BeyondExquisite Blogging
8.31.2004
Sunday night was our first experience with live music since picking up and moving to the heartland. We had the pleasure of enjoying Cowboy Junkies at a very nice little downtown theater. What an awesome show. I've never heard an accordion played quite like Jaro plays it -- so melodic and smooth, with a touch of jazz vibes here and there. simply unforgettable. Yes, the entire experience was quite refreshing, envigorating and relaxing all in one lovely package. We especially liked the black lights. Quite an interesting way to keep the lights dim, but still provide enough light to keep from bumping into each other.
What a civilized bunch of folks who came out to see the show that evening. I'm still smilin.
8.28.2004
I actually painted my fingernails!
Last weekend we attended Wayne's niece's wedding in Fond du Lac, WI. What beautiful green countryside. What awesome dairy barns!! What a wonderful family event!
About 15 min before we walked out of our hotel room to stroll down the street to the church in downtown Fond du Lac, I decided to paint my fingernails. After spending the past 6 yrs doing networking and PC helpdesk, I'd completely given up on any such feminine accoutrement. Pulling wires on the back of equipment, digging through boxes of cables and electronic devices, and using tools does not lend itself to painted fingernails. I'd forgotten what they looked like!!
Well, much to my amazement, my nails looked fabulous, and I left them painted the rest of the week. My new job as an Office Manager didn't seem to create any damage to the lovely finish, nor delicate tips of my nice, naturally grown nails. I will never attach any pieces of plastic to the ends of my fingers. I don't see how anyone can type, cut food, or do much of anything productive with those things on.
Last night, as I was relaxing right before going to sleep, I decided to put a fresh coat on my nails. They look even more fabulous today, as I took much more care and time this go-round to apply the coats of polish. Geez, I even almost feel glamourous!
Just one more tiny little detail that makes me realize how much I like our new life in Lawrence.
8.10.2004
Hey Now!
I think I'm finally starting to become settled down again. I actually cooked dinner 3 times in the past 4 days! Amazing!
I'm not sure how well I could adapt to "life on the road". It seems that it would certainly be the death of me. I have a huge amount of respect for folks who live a travelling life. I guess if I had to keep it up indefinitely, I would probably get used to it, but my bio-rhythm just doesn't get into it at all.
Gonna go buy some Nickel Creek CDs. I've heard them on the airwaves for at least 5 yrs now, and always liked what I heard, but just never got off my butt to go get the CDs. Well, thanks to the Sundance channel, I just watched an awesome little docu-film about them. How refreshing that they are so very young, so very talented, so very grounded, so very much at the top of what they do, and enjoy what they do. They're gonna get my nickels for sure when I go pick up some of their tunes this weekend.
We'll have to scout around Lawrence and find the coolest record store in town. There are a couple down on Mass St that we've been wanting to check out. I think this weekend will be the time to do it.
................off to dreamland......................
8.04.2004
Wow, I can't believe it's been 2 and a half weeks since I last blogged.... wait, I take that back.... yes, I can! Just way too much goin on the past few weeks.
We ate pig at the Pig Pickin' in Halifax, NC (and chicken, and slaw, and rolls, and hush puppies, and my fresh fruit salad, and homemade ice cream, and tons of other tastey NC homemade homegrown food!). It was quite awesome! I'm proud to say my Mom's family are great relatives, and it's nice to see so many of them at one time. It was a really nice Jones family reunion this year -- the 20th Annual!
Virginia Beach was wonderful, if only for part of an afternoon, a night, and a few hours the next morning. The weather was balmy, the surf beautiful, and skies so perfect. Just to watch the pelicans skimming above the surf was so relaxing. We even found a nice little espresso bar. My Mom enjoyed it, too.
We had a very nice time in Roanoke, VA. It was good to see 2 of my brothers who live there, Randy and Don, along with Randy's wife Diana, and their darling granddaughter, Hannah.
Wayne found out Roanoke's downtown Market Square area boasted free wi-fi, so we put my Mom in the back of the VUE and drove down there to check it out. We ate lunch on the sidewalk cafe area of the Paradox restaurant/bar/nightclub, and Wayne's laptop logged right in. Profecto-mundo! Very good food, very connected wi-fi.
The next day we went north on I-81 to visit my oldest brother, Bill, and his wife, Pam. They live in the eastern panhandle of WV. As luck would have it, it was Pam's birthday. We were quite delighted to enjoy a wonderful drive out into the Berkeley county countryside to a secluded resort/spa/conf ctr called Coolfont for an incredible dinner! Yum! "Thanks again, Bill!"
There were many other folks we wanted to visit, and other 2-lane highways we wanted to traverse, but there just wasn't enough time. We will drive back to the east coast again in the future. Our drive back home on I-70 was fatigueing, but we made it, just in time to do laundry, pay some bills, and get back in the car for another drive and another family reunion.
The trip to Branson, MO, was a nice little half-day cruise, thank goodness. The Woods resort was really really nice. Thanks to Wayne's cousin, Alan Cloud, for finding that place for all the folks who attended the 9th Tri-Annual Bomhoff Reunion! I'm proud to say that Wayne's mother's relatives are really nice folks, and it was nice to see so many of them again after 3 yrs. Branson is quite an interesting haven of capitalism and entertainment. The ridges/ravines/woods/lakes/creeks topography makes it quite more interesting than cruising the strip in some flat place like Vegas.
Although we enjoyed both family reunions, and are glad we decided to attend, we have now vowed to never again to back-to-back reunions. It's just way to much driving and staying in motels and eating road food. We were totally exhausted by the time we got home from Branson, just in time to do laundry again, and for me to start my new job.
And now I've completed 3 full days at my new job, and have to say I'm totally pleased!!! Woo-hoo! If I can just get all rested up, then I'll be completely pleased!
I think I'm reserving this weekend to sleep for 48 hours non-stop!!!!
