Love in the mail!/Lovin' the mail!

I love me some mail, but really some hand written notes, old school. But what I really REALLY dig? Christmas Cards from my passengers. It warms my heart. I'm not just saying that...this is my blog, I don't have to say anything!!! Today....came an envelope from one of my companies that I work for, and in it? TWO, T-W-O cards from passengers I had this fall on one of my "France Magnifique" tours. I have over 700 passengers a year....I'd say...just an average....I've actually never counted!? Anyway, for the most part, my memory can be jogged, but some? Just stand out...chances are...if you've ever been a passenger of mine, and your reading this, you stood out. Some for better, some for worse-(you non-tippers....I know you who are! lol) Of course it's not about the tip that I remember the good ones, it's about their heart, or their visible love, or their sense of humor, or sometimes, for the atrocious things that happen on a tour! Viva Italian bus drivers!!! Well, today, is my dear passenger Jackie Keeton's birthday...so happy birthday Jackie, and I met her and Chybo, WAAAAaaay back in the beginning of my touring days, with Miss Stacy from Lawrenceburg...Tennessee Tuesdays in DC...oh good times (Also good Johnny Fleeman Sauces and SODA! What was that goodness called again!?!). Today also came those two cards, and I knew from the names on the return address labels, and both made me smile. Sure, you get letters from your friends, you know exactly who they are, but imagine you have new friends every week for only a week! What I'm saying...is these ladies stand out. BOTH, made me laugh, a lot on their tour....and to hear from them?! Glorious. One of them, included a picture of her husband...holding a certain mug. I'm not saying how he got that mug, but I am saying that I smile when I think about it. :-) Thank you Miss Cil, and Miss Helene (Helene-do you remember that sign above? From that restaurant we ate at in Sainte-Mère-Église? How true it is! lol), I am honored to have received holiday greetings from you both....truly I am....and yours...is in the mail. Yes, I know it's February....but I still have like 60 New Years cards to get out! It's why I certainly don't do Christmas Cards! I do Happy New Years cards!!!! Next year...may be Valentine's Day cards!!!!! SO, go send your friends Valentines....tis the season, and I promise, they love mail just as much as I do....and if they don't? Well, mail ME those Valentines!!!!!! XOXO (And? Hugs to Mary and Darlene!!!) And? Update?! That soda goodness was called SUNDROP! Thanks Miss Jackie!

YIKES!!

My last post was April 4? And from training in Vermont? SORRY! So...just to re-cap briefly? Training was until April 13...on which day I flew home...after waiting a good 5.5 hours in the airport of Providence...watching at LEAST 4 planes fly right to Newark!!! Grr...tis how it rolls! Anyway...so Jackie and Linds picked me up....YAY! And somewhere else I'll blog about my flight home..it's funny AND embarrassing! So...then I had ALL DAY Monday at home...in NJ! Then I left Tuesday for Paris...with a VAGUE operating itinerary...and NO idea what to expect. (INSERT LONG BLOG ABOUT FRANCE TRIP HERE!) So then....flew back to Newark on the 27th of April...where Fousin Jaime and Cheri picked me up and took me home to Long Island...where I left half of my luggage...did some laundry and spent a good 3 hours sleeping on the couch! The next morning I headed off to JFK to fly down to DC for my "ride-along" for two days...then my own tour of DC for the next 3! Which...thank goodness it was a 3 bus move...I'd have died...too beat and too new to DC! So....our groups left on Friday the 2nd of May and I left early on the morning of the 3rd for LA...to be at cousin Steven's wedding...well, as much as I could anyway! I made the rehearsal....and rehearsal dinner! The next day...well...I saw where the wedding would be and salivated over some cupcakes! Then...I had to leave an hour before the wedding...:-( and off to the "Pacific NW"....for my "training tour"....and there I spent 8 days working my way from Portland to San Fran, via Coos Bay and Eureka....and then? I flew back to LA....spent a day with Tia Martha....GROOMING! I felt human after that day...and Tuesday...the 13th I flew BACK to NJ! And was home...with the Grunkies...and sleeping in my own bed!!!!! YAY! It is now Saturday night....Sunday morning actually...and I should be in bed...but I'm not....and all this to say...there is a HUGE pile of laundry outside my bedroom door..that HAUNTS me...as I leave in 3 days for a trip to Chicago....(I heart Capitol!) and I need to do it....but here is what happens!? That pile? Is filled with weird colors....that have to be separated...and since I can't mentally process it? I keep stepping over it! AHHHHHH!!! So be it. Anyway...me...nutshelled....or 3 minuteted. I KNOW that is not a word...but I like it! So...there you have it....more to come...I'm sure. I mean I still have to tell you about the yogurt in my eye incident...or the man that just ate the center out of his pizza! I'm outty, but I leave you with a night view from my window at my hotel in Paris.....

"Woe is me..."

Perfect example of WHEN to use the "Carrie-ism/Cherrie-ism" from the Fitionary....?

I had to make a decision today.....stay with my confirmed 9 day trip to Sicily? Or take the 11 day "French Impressions" trip today. See? WOE IS ME!

In the end? I picked French Impressions....I'd go through the pros and cons...but I can't. Both places have a base pay of love...and "have dinner at the restaurant ON the Eiffel Tower" OR climb Mt. Etna? Really? If either way I'm missing Kirkwood's wedding....sad....but now? To pick between choices like that? Somebody pinch me.

Along the traveling lines? Between March 12 and May 6? I'm home for 7 days....ahhh....and not all in a row of course...speed laundering will be a new skill! Or...buy new clothes? Hmmm....decisions decisions.

God is just cool...and full of grace...so praise Him huge for blessing me beyond, very beyond what I deserve.

France/Italy.....Woe is me....but really? WHOA, IS ME!