Cat Hug

I was hugged by a cat today.  Yep.  After work, I was exhausted and I really wanted to spend some time with Joel and Hannah.  But I had to take Professor, whose been throwing up for two days, way out to Wamego to the vet.  I still get really sad when I go to the vet (miss you, Kevin).  And I was regretting that I chose a vet so far away!  It took me 45 minutes to drive from work to home, get the dog, and drive to Wamego to the vet.  So I went back to the room and while waiting for the vet, this cat came in the room.  It jumped up into my lap and stood on its hind legs putting a paw on each side of my neck, then put its wet nose on my neck and squeezed its paws together!  It was purring like crazy!  I was seriously hugged by a cat!  How did it know that was exactly what I needed?  I told the vet when he came in that the cat hugged me and all he said was, "Yeah, he does that."  It was an amazing experience.

Wyoming Weekend and Hannah Graduates

     Friday morning I got up early and got ready then got Scott awake somehow and we took off, me driving to Salina to pick up Leah.  David took her to meet us.  When we arrived, I ran into Dillons to pee and they three were standing out by the car.  David and Scott were dressed exactly the same which Leah got a kick out of.  Leah gave Scott a sweet birthday card that she had painted.  David gave me a nice hug.
     Off we went to Laramie.  It didn't seem like a long drive on the way there.  I drove as far as I could go, until we needed gas and food at Goodland, about 12, I think.  We ate at Subway then got gas.  I napped for a good, long time, until almost Denver.  I read and played angry birds on my phone.  We stopped at Ft Collins and I drove the rest of the way.  We pulled into Laramie about 4:30 Laramie time.
     I like Laramie.  Its kind of a dump but classic and western.  The people there are stylish in an extremely casual, comfortable way.  Kind of edgy, I guess.  Most of the guys don't comb their hair and it looks ok.  The girls are all casual but I saw no work out kind of clothes at all.
     I arrived at the blue house and Rob was outside.  He shook a big stick in greeting us then gave us all great hello hugs.  We went inside and sat down.  I had seen the downstairs of the blue house, but not the upstairs.  Hannah lives with 6 guys and 2 other girls.  The house is a lot like Laramie--dumpy but stylish and interesting.  There was cool art everywhere and musical instrument and books and stuff.  Hannah and Larry and Joanna arrived from walking around campus so we hugged and talked awhile and took a few photos then walked to the big open, grassy part of campus and sat down.  It was gorgeous out.  We chatted and watched people play catch for awhile then decided we were hungry.
     We checked into our hotel (I won't go into details but I will not ever use Expedia again and I won't even stay at a Ramada Inn again).  Enough said about that.
     We went back to get Hannah and also Calee and met up at our traditional arrival night restaurant, Corona Village.  I always eat too much and enjoy it very much.  Rob had to work and couldn't join us.  We had planned to all go change and rest up a but then were were going to go hear Hannah's friends' band but Scott couldn't wake up.  I was fine reading in the hotel room and went to bed early.
     We got up Saturday morning and I went down to breakfast (what a joke) then called the girls.  Scott still couldn't get up so I went to the house and we went to Coal Creek for a cinnamon roll and vanilla steamer. Yum.  Back at the house,  we visited with Patrick and his brother for awhile.  Patrick hugged me hello then apologized.  He said, "I probably stink like a swamp because I fell inone earlier today."  He's a hoot.  Hannah's roommates are all so very nice.  Tyler even went with us to graduation.  (Scott did wake up in time to go:).
     Graduation was pretty typical except that their stadium is round on the outside.  It was fun to see Hannah graduate.  She wore cowboy boots because she thought that was fitting.  She had on a little, lacy off white strapless dress and cowboy boots.  She looked amazing. ( I will upload some pics on this at some point:). We stayed until she crossed the stage and then left and waited at the house.
     After graduation, we visited for awhile then went downtown to eat at the Thai restaurant.  It was fancy and good.  We then said good bye to Joanna and Larry (they stopped by the house to pick up an amazing metal art piece that Hannah made and gave us that wouldn't fit in the car).  We spent the evening sitting around Hannah's kitchen table playing scrabble with all the roommates.  It was a very enjoyable evening.  They got out the snake at one point and I snapped some photos.
     The ride home was memorable.  It was odd to say goodbye to Laramie knowing that Hannah probably won't live there much longer, but it wasn't sad because we were taking her home with us this time.  We crammed 4 of us and a whole load of Hannah's belongings into the car.  Hannah downsized her things to only those that will fit into a car since she is going to work conservation in Wyoming for Ameri-corp for the summer and then live in Rob's car with him while deciding where they want to go next.  It sounds really exciting and adventurous.   So in the car, they threw starburst wrappers in my hair, beat on my seat with a wooden spoon, poked me with the spoon, fed me almonds with the same spoon and whined pretty much the whole time I was driving.  We stopped for a strange meal at Burger King.  (We were the only ones in the restaurant the entire time and yet they called our number to tell us our meal was ready) in some tiny place in Colorado.  The drive took forever due to a huge traffic jam in Denver and then swinging all the way out to Newton to drop off Leah.  That and we had back packs and art stuffed all around us in the car.  We said goodbye to Leah then I drove from Newton in the rain.  Not fun.
    Today it was awesome to be home.  I was able to take care of two appts--the doctor to tell me I probably have a torn rotater cuff, set up physical therapy, and go to the chiropractor.  I also grocery shopped and napped and did laundry and went for a walk.  It was beautiful out and I enjoyed visiting with Hannah in between.  It will be weird to go back to work tomorrow.  Then I pick up Joel at the airport on Wednesday!

