The last time I was writing on here I was working at Ft. Belvoir and the job was coming to an end. It seems like a lifetime ago. Shortly thereafter I was sent to New York to work on hurricane Irene damage assessments. I was up there for 9 months. (After being told 3). It was amazing. My kids and I went to Niagara Falls, the Adirondacks, hiking in the Catskills, and saw Maine's beautiful Arcadia National Park. We got to go on a whale watch, see historic downtown Boston, and even managed to fit in a visit to the Big Apple.
We have been home for 5 months now and are eagerly hoping for the opportunity to once again go stay in New York, although this time will be quite different. Last time we enjoyed the tranquility and peace of upstate New York. This time, hurricane Sandy hit the city head on and all the workers will be staying and living in Manhattan or Queens. Quite a change. That's if my boss will even let me go. I currently work at a site on a contract and he is reluctant to let me leave unless a suitable replacement can be found. Here's to hoping for another year of hard work and great adventures!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
So it's been a while
Yeah, who has time to blog when you are living life. It is crazy busy around here. Work is fast paced as we lost a person and people are dropping off as they find new jobs (part of being a contractor and having a contract that ends soon.) Anyhow this is what we have been up to!
Last weekend we went on a boat tour of the Potomac River. It was a beautiful day and there were only 10 people on a boat that holds at least 100 or more. That was wonderful! The kids enjoyed it immensely. I think we may do another one sometime if I can nab another Groupon! T
he week before we hit up the Tudor House in Georgetown and took a tour and Seasan worked on a badge for her try-it goal. I wanted to hit up DC cupcakes but it was pouring rain and Jon wouldn't let me. (I even offered to stand in the rain by myself while they waited..alas, no cupcakes.) I found a way around this..there is a cupcake bakery right off base. I think the 15 or so flavors we have tried in the last week is probably a sin :) Oh...but so good. My favorite has got to be the lime with strawberry frosting, or the oreo..or the fuzzy naval. Oh shucks, they were all to die for. If you are in the Northern VA area, you have to hit up Occasionally Cake in Alexandria VA.
Last weekend we went on a boat tour of the Potomac River. It was a beautiful day and there were only 10 people on a boat that holds at least 100 or more. That was wonderful! The kids enjoyed it immensely. I think we may do another one sometime if I can nab another Groupon! T
he week before we hit up the Tudor House in Georgetown and took a tour and Seasan worked on a badge for her try-it goal. I wanted to hit up DC cupcakes but it was pouring rain and Jon wouldn't let me. (I even offered to stand in the rain by myself while they waited..alas, no cupcakes.) I found a way around this..there is a cupcake bakery right off base. I think the 15 or so flavors we have tried in the last week is probably a sin :) Oh...but so good. My favorite has got to be the lime with strawberry frosting, or the oreo..or the fuzzy naval. Oh shucks, they were all to die for. If you are in the Northern VA area, you have to hit up Occasionally Cake in Alexandria VA.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Dermatologist- the Mole Dr
This morning I have to take Seasan and myself to the Dermatologist in Woodbridge. Last time we were at the pediatric Doctor they noticed a mole on Seasan's temple that looks suspicious. As a previous mole donor (yes that is a joke) I know all to well what to look for. I did not thing to look under her hair line though. As soon as potential removal was broached, my needle phobic daughter (I mean I will scream your ears out needle phobic) immediately protested. I can't say I blame her..my dad always appropriately called the Dermatologist by the nick-name "Gouge Doctor".
At the moment, she is still listing reasons not to go to the doctor today. Top on her list is that it would detrimental (my word, not hers) to her school work to miss the time. 2nd is the fact that it is picture day. (That one doesn't work with me, because cheapskate mom would never buy the over priced, never look great anyway, pictures they try to sell you. Can you say $7.99 JCPenny portrait package anyone?) Lastly is the fact that she states would be the sole reason they will not be able to remove a mole. "I will freak out mom if they try to give me a shot." Pretty much to the point. I guess she forgot that I weigh 155 lbs and that this would not be the first time I had to literally lay down on top of her for them to give her a shot. Some thing about skin cancer vs. a child that will briefly hate me has me opting for option two. Of course..maybe it is after all, just a funky looking mole.
