Friday, June 11, 2010

Fun Times in Queen Creek

Memorial Day weekend was fun and I finally downloaded a few pics from a trip on May 30th to Queen Creek to commemorate Robert's birthday (OK, and to pick up that amazing fig balsamic they carry at the Queen Creek Olive Mill, since I was out and desparate to pick up new!)




We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Mill - and then picked a few peaches at Schnepf Farm nearby. Definitely an easy trip from Scottsdale and worth the miles to enjoy a sense of countryside and home-grown things. Plus, it's always nice to support local businesses.




Thinking about heading back again in a few weeks to pick plums & apples (wondering how Arizona apples will be...) when they're in season. Will let you know how they taste. The peaches were heavenly.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Time is on my side...

It's Wednesday and also my "Friday" for this workweek, since I'm taking the next 2 days off. While I am certain there will be plenty of time for reading and relaxing during the next 4 days, there is a lengthy "to do" list waiting for me at home. I just hope I can satisfy my craving for lazy time and find motivation to attack the pile-up of neglected chores around the house... after all, 6 months of working 2 jobs with little time off has left my home in need of some TLC, too.
My Memorial Day weekend was the perfect mix of work time and play time. Free time still feels like a luxury to me - almost every weekend since November of last year [not to mention 2-3 weeknights a week] has been consumed with work. I'd nearly forgotten how good it feels to laze around at home. And thanks to giving up the part-time job, I plan to rectify that without further delay!
Time, for the moment at least, is definitely back on my side.

Friday, May 28, 2010

What Happened to May?

Wow, I can't believe it's Memorial Day weekend already - the kick-off to summer - my absolute favorite season of the year! (I'm sure those of you who know that I live in Sunny Arizona are probably questioning my sanity right now, but hey - I came into this world in the summer and many of my best memories are events that took place in all the summers I've enjoyed so far)... So, let's recap what I've been up to since my last post:

Mother's Day gave me the perfect opportunity to send my Mom a little something funny and with a purpose. With their house on the market and little in the way of activity, Mom had expressed her concerns about selling the house before another winter hits Vermont (talk about a place with hardly more than 2 seasons - winter for 10 months, fall for 2). I sent her something I hoped would help do the trick - Eco Joe! Mom's St. Joseph statue arrived and she quickly buried him in the front yard (following directions, of course) and made sure she asked St. Joe to help sell their home. Fingers crossed, we're all waiting for St. Joe to work his magic and get their house sold.
After 6 months working a part-time job at Macy's - I'm taking a break from the second job this summer. I cannot tell you how I look forward to having my nights and weekends free again! My last shift is on Saturday and I've already got plans with friends for Sunday!!! I am headed back to Queen Creek, Arizona - to enjoy the Queen Creek Olive Mill's little cafe, pick up a few bottles of their tasty fig balsamic dressing [makes the perfect marinade and dressing], and then a side-trip to a local farm for some fresh grown produce!
Not only have I recently won back my weekends - I learned this week that I've hit my maximum accrual for paid time off at my Firm - and now, I am taking a few unexpected vacation days in June! I've got a long and growing list of home projects to keep me busy on my bonus days off - but I do plan to squeeze a little mindless fun in the sun poolside with a good book (or two) Need a few good leads on reading material... check out http://www.goodreads.com/.


This month has been rather full with medical emergencies for a few important family members:

1. Aunt Jeanne - who ended up being rushed to hospital upon her return from a cruise... thankfully, she is now recovering and should be headed home in a few weeks.

2 Uncle Ed - now home after an overnight stay in hospital for an angioplasty... thankfully, tests show his heart is good and he's home and back sleeping in his own bed! I need to bake a batch of oatmeal cookies for him (I think home-made cookies have magical powers, don't you?)

3. Cousin Peg - My my positive vibes are headed to Peg, who is presently hospitalized and giving us all cause for concern... Hoping that she's on the mend and back home soon!

What else has been happening this May? Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays! So - I'd like to recognize the following people who enhance my life, simply by their being in it... Happy Birthday to Susan Baylis (where would I be without you, Sue!), Robert Gilmour (Mortgage Loan Officer Extraordinare and Super-Canadian - www.robertgilmour.com!), Liz Thompson (my cousin-in-law in NJ -check out her blog http://www.thisfullhouse.com/ - look, Liz a shameless plug!) and last but not least - my friend and the person who knows all my secrets - Cassie Mullen (also the smartest woman I know!)...

