Mornings in Daytona Beach (awhile ago....I'm catching up)

My mornings in Daytona. I'm not a huge fan of the city - but it's pretty peaceful when no one is around at about 5am. I was just getting off of a 10 hour work day when I took these....nice way to end the day.

Finally...

I'm finally going to sleep for the first time since five hours before my last post........... For those of you that wish you had my job - think about that for a minute. Since I've gone to sleep last:

*I almost died in a town car on the way to the airport
*I saw four people in the airport with face masks on
*I saw an emergency medical incident on an airplane
*I flew across the country in the very back of a plane with less than two inches of room for my knees
*I drove from North New Jersey to South New Jersey
*I learned what "Bennies" and "Shoobies" are
*I learned that people from New Jersey don't really do drive-thru places on interstates. They get off the interstate, park at a rest-stop-type-thing, get out of the car and walk into a food court that is stored in a pole barn.
*BUT - I learned that they don't get out of their cars to pump their own gas
*I checked into a huge and beautiful hotel that is reportedly haunted and was a big part of the mob in Atlantic city
*I saw the skyline of Atlantic City
*I had a Cobb salad while cracking up laughing over a meal
*I stubbed my toe on the night stand in my room.

Can't wait to see what happens during the next period of time I'm awake!! Good night, finally.

Lindy
Sent from my PDA Device

Message from the road...

The butter was frozen at dinner tonight... I tried to warm it up, country style, using the fancy candle. Oh, how I love hotel restaurants!

Here's my story for today.... I will leave in a black town car at 6:30am PST, arrive at San Francisco airport at around 7:15. I fly out of San Fran at 8:40. Land in Newark at 5:30pm EST, drive at least two hours and arrive at my next project at around 8pm. And - if I have to work that night, I will then start working at 11pm, and work until 7am on Saturday morning. The sad thing is: I am already tired!! More later.... Lindy Sent from my PDA Device

Blogging from my phone...

Let's see if this works, shall we?! If it does, be aware that I will turn into a blogging fool!!

The BEST meal I've had in a long time!! Even though it hurt pretty bad...that's a TON of food!!


** PS. The picture didn't make it onto my blog from my phone, so I had to come in and Edit it. SO - pics might not get to make it in here from my phone, unless I can figure it out!!

Charlie's Angels and In N Out...

I have no pics to share today...

I literally just wanted to stop by and explain why I just laughed the hardest I have in a long time... I worked overnight last night (in California, so I'm just pretty much settling down to go to sleep and it's 3pm EST). I finished my daily report, and correcting a checklist for the hotel I'm working at. I crawled into bed (best bed I've experienced since Pelican Hill...GOD, I miss that place), turned on the TV to find Charlie's Angels is on. I have no idea which one it is, because there are a few, right?! WELL - I CRACKED UP LAUGHING at a scene in this movie. Drew Barrymore is tied up to a chair in that stone castle thingy, where they had to go save that guy that hangs out with them (Bozley?! Played by that guy from Caddyshack....which I've also never seen, but I know he's in there). Anyway - she's tied to this chair and she ends up beating up all of the guys after her.... When she started to dancing to that Michael Jackson song right after laying all of those guys out - I FRIGGIN' DIED! It was one of those weird, creepy, can't stop LAUGHS. Did anyone else see that scene and think it was hilarious?! Shew....I'm still recovering.

Wait - does that mean I need to get a life?! If that's all that's left to humor me - I should probably be scared, huh?! :)

And then, immediately following the insane laughter - I remembered that the Front Office Manager and some of the team members here with me are taking me to an In N Out, that apparently is only 30 minutes away.
OH.
MY.
GOD.
I.
AM.
SO.
EXCITED.

Dear IN N OUT,
Here I come, honey. I know it's been awhile since our last affair, but I'm coming....it won't be long until we meet again. See you soon.
Love,
Lindy

Oh man - I do need a life!!!

Moving and a trip to Daytona Beach

So, my friends....where did we leave off?! Ah, yes - my travels.

