Winner's Circle 2014

Vacation Number 2: all in one big post

Frank was informed on April 1st that he had won a couple of awards at work.

One was called the President's award

and the other was a "Winner's Circle" award.

I didn't know what either one was at the time.

But way to go Frank!

It turns out that the Winner's Circle

is for the sales people who make or exceed their goals for the entire year.

And it is a trip to some wonderful location, all expenses paid.

Frank isn't usually even qualified to be in the running for this award because he is in Business Development, not directly "sales".

But they wanted to show him they were thankful for all his hard work and success this last year

so they made him a "special recognition" winner.

To quote his boss, describing the meeting where they decide the winners:

"We said who, regardless of job title, deserves to be here.  And we all said Frank Hill."

It was amazing.

First of all, wrap your head around all expenses paid.

They even paid the tips!

We literally didn't have to spend a dime.

That is so cool.

We stayed at the Gran Velas Resort which is located in the Riviera Maya area.

It is a five star resort and it was amazing.
Here is the entrance:
(photo stolen from the internet)

The rooms were fabulous and huge.

Big TV that swiveled toward the couch or bed 

(cool, but not that necessary when right by a beach)

private balcony with relaxing furniture and private pool

Super nice feather pillows

(I always find hotel pillows lacking in the comfort department, but not here!)

Internet version of room:

Our room:

(we always make a mess right away)

Every day we had the opportunity to do something fun 

Day1: big, gorgeous buffet on the beach with the other Winner's Circle folks

Day 2: choice of outings.  We chose to go to Rio Secreto, an underground river hike

It was really cool! We loved it.

That evening we all went to dinner together in Playa del Carmen and did a little shopping

Day 3: Everyone together went to Tulum (Mayan ruins) and then to another place (forgot the name) for zipline, swimming and lunch

Day 4: Another choice of outings.  We originally chose swimming with sea turtles but everyone was telling us how amazing the spa was so we changed to a spa day

The last night was an AMAZING dinner, live band, dancing and awards

Our view:

Upon arrival we got this beach bag with goodies inside:

Every night when they would turn down our bed (yes, with chocolates on the pillow)

We received a gift!

I can't find the picture of day 1

It was a variety of chocolate bars and a variety of vanillas

Day 2:

a special mayan liquor

cool glasses

and a tray to set them on

Day 3:

A book about Mayans.  

Very cool and beautiful book.

Here we are relaxing in hammocks after our hike in the underground river:

 Walking along the streets of Playa del Carmen:

The spa!

Oh wow, it was beautiful!

We each went through what is called the "Water Journey"

a very unusual and a neat experience...lots of different rooms alternating hot and cold water treatments

sauna, ice room, mud room, steam room etc

followed by these amazing pools that you see here with jets of different types

lastly a soak in the hot tub followed by a quick dip in the cold tub!

I loved it.

We also each got a one hour massage.

heaven

The massage room:

The last night's dinner was so gorgeous!

Here is the CEO of the company as he gives the awards.

They had a photographer there so I assume we'll get some good shots of the night in addition to my phone shots.

 Even though I was not super excited to go, since I felt like I'd been gone from home too much
I will admit it was an amazing amazing time.
I had a hard time leaving!

Meet Luigi

I have begun the process of packing and purging for the upcoming move to Utah.

It's really too soon to move again!

Didn't we just do this?

Yesterday hubby and I decided to empty the attic and go through the stuff that was up there to see what we really needed (?) to take with us.

Upon first inspection, my thoughts were basically this:

throw it all away!

Why do I need anything that only sits in an attic and I never look at it?

Then I started opening bins.

One of the bins included a bunch of stuff from my past.

High School yearbooks

old diaries

(I should probably burn those...)

and various keepsakes

Here is one of them:

Meet Luigi

He's a stuffed lion that I kept as a mascot of sorts when I was in High School.

We were the Manzano Monarchs 

(Mascot: Lion not butterfly)

I used to bring him to track and Cross Country meets for good luck.

He gathered a variety of pins as the years went by.

My Honor Society pin

The name tag from the fast food restaurant where I worked in High School.

No idea how I ended up with my friend Jennifer's tag, instead of my own.

There's probably a story there that I don't remember...

The pin from the Boy Scout Explorer troop

(not totally sure that's the right name of the type of troop that it was)

We flew a hot air balloon and joined in the chase crew.

