I'm back and too tired to really write about my wonderful time away in a sweet seaside town (in a state which has no Bath & Bodyworks, but that disaster was averted by the amazing Clementine and Hashbrown - kudos and a million thanks, ladies!). I'm going to post some quick bullets and will fill in details over the next two days (I have a concert to be in tomorrow, for which I missed the dress rehearsal today, so I might not have much time until Monday). Anyway . . .

• Had my very first blog-friend meeting. I was totally nervous to be meeting someone so cool, but it was just awesome. Luckybuzz truly rocks and if you don't read her blog, you should. And then you'll be all jealous but maybe you, too, can meet her one day. More later.
• It was a great hotel, and they had very nice room service. A suggestion for when you can't decide between red or white when you're ordering room service on your own - order a glass of each and conduct your own private wine tasting.
• Got to meet the unbelieveably adorable Hester Willa, daughter of Clementine and Hashbrown. She's eleven weeks old and is all eyes and cupid's bow mouth. Truly one of the most gorgeous and photogenic babies ever.
• Spent time with Bert and Vermont. Had many debates about the volume of the pregnant Vermont's snoring and how warm Bert preferred the room. Laughed a whole lot. Quietly reminisced about the first night when I had the room to myself, the window open, and the previously mentioned room service with wine. :) (but I really wouldn't trade my time with them)
• Filled my brain with two five hour courses on Thursday. The first, at 7:30 a.m. (ugh!), was great, the presenter was informative and entertaining. The second, though interesteng, stressed me out to the max. When I got the actual program at registration and read the blurb, my immediate thought was "this can't be right". I NEVER sign up for things billed as experiential and didactic workshops. Particularly when they are about Vocal Psychotherapy. As in SINGING. 'Cause you all know that I don't do that in front of people. Survived, but seriously needed alcohol afterwards.
• Actually went to three of the five other sessions offered during the rest of the conference (and missed one because I had to get to the airport for my flight home). And the business meeting. Even though there was a spa at the hotel. And I walked by it at least three times a day going to and from sessions, and didn't even go in, let alone get a massage/facial/pedicure.
• Had Ben & Jerry's twice. Sadly, the second time it wasn't the same kinda cute guy behind the counter (it's all about the eye candy)
• Have developed an addiction to BPAL. Trying to narrow down my order of imp's ears. A year of good luck if you can guess who the enabler is!
• Hubby and kids picked me up at the airport. Of course, flight was delayed (and I let them know, but they came anyway), and then it was delayed further once we were on the tarmac waiting to take off and I couldn't call, so Corwin and Clara were very tired. So am I, plus I smell like stale airplane air, so I am going to soak in the tub before heading to bed. More detail about the fun ans interesting parts soon.

It's True

I am a terrible, terrible person. Since I leave tomorrow for my conference, I rescheduled the nursey school from Thursday to today (I do an hour for the morning class, and an hour for the afternoon class). But I just can't do it today. I have so much to get done, and I have theatre tickets tonight (my friend and I have a subscription, and between my conference this week and my concerts next week, this was it). So . . . I lied. I called the nursery school and told them my daughter was home sick and I was unable to come in. I know, I am going straight to hell, but I am SO tired. I can sleep in Rhode Island and on the plane, but that won't help me pack, finish laundry, get dinner organized, etc, etc. Also, won't tell Hubby about this - since I am not working, means I will not be getting paid for those 2 hours (and the hourly rate is quite nice). Oh well - no Bath & Bodyworks in Rhode Island means that I'll save about that much anyway!

Off to pack. Maybe more later. This time tomorrow I'll be at the airport - woo hoo!!!!!

Not Another Hoax

So I got this e-mail, and it was pretty cool. But I was sure it was another of those mocked-up pictures, like the "golf course in the wildest places" calendars. Of course I checked it out online and lo and behold . . . it really is true! This new tourist attraction is scheduled to open next Wednesday. Anyone up for a trip?

Not That I'm Counting The Hours, But . . .

This time next week I will still be asleep in Newport. I can sleep in, order room service, soak in the tub . . . without any demands on my time. And hopefully, I'll be having a blog-friend meetup! Next Thursday will be a little less free and easy - I have ten hours of courses to get through, but I'm sure that my relaxing time on Tuesday evening/Wednesday will certainly help.

The Answers

In case anyone is dying to know the correct answers. A lot of them were tricky, especially the who is older question. Really, the only one I care about is whether you think I drive a minivan or not!

