NYR 12-31-11 - Hawaii-bound!!

Today we went to Hawaii and I am pleased - and frankly shocked- to report that we made it with no hiccups. Our connections were all pretty tight but we were able to make them all (and eat before boarding, which if you know us at all, you know is very important). For safe travels where everything worked, I am truly thankful.

Happy New Year!!

NYR 12-28-11- 3 days until Hawaii

'Nuff said for what I'm thankful for today!

NYR 8-19-11 - Delta Airlines

As you may remember, I have had a hate/hate relationship with Delta Airlines. The dregs of society used to work for Delta in the Charleston airport and therefore my trips always (ALWAYS!) started off on the wrong foot because of some surly woman who for instance, made me give up 3 pounds of black-eyed peas when we were going back to Mozambique after Mac's birth. We were hauling 300 pounds of luggage back and 3 pounds really made a difference? Really? Didn't she know I was hormonal and suffering from mastitis and was taking my precious 5 week-old back to the heart of Africa and I NEEDED THOSE PEAS FOR MY TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR'S LUNCH THE DAY AFTER WE LANDED??????

But I digress.

I am very happy to report that there have been some changes at the Delta counter in Charleston and the new employees at least have to know how to work their smile muscles. I knew that one of our suitcases was over 50 pounds but I decided I'd make adjustments at the airport. The lady was very nice and didn't even make me get down to exactly 50. Can you believe it?

We had a great flights from Charleston to Atlanta and Atlanta to Bogota. We even had individual entertainment centers on the flight out of Atlanta! I got to watch two whole, uninterrupted movies of my choice while Mac watched his movies.

For a greatly improved Delta experience, I am truly thankful.

NYR 7-24 through 7-29 - a week in the cool mountains

7-24: We arrived in Maggie Valley, NC at Jimmy’s mom’s vacation place and knew the first thing we wanted to do on our first day there was go tubing in Deep Creek. My family used to go tubing there when we were little and I knew Mac would love it as much as I did. And I wasn’t wrong!
For passing on some of my treasured childhood memories to my child, I am truly thankful.

7-25: Today Jimmy, Mac and I went with Jimmy’s stepfather to Cataloochee Valley which is one of the most beautiful, peaceful places I’ve ever seen in the United States.
The valley was populated over 100 years ago and now is just a lovely protected piece of history and beauty. We saw an elk, lots of turkeys, and some butterflies as well as some houses, barns, church, and school from the original settlement. For a chance to live for a few hours that “Little House on the Prairie” lifestyle that I always wanted as a child, I am truly thankful.

7-26: After my catastrophic rafting experience in Colombia over the Memorial Day weekend, I have sworn off whitewater rafting for awhile longer or maybe forever. But Jimmy and Mac went to raft the Nantahala today with Jimmy’s nieces. They had a ball and assured me I could have done it in my sleep but I much preferred drinking my strawberry smoothie and reading a book, both of which caused no panic attacks like the rafting probably would have!
For my boys having a great time on the river, I am truly thankful.

7-27: Jimmy, Mac and I went on an amazing hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway today. Beautiful stream with waterfalls and a natural swimming hole, fresh air and good exercise. For that, I am truly thankful.

We also went into Cherokee for the evening. The major objective was to see “Unto These Hills”, an outdoor production that’s been going on for 60+ years to chronicle the history of the Cherokee Indians, particularly around the time of the Trail of Tears. But because it’s the touristy town of Cherokee and there are a million ways to part you from your money, Jimmy and Mac went gem mining. I’m still waiting for all those rubies and sapphires and emeralds to be made into something to adorn my ears and fingers…

7-28: Today we took a final trip to Deep Creek which didn’t end so well for one of Jimmy’s nieces who ended up at the hospital with a big toe broken in four places. Jimmy, Mac and I enjoyed ourselves immensely. For another afternoon on a brilliant day in the cool water, I am truly thankful.

7-29: For a send-off breakfast of blueberry pancakes at Joey’s Pancake House, which was one of my dad’s favorite restaurants in the mountains, I am truly thankful.

NYR 7-23-11

On our drive from Northern Virginia to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, we stopped off at Barrel Oak Winery in Delaplane, Virginia to see the fruits of labor of two of Jimmy’s Georgetown classmates. A few years ago, chasing a dream of the wife to become a winemaker, they bought a piece of property an hour outside of DC. They dug in the dirt, drove post holes in, and planted grapes. They also built a fabulous building for tastings, storage, etc. The place is amazing and beautiful and I urge you to visit.

