Girls Trip

Girls Trips are on the rise! Sisters, mothers and daughters, or friends are all coming together from all over the world to share a unique experience, catch up on life, rejuvenate their souls or just plain get away from the rat race of life. I recently read that out of a survey of 1,500 women, 55% planned an all female retreat annually! Boy, am I lucky to be one of these women. Once a year I wave good-bye to Sir and the daughters and head out for a week or two of “me” time. My goals are simple: go some place new, go far away with many time changes so it is hard for anyone to get a hold of me, be gone long enough to be missed, and finally, go somewhere Sir has no desire to go. I do not meet all my goals every year, but who is complaining? This all started when we were living in London. When several of my girl friends came to visit, Sir stayed home with the daughters and I took a long weekend with my friends. I traveled to places like the Lake District in England, Paris, and Bruges in Belgium. Wow! What a refreshing experience. No one to put to bed. No one’s nose to wipe. No fighting. Just time for me. Time for me to take a breath, share girlfriend talk, take care of my spirit and return home with a renewed energy to be a Mom and Wife! When I returned to the states, I didn’t want this to end. So, every year since 2001, off I go with Sir holding down the fort - sometimes with help from our family and friends! Thank you friends and family! Over the next several weeks, I will bring you snippets of my girl’s trips. All I can say is watch for drinking ladies sailing the horizon speaking Spanish and driving convertibles eating Ben and Jerry’s.

Africa Is Calling Me

I love Africa. The landscape, the people, the adventure. It all started when I saw the movie “Out of Africa” with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in 1985. Of course, I was already in love with Robert Redford, but fell in love with the movie and with Africa! When I was in grad school I checked the book out of the library, snuggled in my dorm room and begin the overwhelming task of reading the 400 page book. I read the first line, with Meryl Streep’s voice etched in my mind, "I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills." I started to cry and after getting myself under control, I closed the book and returned it to the library! I knew what was coming and decided getting through grad school was not a time for my romantic heart to take over!

Sydney Pollack created an amazing film that made me yearn to visit Africa. I have visited three times and adored each of my visits. Whether I am riding in an open air truck on safari, watching the Maasai women make their handcrafts, sipping a cocktail watching the sunset on the savannah, hiking through Victoria Falls, taking pictures of school children on the top of Table Mountain, visiting extensive vineyards, or riding in a balloon over the Serengeti, I am always fascinated by Africa. Africa is calling me. . . I guess I need to talk with Sir!

Riding elephants in Botswana

Confessions Of A Stressed Woman On The Move

I must confess - I am loooosssiing my mind. I am behind on my August posting - please see the 3 articles I posted today!

Also, I was reading through my previous blog articles and realized I made a big mistake! Oh my gosh. The poor person who answered the "Where Am I #2" correctly has never contacted me! And for good reason! I was not in Racine, Wisconsin as the answer indicated. I was in Kenosha, WI! So, if you are the one who answered Kenosha and you are still reading my blog (I am crossing my fingers) email me to let me know where I can send you your prize for the correct answer!!! Again, forgive me! Kenosha, WI had a lovely lighthouse - I am glad someone out there recognized the structure. aroundtheworldphotos@yahoo.com

Daughter #2's Birthday Bash

Wow! What a party! Under The Sea Birthday Bash! 38 friends gathered to help Daughter 2 celebrate her 13th Birthday! The celebration was a joint party with her friend – the two of them have shared many birthday parties over the years! We rocked and rolled to the tunes of a DJ throughout the evening. Events included eating pizza, blowing out birthday candles, trivia games, dancing, and hanging out. A fun time was had by all – even the adults who were in the back of the room working, stealing peaks at the kids and even dancing a few steps!

The family was there to help!

A Weekend Away

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." Last week-end we headed to the lake to join our friends at their cabin – and boy did we have moments of being “stupid.” Whether it was boating, playing in the lake, tubing, jet skiing, yelling for the Olympic athletes, or just laughing out loud, we just had a great big ball of fun! We are definitely blessed with good friends!

Daughter #1 - Regional Champs

Daughter 1 is a varsity cheerleader at her school. This is her third year in cheerleading and her first year as captain. Her squad took first in regionals for class – 3A Small. Last year they won first in State for 2A Small - but, unfortunately, were moved up a class this year! Keep tuned in – State is held the weekend before Thanksgiving!

Congratulations to the girls and all their hard work.

Half Moon Bay, California

I don’t know how many of you are lucky enough to have a weekend away with your spouse or significant other, but if you are – they are nice. It has been a long time since Sir and I went away together, but this past week we headed to Half Moon Bay – a great town on the ocean hidden away from San Francisco by mountains. Sir had a business trip and spouses were also invited. The Ritz Carleton is located right on the ocean between two golf courses - so we were able to sit on our ocean front patio, watching golfers finish the 18th hole! We were fortunate to get in the way of a golf ball only once!

While Sir attended meeting, I was treated like a Queen. But having a Queendom, did produce responsibilities. I was responsible for attending three dinners, getting to breakfast on time, showing up for my spa appointments, touring a winery, going shopping, and visiting with other spouses. Each morning I started the day with a walk along the coast upon the cliffs that overlook the ocean. To get to the beach there were many stairs and, unfortunately, when the high tide was in, there was not a continuous beach to walk on. With only a few golf carts out early in the morning, I enjoyed the sound of the ocean, the singing of the seagulls and the hum of mowers. It was a great time to meditate and, once again, be awed at the landscape of our country!

The View from our bedroom - how peaceful!

The Thomas Fogarty Winery - while others were tasting, I was walking through the vineyards.

A couple shoots of Half Moon Bay