Back Home Again

LOVE LOVE LOVE cruises!!!! At least, I loved the first one we have ever been on! We will definitely cruise again - what a great way to vacation. Jim & I were worried that we wouldn't like all aspects of the cruise - especially not being able to be on land AT the resort location & do what we wanted to do. We were worried that we may feel trapped and/or bored while at sea on the ship. Never happened! There is always something going on that you want to do, and most of the time - there are multiple things available & you have to pick what you want to do! For instance, we were unable to attend the towel animal class & the kitchen galley tour because we were at an art auction. More on the art auction later!

We LOVED it & highly recommend it. The food was much better than I expected. The presentation & dining service was very nice! Below is what I had to eat ever evening at the late seating - appetizer, salad, entree & dessert:

Monday night - Chicken satay in peanut sauce, caesar salad, Filet Mignon, Chocolate melting cake (YUMMMMMMM)

Tuesday night - Cheddar/Broccoli soup, greek salad, Lobster & shrimp (2 entrees - OINK OINK), Chocolate melting cake (do you sense a theme)

Wednesday night - Pumpkin/squash soup, Mixed greens, Pan fried grouper in butter/lemon sauce, Chocolate melting cake

Thursday night - Lobster bisque, mixed green salad, Beef Wellington, Grand Marnier souffle

Friday night - French onion soup, caesar salad, chateubriand, neopolitan ice cream cake thingy with sponge cake & meringue?? Not sure about all that.

Lunches were also just as good. The days that we were at sea, we enjoyed an open seating lunch, which was like going to a restaurant, instead of dining from the buffet. Breakfast - same thing. The days that we were at port, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet and lunch at Mexican restaurants in port. Guacamole - YUM.

Needless to say - we ate WELL & only worked out the first day at sea. The second day in Cozumel probably burned a few calories as we went SCUBA diving (BEAUTIFUL). Other than that - we walked 5 flights of stairs multiple times during the day, so that counts - right?? Yeah, we are back on the fitness track, going to the gym & running, and eating right!!

I'll write more about the cruise itself in a later post. I had to document the food before I forgot! :)

The Vacation has Begun

Wow I have a wonderful husband!!! Jim booked me a spa afternoon yesterday at Serenity by the Sea at the Sandestin Hilton resort! HOW WONDERFUL! I got there around 11:30, got changed into my robe, and then sat in the lounge area with the other lucky ladies! I had an afternoon of luxury, beginning with a 50 minute massage (wonderful!), then on to a 50 minute facial (wonderful - except for the 'extraction' part - OUCH...and YUCK!). Next was my spa pedicure and manicure! What a day of pampering. I felt so special, especially when all of the workers there said things to me like "Wow, you have a special afternoon planned today here!" and "Your husband is a keeper" and "He must really love you to treat you to such a special day". And of course - I agreed with them all! What a sweetheart. He knows how stressed I have been at work, and all of the long hours I have been putting in. I love that he sees this and wants to make it better and do something to help me.

The spa afternoon was just what I needed to get destressed & start relaxing right away. We leave for our cruise on Monday! WOOHOO! I was supposed to be going to Gulf Shores to the beach today with my friends Jay & Sara (Jim is on call this weekend...for the LAST TIME! More on that later...) but because of the Tropical Depression or whatever it is - I didn't make the trip. It was nasty this morning, but is actually sunny now? Not sure what that means.

Anyway - we are starting to figure out what to pack for the trip. This is our first cruise, so we are really looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it is & probably will post a couple of pictures.

We're going to the gym now - so I'll write afterwards. Then I should be all caught up!! :)

One job, Two jobs, Three jobs, Four

Work. I remember thinking back when I changed sectors that I would have less stress, more time to enjoy things I love & all of those other things. That has definitely not been the case!!

The sector I work in is split into 3 business groups. The business group I work in is split further into 2 operating units. I am the business manager for 1 of those operating units (which covers approximately 12 major programs, composed of multiple contracts in each program). In addition, I consolidate the financials and forecast and all other 'business group' issues. So that is really two jobs, as it will be split up in January when one of the other managers come back full-time (he is currently working on our ERP conversion - SAP - fulltime, so I am covering his responsibilities currently as well). So there are 3 of us managers, 2 working, 1 doing SAP conversion. Well....the other manager that covers the OTHER operating unit up & quite about a month ago. Literally, he gave no notice. He just walked in, handed over his badge & corporate American Express card & walked out. So now...I am doing his job too. So - I am 3 managers now. As if that wasn't bad enough, one of my employees quit about 2 weeks ago in a similar fashion. Just walked out one day. So I am also covering her responsibilities while we get her replacement up to speed. The only consolation? The two that quit were definitely two that needed to go. They were not happy in the environment - didn't really like the work and weren't really performing at all. So it is a bit painful in the interim, but long term, we will be a much stronger team.

