Loni's Life

This was our day in CocoCay aka Little Stirrup Cay.    We started off on the 'tenders' over to Royal Caribbean's private island after breakfast in the Windjammer Cafe.   We managed to get on one of the first ones leaving the ship.    We checked in and got our floating mats and I picked up snorkeling gear and went to the orientation.   The water was chilly but not unbearable.  Not any worse than my beaches in Kauai.  It was quite windy and the water was choppy.   Since we were off the ship so early, there was no one in the water for quite a while.  One guy went out there in his snorkel gear, but just stood around for a long time.  I finally, sunblocked up and donned my gear to go snorkeling.   Water was a bit choppy which made for not the best visibility in the sandy areas... quite truthfully, I was thinking that I get much better visibility and fish varieties snorkeling at Poipu Beach, Kauai (com...

BFF and I took a short cruise to the Bahamas in 2007 in celebration of my birthday.  It was day 1 of hurricane season and Tropical Storm Barry arrived to stir up weather in the Carribbean.    This year, we took the short hop again mainly to give me something different to do with the first Thanksgiving weekend in 20 years as a non-married person.   It was also just for some rest and relaxation for BFF without having to study for her audit certification exams or write up work papers or audit reports- just to relax in the sun and chill. We left at 03:30 on Black Friday for the 05:45 flight from DFW to Miami.   There are no Starbucks open at 03:30.. and the Starbucks at the terminal that was supposed to open at 05:00 was running late, so alas, BFF did not get her travel morning Starbucks to start her morning just right.    Off to the First Class upgrade that BFF's many travel miles on the company were able to get us, woohoo. First class is nice with e...

One of my Santiago teammates asked this morning how was my Thanksgiving? Well, in all honesty, it was a different Thanksgiving since my divorce was finalized; but it was still filled with the most important things ~ family, food, fun and giving thanks.  We started the day with buttermilk pancakes made from scratch with both of Mama's boys in house.. and an added bonus, Kyle was at home from Butler for the week to also dance in The Nutcracker with Chamberlain School of Performing Arts .   While the boys were playing games and catching up; and Mama was working on some quilting and resting her sore back; I was organizing stuff in what has been my room for the past 7 months to get it transported to my new home.  Along the way, there were episodes of Shaun the Sheep via Netflix. In the afternoon, Mama told the Boys that needed to be sure to call Granny and Grampa Jack.  I was like, my only remaining Grandma is nearly 100, there's a 5 hour time zone difference, a...

It's the first Thanksgiving in just over two decades that I haven't woken up to spend it with my now ex-husband.   No cinnamon rolls or rice krispie treats to start the day.   But in the next hour, I'll be sharing Thanksgiving breakfast pancakes with family.   While not related by blood or marriage, they are truly family.   They've seen me thru one of the most challenging and emotional years of my life. Their home is my home, literally.. well for the past seven months anyhow.   The boys have ended up sharing the youngest's room while I have been in the safe haven that is the eldest's room.   They are such great kids.. or rather young men... I am very blessed to have them in my life.   The eldest is always full of interesting chatter; and the youngest always makes me smile or laugh.   It's been a real treat and a blessing to be able to get to know them better.   Their Mama is my adopted mama.. even though by age-alone, she is only in th...

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!  I didn't get in any stamping time today, so this is a repeat from last month's SU Stars Blog Hop.. but it's so pretty and it fits today's holiday and sentiment perfectly.  Stamps: Day of Gratitude   Ink: Cajun Craze Paper: Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Whisper White, Autumn Spice Designer Series Paper Accessories: Designer Buttons/Regals, Hemp Twine, Paper piercer & Mat pack, Stampin' Dimensional I'm thankful most of all for family and friends and the generally good health enjoyed by them.   I am thankful for my hubby and our furbaby Mocha - spoiled though she may be.. which means I'm also thankful that I have the means to spoil the furbaby.  I am thankful that my natural-born family is doing well and that the seniors in my life are in fairly good health and good spirits.   I am very thankful for my extended family of Mina, Mama Cheryl, Auntie Jill and their respective entourages.  I'm thankful for a job...

