[SweetSunshine]

And I had a great time!! I am rather pooped right now though. Been busy every day I was gone from morning till night. But saw a ton of stuff .. took lots of piccy's too that I will try to get posted tomororw. My friend was a very gracious and fun loving host! What a really great guy and friend!!! TY G!!!!!

I will post more tomorrow. Just drove up from the airport about 20 minutes ago here. So ya'll take care.. ttyl in the mornin!!

Luv ya and I missed you all so much!!!

Hugz
Bethy

[kimmydawn]

(((((((((((((((((((((( Beth )))))))))))))))))))))))))

I can't wait to see pics! You "sound" great! I'm glad.

Love,

KD

[Bethsway]

Sounds like you had a grea time! Welcome back!!

[MyBestKids2]

(((((((((((((bethy))))))))You're home.....I can't wait to see your pics of the beach and that hunky chunky Kenny.........ooohhh




Dee

[bebop]

welcome home beth! I am glad you had a great time!

[sabby]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So glad you had an awesome time my friend! Can't wait to see the piccy's and hear all about it!

xoxoxo
sabby

welcome home beth!

[SeptemberMorn]

Welcome home!! Now take a deep breath, rub them fingers and get ready to TELL ALL!!

[Raynaadi]

Welcome home Beth!!! So Kenny didn't pop the question? Ah well...

[eskielover]

Glad you had a wonderful time. Hope even though you are exhausted from having a good time, it was also refreshing so you can have a new fresh start now you are home.

It's tough coming down to earth again.....HUH!!!!!
Debbie

[okiedokie]

Bethy!! Welcome Home!!! I can't wait to talk to you. I'm SO glad he was a good guy.
XXOO,
Okie

[biiv]

welcome back. tell us about the ocean!! cant wait to hear about your fun.

[Soidhonia]

Welcome Home (((SWEET))). Take care. soidhonia

[snowflake_48888]

I am glad you had a good time. Was Kenny that awesome? probably not...lol
Snowy

[SweetSunshine]

Hey Everyone!! I am sorry I havent posted pics yet or told you what all we did when I was on vacation. I promise Iw ill get to it asap. Real life has sucked me right back in where I was when I left home. Dads got dr appts I do too... and The 9 inches of rain we got last week caused some problems with a rental home.. that I've had to deal with since I got back. Needless to say that water was standing in the basement of the house all this time. I hope to get back on here as soon as I can so I can post some pics and tell ya the story of a girl named Beth she went to a KC concert and got her feet wet... lol.. Ok trying to make that rhyme to the Beverly Hillbillies song lol.. Not doing so well lol. Talk to you all soon. Please be patient!!! Luv ya's!!!

Hugz
Bethy

[eskielover]

Beth.....got a good shop vac to get the water out.....or a pump to drain it out with. After being in KY & having a basement in my new home....I remember what it was like. I also remember the basement in my grandparents home in Kansas. They lived at the bottom of a hill & when it rained, it was a river that went right into their basement (2 times) It filled their basement completely before they could do anything about it. I can definitely relate to what you are going through.

Probably best to have a professional clean out the basement.....but then it needs to get dried out to keep the mildew from forming. Don't know if you have a large dehumidifier once the water gets cleaned out, but I got one for my basement in KY.....they really help get the water out. I dumped the container 2 times a day with all the moisture. I used the water for my plants, otherwise I would have hosed it down the drain.

I know how much work it takes to handle problems.....it is important to focus on that & take care of one thing at a time.

What a welcome home????,
Debbie

[(JD)]

Sorry I didn't get to talk with you in chat last night. Good to hear you're doing ok.

[BlueFaith]

Glad you had a good time! Can't wait to hear about it!

[SweetSunshine]

OK.. finallllllly I get to sit down here and tell you all what I did on vacation! I hope you like reading cause its a long list lol . And I got some pics but my friend is sending me the rest on a disc when he can get around to it.
So here it goes.. not in order btw...