At the moment, she is still listing reasons not to go to the doctor today. Top on her list is that it would detrimental (my word, not hers) to her school work to miss the time. 2nd is the fact that it is picture day. (That one doesn't work with me, because cheapskate mom would never buy the over priced, never look great anyway, pictures they try to sell you. Can you say $7.99 JCPenny portrait package anyone?) Lastly is the fact that she states would be the sole reason they will not be able to remove a mole. "I will freak out mom if they try to give me a shot." Pretty much to the point. I guess she forgot that I weigh 155 lbs and that this would not be the first time I had to literally lay down on top of her for them to give her a shot. Some thing about skin cancer vs. a child that will briefly hate me has me opting for option two. Of course..maybe it is after all, just a funky looking mole.
Weekend Wirl Wind..
Saturday left me feeling whipped. I ran Seasan to Irish, then after picking her up, met Jon at Nicholas's soccer. Jon had to get ready for his Jon Birch Society Meeting, so I took Nicholas and Seasan over to JCPenny to get their portraits done for the holiday's. That was supposed to be at 12:40PM. We didn't leave the studio until 2PM.
From there we packed up and drove up to Fairfax to exchange the vouchers for tickets to the Disney on Ice show. We now are the proud owners of 4 tickets to Thursdays "Toy Story 3" at the Patroit Center. Nicholas was jumping up and down when he saw the poster for the show.
From there we proceeded to Captain D's to grab some grub. With two very hungry children on my hands, I was not thrilled at the slowness of the service. (How long does it take to fry some fish?) Apparently about 15 minutes or more. I stood there and watched as order after order from the drive through was processed and us poor joes that wanted to sit down to meal just watched our tickets stack up. Poor Nicholas actually started to cry as he saw bag after bag being taken out to the cars. He said "mommy, they are eating all the fish.." I had to try hard not to laugh at the dramatic way he said it as he pouted.
Eventually we got our fish, only to realize we had about 20 minutes to enjoy the meal before we had to make a mad dash from Manassas to South Stafford in order to get Seasan to her brownie activity. (It was about 40 minutes away from where we were eating). So onward we went and managed to make it just in time to watch her perform gymnastic stunts for an hour.
Finally..at last...we were home.
Needless to say..Sunday I cleaned..cleaned..and did laundry.
From there we packed up and drove up to Fairfax to exchange the vouchers for tickets to the Disney on Ice show. We now are the proud owners of 4 tickets to Thursdays "Toy Story 3" at the Patroit Center. Nicholas was jumping up and down when he saw the poster for the show.
From there we proceeded to Captain D's to grab some grub. With two very hungry children on my hands, I was not thrilled at the slowness of the service. (How long does it take to fry some fish?) Apparently about 15 minutes or more. I stood there and watched as order after order from the drive through was processed and us poor joes that wanted to sit down to meal just watched our tickets stack up. Poor Nicholas actually started to cry as he saw bag after bag being taken out to the cars. He said "mommy, they are eating all the fish.." I had to try hard not to laugh at the dramatic way he said it as he pouted.
Eventually we got our fish, only to realize we had about 20 minutes to enjoy the meal before we had to make a mad dash from Manassas to South Stafford in order to get Seasan to her brownie activity. (It was about 40 minutes away from where we were eating). So onward we went and managed to make it just in time to watch her perform gymnastic stunts for an hour.
Finally..at last...we were home.
Needless to say..Sunday I cleaned..cleaned..and did laundry.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Kids..a 2nd Job
Anyone who ever said kids are like having a second job, hit it right on the head. I love my children dearly, but they are running me ragged. This weekend was a mix of Jon playing chauffeur to Seasan and Nicholas while I did the last yard sale of the season. This was our crazy schedule for Saturday:
9:30AM- Irish
10:30AM- Pick up Seasan from Irish, drop at Gymnastics
11AM- Nicholas Soccer
12 Noon- Pick up Seasan from gymnastics
1PM- Drop of Seasan for Dance workshop
3PM- Oktoberfest (yes..sounds like an adult activity, but we took Nicholas because of all the kids activities they had.)
8PM- Pick up Seasan
Sunday:
8:30AM- Leave for Church
9:30AM- Bible Study
11AM- Service
2PM- Car Wash for Seasan's Dance
You get the picture:)
9:30AM- Irish
10:30AM- Pick up Seasan from Irish, drop at Gymnastics
11AM- Nicholas Soccer
12 Noon- Pick up Seasan from gymnastics
1PM- Drop of Seasan for Dance workshop
3PM- Oktoberfest (yes..sounds like an adult activity, but we took Nicholas because of all the kids activities they had.)
