Inspiration Alley

Old Town Saturday Night Cruise

This is from the car cruise in up at Old Town this past weekend.  I hope I did it right.  I recorded the Old Town cruise on my Flip recorder.  Hubby got it for me for Christmas.  This is the first time I've used it, and it was so easy to use.

old_town_feb08.AVI

It's a 27 second video feed where my husband goes by in his car.  I have to say the flip video is so cool - not many bells and whistles, but it records well, and is very easy to use even in the editing mode.  The whole cruise was about 22 minutes and I easily edited it down to the 27 seconds.  For those of you that can't open the file the flip also lets you take a snapshot from the video so here's that.

This video was shot at night with only the lights from the stores to illuminate.  I had a great spot for the show (I plopped myself down a full 45 minutes early to get it).  Hubby is driving, our friend Fred is in the passenger seat, and another friend Ralph is in the back seat.  This is our '66 GTO coupe.

Now I can't wait for another reason to use the Flip.

Please let me know if you are / are not able to access the video file, and what you think about the quality (not my recording ability, but the clarity of the Flip video itself).

Old Town

So today I'm in Old Town, Florida which is about 8 miles east of Disney.  We're up here for a All Pontiac Car Show.

We stay at the Suites of Old Town where all the rooms have 2 double beds, a full kitchen, and a murphy bed in the living room, plus a good cable tv selection.  The best part is that hubby can go over and check in at the car show and I can just walk over later.  Old Town is a fun place with amusement type rides, lots of unique stores plus restaurants and bars.  We've been coming to this particular show for about 5 years.  It's one of our favorites.  It is a little overcast today and we've had a couple of sprinkles, so we're hoping that we don't have any major rain.  Tonight, we'll do the Saturday night cruise where old cars come, stage up, and then drive through the streets of Old Town.  I think that's the coolest part - to see all the old cars kind of on parade.  I brought my flip video, so if it is not raining tonight I think I might try filming the cruise.  We'll just have to see how it goes.  I'm torn because it is so much fun to be in the car with everyone waving and cheering at you.

Tomorrow we head back home early because we have another car event in the afternnon.

Fully Recovered ...

from Winter Retreat.  I had a fantastic time.

Enjoyed the ride up (much better than sitting in yet another airport).

Enjoyed my tablemates - thank you Linda for sitting me next to Amanda - I worked on her all weekend about submitting - maybe one day I'll get her to actually do it.  If my computer had had a better connection speed I would have done it right then and there.

Enjoyed my cabin and bunkmates - (there's bears in them thar woods)

Enjoyed the pleasant weather - (Friday was a little cool, but tolerable) and thanks again to hubby who got me a sleeping bag for Christmas.

Enjoyed teaching again - it's really been too many years since I taught classes and everyone made me feel so comfortable.  I couldn't have asked for better students.

Enjoyed ALL the food but my personal favorite is the grilled cheese sandwiches.  I love grilled cheese.

Enjoyed the free classes (and had scrappers regret that I didn't sign up for some of the paid ones)

Enjoyed getting to just socialize with women for a change.  I think I missed some people because I really did get some projects done (Amanda and Rita can vouch for me), but it was great seeing everyone.  I am so bummed that I won't be seeing you all again on the cruise.

Enjoyed the trip home including the stop at Griffins.  Thank God I don't live closer or I would be in some serious trouble.  I did buy some paper and some Urban Lilly stuff to play with.

Can't wait for next year - Linda told me the lady had some dates available in Feb 09 and I sure hope she already booked it.  If I haven't said this before, Winter Retreat is one of my most favorite crops - it reminds me of my girl scout days.

I think I'll just end here ... most of my blog readers attend Hilltop Crops anyway, so they know.

Now that I'm recovered and the laundry is done, I'm off for a car show this weekend.

My Bags are packed again ....

but this time it is for FUN not work.

I'm heading out tomorrow to a scrapbooking retreat put on by HilltopMemories.  Oh Baby, I can't wait.

I think the boss forgot that I had off because he wanted to schedule a meeting, but I said I wasn't going to be at work.  Then he remembered.  Most people here operate on the last minute so it's fresh in everyones mind, but I request time off months in advance so it sneaks up on everyone.

Anyway ... enough about work.  I can't wait to be on my way!  I'm driving up tomorrow (it's in Ocala).  Yipee!

Early Valentines

Since I'll be working late as usual on Thursday (Valentines Day) hubby and I went out for dinner yesterday.  Mmmm, mmmm - can you guess where we went ... my favorite - Carrabbas.

I had the Mr and Mrs C's choice (which was a special they had) and it was delicious.  Hubby had canneloni.  Heck ... I would have been happy with just the bread and their special seasoning.

We like Carrabbas because it is usually pretty quiet, and in our opinion a little more upscale than something like a Chilis or Fridays. 

Doesn't take much to make me happy!

Too Short ...

Do you ever notice just how short a weekend is.  It comprises about 28% of your week but man it seems like so much less than that.  And as you get older it really seems like time just speeds up. 

I returned from Texas Friday evening, we met at Lesters for the post car show meet and eat, then headed for home about 1AM. I slept in Saturday.  Saturday evening we did the 2nd Saturday car show at the Roadhouse.  Sunday I just caught up on my reality shows (Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, Biggest Loser, John & Kate plus 8, FatherHood, to name a few). 

