tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54385085897285766672024-03-12T21:30:00.395-05:00WHere I am TodayThis is just going to be random stuff, mostly sharing pictures, because I'm really not
much of a writer, but I am going to try to keep it
updated as much as possible!Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-60722801762082829352012-05-15T17:13:00.001-05:002012-05-15T17:19:16.072-05:00Rocky’s Favorite B’day Present. Car ride with Gene Chizik.<p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">So at some point last month, I got a call from the Baldwin County Auburn Club president, Frank, and he asked me if Rocky would like to ride with Frank and Gene Chizik from the Gulf Shores airport to the Wharf Convention Center on May 14th.  This is like one of Rocky’s dreams – he is possibly the biggest Auburn fan I know… So I kept this a secret from him until his birthday party on May 6th, and told him that he would be riding with Chizik the following Monday.  Chizik was coming into town for the “Tiger Trek” Scholarship banquet for the </font><a href="http://www.baldwincountyauclub.org/"><font color="#000000">Baldwin County Auburn Club (BCAC)</font></a><font color="#000000"> to speak and sign autographs.  Greg, Rocky, and I arrived at the airport at 5:15, and he was expected to arrive at 5:30.  There were about six others there waiting on him to arrive.  The flight came in at about 6:15 or so, and he stepped off of the plane with about 10 other people – an out-of-uniform Aubie included. </font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GU7LfJFzNYI/T7LUFYGwosI/AAAAAAACtOY/Ct05o4r0Igg/s1600-h/DSCF7101%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7101" border="0" alt="DSCF7101" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qrCo76BJQJ0/T7LUHjl43RI/AAAAAAACtOc/SFv4ubta7AQ/DSCF7101_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="181" /></font></a></a></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uudLmGyDMJk/T7LUJiXTKdI/AAAAAAACtOs/sfFkJAUyXg0/s1600-h/DSCF7105%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7105" border="0" alt="DSCF7105" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eAbJRYcR938/T7LUNRI8hmI/AAAAAAACtOw/A1erSznF7qI/DSCF7105_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></font></a></a></a></p> <p><font color="#000000">He greeted Frank, then greeted Rocky saying “This must be Rocky.”  Rocky shook his hand, and then Greg and I introduced ourselves.  </font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ba9CYTu4X00/T7LUPVz4c7I/AAAAAAACtPA/Q7-_w8Q_dDE/s1600-h/DSCF7107%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7107" border="0" alt="DSCF7107" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BVuG8AY4pIg/T7LUSfiptcI/AAAAAAACtPE/QKBry6PYCuo/DSCF7107_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="226" /></font></a></a></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xdCyPCMj78E/T7LUT5xbggI/AAAAAAACtPU/tB8LkoUBvwY/s1600-h/DSCF7108%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7108" border="0" alt="DSCF7108" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M1OtKTlIpHk/T7LUWd-IiRI/AAAAAAACtPY/gsREFFlAOpM/DSCF7108_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="182" height="242" /></font></a></a></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SyuL04q0UqE/T7LUX11AYdI/AAAAAAACtPo/KlgkAUR43hQ/s1600-h/DSCF7109%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7109" border="0" alt="DSCF7109" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KsJ0_ytB9Bg/T7LUa2x3OzI/AAAAAAACtPs/XVDXUVcQVUs/DSCF7109_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="182" height="242" /></font></a></a></a></p> <p><font color="#000000">Rocky got his National Championship  program signed, and his SEC Championship cap signed (Which already had a bunch of signatures on it from A-Day in 2011.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NWiKCsgw5Mo/T7LUcThY4CI/AAAAAAACtP8/7KbTqPNMFNE/s1600-h/DSCF7111%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7111" border="0" alt="DSCF7111" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LOTOiSXB4UM/T7LUgS2rvaI/AAAAAAACtQA/y6aF1_sYsHI/DSCF7111_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="182" /></font></a></a></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bOn4DpDOilA/T7LUh5T432I/AAAAAAACtQQ/LqzYYtRtxrg/s1600-h/DSCF7110%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7110" border="0" alt="DSCF7110" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NYQyQR-w4Y8/T7LUkzzs_cI/AAAAAAACtQU/RVt-3izcTT4/DSCF7110_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="182" /></font></a></a></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0sVoCYEjBAg/T7LUmD9VUAI/AAAAAAACtQk/DblTLZd1kZg/s1600-h/DSCF7113%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7113" border="0" alt="DSCF7113" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1DWetPKmwEQ/T7LUo6ApHKI/AAAAAAACtQo/TDYOJvd3VEs/DSCF7113_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="182" /></font></a></a></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Im6Y1eaHhUg/T7LUqeF1h0I/AAAAAAACtQ4/8FUV2RQO7oU/s1600-h/DSCF7112%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7112" border="0" alt="DSCF7112" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x78pH3WirHo/T7LUtdpgsTI/AAAAAAACtQ8/5kQ9kXWRDFw/DSCF7112_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="182" /></font></a></a></a></p> </a> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">He then went inside to a room to to a press interview.  Aubie went inside to get changed, so when he came out, we got a few pictures:</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w-PSiZ3zTTc/T7LUuoF4e-I/AAAAAAACtRM/Lk9cwmmw1io/s1600-h/DSCF7117%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7117" border="0" alt="DSCF7117" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-raaZbSB4cxY/T7LUxozVDnI/AAAAAAACtRQ/ebfklbkjnQM/DSCF7117_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="182" height="242" /></font></a></a></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fRgklhccOwg/T7LUy3F3n0I/AAAAAAACtRg/wOguy56WRdY/s1600-h/photo%2525201%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo 1" border="0" alt="photo 1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z7SDw8ZeGYc/T7LU1NgJE9I/AAAAAAACtRk/H-3pJWwHX6Q/photo%2525201_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="182" height="242" /></font></a></a></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-imaXL5LRxwQ/T7LU2vXhwNI/AAAAAAACtR0/mJbLccsbzqw/s1600-h/DSCF7116%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7116" border="0" alt="DSCF7116" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4DtKuSwNr9g/T7LU54AOB5I/AAAAAAACtR4/iZy0ayv7aEE/DSCF7116_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="182" /></font></a></a></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--aucifrTQvg/T7LU7T53v2I/AAAAAAACtSI/oqHElEauVmE/s1600-h/DSCF7119%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7119" border="0" alt="DSCF7119" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QDMU_DdaBrY/T7LU-HZ85PI/AAAAAAACtSM/MiDE7jmDGfw/DSCF7119_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="182" /></font></a></a></a></p> <p><font color="#000000">After a few minutes, he was done with the press interview, which is here:</font></p> <p><object id="flashObj" width="486" height="412" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1640702438001&playerID=634644574001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAQBxUMrk~,0PvcDEZHzy82aTs224uffBVmEwGdrVWu&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1640702438001&playerID=634644574001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAQBxUMrk~,0PvcDEZHzy82aTs224uffBVmEwGdrVWu&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></p> <p><font color="#000000">He came out of the room, and Rocky, Frank, and Chizik got in the SUV to drive to the event.  We followed them, and it was cool to be in this car line with Chizik & Rocky two cars in front of us and Aubie in the car behind us – he was having fun dancing in the car. How can you not LOVE Aubie!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Anyways, they got to the Convention Center, and Chizik and Rocky got out of the car, and had a few pictures made, and Rocky walked in the event WITH Chizik and Aubie, and they did a “mini-Tiger Walk” to the table where he was signing autographs.  I tried to get pictures of them, but we had to park far away so were a little behind – there’s gotta be some out there though.  </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">I asked Rocky how the ride was and he said it was awesome.  He couldn’t stop smiling, and said he asked him questions like what he got his masters in, and how he liked Clemson. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cV7E-RJnvuY/T7LU-1YA4uI/AAAAAAACtSU/h80gXVzexc0/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">At the event, they introduced the scholarship winners, and Chizik talked about football, and did a great job.  We really can’t thank Frank enough for this opportunity, and it will definitely be something we will never forget.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4JDCdsgPedk/T7LVAaA3fLI/AAAAAAACtSk/sbab_krFVLE/s1600-h/DSCF7129%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF7129" border="0" alt="DSCF7129" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gbb6ymQOOWo/T7LVGH8RbqI/AAAAAAACtSo/l6PhkO6l0UU/DSCF7129_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="182" /></font></a></a></a></p> <p><font color="#000000">Today (Tuesday), a googled Gene Chizik Orange Beach, and ran across this article on al.com: </font><a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/05/gene_chizik_says_his_young_tig.html"><font color="#000000">http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/05/gene_chizik_says_his_young_tig.html</font></a></p> <p><font color="#000000">The main picture is from the airport and is Greg and Chizik shaking hands – we didn’t even realize it was being taken.  It was also being filmed and we saw ourselves on the news on channel 5 and 10 that night (from the airport).  </font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">All of the pictures I took are in the following album: </font><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100802237212061.2705132.7000353&type=3&l=9456235dbc"><font color="#000000">CLICK HERE</font></a></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-90513678628676896942011-02-14T13:43:00.003-06:002011-02-14T13:46:03.471-06:00So this is the entry I never wanted to write…<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">After almost exactly one year and one month after Dad passed, my mother passed away Sunday, Feb 13th in the early hours of the morning. This may sound silly, but I’m so thankful for my crazy dog Tojo, because he KNEW what was going on. He wouldn’t let me go to sleep because he kept whimpering next to mom. I brought him to bed with me but he wouldn’t go to sleep, he just sat there looking at the door wanting to go back in the living room with mom. And he’s definitely not the type of dog that doesn’t sleep at night:</span><br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:0ec68985-2bb5-42cb-b7b3-06a8f610301c" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 363px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: 363px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><a href="https://cid-f690e8f3f926c5be.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=F690E8F3F926C5BE!1080&type=5&authkey=Cn*KtAIbKj0%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFn2G9yhI/AAAAAAACirs/FV-fUFZETAg/Sleepy%20Dog%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; background: none; border-style: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" title="View album" /></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">There’s not much to say about what happened, but she went peacefully, and two of the few things I understood her say Saturday was “I feel fine” and “I love you.” Luckily Rocky was sleeping in mom’s room and slept all night. I am so thankful Greg was here with me to help me through this, and Donna, Kelly, Carolyn B and the nurse from Covenant came over to help us.