I don't remember doing it a lot but I loved the idea of it.

and having the pin.

I wore this pin on my letter jacket in school.

I also had another pin that I wore that said

"I need someone really bad.

Are you really bad?"

haaaaa!

I did the needlepoint on this little heart and then made it into a pin.

It's my school colors (purple and white).

I think I made it in a class but wouldn't bet my life on it...

There's also a pin on his right hand that is two ribbons.

I have no idea what they were.

Some award that meant a lot to me and I wanted to keep it forever.

Obviously.

I loved Luigi and every time I've moved or looked through that old bin, I haven't been able to throw him away.

But I think now I am ready.

I took his picture.

I have now told his story.

The time has come.

NYC with Chelsie

I just got back from a quick two day trip to NYC with my niece.

Thanks to my husband and his hotel points, we were able to stay overnight in a Marriott Hotel.

So we could party for two whole days!

(Mormon version of "party", of course)

We talked about food (a lot) and all the delicious things we would eat

but in reality, we didn't eat much.

We were too busy walking to this and that

and seeing this and that

and since it was Chelsie's first time, I wanted her to eat what she wanted to eat

so she had to make decisions

which she doesn't like to do

so in the end...

we surprised ourselves with not eating that much.

Next time we'll do that differently I think.

Our hotel was a residence inn, so it was geared more towards the business traveler I think.

But all we really needed was a place to sleep, so it worked.

Good thing we weren't there for an amazing view

They did have a free breakfast buffet, so that was good!

Here's a list of the things we did:

*

Went to the 9/11 memorial.  Very moving and beautiful memorial.

The museum opens next week.  Sheesh! Bad timing.  Now I have to go back...
*

* 

Walked around Times Square
*

*

Walked around Battery Park and saw the Statue of Liberty, but didn't take the boat out.

next time...
*

*

Went to Laduree since we were told we had to try their Macarons

*

Rode in a bike taxi
*

*

Saw two plays on Broadway

The New Les Miserables

and

Once
*

They were both great!

I have seen Les Mis several times but this one has all new, different sets and is done a bit differently than the previous version.  

I never get tired of that show...the songs and voices are just amazing.

We had amazing seats, too.

*

Went to a variety of stores including FAO Schwartz

*

Went to Central Park
*

*
Walked through St Patricks Cathedral
(currently undergoing a massive preservation/reconstruction)
*

*

Visited the Manhattan LDS Temple
*

where I managed to offend the guy at the entrance

(what do I call him? a guard?)

He gave me a talking to.

We left briskly and only later on the bus was I able to think of some good responses that would have made him feel bad for being so mean to me.

haaa!

story of my life.

*
Rockefeller Center
*

We saw the sights!

Chelsie got this picture for her little brother.

Cute!

Chelsie got this picture for herself.

haaa!

We took the subway most places but did a lot of walking.

My lame left knee was cursing me badly.

And then, in a flash, it was over...time to go home.
I had a great time and hopefully Chelsie did too.

I'm ready to go back!

Life. It's funny.

I have a little sister who was born when I was almost 16.

So she was very little when I moved out.

And all of the other kids moved out while she was pretty young...

so her life was very different from the life that the rest of us led.

"Her" parents had more money than "my" parents ever did.

Her parents were way more relaxed.

She got to go on vacations.

She got a car when she got her license.

When she grew up, she got a real wedding dress and reception.

I was a young mom and poor as can be when she was growing up

and having what I considered to be a pretty charmed existence.

And I admit

I was jealous.

I was annoyed.

I still felt like a kid in my heart

and I wanted some of the good stuff she was getting.

I knew I was being immature.

and I had to let it go.

I was a grown up and had to accept that and the responsibility that went with it.

But it was hard.

Jealousy snuck up on me occasionally.

(I mean, obviously, since I mentioned her wedding dress!)

-Now-

I am that relaxed parent of a lone "last in the family" kid.

We have more money than when the other kids were young.

We go on vacations.

He will get a car when he drives because I am sick of driving kids around!

And my older kids don't say much

but they do occasionally say something about Carter being the "favorite" kid.

So what I'm hearing is that they are feeling what I was feeling.

I feel bad about it.

But its just how life is.

I can't change the birth order or span of years between the kids.

So I'm feeling bad for all those jealous feelings I had when I was younger.

And I'm feeling bad that my kids are probably feeling those same things on occasion now.

I can't change it really but it strikes me as funny on occasion.

