New Orleans, LA ~ Day 2

April 11, 2013 ~ It was going to be a rainy day in New Orleans so we decided to hop in our rental car and head to Biloxi, Mississippi to see the Gulf! We were excited to go to a state we haven't been to and it was a great day for a drive! The storm was moving East and we would be able to see the Gulf before the storm hit.

My Aunt Judy is always tired and around us on vacation you can't be tired so I got her hooked on Red Bull! Not sure they helped her but she seemed to have a little more pep in her step! 

 Of course I made them stop by the "Welcome to Mississippi" sign to verify our stop there!

It was super windy as the storm was trying to blow in. We all got to dip our feet into the water and got a few pictures!

We then drove further down to find something to eat. We thought this little place seemed perfect! It was really good and I had chicken strips! As we sat and ate we got the hair-brained idea to head over to Mobile, Alabama to check out the USS Alabama. (Since we got to tour this on one of our Veterans Virtual Tours I really wanted to see it)

Before we headed to Alabama, Justin wanted to take a quick dip in the Gulf so we stopped by a little shop to find some trunks and t-shirts. We all did a little shopping and then headed closer to Alabama so Justin could take a quick dip!

The winds really started to pick up and these guys were wind surfing. They were crazy as the winds would pick them up and take them for a ways in the water. It was fun watching them and I can't imagine the strength in their upper body to hold on!

While Justin played in the water we decided to write our names in the sand! Memories being made!

We had to stop and take a picture in front of the "Welcome to Alabama" sign!

We finally made it to the USS Alabama! What a massive battleship! We couldn't wait to tour it!

When we entered the gift shop/entrance it was sprinkling outside and we knew the storm would soon be here. We met a wonderful guy who was doing a book signing. This is Col. Glenn D. Frazier author of "Hell's Guest". Of course because he is a veteran and an author I needed to have a copy of his book! He said they are making a movie of his story... how cool is that! (They had another book that was signed by Sid Phillips and his book was titled "You'll be Sor-ree!")

We finally boarded the ship and it was amazing to see what a huge ship it was! It was really interesting to see how it operated/looked back when it was in operation. Not sure I could be on that thing for fear of getting lost!

When we were ready to leave it was pouring down rain! They made the final call on the loud speaker that the USS Alabama would be closing in 15 minutes. We were waiting for a break in the rain to run to the car. Needless to say we were all soaked by the time we made it from the ship to the car!

We drove back to New Orleans and once we got out of Alabama the skies cleared up. Of course I made Brandon stop to get a picture of the "Welcome to Louisiana" sign! It was too dark to get out of the car to take a picture with it and we pulled over on the highway.... long enough for a quick picture and that's all!

New Orleans, LA ~ Day 1

April 10, 2013 ~ It seems like forever ago that we planned our trip to New Orleans and now it's here! Anytime we travel I am like a little kid at Christmas and can't wait to go! We loaded up, picked up my Aunt Judy Daly and headed to the Kansas City Airport at 5:00 AM. We would be meeting my cousin, Stephanie and Justin who would be traveling with us. Our flight was delayed so we decided to go get a Starbucks and wait. We finally loaded up and headed out at 10:55 AM.

After a quick hour and a half direct flight we made it! It was cold in Kansas City and felt much better in New Orleans! We picked up our rental car (which they gave us an upgrade from an Explorer to an Expedition.... thank goodness because we needed a bigger car with all of our luggage!)  and headed to find our hotel to get checked in.

We arrived at the Downtown Marriott New Orleans (we snagged a free upgrade on our rooms... Woo Hoo!) As soon as we dropped everything off we hit the town! We had to see what this town was all about!

We wanted to find Bourbon Street and get something to eat! All this traveling had us starving!

Justin wanted oysters so after we walked down several streets we found Acme Oyster Bar and decided to check it out. (Stephanie and Judy were checking out the menu to make sure there was something that I would eat on there)

 Justin ordered a big plate of fresh oysters.... man those things were huge! It was a really neat little place and of course I had a burger! (surprise, surprise)

Justin talked Stephanie into trying her first oyster. (He told her that he would buy her a t-shirt and she was sold) As you can see by her face she wasn't so sure about them....I wouldn't have tried those things for $1,000! She was happy when she got her t-shirt!

Bourbon Street was awesome and yet crazy at the same time. It was daytime and busy and I couldn't imagine what night time would be like!

For dinner we went to Harrah's Casino to have some prime rib for dinner and a little gambling. The prime rib was OK and my goodness I have never seen so many different kinds of foods and desserts! The guy cutting the prime rib was carving it like he bought it.... seriously dude.... we didn't come here to shoot marbles so cut me a chunk of meat already! We then headed to the penny slots! Justin won $75 after spending $3! Lucky dude! Brandon, Stephanie and I were big losers!