Love, Hugs and all great things to you! Make a wish - this one's on me...











Monday, April 19, 2010

Toot Toot, Hey. Tweet Tweet!

Today, I posted my first tweet. It was truly the first thing that popped into my head. I found "Rockin' Robin" playing in my head and so that is what I wrote. A fleeting thought really, meaning nothing. At that precise moment, I felt both childish and old.

I received Elke's invitation to join her on Twitter by email. E-mail has replaced letter writing and talking on the phone for many people, myself included. As a young child, I had several pen-pals. I loved writing them letters and receiving theirs in return. Crafting a good letter has always seemed an art form to me. I continued writing letters to friends and family in my college years. To keep my letters neat, I often scribbled out a draft, then copied my letter onto stationary, using a ruler to keep my lettering in line. I spent hours wandering through card stores, just looking for the perfect card with just the right sentiment. As electronic communications replace greeting cards and letters, I will admit that I do keep in touch more regularly with friends and family using these effiicient communication methods.

As a child I kept a diary. I didn't write in it very often and my entries were mostly matter-of-fact details like "Today I went to School" and "Yesterday, it rained alot." Last year, I created this blog. I've enjoyed posting updates and getting comments back from people who've taken the time to read my ramblings. It's like keeping an online diary of sorts only now, I've learned to be a bit more wordy with my entries.

E-mailing and blogging aren't the only electronic contacts in my weekly routine. I can also be found on Facebook and other social networking sites. I sign onto Facebook daily, only because I was invited to join my friends on a few interactive games - and being a good friend, I accepted their invitation. BUT - once you start, you become obligation to return for more, day after day. I now spend 20 minutes every morning and another 20 or so in the evenings tending to my virtual farm and cafe. With my free time at a premium, I often wonder if I should simply stop - abandoning my farm chores and my virtual cafe customers. What else could I be doing with those precious 40 minutes a day?

Now, it's this Twitter thing. I am not even sure what to do with it. Is anything I am thinking really important enough to tweet? How often do I need to check in with my fellow tweets? [or is it twits? ... feel free to tweet me and let me know] Is there some protocol for twittering? I simply don't know. And, I'm not sure I care. But, I do love keeping in touch with my friends - wherever they are. So, I'll continue to write, call, email, post and now tweet to stay connected.

Until we meet up again somewhere online, I remain. Tweet-Tweet!

Friday, April 9, 2010

I Like Fridays

It's Friday! We're closing up the office a little early - which is always a treat - even though I'm working a short shift tonight at my second job (audible sigh). I've always looked forward to weekends but, working a second job means giving up the more relaxed schedule and time just to do what you want. Fridays now come with a sense of relief tinged with a longing for weekends before they were tied up in a second job.
I received a call from my friends t0 join them for coffee on Saturday morning - something we used to enjoy. I'll stop by, but cannot stay too long, since I'm on duty at 10:45 Saturday morning and need to pick up a coworker on my way.
House cleaning, running errands and other more leisurely pursuits have become things I squeeze in here and there. What I miss most is that sense of the weekend, spread out before me with potential to do anything I want - or just do nothing at all.
Hey, don't get me wrong - I've chosen to work a second job. And, for the most part, I actually enjoy being there. The extra income and employee discount have been put to use and greatly appreciated. But the extra income comes at a price. In my case, it's enjoying unstructured days on the weekend.
I've managed to fit in Sunday morning worship at the pool (the season is just getting started). I'm also discovering that having less time off forces me to be more productive with my free time and I've become far more appreciative of those days and nights off to just relax and unwind.
So here's to Friday. Hope you're enjoying yours!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Happy Birthday Heather!

Sending a Happy Birthday Greeting to Heather.
Make a wish and wish big!!!!

Monday, April 5, 2010

A Fitting Tribute

Monday morning and I'm feeling positive. I enjoyed a leisurely 3-day weekend with near perfect weather. I also learned this morning that the Edith C. (Aunt Em) Fenton Memorial Tribute fund has already raised $925.00 to benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

What a great feeling...