Well, that was fun

I just got home from an wonderful evening in the local ER

I had the joy of experiencing my second ever kidney stone.

I hope it was my last.

My first was this last Christmas

on the day after Christmas

while we were vacationing in Oregon.

I don't recommend the experience.

Thankfully, I have a wonderful neighbor and friend who was willing to drop everything and take me to the hospital.

I am so grateful for modern pain medications!

The pain of a kidney stone is just...unbearable.

I make noises, cry, moan, throw up, get on all fours in the hospital hallway 

and basically make a fool of myself

without caring one darn bit.

My good friend laughed at me several times.

I still love her.

She managed to make me crack a smile a time or two with her stories and attempts at distracting me.

She even sent a text to my kids

at my request

(once the medicine had started to kick in)

Here is what I said to my children, through her:

Your mother is in the ER with a kidney stone in horrible pain!

It reminds her of labor!

If she does not get a Mother's Day card for the pain you have given her over your lifetime

she will write you out of the will and cry all night long.

I am nothing if not subtle.

But, in my defense, I was on narcotics at the time.

Vacation Story

I have two vacations to record for posterity so I will start with vacation #1.
Cancun Mexico
Frank and I
one week
Planned in the fall...way before we found out that we'd be going back to Cancun
the very next week for work.
My life...so hard.

I just want to share one or two stories from our vacation #1.

Frank and I aren't really the types to do a lot of touristy things.

Tours are informational but usually don't go at the pace we like.

Too slow to arrive, too quick to leave

So we often like to set out on our own and find interesting things.

We rented a car this time so that we felt free to do this.

We looked on a map and Frank saw what looked like a long stretch of beach with no hotels or anything

so he said we would drive that direction and find that beach!

And we did.

Turns out its a long stretch of the most gorgeous beach with amazing soft sand.

and it is a hang out for the locals.

There was a little hut with tables and chairs and umbrellas

and a big menu of fresh foods cooked on their outdoor grill

When we arrived there were hardly any people

but as the day progressed it began to fill with big families and groups of friends.

It was never crowded but there were lots of folks spread around

umbrellas

coolers

dogs

kids

grandparents

it was fun!

And we were the ONLY people there that weren't locals.

I did more "communicating" this vacation than I ever have before.

My vocabulary is sadly lacking

and I'm not all that confident

but I gave it a good effort this time and spoke a lot of spanish.

Frank wanted to order lunch so I had to help him decipher the menu

I ordered him what I thought was a shrimp cocktail

but then I doubted my vocabulary

and I wondered if I ordered him something else.

He has some allergies since the transplant, so I didn't want to get the wrong thing.

So I began to attempt to find out if I really ordered shrimp.

By the time I got done, both the waitress and myself were laughing our heads off.

She ended up handing me her pad of paper and I drew a shrimp

(I am NOT artistic)

she looked at it and laughed and said,"Si!"

and I knew we were ok.

After that she came over and talked to me more...

knowing I was somewhat capable of communication

and willing to laugh at myself in my attempts to talk to her.

Frank ordered a huge amount of food for lunch.

I should have taken a picture.

a big, fresh, fried fish

(yes, eyes and head attached)

lots of homemade tortillas

rice

salad

lots of really amazing homemade tortilla chips

guacamole

and the shrimp cocktail

which turned out to be a large bowl of 

shrimp and something similar to pico-de-gallo

I don't like fish much

or shrimp

So he was pretty much on his own.

I did eat more than my fair share of the tortilla chips though.

So when he was done there was still a lot of food on the table.

She asked us if we didn't like it.

I said that we liked it but it was just too big

(remember I speak like a toddler)

I wished I could explain better but my words leave me when I need them

also true when speaking in English, by the way.

She came back later and says she's sorry about the food.

and I again explain that we liked it

we just couldn't eat it all.

Later, another woman from the restaurant comes over

and tries to speak a little english to us

and is apologizing for the food!

And offering to make us free quesadillas.

She says she realized it was too spicy.

She made it way too hot for us and so she wants to make us something else.

I explained that Frank loves hot stuff 

and he liked it a lot.

Really!

Please believe me

he liked it!

We just got too full.

In the end, I managed to convince them.

and got to speak quite a lot of spanish

probably bad spanish

but still

When we left at the end of the day

we were all smiles

and so were they

though maybe they smiling because they were glad to see the gringos leave their beach