It was a good weekend... we had the 3rd SU STARS Blog Hop.. I got some knitting done.  I went with Mama to drop off her sewing machine at the hospital for repairs and then was quite entertained while watching them tackle the baby Bernina.. which after working on the Big Bernina is like landing on another planet almost. I attended church services on Sunday with Mama, Auntie J, and BFF to hear the Youth Pastor give is final sermon at this church as he is headed to another post.   After services, we went to Mama's for a Thanksgiving Breakfast since each of us will be spending the actual holiday with our natural blood or marriage families and assorted other friends.      We had a very nice feast of scrambled eggs with diced ham and cheese; home made from scratch buttermilk biscuits with an assortment of toppings; and fresh fruit- strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.    I wasn't too keen on the blackberries at first... sin...

There was absolutely nothing that I needed to be up before the sun to go brave parking lot warfare; fighting over door busters with other crazed shoppers, and not to mention the lines to pay.... Instead, I started off my morning with Blast of the Turkey Spin class down at PCF. Got a quick shower, then met up with BFF and her DH for lunch (my DH was busy with his mom); then rode out to deliver a 7-up pound cake to one of BFF's friends; then back home for a nap. Post nap, headed to the gym for a free workout session with a personal trainer... so hammered lower body and cardio this morning and the trainer hammered upper body and abs... should sleep well tonight. Still have 2 more days to play this weekend... and need to get my Christmas wishlist together plus work on my Christmas shopping and/or making of gifts.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009! I'm thankful for friends and family; a good job that I enjoy most of the time, a roof over my head, food to eat and and abundance of blessings each day. Bless all our service men and women protecting our freedoms. I had a great day today. Hubby baked cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I did an easy Zone 2/3 ride at the gym for an hour. I had Black Eyed Pea pot roast, mashed potatoes, baby carrots and pumpkin pie for lunch. Enjoyed time at a Thanksgiving potluck and Dallas Cowboys watching party.. I only had a deviled-egg half, 4 crackers, and some cinnamon pecans during the game. I had turkey, stuffing, asparagus, mashed potatoes for dinner... and I packed canned pineapple and sugar-free applesauce for dessert. I hope that my friends and family had an equally enjoyable day.

Had a lovely day. It started with my hubby having baked the pumpkin pie for our contribution to the potluck dinner and also serving me breakfast in bed ~ a breakfast burrito and a glass of low-fat milk. We surfed thru the advertisements for 'Black Friday'. Then he went off to do some honey- do's at his mom's and then take her to Thanksgiving lunch. I spent the morning happily knitting and also checking in with the half of team in Santiago since they were not on holiday; but we still need to get our December project done and to production on time. Resolved their questions and issues and then took a nice long hot bath, a small snack, and then a short nap; then got dressed for the potluck. Looked at the ads again and pretty much decided there wasn't just a whole lot that I wanted or needed to get up and be at the store at 4am for or whatever; so then I gathered up my knitting project and off to the potluck gathering. Arrived sometime during the 2 nd quarter ...

On this day, I want to give thanks for the many blessings in my life. For my dear hubby who served breakfast in bed today and baked pumpkin pie for our contribution to dinner tonight, for running my bubble baths, and for the many other things small and large he does for me and our life together For my health and that of my friends and family. For being born in America and being allowed to enjoy the many freedoms that we probably take for granted. For my dear friend C for always being there to encourage and inspire and for sharing her love of family and friends with the world. For my best galpal M... always my #1 fan in good times and bad, her friendship and sisterhood mean more to me than words can adequately express. For having family in Hawaii so that I always have a tropical vacation spot when needed ~ and being able to go there in January to celebrate my Grandma's 97 th birthday. And especially for being able to share a 3rd trip to the Islands with my Dad and to have my be...

O drat that C... she invited me to the preschool Thanksgiving pageant and now this song is stuck in my head... Oh, I'm glad I'm not a turkeyA turkey, a turkey Oh, I'm glad I'm not a turkey On Thanksgiving Day They'll stuff you and baste you And then they will taste you. Oh, I'm glad I'm not a turkey On Thanksgiving Day And here's a video on YouTube so it can be stuck in your head too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhIvfXThuoY And for another hilarious Turkey Song that will stick in your head, try this I will Survive Disco Turkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd4h5xKLGuE