After Michigan, I was actually home for almost two whole weeks. NICE, but busy! Seems I'm only really home when things need to be done. Which, is really good - now that I think about it! :) I moved out of my apartment, as my roommate Emilee is graduating from college. I had a choice to make. So, I made it. I put the majority of my things (which some of you know is A TON of stuff...but, I've managed to dwindle it down a little this year) in a storage unit in Yorktown. Have I shared all of this information already? Oh well - if you've heard it already - skip down to the pictures! Anyway - I put most of my things in storage in Yorktown, because my Dad knows a guy, who knows another guy, who could get me a great deal. I had 4 full days scheduled off to actually move, and I realized quickly that I wasn't going to be able to get it done. Not only could I not confirm which friends were available on certain days (turns out that I don't have that many friends available for things like moving anymore!), but I didn't know what went where..... VERY confusing and hard to pack for something like this. SO - I just decided to hire movers (best thing I've ever done for myself) to take all of my big stuff, plus the things I already had packed to Yorktown. I emailed JAY'S MOVING COMPANY on Tuesday night around 10p, and I was on the phone with Jay Jr. by 11p scheduling the move for the next morning. It appears there's something called a Recession....or something like that.... and he just needed the work! SAWEET!! They were in my apartment by 10a the next morning and we were unloaded in Yorktown by 1p. AWESOME. So - I managed to move things here and there over the next week (I was kept at home for another week, working....but home.) Oh, if you're wondering, I moved in with some friends of mine that just got married a few years ago, have a new house, etc. They are letting me crash in one of their spare bedrooms until I can figure out what the HELL I'm going to do. :) They have the cutest little dog though - very nice, very smart, very into mice! We took a field trip to PetCo one day...he tried to attack one of the mice through the glass.... HILARIOUS!

After that, I was on my way to Daytona Beach for work. Hmmm....Daytona Beach. I went there my senior year of high school with about 15 drunk teenagers. I actually wasn't one of the drunk ones, believe it or not. I was in charge of everyone's money and bailing people out of jail, if the opportunity (I mean situation) ever presented itself! Needless to say, I was anxious to see what Daytona was like through "Lindy Adult Eyes". Not much different - it's still the dirtiest place on Earth!! I haven't had time to upload any of the pictures from my camera, but the pictures I do have are from my phone....... I had time to go on a walk the morning of the day I left. I managed to get a little sunburnt, but nothing bad. It was great to be able to just walk on the beach...I've forgotten how much I really like that.

I hadn't seen the Lead I was working with since last year around this time, when we were both starting out. It was great to get back together with him and hang out a little. He was served this for dinner....... ARE YOU SERIOUS?! HAHAHAHAHA.... come on, Olive Garden!!

This particular hotel also had a fish tank in the lobby with some really creepy creatures. I was working overnights (about 11p-9a), and the eel hardly ever moved. Freak. I guess the puffer guy blows up every once in awhile..... I, however, never saw proof of that story!

More soon.... I'm at my brother's in Annapolis this week (working from "home"), so I've got TONS to post about my little neice. You won't be waiting as long as last time...............

Playing Catch Up...

This will probably be all over the place. Just a fair warning....

I always find myself on a fine line.... can I really blog about that? Or, perhaps that should go into my journal. I guess, the purpose of this blog is to let people know where I am and what I'm doing at the moment. It makes me feel as if someone is actually paying attention.

Speaking of - rumor on the street is that I have a few followers "back home" that I didn't know about!! Okay, Okay...Ann Meister told me. Ann!! I LOVE ANN!! I always feel so priveleged to sit beside her at church - someone who keeps it real!! Ann - if you're reading this...let's do lunch/dinner next time I'm in town, deal? Great to see you last Sunday....

For all of you others reading this blog, that I don't necessarily know about - comment or send up a flair somehow to let me know you're around. If I get enough people, we might have to make Lindy's Blog T-shirts.

SO - since Vancouver, I was home for about 12 hours and then I went to Wixom, Michigan. Wixom is about 30 miles outside of Detroit...yes, I was there during the Final Four. I was at a Holiday Inn Express, which is a little different than the hotels I'm usually working in. It's a different type of hotel (chain, brand, etc), so the rules are different. Just kind of interesting that I would end up there. Anyway - so that a shadow installer could get more training, I offered to work 7p-7a and split the day with the shadow and the lead. That makes for a VERY long shift, especially when the night auditor doesn't even like to stay awake. Good Lord! I can't tell you how many hours I was on facebook!! The day before I left, it snowed like a foot, all of a sudden...that was fun. But - I got to hang out with an installer I went to training with about a year ago, as she lives close to where I was. The picture is of me in her little car....YEAH - I didn't fit!!

