Road Trip Across the Pond

Mel is going to be surprised that I hacked her blog... :)

On Saturday, work is paying for me to ride the 747 across the Atlantic to visit Thermon European Headquarters in Pijnacker, Netherlands. I have been over there twice already and have seen and done quite a bit on my trips over there. Partying for the queen's birthday in Den Haag and wearing a lot of Tennessee orange was a riot. We went and ate in the Eurotower in Rotterdam which is a city with a lot of new buildings when compared to other larger Dutch cities because the Germans leveled it in WWII. And, last time, I got pretty drunk in Amsterdam and asked a Red Light District Service Provider how much for some entertainment. Apparently 50 euros will do it. (about 75 bucks) I can afford that but I couldn't afford the doctor bills to pay for the treatments of the things you could catch.

This time, we're going to have some time to spend in Den Haag (The Hague) this coming Sunday and then there are 3 days of meetings. We then get to hop over the North Sea and go to New Castle England for a couple of days. I am looking forward to going to England and drinking some fresh New Castle Ale. If it is the same as drinking Heineken over there, it tastes totally different and is actually not so skunky.

I really enjoy these trips because I get to see the world. I am actually curious to see what the opinion is over there on American Politics. (They all think W is not too good.) It is nice to get out of the surroundings of what one is used to and to experience other cultures and ideals. It enables a person to think outside of the box and to take into account more positions in a particular argument than most individuals would because of environmental/ cultural limitations.

If you ever get the chance to travel, do it. There is an enormity to see and do out there and honestly; you'll have a better view of the world if you do.

Bobby

Relay For Life

Last night, Tiff and I, along with the girls from my office headed out to the Relay For Life in New Braunfels. It started at 7:00 pm with the survivors lap. Dr. Herring took off with Tami for the first lap to kick off the relay with all the other survivors and their loved ones. The rest of our team (P.D.'s Pink Ladies), along with all of the other teams lined the track on both sides and cheered on the survivors. It was a very moving experience. It really put into perspective how many people are affected by cancer in some way. It also reminded me of my dad and how hard he fought, and it made me sad wishing he could have been one of those survivors. We had 8 people on our team and we had planned on walking in 30 min shifts until 7 am. Tiff and I took the first shift and walked till about 8:30, then Amanda and Cara started their shift. At about 9:00 pm, just as they were about to light the luminaria's the organizers come over the mic and said that we all had to pack up our stuff and leave the field immediatly due to an impending severe thunderstorm. We were all just getting excited about the night and now we had to leave!! I think we all stood in shock for a minute and then realized we better get the heck outta there soon. Within 30 minutes all the tents and canopies and decorations and sleeping bags and coolers were packed back in the car and we had to go home. None of us really wanted to go home, so we met up at the office and decided to head over to the 444 Bar and Grill for a few drinks. We watched the Spurs whoop up on the Suns for the 3rd time of the week. We left the bar about midnight and then it finally started to rain. We were safely in bed by 12:30 and thankful for the rain we needed so bad. Just wish it wouldn't have ruined our Relay for Life.

New House is a GO...so far!!!

Today, we got word from the lender we are working with that everything is a go for our new house. Let me just say for the record that buying a house is actually no fun at all...let me repeat that...AT ALL. It is a very frustrating process of ups and downs. The lender has delved into our lives like no one else ever has before. I sure hope that actually owning the house is more fun. I know it will be. Bobby and I have a million things we want to do to the house once we get it. I think all of these "projects" will be fun and also frustrating at the same time; especially with Bobby because he likes to have things his way! I have to admit that he actually has a better eye for home decor/improvement than I do so I guess I shouldn't complain. The closing date is set for the end of May (so far away). I guess we better start packing......yea....let me get right on that!