Christmas Pics

Some in MN and some in CA....

Grandma and her Grandkids (minus Jarrod & Kelsey)

The first generations of cousins (35 years young and older)- Darien, Heidi & Carrie



Mom baking in CA

Little Casey- meow!

Dad & Jarrod at the Sharks game

Mom & me at the Sharks game

Jarrod & me ready for some hockey!!!

Yes, Holidays Are Busy

Apparently holidays are really, really busy.... due to the fact that I have not posted for 20 days! Wow. I have been bad. No, not bad, just busy. And full of Christmas spirit.

Let's go back 2 weeks....
I went to Minnesota, between Seattle and Kansas City work trips, and had tons of fun with family and friends to celebrate the holidays:
Friday- Lunch with Fun Amy and dinner with Andi
Saturday- Pizza party with Jen, Family Christmas at the bowling alley, dinner with Shannon & Anita and ending with wine with Sue & Maggie
Sunday- Brunch with Eve & Erica, visit with Grandma, and dinner with the "Flanery Girls" Aunts & Cousins

It was so fun! And so festive. Very lucky to see tons of friends and family the weekend before Christmas. Then off to Kansas City, back to the Bay area for more work, and then 3 and a half days of more holiday hectic fun with the immediate family.

Mom & Dad flew in on Friday afternoon. 3 days with the folks and Jarrod:
Friday- Dinner at Pyramid Brewery followed by the best ice cream around
Saturday- Massage & lunch with Mom, relaxation at home & movies with the family
Sunday- Official holiday of good food, lots of gifts, going to the movies, and ending with a turkey feast.. very nice family day
Monday- Shopping with Mom and ending with dinner in San Jose and the Sharks hockey game with the 4 of us... fun times! Go Sharks!

I was really sad to see Mom & Dad leave on Tuesday, as I was heading to work, but both weekends were fantastic and I still have New Year's Weekend to come. How lucky!? Very.

The spirit of Christmas was all around.... between friends & family time, lots of holiday movies, music in the air, festive moods, and making people happy.... it was a wonderful season. Could not have asked for anything more. Well, maybe more time with Mr Big... but we have more time for that in 2012. I promise.

I hope everyone in blogland had an amazing Christmas holiday. Photos to come soon.
One final..... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Holiday Heaven and Beyond

I have been feeling a little depressed the past few days (they do say the holidays brings that out in people, right?) so like a sane person (hopefully!) does, I try to focus on the positive.. especially with all the hustle & bustle of the holiday season. So, push the negative aside and I am so very thankful and looking forward to December and beyond:

Christmas celebrations- starts in 1 week- the weekend prior to Christmas in MN. I have a weekend full of dinner with my best friend, a family bowling party, drinks with girlfriends, brunch with more best friends, time with Grandma and ending with dinner with my cousins- yep, super full fun festive weekend.

The weekend of Christmas, the folks are flying to San Fran for 4 days to hang with Jarrod and me in Cali. Relaxation, movies, lots of food, and the San Jose Sharks will keep us busy. Can't wait for a long weekend for some festivities with the nuclear fam.

Then comes New Year's Eve... I have never been one for "going out" this night (leave that to the amateurs) so as usual, I am hosting a DVD marathon at my place. This year it's fondue and
The Big Bang Theory". Yippee!

As the New Year arrives, there is even more to look forward to:
Sundance Film Festival Part 1 with Amy & Kari and Part 2 with Shannon in January (this alone is enough to make me giddy with joy!!!)
Florida beach vacation in February
40th Birthday Caribbean Cruise with Shannon in April
We wil take March to breath

Does it get much better? Nope. So, work will be insane (as it always is), but I have some much to look forward to over the next 5 months. THAT is what keeps me sane when holiday depression sets in, I have to travel almost every week, work hours are super long, flights are delayed, snow causes accidents, and people get cranky... and I mean down-right rude.

Let the fun for the next 5 months begin! Right now... the fun is a bottle of Sterling Merlot and "Annie Claus" on the Hallmark channel :)

Ho.... Ho... Ho!!!

