When your CEO offers...

2 tickets for a Blink-182 concert that night for free...YOU TAKE THEM!!! Seriously, my CEO just came to my office and asked me if I wanted two tickets to tonight's show. I said I would check to see if Maria was around and he said if I couldn't use them to find them a good home, not just anybody, but someone deserving them...he said start with myself. HUGE compliment for him to say that.

Called Maria, she was planning on going to Dan's baseball game, but now were are leaving work early and going to SPAC. Not a huge Blink-182 fan, but Weezer is playing and Maria is psyched for Taking Back Sunday. Plus, they are 4th row seats and I have never had seats at SPAC.

Lots to get through today but this is going to be fun!!! :)

The End of August?

Can it really be the end of August already?! Where did the summer go? Summer, what summer? That's probably more accurate. :) Weekend of memories for me...Grandma's yahrzeit was yesterday, today would have been Chelsea's 15th birthday and I have lived in my place for a year. Its amazing how time flies sometimes...

Spent Saturday with Densie which was fantstic! Shopping, laughing, good food and just catching up with an awesome friend. Lupe did double time wiggles when Densie came in...I love that.

Speaking of Lupe, her hearing seems okay. She can hear somethings...I wonder if she still has her selective hearing. However, I noticed she has a slight limp sometimes, favoring her front right paw. Took a look at it last night and realized its the nail that she hurt back in May. Looks like the nail is growning out and is a little tender. Of course I will keep my eye on it and not tell Ryann...she doesn't need the reminder of that.

Can't believe next Monday is Labor Day...so not ready for summer to be over!!!

A follow up to previous post

Yesterday was the reunion/pool party with the Big Moose group. I was wicked nervous leaving and driving over...but I had an amazing time! I hadn't seen everyone in over a year and it was almost like that year never happened. Good food, good friends and good times...what more can you ask for? Still smiling as I think about everyone today. I learned that I do have some awesome friends eventhough I met them through others...the bonds that we formed are real and lasting and that's just amazing.

Short post, sorry, lots of stories, but they can be shared in person. Happy Monday all!!!

How to have a great day...

#1 wake up to an adorable dog wanting belly scratches
#2 no traffic on the way to work
#3 getting good music in your head on the way to work
#4 Friday, payday, 'nuf said
#5 cookout for lunch
#6 work your lunch off at spin class
#7 girls' night with good friends
#8 get an email from 2 wonderful girls telling you how much they love and miss you!

Okay, I think 1-7 are pretty self explanatory, so I'll explain 8 a little. Was invited to a pool party next weekend at friends' house. Its a "reunion" of the people I used to spend July 4th with...haven't seen them in over a year. Well, two of the girls (they are both around 9 years old) sent me an email telling me how happy they are that I am coming, will have a surprise for me and that they have missed me so much. They also attached a couple of pictures of them. It COMPLETLEY made my day!

Have a great weekend all. As for me, headed to Saratoga on Sunday with JLSS, we have a special lunch planned, weather is going to be fantastic...can't wait!!!

Haircuts Rule

So, I finally did it...cut my hair pretty darn short and I LOVE it! I have been thinking about doing this for the past couple of years, but didn't feel like dealing with potentially growing it out and wasn't sure I was ready for the change. But last night, I finally did it! I will have to take pictures and post them soon. Its fun, flirty and wicked cute. :)

1 down, 45 to go...

Saturday I finally hiked a high peak in the Adirondacks! It has taken me 15 years of living in the area to finally do it, but glad I waited! Dan, Maria, Jim and I tackled Giant Mountain which is in Keene, NY (about 30 minutes outside of Lake Placid). FYI, Giant Mountain’s elevation is over 46oo feet!!! It was a beautiful sunny day and there weren't many people at the top when we got there. G oing down, we passed almost 100 heading up. We could see to Whiteface, Mt. Marcy and Lake Champlain. I made tentative plans to hike a high peak 3 years ago, but never went through with them. Instead, my first high peak was with great friends on a fantastic day...think the hiking bug may have officially bitten me, although my quads are too happy with that thought... :)

Here's a quick summary of the day...

4:30 am - alarm goes off
4:55 am - walk Lupe
5:05 am - leave apartment
5:25 am - arrive at Dan & Maria's (5 minutes late)
5:35 am - Dan, Maria, Jim and I are on the road
7:25 am - arrive at trailhead in Keene, NY
7:30 am - hit the trail
10:45 am - arrive at summit (what an AWESOME view)
11:20 am - after lunch, head back down the trail
2:25 pm - reach trailhead again

Here are pictures as proof that I actually did this.

Maria and I signing at the trailhead

The gang (Dan, Jim, Me and Maria)

Maria, Jim and I considering the rockslide we need to climb

Me at the summit...awesome view of some of the other highpeaks

Maria and I at the top (the mountain all the way to the right is Whiteface in Lake Placid)

A dog, a memory and a birthday

So I found out on Tuesday that Lupe's hearing loss is permanent and most likely a result of her age and not the recent ear infection...which has cleared up. It was really hard to get the confirmation. I remember when I found out about her eyes completely losing it and the vets telling me not to be too concerned because dogs use their hearing more than their sight. Okay, so now what? Its going to be a period of adjusting to using hand signals and trying to remember I can't call her name anymore to get her attention. There will probably be no more head cocks like she used to do when she would hear her name or a funny noise. But she is still my Lupe and I love her to pieces.

Yesterday was the 16th anniversary of my Nana's passing. Its a little bittersweet this year now that we have just lost Poppi. I can only hope that they are together again and catching up on the years that they have been apart. I think of how much has changed in 16 years and I'm saddened by all that she has missed...weddings, grandkids, great grandkids, graduations, World Series victories by the Red Sox. Nana was a HUGE Sox fan!

Today is my cousin Michael's 15th birthday...I can't believe that little newborn I held in my arms 15 years ago is now a wonderful, caring and sweet teenager. He's such a great person. I remember my uncle telling me that I was going to be his godmother and being so shocked and touched that they would want me. Just 1 more year until he can drive...yikes!!!