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I don’t see how mom dealt with this same thing with Dad for so long, and I wish I could have helped her more, but even though it was sooner than expected, I am glad that she is in a happier place, and she hurts no more. Her and Dad are looking down on us, they’re up there playing golf again together and will always be in our hearts! <img alt="Red heart" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-redheart" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFoiJJBcI/AAAAAAACir0/_0b7aB1HMro/wlEmoticon-redheart%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">One of the hardest things was having to wake Rocky up and tell my brother that Mom had joined Daddy in heaven, and she is no longer in pain. He had a good cry, but he and I know that he has so much support with me and Greg, his entire family, the Orange Beach Elementary family, Lee Drug Store family and friends. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Yesterday was the longest day of my life. I thank every one of you that came to visit, and made it easier on Rocky and me. We’ve had SO much support and I know we will forever. Rocky chose to go to a friend’s house to play because so many people were coming in and out. He came home about 5:00 after everything had settled down a bit. He and Greg built a fire outside:</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFp8y5EmI/AAAAAAACir8/zx1OCS6z8ss/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%2012%2031%2049%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Photo Feb 14, 12 31 49 PM" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFqglr2NI/AAAAAAACisE/WcXLDmDBipw/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%2012%2031%2049%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Photo Feb 14, 12 31 49 PM" width="183" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Koda has been really mopey. He was with her all night when everything happened, then I put him in his room, and when he came out he didn’t come to any of us, he was just looking all around the house for mom. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFrjitOJI/AAAAAAACisM/KQ4raPI6M2c/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%201%2025%2024%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Photo Feb 14, 1 25 24 PM" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFsdZUE8I/AAAAAAACisU/XhUfXLK8d_4/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%201%2025%2024%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Photo Feb 14, 1 25 24 PM" width="183" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I just got back from making helping with the funeral arrangements and picking out flowers – On the busiest day of the year for flowers! We got it covered though – going to go with a blue and orange and white, because she LOVED Auburn and Rocky LOVES orange and blue (because of Auburn of course). Details for the funeral are below:</span><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Thursday, February 17, 2011 <br />
Robertsdale United Methodist Church</span><br />
<div align="left"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 509px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td width="122"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">8:30 </span></td> <td width="233"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Private Family time</span></td> <td width="152"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">In the Church</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="130"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">9:00-11:00 am</span></td> <td valign="top" width="233"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Public Visitation</span></td> <td valign="top" width="152"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">In the Church</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="132"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">11:00 am</span></td> <td valign="top" width="233"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Funeral service</span></td> <td valign="top" width="152"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">In the Church</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Immediately following</span></td> <td valign="top" width="233"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Burial – Family/Employees Only!</span></td> <td valign="top" width="152"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Baldwin Memorial Cemetery </span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></div><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></strong></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">In Lieu of flowers Memorial Gifts are requested to go to:</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The U B Good scholarship fund at Orange Beach Elementary School <br />
4900 Wilson Blvd <br />
Orange Beach, AL 36561</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The Steven Wayne Baker Sea, Sand and Stars Science Center <br />
4900 Wilson Blvd <br />
Orange Beach, AL 36561</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Baldwin County Auburn Alumni Club Scholarship Fund <br />
P. O. Box 1322 <br />
Foley, AL 36536</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The Alabama Golf Association Women’s Scholarship Fund <br />
Attention: Alyson Stuart <br />
1025 Montgomery Hwy <br />
Suite 210 <br />
Birmingham, AL 35216</span></blockquote><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Mr. Baker is going to bring a few friends over for Rocky to play with this afternoon and bring his Valentine’s candy. We’ve just been relaxing today. I’m going to continue this blog with everything including memories and pictures for you all, and for me.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">There is so much more that’s going through my head that I know I want to write, but I’ll save it for later. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Thank you to Aunt Sandy and Uncle Dave for these pretty flowers, and Jeff for the chocolates:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFtja2MnI/AAAAAAACisc/JJFu2HMXGJw/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%2012%2033%2005%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Photo Feb 14, 12 33 05 PM" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFuuvXF_I/AAAAAAACisk/sizG546VpeI/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%2012%2033%2005%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Photo Feb 14, 12 33 05 PM" width="183" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFwnbx4AI/AAAAAAACiss/uKdRlTe-TaE/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%201%2014%2003%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Photo Feb 14, 1 14 03 PM" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFxdm2pnI/AAAAAAACis0/q_Wng81IWMw/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%201%2014%2003%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Photo Feb 14, 1 14 03 PM" width="183" /></a></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVmFwnbx4AI/AAAAAAACiss/uKdRlTe-TaE/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2014%2C%201%2014%2003%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"></a></span></span>Love you all,<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Whitney</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-7296145738805390042011-02-12T17:00:00.001-06:002011-02-12T17:00:32.917-06:00Weekend<p><font color="#000000">Last night was pretty slow.. Donna and Kelly came over to stay with Mom while Greg and I went to Rocky's basketball game. We got back and she had just been sleeping the whole time we were gone. Which is fine, because she needs her rest..and when she is sleeping or napping, she is not feeling any pain.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Greg has been helpful, it is so nice to have him around if only for the weekends. He has been entertaining Rocky and he made a run to Shake's in Foley to get us all concretes and Rocky a milkshake. They were delicious, Mom got a strawberry concrete and ate a little bit of it, but she really enjoyed it! Also, Greg made her smile a few times by acting goofy, and her smiling has been pretty rare the past few days.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">The bed in the living room I put right beside the couch so Koda is there on the couch beside her all the time. He's tried to get in the bed with her but theres not enough room.  Last night she went to bed at around 10, and Rocky slept in the living room with her this time.  I had the idea to use Mom and my iPhone 4's with FaceTime and set them up on docks beside each of our beds for the whole night, just in case she needed anything throughout the night. She was actually fine again the whole night even though I was paranoid the whole time and would check on her every noise I heard! I got up at about 6:30 to take Shug out and she got up soon after.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">We got her out of her bed and she sat in the wheelchair for a bit but was pretty groggy this morning.  She was in pain when she first woke up so I gave her her morning medicine.  She hasn't complained of pain since, so it is still working well.  She ate some Jell-O bright and early and I turned on the movie Sweet Home Alabama and she stayed up to watch the whole thing.  She then took a nice nap for a few hours, and woke up in pain again.  Greg and Rocky made a trip to Target and Chick-fil-A to pick up some lunch. She ate a couple of nuggets and she loves their lemonade, so she's still working on that.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">She has been pretty out of it today, just sort of shaking her head yes and no to questions I ask her. She has talked a little bit but it has been very softly, and she gets kind of confused sometimes.. I read her a Valentine's card from Moni and I got a good smile from her.  I've tried to tell her about everyone that has contacted me, and that makes her happy as well.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">She has had one good nap today and is working on another right now.  Rocky has been entertained by Greg today. They went outside to throw the football not long ago, and then Jake and family picked him up to go see the Harlem Globetrotters with the basketball team, so they will have fun tonight. Boudreaux and Margie offered to come over and stay with mom so Greg and I could get out of the house and go have dinner tonight.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Really, I'm counting down the hours until Monday gets here because the doctor is going to come and drain the fluid that has been building up around her stomach.  She is very bloated because of it and I know once it gets drained she will be very relieved. Dad had to have fluid drained twice a week when he was sick and he always felt better after he had that done.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">The days have been pretty long recently, but I'm getting through it with all the love that's been sent our way!