For folks who go out on a limb to chase their dreams and actually make their dreams come true by good old-fashioned hard work, I am truly thankful.


P.S. After we left the winery, we drove on I-81 for what seemed like days to get to North Carolina. We’d just gotten on 81 in what is a very residential, suburban area and a black bear came ambling across the interstate. We’re talking a major interstate highway. Jimmy saw it coming out of the median and swerved on the shoulder of the road to avoid contact. Can you imagine how we would have sounded to Hertz had we called and told them we’d hit a black bear in northern Virginia with their rental car?

NYR 7-17 through 7-22 - a week in DC

I am truly thankful...

7-17: for safe road trips and happy reunions and dinner at P.F. Chang’s

7-18: for visits to the Capitol, Library of Congress, Botanic Gardens, Air and Space Museum, and American History Museum (and air conditioning in each of those places) AND for a meal at Ben’s Chili Bowl that didn’t induce a heart attack

7-19: for discovering a new favorite restaurant in Washington, DC - Founding Farmers – that you simply MUST eat at the next time you’re there. Plan your meal in advance here.

7-20: for visits to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (money, money, money!) and the National Cathedral; a fabulous lunch at one of my old favorites Café Deluxe; a sobering but educational visit to the National Holocaust Museum; and a delicious dinner with old friends at a great Vietnamese restaurant

7-21: for surviving a really HOT visit to the National Zoo and yet another visit to the International Spy Museum and I can't remember what else because it was so stinking hot

7-22: for a White House tour (which I always love) after waiting outside for about 40 minutes on what was the hottest day in Washington, DC on record since something like 1926 (121 with the heat index) AND living to tell the tale (although I don’t think my sweat glands will ever be the same); for a light, refreshing lunch of a tomato salad at the Old Ebbitt Grill (perfect for a hot summer day); for a lovely late-afternoon visit to the Lincoln, Korean War, World War 2, and Vietnam War Memorials

Letters from me

Dear Blog: I have neglected you and I am terribly sorry. There's just so much from the summer for which I am thankful for my new year's resolution of an "attitude of gratitude". I promise to catch up on 5 weeks (!) really soon. Love, ME

Dear South Carolina Drivers: You may be the most inconsiderate and poor lot of drivers that I have ever seen. Do you not realize that you are driving tons of heavy metal that cannot stop on a dime when you're riding my back bumper and I have to stop for whatever reason but you're not paying attention because you're too busy looking down at your text messages? And the driver of that car that came to a screeching stop this morning before running a red light and barreling into my car? THANKS A LOT. Drive the speed limit in the 35 mph zone, pay attention, and maybe you'd see the light before you're going under it. Oh, and although I have a different rental car now and no longer am driving the one with a license plate from New York, I get it that you don't like cars from NY and by association, their drivers. I know you think I'm "from off", but I'd go toe to toe with you in a battle to see whose family tree roots run deepest in South Carolina dirt. So stop looking at every driver in a car with plates "from off" like they're the devil incarnate and stop waving your hands around in the car behind me to try and speed me along. On principle, and to teach you bad drivers a lesson, I'm now a devotee of driving the speed limit. Love, Me

Dear Sweat Glands: Wow, have you worked hard this summer. After nearly a year in Bogota where the temperature is usually a cool 65 with no humidity, you'd gotten out of practice of doing your job. And then I dropped you into a sticky, sweaty inferno with record-breaking temps that went on for record-breaking lengths of time. I think you have rid my body in 7 weeks of everything that it's been harboring from your lack of use over the last 11 months. Thank you. I'm leaving the sticky, sweaty inferno tomorrow for perennial spring, so you can go back into hibernation. Your service has been greatly appreciated. Love, Me

Dear Bogota: I am ready to go home. Vacation has been tons of fun but it's hard to be in vacation mode for 7 weeks. I know you don't believe me, but it's true. Try it. I'm looking forward to normalcy and routines and cooking dinner and tennis class. See you tomorrow night. Love, Me

NYR 7-16-11 - going on a vacay

Tomorrow morning, early-squirrely, Mac and I leave to drive to Washington, DC to meet Jimmy who's flying in tomorrow afternoon. Jimmy has to take a class for work, but Mac and I intend to fully enjoy ourselves. His BFF and family are meeting us there and we're stopping in Richmond to pick up Mac's British teacher from this past year to take with us. Neither the BFF and family nor the teacher have been to DC, so we're going to do all the old favorites and not-to-be-missed sites in DC.

Which means we probably will all be tired and cranky after the first day.

