Tales of the Ordinary Days

My view as I come down the steps each morning The bliss of home life and warmer weather has set in for me. A little routine and sunshine goes a long way. We will be on the road again tomorrow, so I have soaked in my short-lived downtime in Omaha. Meetings on my listening tour continue. Each refreshing with great takeaways. Tuesday consisted of a lunch with a philanthropic leader. I learned about many great initiatives taking place in Omaha. Other meetings over the last two days included many great people I have worked with over the years. From healthcare attorneys to CEO's, I was all ears. I would be remiss to not talk about my kids. My silence in relation to them as of late isn't because they're not around. In fact, they are very much around and I am very much present. A great gift of my 90 days off. I think Grant has warmed up to having his mom around the house a lot. We have gotten into a very nice rhythm. George is orange and Randy with black (pretty cute, ...

Me with Baby Ben and Cousin Gina Last night I almost boarded the wrong flight. It wouldn't have been the end of the world as the unintended flight was to sunny California. A pleasing thought, as I felt the cold Denver wind whip through the open door of Gate 29. I was supposed to be at Gate 30. The simple mistake was uncovered as I stood in the wrong line while perusing the boarding passes of those around me. I eyed an identical B34 boarding pass in the hands of a woman next to me. "How do we have the same number?" I asked the other B34 girl. "I was wondering the same thing," was her puzzled reply. After a comparison of paper boarding passes, she quickly noticed the discrepancy. She was going to Orange County while I was to go to Omaha. In unison, she and her fellow B-boarders directed me to the gate next door. <whew> A close call. As I gingerly found my correct spot in the B34 slot of Gate 30, I had a flashback to a day long before TSA. A d...

My new view that goes along with my new travel routine People have been asking about our honeymoon. Where? When? My response has been that Garrett and I travel and adventure frequently, regardless of vows, so life is always a honeymoon for us. Behind closed doors I have been giving Garrett a hard time about this same subject. Ironically, the first two trips he has booked for this year don't include his new bride. Hmmmm.... I do enjoy some playful banter with my husband, and this subject matter ammunition is perfect fodder. Every time Garrett brings up his upcoming guys ski trip to Telluride, I follow up with "you mean your honeymoon with Mike?" He does laugh and shake his head. Since Garrett has been lacking an adequate response, I feel that I am winning this banter. At date night last Thursday, Garrett probed if I was just giving him a hard time or if this really bothered me. Although I hate to give up my ploy, I had to admit that I was having fun at his expens...

A whirlwind week: Check. Mission accomplished? Yep. It seems like it was just Monday and somehow with a blink and we're to Friday and in Denver. It's been awhile. Garrett has been gracing us with his presence in Omaha as of late. My turn. I'll be in Denver for a week. At 10:20 Mountain Time, we are finally grounded in the comforts of home. My feet are up and I'm itching to blog. Reading is on the list this weekend as well. A little down time in Denver sounds fabulous. The fog of the week is still a fog. With a little memory work I was able to reconstruct most of it. Late evening meetings at the start of the week. Kids full of football practices and visits from my eldest. Garrett in by Wednesday, work from the loft, out with friends...and that only got us to the middle of the week. Now here I am. In Denver. I love you Omaha, but I think a little Denver is just what the doctor ordered.

The rains paid off in Omaha. At least for my lawn and flowers (not bad for house without functioning air either). My pleasant welcome home was the purple pleasure that greeted me by my front door. The red roses are poking out as well. Dead tulips have been replaced and overtaken by the new seasonal color. Landscaping is a wonderful thing, isn't it? I am anxious to see if the colorful cannas have sprouted in my far back yard yet. They are a new addition and should reach a six foot and full of color by the end of summer. After a long day of airports, work, and meetings; the initial greeting from my silent greenery friends was welcomed. The voices waiting for me in the house were even better. Grant, you are definitely better than my tulips; hands down. His smiling face with newly installed braces was actively conversing with relatives as they prepared a celebration for Aunt Joan's birthday. Cake, ice cream, and conversation at the table was a perfect way to be reminded o...

