Heaven on Earth...Valley of the Sun

WOW! I have arrived! I am in Tempe, AZ at a training class all week for work - it is amazing here!

If you are thinking of robbing me, please don't...I have a cat sitter and you will scare the crap out of her - HA!

Here is my room at the Tempe Mission Palms - this is a beautiful room and hotel!

This is the view right out of my window...beautiful!!!!

This is a view of the pool and to the right is the gym...I plan on going there.....look at that BLUE sky!!!

The workout room again...

A cactus decorating the pool area...

These trees are all throughout the courtyard here at the hotel...I am going to ask tomorrow what they are...look like oranges but a little different skins....soo pretty though!

The next pics are looking down at the town as I begin to climb up the little "mountain" outside of my hotel window... the path is called the Hayden Butte Preserve....it is pretty cool!!

A view of the yellow A that you could in my hotel window view...this is right under the A on the path up...

A cacti on the way up - we don't have these in PA, HA!

The view at the top....across that river is Phoenix I think...

And another...at the top!

The Arizona stadium...

The best view if the top!!!!!!!!!!

And, heading down.......

Then I went exploring the town a little...this shop cracked me up....called the Happy, Healthy, Horny Herb shoppe...:-)

This was lunch....note the table....

Had an amazing shredded chicken salad at this place...Fuzzy's Taco Shop...I have to say that there are a lot of very different and eclectic shops and people here in Tempe...lots of what I consider kids (young teens) handing out looking kinda dirty and talking about being homeless....

A pic of my salad...I was starving so I forgot to photograph until I was almost done...HA! It was awesome though!

A picture on the outdoor roof on my way to worko9ut tonight...

Dark pool photo...might check this out tomorrow night...

The hottub...definitely trying this tomorrow....:-)

My workout...this is my first workout since the bronchitis...felt soooooooo good....but, also took it easy a little...I was the only one in the gym!!

And the second part of the workout...another 15 on the eliptical...still all alone in the gym...

Nighty night all! Depending on how the training goes, I will post if I get to do anymore exploring, etc...

So far, I love Arizona!!!!!!!

Jackson's Mill

Here are a few pics from Jacksons Mill.

This time Sherry and I were in Room 311 at the Lodge....

I had to leave Saturday night to get home and packed for my work trip so it was a quick day or two of fun and friends and fellowship!

Here is the view on our patio...

And another...

A view of Fellowship hall across the field...

And this is my sad drive home...this conference went WAY too fast!!!!!!

PS - I miss everyone already - especially Sherry!!!!!!

Happy weekend all!!!!!!!!!!

~~~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLEIGH~~~~

Happy 5th birthday to my amazingly adorable niece and Godchild Kyleigh!!!

I thank God everyday that he brought you to our family! You bring laughter and light wherever you go!!! Even with a little attitude, you always manage to make everyone around you smile!

I am soooooo blessed to be your Aunt and Godmother and I only hope to set good examples for you throughout your life!

I love you to the end of the earth and back and wish so bad that I could be there in person on your birthday!

But since I cannot, please know that Aunt Annie loves you very much and feels extremely blessed to have you in my life!!!! Thanks for bringing my heart joy with each and every moment I get to spend with you!!!

I love you Kyleigh and wish you a lifetime of Happy Birthdays full of all the joy and love that you bring to others...XOXOXO!!!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!

XOXOXO,

Aunt Annie

West By-God Virginia

I am doing a countdown in my brain...

I am at work (in the office) today - still feeling bronchitisy craptastic....

But, in exactly 6 hours I will be heading home and then off to Jackson's Mill, WVa.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! It is soooo serene and I will be spending 24 hours with the best, coolest and most supportive people on this planet!!

Get me on the road!!!

If you ever get the chance to visit this place, you should - it is amazing!

http://jacksonsmill.ext.wvu.edu/farmstead

Happy Friday and I hope you all have a happy and safe weekend!!!!!!!!

Misc Daily Life

Thanks to all of you who have expressed your well wishes, support and prayers for me...Lord knows with a start like this to 2012 I need them! HA!!!!

it's all good...things will go the way they are supposed to....

This will be an exciting look into what is happening in my life recently....

This bag has been left out after Christmas as it will now be making it's way to my older sisters house. She has a large house and is looking for artifical trees to put a few more up next year. I, one the other hand, am done with artfical trees! Next year I am back to getting a real tree - they are soooo mcuh prettier and sturdier (it has to hold up to three cats climbing through it)!! HA!



This is what I have been surviving on for the last five days...I got home after New Years and was really sick...I went to the doctors and found out it was bronchitis!! ICK!!!! so i am on antibiotics, steroids, couch pearls, robitussin, and of course BAYER aspirin (coughing headache)!!! Finally after five days of meds, starting to feel human again!

Made this adorable ornament with paw prints for myself! Got each baby (Kidrock, Angelica, and Josie) to stamp it with their paw...cant wait to use it next year on the REAL tree!!!!

Check out my awesome flag!!!! I took down all the Christmas lights and decorations and it was too blahhhhh and sad around here! Then I remembered this flag I got at the end of the season LAST year at Kirklands....it was like a dollar - how cute is that?!??!?!? A little pop of color on the patio - YEAH!!!!

And finally, this is the wiew from my back window everyday - all day!!!! I have a film on the door so that people cannot see in my patio door...they only see a reflection (best thing I ever did for privacy by the way!!!!!) this is a great benefit for the cats as they sit there and hang out all day with birds within 2 inches of their faces....tails wagging like crazy....they love it!!!! Keeps them occupied for hours!!!!! See, the pretty bluejay to the right on the ground? Needless to say, I keep my feeder full all winter!

I hope you all have a great Tursday! Thanks again for all the support and bloggy love!! You all keep me going just by showing that you care....time will tell but I promise to keep you posted!

Exciting posts coming up soon - training classes somewhere VERY exciting!!

I Call For a Re-Start

Where I live in Pittsburgh we got hit with a lot of snow this week...up until now, not more than a few flakes and this week we are definitely feeling winter!!

Also, I have been working from home all week as I am sick with Bronchitis. Being sick really stinks although I do need to be grateful to have the ability to work from home.

Plus, this Markie thing has realy thrown me for a loop...

2012 looked really great until about 1/2 day into it and now I have decided that I want to call a re-start!!!

Who's with me?!?!??!