The past several weeks have been go-go-go-go-go. After getting back into town yesterday, I went to work today, then ran a bunch of errands after work until about 10 o’clock tonight.
I needed a moment to myself. To digest everything. To quiet my mind. To be still. To just breathe.
I’m grateful for taking that time tonight. As late as it was, I stopped and breathed.
We’ve traveled quite a bit this year and especially recently. I can’t help but be grateful for making it home safely after a great trip. We are Home Sweet Home!
The night before the last day of our operations manager conference, our annual awards party is held. It is always a huge bash and a great time.
It’s a time for all of us to come together and celebrate a year of hard work, and honor those who put forth an outstanding contribution to the firm. I’m proud to be associated with this group of dedicated and caring professionals. And I’m thankful to have celebrated another year with them.
Donovon and I spent the evening with my work friends from Dallas who I typically only see at these annual conferences.
One of my friends reserved a sunset cruise off Johns Passe this evening. It was a fun little cruise. We got to see some dolphins and snap pics of the setting sun on the Gulf of Mexico. The scene was gorgeous.
After the cruise we all had dinner at a local hole-in-the-wall where the food was amazing and the company so enjoyable.
After dinner, we all met back at the hotel bar for some after dinner drinks and to watch Monday Night Football. My beloved Cowboys are playing and my girls from Dallas and I cheered them on. We’ve had a really fun night, and I’m thankful for spending time with my work friends.
After yesterday’s adventures, I’m grateful for a lazy day of football, food, drink, and relaxation.
…And my fantasy team continues to dominate. 🙂
Today was quite an adventure for us here in the St. Pete/Tampa, Florida area.
Donovon and I first drove to Passe-A-Grille beach in St. Petersburg for a day on the beach. The beach was gorgeous, but we didn’t have beach towels with us upon arriving, so once we parked (and already paid), we had to find a store that sold beach towels thinking such stores must be all along the beach…only to find the nearest one was 2 miles away. What we should have done was just driven there losing our already paid for parking spot, yet instead, we left the car and took a trolley – which ended up costing us the same amount of our parking spot. Yes, we weren’t thinking this through. At all.
Once we got all our beach necessities from the nearest surf shop, we decided to just walk back along the beach to where we parked. So, two miles and 45 minutes later, we finally made it back to where we started and finally got to relax on the beach. Adventure #1, check.
On to Adventure #2. Donovon looked up some nightclub spots when I mentioned wanted to experience some local nightlife. He came across The Castle, an alternative dance club in Ybor. After Adventure #1, I was already drained, so I was a little apprehensive about embarking on another adventure, but Donovon said I was being “old” and needed to live a little. Well, I couldn’t argue, so off we went.
I have to say, I’m really glad we went. Ybor is an area of Tampa that reminded us of 6th Street in Austin about 20 years ago. They celebrate Halloween for a month, so the streets were filled with people in very elaborate and creative costumes. It was quite a people-watching fest. And The Castle was an extension of that times ten. Add to that a really awesome DJ spinning an industrial mix with many of our 90s faves and Donovon and I danced like we were in our 20s again. Adventure #2, check.
We got back to the hotel after 1 AM, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the day’s adventures with My Hubby.
We are so fortunate to have good neighbors. They’re fun to hang out with, and they always lend a hand in a time of need.
Our neighbors have become our good friends. We enjoy each other’s company, and I’m so thankful that they’re a part of our lives.
I was scheduled to be in St. Pete for meetings this week and asked my hubby to tag along and he said, “Sure”, so we’re here in St. Petersburg, FL for 6 days.
Tonight, we are dining at local pub and watching Thursday Night Football. The food and drinks are freaking awesome and we are having a good and relaxing time.
I’m so grateful for another little getaway with Donovon, even if I have work for part of it.
Pop and Mom Julia came into town today and took us out to dinner. It’s been a while since we’ve seen them, so it was so nice to visit with them and catch up.
I’m thankful for getting to spend time with them and their making the trip to visit us.
It was 28 years ago today that I lost My Mommy after a 2-year battle with cancer. I was twelve years old. I only had my mother in my life for what seems like now only a brief moment.
My memories of her are few sadly. She was beautiful, classy and charming. Everyone, and I mean, EVERYONE loved her cooking. When I was a child, our house was the hub for many of the Filipinos living in Austin – our extended family. Mommy would cook for hours to prepare for every gathering for pretty many any occasion – birthdays, holidays, you name it, we were celebrating something at our house. Mommy was the perfect hostess, and she cooked for everyone with so much love and joy. You could taste it in her food. I wish I inherited that gene.
I can no longer remember her laugh or her voice for that matter. That makes me so sad, but I cling to and treasure the few memories I have of her. I vividly remember her strength and her grace. Even when she was alive she appeared to be an angel to me, and she’s now been my guardian angel for 28 years.
I’m thankful for the time I had with her, the lessons she taught me, and her love that I still feel today.
I miss you and love you so much, Mommy.
Gratitude Daily 