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Thank you all,</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Love,</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Whitney</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVcQ8Y_-WII/AAAAAAACirA/oY9-NphmFvo/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2012%2C%204%2045%2028%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Feb 12, 4 45 28 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Feb 12, 4 45 28 PM" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVcQ9CpTuYI/AAAAAAACirI/cscjlPvQE-M/Photo%20Feb%2012%2C%204%2045%2028%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000">Tojo & Koda – 2 tired dogs</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVcQ-8iS5BI/AAAAAAACirQ/QnCU5K398VQ/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2012%2C%204%2058%2018%20PM%5B4%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Feb 12, 4 58 18 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Feb 12, 4 58 18 PM" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVcRAUOpGdI/AAAAAAACirY/gEr9p7Ezlrc/Photo%20Feb%2012%2C%204%2058%2018%20PM_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" height="289" /></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000000">Me, Rocky, and Mom in Flagstaff, AZ last month</font></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-75312604602650308232011-02-11T15:14:00.001-06:002011-02-11T15:14:24.704-06:00Feeling Better<p><font color="#000000">Today has been pretty good so far for Mom.  We got the prescriptions yesterday, and so far they have helped.  I was told to record when I give her the medicine and what her pain level is on a scale of 1-10.  That’s really been the main problem this week is the pain, and I hate to see her hurting. Before the medicine she said 7/10, and this morning it was down to a 2/10, so that is great.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">We got the equipment delivered yesterday evening, and set up a nice bed in the living room so she can hang out with Rocky and I in the living room instead of being in her room.  She is loving it because it is adjustable so she is like 100 times more comfortable.  I slept in the living room with her last night, and she actually slept the whole night through (minus the DOGS barking at some car turning around in the cul-de-sac)!  </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">She ended up eating the chicken noodle soup yesterday and last night, and she enjoyed it.  Rocky and I ordered Pizza Hut (his second favorite restaurant, next to Zaxby’s – haha).  </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Rocky and I were talking about eyesight the other night, and he was pretty much telling me laser surgery is a good idea because “it’s better in the long-run”, which he also said “I don’t know why Mom doesn’t get her leg fixed, because that will help her in the long run.”  Then I told him – “Well it’s a little more serious than that now”… “It’s more internal now, and that’s not really a good sign.”  So I think he’s getting the picture without me laying everything out there, and telling him straight up.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Also, when had the equipment delivered yesterday, Rocky was more than helpful without me having to ask.  He helped me sheet the bed, and get pillows, and he took a spin in the wheelchair to “test it out” for mom. Worked perfectly!  He asked why we couldn’t just keep the stuff from when dad was sick, but I said well we had no idea we would need it again.  <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmkQFCsCI/AAAAAAACipk/wJH1In0hnks/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /> He’s been a really good sport throughout all of this.  I think as long as he has his mind off of things he is fine, well – he acts fine.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Our nurse, Ruth, from Covenant came today.  She was super sweet, and is going to be very helpful throughout all of this.  She tested mom’s vitals, and the only thing weird was her blood pressure – both numbers were a little low, but Mom said that has happened in the past in the doctors offices.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Mom ate some chicken and dumplings from Kitty’s today, thanks to Sheryl and Boudreaux.  Moni and Poppa also came to visit and brought Valentines cards and a rose.  Very pretty! She is also trying to keep up with her soap opera “All My Children” and she watched the whole episode today during lunch.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmlpF5F7I/AAAAAAACips/ZmKg01YwxUE/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2011%2C%202%2049%2005%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Feb 11, 2 49 05 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Feb 11, 2 49 05 PM" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmmdz3t2I/AAAAAAACip0/A004XKKtFus/Photo%20Feb%2011%2C%202%2049%2005%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="201" height="244" /></font></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmnoAqI4I/AAAAAAACip8/O2-4OBTJuyM/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2011%2C%202%2049%2038%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Feb 11, 2 49 38 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Feb 11, 2 49 38 PM" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmoIUfcGI/AAAAAAACiqE/OHHLgG_392k/Photo%20Feb%2011%2C%202%2049%2038%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></font></a></p> <p><font color="#000000">My boyfriend Greg is on the way down from Auburn this weekend to visit, and I’m so excited to see him. We are going to Rocky’s basketball game tonight while Donna and Kelly come to stay with Mom.  Thank you all for the sweet e-mails and texts, it’s amazing how much support is really out there.  I’m responding to everyone, but it may take a while because I’ve been short on time. But truly THANK YOU! I think I have added everyone that has asked to be on the mailing list for when this is updated.  If you didn’t get the e-mail this time though or want to be added, please let me know – </font><a href="mailto:whitney0149@gmail.com"><font color="#000000">whitney0149@gmail.com</font></a><font color="#000000"> </font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Also we received some beautiful flowers from John, Kathy, Hunter & Hannah and a candle from Traci, Jeff, Chris and Ben.  Thank y’all so much!!</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmpn7ebDI/AAAAAAACiqM/3w3413wxllY/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2011%2C%202%2049%2018%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Feb 11, 2 49 18 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Feb 11, 2 49 18 PM" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmqVKG-hI/AAAAAAACiqU/QmzxvooL2pI/Photo%20Feb%2011%2C%202%2049%2018%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmrZNSIZI/AAAAAAACiqc/w92RpRrMVDg/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2011%2C%202%2059%2023%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Feb 11, 2 59 23 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Feb 11, 2 59 23 PM" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVWmr8q997I/AAAAAAACiqk/BeWCw8nc0WU/Photo%20Feb%2011%2C%202%2059%2023%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></font></a></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Mom is taking a nap right now, because our day has been a little busy, and she hasn’t had a chance to really take a good nap yet today.  I’ve been telling her about all the love you guys have showed us, and it’s nice to see that smile on her face.  Hopefully I’ll update tomorrow.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Love,</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Whitney</font></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-70493159043367187772011-02-10T12:08:00.001-06:002011-02-10T12:08:20.464-06:00So far today<p><font color="#000000">So the Covenant hospice people came today at 9:30.  We met the admissions lady and a social worker.  They went over everything we need to know about the whole process and were very helpful – and will continue to be.  We are expecting to receive some equipment today from them that may make mom more comfortable, which is her main problem right now – she just can’t get comfortable.  She has had a little bit of a hard time making it from the bedroom to the living room, like she needs time to stop and rest while she is walking.  A walker or wheelchair will definitely help that.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">They also prescribed a few medicines that hopefully will be able to calm the pain she is having.  I slept in the room with her last night to make sure she didn’t need anything throughout the night.  She really did have a hard time falling asleep, she would sit up every once in a while to drink water, and try again to get in a more comfortable position.  I just can’t imagine how she is feeling right now.  She ended up going to sleep around 12:30 or 1:00 and slept until about 7, which is when I got up.  </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">She’s eating some right now, she had some Jell-O and some Coke a little bit earlier.  I’m about to go offer her some chicken noodle soup our neighbor Margie brought over yesterday – Thank you! She already talked about how good it is!  Hopefully she’ll be in the mood to eat some!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Koda (our 4 year old golden-doodle) has been SO sweet throughout all of this.  He’s ALWAYS been attached to mom since we got him, and never leaves her side.  He is constantly waiting outside of whichever room she is in for her to come out, and he get SOO excited when he gets to go and see her.  He sleeps with her every night, and is such a good dog! </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVQpgAGOWyI/AAAAAAACio8/aEyjEoS_Dx4/s1600-h/IMG_0696%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0696" border="0" alt="IMG_0696" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVQpgzooU4I/AAAAAAACipE/_O1andD0vKg/IMG_0696_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="291" height="218" /></font></a></p> <p><font color="#000000">Mom, Koda, Tojo, and Rocky – before the Iron Bowl this past year.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">If you want to stay updated when I make a post on the blog let me know.  E-mail me at </font><a href="mailto:whitney0149@gmail.com"><font color="#000000">whitney0149@gmail.com</font></a><font color="#000000">, and I think I can have it send e-mails when its updated.  Also I think if you click the “Follow” button in the upper left hand corner it may update you (I’m not too sure though).  Again, I have her phone most of the time with me, so if you want to send her a message my number is 251-978-6600, and again, texting or e-mailing is better and a lot EASIER [than calling]… </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Thank you all already for all of the thoughts and prayers, I have already had many thoughtful messages.  Y’all are truly great.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Will update tonight or tomorrow again.. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">**LOVE**</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Whitney</font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-42444760840757272322011-02-09T18:43:00.001-06:002011-02-09T18:43:13.398-06:00Mom’s Condition<p><font color="#000000">So, I thought this may be an easier way to share news about mom with everyone at the same time… Here’s the initial story:</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Mom has been feeling very tired and lethargic for the past two weeks or so, and we thought it may have something to do with the flu.  She was due for a scan to see how her cancer was doing, and if the recent Chemo treatments have been working on Friday the 4th  I took her in, and we found out the results yesterday…</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Not good news…</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">She has been feeling so bad because her liver is basically failing.  The cancer has pretty much taken over her liver, and there are also signs of it in her abdomen.  She has tried seven different types of Chemo, and the doctor said there’s really nothing else they can do, the Chemo would only make her weaker, and she doesn’t need to be weak right now.  She’s already weak enough really..