Well it’s been a wild ride the past two weeks. I flew home to Asheville on a Friday night, and par for the course, Chucklebutt was running late. In all fairness, we probably would have been on time had I not left my credit card at a restaurant earlier in the day. Luckily I was checking my wallet for all of my documents when I realized it was missing. Talk about panic attack. I cussed and fussed and Chuck kept all zen which made me cuss and fuss even more. We made it to the airport with literally minutes — I mean minutes to spare. The luggage folks were yelling at me to hustle and then I had a really incompetent woman in front of me at the security check. What part of No Liquids can the American public not get? First she was trying to pass two bottles of syrup and then it was a Naglene bottle full of water. I was so frustrated! When I finally got to my gate, everyone had already boarded. I was literally the last one to board. The ticket agent commented that he was wondering where I was. He then proceeded to say there were only two seats left — one in the back of the plane and one in first class. I could choose. I thought he was joking. Turns out they overbooked the flight and for the first time ever I was flying first class!! I guess I couldn’t be too upset with Chucklebutt. 😀 Did you know that they serve your drinks in an actual glass in first class? The flight attendant came around a couple of times with treats and I didn’t have to pay ten bucks for a bag of peanuts. I was so stoked! And there was so much room for your legs. I could actually swing my legs back and forth. Ahhhhhh– I could really get used to that kind of service.
I got into the Charlotte airport around 9am. I had taken the red eye and not slept a wink. While I was waiting for the shuttle to come pick me up, I snapped a shot of Queen Charlotte. She looks over the airport and I have always loved how wispy she looks.
Mom’s birthday was on the 25th and I was lucky to be there on her special day. I love wrapping gifts and had a good time with hers.
Saturday night we all went out to dinner with her friends. It was hot and humid, but we had a great time.
There were ten of us and we had laughed and giggled all night. Incidentally, the woman to the right of Mom is ex-CIA. How cool is that?!
Mom did my hair that night per my request. It took four hands because my hair is so long.
King Arthur eat your heart out! 😀 I really want to wear my hair like this at home, but I think I made need to recruit Chucklebutt’s help.
On Sunday, we headed to the Blue Ridge Parkway and then down towards to Brevard (The Land of Waterfalls) for a picnic and swim. We stopped off at EarthFare which is an awesome health food grocery store and we stocked up on roasted garlic, St. Andre Cheese (my fav!), salami, curry chicken salad, dulmas and to-die-for-carrot cake. OMG it was delicious!! We had to pose for our yearly photo on this rock.
My mom is so darn cute!
I convinced her to go down the hill where I would brave the cold water. It has been so hot in Arizona (over 30 days of 100 degree weather), that I was so excited to go swimming.
Little did I realize it was freezing. This was as wet as I got. It was so cold, it took my breath away.
So for all of those who know me, I have been a flat chested girl all my life. When I moved to the desert I gained about thirty pounds and some serious cleavage. I’ve never had cleavage. Holy Cow!! I look like a DD. Tee hee — I’m a bit giddy about my bustline. I know I should lose some weight, but I sure would miss the Pam Anderson thing I’ve got going. 😀 When I got home, I told Chuck we were going on the South Beach Diet. I lasted exactly half a day. I did well until I was heading home for work. I had the most unbelievable craving for a Snickers Bar. I never eat Snicker Bars. I never think about Snicker Bars, but as soon as somebody said I could no longer eat them, I knew that I had to have one! I thought, “Oh my God! I could die in a car accident on my way home from work and I would have missed out on the yummy chocolate, chewy, nutty deliciousness that is a Snickers Bar. I must have one NOW!” So, I swung into a service station and ordered one right up. It was everything I knew it would be and more. Goodbye South Beach Diet. Hello portion control and exercise.
I had planned on flying back out on Tuesday, but Mom went back into atrial fibrillation. Poop and double poop! We called her cardiologist and to make a longer story short, she has an appointment with surgeon at the end of August. She is going to have a procedure done called ablation (hopefully) and I will fly back out to be with her. Needless to say, she was upset about going back into the irregular heartbeat. Chucklebutt and I agreed that it would do her good for me to stay the whole week and fly in the following Monday. We were all relieved with the decision and I have the most understanding boss in the whole world. Thank you Vanessa!
Since Mom’s energy was the pits, we caught up on a whole slew of tv shows. She introduced me to NCIS (I am completely addicted and I got Chuck hooked as well) and I introduced her to Ruby. I love me some Ruby!! She says thinks like “What the helicopter?” and “I’m so essited (excited).”
We did go out to lunch a couple times and saw the latest Harry Potter movie. It rocks and I think it might be my favorite so far. I completely have a crush on Ron Weasley. He is adorable. We also went to one of local craft fairs that we both love. We only went to one booth because of Mom’s condition , but it made it well worth it.
I am obsessed with this artist. I have two of her prints and I bought two while at the fair. This is a woodland spirit and once framed will hang in our bedroom. The original is batiked.
You know me and mermaids — I just can’t pass them up.
Another thing I did was antagonize Mom’s kitties. I love her kitties and they are so different from my own. Hope is the most gentle and is such a lover. She also has asthma and is a wheezer. You always know when Hope’s around because of the heavy breathing — “hhzzzzzzzhzzzzzzzhzzzzz…” Warning: gratuitious kitty cuteness.
Her black pads fascinate me and I always have to touch them. Scout and Daisy’s are pink.
She is so beautiful I just can’t stand it!
Can you hear it? “hhhzzzzzzzzzzzzhhzzzzzzzzzzzz..”
Finally, check out my Mom’s flower garden. It is gorgeous even though they have had rain everyday for the past month. (It rained everyday I was home.) Because they haven’t had a lot of sun, the flowers aren’t as vibrant as they have been in the past.
A perfect spot for fairies, no?
Why can’t my yard look like that? Oh yeah, I live in the desert.
So I’m back home and back to work. The ladies missed me and I missed them. I’m glad for the weekend and hanging out with Chucklebutt. He has to work Saturday night, but I hope that we can go swimming at Canyon Lake Sunday morning (hint! hint! Chuck!). Have a good weekend everyone!
