Friday At Last

This week seemed to go on forever but it's Friday at last.

I know that I have mentioned before on this blog that parking is a issue at my workplace. It's a huge hospital complex and there is some 30,000 employees, between the school and the medical center. I have to pay to park and I have a permit that sticks to my windshield. For reasons that will go unspoken, I had to take my permit off of my windshield on Tuesday. I forgot to put it back on and when I came out to my car on Wednesday this is what I found:




A ticket for $20! So I had to e-mail the "Parking Referee" and protest the ticket, seeing as I have a permit; it just wasn't on my car. Hopefully they will waive the ticket seeing as I already pay enough to park!

Tonight we went to dinner with the usual people. It sure gets dark early now, and Daylight Saving time will end in a few weeks so it will be getting dark even sooner!
One thing I really hate about Winter is that it's dark in the morning when I go to work and dark when I come home from work! Dark, dark, dark!!

Last night we watched No Country For Old Men. If I recall correctly, it won Best Picture last year. Anyway, it was the kind of movie that when it ended, Rich and I looked at each other and went "Huh?" It was a dark (there's that word again!) movie, violent and gross in places. It's the kind of movie that you have to watch a few times to get the drift, if you know what I mean.

I forgot to mention that last Saturday, Marie and I went to a sub wide garage sale in the complex where my SIL's mom lives. It was HUGE! I bought two small long baskets that I am using in the medicine cabinet upstairs. They work pretty good and keep things organized. I also got a Pampered Chef food chopper. It's in very good condition. Shauna had one when she was living here, that I was using and she had the audacity to take it with her when she moved out! Anyway, I'm glad to have it again. We walked all over the complex. I even saw someone that I used to know at a prior job I had about 5 years ago. It was nice to see her.

Well, time to go stick my nose in my latest book.

Colors

It's been really beautiful out these last few days, but Fall is definitely in the air! The trees haven't started changing yet, it's a little too soon. I realized when I was doing the photo challenge, that I don't have many pictures of beautiful fall colors. I'm going to have to change that! One of the best places to see them is out the cafeteria window at my workplace. We're up on a hill and the view is so pretty when the trees are in full color. I will be taking pictures for sure!

Last night we had someone come over to talk about having our kitchen redone. It's pretty outdated. I plan on getting new cabinets, counter top, sink and faucet, garbage disposal, and maybe flooring. We have a trash compactor that we probably will get rid of to get more cupboard space. It's a big undertaking and my head is filled right now with what I want and how I want it!

Went to the doctor yesterday for my 3-month blood work. I gained some weight but I knew that already! Hopefully my A1C, which is the three month average sugar level, hasn't risen. I would be bummed. Anyway, I have to get back on track right now. Cruise is only 4 months away!

That's all for now I'm going to post this and call it a entry!

The Brenda Photo Challenge-Changing Seasons

This photo challenge is hosted by Amanda at Penny'n'pounds Thanks, Amanda, for hosting and coming up with this very appropriate theme!

As much as I can complain sometimes about the Michigan weather.. I truly love the changing seasons....

From newly planted flowers in the spring..

to walks alongside streams in the summer.



From the beginnings of fall color in the trees....


to waking up to a beautiful winter morning.

Mom

Today would have been my mom's 76th birthday.




We should be celebrating.
Instead, cancer took her from us when she was barely 70.

It sucks.

Happy birthday, mom.
I love you. I miss you still, everyday.

Vegas Vacation

After a very tubulent flight, we got home from our Las Vegas vacation on Monday morning at approximately 5:05 a.m. It was a great trip but exhausting between the staying up late every night, getting up early every morning and the 3-hour time difference. We were still beat three days later!

It was hotter than blazes there. The temp was over 100 everyday and the sun was relentless.



I wanted to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially because they had a great lazy river and wave pool,



but it was hard to stay out there for any length of time without feeling like you were getting scorched!

We did manage to see some sights. Went to the top of the Stratosphere to take some awesome night pictures of the strip.



Went downtown for the Freemont Street Experience.



We visited the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage where they had three white tiger cubs who were all sleeping;



and the cutest little baby dolphin (click on to enlarge).



Had dinner one night at the Hard Rock Cafe.



And finally we went to Red Rock Canyon which was really breathtaking.




It was a lot of fun.

In Rememberance

Brendas Photo Challenge..Things With Wings

Thanks to Shannon at Paint Mine Pink for hosting this Brenda Photo Challenge.

I'm heading out of town tomorrow morning and will catch up with you guys on Monday!
In the meantime, enjoy!

These guys were just hanging around in my backyard..just kidding. This was taken at the Detroit Zoo last year. I LOVE their bright colors!

Very large plane flying low over the local park!

This was given to me by a very special friend of mine. It's one of my favorite things!

Labor Day Weekend

I have a love/hate relationship with Labor Day Weekend. First I love it because it's a three-day weekend. Usually we have pretty good weather, not like Memorial Day weekend when it's a crap shoot! But I hate it because it's the end of summer, kids go back to school so traffic gets heavier in the morning and winter is right around the corner! Anyway, this weekend so far has been pretty good.

Yesterday we went to the Michigan State Fair.




Saw some animals:










We ate some healthy food:



Saw these little quail chicks who were so cute and tiny I wanted to take one home!


In the evening we went to Kensington Metropark to do some metal detecting. This was our take:



Four dimes, a nickel and two pennies! Woo hoo!