This one was called "Playtime". I can relate. Sometimes getting home is more of a challenge then getting there. This sure felt like the case yesterday. Starting with a positive reflection, it was a beautiful day in Dallas. And I was in no hurry to leave as my flight was at 1:00 with only a short drive to the airport. Garrett had work meetings, so I was solo for the morning. Still not cleared to run, I enjoyed an hour of power walking. And I don't say that in jest. I really enjoyed it. Being a long-time runner/jogger/fast-mover, I have to admit that I have a history of looking down my nose at those burning calories the walking way. I was wrong and too quick to judge. A walk allows more time to enjoy the sights and take in the scenery. I had run this loop before and never paid much attention to the artwork adorning the gardens. After a day of culture and trying to figure out the artistry behind the museum sculptures, the good ones were actually in these hotel garden...

Garrett and Mark interpreting the sculptures Today was the last day of our adventure (tomorrow is considered a travel day for me). We started our day sharing faith. I found a nearby Christian church. The irony was that after spending two days commenting on the large (humongous) sizes of the Texas churches, this one was small. A good fit for us and a great message. I was given free reign on choice of our afternoon activities. I choose the Art District. The ever-planner, Garrett, wanted specifics on what we would be doing. I wanted to wing it. Given the amount of time consumed looking for parking and a lunch restaurant, some planning would have provided benefit. I will give Garrett that one. For future reference, the Art District spans nineteen city blocks. We ultimately choose to park at the Dallas Museum of Art. Our first stop was across the street at the Nasher Sculpture Center. After a rough start (passing Jason's Deli and Chipotle in route), a hungry Garrett was happy wi...

A little birdie I met on my morning power walk I own four pairs of cowboy boots. And I packed none of them for my trip; regrettable so. I pictured all four boxes in my closet this morning as I dressed for the day. The brown pair with tassels (hand-me-downs from my mom) would have been perfect with my green shorts. Regret. I made due with wedges. I thought about my cowboy boots resting in cold Nebraska as I walked the warm Texas terrain. They would have felt right at home. Although tempting to buy a new pair, five pairs was sounding a bit excessive; even for a avid boot collector like me. As anticipated, Mark picked us up in his Texas truck. The three of us share the common trait of enjoying little day trips and adventures. Mark took us to different cities bordering Dallas, over the many vast overpasses, and through the many school districts. Working for the South Dallas district, he showed us the rough area covered on this side of town. His stories were heart-wrenching. Garre...

Visiting my Texan brother, Mark Thursday was the Chatham surprise, Friday was even better. We got to see my brother, Mark. Life with my brothers never stops; there are just little pauses in time. Even if we haven't seen each other in months, sometimes over a year; we just pick up where we left off. We naturally laugh and share life together as those the separations are timeless. Siblings. Yesterday was a big travel day. A two hour morning drive to the Providence airport. A flight to Baltimore. A stop in Little Rock. And then landing at the Dallas Love Airport at 6:30 p.m. After picking up our rental car and noting the difference from the quaintness of Cape Cod to the bigness of Texas, we began the last leg of our adventure. Mark has recently moved to Dallas from LasVegas. And he is thrilled. He doesn't need to say a word, you can read it on his face. Over dinner we talked about how his life has changed and how the next year will look for his family. He has been on his o...

A shot on the ferry leaving Martha's Vineyard I met Cape Cod yesterday. And I like it. Quaint. Quiet. Historic. A natural beauty. It's lovely. I also tried a second version of clam chowder from a restaurant nestled on the water in Martha's Vineyard village of Edgartown. A different recipe, but just as good as the Black Pearl in Newport. We started the day with a ferry ride to visit this great island and finished it with a pleasant surprise awaiting in Chatham, Massachusetts. Today was a busy day showered with both spurts of sun and later with cloudy skies. I overdressed in jeans and flat boots, but was resourceful in finding a store selling cute green shorts and Reva flip-flops. Although the shorts ended up in a bag, the flip-flops replaced my boots. A very nice, warm spring day on the East Coast. We hear we may be missing "some weather" in the Midwest?? After a scenic drive up the coast and through the interesting coastal communities, we arrived at our ...