A Quick Complaint

I have a very quick complaint.. I know it's a weird one, but here goes:

I just don't get the fascination with Cinnabons. Ya know the mass produced gloppy Cinnamon rolls you can find at a kiosk in every mall and airport in the U.S.?

You may ask- what is there not to like about warm, soft, sweet carbs dripping with sticky, sugary frosting? Well, maybe that just answered by question: overkill. Simply too much of a good thing at once.

Many may think- "Darien, what is wrong with you!?" Well, just don't think they are all they are cracked up to be. Just my opinion. I will take anything my Mom bakes over a Cinnabon any day. No offense Cinnabon.

Ok, back to my coffee and "Love Actually" on DVD.... It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas...

Am I Too Old For This Crap?

Another long, but good work week.... meetings, dinners, being social, solving problems.... and to top it off, after a planning/alignment/team building day yesterday, along with 7 fabulous co-workers- all who happen to be men- we decided to stay out and "party" until 2AM! Seriously!? What was I thinking!? I am not 21 anymore.

Yes, after a 10-hour work day, we went to dinner- low-key seafood at the Pier in San Fran.... then a stop for a "night cap" turned into 2 more bars, a view of Occupy San Francisco, a few semi-naked San Franciscans and a wonderful cover band at Dan's Bar back in Walnut Creek.

A solid meal of seafood, lots of water and lots of walking helped the martinis not take over this 30-some-year-old body, so we aren't even talking "hangover" here---- we are simply stating this: I don't want to get in the habit of having a very long night of fun that ends with only 4 hours of sleep before I start another work day again. Not in my wheelhouse apparently. Gosh- I'm sleepy.

So, here I am on Friday.... just wrapped up another 8 hour work day (good thing it was at home on Conference Calls, emails and returning phone calls, but still...) and I am darn worn out. An early movie, dinner with a friend and I expect to be in bed before 10PM. And I am just fine with that.

I must say, I had an absolute blast last night. The city of San Francisco, especially on December 1st as the holiday season is in full swing, has so much to offer- lights, sights and fun. I laughed so much, enjoyed the company and did not overdo it on food nor liquor, but a little more sleep would have made it even better. What a fun night. I smile as I remember the fun.

Confession: I am confident, despite my whining, I will do it again. Just not very soon.

Red Velvet

I have one thing to say today... well, 2...

Did you know that Chili's has a super delicious molten chocolate cake? Well, they do. AND did you know that for the holiday season, they have a RED VELVET version? Yep. Sure do. Wow. I can barely contain my excitement. I was too full to indulge while having lunch at Chili's yesterday, but I am anticipating a visit very soon...

YUM.

2nd quick thought... I am such a sucker for the cheesy holiday movies. Lifetime. Hallmark. USA. TBS. You name it- I love the movies. Right now, since work is done for the weekend, I am having a really hard time deciding between 2 flicks on at the same time. That is my Sunday evening drama.

That is all for today.
May your Cyber Monday be successful tomorrow.

So Thankful this Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in blogland!

I love seeing all of the "thankful" messages on Facebook today. Mine is no different. While I sit here in Park City in my sweats, with a hot cup of coffee, the fireplace going strong, watching a cheesy holiday Lifetime movie... and relax until going to work at 11PM, I am very, very thankful for...

* The most wonderful family- the best Mom & Dad I could ask for and a brother who I am very lucky to have live with me in California (we are all little strange, but makes us love one another even more!)

* The cutest little feisty calico kitty, Casey, in the whole wide world.. can't believe my baby is 11 years old!

* Overall general good health for myself and those I love

* The love of a guy who keeps me smiling and having fun every day (in our own little way)

* Friends and extended family of all ages to visit all across the country

* An amazing job at Best Buy that I love every single day (well, ALMOST every day!)

* True faith and spirituality to guide me through life

* Multiple gym memberships to keep healthy, sane and have fun exercising

* TV, cable, DVDS, Netflix and Redbox

* New fashions every season

* In Style and US Weekly magazines

* Wonderful charities that support the less fortunate

* The beaches and the ocean

* Starlit skies

* Soft falling snow

* Mom's baked goods

* Southwest airlines

* The hope for another Sex & the City film... 3rd times a charm?

