My Best Friend's 50th Birthday!!

While I don't have pictures to post, it was an amazing weekend with my BFF!! We started out the weekend exhausted after spending an evening with her beautiful grand children...but boy they make you feel your age!  They are so full of energy...boy if we could just bottle it!!

So after a good night sleep we got started the next day with new tires for me and a visit to the hair salon for her. After that we went and got manis and pedis.  Free wine too!!  So fun and relaxing.  Our toes look pretty good if I do say so myself.  Then home to meet up with her husband and spend a WONDERFUL evening downtown Bend enjoying hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.  After that we headed back to the house to make sure all the lights for the next evening were set up and then soft opening for the Voodoo lounge!!  Dum Dum was warmly lit outside warming the cool crisp night air as we enjoyed the fruits of our labor.  Next day is party day...so excited!!

Then Saturday, day of the party.  Betty was so cute thinking it might rain or no one would show...no chance of either of those happening!!  We did the final touches to the yard, set up tables, food, etc. getting ready for the big night.

Then the guests started to arrive!  Good friends, drinks, food and of course Karaoke!!  It was a blast!!  Never mind that there was an Oregon State game that went into double overtime and caused half the guests to migrate into the living room to catch parts of the game (Beaver's lost by the way), but that didn't sway Betty from having a great time and enjoying friends and family.  The fires in the back yard were burning (thanks Andrew!!) and s'mores were roasting.  Then a very touching moment of the evening when Glenn toasted his beautiful wife and the 50yrs of her life.  The evening went on with songs at the Karaoke machine and lots of laughing and more singing.  Almost everyone joined in and enjoyed each others rendering of songs.    Glenn had the highlight of the night doing a "floor" show while singing painted black....pics to follow....LOL!

As the evening started to wind down, us die hards hung around to the end.  A quiet reflection in the lounge as everyone left...Betty feeling the affects of us keeping her hands always holding a full glass/bottle of an adult beverage.  A 50th birthday party that was one of the most amazing nights I have experienced in a long time.

Then comes the reality of the "day after"...Betty, feeling a little...well in her words..."not as young she once was".  :)  The warmth of the sun that day was the only relief from the lack of sleep and over indulgence.  But all worth every second...right Betty?

Fall is in the air...

Starting to look and feel like Fall.  Usually this is the time of year I start to feel blue.  Gone are the days of sunshine and warmth, but this year will be different.  I know it won't be without the emotional struggles, but I'm already enjoying the color of the leaves and the thought of hot soups for dinner!

Hello old friend...

Hello old friend my blog.  Well much in my life has changed since my last entry.  Who knew that I would now be a soon to be divorced woman.  Interesting how life can change in the blink of an eye and you're left asking yourself "what the hell happened....??!!".  It has only been through strength and support of my children, my family and my dear dear friends that has helped me to come out on the other side realizing not only am I stronger for it, but I'm going to be ok too.

Yes, it is a drastic change to one's life...financially, emotionally, psychologically, but survive one does!!  And to get to the point to finally be excited to see what your new life will hold is a miraculous feat that couldn't have been imagined even a few months ago.

So I begin my new journey.  I have a new focus on my children, a new outlook on my job, and a reconnected closeness with friends that have been my lifeline!!!!  Without the support of them I don't know how I would have made it.  Weekends of crying, texting out of lonliness, inviting myself over....they are always on the other end, love unconditional with no judgement just support.  I will never be able to fully express the gratitude of what that has meant and done for me.  You know who you are and I love you for helping me get my life back.

So what's next?...that's the best thing of all...everything.  So much to look forward to, so much of life to enjoy, not taking any of it for granted.  Living in the moment and relishing in what life has to offer.

The journey has begun.