Once I got back from Michigan (from which I flew through Chicago to get home...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Picture is of Chicago in the air at night), I had five days off to move, fix my taxes and talk to a few career classes at my old high school. Five days sounds like a lot, but it was probably the most stressful period of time I've experienced in a long time. I have a lot of furniture that wouldn't fit in my Jeep, and I just generally have a lot of crap...things like frames photos/pictures, books, clothes, etc. Some would describe it as junk, but it's my stuff - you know? I had to decide what could go into storage (which is Yorktown) and what would have to stay with me in Beech Grove (thank goodness a couple that are friends of mine agreed to take me in like a stray cat). You have no idea how hard it was for me to figure what goes where....I have always had a large living space, been able to do pretty much whatever I want (come and go as I please). This freaks me out a little - not having my own place and my things around me.

I did have a minute to take a breather though. My friend Amanda, and some of her friends invited me to the Stacy Mitchhart concert in Redkey, IN. It was AWESOME. They had shown me a DVD of Stacy Mitchhart probably 8 months ago and every since, I've been dying to go see this guy. I had a great time there! Below are some videos.....

For Easter, you ask? Yes, I forgot it was Easter. Completely forgot....until I went to church and figured out that it was Easter. Hmmmm.....

In the past few months, I've been up and down, up and down, up and down......not much consistency in my emotions. Those that are closest to me may not even notice, because I can usually manage to keep myself calm, cool and collected. But - I honestly feel like I'm on that wall again.....sad, depressed and lonely? Or happy, content and together?

Perhaps this is the moment where I switch to my journal!! :) Thanks for reading!

Blogging on the road....

You know? All day, every day - I think about the neat things I could blog about. But, when it comes down to actually writing a blog, I have no clue what to write about. How does that work out? I'm in Vancouver for the next ten days, and it's a great city. But, on the way here there were a lot of funny/interesting things that I wanted to mention.

For the life of me, the only thing I can remember is this: I sat by a kid on my flight from Phoenix to Vancouver that itched himself CONSTANTLY. Not only was he itching his unmentionables, but he was itching EVERYWHERE. "Dude, seriously, stop itching," I wanted to say. I found myself freaked out that he had bed bugs and that I was going to end up itching by the end of the trip. Thank goodness that didn't happen. I was even generous enough to lend him my pen to fill out the Canadian Customs paperwork. He was a young kid, maybe an overly tall 15 year old...looked scared because our flight was REALLY bumpy...and too young to have crabs....so I thought, "why not"?!

Other than that, I'm drawing a blank. Maybe I should start figuring out a way to remind myself everyday of the specific happenings I'd like to blog about. Hmmm....it's been a while since I actually wrote things on my hand, but................................

These are the first couple of pics from Vancouver. I didn't realize this place had water and mountains, so imagine my surprise when I saw those during my walk!! It is A LOT like New York City, only a LOT smaller, cleaner and prettier. They will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, so there is Olympic stuff everywhere! I'm here for longer than I'm used to being in a city, so I'm hoping I find the time to go out exploring soon. Have dinner by the bay and such, maybe. We shall see.

I'll write more later. Since my phone doesn't work here in this foreign country (at all....I'm a little mad at ATT, who told me my phone would operate just fine....but I'm not bitter), I've had a lot more time on my hands. Didn't know my phone took up that much of my time, but I guess it does. AND, I'm figuring out how awesome TV really is. This Price Is Right show is hilarious................... :)

Catch Up...

Hello all! Sorry I've been away from the "blog scene" for awhile. I've been pretty down in the dumps this year and I think I've just now started to kick-start my positivity again. Yay for me. Since Atmore, Alabama - I've visited Long Beach, CA... French Lick, IN (where the picture above was taken)...Newport Beach, CA...and Little Rock, AR. I think that's it. It was kind of interesting going from Newport Beach to Little Rock, to be honest. I'll tell you all about it.....................

