News with N

Easter is past and spring has arrived ! Achoo! We've traveled some this month - accepting an award in Charleston (which is one of our favorite places). We were picked up in a London taxi (just think of the Nanny Cab on Nanny 911 and there you are!) and we spent a lovely time stuffing ourselves like pigs in Charleston. Side Note: Youngins about 7 months old love to have you sing the "This Little Piggy" if you're a grandma. We ate everything from Fried Tomatoes, yes green ones at Justines to Hyman's special key lime pie. We also discovered the place where the first cannon ball was shot to start the civil war - alas and I don't really like history. Did you know that Abe Lincoln made some weird statements back then? Mike was apalled at his comments on slavery! I also bought another pair of shoes from one of my favorite shoe stores (Copper Penney) and can't wait for summer to wear them! I'm such a shoe girl! Yes we did do some work while there - but considering we haven't had a real vacation in such a long time - this was a great break for us and free due to our award. We really had a great time again there in one of our favorite towns. We stayed at the beautiful Charleston Place Hotel!

Then on to Cinncinnati to another business meeting with wonderful folks who are like our board of directors. Eleven wonderful guys from accross the nation give us support and help as we join twice a year with them to review our business. We had our nose to the grindstone for about 3 solid days but did manage to experience (again food) some wonderful ice cream. We are sold on our own Oklahoma Blue Bell and Braums - but move over for Graeters. It's delicious and you can even order it to be shipped to your home - Danger! ! ! ! ! I love the story of it's history with a woman who fought odds to be successful with her business. http://www.graeters.com/history2.aspx

We're home now - watching Easton play ball which is so deja vue with David and Drew coaching their little ones and the Grandpas who coached David and Drew watching their grandsons! Three and four year old ball is just hilarious. Well, I'm back to updatN - boring but it will get better I promise!

Mary, the proprietor for the Bed and Breakfast in a nearby town. We needed a little get away - not too far so I "Googled" once more and found what visually looked from all clips, quaint country bedding and marbled poster-bed, red stained wall, wicker hanging swing and something that we wouldn't cringe with regret to spend a quiet night much needed "away". When I phoned Mary I was cut off from our conversation by some weird noise and then after a quick redial, stated cheerfully that noise was from her being under the hair dryer. "That must have been what cut us off!" She bounded on to state that "yes" she most certainly did have an opening for this evening and asked where we were coming on and with barely letting me contribute, went on to say that she would have muffins ready and that we would love the room with the jacuzzi. (Now I was alittle worried when someone with a B&B has an opening that evening as most are booked out and want you to spend at least 2-3 days with them and don't book single evenings-shall I say "Nervous?" were the feelings I felt. Something in her cheerful and slightly back-woods accent made me think, what the heck she's nice and say "I'll take that room with the jacuzzi". She didn't ask much and that began to worry me, but after all she didn't have my credit card number or a contract so I just thought if we don't like it we can back out and travel on to something else. Mary was standing on the drive as we pulled in and she immediately started talking and didn't stop for several, several minutes. She was so proud of "Daddy's" house that used to be a green house(we heard this comment about the green house several times and the complete rendition of it's re'do), the bubbily that she had in the fridge even though she didn't drink but if guests would write things down and spell them for her she would certainly go get them for them. She went on in one breath to say the microwave was inexpensive and used to have a button that worked just for popcorn but it broke and she placed a sticker over it and someone pulled it off. She had made some pop-corn up before we arrived (so the room reaked of popcorn smell instead of romance and calm) and it would take exactly 2.5 minutes to pop and we would have popcorn with our movies! Hoo-ray! we could now have popcorn with our movies I sarcastically thought! Now we had said nothing about popcorn but she was dead set on the fact that movies and popcorn were in our plans. P.S.: the movies were so old but I must admit the fast talking woman 69 year old Daddy's girl did have a variety! She went on to show us the heater controls, and opened the door to the bathroom and proudly stated "Have you ever seen anything like this?" We quickly piered in thinking we would see something quite unusual. She then made Mike come all the way into the bathroom and said "I know how you will LOVE this shower, all men like this shower here, and let me show you THIS and she leaned over the big tub and turned on the flowing spiget that flowed like a waterfall. " Isn't this great? she asked. She continued "I almost forgot to show you the splendid robes."and proudly mentioned the great deals she had got from a friend that knew Jessica Simpson's family somehow and when they sold their spa they let her buy things and these Turkish robes . She darted out the door and said to us, "would you like to see the upstairs apartment? , I was just going to run up there and check things out before the other girls come. " She got up two steps and then started telling a different story about the girls that walked right out of the apartment and got lost and landed at the police station, due to the fact that they hadn't taken her business card, so make sure to get her card and don't forget it. Upstairs there was an oddity in the bath as a tub so tiny that it looked like it belonged in a doll house was in this apartment's bathroom. She pointed out the pine-cone that sat in the window and made us look out the window at the unusual but beautiful tree that bore these odd squatty cones. She again let us know that Daddy planted that unbelieveably large tree but she didn't remember what it was called.
Later as we decided to venture to dinner of course she opened her door (directly across from our apartment) and stuck out her head to say "Are things OK? now the couple that was here before had a daughter that liked to watch movies and they might have set the TV differently and I don't know anything about setting it back to satelite". We then got redirected to the steak place where her son had taken her in September for her birthday. It's so great she said, and I began to think that I knew way too much about Mary. We did end up at her great place and it was good and afterwards we attempted to sneak back into our apartment without her seeing us. As soon as we were inside I realized that she had finished those muffins that she told us about and she had turned on the light that I couldn't find in the kitchen area. She had placed our breakfast - fruit and muffins, which didn't thrill Mike as he loves a big breakfast of fried eggs and bacon, biscuits, pancakes and sausage and gravy. It was still quaint and nicely placed and I'm sure she thought as she placed it that we would be thrilled with her presentation. All in all we had a nice evening and Mary of course spoke to us before we left - goodbye Mary and thanks for the pleasant and cheerful presentation of our B & B evening. And that's Mary........ The N'd

