make sense? Everyone is fighting over who gets to plug in their blow dryer, curling iron, and straightener. And if you get in someones way, WHOA, you better look out. Days like these I wish I were bald.

4. Honey, why are you walking around here in your panties? This is NOT your house. Please bring shorts tomorrow. I mean really?

5. If you are not wearing shower shoes in the shower, you must not have lived in a college dorm. Either way, I don't really care, if you get funk on your feet, don't come crying to me...common sense ladies, common sense.

8 Reasons Why I Can't Wait Till Summer

1. Every time I drive by the pool, I hear it quietly calling my name
2. I'm tired of wearing closed toe shoes
3. Family and Friends cookouts
4. Carmen swimming in the lake without me complaining that I think its too cold for her
5. Taking mid afternoon naps and blaming it on the heat
6. Hanging out with the boys more (and by boys I mean my nephews)
7. Hanging out on the beach in Maine.
8. Visiting my family in OHIO ;o)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I don't care what anyone says...Leprechaun's are really scary looking!

Life sends all kinds of lessons our way. Taking little things for granted is one lesson that I am often reminded of. The last week I have had quite a few of those moments when you just stop and think, what if or WHY? I know its not good to live your life with what if's but sometimes you just can't help it.

My cousin was in a life altering accident and the things that I thought about and the feelings I had really were something I can't explain. Why is it that bad things happen to great people? Does God really only give you as much as you can handle? How does he know when enough is enough?

I have been in contact, this week, with my best friend from Indiana after 10 years. Its such an awesome feeling to catch up with people from the past. But hearing some of the things she and her family have endured in those 10 years is just heart breaking. She is doing great and is very happy but the last 10 years of her life haven't been all smiles and sunshine.

I'm pretty embarrassed to say that I thought my life had been hard at times but putting it all into perspective, I have no idea what "hard" really is.

I doubt any of my questions above will be answered. I'm such a literal person that I need try to find a real reason why these things happen. Most of the time I don't figure it out, I'm not sure I ever have and I probably never will, but this is a quote I found today that may help in those situations where reason just doesn't have anything to do with it.

"Time heals what reason cannot."

MY BOWLS!!!

My dishes are disappearing by the day. Every morning Dylan has a bowl of oatmeal. He also takes Carmen out for about 30 minutes to play before he goes to work. Well, to save time he takes his oatmeal outside with him. I usually come home on my lunch break and take Carmen out to play. Twice, I have found one of my bowls out on the dog poop bin( as if that isn't bad enough). I have told him on more than one occasion, if he can't remember to bring the bowl back inside then don't take it out the door!!! Well, I guess I haven't been taking Carmen out on my lunch break lately because last night as I was looking for some bowls for our dinner salads...I found 4 in the dishwasher and 0 in the cupboard and none anywhere else. So, I went from 8 to 4 bowls in a matter of 2 weeks or less. A few more thoughts on this...

-Who is taking the bowls when they find them outside and what are they doing with them?

-Is someone else using my bowls that they found on a dog poop bin???

-Why would someone even take them?

-Better question...WHY WOULD SOMEONE LEAVE THEM???

-Just thought of this one... does this mean my spoons are missing too? Cause I doubt he was eating with his hands.

I'm not sure that any of these questions will be answered but I just needed to ask.

Whirl Wind Weekend

We have had quite a weekend. It all started on thursday when we flew to New Orleans (a trip Dylan won through work.) Our flight was delayed so we got in a little late. We were to meet the rest of the group (there were other people from AXA there) for dinner at 7:30, we made it to the restaurant a few minutes late but we were just glad to make it at all. We had dinner at GW Fins in The French Quarter. The food was great! After that we were pretty tired from working and traveling, plus it was after 11 so we just went back to the hotel and went to bed.

*Just a little side note...Justin Timberlake and Pink were in concert thursday night in New Orleans and they were staying at our hotel...no, I didn't see them but some of the others that were with us saw Pink in the work out room on friday morning.

Friday was a full day! We woke up and had breakfast at Cafe Du Monde. We had some delicious beinets and coffee. After that we walked around a little to decide what we wanted to do next. This was our second time to New Orleans together but we were only there for a night the first time so we decided to get some history in this time. We took a carriage ride through the French Quarters and got to hear and see some interesting history. After that we caught a street show with some interesting acrobatics. Dylan wanted to rent a scooter but we couldn't find a rental place and no one seemed to know what we were talking about, not even the tourist guides so we grabbed some lunch and then walked around a bit more when we stumbled upon a scooter rental store. We didn't have much time since we had to be at dinner by 7:30 so we decided to rent 1 scooter and drive around the French Quarters. We saw some pretty neat places... Brad and Angelina's house, Nicholas Cage's house, Francis Ford Coppola's house, a bar that has been open 24/7 since Katrina and has yet to close, Tennesse Williams flat where he wrote "A Street Car Named Desire", paparatzi (sp?) waiting for Brad and Angelina, and other relavent historical sights. After that experience we had to head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We ate at Galatoire's on Bourbon Street. Needless to say we ate some unbelievable food while we were in New Orleans. After dinner we went to a Jazz bar on Bourbon Street and enjoyed some good music.

Saturday morning we had breakfast at Mother's. Then to the airport we went. We got back to Dallas around 3 and had to be at Dylan's office awards banquet by 6:30. We picked up Carmen then picked up Dylan's tux then head home to get ready. Dylan won RBG (Retirement Benefits Group) Associate of the Year again this year. It's a very important award for him and he really worked hard for it!

I wore a dress that I've had for about 4 years. I wore it to a black tie wedding I went to a few years ago. I was really dreading shopping for a dress so I decided to just have one of the dresses I already had altered. Seeing that I had only worn it once, I figured it would be choice and I could at lest get one more wear out of the dress. Here are the before and after pics... Although I didn't do the altering myself, I thought I did a pretty good job with the idea/vision that I wanted.

So that was the weekend. Today we are trying to catch up on sleep and cleaning then the work week starts again. It really is nice to get away even for just a few days and be able to spend time together away from the normal everyday life.