Which means that we may or may not stick to the very well-scheduled-out calendar I have come up with for the week.

But we do have White House tickets for Friday so we'll all have to be speaking to each other by then!

For vacation excitement, I am truly thankful.

cousins + mountains + 4th of July = GOOD TIMES

NYR 7-10-11 - quintessential summer supper

For steaks on the grill, fully loaded baked potatoes (complete with cheese, sour cream and bacon bits - oh my!), pasta salad and tossed salad - a perfect summertime supper in my opinion - shared in the company of friends, I am truly thankful.

NYR 7-9-11 - lazy afternoons at the pool

Today I got the following message from a friend from Bogota who's currently in Chicago for vacation:

"Gorgeous day at Lincoln Park Zoo. Laying in the sun with my Dr. Pepper. Remind me again why we live in cold rainy Bogota?"

I do love living in Bogota, but while my friend was at Lincoln Park Zoo, I was in the pool at our friends' house and similar thoughts about living in cold, rainy Bogota went through my head.

For sunny afternoons in the swimming pool in the company of good friends, I am truly thankful.

NYR 3-28-11 - another day, another dollar (spent)

When the outbound trip got so bungled, we decided we'd spend an extra day in SC to make up for the day we lost in Miami. So today, Jimmy spent the day with his mom and Mac, and my mom and I went shopping and out for lunch.

While we were eating lunch, Mom's cell phone rang. She wasn't going to answer it because it was an unknown 800 number, but I insisted.

Turns out it was an American Airlines automated call, telling us that our new flight on Tuesday was cancelled but that we were confirmed for flights on Wednesday.

Are.you.kidding.me?

We came home and I called American to see if we could be re-routed any other way. I got one of the three nice people who work for American Airlines on the phone. She checked all our alternatives (even flying from New York to Lima to Bogota), but everything was booked solid because there were so many people from the past few days already rebooked on these flights.

I had to send Mac's teacher an email to tell him that we were stuck and to please not let them kick Mac out of school because of unexcused absences.

And since we didn't have to go to bed early to get up at the crack of dawn for an early Tuesday morning flight, Mac went back to Jimmy's mom's to spend the night and Jimmy, Mom, and I went to see "The Adjustment Bureau" and to eat wings at The Kickin' Chicken.

For some QT with my mom and for a night at the movies, I'm truly thankful.

NYR 3-27-11 - shopping and eating!

Today, I shopped and ate lots and it was all wonderful. We caught up with family and celebrated early birthdays at Wasabi, and that, too, was wonderful.

I'm not really a negative person (contrary to how these posts are sounding), but the weather in the lowcountry was really just another indication of how ill-fated this trip really was. The week before, it was in the 70s and sunny, but our weekend weather? Rainy and in the 40s. Really glad that the one weekend in 8 months that we came home, the weather was worse at home than in Bogota!

YAY for us again.

For good deals and good food and good family, I am truly thankful.

NYR 3-26-11 - another travel day

Mac and I woke up, ate breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express Boca Raton WEST, and headed out in another $140 taxi to the Miami airport.

I've gotten used to very cheap taxis in Bogota, so to me, $140 in a taxi should have really taken me almost to the Georgia border.

After getting the taxi driver to stop at an ATM for more money, we made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

We found a nice American agent who assured us the flight was confirmed and that our luggage was the appropriate size for carry-on (DUH!), and we found our way to the gate.

Because the plane was a little plane, we loaded a bus which took us out to the tarmac to get on our plane.

Except that when the bus parked by the plane, the bus driver told us we needed to wait on the plane because there was a maintenance issue. It might take 10 minutes or 1 hour. If it was a 10-minute fix, we'd get right on the plane, but if it was a 1-hour fix, we'd go back to the terminal to wait.

At this point, I was muttering the Serenity Prayer.

Turns out it was a 10-minute fix and we loaded the plane.

As we were preparing for take-off, the flight attendant announced that due to the fuel situation, we had to stop in Ft. Myers to re-fuel because the plane didn't have enough gas to get us all the way to Charleston.

At this point, my poor sweet Mac rubbed my arm and said "it's going to be okay, Moma" so I wouldn't start crying again. Poor kid.

We took off and landed 25 minutes later in Ft. Myers (and as we landed, I could see the beach and it was so beautiful that I was tempted to stay right there). We ended up getting to Charleston around 3:45pm.

Mac went off for a night with his cousins, and Jimmy and I went off to Charleston for a night with friends. I'm sure I didn't enjoy the evening as much as I should have because I was so tired and emotionally spent.