We decided to call it a night around 10:30 PM so we could get a good nights rest and hit it hard for Day 2 of our New Orleans adventure!

100 Voices Project

April 7, 2013 ~ The Columbia Missourian is launching a video project to capture the diversity of Boone County through the voices of it's own community members. Based on the idea of simply getting to know one another, our goal is to find a person of every age, from 1 to 100, to share something about themselves.

I wanted to be a piece of this great documentary and contacted Katie Alaimo and Alyssa Goodman at the Columbia Missourian. They scheduled an appointment to come into their studio at Lee Hills Hall located at 8th & Elm in Columbia, MO. They were great at making you feel comfortable and you simply had a normal conversation with them. They were great to ask questions about certain things you said and was never a dull moment. (I can't believe I am telling you this but I even got emotional... I know.... seriously! We were talking about cancer, my book, inspirations and life. It was crazy yet good... of course I told them not to use any of that!) My session lasted about 40 minutes (you know I can talk) with about 30 minutes of it recorded.... the rest was just chit chat!

They have a great idea and I can't wait to see the finished project! I really think there are some great people that we may never meet in this community and to hear a little about them would be awesome.

Yep I represented age 36! 

(Brandon reminded me it's only for another 4 months)

I even got to color in my age!

I highly encourage you to do this. If you live in Boone County and you see your age still in white then they need you! Let's help them get this project done! 

Contact Katie Alaimo or Alyssa Goodman at
100ages100voices(at)gmail(dot)com
or 
573-559-0243
and set up your appointment today! 

Every person, of every age, has a story to tell.

My First 5k!

April 6, 2013 ~ One of my personal goals this year is to take better care of my body. I feel that over the past several years I have let things go and there is no excuse. I didn't put a certain date to start all of this because I knew I would just stress myself out. When I saw information about the Glow Run 5k on the internet I knew this was something I needed to do. I have never done a 5k before and didn't really know what to expect. I didn't start training and didn't change my eating habits prior to this. I knew this would be my starting point and I would take it at slow strides and not push my body more than I could handle. (I am defiantly not lazy but because of my fast-paced life I don't think about all the bad things I eat)

The race started at 8:00 pm and there was about 2,000 people registered for this event. I was at the very back of the first set of people that started the 5k. Many people would be running this and I knew better. I wasn't going to try and kill myself or my knees to prove I could. Instead I was a woman on a mission! I power walked like you wouldn't imagine! I felt good although runners from the second group were passing me. I didn't care.... I was doing this for me. (I will say it felt really good to power walk around several people that were ahead of me or those that mixed running/jogging/walking). I would breathe in through my nose and exhale through my mouth as I continued on. I had no pain anywhere and didn't feel out of breath.

Once I made it to the half way point I was thinking to myself "Really? We are already 1/2 way?". I grabbed a couple of dixie cups of water and kept trucking! I felt good and even added a little jog or two to get around others.

This picture was taken on the way back through the tunnel on campus getting ready to head to the finish line! (I am holding up a 1 with my finger because it was my first 5k.... cheesy... yep that's me) I started jogging because I felt pretty good and my knee wasn't bothering me.... I pushed myself a little harder because I knew I could.

Crossing the finish line.... yep I was still jogging!

This isn't pretty but if you can't tell from the smile.... I was proud. I didn't have a timer, not a drop of make up on, was sweaty but felt great! I had just completed my very first 5k in just under 45 minutes! It was an amazing feeling and one I will remember for many years to come. I have made the first step to a healthier me.... and it's not going to be easy. I will eat what I want within reason but always try to choose the healthier option and drink lots of water and occasionally a glass of sweet tea with my meal. I believe that I can accomplish a reasonable goal of  120 lbs (which I think is a good weight for me) in a reasonable time frame. This will be 20 lbs for me to loose and again, I am not putting any certain date to reach all of this by but instead making healthy choices along the way. I am not joining a gym instead I am going to walk every day or Mr. Spry and I will ride bikes on the trail when we have time. (Shhh... I am going to try and encourage him to do this with me but don't tell him) 

Today is my first day and I am giving it all I've got! You only get one body and one life.... how am I going to live to be 100 if I don't start doing something now???

Happy Easter!

March 31, 2013 ~ Happy Easter everyone! We had a wonderful day with family. My nephew, Jaxon was being .... well....Jaxon and was into everything! (I swear that kid is kin to me because his feet never stop!) I was able to get him to smile for two pictures..... little stinker doesn't stay still very long at all! Oh and when he is done having his picture taken... he'll let you know! He's ornery!

Mom cooked a good meal and you know there's something about being home with family that makes me so happy! Mom and dad are both enjoying retirement and they seem a little more relaxed. Jaxon loves going to Granny and Papa's house. All in all... it was a great day!