National DS Convention: DC

Monday, 6 August 2012

Our summer of traveling continued when, a few weeks ago, we went to our nation's capitol for the annual National Down Syndrome Congress convention. I really needed the positive distraction this provided for me and was looking forward to seeing old, and meeting new, friends. Love the 'family reunion' atmosphere of convention. Oh! And workshops! Lots of great information coming out of the workshops too ... but this post will be all about the wonderful blogging/online friends I was able to see that weekend.

 Emma Sage

The Bates Motel

Mutterings and Musings  

(this was our first time meeting and I'm so glad we were able to have dinner together and chat!)

 Our Roads Traveled

 

 The Zoromski Chronicles

At the generosity of Trial Run we had a fun party in her hotel room!

It's becoming an annual tradition to hang out with *Results Not Typical family ... fun watching our girls grow year after year!

  Lovin' on the newest addition to their family.

 She was covering his ears because she said it was too loud.

Baxter Sez, Trial Run, *Results Not Typical, Unringing the Bell, and me! 

A family from Roswell, NM that we met through the Buddy Walk when we used to live at Holloman AFB, NM. Now we get to see them every year at convention!

The next two pictures are with the adorable Zoromski girls!

Faulkner Family

 

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Weekend Escapades - KEY WEST!

Hi blog! I've missed you a bunch and I'm really excited today because I get to ramble on and on (and on) about my first trip to Key West! 

Yes, I got to spend Friday-Sunday HERE with my amazing boyfriend. It was my first ever trip to Key West and C's 3rd time... I learned the hard way that you don't go hard your first day there. Bad idea. Painful.

Here we are before we stepping on the plane. We had three rounds... probably should have stopped at 1. C is not a good flyer so I felt inclined to loosen my nerves with him. Or, at least, that's my excuse.

But look, we both made it on the plane!

And then this happened...  it was a 45 minute plane ride. The flight was so short, in fact, we had to chug our drinks because they were grabbing them out of our hands 10 minutes after they gave them to us. So, maybe we only needed 1 vodka each? 

When we arrived at our resort before our room was ready, so we hung out at the pool bar for a little while. And continued to booze. If you're feeling drunk just reading this, you are correct.

Finally our room was ready and we walked in to THIS.. and then I died.

I had NO idea he was going to spoil me with this massive, gorgeous condo with a two freaking story balcony. Boyfriend points for life!

Birds eye view of C from the spiral-freaking-staircase-omg.

And then, my friends, I was introduced to Duval Street... It was pretty much exactly what I've always heard, and then some. Bars on bars on bars. A little bit a tourist shopping. And some more bars. Oh, and some drag queens!

We kept it classy with our monogram coozies though, don't worry. Yeah, classy. That was us on Friday. Fo sho. 

And the rest of Friday night was slightly a drift... as I'm pretty sure you could guess. Saturday morning was ROUGH. To say the very least. My 25 year old ass can. not. hang. So, I nursed my weight in water for a good majority of Saturday while lounging on our balcony. I could think of worse places to be hung over.

Fun story from Saturday for you. As we were lounging we noticed a man seemingly laying underwater on the beach, from our balcony. We continued to joke that he was dead because the man legit didn't move for at least an hour, probably more. Finally another onlooker actually went down there to shake the man and he wouldn't move. At this point, my hungover self was about to pass out from the anxiety this was causing. So, the guy finally starts to move. Slowly. Like a turtle, really weird. Hotel security comes out to see what's going on. Turns out he's some hammered bum in his undies who fell asleep in the water. Watching this man attempt to get on his bicycle to flee the scene was priceless. Can't buy entertainment like that, folks. 

Once I was finally back on my feet, we made our way back to Duval Street for some tourist shopping and dinner. Oh, and some more drinks. I stuck to beer. No vodka. Nada. Nooo vodka.

I was missing my boxed wine.

We went to this really great bar called Willie T's and the ENTIREEEE bar was covered in signed dollars bills. A real strippers paradise.

We couldn't say no to leaving our mark in Key West.

Though I'm not really sure who gave this guy a staple gun...

Also, highlight of the trip... I found this little gem in the bathroom at one of the bars we were at. A different surprise every time! Damn, if only I had a dollar in quarters.

Last, but not least, I need to show off just how cool we really are. We found a shop that makes t-shirts, seemingly similar to the Shore Store (for my Jersey Shore peeps), and we had these bad boys made. No, we're not being serious. Yes, we walk around the house using YOLO obnoxiously all. the. time. We're the coolest kids on the block. Totally.

Anyways, it was a serious fabulous trip - minus my realizing I should stick to the boxed wine and leave the hard stuff for the kiddos.

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He Said Turn Around

Saturday, 4 August 2012

I intended for the "Military Funeral" post to be my final post about my father's death ... not that I wouldn't find something to post about him, but the final post on his death, the days following, and his funeral.

Yet there was something that happened, that I forgot all about posting in the midst of all that has gone on lately.

It seems Lucas experienced his first 'sign' from my dad/involving my dad, before even I did.

When I left for FL on the Monday before my dad died, my mom drove from MD to SC to stay with Kayla and Lucas while Joe went to work ... and to wait for my inevitable phone call that it was time. There was no point in having the kids make another trip to FL to wait and hang around the hospice house when my dad was in the final stages.

My mom then drove to FL with Joe and the kids. My aunt, her sister, joined us in FL as she wanted to pay her respects as well.

The morning of the funeral Joe and I left a little earlier from the hotel. My mom, aunt, and the kids left several minutes after we did.

As they were getting in the van Lucas said that he was hearing voices in his head and he thought "Pepere is talking to me."

