Back at Home Base

Back at home base after a trip north for Christmas. It's been a messy few days of sleeping in and bumbling around trying to be productive but really just... bumbling through. 

The trip north was surprisingly uneventful but draining. We landed very early, got a rental and drove four hours to the other side of the state to see the hub's parents. Then, a few days later, we drove back to the west side to see my family for about a week. It was a lot of socializing and Hubster was totally over it by the last few days. Unfortunately, my mom and I had already planned an early birthday party for him the morning of our departure. So, he suffered a bit more than necessary with an extra burst of visiting from my sibs and our nieces and nephews in addition to my folks that morning. But it was good for BB to see. his cousins one last time.

There was no drama. Very little tension. Not much new. It just... was. We decided that next year will include a shorter trip. It's just so exhausting being away from home that long with our families. A big ole cruise is a different sort of exhausting. but 10-days up north with family visits and holiday events. Too much for these old birds. Hehe

Hubs turned 40 yesterday. I made my first beef Wellington ever for him (per his request) and despite some emotional turbulence I made it through. The prosciutto was tearing, the duxelles wasn't fine enough, and I didn't like the sear on the beef, but it turned out delicious and not major leakage or soggy bottom! He was very happy. I was so concerned about a lame birthday that I had to take an Ativan, but he seemed content. I'm relieved. 

His real birthday celebration for himself is a marathon down in Arizona. He's going alone and I'm worried about him being in bad shape afterward like St. George marathon went. But he's going to go down Friday, run Saturday, and fly back super early Sunday. The best I can do is help him once he's home. 

Now that I've resigned from my assistant/receptionist position I'm feeling more money concerns. I jumped the gun getting things rolling for substituting around the local districts and I got myself into a little bit of a pickle. My district ID and email need to be activated for one district and I didn't do it before the holiday break. So now I think I have Monday to get activated, get into the system and do my trainings before issues arise and my employment is possibly preempted. So.. my bad. I just didn't have it in me to take care of it before the break and then the week of Christmas was Christmas! It just didn't happen. I think I needed to take more time after quitting before leaping into the subbing stuff. 

Anyway. We're home. We're going to find a new normal. We're going to hope 2026 brings some better days... and some snow! 

Cruise Pics

Beginning of the plane ride to Pairs (before we went on to Athens)

BB sleeping on the floor at Charles de Gaulle airport. I got a pastry and espresso and read some Edith Wharton while on French soil... she's my fave and after her divorce settled in France instead of New York. Anyway. Hubs ended up running off plane and to grab BB's Nintendo Switch from the bench we were waiting at!

Pinky up for "Dutch tea" on the cruise ship.

Hagia Sophia mosque and my head scarf that gave the hubs the giggles.

Turkish street snack for BB at a lovely park we walked through.

We enjoyed hanging out in the Crow's Nest at the front of the ship and had many lattes and hot cocoas there. Also got hooked on Sorry! and played some chess.

Sea glass found on Mykonos beach.

Shavin' parts of eyebrows off (the left one)

Family pic at the site of the ancient Olympics

Outside Dubrovnik

Learning about silk production (was hilarious how BB reacted! "creepy" "freaky" and "can I touch???")

Mango was the flavor du jour this trip

BB with his stuffy for the trip in Venice

My last pic of the trip for whatever reason... Gotta crack those eggs haha

 

Trip Success

More later, but just dropping a few pics to let everyone know that the vacay went well :o)

Ephesus, Venice, and a couple shots of Istanbul included.

 

Cruise 2025 Comin' Up

Hubs, BB, and I are going on a big ole cruise in a bit. If anyone has any tips or "must sees" shoot me a comment! I've included the itinerary below.

I'm nervous. I haven't been abroad since 2009 (I don't count Canada and Mexico for whatever reason), but excited as well. We have liked our cruises so far and while we haven't been with this cruise line before, we are hoping to have another good experience. 

BB told us he wanted to go to Ancient Greece a while ago and we told him that we couldn't go right away, that it would take planning and saving. He was distraught. Draped himself over the Costco cart and refused to walk and moaned throughout the rest of the shopping trip. Even samples weren't enough to break the funk. Well, the hubs took his request to heart and made a Greece trip happen and then some!

We are a little concerned about how we'll be received in Europe as Americans in the Trump era, but excited nonetheless. I have never been to Europe, but am happy to be going with Hubs and BB. It's going to be quite an adventure.

My mom is coming down to catsit for us and then BB will fly up to WA state with grandma for some summertime fun. It's going to be quite a summer for him... sometimes I wonder if he'll ever know how privileged and blessed he is. I never could imagine these types of adventures when I was his age and he doesn't even seem phased! My main concern is I don't want him to be entitled. I don't need a big thank you card or anything, I'm just wanting to make sure he understands that this is special.

The spots we're stopping at:

Piraeus, Greece (Athens)

Istanbul, Turkey

Kusadasi, Turkey (Ephesus)

Mykonos, Greece

Souda, Greece (Chania)

Katakolon, Greece (Olympia)

Sarande, Albania

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Trieste, Italy (Venice)

Well, I guess it's time for supper makin'. And more coughing and blowing my nose. Hopefully those don't get mixed up.

:o)