Catch Up

I really need to play catch up here, hun? I have been so beyond busy the past couple weeks. It's crazy.

This past week, I took a 40-hour mediation training seminar in Ann Arbor. The seminar was really great. Not only did I learn what I need to in order to do conduct mediations and add that into my office, I learned a lot that will help me work with people in my normal cases and read actions and reactions of others, and I think it even changed me a little bit as a person. The instructor has been doing mediations for over 20 years, and was really laid back and super intelligent. She is internationally known for doing these courses and mediations. Anyway, to all my attorney friends, I highly recommend the training. I still have to take a domestic violence 4 hour course in Lansing, observe two mediations and be observed in one, but then I can be added to the court lists for referrals. Technically though, I can do mediations now (just cant be added to the court list yet). I take the domestic violence course on 8-19, and have some ideas on who I want to observe and contact about that part. Soo happy to be done though, I was working at night after the class several nights this week as well and was insanely exhausted all week. Met a lot of really great people at the mediation as well, which was kewl.

We ordered a new treadmill, since ours died. It was delivered last night, just need to set it up and I can start running again. Whoot! Hopefully I like it, cuz sending it back would be a pain in the butt.

Last weekend, took a trip to Manistee to visit my Mom, and Rebecca came with me. I love going to Manistee, because being in a small beach town just kinda forces you to relax and do a lot of nothing. Which we did. Yay. Did some shopping in downtown Manistee, drove to the beach, had awesome ice cream at my fav place, saw two of my friends, Shannon (and her newly born baby Samantha) and Heidi (with 2 year old Lanessa). Also got to see my Mom's band play at the Relay for Life, and they were AWESOME. i cant believe how good my Mom has gotten at the drums in such a short time. the band is great. I bought an incredible candle while I was there, that is burning in our living room right now. Also bought this yummy looking sauce for cooking with called Rub with Love Spicy Red Chili Teryaki Sauce. Also, my Mom gave me two more cups and saucers for my collection, and they are both super unique. Added them to my china cabinet........

Bought Kurt this ring on Idelli.com for an amazing deal. that site takes forever to mail stuff out, but finally got it on Thursday in the mail! It fits him perfect and looks awesome on. Love it.

Had to work today and will part of tomorrow. Ugh. But, hopefully, we can start the week kinda caught up. Hope everyone else had a nice weekend.

Mediation Training

So, I signed up today to take a 40 hour mediation course next week and will be out of the office the entire week, which is really weird! Normally, if I am out, I am on vacation and not working elsewhere. The training is in Ann Arbor, every day, from 830-530. One of my friends is taking it as well, so I will know at least one person there. I am actually kinda excited, even though I swore I was never going back to school! I don't really count this as school though since it's at a hotel, haha, and I am doing it to add on an element to my business. I have always really wanted to take this course, and have never really had time until now. I still don't really have time, but we are making it work. I think Mediation is something I would be really good at, since my main goal in my general practice is to help people settle their cases. I can argue really well if the need is there, but I think in family law, it's best to settle cases since we are dealing with people's families, and they need to get along in the long run for the kids.

Wow, lawyers do have morals sometimes! :).

Went and had a massage after work, since I had a headache this weekend and could tell my body was telling me to go in. Hopefully it does the trick.

Got a long day tomorrow (early court and late appointments), so off to bed for me! Happy Monday!

Family Reunion

July 10, Kurt and I headed to Gladwin, MI, for a family reunion that my Mom put together with other family members. She was hoping everyone could be there, but there were some missing people. We had a really good time though. Tons of yard games, good food, saw some family members I have not seen in forever! Click here to see pics.

After the reunion and on the way home, we stopped in Pinconning and had dinner with Kurt's Mom, who we have not seen in forever either! It's been so long, she gave us our Christmas gifts. Crazy. Kurt fixed some faucets in her house, and we were on our way home to Pinconning. It was a long day, but a really good time and nice to see everyone

Random post, but I wanted to post about this before I forgot since I am so behind in posting! :).

Busy, Busy

Had a busy week this week, and a pretty busy weekend as well!

Friday night, Kurt and I had dinner at Nick and Nino's, which was nice, as i was totally craving fish tacos. Relaxed the rest of the night.

Saturday, my Dad came over, and we all headed to the Tigers game in Cleveland at Jacobs Field (otherwise known as Progressive Field). It was HOT out. Over 90 degrees for the duration of the game, and our seats were in the sun (second row). I kept reapplying sunscreen and somehow managed to not get a sunburn, whoot. There was like nobody at the game, so my Dad and I moved back and forth between shade and our normal seats. Of course, after being in the sun from like 930 AM until 600 PM took it's toll on me and I ended up with a headache, but I too Excedrin and it was not overly horrible. I was zonked by the time we went to bed that night though. Click here to see pics.