</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Some good news is that she actually has some sort of appetite – the doctor said he really didn’t think she would at this point.  Donna, Moni, and Poppa brought over a BBQ lunch today, and she ate some pork along with some chips.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">He gave her a timeline of about 1-3 months. .. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVM0l-xQy2I/AAAAAAACioY/gCN8PKOOsdQ/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></p> <p><font color="#000000">The Hospice people are coming tomorrow to run some tests and find out what kind of medication she needs to be on.  Hopefully they can remove some fluid from her stomach, because it is building up a little, and I think that is what is making her so uncomfortable when she comes in the living room with Rocky and me.  </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">About Rocky: I told him last night that Mom was pretty sick right now, and he said he knows.  I said her liver is not doing very good, but I haven’t really gone into details about what that REALLY means… it’s going to be hard for me to break that to him—I don’t think it has sunk in for me..</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">I will update this tomorrow, and hopefully often with news because this is easier than talking to people individually.  Also, TEXTING me is easier than talking, because I get kind of shaken up really talking about it.  Also, I have her phone on me a lot of the time, because she doesn’t really feel like talking to people either especially about the subject matter, but I can relay all messages to her.  My number is (251)978-6600, and my e-mail is </font><a href="mailto:whitney0149@gmail.com"><font color="#000000">whitney0149@gmail.com</font></a><font color="#000000"> and they both go instantly to my phone.  I’m also managing her e-mail – not that she can’t do any of these things – I just know she doesn’t really want to.  </font></p> <p><font color="#000000">Love ya’ll! I will update tomorrow, so check back.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000">I’ll include cute pictures to lighten the mood:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVM0nehrV8I/AAAAAAACiog/ctpSyOmp_0M/s1600-h/Photo%20Feb%2009%2C%206%2040%2008%20PM%5B2%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Feb 09, 6 40 08 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Feb 09, 6 40 08 PM" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TVM0oJnJ3nI/AAAAAAACioo/hi4tRz6uzNE/Photo%20Feb%2009%2C%206%2040%2008%20PM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></font></a></p> <p><font color="#000000">Rocky, Tojo , and Shug (the PUPPY) – he’s gotten a little big!</font></p> <p><font color="#000000"> </font></p> <p><font color="#000000"></font></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-80484257266366000162011-01-16T10:35:00.001-06:002011-01-16T10:35:50.623-06:00Even after the win, the Duck is still Shug's favorite chew toy! #wareagle #wde<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/iydojalcCrrBidduigfzFDedxeIciHugGvsCtewhxGHfGacbICgGBHksDFjj/file.jpeg.scaled600.jpg" width="479" height="640"/> </p> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.osfoora.com">Osfoora for iPhone</a></div></div>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-73097975378097600152011-01-09T12:06:00.001-06:002011-01-09T12:06:45.192-06:00This gas station has "Auburn Door" & "Oregon Door". Surely more people going through the AU side. #wareagle #wde<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/avvDzBDFrtDiDtanwqhJdlhgIdIpbvbziDsEbrEhtcplGnerGtgCAcsIuHEz/file.jpeg.scaled1000.jpg" width="479" height="640"/> </p> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.osfoora.com">Osfoora for iPhone</a></div></div>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-44317205147794995442011-01-08T14:52:00.001-06:002011-01-08T14:52:06.057-06:001st stop Meteor Crater in #Winslow AZ. Saw four #Auburn fans besides us. Next stop, Flagstaff AZ.<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/utjquqddlBplqyhJyfFvgItiCzjanmIJkGbechnvsaFchnEuEjJJHfrGlDfk/file.jpeg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/utjquqddlBplqyhJyfFvgItiCzjanmIJkGbechnvsaFchnEuEjJJHfrGlDfk/file.jpeg.scaled600.jpg" width="600" height="449"/></a> </p> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.osfoora.com">Osfoora for iPhone</a></div></div>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-25320607559912533572011-01-08T11:47:00.001-06:002011-01-08T11:47:18.262-06:00This is the SECOND Auburn billboard we saw in Phoenix!! Have not seen any Oregon signs... #wde #wareagle<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/vudiracJEfbyigoCvosuwxvFFmxdHkDheBywohEwpqrGGAmHheiCrdzhhuyG/file.jpeg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/vudiracJEfbyigoCvosuwxvFFmxdHkDheBywohEwpqrGGAmHheiCrdzhhuyG/file.jpeg.scaled600.jpg" width="600" height="449"/></a> </p> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.osfoora.com">Osfoora for iPhone</a></div></div>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-18276137734369313512010-12-31T21:48:00.002-06:002011-01-03T19:13:38.349-06:00Charlotte, NC<div class="posterous_autopost"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/1e8YO7IuTK5DRkwzMvwDDi2KLBGCjAdD3p00OCqnYtveKwExzW9FIjgtvAec/photo_1.jpg" width="239" /> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/svy5391jIxFNuR3oYUqbhSrPItWwwVSULYYwzLcWBc37mTo4qho3qBYzpKXd/photo_2.jpg"><img height="238" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/3ybA2fwDC8fuPUlnocPSZ5bEl2gtTkPm8lnnorkWe0eJgkB4C1EYcfB98s0p/photo_2.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/8VB6ZwCsxfrwhWixCw31zVARWjO9YOEn54Ox4301X8EDapF1FyAuuMcieCyq/photo_3.jpg"><img height="320" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/9ApcUfSQ0pzvVcjCieCm3PlcHhAu9BZdit5fTGzXKrv4eb874T2NKxUetrn3/photo_3.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="239" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/OJ6UggY5ykW3994WB6GAu1PWZnpF0QDNPow0LoQXns1wp9dNCGu81ysvYGaF/photo_4.jpg"><img height="320" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/VLdiKHDa6MTyjS5YGOTEROkMYP43mANHm4f0beDXJDlTmjHDjeQZQB6jJcTv/photo_4.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="239" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/MLMMViNhYL2bHPzdYJYfT6M4sbfPZBkCwxiJiXETGm7sJlCXyBTI1z07Xxch/photo_5.jpg"><img height="373" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/yTJ9yIu6AnsMkpzw3p6y5V67RtD1wcUFM9RZpX5gumufuTIYgW2CubD4Ww14/photo_5.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://whitbaker.posterous.com/charlotte-nc">See and download the full gallery on posterous</a></div></div></div>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-71662346951188988672010-12-28T12:21:00.003-06:002011-01-03T19:11:42.053-06:00New pup pictures<div class="posterous_autopost"><div style="text-align: left;">Santa brought Rocky this new puppy on Christmas Eve. He was born October 6th and he is a toy Golden doodle: toy poodle+golden retriever mix. His name is Shug and he is the sweetest puppy ever. More pictures to come soon!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/rB95iNcaKty26Z9OBLJtPUp3vIgKazNSRREGn2PSoJnj8HZsTknFXWA87R4Z/photo_1.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img height="320" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/v5N9biyH3MPM6BPE8NkUPnniRCLQHKv62K0IXhUoNYNSfpGdPOkFjjgHAqWy/photo_1.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="239" /></a> <img height="211" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/io3GHI0tPZNwvL2oXgUKHYATgS2ciw6DW3gChMX6oWejiFHlPuf32TvL5yFD/photo_2.jpg" width="320" /> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/oNtNGEidReSbdyw29q03RlbfS9McvsVn3KEMg9hagBH1LTcqZbmkKhWQe1wZ/photo_3.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img height="238" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/3ECz4AJPZsicVVfhoJdiNoyTrEs2TQpMHkKULF2TTqVse6lt898k4oAtgBYl/photo_3.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/Kfyk5kfvhvgilzH3ARjyQRxJDOnPlZFlExB3cxaujW74urhlvkA0gnBK7ujQ/photo_4.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img height="238" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/mvQQkNTWOiGWadUrnN6ejjMHiIxZKwhYp743JwSTTBzzDHU8qh6NGxncj2Sm/photo_4.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/ehHey26lIsB6MleJR7hFpr5npJgM3hAD15XYGFnMMWEbz0ps1x5vbUGuObKH/photo_5.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img height="320" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/whitbaker/qjJqb3gQq29OBv2KNvErkkeyIyC7qJCeTdCVr4fv0GRzK5fjLzTL2FjlejBo/photo_5.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="239" /></a> </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://whitbaker.posterous.com/new-pup-pictures">See and download the full gallery on posterous</a></div></div></div>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-15339060854005842622010-12-23T18:41:00.001-06:002010-12-23T18:41:17.463-06:00Merry Christmas!!!<p align="center"><object width="512" height="288"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/9BH6AqtQQwV7_mjVR6lvuw"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/9BH6AqtQQwV7_mjVR6lvuw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" height="288" allowFullScreen="true"></embed></object></p> <p align="center">A holiday classic! I used to love this!</p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-19160142517856280912010-12-19T21:41:00.001-06:002010-12-19T22:24:35.934-06:00Graduated, again!<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TQ7QSE_uoXI/AAAAAAACgoo/4-vkk5QkNJs/s1600-h/155547_919943244271_7017583_48245726_1664188_n%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 6px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="155547_919943244271_7017583_48245726_1664188_n" border="0" alt="155547_919943244271_7017583_48245726_1664188_n" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TQ7QTx4vGzI/AAAAAAACgow/c6-Q7QfbJoA/155547_919943244271_7017583_48245726_1664188_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>So I graduated Monday, the 13th with my MBA from Auburn (again), and it’s exciting, but I am going to miss my class! It was a fun (and stressful) year and a half.  Now onto the job search!</p> <p>By the way, Auburn has had an amazing football season this year, 13-0, and SEC Champions.  We went to the SEC Championship in Atlanta, which was a fun time, and are going to Glendale, AZ for the National Championship game vs. Oregon Ducks.  Hopefully, I will have some pictures to add, and hopefully, we will come back with a victory!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TQ7QVlUDnhI/AAAAAAACgo4/0sZXNZooSh4/s1600-h/IMG_0763%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 6px auto 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0763" border="0" alt="IMG_0763" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TQ7QWydfgzI/AAAAAAACgpA/RdYCa2x16_Q/IMG_0763_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p align="center"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fwhitney0149%2Falbumid%2F5550346689524464433%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-4579761175918555762010-07-31T15:00:00.001-05:002010-07-31T15:00:57.542-05:00Hanson & Rooney Concert!<p>I attended the best concert I’ve ever been to last night.  Hanson  + Rooney.  I loved Hanson in middle school, and Rooney was my favorite band in junior & senior year of high school.  They happened to be in Asheville the second night we were in town! It was an amazing show!! A bunch of girls my age filled the venue. Greg enjoyed it too, though!  Pictures below…  Video will be posted soon :)</p> <p align="center"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fwhitney0149%2Falbumid%2F5500143178178667649%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-43278449635467303012010-06-07T18:08:00.001-05:002010-06-07T18:19:37.721-05:00Kit-Ten Caboodle!