Family visitor at last!

This weekend, my sister Cathy from Oregon came for a visit. She came to help me celebrate my 40Th birthday, which is the 26TH. She had never seen my house or met any of my pets. She became very aquainted with them. We had a short time to spend together but we did a lot. And she was a trooper. She wasn't feeling the best. A nasty head cold and congestion made an appearance right before she was supposed to fly to Omaha.
After the big party the night before, we had the rest of the weekend to run around and do our own thing. We got up Saturday morning and ate a breakfast of Ice Cream Caramel Rolls that I baked fresh. After that, I took her shopping (mostly window shopping) to several places: Petsmart, to pick up some items for my dog Oreo, Gallery of Crafts, Village Pointe, and Nebraska Furniture Mart just on the first day. We also went out for supper that night. She wanted to treat me. After going to Red Lobster to find a wait of 25-30 minutes, we drove to another place called The Millard Roadhouse. It's a local establishment near my house in the suburb called Millard. There we enjoyed meals of chicken, biscuits and potatoes.
After we arrived home, I made a fire in the fireplace and we sat and chatted while warming ourselves.

The next morning we slept in. After making my own Angel Food cake, we drove to a couple different stores in search of a Nebraska souvenir magnet. No luck. Next we drove to a car wash and had my van cleaned up. Then we headed down town to a store I thought for sure would have magnets. Nothing! The girl in that store steered us in the direction of one more store a block away. Eureka! Cathy found a magnet. From there I drove her to one of the Iowa casinos so she could see it. Who needs Vegas? Our last outing for the day took us to the Omaha Zoo and Imax Theater. Although we didn't enter the zoo, we did attend a movie at the Imax entitled, Dolphins and Whales 3D, Tribes of the Ocean. I didn't have my camera at the Imax but my phone camera was good enough to show what we looked like with our 3D glasses on. It was the first time either of us had seen a 3D movie. It was very good!

We headed home from there and I cooked some home made chicken noodle soup, and earlier I had made some creamy cucumbers to along with it. It all hit the spot, especially for Cathy who still wasn't feeling 100%. We had cake and coffee (makes me remember being a kid...the aunts and uncles always drank coffee!) and took pictures. We called our brother Kevin and shared our weekend with him. Then we did a little playing on the computer and finally called it a night. Cathy was flying out on Monday morning.

My angel food cake with brown sugar frosting....all home made. Candles courtesy of Cathy.

Cathy and I

The Big 4-0! (Ugh!!)

I made it to a major mile marker in my life. While my actual birthday is the 26TH, there was a party thrown in my honor on the 22ND. (Which is, incidentally, my late Mom's birthday!) What a blast! It was at my friends' Dee and Chris's house.
They had invited lots of friends and made lots of delicious food to snack on. They had also found some "the big 4-0" balloons, some squiggles that said "40" under them that hung from the ceiling and had napkins to fit the occasion as well. The cake was decorated with a miniature slot machine that actually had reels that spun when you pulled the lever and the pictures were of items that would typically be associated with elderly people. For example, canes and false teeth. You get the idea! There were also candles that said "Over the Hill".
My sister Cathy, from Oregon had flown in earlier that evening and after I picked her up at the airport, I took her to my house to freshen up and meet all my pets. We arrived at the party and found all the festivities had begun.
Soon after, I was directed to a specially decorated chair and was told I had to open my gifts. So with cautious anticipation, I sat down and was entertained by all the funny things that were inside the packages. My own sister had made sure I was decorated with several items that I had to wear throughout the night. The photos are a testament to what she did to me! I proceeded to find gifts of wine, a tulip plant, beautiful jewelery, a gift card to Gordman's, a candle, Bath and Body Works soap and funny cards to go along with all of it.

Trisa and I checking out some of the wine I received.

Cleo, her daughter and Cleo's sister, Penny

Trisa, Me and Dee in rare form!
Jamie, Tammy, Tim (sitting), Steve. Dee and Lisa with their backs to us.
Tim, Lisa and Scott with Madison.
Tracey with Madison playing with the balloons.
Jamie and his beautiful earrings!
The cake
Me and Dee
Cathy's handiwork
All the girls together

Retirement Time

Last night I attended a retirement party for one of our ramp supervisors. His name is Errol and I've known him since I started working at SWA in 1995. He had 19 1/2 years with the company. Our station manager gave a party in honor of Errol and his retirement and everyone that works with me was invited. However, the turn out was quite poor. (at least I thought so for the number of people that I work with) Granted, there were several people still working but yet there were many that simply didn't show up. Those of us that did go, had a good time.

It was held at a place called In Play, in a small room for parties. In Play is like a small arcade with games of all sorts. We had appetizers from The Stadium Bar and Grill served as well. It's part of In Play. If you click on "3D Tour" on the web site, you'll see the bar and grill and beside it to the left, with a small pool table inside, is the room where we were at for the party. Errol had some of his own family there with him and a few friends that don't work at SWA.

Errol is a great guy and I think I can speak for several when I say, "We will miss you Errol! Good luck in your home land of New Mexico!"

Errol and friends

Me, Patti, Mike and Kathy, Sandy and Paul....the station manager

Group photo of the employees with Errol

Gavin is four!

February 15Th was a special day for a special little guy. Gavin Eastman, my friends' Jamie and Trisa's little boy, had a birthday. Instead of having a party that day, it was on the 16Th at a place called Bounce U. I was unable to attend only because I was at work. But I did go to their house afterwards to give him a gift and hear all about how much fun was had at Bounce U!
Gavin was in all his glory on the living room floor. All his new toys and gifts were spread out all over! He was having a blast just seeing what all he had added to his toy collection. He and his Dad were busy trying out the remote controlled cars.
After a little birthday smooch from Gavin along with a hug, he set about opening the gift I brought. Then it was back to the action with his new toys.
Trisa then brought out the cake that had been served to everyone. I had a piece with some ice cream. Very tasty and quite colorful!