But for being back home for the first time in eight months, I am truly thankful.

a perfect 4th of July getaway

Before I nearly had an aneurysm courtesy of Delta, I was very relaxed from a delightful getaway Mac and I had with my BFF Caroline and her family at her family's lake house in NC. The weekend was full of the most excellent company; delicious food like eggs Benedict and blueberry pancakes and Baja California-style tacos with fresh tuna and yummy shrimp; swimming, boating, and fishing; and major relaxation. I'm so glad Willie and Caroline are going to be my in-laws by Mac's marriage one day because I do so love them!!HOMEMADE doughnuts. Who knew you could actually make doughnuts at home?? Mac with his betrothed and his future in-laws! early evening boating A little early-AM fishing where Caroline caught the only two fish - no fish and grits for breakfast! festive 4th of July dining Mac and me on the dock

let the Delta games begin

I know I said in January that I wouldn't fly Delta again if it were humanly possible. But for a number of reasons, it's not humanly possible and we are scheduled to fly on Delta tomorrow.

I know I've packed much lighter than the Christmas trip, namely because I'm not toting along a bunch of Christmas presents, but I also bought a handy suitcase weighing tool and I really know I've packed much lighter. So we should avoid the ugly confrontation in the Charleston airport immediately upon arrival.

I already knew from when we booked the tickets a couple months ago that there were supposedly no two seats left together. So I chose two seats as close as possible and figured I'd deal with it at the airport.

I just did our online check-in and again there are no two open seats together. In fact, on the Atlanta-Rome leg, there are supposedly no open seats left on the entire plane. In an effort to avoid another worrying thought that would keep me up all night (last night's worrying thought was whether I'd packed socks to slip on during the flight, so no worry is too small!), I called Delta just now hoping that I'd get some sympathetic person who'd move somebody around so we could sit together.

But alas, I got a woman who didn't really care and said I'd have to deal with it in Atlanta tomorrow before boarding.

The worst case scenario as I see it is that if they don't move us together, I'll just jack Mac up on Coca Cola before boarding. How fast do you think somebody would trade seats with me then?

Silver and Gold

Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test-
Time and change-are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray;
Friendship never knows decay.
For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we our youth renew.
But old friends, alas! may die;
New friends must their place supply.
Cherish friendship in your breast-
New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.

Mac and I had the great pleasure and fun of spending this weekend with Jimmy's and my oldest, ongoing friendships. I love, love, love that our children are able to develop a second-generation friendship while we continue ours. The only thing missing, of course, was Jimmy. I was going to try to photoshop him into the photos, but alas, that's beyond my technological abilities.






And finally, the proof that a good time was had by all:

a weekend at the beach

Mac and I spent this weekend at the beach with Caroline, Willie, and Isabel (aka my future D-I-L). It was a relaxing and perfect escape from real life - great friends, great food, great fellowship. I, for one, could have stayed forever.




For the blessings of good friends, Lord, make us truly thankful.

my peeps and me over Spring Break

Mac and his buddy Logan at the Flowertown Festival (post-snow cone with blue lips!)


Start of an overnight camping trip with dear friends Dennis and Madeline


Why I refuse to do overnight camping trips, especially when there are no "facilities"


Mac and me on our trip to Fort Sumter


Jimmy and Mac on the Palmetto Trail


Jimmy and Mac at the season opener of the Charleston Riverdogs baseball game


Jimmy and Mac are big on the Pig at the Riverdogs game


Jimmy and Mac at the Family Circle Cup

The photos don't do justice to our time with Jimmy; it was magical and perfect and everything we all needed and wanted. We're counting down days until we see him again in mid-June.

bad, better and best

Bad
I just learned that my beloved blueberry scone from Starbucks has something like 22 grams of fat. That's almost a whole day's worth of fat in one little scone. Goodness gracious. I think I just ate my last one this morning.

Better
Buying this gorgeous little bundle of tulips at Publix this morning.

Best
A few nights ago after we rode a rollercoaster at Universal Studios that confirmed my bonafide dislike of rollercoasters, Mac was trying to go to sleep but told me that he kept reliving the scariness of the rollercoaster when he closed his eyes. I told him that he should think of the happiest place he knows - for me, the beach - and try to imagine himself in that place instead of on the rollercoaster. Mac laid quietly with his eyes closed for a few moments and then said that his brain was working like a remote control for the television when I told him to turn the volume down. The volume of the scary rollercoaster was gradually turning down just like the tv volume. Pretty cool analogy for a 7 year-old, I think.