<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA17wROsJzI/AAAAAAACXhI/MZNCxyymdSE/s1600-h/P1000069%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000069" border="0" alt="P1000069" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA17xf17QZI/AAAAAAACXhQ/yzUv9tImKB8/P1000069_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <p>So Greg got a new kitten last Thursday to surprise his mom.  He adopted it from a vet in Gulf Shores, and it is just adorable.  There’s no name for him yet, but trust me, we have brainstormed.  Twidget was the name he was given at the vet, but our list is pretty much any name imaginable, including, but not limited to:</p> <ul> <li>“The Entertainer” (Greg’s favorite) </li> <li>Kit-Ten Caboodle</li> <li>Dog</li> <li>Cutie Pants</li> <li>Solitaire (Rocky’s)</li> <li>Alejandro</li> <li>Kicky (Rocky’s)</li> </ul> <p>Ok, so all of those names are jokes, but we’re trying to brainstorm here! I shall let you know when we come up with a solution to this cat-naming nonsense, but for now, here’s pictures of the lil bugger:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA17yEret1I/AAAAAAACXhY/gvCY2s-NQsg/s1600-h/DSCF7130%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF7130" border="0" alt="DSCF7130" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA17ykhacJI/AAAAAAACXhg/-nFrV77eYLM/DSCF7130_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA17zgGc8HI/AAAAAAACXho/_MdNgYWyo-8/s1600-h/P1000027%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000027" border="0" alt="P1000027" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA170EIPgtI/AAAAAAACXhw/JDCdOUsUajQ/P1000027_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA171O47auI/AAAAAAACXh4/ZJ60vBOwSmc/s1600-h/P1000149%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000149" border="0" alt="P1000149" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA171z1WrxI/AAAAAAACXiA/_GLCFzpMDBw/P1000149_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA172iIPg-I/AAAAAAACXiI/sLAxymnhevw/s1600-h/P1000176%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000176" border="0" alt="P1000176" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/TA174JA8tZI/AAAAAAACXiQ/PGJvA8GhTMY/P1000176_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>The album below is ALL of the pictures we’ve taken, which is quite a bit!</p> <p align="center"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fwhitney0149%2Falbumid%2F5479841611077481889%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-51661805222492232692010-04-26T22:29:00.002-05:002010-04-26T22:35:37.335-05:00Taylor Swift visits Auburn spur of the moment<p align="left">I didn’t attend, but this is cool – I don’t know if I could have done the whole hundreds of screaming girls in a packed place :) , anywho for anyone who is interested, here’s part of what happened today at the AU Hotel & Conference Center, Aubie even joined in!  WAR EAGLE!</p> <p align="center"><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11247764&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11247764&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object></p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/11247764">Taylor Swift In Auburn :: April 26, 2010 :: AHugfromTaylorSwift.com</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user577872">Robert</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://justjaredjr.buzznet.com/2010/04/26/auburn-university-students-get-a-hug-from-taylor-swift/">Just Jared Jr. Link</a></p> <p><a href="http://perezhilton.com/2010-04-26-taylor-swift-surprises-auburn-university-students-in-alabama">Perez Hilton Link</a></p> <p>What started it all : <a href="http://ahugfromtaylorswift.com/Home.html">AHugFromTaylorSwift.com</a></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-77873344005333875012010-03-13T22:20:00.000-06:002010-04-24T19:58:48.734-05:00Day 9: Milan<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONdCCl9wI/AAAAAAACTkY/V-fc5WDH6Fs/s1600-h/DSCN0993%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN0993" border="0" alt="DSCN0993" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONeNmJiYI/AAAAAAACTkc/sLXyztCuUv0/DSCN0993_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" height="299" /></a> This morning, we went and got breakfast downstairs again.  Again, I only got fruit, but it’s really good.  Then we went to the lobby to meet for our tour of Milan.  We got to experience the Metro, and rode to town where the cathedral is.  There were some men right when you get up the stairs trying to sell bracelets, and they just put it on my wrist after I said no like 8 times, I didn’t end up paying for it, but it was pretty ridiculous.  We then went to the cathedral, and this time  we browsed around inside for about 30 minutes.  Whole group in front of cathedral:<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONewzgpWI/AAAAAAACTg4/H5V4lLrSlXY/s1600-h/24258_513265092116_163500453_3049993%5B1%5D.jpg"></a> <p><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Everyone in front of cathedral" border="0" alt="Everyone in front of cathedral" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONfho-jJI/AAAAAAACThA/TWuXmYqvfe0/24258_513265092116_163500453_3049993%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="199" /></p> Afterwards, we walked to an <a href="http://www.milanocastello.it/ing/lungaRestaurato.html" target="_blank">old castle, that was also unbelievably huge</a>.  It looked like a spot that one of those ghost hunter TV shows would go.  We must have seen like 3 or 4 Chinese brides, I guess it’s not uncommon to get married around there, or maybe they were just getting pictures, but it was odd. The tour finished about noon, and we were on our own.  Check out the map of this castle, click below:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 320px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:84E294D0-71C9-4bd0-A0FE-95764E0368D9:7f19cec2-30e7-4eb9-bccf-c34a1d8b3143" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&cp=rkbhwyhryhck&lvl=1&style=o&scene=10671153&mkt=en-us&FORM=LLWR" id="map-49ee0777-b93f-4a84-b909-8ea4c961c945" alt="View map" title="View map"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONiIg2hdI/AAAAAAACThY/1dUD61Wef5I/map4c62a3795f73.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="240" alt="Map picture"></a></div> <p>The group I was with went to Prada to look around, then to a spot with <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONi48y00I/AAAAAAACThg/Go2guvVSti4/s1600-h/DSCN1002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN1002" border="0" alt="DSCN1002" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONkBWY_uI/AAAAAAACTho/CSZL9hzHrNc/DSCN1002_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="192" height="145" /></a> some restaurants, but <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONgarx2WI/AAAAAAACThI/FBJ9LHzEGU0/s1600-h/DSCN10104.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN1010" border="0" alt="DSCN1010" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONhb1sJfI/AAAAAAACThQ/43M8T4khONw/DSCN1010_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="130" height="172" /></a>it was so crowded most of us got Burger King because it was the quickest and cheapest.  Everything from BK was exactly the same as in the states, maybe better! They had chicken wings though! Then we headed to a GIANT department store.  We rode up about 10 escalators to the top floor, where it was mostly foods.  We then rode down, and headed out.  We hopped on the metro again and went to the hotel.  Linden left for Serbia about 2:15, and Jessica and I went to get some gelato.  I got chocolate this time, and it tasted like brownie mix, it was SOO good, but very rich, I couldn’t finish it.  I then got back to the room and took the best bubble bath ever.  And I just about finished up packing.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONlsYtWdI/AAAAAAACThw/ooJUqmOicng/s1600-h/P1020911%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="yummy" border="0" alt="yummy" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ONml3BhEI/AAAAAAACTh4/ipJlnZUvJf4/P1020911_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="181" height="137" /></a>That night, we went to eat our “farewell dinner” at <a href="http://www.bagutta.it/" target="_blank">Trattoria Bagutta</a>.  We had a big salad, rice with saffron – pretty good, they gave us tons, the main course was breaded veal cutlet, which completely made up for that veal bratwurst.  This was actually really good – it kind of looked like a country fried steak, but it was veal. For dessert, we got “Creme Caramel”, which YES it SOUNDS delicious! BUT, yikes. It looked like flan, wiggled like Jell-O, and was a yellow-white color with a thin caramel-ish sauce on it, and most of us just ended up playing with it after we took one bite – trying to make it look like we actually ate some! All in all, this was a great restaurant, I will admit.  We headed back to the hotel, and packed up for an early start tomorrow.</p> <p align="center"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fwhitney0149%2Falbumid%2F5448169024147451185%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-77502019509689810222010-03-12T20:52:00.000-06:002010-04-24T20:05:20.085-05:00Day 8: Milan<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHmIdRugI/AAAAAAACTlI/CMd1-fnTaNc/s1600-h/DSCN0909%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN0909" border="0" alt="DSCN0909" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHm_u2_gI/AAAAAAACTlM/mPDFg6w9tSY/DSCN0909_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="260" /></a> Well we got the breakfast for the first time at this hotel, and it wasn’t as impressive unfortunately, but they had great fruit, so that’s what I ate.  We left the hotel, and headed to <a href="http://www.milaschon.com/Default.aspx?LN=EN&Redir=true" target="_blank">Mila Schon</a>, a fashion company, and listened to them present.  This is the company Linden and I did a report on, so we knew some about it beforehand.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHnXvdxMI/AAAAAAACTdc/u-_O6smhs9A/s1600-h/DSCN0910%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0910" border="0" alt="DSCN0910" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHpG2B4RI/AAAAAAACTdk/AwTTpdG6Utw/DSCN0910_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="120" height="150" /></a>We then went to lunch at <a href="http://www.dacecco.com/#" target="_blank">Da Cecco</a>, an Italian restaurant.   Our first course was a tray of assorted meats, salami, prosciutto, others,  I tried them all, but didn’t eat any more.  They had an amazing bread there, it was like freshly baked sourdough. Delicious.  For our main course, we had some kind of roast beef or something in a brownish sauce, with a side of grilled veggies and some fried potatoes.  It was pretty good.  Then for dessert we got tiramisu, which was also good.</p> <p> After lunch, we went to another meeting, and  on the way our tour guide showed us this <a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/milan-cathedral" target="_blank">unbelievable cathedral</a>, it’s the 3rd largest in the world.  It was soooo huge. Anyways, we went to our meeting about the <a href="http://www.expo2015.org/" target="_blank">World Expo</a> that will be held in Milan in 2015.  It was pretty interesting what they plan to do, and hard to imagine.  