Hyperactive Kitties

Borat & Juno…I wish they would relax a little, ya know?

Make your sassy face…

Waterstreet Reunion!

It is funny how fate works…isn’t it?

After my last post, I decided to send out a quick email reminder about this blog page…since everyone is busy & it’s easy to forget to check out all the fascinating things I write about here on a daily/hourly basis. A few hours after I sent it, I received an email from my old friend and former co-worker, Danielle, who was in town visiting relatives…right down the street!! (How ironic!)

A little background…

In 2001, my Momma #2 and long time boss asked me to begin working in her boutique- Waterstreet Station. Her right-hand girl in the shop was her niece, Danielle. Although she often had to reprimand me because after all- she was my manager (and I was a busy 17 year old, with much more on my mind than selling the hell out of some clothes) we became fast friends.

I always valued her friendship and advice, be it about relationships, friendships, work, or fashion. After our years at Waterstreet ended, we continued to stay in touch with each other, trading pictures and stories- from college to moves to getting engaged and married to having our little ones. (Ironically, our little ones are only two weeks apart!)

That being said- you can imagine my excitement when I found out we were in town at the same time. We made plans to meet at the playground downtown and have lunch. Ironically- in the same place that we spent many afternoons, many years before- selling lots of tourists lots of stuff they really didn’t need.

We had a wonderful lunch at Ortega’s Grill, formerly known as the Green Dolphin Pub, which was where we all had drinks before we moved on from Waterstreet. Danielle told me that Donetta (Momma #2) was working up at the salon and wanted us to stop in. It was almost surreal for us to be their with our little ones, so many moons later. After we left the salon, we talked a lot about all that we learned from Donetta. Whether she realizes it or not…she made both of us who we are today- and I know neither of us will ever be able to thank her enough for that. (And Donetta, that means both the good and the bad…b/c you taught me how to put my hand on my hip & stick my looong index finger in someone’s face when I’m mad!! And I love you for it!)

Little Dominic & Danielle

Aunt D & Little MIss

Danielle got slide duty…& the little ones were so grateful!

First Class Stinks! (Literally)

“The grass is always greener on the other side.”

My Daddy used to tell me this a lot when I was little. I always appreciated everything I had growing up- and still do. But there were times when my friends would have things that I didn’t and an ounce of jealousy would get sprinkled on top of the appreciation. He would always break it down for me- “You have a horse…you have both parents…you have, etc. Would you trade even one of those things, for what they have?” Never.

I was reminded of this yesterday during my flight(s) out to Casper, WY. I had two layovers, one in Cincinnati and one in Salt Lake City. Both were hardly layovers, as I had to run across the airport to catch both my flights…leaving just enough time to catch my breath before taking off.

When I got onto the plane in Cincinnati, I turned to the right- as always…and started looking for my seat number- 3A.

What? Why are these seats in the 20s and going up?

The flight attendant could see the confusion on my winded face and offered her assistance.

Oh, Ma’am…you are in first class.

REALLY? Are you sure?!

I’d never flown first class before so I immediately got super excited. (And also immediately thought “This has to be a mistake. But, whatever!”) I put down my bag and sat in the enormous (and comfy) seat. The flight attendant got me something to drink and I settled in for takeoff. I wondered if I’d ever want to fly in coach again, considering all the leg room and accommodations. That thought was halted when the person seated next to me arrived.

Let me just say…the grass might be greener- but that doesn’t mean a hill of beans if it smells like pure shit. This older lady smelled horrible. I’m not sure if she had a chronic gas problem or what but- it was impossible for me to breath the entire 3 hours. Honestly, I thought I was going to throw up. (And let this be known…the hot towels they give you up there, only made the smell worse.)

Aside from the odor, my other first class companions had absolutely no personality. In fact, they looked at me like “Why is this young, skinny, bitch in first class? Ugh, she is in jeans…” I made an attempt to bite the bullet and speak to Mrs. Stinky-Britches and she mumbled an answer and looked away. However, she had no problem chatting it up with Mr. Dick Snobby in the opposite row. (He was clearly not in nose-shot of her.)

I have never appreciated a tini-ini coach seat more than when I got on my connecting flight in Salt Lake City. It was a pleasure to sit in the cramped seat, next to a normal person and smell nothing but jet fuel.

Playtime!

Little Miss and I had planned to go see my Aunt Hope this morning for the first time since her surgery, but she thinks she may be coming down with a cold- so we decided to let her rest up and headed to the playground instead!

It was a gorgeous morning and the playground was not crowded at all. In fact, we were the only people there! Little Miss really enjoyed the slide and walking back and forth across the little bridge.

I think she was amazed how blue the sky was. She kept looking up in awe of it.

We walked around the docks and looked at all the boats. Little Miss was much more interested in running and being silly in the grass.

After we watched the boats for a bit, we walked over to the Roanoke Marshes lighthouse. It’s funny to call it a lighthouse because during my entire childhood- the area where the lighthouse is now was a “shit factory.” They built the replica lighthouse about 6 years ago…leave it to the Outer Banks to make something touristy out of something shitty, literally!

Every picture I took seemed like it was something out of a magazine. I have done photoshoots on these same docks in the past, but I’ve never been on this side of the lens. I think you tend to appreciate your surroundings more when you look at them through a camera lens, as opposed to looking at them in a rush on your way to work, school, etc. What a gorgeous place.

And again, we’re off to the farm to play with the horses. More pictures later!

Cowgirl, Baby!

Trouble, Little Miss & I, riding around Wanchese