Funny off note, we were driving on the toll road in Ohio and stopped to pay. Kurt took his seatbelt off so he could get his money out, and he paid. The lady gave him change, then told him to put his seatbelt on. Which he planned to do once we pulled away, but wanted to get out of the line of cars waiting to pay. We pulled up the gate and she REFUSED to open it until he put his seatbelt on! We could not believe it. I think Kurt would have been more of an ass about it if he would not have been in shock, as these toll booth workers do not have the right to hold us hostage because of that. They are not police officers. They have the right to suggest we wear our seatbelts, but not hold us hostage. I wrote a complaint letter to the Ohio Toll Commission. Crazy. Talk about power trips........

There was some drama at the game too, with our tickets, but I dont really want to go into it. We had four tickets from the rain out in May. Two, which were bought by us, and two, which were given to us by the people who were sitting in front of us. When it started raining, the people in frnt of us gave us their tickets and said, here, you can sit in our seats when the rain stops. Thus, we now have four original tickets. The game was rained out. So, we were like, kewl, we have four tickets to the makeup in July. We went on the Indians website, which clearly states you have to have the original ticket to get into the makeup, and they do not reprint tickets, etc. We then called (twice) the Indians box office to make sure ALL the tickets would work and the reassured us that all the tickets would work. So, we invited my Dad and went. Well, when we got there, our original tickets worked. but, the tickets we were given would not work. I guess the season ticket holders had somehow got them reprinted (even though this is not allowed and clearly on their website), and since they were reprinted, our tickets would not work. We were pretty mad about it, just based on principle, and the fact that we called twice and went on the website. They ended up making us buy a third ticket near our seats. Since the game was such low attendance, we all did get to sit together, but I would have even been more mad if we had to sit separately. I am going to write a complaint letter to the Indians as well this week. I think their PR people were HORRIBLE (the least they could have done is given us a free third ticket for our troubles). This has got to happen a lot with rainouts, and I think they need to put the truth on their website and educate the people in the box office more.

So, I guess you could say we had a lot of drama dished on us from the state of Ohio this weekend! I was thrilled to drive back over the border into Michigan! :).

Today, slept in, got up and headed into the Motion. I had to finish work on an Emergency Motion I need to file on Monday, and drafted a new divorce as well as a couple other Motions and filed some bankruptcy stuff as well, paid some bills. I can *kinda* see my desk now. Heh. We then went and bought fish food, stopped and bought bird food, and I went grocery shopping, which we really needed. Did a little laundry and dishes, and made dinner, worked out......

So, thought I would fill you in on a yummy frozen treat I have been LOVING latley.

Click here to see. These are Weight Watchers Cookies anc Cream bars, and OMG, so good! Also, two new diet pops I have been liking, Diet A&W Root Beer, and Diet Cherry Dr Pepper. Both sooooo good.

Oh! My new $6 shoes came in the mail on Friday and they are SOOOO cute. Click here to see them, however, this pic does not do this shoe justice. Love it and it seems to be comfy! I love this brand, I have like three pairs now, and I get complimented on them every time I wear them, so I am sure this pair will be loved by others as well. And since ideeli sold them to me for $6, I am psyched! I heart that site.

Busy week this week, with plans on Monday after work, and Tuesday after work, then Thursday, Rebecca and I leave for our girls trip to Manistee! So, if I am not posting, that would be why! Happy Sunday!

14 days

14 days since my last post. Seriously pathetic. Life has been crazy busy, and I have been every night trying to put my post together about the Montreal trip. Yep, not done yet. Whoops. July is just insane with things going on.

I will get to the Montreal trip, I promise! ;).

This weekend, we are going to Cleveland on Saturday for the Tigers game. This is the make-up game from the one we went to that was partially rained out. We are taking my Dad, leaving early to drive there, and coming back after the game (unless we stay and have dinner with our friend, Terry). Looking forward to a baseball game. I have not been to enough this summer. Speaking of baseball, was bummed the American League lost the All Star Game! First time in 14 years! Crazy. That's OK, we will take them back year! :).

Went to another Judge fundraiser tonight for Judge Hughes. I always go into these things thinking I will not enjoy myself, but I had a total blast! My friend, Teddy, went with me, and I had a really good time talking to some of the Judges and my attorney friends, appraisers, mediators, etc. It was at Nemo's in Detroit, which was a cute little bar near old Tigers Stadium. Really glad I went.

There has been emergency after emergency at the office. I will be glad when work gets back to normal and not "IHAVEANISSUETHATNEEDSACOURTDATETODAYORIWILLDIE" with all that comes in the door. I think I have filed more emergency motions in the past two weeks than I have in the past year. It's crazy. I have attributed it to the really hot weather. Everyone is cooped up in their AC in their house and the emergencies are brewing.....Maybe cooler weather will bring less craziness? Let's hope!

Anyway, I promise to post more soon! :). Hope everyone is having an awesome July thus far!

Montreal

We are here! Landed in Montreal and got to our hotel around 800 PM. Flight was great, easy to get taxi to hotel, found cute little Mexican place to have dinner, and we are now passing out in the room. Hotel is super nice, and we are on the top floor (Kurt's favorite place, LOL). Room has this gorgeous tub and a fireplace (not needed, but pretty).

Cant wait to explore tomorrow! Night! :).