We finished up there with our last company visit, and headed back to the hotel. </p> <p>Jessica and I sporting the Expo hats:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHs4M0L5I/AAAAAAACTlU/Zh0XUHVWYKs/s1600-h/DSCN0925%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN0925" border="0" alt="DSCN0925" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHtjgMI9I/AAAAAAACTlc/_mO-_mSm5pA/DSCN0925_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="200" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHrDuuzWI/AAAAAAACTlk/dl2UBevxaF0/s1600-h/DSCN0922%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN0922" border="0" alt="DSCN0922" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHsFPHGpI/AAAAAAACTlo/uPSvTE9ht7c/DSCN0922_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="210" height="200" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OVTOP6J3I/AAAAAAACTlw/raqohRuLytY/s1600-h/P1020840%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1020840" border="0" alt="P1020840" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OVT7gtI-I/AAAAAAACTl4/p4cf80e0Xw8/P1020840_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" height="229" /></a> We planned to go out to dinner for Preston’s  30th birthday at an Italian restaurant Pane e Tulipani (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?layer=c&cbll=45.483238,9.199838&panoid=hVZO0aGI2bT0XcVDscposQ&cbp=12,108.278702,,1,-3.388452&ved=0CBoQ2wU&sa=X&ei=b4XTS47NB6WqzgSt6NX9BA" target="_blank">Google maps link</a>), and all 20 of us got reservations at about 7:30.  We were greeted with a glass of free Champagne, 3 different kinds of breads + olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Linden, Jessica, and I split a pizza with mushrooms, artichokes, black olives, a<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHvoA0dmI/AAAAAAACTes/x80Fbb1QSEc/s1600-h/DSCN0931%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0931" border="0" alt="DSCN0931" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHwY9KYVI/AAAAAAACTe0/vPTY4RoVcYY/DSCN0931_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="132" height="100" /></a>nd ham (the whole thing was only 8 euro).  It was very good, and we didn’t even finish it.  They also had really good parmesan cheese :) We then went back to the hotel and celebrated Preston’s birthday playing cards and hanging out in the hotel. Only one more day!</p> <p>Linden and I at dinner:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHxBKflTI/AAAAAAACTe8/aKr2vyVKbDo/s1600-h/DSCN0930%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCN0930" border="0" alt="DSCN0930" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OHxx0H0UI/AAAAAAACTfE/R4EuHlAAics/DSCN0930_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-6263216413074424652010-03-11T22:33:00.000-06:002010-04-24T20:46:12.629-05:00Day 7: Zurich to Milan<p>So we woke up in our amazing hotel to SNOW falling, it was pretttty, I mean if it’s that cold, something good needs to come out of it, right?!  We packed our stuff onto the bus, had our amazing breakfast buffet again, and rode to Citibank for the company visit.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBg6VA5eI/AAAAAAACTXA/vRU5D3xUGKk/s1600-h/DSCN0884%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0884" border="0" alt="DSCN0884" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBhtKFc4I/AAAAAAACTXI/_9rICZ-7ffw/DSCN0884_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> After the visit, we went to lunch at <a href="http://www.zeughauskeller.ch/" target="_blank">Zeughauskeller</a>, which was the most ‘interesting’ lunch.  It was a really cool German-esque place, very big and open.  We started off with the special onion soup, which I actually really enjoyed.  We also had big bread rolls that felt like rocks.  We were then presented our main course – veal bratwurst with potato salad and onion sauce (<a href="http://www.zeughauskeller.ch/images/bratwurst.jpg" target="_blank">here’s the pic from their website</a>)… wellll, if I liked potato salad, I would have liked their potato salad, but I’m just not a fan.  the potato salad, in this case, was used to bury most of the bratwurst that I couldn’t force myself to eat.. I DID taste it, but the texture was just no good.  I’m sure the menu was filled with things that all of us would enjoy, but we got stuck with the veal brats, hmmm. Anywho, we DID get dessert afterward, which was ice cream + whipped cream, and we all ate that up. Yum.  </p> <p>We then loaded the bus again to head to Milan, Italy.  We had a long bus ride,  but it was really beautiful driving through the mountains.  We arrived at the <a href="http://www.michelangelohotelmilan.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Michelangelo</a> at about 6:00.  It was nothing compared to the Marriott, but they had an amazing bathroom/tub, so I guess Italians focus on bathrooms instead of bedrooms.  Our beds were small compared to our room, and less than a foot apart, but still a very nice hotel.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBisnC0XI/AAAAAAACTbY/pEV1nFN6W1E/s1600-h/DSCN1016%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN1016" border="0" alt="DSCN1016" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBjrfmnhI/AAAAAAACTbc/ertOcwYHg1k/DSCN1016_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="173" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OCTMc_iJI/AAAAAAACTbg/UWY8BMEwwjk/s1600-h/DSCN1017%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN1017" border="0" alt="DSCN1017" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBkNxS1bI/AAAAAAACTbo/lw5VdKsGFoE/DSCN1017_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="173" /></a></p> <p>After we got settled a bit, a group of us went to grab some dinner.  We stopped at one of the first places we saw, it was a Pizzeria/Bar, and we ordered 5 different pizzas for all of us to split.  For such a small, uncrowded restaurant, the pizzas were great!  Afterwards, we found a nearby gelato shop, and all got a small cup for dessert. Delicious of course.  We then went back to the hotel and played cards for a little bit, went to one of the many McDonald’s, a block away, and got a small snack.  Called it a night.  </p> <p>We were in Italy, so naturally McDonald’s had a sandwich called the McItaly:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBk3qbUcI/AAAAAAACTXo/4zxs5H6b5WQ/s1600-h/DSCN0904%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCN0904" border="0" alt="DSCN0904" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBl7l6v9I/AAAAAAACTXw/jGQfgwEcL7c/DSCN0904_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a></p> <p>This is also when I started to look for Mario and Luigi for Rocky, but signs were about as close as I could come:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBnhi1VzI/AAAAAAACTbs/CugkyfBejfg/s1600-h/DSCN0905%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0905" border="0" alt="DSCN0905" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBoh4iX2I/AAAAAAACTbw/hhb-4BhdpXo/DSCN0905_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="173" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBp1_FroI/AAAAAAACTZo/Z7mf58UrA2w/s1600-h/DSCN1006%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN1006" border="0" alt="DSCN1006" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBqmGyBDI/AAAAAAACTZs/Ddb-NO5Ez0E/DSCN1006_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="173" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBrbPKmxI/AAAAAAACTb0/SuD4pKlqKRI/s1600-h/DSCN0900%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0900" border="0" alt="DSCN0900" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBsvvnUoI/AAAAAAACTb4/rv5-PuaaxGQ/DSCN0900_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="173" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBtbIcUnI/AAAAAAACTb8/YvHBuZBcuUM/s1600-h/DSCN0908%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0908" border="0" alt="DSCN0908" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OBt6sW-ZI/AAAAAAACTcA/wkHMKp1M92s/DSCN0908_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="173" /></a></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-21153843321546355792010-03-10T22:05:00.000-06:002010-04-24T21:11:03.469-05:00Day 6: Zurich, Switzerland<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9Nuqb-DrwI/AAAAAAACTnI/m7MmodcLwhk/s1600-h/DSCN0817%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Zurich Financial Services" alt="Zurich Financial Services" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9Nuqy_j0MI/AAAAAAACTnM/7hUEQn6r62s/DSCN0817_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="182" height="232" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NurmiG6-I/AAAAAAACTUo/nPvwE2_iE0Q/s1600-h/DSCN0844%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0844" border="0" alt="DSCN0844" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NusSyMEVI/AAAAAAACTUw/SgzKtnKYzog/DSCN0844_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>So this hotel’s breakfast buffet was absolutely incredible, they had everything you could think of, so, it was delicious.  We enjoyed the breakfast and headed to Zurich Insurance Company to hear from Zurich Financial Services Group.  They provided us sandwiches lunch – the one I chose had only cheese and a pickle (strange), and afterwards, we  heard from the president of <a href="http://www.peoplefone.com/" target="_blank">Peoplefone</a>, which is a service like Skype based on VoIP communication.  On the way back to the hotel, we  had a speed-tour (that included a stop at a church <font color="#990000">- </font><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraum%C3%BCnster">Fraumünster</a>) of Zurich, but really, we just wanted to get back to the hotel to explore the city ourselves.  </p> <p>When we got back, we layered on more clothes and headed to explore.  We went to the main strip of shopping, and found, of course, a <a href="http://www.merkur.ch/" target="_blank">giant chocolate shop</a> that was unreal.  We each picked a truffle  to try, and of course – delicious!  <a href="http://tv.cityguide.com/services/player/bcpid25685786001?bctid=18789800001" target="_blank">(Click for video I found of this shop)</a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NutS40ysI/AAAAAAACTnU/Jmv2yg1bav4/s1600-h/DSCN0859%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCN0859" border="0" alt="DSCN0859" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NuudC2z5I/AAAAAAACTnc/zhUk73dKBs8/DSCN0859_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="272" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NuvDfJcjI/AAAAAAACTVI/3iGbXbBAQaA/s1600-h/DSCN0862%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0862" border="0" alt="DSCN0862" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NuwNeyDpI/AAAAAAACTVQ/9Y6bsKjjg3U/DSCN0862_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>After we walked for what seemed like forever to the other side of the  river, we searched for a place to eat dinner.  We finally stopped at a cute restaurant that felt more like a coffee shop on the inside.  Four of 5 of us ordered what sounded delicious – I don’t remember the name of it, but it said it came with bacon, onions, and cheese.  When we got it, it was, what looked like a pizza, on a super thin crust, no marinara sauce, but a creamy cheesy sauce, with onions and bacon on top.  They were DELICOUS, but I couldn’t finish mine.  This restaurant was great <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9Nuw_V1XDI/AAAAAAACTVY/_-bPGZ2Y82c/s1600-h/DSCN0876%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0876" border="0" alt="DSCN0876" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NuxosNRDI/AAAAAAACTVg/vLISGIQLwOQ/DSCN0876_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>because they took American dollars – the only place we went that did.</p> <p>Afterwards, we started on the trek back to the hotel, and passed a bar that had a giant margarita on the glass, so we tried it out, because we all had some francs left to spend (<a href="http://news.365rili.com/uploadfile/2009/1117/20091117010200766.jpg" target="_blank">by the way, Francs were so pretty! Click here to see</a> ).  We walked in, felt like we wanted to get in and get out because it was so smoky and dark. We got one drink, drank it, and left. I did visit the bathroom, but couldn’t stand the sight of it, so I turned around and walked out – it was disgusting.  