As much as I wanted to, I didn't go to the stamping expo, but I did make a short trip to the local scrap store.  I bought less than $15.00.  I don't go there too often, but they've reduced the size of the store and with the exception of the newer Basic Gray line, and the Ranger Grunge stuff there wasn't much new that I was interested in.  I wasn't really looking for anything perse, but hated to make the trip and then not really find that much exciting.  I should have got my butt out on Saturday and went to the stamping store.

I've pretty much been fooling around looking at different galleries for ideas while I'm doing laundry and watching my shows.  Tomorrow I think I'll start to think about packing for Winter Retreat.  You guys just don't know how I am looking forward to it.

Just Another Day in Texas

I've been in Texas yesterday and today, and will be heading back home tomorrow.  It gets boring for a confimed "night owl" to get back to the hotel at 8:30 PM and then have to entertain herself until tired.  You know you've watched too much TV when the broadcasts start to repeat. Thankfully, I've got my laptop, and the hotel has free wi-fi.  I've been flitting around to blogs, news, and scrapbooking/stamping sites.  I'm longing for next weekend when I'll be at Winter Retreat.  I also found where there is a stamping expo in Ft. Lauderdale this weekend, so right now I'm thinking that's something I'll do ... the reality is I have lots to do at home so I'll have to see how I feel Saturday AM. 

What can I say ... there is not much to report.  Life is kindof boring right now.

Interview with Myself

Snatched from Linda and Kip

1.If your doctor told you today that you were pregnant, what would you say?  Now ?  Crap !

2.When was the last time you were on a plane?  Feb 6th,2008 (today)

3.What did the last text message you sent say? My phone doesn't have texting

4. What features do you find most attractive in the opposite sex? Good hair, nice face

5. What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future?  Get healthier.

6.Shoe size?  8 ½ 

7.Been to Mexico? Yes, on a Hilltop Cruise

8. When was the last time you had a massage? Several years ago at the Chiropracters Office

9.What was the last TV show you watched?  Biggest Loser

10. What are your plans for weekend?  Start packing for Winter Retreat and probably sleep!

11.If your significant other asked you to marry them Today what would you say? You bet!

12.What is in the backseat of your car right now?  CDs and CD cases, a blanket, and a towel

13. What were you doing at 8 a.m. this morning?  In the hotel van, on my way to the Phoenix airport

14.If you could marry any celebrity who would it be?  Mark Harmon

15. Have you ever been to a strip club?  Yes, the Crazy Horse Saloon

16. What is the best ice cream flavor?  Publix Chocolate Trinity

17. What is the last sporting event you watched?  the last 10 minutes of the Super Bowl - I don't watch much in the way of sports but was curious as to who was winning.

18.Ever go camping? Yes, first as a girl scout, and now at winter retreat.

19.Last phone call? Checking in with hubby

20. Are you allergic to anything? Yes, went through two rounds of allergy shots so most allergies are under control

21. What is one thing you have learned about life lately? Be careful what you wish for.

22.What do you do at work? Purchasing, Inventory Control, Accounts Payable, Export control, oversee Shipping, Receiving, Billing, and Order Entry, plus develop and implement workflow policies and procedures.  All the above for two facilities

23. What is your mother's name? Carol

24.Ever cried for no reason? There's always a reason

25.Can you do the Crank Hat Dance?  Probably not ... even though I have no clue what that is.

26. What is your favorite color to wear? Deep Colors - Black, Purple, Blue

27. What is the longest plane ride you have ever been on?  Ft. Lauderdale to Phoenix

28.What is the longest road trip you have ever taken?  Miami to Santa Fe, NM several times

29.What are your turn offs? Whiners, Excessively needy people, Liars 

30.What is your last alcoholic beverage? Cosmo

31. What are you craving right now? Being home in my own bed

No Food for You - Fat People

In my hotel boredom, I came across information on a bill that is working its way through the Mississippi legislature.  This bill would have restaurants weigh you when you enter and if you BMI is greater than 30, you would be denied service.  Food establishments would be monitored by the State Dept of Health and have their licenses revoked for non-compliance.  Representative Mayhill introduced the bill.

At first, I find it humorous that the bill even made it this far, then I think how much it scares me that a government entity is trying to take just one more of our rights/freedoms from us, then I realize it's just insane, let alone unenforceable.  I mean hey ... just because I go to McDs, doesn't mean I'm getting a burger combo - they do have salads ya know.

What was he thinking?

I think I do have enough friends with a "normal" BMI that would be able to get me a fast food "fix"

Long Day of Travel

Today was a very long day traveling. My flight out was at 8:25AM so I left my house at 6:30 in order to make it on time. From there I had a short layover in Charlotte (and quite a hike from terminal D to terminal B), then arrived in Phoenix at 2:30PM (which is 4:30PM eastern time).

Checked in at the hotel, relaxed for a wee bit, then met the rest of the group for dinner. We had dinner at a place called Rustlers Roost, which was pretty cool. Their tagline is Beef and Brew with a View. Holy Cow, there was a lot of food. We had a room to ourselves (about 45 people) and first we had appetizers of chips and guacamole and bean dip, the dinner which was family style - they served salad, swordfish kabobs, fried shrimp, BBQ chicken, ribs, and sliced skirt steak, plus beans, corn and potatoes. Way too much good stuff. I tried all the meats and I think my favorites were the ribs and the fried shrimp, but the kabobs were no slouch either. From there the shuttle took us back to the hotel.

Now, I'm resting and relaxing preparing for a thrilling day long meeting on export controls. I can't wait. Seriously, it was fun to get to meet all the other export people from the rest of the sister companies. Great to be able to put a face with the name.