Monday, July 18, 2011

July News












Hi, we are home from our cruise and have finally caught up on our sleep. That 10 hour flight home and being up for 22 hours was a killer. We had a great time, spent 3 days in Rome, then onto Sicily. We really liked Sicily. It was not crowded and much less tourist orientated. It was beautiful and we spent time in a small city up in the mountains. The next day we were at sea, then onto Athens. We thought at one point that we would be going to Malta instead because of the rioting in Athens. But that settled down. The taxis were on strike the day we were there but we had hired a van for the 8 of us and he picked up right up at the port and took us everywhere in Athens. We were with him for 9 hours! Ephesus in Turkey was another favorite place. It is the cradle of civilization and the ruins were unbelieveable. We went to a place where they sold Turkish rugs and saw how they are made from the silk worm to completion. Most in our group of 8 bought a rug, but not us. They were still high and I didn't see one I couldn't live without. Crete was our next spot, very nice, olive trees everywhere. We went to an olive oil factory and toured the country side. Overall, a real nice trip, but glad to be home.
Kyla is enjoying summer camp. Ashley and Darin are fine. We found a nice leather sofa yesterday at an estate sale off Mandarin Rd yesterday for only $90 so we bought it and will try to deliver it up to their 3rd floor apt. tonight. Ryan and Tracy are coming down because she has a 4 p.m. cleaning appointment so Ryan can help move the sofa too. Yesterday it was raining and we really couldn't take it. Tracy just got a new job at the hospital. I don't know the details yet, but it is full-time with benefits. She was working 20 hours a week there and picking up hours at Outback on Friday and Saturday night. I'll hear more about it tonight when we see them. She gets to wear scrubs for this new job too which will help on the clothing side of things. Okay, now I'll try to load up a few pictures.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Graduation and MI visit 2011






Hi All,We arrived back in St. John safely and happy to be back. However, the weather in MI could not have been more beautiful. Evan and Bob even got in a round of golf. They had a great time together and I was happy to let that happen without being a part of that. Bob pulled up most of the carpeting in the condo and we are looking at putting down some cheap fake wood flooring when we go back, whenever that will be.
Drove to Bowling Green, OH where we met Herb and Kathy. Kathy was just behind us coming from MI and her "girls' getaway" weekend. We had a nice visit over lunch. It was too short. I love going to their place and seeing everyone there. Hopefully, next visit.
Graduation for Nathan was great. They graduated 10 of 25 students. We were totally overdressed for the occasion, but we can't help how we were brought up, now can we. We went to Amelia Island for lunch and a nice drive back in the rain. Nathan was so happy, as he told Laura, his girlfriend, that his family was there to share it. This is a rough crowd, the guys who work in this business. Marilynn and Rick had all the family over for a "low country boil" on Saturday and Marilynn told Nathan he could invite a couple of his dive buddies from school. We were 16 altogether. It was great!! Laura stayed until July 4 at Marilynn and Rick's and Nathan drove to LA for interviews a few days later. He is still waiting to hear as to employment. Should know something tomorrow.
Evan continues to thrive in his new job. He really likes having some money and loves working with the autistic adults. We are ecstatic as to his turnaround and especially the fact that he seems to be moving further and further away from the depression. Doesn't he look better???
Well, that's all the news for now. Have to go to work.
Let's get "bloggin' "
Love to all,
Betsy