1. What is my favourite colour? Green
2. How long have Hubby and I been together (as of 2007)? 20 years on October 2 (but married 13 this May)
3. Who is older and by how much? Corwin, by 3 minutes
4. What is my favourite season? Fall
5. Do I drive a minivan? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. What would be my ideal dancing night out? 80s night
7. What is the farthest I've been from home? Australia (I've also been to Greece)
8. What show do I watch (and cry while watching) on a regular basis? Grey's Anatomy
9. What kind of dog is Jasmine, the diva? Dalmatian
10. What insane thing do I do every day (or at least try to)? Vacuum

Thanks for playing. You've gotta love silly quizzes.

Questions About Canada

Shamelessly stolen from Clementine.



Create your own Friend Quiz here

Panic and Stress

Okay, I am trying valiantly not to freak out. I mean, it;s not exactly a matter of life and death. But I just did my store locator search for my upcoming conference. I like to plan ahead, and know how many zippered plastic bags I will need for my Bath & Bodyworks stuff, and if I need to bring extra shoes or can just get a new pair at Bass, you know, the basics. Imagine my distress at the discovery that Newport, RI has virtually no shopping. Well,they seem to advertise upscale and unique boutiques, but that's not helping my rapidly dwindling Warm Vanilla Sugar shampoo and conditioner problem, now is it? And I figure that bras at a "boutique" probably cost eight times as much as Victoria's Secret, and I would actually have to try the damn things on and most likely be fitted by either a grey haired lady rounder than she is tall, or some snooty thin woman who needs defrosting to say hello without a chill. Either way, no thanks!

Crap, crap, crap - I guess that after my ten hours of coursework on Thursday, I will just have to find some way to get to Providence on Friday and sacrifice some of the concurrent session times for shopping. I wonder what restaurants are there? Oooh, and maybe there's a Pottery Barn for browsing.

Frustrated

Well, I have been very frustarted lately. Blogger will not let me post anything but titles most of the time. Whatever I write in the box disappears into cyberland, and I'm getting really pissed off. I did my Visual DNA (seen at the Realm of the Lone Grey Squirrel, but it got sucked into the void. Ditto the "What Car Are You?" that I saw at Lambourghini crse's. It, too, was swallowed by Blogger (I was a Porshe 911, by the way).

You may soon be looking for me at Wordpress. Others have left, I may join the Exodus.

My Five Questions

So, I thought I'd try yet again. Here are my five questions from the fabulous Sidonia.

1) What do you love most about blogging? Originally, I loved being able to vent or bitch about whatever was annoying me, and not having to take unsolicited advice (or not having to hear that I hadn't taken said advice). Plus, the anonymity of said bitching was nice and cozy. Now, I really adore all my bloggy friends, and hope to meet a whole bunch over time. First potential blogger meeting for me is at the end of the month! (yay LB!)

2) What's your favourite piece of music to play? On flute, there are a couple. Minuet and Badinerie from Suite No 2 in B Minor by J.S. Bach, Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits by Christoph Gluck, or Concerto No 1 in G Major for Flute and Orchestra (KV 313) by Mozart. To listen to, my favourite would probably be Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. Or the soundtrack to Somewhere in Time, which has Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Rachmaninoff. Oh, and on piccolo, I love playing Modern Major General from Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance - it's a real workout if done at the proper tempo.

3) What little piece of indulgent technology could you simply not survive without? I'm so low tech. Well, my computer (to blog), or my vcr, because Grey's Anatomy is during choir. I dream of TiVo!!!

4) Summer or Winter? Summer until the sun starts slanting differently and the light changes in August. Winter if we have snow for Christmas and it's not too cold, but I'm usually sick of it by February. My absolute favourite season is autumn.

5) What's your favourite childhood memory? I have so many - I truly had a great childhood. Probably one involving my parents and I (we used to rent this cottage in the Muskokas, and it was wonderful going there). Or any time spent at summer camp at Circle R Ranch, still my favourite place (when I die, I want my ashes scattered in the corral and at Treefort).

Okay, hopefully it will post, and not lose this in cyberspace! If you want five questions from me, let me know in comments. (even if you got 5 somewhere else, we interviewers may want to know different things!)

Happy Belated Blogiversary To Me

Yesterday marked a year that I have been writing here at Just Jump In. Who knew I had so much to say?

Brrrrr!!!!!

Actual temperature: -26 degrees celsius
With Windchill: -42 degrees celsius!!!

And it's supposed to be plus 5 on Saturday. Could be a messy, sloppy, or very frigid March Break next week.

Maybe It'll Let Me Do This

Since Blogger won't let me post my five questions from Sidonia (I started, then saved the draft. Now every time I try to finish and post, it only posts the original draft. I'll start from scratch tomorrow. Can we say "Wordpress", boys and girls?)

Anyway, since everyone else (Luckybuzz, Sidonia, Maggie May) is jumping off a bridge, I have to jump, too!!
Here is my Johari window. Please go and tell me what you really think. I'm a litlle bit nervous but what the hell.