My new little lobster friend Today was a day full of seafood, mansions, and friends. After completing our work meetings at noon, Garrett and I went out to seek a luncheon feast on the "best" chowder. Per recommendations from the concierge and Omaha friends, we headed to The Black Pearl. We were not disappointed as the chowder with Westminster crackers held up to expectations. Next on our East Coast tourism list was the touring of Newport mansions. We started with the Breakers; which is the Vanderbilt mansion. We toured three mansions in total and were exhausted by the end. All came with audio tour guides and were incredibly interesting; both from a historical and biographical perspective. But rich people are a strange breed. Although it was all fascinating, it really made me miss my tulips in my own back yard. They are much better than the gold hog heads blazen on the Vanderbilt dining room ceiling (imported from France, mind you). It all felt quite sterile and ...

A mid-day walk on Thames Street Day two of my adventure was a day full of technology and a look into the future of healthcare. Did I mention that I love what I am doing? I LOVE what I'm doing. I haven't had this much fun in years. My professional growth is bubbling over and it feels great. Many have asked me if I have started my new job. I really don't know how to answer this question. There is a perception that I packed a box from Lutz and have now set up a new desk somewhere else in Omaha. Nope. That is not my new reality. No "About Schmidt" boxes of files. No family photos carefully unpacked on a neat new desk with IT set-ups awaiting me. No doubt I am working, but it feels more like a revolution. A grass roots effort. Building relationships. Solidifying partnerships. Doing the right things for the right reasons. A perfect match to my DNA. And I am having a ball. Two years ago over a glass of wine at Bonefish Grille, Garrett asked me what my perfect w...

A great seafood dinner in Newport First off, Happy Birthday to Ben Lane!! The big 17. Thank-you for letting me sing you the happy birthday song when I woke you up. Sorry that I failed again as a mother by not calling in to school and allowing you to miss your first class. I did not realize that every other good mother in the world did this on their child's birthday. I am hoping the $20 you find after school will make it all a distant memory. As for me, I forgot about the birthday boy being mad at me by the time I made it to the airport. My flight left by 10:10 and my adventure began. Garrett and I met with our flights adjoining in Chicago and then on to Providence. We rarely get to fly together, so this leg of our trip, in and of itself, was a treat. The Rhode Island temps are at 60 with the tiny state just starting to burst in blossoming color. Garrett was quick to point out the many tulips we saw surrounding the old houses and mansions. There were some pink beauti...

The front tulips have bloomed <smile> I'm going on an adventure tomorrow. It's been a while. Others may dispute this, but based on the travel schedule I've grown accustomed to; it really has been a while. The boarding passes are printed and the luggage packing has begun. It is such an adventure that I am actually checking bags. I rarely do that. But I am on this trip. I want my own hair products and face lotion (not mini-size alternatives). I want my favorite boots and heels on hand without having to choose. Yep, I am going all out. Over the next week we will hit the upper east coast, staying in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The week will include Newport vineyards, historic mansions, and a stay at a New England ocean-front resort. Garrett and I will finish out our trip in Dallas as we enjoy a weekend visit with my brother, Mark. We are very excited for this east to south adventure. As excited as I am for my first big post-surgery outing, I have been feelin...

Kristi...my friend and awesome guest blogger today :) Kristi Reimers (dear friend, running comrade, subject of many past blogs) is the writer of this funny blog _______________________________________________________________________ I was just the first one to step off the plane. My ticket: Seat 1D; First Class. That really was a first. Sitting in First Class is certainly not routine for me.  I am solidly a back of the plane, happy to have an aisle seat, kind of gal. The thought that struck me as I was pampered and treated significantly better than the “economy girl,” was the difference a few hundred dollars can make. Not that this is petty change, but I quickly realized this paid-for splurge included the privilege to board first, walk down a special aisle just for special people, not feel like a herded animal, and to be treated with utmost courtesy. I was surprised last evening when I saw First Class printed on my boarding pass. This was the doing of my tra...