1. Met G's Dogs and his one friend ( who was still helping to clean his house when i got there lol
2. Sat and visited a bit
3. Went to Gators for lunch( sports bar) Also played word games that they have a the bar
4. G and I went to his work so he could show me around there. Very big complex... very neat though!
5. Went to Oceanview Beach and sat and talked a bit. Saw a Horshoe Crab shell that a lifeguard brought up from the water
6. Went to see Willoughby Spit... a area of land that is surrounded by the water made by nature.
7. Went to No Frills Restaurant for dinner. Very good food!!!
8. Went to Doumars ( the first place in the US to make the waffle ice cream cone. Watched them make them too.. hot off the press!
9. Did lots and lots of backing up in G's car . He likes to back up if you cant get a good angle on a picture lol.. Drivers down in that area are totally scarey lol
10. Went to " GOT MERMAIDS?" on Willoughby Spit . Its a little shop with all kinds of beachy knick knacks.
11. Saw the Willoughby Spit Marina, then across the bay is the Naval Base. Took several pics of that to try to make a more panoramic pic somehow. Saw the Fishheads Condo's, and Flamingo Head Hotel. You'll see pics of these. Self explanatory.
12. Went to see Monkey Park. Legend has it that the monkeys got lose from the circus when they came to Norfolk one year. And landed in these trees. yet another pic I will show you
13. Waterside ~ Its like a building with restaurants and game rooms, shops and other activities. This is close to where the Spirit of Norfolk is docked. Picks to follow
14. Wachovia ~ The World Trade Center of Norfolk
15. Saw lots of Mermaids throughout the city. You know how Chicago has Cows all around their city.. Norfolk has Mermaids. Virginia Beach is now trying to start up Dolphins but they are not suceeding with this well.
16. Ate at Hells Kitchen uptown Norfolk. G and I shared our entrees. He had Philly Steak Sandwich and I got Seafood Nachoes. Piled high with shrimp , crab, fish and she crab soup ( for a sauce) and tons of cheese! YUM!!!!
17. Went to Nauticus and also saw the USS Wisconsin . I got to pet a shark at Nauticus. Pretty cool. Felt really gritty like.. almost lke sandpaper
18. Went to Virginia Beach. Totally cool.. Wish it wasnt rainy and overcast.. would have stayed longer. I can always go back though.. and I plan on it too!
19. Mount Trashmore ~ Landfill made of plastic trash bags and other plastics. Pic to follow
20. Cavalier Hotel ~ Gorgeous hotel at Virginia Beach. G worked at the Cavalier Yacht Club. Interestingly enough... from that club there was a house across a pond there where they used to film porn. Yeah I got a pic of the house too lol. I think the guys there liked their jobs to say the least lol.
21. Went on the Spirit of Norfolk Lunch Cruise. VERY NICE!!! Food was great too! They had entertainment and announcements of all the historical things and sites around the Chesapeake Bay and Elizabeth River. Unfortuneately at the same time there was an oil sledge too. They were trying to contain that also .
22. And of Course.. THE KENNY CHESNEY CONCERT was AWSOME !!!!!!!! Pat Green and Sugarland opened for him... I do have to say that I do like inside concerts better. At least there is AC there!! LOL!!!!
23. Whenever able I try to hit a Barnes and Noble somewhere. I got a couple quilting books there. YAY!
24. Did not go in but took a pic of the Mc Arthur Museum. My dad detested that guy. So I had no need to go in there to see anything about him. Daddy taught me well I spose lol
25. Had a couple of cookouts at G's friends house then went swimming after that. Watched planes both from the naval base and airports go over their house. Really cool!!!
26. Watched the Bristol Nascar race while at G's friends house. YAY NASCAR!!!!!
27. Went to The Azalea Restaurant several times... I'd been happy to eat there all the time the food and service was that great! If your in that area.. GOOOOOO... its excellent!
28. Went to Joes Crab Shack for dinner. YUM but service sucked. Long story. Went to Garden Ridge again... I got alot of Christmas decorations there.... yea I knw its still summer.. but they were so neat!!
29. Went to IHOP Monday for brunch.
30. Went to Cape Henry and Fort Story ( the Army base @ VA Beach)

This one is for Tomi and Karen... I couldnt help but think of you guys when I saw this!! LOL!!!!

King Neptune

Spirit of Norfolk Cruise Ship where we had our lunch cruise on

My first glimpse of the ocean underneath the left sign.. hard to see but its there!!!

The Nauticus and USS Wisconsin.

Last pic for now.. This is the table G and I sat at . They had the balloons there because G told them I was visiting from Ohio... He's such a goofbutt! But a nice goofbutt!!

[bebop]

wow you were one busy woman!! I am happy you had a good time.

[SweetSunshine]

Thanks Bebop!!! It truely was a great time!!! Alot of good memories !!

