The ones you love

For Easter, I went to see my mom and she and I together went to see my grandparents (a lot of driving). My grandfather turned 94 on March 21; grandma turns 90 this September. Imagine how much life you live in 90+ years. These two people are amazing examples of positive thinking and working hard every single day. They are faithful and good. They are careful and smart. They love learning and books - they wrote a few about their own lives and other family members.

My mom and I made Belgium waffles with whipped cream and fresh strawberries for my grandpa's birthday dinner and he and grandma were in heaven (Meals on Wheels is not known for tasty cuisine). My grandfather told stories about things he saw and did in Europe during World War Two - about "buzzing" the Eiffel Tower, "hitchhiking" at the Munich airport to get to conference in Paris and desperately trying to get home (for six months) once the war ended. I wish I had a tape recorder in my pocket and could have recorded every precious word.

I felt grateful to them for their examples. I felt happy to be with them. I felt loved when I was with them.

March Madness

It's barely halfway through the month of March and I have been traveling. Williamsburg, Chicago and Columbia/Charlotte...very good exploring.

Before I start that - I have a new assignment at work. The 2008 Women's Summit went so well, it was decided that I might be useful in event planning (especially considering we no longer have an event staff and I have some experience). Yes, event planning is back on the resume. With that said...to all my friends who have started asking "Where did Ann go?", I am alive. I have been working to get caught up and on top of my new assignments. Between that and the travel, I have been a little "under the radar".

So, let's get you all caught up on some good times on the road.

Virgina

I have been to the DC area - and it's lovely in the fall. This was the south end of VA and in the early spring, but still lovely. Williamsburg, Hampton and Jamestown area...

The house Martha Washington grew up in.

William and Mary

Jamestown Island

Chicago

It's cold in Chicago - it may be windy, but in March that wind ain't warm. Anyway, I met some great people in our Latino market there and they are sweet, generous, and excited to build that market. They took us to some great spots to eat (veggie only), Art Institute of Chicago and John Hancock Tower (among a few cool places).

To top it all off, the hotel we've booked for our event in August put me in the Penthouse. It's bigger, nicer and far cooler than my house.

American Gothic
Pebble Beach Penthouse

86 stories above the Windy City

Columbia, SC

Lorie and I went to visit our friend Nicky. We went to Congaree National Park, Five Points Saint Patrick's Day Celebration and 5K, Columbia Zoo and Botanical Gardens, shopping, eating some good southern treats - like Hash on Rice (but not Hushpuppies). Alex (Nicky's energy-filled 3-year-old) kept us going and laughting. We had an amazing time.

Playing "sleeping"

Lorie, Nicky, Ann

Nicky and Lorie capturing the park.

Weekend Getaway

Three awesome things this last weekend:
1) some family time
2) some Lyndsey time
3) some sunshine

Ahhhhh...

My dear friend Lyndsey is getting herself hitched, so we spent time looking at photos and ideas for her wedding, drooling over her dress, and planning obnoxious games for her shower (to which she is very opposed). We talked books, ate yummy food, walked on the beach and just had such a great girl weekend. I felt spoiled. Add to that some time with my family (Michael, Cari, Kaela, Linsey, Dad and Diane) and I have only one complaint...not enough time.


Cari, Linsey, Ann and Michael

Lyndsey, Tyson and I loved the live jazz music at a great little New Orleans restaurant in Downtown Disney - the double chocolate bread pudding was to-die-for.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

It's snowing here - which to anyone living on the Wasatch Front, is nothing new. We've had some really nutty weather. The upside is a beautiful spring, so it all comes out in the wash.

Today is Valentine's Day. My dear brother sent me flowers (which totally made my day) and my friend Lorie gave me an adorably hideous "Love Stinks" doll, which makes me giggle every time I look at it. Tonight, it's pizza, popcorn and a chick flick with my gal pals. The good news is this requires no dressing up, overpriced meals or attempts to behave in a lady-like manner. This is not to say that we will regress into grunting cave women, but we will all just relax and enjoy the evening with people we feel totally comfortable around - sounds great to me!

At the risk of full-fledged cheese - I am grateful for the people in my life who love me and let me love them. That's a blessing I get everyday!

Costco, anyone?

I have an event at work this weekend (which has made my life a little nutty lately). Today was shopping day at Costco. Most of the meals are being prepared by the event staff instead of catering, so...$600 and two hours later, a flatbed trolley and a huge shopping cart were heaping with food. Next? Get all that food and three grown women into my rental car (I hit ice over the weekend and ended up in a ditch, so the Matrix is in the shop).

We did it all in one trip (go, go Dodge Avenger), so chalk up all that time playing Tetris as real-life preparation. The car rode a little low in back on the way back to the office - perhaps it was the nine cases of water?

Greatest Thing in the World...

The solid blessing in my is my family of friends. They watch out for me, cheer me on, and are always around when I need a new DVD and sound system set up. Here's a few of the lovely souls who make my life so much fun.

Mike - always ready to party.

Lorie and Lori are clearly a lively bunch.

Ann and Lori at yet another one of Ann's work gigs...I owe her big!

Lorie, Ann and Catherine all smart-looking in black?

My plan...

I remember adults telling me as a child “Time goes by faster as you get older.” Tell that to a kid waiting for Santa to come or an upcoming vacation and you might as well be telling her that one day she will not grow up to be a princess or ballerina; it doesn’t make any sense. Time does go by faster now that I am older. I feel like when I look up every once and awhile when I wasn’t paying attention, a month has passed. This year was no exception.

So, here I am at the start of a new year. I can’t say that I am one to make a big deal about New Year’s resolutions. I don’t believe that bad habits will disappear or good habits will appear simply because I decided to write it all down and posted it on the fridge or mirror. With that said, I also believe in new beginnings. It doesn’t matter if it’s the start of a new year or simply a new day – start with a plan and execute it.

I have a general idea of what I would like to do for 2008, but not exactly a plan. At the risk of sounding down-on-myself, I have a plan to make a plan for almost every area of my life. Does anyone have any good ideas for how to plan to make plans to make life a little better?