I was born to be a Napa girl

If I have my pick of a nice cold beer or a huge glass of wine, I'm picking the beer! Except if I'm in the most beautiful, relaxing and happy place in the USA.....Napa, CA!

 

This latest trip marked my second time to Napa and I still love it! It still feels like my second home and I'm pretty sure, I belong there. My BFF lives in Napa (she's so lucky) - having a friend in one of the most amazing spots isn't an awful thing....at all. She gives me great pointers on where I should spend my time and she never and I mean never gives me bad advice.

 

This trip was much needed. I was coming down from a few crazy and stressful months at work and life in general has been crazy. My friend and I headed out and we didn't set a schedule at all. It's truly a wonderful thing to not follow a clock. We ate, drank, laughed and had a great time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We even had time to make the drive down to my Aunt and Uncle's house in Half Moon Bay and spend the day (and night) with them! I just love them and my Uncle's cooking. Once a year they have whats called Maverick's Invitational, surfers from all over the world come out to surf waves over 60 ft high! It just so happened that this was taking place the same day and we were lucky enough to see it. It was awesome! Big thanks to my Uncle Ron for getting us tickets!

 

 

*I stole this photo but this is a photo from the event.

 

If you ever get the chance to go out, do! It's so worth it.



Snow, Snow and More Snow.

It's been snowing for days! As I type, I can hear D outside cleaning the driveway - this is the 5th time he or I have cleaned it in 3 days! They are calling for 3 more inch's between tonight and tomorrow.....ugh. The temps have also been very low, in the 20's and below...burr!

I'm very much looking forward to the grass cutting days of spring and summer!

Wood Floors....

When I bought my house, one of the top selling features (there were a lot) were the floors. I have hardwood throughout the whole house, except the spare bedroom and I love it. I just feel as if the house is a lot more clean looking Anyway I use to have a Shark that I used to "vacuum" the floors but it broke : ( I then gave my vacuum a try and it just blows the dirt back at me.....ugh not fun.

Now I'm looking to replace the Shark and buy something new. I loved the Shark - It was a Groupon find and was well worth the $35.

What are you using? I'm looking for any suggestions on what you use. I hate, hate, hate using a broom. I feel as if it's a lot of work and not that great of a return. I want something that I can plug in, pull out, clean with and put back away.

Tired!

For the last year I've been tired, all the time! And not the normal "I went to bed late and need two more hours" tired. I'm talking I can't get out of bed, lift my head kind of tired.

About a month ago I had an ear infection and went to the doctor, my normal P.A. (who I love) wasn't available and I was sent to see a new doctor and I love her. She asked all the right questions. Symptoms that I thought were due to stress and "old age", pointed her towards a bigger issue.

My doctor sent me to have blood test done and they found that I have a vitamin B12 and D deficiency. They started me on a B12 prescription supplement and an over the counter D vitamin. I can't even start to tell you how amazing I feel.

For the last year or more, I've been struggling....I was always tired. There were days that I didn't and couldn't get up. I wanted to get up but I just could not physically get out of bed. When I did (a girl has to work) I just felt awful. Not anymore. Two weeks later, I have 100 times more energy. I'm sleeping my eight hours and waking up feeling like a normal person. A few other symptoms have vanished or become less noticeable. It's simply amazing at how wonderful I feel. While out the other day, I had a "flashback" of my life a few years ago, I felt joy, I felt the "old" Carrie.

Finally after five years of not feeling like myself, I'm starting to feel like we are finding answers and taking steps in the correct direction to finding my old self.

I wish I had pushed a little harder over the last years but as of now, I'm pretty happy that I'm able to get out of bed at a normal hour (7am) and not feel as if I'm going to smack my head off a table as I fall asleep.

Am I old and cranky or has TV turned extra trashy?

Honestly! When did it become acceptable for shows to curse every other word....or at all!?

TLC use to be a great channel....In the last year, it's gone downhill in my opinion (along with a lot of other channels). The other day I was watching TV, it was a Saturday and I had been watching, I believe, Say Yes to the Dress....The next show on was something covering a washed up "singer" from I believe, TLC. All I could hear from the other room was....beep, beep beep..Really? Isn't the name of your channel The Learning Channel? What am I learning? How to be trashy?

