Oh my...

yeah, well, it's not Thursday and here I am posting, you are surely as shocked as I am!

I missed last week since we were in L.A. and I wanted to atleast note we are back. Well, maybe I should clarify that "we" as in we were back and one of us has gone again...back to L.A. but not the one in California, the other L.A. the one that we affectionately call lower Alabama. That's right MiB is back in Montgomery he was there a few days before we left, and now is back. A lot of things are wrapping up before the holidays really kick in that he needs to attend. As a matter of fact if it would not have been Thanksgiving week, I would have went as well. Maybe next time :)

So the California trip was good, less jaw dropping this time since it was my second go 'round, but it was still a great time, learned some new things and got to have Sprinkles again!!!! And believe it or not the cupcake eating made me think of this lady, who is always so super sweet and pops in on me regulary with encouraging, uplifting words! Thanks Susie.

BTW I had three of those super delicious cupcakes over three days this year...carrot, which by far was my favorite, pumpkin, close second, lemon and milk chocolate, good, very good, but nothing to really get overly excited about! Whoops, guess I had four!!!! It was all I could do NOT to tear into the ones we brought home for "three doors down" Their flavors were strawberry, which I have never had, pumpkin, chocolate marshmallow and milk chocolate.

On top of that we stopped back in at this little piece of heaven where I enjoyed with my MiB a Passionfruit/Coconut swirl with toppings of blueberry, strawberry and pomegranate seeds. Oh, it was wonderfully delicious.

We also had great burgers and fries at the Beverly Hills Diner on Thursday night, which is on the corner of Santa Monica and Beverly Drive. For the middle of BH it was a great little place with just what we were looking for, nice semi greasy burgers and crispy, hot, fat fries. They also had milkshakes that looked incredibly good, but we knew we wanted PinkBerry so we passed, which was really tough cause the people behind us had one and they were HUGE.

Lunch on Friday was another treat for our tastebuds as we dined with the Bird on Italian fare. Soooo good, I was totally impressed with this place, without a doubt the best I have had since leaving Italy. DaPasquale's nailed not only the food but the cappuccino, it was fabulous! We will definitely go back if we have the opportunity.

On Thursday evening after our diner meal we also strolled down Rodeo Drive which was pretty neat. They already have their Christmas decorations up so it was very nice to take it all in with the holiday visuals and especially in the evening hours. By far we loved the penguins in the fountain with their holiday ties on the best, that was super cute! But the late breaking news is that when we went back to stroll on Friday afternoon we actually made a purchase at the COACH store...yeah, I know, I couldn't believe it either; and get this, it wasn't even for me!! MiB needed a new wallet so we came out with one that should last awhile. He doesn't get it until Christmas but so worth the wait...it's a very nice wallet.

The sad thing about this trip is that I took pictures only with my phone so I don't have any uploads, but the good news is that a new camera is on the top of my Christmas list so I think MiB will need to go shopping...

Enough from me; I am so tired and so ready to be in my jammies and do some before bedtime reading before I slip off into dreamland. It's been a long day and I am very much looking forward to a good night's sleep. Night!

Oh Happy DAY!

It's once again Thursday, but it is not just ANY Thursday, it is the day after Veteran's day, which I am very proud of the Veteran's in my life, one of whom has a birthday today...Happy Birthday J! I know you are celebrating BIG and having all the sweets A will allow, which probably include but are not limited to, cake, pie, cobbler, ice cream, probably even someone brought you donuts this morning and without a doubt if there is pudding to be had I know you are having some :) I am so honored to know you and pleased that you have been such a huge part of my life from as far back as I can remember. I am thrilled that you are my dad's best friend, you two are a riot and it's always fun when we are all together, I am only sad that you no longer live in Nevada but it is what it is and the best part is we will all spend eternity together. Again I wish you a very, very HaPpY bIrThDaY today and as many more as the Lord sees fit to bless you with!!!!

I am in the midst of packing for the Cali trip...this is no small undertaking when you consider every day of this trip has me in two different wardrobes. The dress for the conference each day is business attire, then each evening is another style from Sunday night's smart casual, to Monday evening being semi formal, then on Tuesday is it semi casual, Wednesday is cocktail attire, then Thursday it is back to smart casual. Friday is the all out formal for the AFA sponsored AF Ball. It is so hard to really know what to take that will work because even with the guidance I am given there will be those who really dress to the nines and those who have on totally inappropriate attire (like the guy who wore shorts and flip flops to the smart casual event). I try to be comfortable in my skin and in the mix of what qualifies for the guidelines given me by protocol and not embarrass myself! Of course, I am also trying to mix and match my wardrobe pieces but the shoes for each type of clothing is really throwing me off. However, I think I am finally getting it narrowed down! Also we are touring the Boeing facility on Thursday morning and the requirements for that little adventure are long and tedious!! No exposed skin between your pants and your shoes, no perfume, no open toed shoes, no hair accessories, no clothing that sheds, heels that are less then 2 inches and that have at least a one inch minimum surface to name a few and on top of that we will put on "clean suits" and will not be allowed to take notes, purses or electronic equipment to include a camera. I cannot remember the last time I had so many rules for a tour! Sometimes, I wish I had a uniform like MiB then there would be no question of what to wear for the majority of events!!!!

Anywho, I am really looking forward to the trip; even though it is a full schedule it is a fun one! MiB will be briefing this year and that is always fun for me to get to be in on! There will be much to be learned, lots to bring back, along with friendships to rekindle and new ones to forge. What a great way of life the USAF provides, we know it's a small world and each year of this life in the blue we are amazed at how much smaller it gets! How neat it is to see who we will know and who we will get to know.

Oh, and we musn't forget we are again privileged to be able to stay at that swanky hotel again this year!!! The one that we had a room in the pool cabana, with our own "pool boy" who brought me water while I napped on the lounges. Oh my, I am looking forward to that again, what a place!

Thoughts:

• I don't like turkey :(
  
• I really am a traditionalist...
• I am enjoying a cup of Earl Gray!
• I love the brisk fall like weather we are having today!
• I am a petite, which makes clothes shopping challenging.