8PM- Pick up Seasan
Sunday:
8:30AM- Leave for Church
9:30AM- Bible Study
11AM- Service
2PM- Car Wash for Seasan's Dance
You get the picture:)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Birthday Lunch- A Comedy of Errors
So for my birthday, we all left to go to Red Lobster for lunch. Being familiar with my route home, I suggested the Woodbridge Red Lobster. My logic was swept away by two other employees who assured me the Alexandria one was the way to go.
Needless to say, 20 minutes into the drive I had my doubts. (By the way, Woodbridge would have been 15-20 minutes). As we neared to within about a mile of the restaurant, we hit traffic. I am not talking about "wow honey, it is busy today" traffic. I am talking about gridlocking, it is going to take us an hour to go one hour traffic. After much disappointment (yes, I was disappointed in not going to Red Lobster) we did a U-turn and headed to Red Hot N Blue.
At this point we are over a half an hour into our lunch. We get seated and proceed to order. Charnika ordered a "all out" burger and Garret proceeds to order a "Hoochie" Burger. Shortly thereafter the server (not our waiter) brings us the food. Clearly stating that it is the "all out" burger Charnika accepts the burger with fries..and her baked potato. Garret, slightly puzzled over no fries on his plate, shrugs and tries his burger. Della and I are both enjoying our meal and Garret tries to get Della to try the "Hoochie" sauce he is smothering on his burger "because it is so good, they just didn't put enough on."
Then Garret says "wow..this sauce is kinda hot." And Charnika bites her burger and says "this is not the all out burger...where is my pulled pork? And why is this so GD hot!"
By now you should have concluded exactly how it went down. Garret got the "All out" burger and Charnika the "Hoochie". And Garret learned never to smother a burger with the sauce you think you like..or you will be downing pitchers of soda like a man in the desert! If that waiter never sees us again, I am sure he will die a happy man.
Moral of the story... Don't eat the Hoochie sauce unless you like it hot.
Needless to say, 20 minutes into the drive I had my doubts. (By the way, Woodbridge would have been 15-20 minutes). As we neared to within about a mile of the restaurant, we hit traffic. I am not talking about "wow honey, it is busy today" traffic. I am talking about gridlocking, it is going to take us an hour to go one hour traffic. After much disappointment (yes, I was disappointed in not going to Red Lobster) we did a U-turn and headed to Red Hot N Blue.
At this point we are over a half an hour into our lunch. We get seated and proceed to order. Charnika ordered a "all out" burger and Garret proceeds to order a "Hoochie" Burger. Shortly thereafter the server (not our waiter) brings us the food. Clearly stating that it is the "all out" burger Charnika accepts the burger with fries..and her baked potato. Garret, slightly puzzled over no fries on his plate, shrugs and tries his burger. Della and I are both enjoying our meal and Garret tries to get Della to try the "Hoochie" sauce he is smothering on his burger "because it is so good, they just didn't put enough on."
Then Garret says "wow..this sauce is kinda hot." And Charnika bites her burger and says "this is not the all out burger...where is my pulled pork? And why is this so GD hot!"
By now you should have concluded exactly how it went down. Garret got the "All out" burger and Charnika the "Hoochie". And Garret learned never to smother a burger with the sauce you think you like..or you will be downing pitchers of soda like a man in the desert! If that waiter never sees us again, I am sure he will die a happy man.
Moral of the story... Don't eat the Hoochie sauce unless you like it hot.
Another Year Older...All in a Day
If you couldn't tell by the title, yes, it is my birthday. The dreaded day.
Okay, it's really not that bad, but after 21, I think birthdays loose their magic. I mean, what is there to look forward to after 21? Another year under the belt..another year closer to..well you get the picture. Yes, I am feeling old. Been married, divorced, two kids..I feel 40 instead of 28. Then reality hits and I realize I may feel 40, but I still have about 34 more years of work until I retire.
Unless you know how to win the lotto?
Okay, it's really not that bad, but after 21, I think birthdays loose their magic. I mean, what is there to look forward to after 21? Another year under the belt..another year closer to..well you get the picture. Yes, I am feeling old. Been married, divorced, two kids..I feel 40 instead of 28. Then reality hits and I realize I may feel 40, but I still have about 34 more years of work until I retire.
Unless you know how to win the lotto?
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