We returned to the hotel afterwards, and went to bed.  Overall view of Switzerland – beautiful, just too cold to enjoy most of it :(</p> <p align="center"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fwhitney0149%2Falbumid%2F5448174890423095041%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-40603552756837059602010-03-09T22:07:00.000-06:002010-04-24T20:17:16.929-05:00Day 4-5: Lyon, France<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcQ3-T-NI/AAAAAAACTRw/zfPPHwTgjQw/s1600-h/DSCN0784%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0784" border="0" alt="DSCN0784" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcR4hP-EI/AAAAAAACTR4/ARlXzv6f4D4/DSCN0784_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="190" height="144" /></a>March 8: So we started off the day with the delicious hotel breakfast, and headed to hear a presentation on the <a href="http://www.aderly.com/lyon/contents/developpement-economique/index.jsp?lang=2" target="_blank">Lyon Economic Development Agency</a>.  Afterwards, we went to a nice restaurant for lunch called <a href="http://www.le-bistrot-auguste.com/" target="_blank">le Bistrot d’Auguste</a>.  Our meal included the yummy Lyonnaise salad, chicken and potatoes were the main course and a “fruit-cake” which was more like a fruit pie, with raspberries, peaches, and figs - which was actually pretty good.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcS--riiI/AAAAAAACTSA/w7d-BfSbBh0/s1600-h/DSCN0785%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0785" border="0" alt="DSCN0785" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcTp6HzQI/AAAAAAACTSI/IMny8amZl6Q/DSCN0785_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="156" height="118" /></a>After lunch, we went to our second business visit, which ended up being one of everyone’s favorites – <a href="http://www.jetmetal-tech.com/" target="_blank">Jet Metal Technologies</a>.  The CEO and another man talked to us about the company, and it was a laid back presentation, and actually very interesting what they do.  When we finished, we rode back to the hotel, and Jessica, Linden, Jamie, and I walked around Lyon a bit, and went to dinner at <a href="http://www.cafe-des-negociants.com/" target="_blank">Grand cafe des Negociants</a>.  Our waiter was great, he spoke English, so that was nice. We even had a menu in English, so that made it easier to decide.  Also, one of my favorite things about this place is, before <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcUCRD9fI/AAAAAAACTSQ/prLIrN4YWP8/s1600-h/cafe-des-negociants%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="cafe-des-negociants" border="0" alt="cafe-des-negociants" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcUxVoqOI/AAAAAAACTSY/qYtfliuwwPU/cafe-des-negociants_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="163" /></a>the meal, he brought out a little dish with pretzels and green olives :) yum.  I ordered the “penne au gratin” which is exactly what it sounds like, pasta + cheese, and it was delicious, because really, how could you go wrong with pasta and cheese.  It also had a little cherry tomato on top, which it seemed like every meal we had included a single cherry tomato somewhere.  Since it was ridiculously cold this night in Lyon and I started feeling cold-sick, we walked back to the hotel and called it a night.</p> <p> </p> <hr /> <h4>Day 5, March 9, 2010: Lyon to Zurich</h4> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcWXZMJPI/AAAAAAACTSg/jt0Pz88Dt8Q/s1600-h/DSCN0797%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0797" border="0" alt="DSCN0797" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcXINVe2I/AAAAAAACTSo/W_oYJ4isiX8/DSCN0797_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="136" /></a></p> <p>So we got up and finished packing for our bus trip to Zurich.  I grabbed a  quick breakfast to take on the bus, and we headed to Geneva for our next company visit.  We stopped for lunch in Geneva at <a href="http://www.diningcity.com/geneva/aucarnivore16/index_eng.jsp" target="_blank">Au Carnivore</a>.  This was one of my favorite meals: salad, steak with mustard sauce and french fries, and “spanish cream” which was just creme brulee.  Nothing was bad about this meal, it was probably one of the most American meals we had.  We were all up in a private room of the restaurant which was sectioned off into different rooms, it was a pretty cool atmosphere.  We then walked back to the bus, and this was possibly the coldest temperatures we felt the whole trip, it was unbearable!  We drove a short distance to our next stop, <a href="http://www.hug-ge.ch/" target="_blank">Universite Hospital Geneva</a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcXupydJI/AAAAAAACTSw/qFcL1AVZ7pM/s1600-h/DSCN0801%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCN0801" border="0" alt="DSCN0801" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcYe54m5I/AAAAAAACTS4/HEOubVXUULQ/DSCN0801_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" height="148" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcZMAD4aI/AAAAAAACToQ/Auscbti4Swo/s1600-h/DSCN0811%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Linden and I excited about Swiss chocolate in the room!" border="0" alt="Linden and I excited about Swiss chocolate in the room!" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9NcZyJq3eI/AAAAAAACToU/C77IkAVpiD0/DSCN0811_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="196" /></a> We were running about an hour or more late, so the presentation by Slim Slama ran short.  This is also when I had my first coughing attack that seemed forever!  After the presentation, we got back on the bus and headed to Zurich. We watched National Lampoon’s European Vacation, I had another cough attack, the most ridiculous thing ever.  Got to the hotel, which was a <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/zrhdt-zurich-marriott-hotel/" target="_blank">five star Marriott</a>, and one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed in.  They had American outlets, which was nice!  The group met in the hotel’s restaurant for a meal of salad (yum), chicken + noodles (eh..), and fruit & ice cream on sugar tart (yummmy).  We got done with dinner pretty late, so just stayed in the hotel that night. </p> <p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/whitney0149/03072010LyonWineryChateauTO03082010LyonTO03092010LyonToGenevaToZurich?feat=directlink" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES FROM LYON TO GENEVA TO ZURICH</a></p> <p align="center"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fwhitney0149%2Falbumid%2F5448169571903570449%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-34131399529347094972010-03-07T16:01:00.001-06:002010-04-24T20:22:05.684-05:00Day 3: Lyon, Chateau de Bangols + Saint Verand Winery<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QiL1xf6bI/AAAAAAACLtE/jOJ7fO24sVU/s1600-h/DSCN0753%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="One of the rooms -- the bed is unmafe because some people just checked out of it" border="0" alt="One of the rooms -- the bed is unmafe because some people just checked out of it" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QiNi3saQI/AAAAAAACLtM/40EmiN_YmLE/DSCN0753_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="188" /></a>So today we got up about 8 to go get breakfast, which was delicious again.  We left  the hotel on a bus about 9:30 and headed to <a href="http://www.chateaudebagnols.co.uk/" target="_blank">Chateau de Bangols</a>.  It was beautiful.  We had a tour of this hotel, which cost about 500 euros per night.  Greater than 500 dollars.  Ann told us that both Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman; and Demi Moore and Bruce Willis had been there to stay, obviously its not such good luck!  Anyways, after the tour, we had lunch in this room with one giant table for all of us.  Our pre-appetizer was like a quarter sized triangle won-ton with snail in the middle, fried + a half dollar sized fried potato.  Both were actually very good.  Our appetizer was salmon sushi, which I tried, but just couldn’t  take it! Ick.  Then<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QiOpvDW0I/AAAAAAACTpA/o4gJe2TwxG0/s1600-h/DSCN0750%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN0750" border="0" alt="DSCN0750" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QiQZtSYbI/AAAAAAACTpI/FKcTiWEY6XQ/DSCN0750_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="157" /></a> our meal was a beef carrot thing.  It was like a layer cake of beef and carrots, cooked for a super long time, so it tasted like a pot roast.  I ate the beef, but couldn’t do the carrots.  Our dessert was like a cake thing, on top of it was an apple cider ice cream, and thinly sliced apples were added into the top.  It was very good.  Then we got like a second dessert which were like tiny little candies for everyone on a tray.  One was chocolate, one was like sugared mango (reminded me of that orange slice candy), one was a white  chocolate thing, and one was like nougat.  They were all ok.  Chocolate was the best.  We finished up with that, and got on the bus and headed to  Saint Verand Winery about 15 minutes away.  </p> <p>The group at lunch:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OZM9-9sxI/AAAAAAACTpQ/KUNa9i3cc1s/s1600-h/IMG_0126%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0126" border="0" alt="IMG_0126" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OZNkVZthI/AAAAAAACTpY/JTnqXjHW-8M/IMG_0126_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="272" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QiTkf2ihI/AAAAAAACLt0/otA76BAPUBc/s1600-h/DSCN0771%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0771" border="0" alt="DSCN0771" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QiUylrvxI/AAAAAAACLt8/sTHYl8NpcDc/DSCN0771_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="188" /></a>We got a tour of this giant building, and he told us how they make the wine there.  We got a tour of the place, then we had a wine tasting.  We tried 5 wines.  They tasted good.  We then went to the actual place they grow the grapes, and he told us the whole story – of course, there were <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QiRd94x-I/AAAAAAACTpg/v9ERtNLrtJg/s1600-h/DSCN0762%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN0762" border="0" alt="DSCN0762" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QiSeqMhpI/AAAAAAACTpo/ErjJoz3JGhI/DSCN0762_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="212" height="162" /></a>no  grapes there, but there were TONS of fields.  We finished, and got back on the bus, and headed about 45 minutes back to the hotel.  So now we’re here at the hotel.  It started snowing on the way back, and I think it still is, like two hours later.  I don’t know if I’m getting into anything tonight, but I will update!  </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> Us at the wine tasting:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OMBW2u3CI/AAAAAAACTpw/TnE30h9aulo/s1600-h/P1020727%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="P1020727" border="0" alt="P1020727" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9OMBxMBhZI/AAAAAAACTp0/XKWgBnsF2CE/P1020727_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="253" /></a></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-46771215672694174492010-03-06T01:27:00.000-06:002010-04-24T20:39:23.144-05:00Day 2: Lyon, France<p>Well, today we get up at 6:30, got ready, eat breakfast buffet,  It was yummy: it had bacon, this delicious heated like half tomato w/ basil on top, some kind of orange juice, delicious pineapple, a whole spread of cheeses, but I just tried the one that looked the hardest, most were soft.  France has 365 kinds of cheeses, yum.  I’m glad they have a great breakfast.