Luxury Living

So today I got home and took a quick nap (then ran to the dentist to have my temp crown put back on--not part of the luxury living--a side note), then went to the gym for a workout.  Could have sat in the sauna, didn't, but did grab a sample peanut butter chocolate protein drink on the way out to the cool sunshine.  Drove home with the windows down.  Cooked black and white pizza in my new kitchen while watching hgtv.  Ate said pizza and melted dark chocolate on strawberries while sitting at the kitchen island with the sliding door open AND having a conversation on facebook chat with all three kids at the same time!  Then ran a hot bath and relaxed while playing comtemporary Christian music on the cable station.  Now blogging and think I'll move on to a little Pinterest.  And let the pups sit on my lap.  Oh, wait, I'll go sit in the luxurious new room!

Order

I love love love weekends. Not just because I can relax and catch up on sleep, but because I put my life back into order. All week I do what I need to--the small amount of dishes that Scott and I make, put things back I have used, stuff like that. But on weekends, I love to make a to do list and take care of all the little things that I have neglected all week. For example, Scott's clock in the bedroom has been flashing all week. I could have taken the 2 minutes it would take to reset it, but I ignore it all week then do things like that on the weekends. So by Sunday night when I relax before bed and then get up Monday morning to face the week, the trash is out, the fridge is full, the meals are planned, the house is clean, all is in order and I can take on the world and anything it throws my way. Its not that I freak if things aren't in order, I just really like the feeling of order. So....gotta go make my to do list! Have a great weekend!

Such a Great Life

I have such a great life. After a good day at work yesterday, I drove home singing along to KLove with the windows wide open and the sun shining. I got home and the pups were so excited to see me (since Scott left early for his away game). I changed (love Nike shorts--my uniform) and took a nap with a slight breeze blowing across me. I had a snack (tricuits and cream cheese) and checked my facebook then went to my amazing gym. I timed my arrival late into fit ball class just as they finished their lunges and squats:). I did that class then advanced step (so fun!) and half of the abs class--no point in doing too many! It was still sunshiny and warm when I drove home from the gym. I made dinner for myself then played on the computer and watched The Voice and Love It or List It on HGTV (tivod) in my new room. I took a break to take the tape off the sliding door in my new kitchen--looks great. I love the new floors and how this house is turning out. I took a bath in my lovely tub. I did that again tonight and had my dessert--dark chocolates. Today was also a good day at work (some hard kids have moved so things are a bit calmer lately) so I had my nap and went to my favorite work out--total body circuit. Tonight I just wanted popcorn for dinner. Then I played on pinterest for about two hours! Tomorrow I teach FCA then after work I run over to JC to watch Scott's soccer game. This really is a great life. Happy Spring!

This week

Most of this week was spent getting used to the real world after spending the previous week in paradise:). 6 am comes super early and then I was thrown right into the wonderful world of middle school with drugs and underage sex and drama, conflict, raging blow ups and tons of stupidity. For example, a new kid came to tell me someone tried to ask for drugs and while he was talking to me, a kid brought him his phone number and it was the kid! Right under my nose! And a new kid has the girls falling all over him and he is dating at least 6 girls at the same time so drama, drama, drama, except with one of my clients....I went to warn her and she said it was fine with her. Also at work, I'm gearing up for the retirement of Nancy with whom I have worked super closely for all 9 years... and Ann with whom I have worked more than 20 years, and Gayle, whom I will also miss. Too much change!

At home, the house is wonderful and I am feeling spoiled. We still have lots to paint but I can go soak in my tub when my muscles ache and I can walk around on my new shiny floors and go sit in our relaxing new room. We gave each other back rubs while lying on our new carpeting and we could put our faces right on the carpet with no bad odors! Friday night we had a team party here and the girls loved the house. The house worked really well and will only be better with the deck! This thing is rolling right along and I can see the actual end of it now! Only need the front door, the bedroom sheetrocked and painted, the bedroom and hall floors done and the deck (oh and the front portico and siding, etc) but that is it!

Yesterday I got Adelle and we washed the car and trimmed bushes, ran a few errands, and cooked burgers out.

Well, back to the painting since I have the sliding door off! Then I will reward myself with olive oil popcorn for dinner:). yum... Have a good week!

Last Day

Yesterday after the spa, we ate lunch, rested, then took a long walk on the beach in the light rain, Mom holding onto the umbrella in the wind sure she would completely melt in the rain or blow away in the wind, me enjoying every single moment. We walked to some dominican shops with pushy sales men. We looked at scarves and dresses, t shirts, paintings, jewelry and statues. We popped $40 on a dress and a scarf ($20 of my money) for mom because our bargaining wasn't so hot. At another shop, I picked out a wooden statue of two people kissing and mom picked out a cat statue. We talked him down to $20 for both and then I only had $15. He was angry but let me have my statue for $15. We got out of there and walked back along the beach to the hotel. We rested some more and then went to a late dinner at Gabi beach bar. It was fancy again, sauces and unrecognizable things and not enough light to eat it. I guess you go for the ambience which was beautiful and elegant. I think I've had my fill of fancy food. I did like the dessert, though, of course, chocolate tart and vanilla ice cream. Yum. We went up to the room early--8:30 and read in our beds until sleepy time. It rained all day and evening but that was ok--our skin probably didn't need more sun.

This morning it was still raining lightly when we got up so our plans to get our last beach and sun were shot. We ate our last breakfast in the open air restaurant then I went for a super long walk in the wind and clouds. Mom went back to the room. I decided to sit and nap in the wind and as I did, the sun came back out so I got another hour or so of sun on my legs and arms. It was delightful. Came back to the room for a bath and now we are waiting to go eat lunch (enough eating already!) and then our long, long, day of travel and waiting and travel and waiting. We will get to mom's about 1 am. Then off to get Rexie and home!