So needless to say......I have been a bit overwhelmed!!!! I need a vacation...more on that next!

Life Lessons at the Airport

Since we moved to Destin and I switched sectors within Northrop Grumman, I have been spending an average of 2 weeks per month in DC. Traveling that much has meant lots of time in airports. Literally - after flying round trip from FL to DC about 12 times since May & a trip back home to Missouri wedged in there, I have only had an on-time trip twice...and one of those was when I went home to MO. I am at least 1 1/2 delayed each trip which gets incredibly old.

There really are a couple of good things about traveling, but don't outweigh the sacrifices of traveling. First, the benefits. After traveling just since mid-May thru mid-September, I am already a Gold Marriotts member and a Silver Delta flyer. So that means free upgrades and other 'perks' now when I travel. In fact, i already have enough points for a free 5 night stay at Park City Utah Marriott Spa resort that hopefully Jim & I will take advantage of this winter (we have invited my brother to come with us for part of the trip!). And by the way - I will be able to fly there for free.

BUT....I would 110% rather be here with Jim & my fuzzy boys, Truman & Cosmo, any day of the week than earning 'free stuff' from traveling. I really miss Jim when I am away & we talk quite often during the day when I can. Right now though, this situation is the best for us both, as Northrop was awesome to work out a position that would allow me to stay with the company. In addition, the flexibility of my job has been HUGE when it came to Jim & his career opportunities (more on that later). So we have been very blessed & will enjoy the 'perks' that come with my travels! Don't get me wrong - it will be awesome to enjoy free vacations! :)

Ok - so back to the original point of this post....Life Lessons at the Airport. I hope I can remember some of the stuff that I have observed over the summer. I have seen people at their worst, but also people at their best.

People at their best:
1 - there was a huge long line at the Burger King & a gentleman walking up to the cashier realized he didn't have the cash (his wife did - at the end of the terminal at their gate). A woman that was waiting for her food offered to buy him his dinner. How unselfish!? "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35. That display of giving really struck a chord with me that day.

2 - I had a horrible horrible flight experience one day trying to get back to Destin. We were literally 3 hours delayed (was 10 pm), & finally got to board. We taxied out to the runway, and were at the end getting ready to take off, when we instead went back to the back of the taxi line because there was weather brewing. We waited in line there another 20 minutes, and then the pilot came on & said - this flight has been cancelled because the crew will be timed out by the time we take off. So here I am with no luggage at 11:30 pm in Atlanta. How is this an example of people at their best you ask? I got a shuttle to the airport Marriott for the night. The guy that checked me in at the hotel asked me how I was & I said "fine". Then I smiled & said, actually - I just lied to you - I have had a horrible night!! I told him a quick version of the story with a chuckle, since there is really no use getting upset about it. He gave me one of their best rooms on the concierge level, and also provided me a coupon for a free Starbucks in the morning. May not seem like a big deal to you all reading this, but after the night I had had - I thought it was such a neat gesture & I appreciated it very much.

3 - Most people are just really polite. I have talked to so many fun people on flights, waiting while delayed, etc. I have met some fun people! It's always fun to hear their stories and also listen to their horror travel stories too!

People at their worst:
1 - See #2 above. The guy sitting next to me on this hellish flight called the Delta line and SCREAMED at them and about how horrible Delta was, blah blah blah. Very very ugly. However.....this poor guy had just missed his daughter's 15th birthday party. He had switched to an earlier flight to make it home in time for it. The earlier flight was the one I was on that never made it. His original flight left on time & it would have meant he would have made the party. The kicker? He even paid $50 switch fee to change flights. I can understand his frustration...but let this be a lesson on how to handle tough situations!

2 - In general, there is always a "spillover" neighbor in the airplane. You know - the guy/gal who really should have 2 seats, but doesn't & 'spills over' into your seat! I hate that. Also - I have decided I must have some proximity issues, because I can't stand when people get all up in my business in lines at airports. There is no reason you (or your stuff) should ever touch me in line! Back off! I have literally been run into or luggage pounded into my legs, purses banging into me, etc. People everywhere....please control yourself & don't take that LAST step you take when standing in line. Stop one step sooner....we'll all be happier.


See - I told you I had lots to say. I haven't even begun to catch up with the blogs. Today is going to be a busy, finger cramping day.

Inspiration

So apparently I have taken the summer off from blogging. But - Jim did too! And he has recently started back up, and I really enjoy reading what he has to say to everyone, so I am inspired to start writing again!

I may be posting some really random stuff at first, to get you caught up on what has been going on. So bear with me!