Sooo, is it just me, or has blogger changed their layout JUST a little? I'm starting to wonder if this post is actually going to get posted where I want to to be or not . . . I guess that's what I get for neglecting the blogging world for so long. Well, I have an excuse, or many excuses. So the last time I posted was mid-November . . . let's see if I can come up with a few pictures since then.
For Thanksgiving we were able to go to Rob's sister's place in Ohio and spend a few days with her family and their parents. We had a nice relaxing time and enjoyed hanging out with family. Isn't this just the most amazing looking Turkey? Well it tasted even better than it looks. Thanksgiving was wonderful.
For Christmas we went to Rob's parent's place in Maryland. Again, it was an excellent few days with the family. This picture is of the game, smess, which I never played, but it's pretty much the only picture of our time there. We also went to Laurie's house and spent time with her and the boys. I'm so thankful that I decided to quit school and go off to New York and be their nanny over a decade ago. So happy that they are my other family.
Promptly after Christmas I was off once again to Pasadena to work at the Rose Parade. It was my third year, and I practically had my own float to work on this year!
It was the Microsoft Kinect Float, and it was amazing. I also helped
out with the Bayer Advanced and US Bank floats, which both won awards!
Here I am with Tom and Juan, my partners in crime. I love Pasadena and the Rose Parade!
Rob and I have gone to Niagara Falls twice now. It's only about half an hour away, so anyone that wants to come see the waterfalls with the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world (and us!) then you better come and visit us! We do have an extra room and would love to have visitors (thanks for being the first family visitor, cousin Brenna!!)! Can you believe this picture was taken on January 6th? The winter here in buffalo was awesome, btw.
Mid-January I took a quick trip down to Maryland and Virginia to pick up a car that Keri and Cody (Rob's sister and our B.I.L.) were graciously giving us. I spent an evening out with Kami, my BFF from VA, and we had a great time.
In February I went down to Manhattan to work with
Starbright Floral Design for the Valentines Day holiday. It was a crazy few days, but something I would love to do again and again! Tom, my friend from the Rose Parade, works there and convinced his boss Nic that they needed me for the holiday. I'm so glad that Nic obliged, and we had an awesome time! This first picture is of the tulipalooza I was having. This picture was taken around noon, and we were there LATE that night. So much garbage!
This is a shot of my favorite creation of the week! So romantic and earthy!
This design is something that I designed for Rob. Circus roses are his favorite.
In January I finally quit the flower shop where I'd been working since arriving in Buffalo, and I got a new job, working at
Niagara Scenic Tours. I'm a motorcoach operator, and I love it! I work long hours, but I enjoy my job which makes the hours worth it! Plus, it's like I always on vacation.
I stay in nice hotels regularly, like this one.
This is an outline of where I've been, so far. It's just the outline, I've been all over the place inside that line over the last few months. So far, I've driven 13,388 miles this year for work. 4,640 of it this month alone. Good thing I love my job, right?
I saw these adorable salt and pepper shakers during one of my tours last month, and I wanted to get them for a friend, but Rob said no. I think if I ever get back I'm going to by them anyway. She loves all things piggies!
For our 5th anniversary, Rob and I spent the weekend in Corning, NY. As we were nearing our hotel, we noticed on an airplane hangar right off the freeway advertising
scenic flights, starting at $25, so what did we do, of course? We went for a ride!
Rob sat in the front seat, and he really had a great time. I, on the other hand, sat in the backseat and got major motion sickness. It's ok. It was totally worth it. I'd do it again.
We went to to
Corning Museum of Glass, the worlds largest glass museum, and absolutely loved it. It was an exhausting day, but our minds were blown. These are my favorite pieces. This glass sculpture of the dress was amazing. I tried getting a picture of the shawl where the hands would have been, but it didn't do it justice. Such an amazing talent. We are definitely going back!
These vases were incredible. I want them.
Mark Peiser, you're amazing.
And this is the number one reason why I love my job. Repeat business! This is Cayla and Laura, of the
ECC Softball team. I took them on a four day trip to Maryland last month and we had such a blast. Well this last week I got to take them on a day trip to Canandaigua, and again, we had some major fun. I know it looks like we are in a bar, but really, we are in Chili's.
So, there it is. A short summary of my slackitude. Other happenings that I don't have pictures of, in no particular order:
- Driving my bus in Manhattan was awesome, fun, scary, CRAZY, and exciting. I only had to back up during a turn once--during which I said, "This is my worst nightmare."
- The bulbs I planted last fall have come up, and they are gorgeous. Even though we put up a fence around them though, the bunnies ate and then dug up all the crocus. I'm so sad. At least all the tulips, iris, and daffodils have been lovely, and the allium are about to bloom as well!
- I've gone to Amish country in PA and OH, and I love them and are fascinated by their culture!
- Being the bus driver means that I come home with lots of swag. Last week I came home from Amish country with three pies, two jars of jam, two loaves of bread, four different kinds of cheese, three hand stitched hot pads, and twelve 4" pots of pansies! At least I have something to put in place of my crocus!
- We miss Alaska. There have been more than one occasion when we considered calling our boss in Skagway and seeing if she still needs drivers for the summer . . .
Well, perhaps that is enough for now. Rob is nearing the end of his first year of grad school, and he's looking forward to "the summer break". He's looking for a summer internship, and if nothing works out he's pretty much guaranteed a job where I work. My boss keeps asking about his summer plans, so I think that's a good sign.