Trisa, Jamie and Gavin

Gavin and I checking out the birthday loot

Waiting for more cake!
See the evidence of cake on his chin?
Gavin being silly!

....And the Answers Are

Ok, here you go. I know that you've been wondering just who stated all the famous quotes I've been giving you this week. (Yea Right!) So here they are.
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Day One:
Quote #1...."My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; The more I give to thee, The more I have, For both are infinite." By William Shakespeare
Quote #2..."The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." By Helen Keller

Day Two:
Quote #1 "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. " By Aristotle
Quote #2 "I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor it's coming with all my heart." By Alice Walker
Quote #3 "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Day Three:
Quote #1 "Love is that condition in the human spirit so profound that it allows one to survive, and better than that, to thrive with passion, compassion, and style." By Maya Angelou
Quote #2 "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." By Lao Tzu
Quote #3 "Luv'n you is what we do!" By Southwest Airlines (Valentine's Day is our favorite holiday!)

Day Four:
Quote #1 "Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age."
By Anais Nin
Quote #2 "Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart, is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable."
By Henry Ward Beecher
Quote #3 "Love does not dominate; it cultivates." By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Day Five:
Oops....I didn't realize I duped this one...oh well.
Quote #1 "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." By Aristotle
Quote #2 "Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction." By Antoine de Saint Exupery
Quote #3 "Love is like quicksilver in the hand. Leave the fingers open and it stays. Clutch it, and it darts away. " By Dorothy Parker
Quote #4 "Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love. " By Leo Tolstoy
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Were you surprised by some of them? Or maybe you simply hadn't heard of any of them. I know I hadn't. But for the most part, I had heard or seen the majority of them somewhere.
I had fun doing this. Thanks to the few that actually wagered a guess! Did you notice the results of the poll? Check it out for yourself. Stay tuned for yet another exciting poll. ;)

I hope your Valentine's Day was very special.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today is the last of my series of famous quotes....for today's special meaning.

Quote #1 Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

Quote #2 Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction.

Quote #3 Love is like quicksilver in the hand. Leave the fingers open and it stays. Clutch it, and it darts away.

Quote #4 Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love.

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There you have it. Those are the rest of the quotes that you may peruse and try to figure out just who it was that said them. I hope it has been somewhat fun to read them. Alot of them are very intriguing and seem deep in meaning.
Tomorrow, I will let you in on the authors to them all. Some I had never heard of, some will surprise you.

I hope you have all had a lovely day and have been able to spend your day with your loved ones! Happy Valentine's Day to you all. Have a sweet day!

1 Day 'Till Valentine's Day

Here is yet another in my series of famous quotes in honor of.....yep, Valentine's Day! Friday I will tell you all the names of the quoters, if you will.


Quote #1 Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.

Quote #2 Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart, is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable.

Quote #3 Love does not dominate; it cultivates.

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Happy Valentine's Day Eve! And for those of you still waiting to find something for your loved ones, happy shopping!

2 Days 'Till Valentine's Day

Here we go again. In honor of the Valentine holiday, I'm continuing on with "loving" quotes by famous people. I haven't had any guesses as of yet, but I hope you will try to figure out just who said these lines. I will give you the answers on Friday, the day after Valentine's Day. Good luck and try not to cheat! ;)


Quote #1 Love is that condition in the human spirit so profound that it allows one to survive, and better than that, to thrive with passion, compassion, and style.

Quote #2 Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Quote #3 Luv'n you is what we do!

Good luck!

3 Days 'Till Valentine's Day

If you read yesterday's blog, you'll see that, in honor of Valentine's Day, I'm going to continue on with more quotes. Can you tell me who said them?

Quote #1 Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

Quote #2 I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor it's coming with all my heart.

Quote #3 How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I think some of you will definitely remember the last one. Kevin and Susan, I expect you two to know it for sure! ;)

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Did You Know??????

There are many opinons as to who was the original Valentine, with the most popular theory that it was a clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in ancient Rome. In any event, in 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine. Through the centuries, the Christian holiday became a time to exchange love messages and St. Valentine became a patron saint of lovers. In the 1840s, Esther Howland, a native of Massachusetts, is given credit for sending the first Valentine cards. The spirit of love continues as valentines are sent with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.

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I remember as a child, trying to come up with some original idea for a Valentine card box for school. We always exchanged them with each other in our classes, grades 1-6. Everyone was given one. And the teacher would award a prize to the student with the most original design. Mine were always the worst! A basic shoe box decorated with red and white hearts that I had cut out of construction paper. BORING!!! Some of my classmates made some very fancy boxes. I remember one that resembled a very nice house and the cards were put in through a slit that was cut into the roof top. It was cool!
Do you have special childhood memories of Valentine's Day?

4 Days 'Till Valentine's Day

I was doing some web surfing into how Valentine's Day got started today, and I came across some very well known quotes. And other's not so well known, at least to me. I decided to put some in each day this week. Your job will be to tell me if you know just who said them.

Quote #1...."My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; The more I give to thee, The more I have, For both are infinite."

Quote #2..."The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."

Later this week, I'll put in the answers so get your guesses in! Try not to cheat by looking them up! Consider this a little Valentine trivia.

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• I have added a new element to my blog. A poll! Please take part....it'll be interesting to see just what everyone prefers. I'll be putting in a new one occasionally. So try to add your vote and make this fun. It will be fun for you to return and see how people answer and fun for me as well!
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