Neat Thing We Have Done Since LID #6

Neat Thing #6 - Vegas & the Wynn Hotel (Vegas Take Two!)

For my birthday last year, Doug gave me a wonderful present. He put together a booklet for me of a trip he planned for the week of fourth of July. In this booklet, he told me he was taking me to Vegas and revealed the exciting things he had planned. When we went to Vegas in January of '06, I spent most of the trip by myself while Doug attended the CES Convention. He wanted to go back again so we could spend time in Vegas together. We did so many great things in Vegas that I am going to address each thing in a different post. So neat thing #6 is The Wynn Hotel. We actually arrived in Vegas on July 4th, and the Wynn was so beautiful! Of course, Doug was most excited about the flat panel TV in the room and the TV in the bathroom.

Childhood Friends

Yesterday, I had lunch with my high school friend Julie and her four year old daughter Olivia. Julie and I have been friends since the ninth grade. It was so nice catching up with her. We graduated from the same high school. We were in each other's weddings. She has had two children and now I am finally getting close to adopting my daughter. It seems unbelievable that we have know each other for twenty years.

And on Saturday, I spoke with my friend Debra who lives in Frederick, Maryland. Debra and I have been friends since the fourth grade. I moved away from Miami, FL to Georgia when I was 13, but through letters, phone calls and e-mail, we have kept in touch for twenty-five years. We have not seen each other in person in fifteen years, but she, her husband David and 1 year old son Spencer are coming for a visit for a few days in March. I can't tell you how excited I am!

Good Fortune

On Sunday, Doug and I celebrated the Chinese New Year by having dinner at a Chinese restaurant. At the end of the meal, we of course got two fortune cookies.

Doug's said, "You will travel to many exotic places." Mine said, "You will obtain your goal if you maintain your course." Those sound like great fortunes to me!

At The Aquarium

Coldwell Banker had their big yearly "kickoff" last Thursday, and it was held at the Georgia Aquarium. Basically, a "kickoff" is an awards ceremony/ motivational meeting rolled into one.

I thought about not going because I only work part-time, and I had like a billion things to do at work that day, but my boss really wanted the staff to attend (there are four of us), so I went. One of our our favorite agents (yes - the staff has a favorite agents) offered to drive us to the aquarium. Not until we got in the car and started driving did I realize that this agent may be the worst driver on the planet. And it was Atlanta rush hour, which made the ride even scarier. But this agent is so funny that I literally laughed the entire way there and back.

Since the breakfast and kickoff started early in the morning before the aquarium was open to the public, they allowed the CB employees to go in a back entrance and enjoy part of the aquarium before anyone else was allowed in. We got to see the beluga whales, tiger sharks, otters and penguins. We had the whole place to ourselves! It was really, really cool! And in the ballroom where the kickoff was held, there were windows to the fish tanks.

The kickoff keynote speaker was Stacy Allison who was the first woman to reach the top of Mt. Everest. She was very interesting to listen to, but you have to be a little crazy to want to climb Mt. Everest! She actually didn't make it to the top on her first try, and during that attempt she got stuck in a tiny snow cave with three of her male climbing mates due of a blizzard that lasted four days. Doesn't sound like fun to me!

The aquarium is really beautiful, but I will not go back until I have Briana. Then I will get to visit the entire aquarium and I will get to experience it through her eyes. I can't wait!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year to all of my blog pals! Welcome Year of the Pig! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

My Valentine's Day

Doug and I made an agreement with each other that we would not give each other anything for Valentine's Day this year except a card and that we would just have a nice quiet dinner somewhere in the evening. Well, Doug broke his promise and the night before Valentine's Day he brought home these beautiful pink roses. It was such a nice surprise! He is so sweet! I did buy him a small heart filled with Reeses Pieces to go with his card, so I guess technically, I broke my promise too!

Doug had to go into the office on Wednesday and I had the day off, so my mom and I went to see my grandmother (my mom's mom) who now lives in an assisted living home here in Georgia. Grandma used to live in Florida, but she has Alzheimer's and cannot live by herself anymore. My mom and I took her out for lunch and spent the afternoon with her. She seemed to really enjoy our time together. I am so grateful that my grandmother still knows who I am. I am preparing myself for the day when she looks at me and doesn't recognize me. Her memory gets a little worse every day, so I am grateful when I do get to spend time with her. I know that she has probably forgotten that I visited her on Valentine's Day now, but I know she was very happy in the moment. Here is a picture of me and my grandmother when she moved here in October...

Doug got home a little early from work that day, and we went out for Japanese food at our favorite Japanese restaurant. I can't even describe how good my shrimp and chicken dinner was! Yum!

Thank you Doug for being my Valentine for the past 15 years! I hope all of my blog buddies had very happy Valentine's Days too!

Neat Thing We Have Done Since LID #5

Neat thing #5
Wicked!



Doug and I went to see the musical "Wicked" when it came to the Fox Theater in Atlanta in May of last year. We caught the show on the very last night of the Atlanta run. I went to buy a program during the intermission, but the Fox ran out! I couldn't believe it. I guess that is what I get for coming on the last night. (On a side note - my very sweet sister knew I wanted it, found it online and bought it for me for Christmas!)


Before the show started, it was announced that the two understudies were going to be

performing the two main roles that night. I was a little nervous when I heard that. But, the show was absolutely amazing! One of the best musicals I have ever seen! I even bought the soundtrack the next day! If the musical ever comes into your town, I highly recommend it!

Neat Thing We Have Done Since LID #4

Neat Thing #4
Chateau Elan!

Doug and I celebrated our ninth anniversary last year on May 3, and we had some friends who got married at the Chateau Elan Winery and Resort in Braselton, Georgia on May 6. What perfect timing! We were able to celebrate our anniversary at Chateau Elan! I pampered myself with manicure and pedicure the first day we were there. The next day we attended the wedding (of Alicia and Felipe), which was beautiful. The bride's family is from Argentina and the groom's family is from Columbia (South America). There was all sorts of awesome latin flava going on! The last day of our trip, not only did I get a facial, but Doug got one also (after I did some MAJOR convincing). He really didn't want to do it, but I told him how relaxing it was and he gave in. I think he enjoyed it, but I really don't see him doing it again! Ha!

Goodies From Chinatown

While Doug was on his business trip to New Jersey, he decided to drive into Philadelphia one day and visit Chinatown. He said it was a large Chinatown and very crowded. He went to a few stores and look what he brought home! He bought a pop-up Chinese New Year book for Briana and some really beautiful red envelopes. He also bought Briana a gold dress and for me, a beautiful blue top. After shopping, he wanted to get something to eat. He started to head into one Chinatown restaurant, but when he saw snakes in the window, he decided to eat at a different one! Isn't my hubby sweet? I am a lucky girl!

And I want to say another big "Happy Birthday" to my very dear friend Mick! Have a happy and fun-filled day! I hope all your birthday wishes come true!

Renewed I-600A - Check!

Doug worked from home today, so he was the one who retrieved our mail this afternoon. After two months of waiting, our new I-797 Notice of Action (I-171H) was in the mailbox. Doug knew that I had been anxiously awaiting for it to arrive. I have been hearing that the Atlanta USCIS is very backed up, so I expected to wait about 90 days for the renewal. Luckily, it took less than 60. Doug called me at work immediately to tell me the good news. I was so happy! Now, I am not happy we had to renew our I-600A in the first place, but since we had no other choice, I am happy to have that little piece of paper in my hand!

I also want to say a big "Happy Birthday" to my sweet friend Kathy! I hope you had a wonderful day!