Despite Joe having set the GPS, and giving verbal directions, my mom somehow still didn't take the right exit. I'm not sure what happened with the GPS but it wasn't directing them to turn around or say which way to go (I think it must've just been on map showing where they were instead of on the location of where they needed to go.)

My mom was starting to wonder if she was going the right way.

Then Lucas said, very matter-of-fact, and with all seriousness: "Pepere said turn around."

That was it. It was like he was delivering a message and there wasn't any question about it. He didn't say he (Lucas) thought they were going the wrong way, it was just simply, "Pepere said turn around."

My mom and sister started discussing where they were and if they were headed the right way when my aunt called me.

"You're going the wrong way, you need to turn around." I told her.

When my mom told me what Lucas said before they called me, it gave me chills.

They were a few minutes late to the service, but they probably would've missed the whole thing if they hadn't turned around when they did.

 

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"Weave Through Raindrops"

Friday, 3 August 2012

"Weave Through Raindrops"

Soaked for years.
Faced my fears
With trembling legs.
Hobbling around misunderstanding
As if on pegs.
Blistering cold.
This moment is growing old
Yet I never felt so bold.

It's wet out here.
Open up the sky
And squint your eyes.
The inexperienced.

The unsettled.
Those lacking the precision
to make tough decisions
Must undergo profound transition.
They shy away from cold
As if they'll always be warm.
They talk brash and bold
As if it were perceived as charm.
They speak the harm
But never braved the swarm.
The throwaway are washed away.
They will not survive the storm.

Wind dodges my face
As debris dances with grace.
Fragments twist and curl.
Remnants of the world.

A storm is coming.

Forecast called for clear skies.
They said nothing of dry eyes.
Clouds gather in midday
And we have nothing to say.
Hardly noticed.
Never talked about
Until the foolish unsuspecting
Inadvertently find out.

A storm is on the way.

Did it have to be today?
Why not?
There wasn't much to say
If it were any other day.
Now they look to hideaway.
Everyone won't get away.
Those looking to dodge the fray
Soon find ruin and decay.

The storm approaches.

As the gust encroaches,
The fearful surely scatter.
They hide behind the roaches.
Their plight won't go unnoticed.

The sky is dark.

Embrace the pain.
Gather scars and gashes.
Nothing left to gain.
Time to rinse the stains.

Time to part the sky.

We only blink our eyes
To rinse away past moments;
But when wondering why,
One can't release the torment.
That's why we have torrents.
Hearts that remain hardened
Can't fathom begging pardon.
They drown in their rage.
Swollen and surly.
Scorn and selfish.
Sworn to suffocating
From needless exacerbating.

The storm is what I crave.

Solitary soul. Singular slave
Yet I flow free.
Nothing marred in deceit.
No reason to remain discreet.
Standing in the street.
Dead center.
Willing sender
Of well wishes in the winter.
How I love her storm.
Been there through the harm,
Nights when it wasn't warm
And always kept her charm.

The storm understands me.

I walk against the gale
Instead of turning around.
The world is whipped and tossed.
My feet never leave the ground.
I confide in her current.
Compromise does not exist.
We represent the resurgent.
Beings this world could not enlist.
She won't impart neglect.
I won't withhold respect.
I know what to expect.
She used to graze my neck;
But now, I just pass by.
I've embraced my pain.
I don't run from rain.
Her teardrops rinsed my stains.

The storm will never die.

She will always cry
For those who stain their eyes;
But I'm just passing by.
Sit there and wonder why.
If you remain discreet
And stand behind those lies,
You will walk the streets
And never come back dry.

You see, I've soaked for years
And faced all of my fears
So when the storm draws near,
I stand next to her tears. †EVL

Written By: Devin Joseph Metz

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Guest Blog: The Painted Desert's EASY French Mani!

Happy Friday to all of my lovely ladies! I am, most likely, sipping on a mimosa at the airport with C (trying to get him as drunk as possible so he'll actually get ON the plane), preparing for our flight to Key West right now. My plan is to enter a total and complete zone of relaxation [see also: white girl wasted] on this vacay so I'm going to hand the mic over to a lovely lady I met via Instagram, over our love of nail polish, and let her take the stage here on my blog today. 

Take it away, Elise!

______________

Hello Everyone!

My name is Elise, and I just started a blog called The Painted Desert. I am a 27 year old wife and mom. I got into nail polish and doing my nails about a year ago, and this is my first venture into the blogosphere.

Today I'm going to be showing you how I do french tips. When I wear them, I get a lot of compliments & comments from people who think I have fake nails, or don't believe I did them myself! Now, I'm not one for the traditional white french tip, I prefer a "funky french". I usually incorporate a colored tip and stamping!

First, start off by painting your nails with your favorite base coat (I use OPI Nail Envy for sensitive and peeling nails), and then a french manicure base to hide any staining and make your nails look perfect (I use Orly Rose Colored Glasses). You can see a slight bit of yellowing on my nail here, but that is not visible outside of photos.

Second, place a notebook paper reinforcement where you would like your french tip to be. I do mine right at the natural curve of my nail, so my tips look natural.

Next, paint the tip of your nail with your desired polish (I used Color Club Peppermint Twist). It is best to use a polish that is opaque in 1 or 2 coats. Before the polish has dried, quickly remove the hole reinforcement. You will be left with a clean line.

Complete the rest of your nails, and seal with topcoat when they are dry

Now, you can stop here, but why would you?! I added 1 coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust, and stamped a flower image from BM 311 in Konad White 

 

This is a quick, easy way to do a professional looking french tip without having to free hand it or sit at the salon. I hope you all enjoyed my tutorial, I really enjoyed sharing it with you!

Thank you Whitney for having me, and giving me an opportunity to share my nails with your readers!! <3

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