* Sundance Film Festival

* Tropical vacations

* The overall joy for life and the people in it

Today, these are a few of the things I continue to be thankful for.
May everyone have a special day and continued holiday filled with peace, love and joy.

Pedicures & OPI

There is not much better than a really, really good pedicure. Warm water, a massage chair, leg & foot massage, and OPI polish in fun colors all that result in pretty tootsies for under $30.

Yes, sometimes one can find a bad pedicure joint, but if they are clean- they are generally good. My faves are Bolinger Nail Spa in San Fran east bay and Solar Nail Spa in Park City. Both have really good massage chairs. That is a bonus.

I needed one today (try for every month or so)- I headed on out to Bolinger on this rainy Sunday. Flavor of the day- Strawberry Margarita, of course by OPI. My. Toes. Look. Amazing. and shiny.

What I also like: when they don't go overboard trying to sell you the "upgrades" salt scrub, foot mask, etc. Offer once and move on. Yes, they do need to offer- but just once.

That is all for today. Very content with my fresh and pretty feet. And I really do love OPI polish.

What's on the Mind of a Sick Girl

When I say sick, I mean ill or not feeling well.. I do not mean demented. So, with a bug in me.... mind a bit a skew, here is what occupied my mind this week:

Why is it that women feel the need to talk on the phone in a public bathroom in a stall on a toilet? That is just simply disgusting. I will never understand this one.

I do also do not understand censorship on TV. FX to be exact. They can show the creep factor of American Horror Story and Nip/Nuck, but they replace "practicing kissing on your girlfriends" with "practice kissing on your pillow friends" and they completely cut out a girl-on-girl kiss. Makes no sense to me at all.

How does "medium" at some steakhouses means bright red and others means no red at all? Inconsistent. And hard to order. But I still do.

People take their Southwest airlines free drink coupons very seriously. Simply put: they no longer take the old ones; they only take the new ones with expiration dates. Deal with it. They are free.

Sangria is not tasty at all Mexican joints. Most; just not all.

Animal prints are still; in fashion this season. Don't like it, but they are.

Yes, they do market and see Twilight hairbrushes. For real.

It really sucks to be not able to exercise for 5 days when you are not feeling well.

I am really, really excited to watch Revenge, Up All Night, Parenthood, Hart of Dixie and 2 Broke Girls this weekend. I have many shows to watch, but those are the highlights. Excited!

If it ever stops raining, I will clean the grill this weekend. Not fun, but necessary.

I love it when the super thick December issue of In Style magazine arrives in the mail. Today was the day. Yeah!

Ok, time for Private Practice, some ice cream and a candle or 2. Bye.

Liking the Customer Service

If you read yesterday, you saw that I am dealing with a bout of the stomach flu. It has surpassed the 24 hours and we are now going onto 48 hours... Much better today, but still not great. I have been sucking down Pedialyte (gotta save those electrolytes) all day. This morning I had a banana. It stayed down. I just had some chicken noodle soup... has stayed down. First things to stay down since Friday night. I hope I am on a roll now.

Yesterday I never left the house. Today, while not 100% better, I was going stir crazy and had to run a few brief errands. I must say customer service over the weekend has been great.

First, since I was "couch ridden", I decided to book all my December work hotel stays at Hiltons. Somehow, I made a mistake and booked for last night rather than December. When I tried to cancel- they said, sorry- time has expired and I must pay for it! Really? So I called the 800 number, they heard my store and canceled the room. Nice. Easy.

Today, I ran to Walmart and Home Depot. Now, first I must say... I despise Walmart. I only go when there are things I really must have that cost much more elsewhere. Well, and also because there is no Target in Park City. We need a Target. So, Walmart.... bought the 4 things I needed and the cashier was the friendliest cashier I have encountered in quite some time. She made me smile. Then to Home Depot to return the (wrong) garbage disposal and exchange a kitchen faucet. I did not have my receipt. No questions- just a very easy simple process. Smooth. Loved it.

I must say between Hilton, Walmart (gross) and Home Depot, I was a pleased customer this weekend. Now if my stomach flu could be as accomodating. Please.