Ok, I'm way up on the high-tech list - with the ability to travel in the car on the way to my daughter's with this computer up and running and blogging! Wow! We purchased a wifi card (thanks to Greg who travels and lets his wife drive while he works constantly from the car) and now we can email and not miss a bit of biz while traveling.
Ya know traveling with M sometimes drives me crazy ! He loves to turn the radio (CD, or whatever George Strait tune is playing) up REALLY loud and play it about 90 times. He thinks that driving gives him all rights to burn others ear drums out. (Can you tell I'm totally exasperated with him?) Ah, love and the things you put up with - Like his wonderful sense of direction that told me and the GPS woman that he knew a better way (faster and shorter) to get to our destination. Then after roaming around for what seemed like hours and thousands of stop lights in unsafe lookings sides of town, it's my fault that we're lost! Later he actually asked me to appologize that I said he was wrong. I hope I make it to our destination still loving him!

Since I don't blog much, I'm doing this - although its just alittle info and not something interesting to write about. But just to let you know:
E spent the night last night. We went to Waffle House (not my favorite place, but Mike's) because E likes to sit and watch the cooks prepare his meal. He ate well, which is a Big Deal with us since 2 year olds don't eat alot. He also has started a few new things - one being that he doesn't like to bathe! I had to do some fast talking and the promise that he could take his new musical instrument (harmonica) to the bath tub with him. Did I mention that we also got him a drum set with Maracha's and a tambourine and the harmonica? He can march really good playing the harmonica and he can also drum like a pro! He even has created a remarkably smart routine by throwing his sticks in the air when he's finished (I suppose to signify his routine is over!) He slept through church this morning and woke up grumpy but soon recouped.
He's such a blessing and joy for us to keep and we love him sooooooooo much!
Next week we get to see the most beautiful girl in the world , my sweet Adalie ! I can't wait for those kisses and sweet smiles.
Then upon our return I am being awarded an award in the State Capitol in the Rotunda for Workforce Business leader of the Year. Should be interesting !
Then the fun of a girls trip to Arkansas which replaces our Vegas trip. We waited too late to book flights and such , so we decided to go on a road trip. I've planned some of it so far, but we really plan to make decisions as we go. We may stay longer, or we may move on to another city. We all just want some time away from work and "things" and want to "chill".
Today I planted flowers in my pots out in the yard. Mandevilla vines will soon bloom on either side of my garage door. I hate that plants are so expensive, but love the beauty and thrill of planting them.
Tomorrow we feed about 40 of our vendors for a thank you luncheon and the week starts again for us working girls!

Born out of inspiration


Spanx - They are comfy, non binding, and slimming as advertised. No more panty line girls!



My favorite morning coffee - Gevalia - Tassimo Latte and
Capachino and my great Tassimo machine that delivers individual
cups of coffee without making a whole pot.
Thanks to my husband for purchasing this (even though he knows that things that plug in aren't
always a good idea for gift giving to spouses.