Summertime....

Lil' Woman just posted this about her summertime plans, so I thought I'd join in the fun! (And, let's be honest... I'm dragging you know what today, so I really lacked inspiration for le blog, so this works)

Here's what's going on this summer in the land o' chaos.

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Rome, Italy

Well hello there, Trevi Fountain. I can't wait to see you again. The Boy and I are venturing to Italy with some of our favorite friends. We'll spend five days in Rome and three in Venice. I am SO excited to spend travel abroad again. I was lucky enough to study abroad and visited Rome on a college student's budget. This time I'll be doing it right!

(photo: mine)

Michigan

It won't be nearly as glamorous as Italy, but it will include lots of Mom time (which I desperately need) and cousin time. It will also include friend time. But mainly, I'll be in Michigan. Surrounded by friends and family who all have the same accent I do. The people who love me unconditionally. I'll also get a chance to see my puppy, Leila. And I'm CERTAIN it will involve the lake, or pool.

(photo: mine)

Preparing for Next Year...

Every teacher does it. We're getting a new reading program (Treasures? Anyone out there have any ideas for me?) so I want to get a leg up on planning my units and themes. Plus, it actually keeps me sane.

Other Various Adventures

I don't have a lot planned and I'm okay with that. I have a few inservices planned, and I'll be working with our summer school program in an admin capacity. So I'll be busy for most of the month of July. Except on Fridays. Thank goodness. I do know I'll be kayaking at least once, in addition to white water tubing (Sara-- I'll miss you on this adventure!), and a wine tasting.

Not that I'm counting, but there are only 9 days left of school.

Livin' it up in ATL...

Ah.. a recap of my weekend in Atlanta. I had a great time visiting my dear friend, Jessica. We spent a lot of time relaxing, playing with her adorable puppy, and drinking some adult beverages. Pure bliss. Allow me to take you on a photographic journal of my weekend. Photos courtesy of my cell phone, so not so much the best quality. I think, perhaps, the best part of the photos will be my witty remarks.

Without further adieu, my weekend in pictures and words...

Ahh.. in the state where coke is made and my true desire is Diet Pepsi. Yes, Diet Pepsi, I love you. I love you more than Diet Coke. And I especially love the thrill of the chase. Thank you for making my weekend. And yes, that is me kissing my Diet Pepsi. I love it that much.

Well, well.. what do we have here? Oh! That would be a censored magazine cover. Dearest Atlanta, I know that you are conservative and all. But really? Is there anything we need to cover up on this cover? It must be the guide to great hair. We know all southern belles need to hide their secrets to great hair.

Ahh... and perhaps every trip needs a little chocolate. Jessica took me to a wonderful cafe called Cafe Intermezzo. Apparently it hosts the world's largest espresso machine, but I missed that because I was blinded by all of the desserts.

And yes, a visit to The Weather Channel. Good friend Jessica happens to work there, so we took a tour. I thought it was totally neat to see the inner workings of The Weather Channel, including some live telecasts and seeing where Jessica records her segments. No, she's not on television, she's on the radio. But, in my opinion, she could totally be on tv.

My apologies if you were hoping for some great photos of the scenery, but I'm just not that girl. And yes, all pictures required a lot of forethought and some even required super steal mode.

Vacation...

Ideally, I'd love to be someplace warm like here...

But I'd even take a weekend in the mountains in. I wouldn't even whine about the snow. Pinky swear. I just need to get away... relax... drink some wine...read a good book...

For now? I'll just dream. Or read a good book.

2010

In light of the craziness that has been my life the past few months, I feel like now is a good time to set some goals for myself. These are things I hope to accomplish this coming year. Things that I may not have been able to accomplish prior to my current situation, or things I may never have dreamed of until now.

So here it is.. in pictures (and words for you less visual readers).. my goals for 2010.

1) Travel to three new places.
I love to travel, but I often find myself returning to places I've already been. I already have a trip to Atlanta planned, so that is why I'm pushing myself to try three new places. They don't have to be huge excursions, just want to get myself out of my comfort zone, try something new, and hopefully find a new place to treasure.

2) Go skydiving.
(credit: Skydive Orange)

I enjoy flying and I am a thrill seeker. I'm pretty sure this is right up my alley. Plus, I have a friend or two who might be willing to join me.

3) Share a meal with a complete stranger.
(the people in this picture are not strangers, they are just strange-- it's my family!)

This could be completed in many different ways. It may be a date, a new friend, or just a stranger I see in a restaurant. I don't care. I just want to share a meal with a stranger.
We should, however have an emergency back up plan. How about this-- if I leave a blog post with nothing in it, you know I'm about to be killed by a complete stranger and call the police for me. Deal?

4) Make someone's day, everyday.

I have had an outpouring of support from family and friends these past two months, now I can return the favor. Just a smile in someone's direction, or heartwarming words when they are down... something to make their day.

*All images belong to me or my family, except skydiving.

Vacation Ideas?

Alright ladies (and gentlemen?)... I need your help yet again.

Hubby and I are talking vacations. Here are some of the ideas we're tossing around.

• Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Key West- to explore the keys, duh.
• Glacier National Park- gotta visit before those glaciers melt.
• Arizona- to do some hiking, visit the Grand Canyon, etc. but hubby has one heck of a stress fracture and he's not so sure he'll be able to hike.

I suggested North/South Carolina, but we're not sure there will be enough to do to keep us busy. I'm a total beach bum, Hubby is not-- so we have to do some compromising, of course. Anyone out there know anything about vacationing in the Carolinas?

Any other suggestions? Keep in mind, we want it to be affordable so travel outside of the States is probably out of the question.

The advantages to doing the Carolinas would be the fact that we can drive, so we're not really stuck to any set schedule and can drive at our leisure. If we do Glacier National Park or Arizona, we're looking at a really long car ride- I'm not such a good co-pilot in the car- I'm either a horrible backseat (front seat?) driver or one heck of a sleeper.

What do we do?!