In Newport Beach, I was doing a post follow up visit for Pelican Hill. LOVE me some Pelican Hill. The people are great, the resort is the most amazing thing in the world and I just had a great time! The only problem was: I was probably as sick as I've ever been in my life on that trip. I got home from wherever I was before that, for some reason French Lick doesn't seem right (I always forget where I've been once I've left!) I got home on a Thursday night, I think, and I left for California on that Sunday. I managed to get pretty sick that weekend, but my worst day was Sunday. Lucky me, that was my travel day. If you haven't ever traveled while you're sick - and you have any way to avoid it - DO!! It was awful. Not to mention, I was delayed for 5 hours in Indianapolis on my way to Chicago for a connection. Blech. My ears didn't pop in the planes either, so I couldn't hear anything. No to mention I could barely talk and open my eyes! It was kind of interesting! My poor co-worker in California...she heard all kinds of weird sounds from me!! But - I just love Pelican, and it was THE BEST place to be when you don't feel good. This was the place where I spent Thanksgiving. This time we both had our own rooms (since there were only 2 of us), and that was great....those rooms are huge and luxurious! Awww...I get all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about it! The caliber of service and the level of the guests that stay there - it just makes you feel like you're somebody!

But, I got home on a Saturday night and then left for Little Rock on Monday. Now THAT is an interesting place!! I arrived in a taxi, with a driver that was mad at me for using an American Express (like always...but he was REALLY mad). I walked into the tiny little lobby with all of my stuff and the guy checking me in said, "that taxi driver wasn't very nice!!" HA! I knew right at that moment I was going to like the place. It takes a lot for a front desk agent to notice little things like that. This hotel was actually used for people who were using the hospital services down the road...usually people staying for a long time and people who are cancer patients. I thought this could really bother me, but it didn't at all. Guests would walk in with tubes hanging out of their chests or necks, with their little beanie caps on.... and everyone that worked in the hotel was just SO GREAT!! They new every guest by name, why they were there and what they needed. Now, it wasn't like Pelican Hill...that's for sure. But great in its own way.

Little Rock is a VERY interesting place!! It didn't help that I don't know enough geography to really know where in the heck I am from week to week.... they could tell right away that I was a "yankee". And, they weren't afraid to make fun of me alllllll day about it. I don't know if I gave off the "city slicker" vibe, or what, but I eventually explained that I grew up in the middle of nowhere, basically on a farm! That didn't help any! They were, however, very excited that I wasn't a "damn yankee". The difference? See below....

YANKEE - Someone who is from "the North" that comes to "the South", buys a lot of things and spends a lot of money, and then leaves.

DAMN YANKEE - Someone who is from "the North" that comes to "the South", buys a lot of things and spends a lot of money, and then decides to move in.

HAHAHAHA - Cracked me up!!

I started the 4th book of the Twilight Series on my travel day and I got kind of caught up in it...couldn't stop reading it. I realized that I was being really lazy, so I thought maybe it was a good idea to go out and explore Little Rock a little bit. So - before I left on Saturday, I went sight-seeing. All week the hotel employees were telling me about the Clinton Memorial Library looking like a trailer on blocks. HAHAHAHA - I didn't believe them, but it's really true! Bill Clinton was the first President I remember, and I have never really had a great impression of the guy - just because he cheated on his wife. BUT - that museum made me realize he actually did do a lot of great things. Maybe it was just because it was all about him, but I found myself really feeling sorry for the guy. Then, I just got mad at myself - because he cheated on his wife!! I'm not a big fan of that, so I don't think I could be a fan of his.

BUT - there was a Chihuly there....and THAT was awesome!

I finally got to see the Duck March at the Peabody too. Every day at 11a and 5p, the Peabody Hotels (Little Rock, Orlando and Memphis) have the infamous Duck March. They take the Ducks from their little suite in the hotel and they make a trip down the elevator, through the lobby and into the fountain!! It's SO cute!!

I got home really late on Saturday night and managed to get to Parker City that night. Went to church on Sunday morning and hung out with my nephew. Brody, my nephew, (Charlie's son) will be 4 in a week or so. He's getting so big, and he's so cute!! Of course, the jerk of an aunt I am, I could only get him a gift in the airport. So - he got a bunch of miniature Delta planes! He was less than excited!! Ha!

So - now I'm home, working...which pretty much stinks. Seems like we never get days off anymore. And, I'm packing up my things in the apartment, trying to solidify a storage unit, and see some folks while I'm home. I'm not sure I really have friends in Indy anymore though!! I think they're all tired of me!

Off to Vancouver on Saturday....... never been to that city - so that will be cool!! More soon...

No sleep in Long Beach....

This is from a trip to Long Beach about a month ago...... I realized tonight that I haven't posted it yet. I crack up everytime I watch it!! HA!