[eskielover]

Sounds like you had a really wonderful time....lots of great memories. Thanks for sharing the pics.....gotta love that flamingo appartment....WOW!!!! That's better than the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas....for sure....lol.

Hope things are going ok for you,
Debbie

[SeptemberMorn]

Hey! It's not just Karen and me that are hooked on flamingos! It's all JAN'S fault!!! There's four flamingos, so there's enough for all four of us, BETH!! In fact, Jan has been giving me a hard time with the flamingo. She says that he will never, ever give up on making me love him! I can't get it through anyone's head that its PLACIDO DOMINGO I've got "a thing" for, not Placido Flamingo!!

Nothing beats knowing that you were thought about by someone that was busy having such a good time, though!! You suppose I could borrow G to take him to the redwoods?? He sounds like he's a great, fun loving guy!

You've renewed my resolve to plan my own trip, Beth! Man, you have some guts!! I envy you!

[SweetSunshine]

Actually Tomi.. that is You and Karen , Placido and Me lol. Placido is the tall green one lol. The more masculin looking one I say lol. You Do know that Mr Flamingo loves you with all his heart. I mean.. who else would show his feathers if it werent for such a special lady?!?!?! Look at them goo goo eyes when he looks at you.. you just cant deny that!!! And he's even givng you a KISS!!! Beak and Beak.. wow how special!!!

G actually lived in Cali for awhile. And sadly .. he didnt like it. Sawry. I dont know that you could get him to come there. BUT .. he loves the south!! Especially the southeastern states.. but not in the heat of the summer. So maybe a spring trip to the east coast ?? He was a wonderful host.. couldnt have asked for anyone better. Very respectful, fun, an all out and out gentleman.. with a southern drawl.. ... and handsome too I think!! THE ONLY TWO BAD THINGS about him were that he smoked... you know how I feel about that.. lol.. but he went outside to smoke!! Thats what I mean about being respectful!! and I dont know if this is bad.. except when its done in illegal spots.. lol... He liked to back his car up if I didnt get a good picture of something.. I'm like GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ dont do that!! He's like well my cars paid for .. no problem lol. Too funny. He's all about living and enjoying life the best he can. If I could get my husband to do that... well I could go on and on with If I coulds....

Tomi... this was such a good thing for me to do. It freed me up of some fears I've long held onto. And I am glad I got over them. I was fortunate enough that my best friend is a business administrative secretary. So she books flights quite often for her bosses. She watched for cheaper flights. I got mine for $143 !!! I had a connecting flight both ways.. but its ok. It was worth that price for me! I told my T to hold me to this plan too. He wasnt allowed to let me chicken out. Even though he had a fear ( like a couple of my friends did) of me meeting G by myself. I tried and tried to reassure them that had I one inkling of G being " off " as in a murderer or anything like that.. I would have stopped talking to him a long time ago. I'd been talking to him for over a year and a half... so I think I knew him somewhat well. I felt safe talking to him for sure!! I had a plan too with a phone number for a hotel and taxi company had anything seemed weird. But my gut instincts told me all was ok. Just stuff you know in your heart. But Tomi .. you can do this for yourself!!! I know its intimidating.. but you need this to recharge and connect with yourself. I told a few people that had I not done this.. I would have ended up in the hospital again. I was that close to having another breakdown!!! The stress of my real life.. and some things going on here.. with people " watching me " was upsetting . Now I know I have control of this stuff here at least. And I am working on a plan for my real life now!! Its a great feeling!! You or anyone else here can do this too. YOU JUST HAVE TO REMMBER TO PUT YOURSELF FIRST ONCE IN AWHILE!!!

Hugz
Bethy

[eskielover]

Beth,

I can truely agree with you. I have the same feeling now that I have my farm in KY. Being there for 2 1/2 months alone, knowing that I can take care of myself, my life, & anything that comes up in my life. Knowing that I can be responsible & organized enough to handle my life completely without anyone else at all. For me, it is kind of a liberating feeling. I feel free from all the things that were holding me down in the past. Getting out of a rut seems to break all past fears & brings a feeling of being able to be myself without anyone else making me who I am. It let me see who & what I really am. I haven't felt that way for 32 years & I have to say, I totally appreciate the feelings & understandings that came during that time. It opened my mind & made me more sure of some of the feelings I had been having. Better able to act on them to make the decisions I have to make for the rest of my life.

It is definitely a wonderful feeling isn't it?
Debbie