I've been going back and forth as to if I should cancel my cable and move over to Hulu and stick with a movie rental service (not that the movies out are all that wonderful). The only channels I NEED are ABC, HGTV, FX and Lifetime and LMN!

Maybe I'm crazy but I just don't want to support trashy TV!

Bob

December 12, 2008 will be a day that I will forever remember. It was such a happy time in my life - I had just signed a lease to my very own apartment after ending a long-term relationship. I remember thinking as I laid on the ground basking in my freedom.....nothing could ruin this day. I'm so happy! I could not have been more wrong.

I was headed back to my old place to pick-up another load when my phone rang. It was Lisa....."Carrie, you need to call Justin. He needs you." My first thought was that my Nana was in the hospital - it was the only logical explanation. Nothing could have prepared me for the words that were about to come from Lisa's mouth. "It's Bob..... He's in the hospital.... Paralyzed from the neck down.... It's not good"

The wind was knocked out of me. I had just seen Bob that summer and he was fine!

I had made a visit to Camden to spend a weekend with my Nana for her birthday.  During that visit I was able to spend a lot of time with Lisa, Justin, my Nana and Bob. The last day I spent with Bob was a blessing and for some reason (a blessing from God) I'm able to remember almost every moment of it. Lisa wasn't able to drive me to the airport - something had come up and Bob said he would make the almost two hour drive to the airport. Bob was running behind from working with the horses that morning. As we drove away, I remember looking out the window and just having an overwhelming feeling of sadness. My heart was hurting and I couldn't figure out why. Those two hours were the last that I would spend with Bob. I'm so thankful that Justin spent most of the time sleeping so that Bob and I were able to talk about anything and everything. When we arrived at the airport, Bob asked if I wanted him to park the car and come inside with me. I told him not to worry - I'd be fine and that he didn't need to waste the money (Bob never worried about wasting money on these types of things) - I still regret that decision but am so thankful for the hug and kiss good-bye.


I later received a call from Lisa with an update - Bob was going to die and there was nothing that could be done to fix him. This can not be happening. I couldn't breath and the pain in my chest and heart was so bad that I fell to the ground. Bob wasn't done. My brother needed him. Lisa needed him. We all needed Bob.

After Bob's accident on the 12th of December (where he fell from a horse and landed wrong) he lived for five days - finally passing on December 17th surrounded by those who loved him. During those five days, he was in pain but he welcomed anyone and everyone to come and say their good-byes. I wasn't able to make the trip - another one of my biggest regrets in life but I did write down my thoughts (which I have saved in a special place), set a call and with my brother in the room thanked Bob for being apart of my family and told him just how much I loved him. For loving my brother as if he was his own. For always showing the most unconditional love and support. For loving my Nana and always making sure that she was OK. For being there for Lisa through thick and thin and for being such a huge part of my life and so much more.

I can't remember a time in my life where Bob wasn't in it and during those many years where he taught us a lot of lessons, he taught me the most important one in his final days. No matter how awful I feel, how hard something is and how much I want quit.....I can't. Bob would have loved to take on my "problems" to continue living - because he truly did live. He loved life and he made others around him love their life. He was a funny man. He was a wonderful man. I could never stare death in the face as gracefully as he did. He knew he was going to die. He finalized his will and wishes for after his death. Who can do that without freaking out as they watch the clock tick by to their final moment? Who can stomach people coming in to say good-bye? Bob did. I try to remember each day that it could be my last - Life can go as quickly as it came and we should each tell those we love how much we love them...any chance we get.

Bob had just turned 65 years young when he left us. He is missed. 

There will be no Christmas

....in this house! My cats have been non stop annoying since I put the small Christmas tree up. They were eating the fake leaves and playing with all of the ornaments. Really very annoying. Especially after I started to find puke in my house filled with the fake leaves they ingested. Awesome.

Today I finally had enough. The tree is down and there will be a little less holiday cheer in this house! Up next.....Finding new homes for these animals.