My Birthday Wishlist - 08.08.08

For those of you who know me I like to say that I am celebrating my birthday for the entire week but this year my birthday is so unique that it is cool all by itself(08.08.08). I am constantly asked, “What do you want for your birthday?” So I have developed the following Birthday Wishlist for my blog…

>Gift Cards to
o Wal-mart
o Bed Bath & Beyond
o Olive Garden
o Bi-lo
o Ingles
o Bloom
o Regal Cinemas
o 356 Sushi Bar (Clemson)
o Ebay
o Chadwicks
o Soluna

>Sterilite or Rubbermaid 22Gal Lataching Tote Storage Containers
>Sizzix Die Cuts
>Sizzix Die Cut Case
>Cash

VACATION DAY! HA! Dunkin’ Donuts Grand Opening(Clemson) – Computer & Car Issues

So we arrive in Clemson at about 4:30, get our stuff out and my parents and grandmother are on their way. Kris then remembers me talking about Dunkin’ Donuts opening at 5AM July 28th. So we get the keys and run to the car … to a dead battery… I then suggest walking so then we have an excuse to eat whatever we are about to consume. Kris agrees and we are off! We walk down the street to this (please see picture below)… college students, locals, children and parents, all in line. We began laughing and get in line.

Now what is funny and you must understand is that we were going because Kris ALWAYS asks for bagels in the morning and there is nowhere in Clemson where we can go grab a fresh bagel so he has been talking about the opening of DD since we read in the paper that it was on it’s way… so we arrive not knowing about the “free stuff”… we ended up getting two free breakfast each, a magnet, and registered to win whatever else they were giving away (which I personally didn’t even read). They simply said put your name and number on the back of your receipt and stick it in a box. We did so, went outside enjoyed our bagels and were off home. About noon I get a call from DD Cooperate telling me I had won two tickets to the Clemson/Citadel Game! I just started laughing and hope I said thank you!

I go to use my computer and remember the motherboard being replaced well… in this transaction I have lost the wep key to get into my own network AND the Clemson wireless network! UGH! And remember the car… yeah…. The battery died and well.. let’s just say THANK GOD KRIS & MY DADDY. Kris and I got it jumped off today and my wonderful Daddy who is going to try to take it to the dealership tomorrow while I go to work…. What a way to spend my vacation day working on my computer and car…I will be taking another…I just have meetings and things to do tomorrow! But at least I won tickets & got to hang out with my family and baby!God is GREAT!

Checkout & The 25th Gholston Picnic

Well, checkout was MONSTEROUS! This hotel was VERY understaffed especially for this weekend! I looked at my receipt briefly and then went on a mission to find my parents a cart (OH MY GOODNESS). Need I remind you again, three family reunions, a Christian conference (where all attending appeared to be dressed to the 9s meaning LOTS OF LUGGAGE), and White Sox/Tigers fans!. There MAY have been three people at the front desk if that… so between everyone asking me 10zillion times if I knew how to get to the picnic (after I told them as long as the place has an address and we have VZ Navigator all would be fine), figuring out the tricks of how to catch an empty elevator, and getting the car pulled around I didn’t look at my receipt again. We get to the picnic with no trouble, enjoy our time there (See pictures below), took Davida to the airport, and were on the road again.

Mowtown, Canada, & Gholston 25th Banquet

My parents and grandmother went with some of our Detroit family riding and to their home by the time Kris, I, and Davida where ready to roll.

EXPLORING
Since there was no schedule of events listed for us besides the banquet that evening we then decided to go on our own adventure which took us to Motown where we did the tour of Motown, which was AWESOME!. Loved the music, loved the tour, loved the heritage… it was fun and informative for all of us. We then decided to go to Canada for a bit (this is where the getting late to the family meeting came in). Let’s just say below are pictures from our adventure and if you would like to know more talk to me, Kris, or Davida:




THE BANQUET…




Going out again...
VICENTE & GREEKTOWN

We went out for salsa and had just missed the lessons, therefore had a few drinks and then headed to Greektown because Davida didn't get to go with Kris and me the night before. Here is where the second funny part of our day came in...we agreed all to bet only $10 each... I recall Davida showing me a ticket for $6 she won and another for $9.23... well... the next thing I know I see Davida with no tickets and no cash and I was like what happened to your ticket... "The machine took my money"... my response... "What do you MEAN the machine took your money... do you mean it was a mechanical error or your lost it?" she responded that it "took her money" so Kris tells her to take us to the machine... luckily no one had sat at it. What she had not realized was it was in a bonus round that called for her to participate in a touch screen portion of the game. So she and Kris sat and touched the screen. To make a long story short when we got to the machine she was down to like $1.20 and when they were finish touhing the screen she had won a little over $150!...lol...

Live from DETROIT!

So we arrive in Detroit a little afternoon with Daddy and Kris doing most of the driving. Thank goodness I am a Starwood Member because otherwise we may just have to TKO someone. So my room was ready when we arrived, but not my parents. Now technically check in was not until 3:00 pm but service at the front desk was slow and annoying and YES I DO write customer reviews. They need to be better staffed. There were like 3 reunions, a Christian convention, and people who were visiting for the Tigers/White Sox games. Needless to say the hotel was PACKED! In the meantime trusty VZ Navigator took Kris, Daddy, and I to DTW to pick up Davida. When we returned everyone was trying to check in and the parents’ room was finally ready. We move all my parents, and grandmother’s luggage down to their floor and nap. Later that evening Kris and I were a little late for the family meet and greet at the firehouse across the street from the hotel. (IMPORTANT because we think we catch all details but miss some key ones  ) . Kris and I then walk my mama and grandmother back across the street to the hotel and are off adventuring. We find a restaurant called Vistente Cuban Cuisine where we enjoyed tapas and a beautiful city view from our street side dining. While there we hear that they offer Salsa lessons Friday and Saturday evening and make plans to return for the following evening. We return the hotel where we meet musicians and engineers on the Angela Winbush tour. They were a lot of fun. Hope to get a video of Preiester showing my sister to play the drum he was carrying around on facebook later., but I may face some censorship from my sister.

Is it Friday Yet?

Overview of the day…

 Cleaning until 5AM
 Emails and computer 730AM
 Library Meeting 9AM
 Pass off Laptop 10:30
 Office work 10:30 – 11:25
 Ambassador Lunch 11:30 – 1:30
 Office work 1:45 – 3:00
 Conversation with TD 3:15-3:25
 Picking up my lap top THANK GOODNESS 4:25- 4:45
 Picking up rental 5:00 – 5:30 (don’t ask)
 Working on Newsletter 7:30 – 11:30
 Leaving for MI 1:00AM

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