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QgWrakpEI/AAAAAAACLr0/NikU_eEbiqw/s1600-h/DSCN0643%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0643" border="0" alt="DSCN0643" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QgXpTQK9I/AAAAAAACLr8/ytOkRwjBD_M/DSCN0643_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="187" height="143" /></a>We then made our way to find a currency exchange place that was supposed to be about a 15 minute walk, well we ended up not finding it, and having trouble asking people, and on the <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QgZL31coI/AAAAAAACTqw/4swElHLzaAU/s1600-h/DSCN0652%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0652" border="0" alt="DSCN0652" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QgaXrPe-I/AAAAAAACTq4/-ARQRwU2aiY/DSCN0652_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" height="189" /></a>way back.  We got back at about 9:30, just when we were supposed to leave on the tour of Lyon.  We met our tour guide Ann, she’s awesome.  We had a tour of Lyon on a bus, I took a bunch of pictures.  We  stopped some old ruins that were a coliseum where they used to perform plays a long time ago.  Beautiful, unlike anything I’ve ever seen (besides in pictures of course).  We then went up to a <a href="http://www.fourviere.org/" target="_blank">church that was also completely overwhelming</a>, like nothing I’ve never seen!  It is above the city, so we went to a ledge to look over and you can see so much of Lyon. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ObCt2fIrI/AAAAAAACTrA/O8myuPaCEZ0/s1600-h/DSCN0721%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0721" border="0" alt="DSCN0721" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S9ObDZt8YhI/AAAAAAACTrI/Hbg0bt6wIBk/DSCN0721_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> After the tour, we decided to roam around to find some lunch.  Linden, Jessica, and I ended up at a restaurant, <a href="http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/restaurants_lyon/le-p-tit-glouton_22458/Profil-Lieu">Le P'tit Glouton</a>, and ate outside in some sunshine (that lasted half the meal, then it turned to cold overcast).  Anyways, Jessica and I tried the <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3360932854_f15ee29861.jpg" target="_blank">lyonnaise salad</a>, which our tour guide recommended.  It is a salad with a french dressing (mustard + balsamic vinegar + olive oil + salt & pepper), bacon, a single egg in the middle (that I didn’t eat), and fried bread (croutons).  It was really delicious – one of the best  things I have had here.  Linden got a ham and cheese crepe, the man was outside in front of the restaurant making crepes and spoke some English, so that’s what made us eat there. (Crepe man to the left!)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5Qgbv9KFmI/AAAAAAACTrQ/sh9v8wz6YzE/s1600-h/DSCN0722%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0722" border="0" alt="DSCN0722" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5Qgc3w4NiI/AAAAAAACTrY/YXeclquVR_8/DSCN0722_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>We roamed for a few more hours.  Lyon is famous for making silk, so us 3 found a silk shop after much searching.  We went to the tourism bureau, and the lady told us where to go.  It began to snow on our walk back, but not enough to be annoying, it was pretty.  Anyways, we made it up to a silk shop, and the man had looms in the back, and showed us how he makes the silk scarves, etc.  Would be very time consuming.  But they were really pretty!  He didn’t speak much English, but he was nice.  We then headed back to the hotel, and met up with some others who were about to go back out on the town… So we joined…</p> <p>We went to this huge food market thing that is near our hotel.  The smell was so strong when you walk in.  This place was like a giant indoor flea market that only had food – seafood, cheeses, wine, etc.  They literally just had so much fresh fish and other seafood in so many different places, plus tons of stands with tons of different cheeses. The combo of these raw fish + cheese just was so pungent.  Not very appetizing.  One place had meats – like you would see in a Winn-Dixie, like set out under a glass case, and there were whole skinned chickens, with still feathers on their heads, unreal! Anyways, we made a round and then left.  Then we visited a supermarket for a minute, just to see what it was like.  It was similar to a small American food store. </p> <p>Then a few of us branched off and looked for an open place to grab a drink.  Many places close in the afternoon here, so of all the restaurants, we finally found one, and sat in there about 1 or 2 hours to chat and people watch.  Then we headed back to the hotel to ride the bus to our dinner place.  Our group had a private room upstairs, and here’s what we had: Bread was on the table, and also a small platter of something that looked like pepperoni (but it wasn’t very good) and small things that tasted like not-fried-enough pork rinds, but they really weren’t bad.  Our appetizer choice was between, our waiter said: Duck, Sausage, and mackerel.  I chose the duck, and when it came out --- NOOOO!! It was duck LIVER. (<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2942756523_8ab638b381.jpg" target="_blank">Click to see what the chicken liver and duck meal appetizers looked like</a>) another liver! Come on.  Anyways, I tried it, but couldn’t continue!! ICK.  It came with a tiny edible salad and a block of something that I think was lard, but I couldn’t get myself to try that.  Anyways, dinner was a choice of fish, chicken, and veal.  I got the chicken, and it was pretty good.  To our surprise, they brought everyone out a macaroni & cheese in a creme brulee type dish, ,made with a white cheese – best part of the dinner.  Dessert was a choice of ice cream, chocolate pie, and apple something.  I got the chocolate and it was on a mint sauce.  It was also delicious.  After our two hour meal, we headed back to the hotel in the bus.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QgdwGYdtI/AAAAAAACLsk/JszhZ3l9OgY/s1600-h/DSCN0626%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCN0626" border="0" alt="DSCN0626" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5QgewdjfvI/AAAAAAACLss/0f2PA38QshU/DSCN0626_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="188" height="248" /></a>Our whole group got back, and decided we wanted to hit the town, so we headed out and walked forever. and ever again.  A few of us branched off and ended up in a small bar and had a drink.  There was a little band there, playing American and French music.  They played Georgia on My Mind.  It’s funny how much American music I hear here.  MTV and CNN are the only channels that include English in our hotel.  MTV is actually on the TV now – an English show for once, but a dating show that is dumb.  Anyways, the plan was to head to this piano bar that was on the 32nd floor of this hotel near our hotel at 11:00.So we started to walk the distance back to our hotel, and most of the other group had come back right when we got there.  Anyways, we picked a few people up, and headed to this piano bar at <a href="http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-lyon" target="_blank">Radisson Hotel</a>.  Unfortunately there was no piano being played, but the view was incredible from up there.  We headed back to the hotel about 1:00, and went straight to bed after the super doooooper long day.</p> <p>Pictures so far:</p> <p align="center"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fwhitney0149%2Falbumid%2F5448179631586468081%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></p> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438508589728576667.post-61849572503442453912010-03-05T15:21:00.000-06:002010-03-06T11:21:18.188-06:00First day of Eurotrip<p>So today / yesterday has been so exhausting. I finished packing about 2:30  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5F84uJrjzI/AAAAAAACLqc/5fsFXOt2C0c/s1600-h/IMG_0374%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="IMG_0374" border="0" alt="IMG_0374" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5F85sRnnnI/AAAAAAACLqk/uFsAmWe-h-0/IMG_0374_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" height="134" /></a>Thursday, left from AU on a shuttle to ATL, left Atlanta at 8-ish. Flew on a 8 hour flight to London, watched Couples Retreat on the plane and only got like 45 minutes of sleep, yuck. Then I started feeling plane-sick <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5F8624JsCI/AAAAAAACLqs/JoJ3Dyu4oic/s1600-h/IMG_0375%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="IMG_0375" border="0" alt="IMG_0375" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5F87y6YOeI/AAAAAAACLq0/r8HfEcbPHsc/IMG_0375_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="188" height="248" /></a>or something, but the stewardesses were helpful!  I enjoyed British Airways because we got our own TV with newer movies, TV, and CDs, etc, and that’s always fun.  Also got a little goody pack of toothbrush, toothpaste, eye covers for sleep, and socks and a pillow and blanket. Glorious.  Landing in London was completely awesome.  The houses were so cute, and it was such a big city.  We saw the huge ferris wheel from the plane also. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Eye" target="_blank">London Eye</a> Very cool!</p> <p>We got to London about 11:00 AM London time on Friday, sat in the airport, which was a pretty cool airport, for about 4 hours, I tried some sushi at a little place in the airport (<a href="http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/site/heathrow/template.PAGE/menuitem.db266045e5632a72f4b12871120103a0/?javax.portlet.tpst=a1877ef0540245720f92c310aca12635&javax.portlet.prp_a1877ef0540245720f92c310aca12635_shoptype=Restaurant&javax.portlet.prp_a1877ef0540245720f92c310aca12635_SAVE_SUCCESS=true&javax.portlet.prp_a1877ef0540245720f92c310aca12635_form.validation.flag=true&javax.portlet.prp_a1877ef0540245720f92c310aca12635_shop=6cd18242cc825110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&javax.portlet.prp_a1877ef0540245720f92c310aca12635_SHOW_SHOP_PAGE=true&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken" target="_blank">Itsu</a>)– not bad, but I tried this orange zing drink with it, and no thanks! Very<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5F89MDDUnI/AAAAAAACLq8/9n_wiz0y2qE/s1600-h/IMG_0382%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="IMG_0382" border="0" alt="IMG_0382" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ps9ghFidVuY/S5F8_CijtaI/AAAAAAACLrE/eiZID3hlSgA/IMG_0382_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="188" /></a> intense flavor and ZING. Then we boarded the flight to Lyon, France.  That flight was only about an hour and a half, but I got to sleep that whole time… much needed.  We landed in Lyon about 5:30 or so Lyon time, then boarded a bus and headed to the hotel.  It took probably almost an hour to get here, but it was a lot of fun to see the sites on the way.  A lot of people with dogs, a smashed mirror because the people drive so close together, interesting stuff. <a href="http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-2057-mercure-lyon-grand-hotel-saxe-lafayette/index.shtml" target="_blank">Here’s our hotel. The Mercure Lyon</a>.  It’s nice!</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>We met in the <a href="http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-2057-mercure-lyon-grand-hotel-saxe-lafayette/restaurant.shtml" target="_blank">hotel restaurant</a> at 8 and had dinner, Appetizer: small salad + bread + chicken liver patty things. Yes. Not only did we have that for the appetizer… I tried it, not once, but twice… but that’s about all I could handle. Our main course was salmon on rice—which I never eat salmon, I don’t really prefer it, but it was pretty good, plus I was hungry.  Dessert was the best part of all, this like layered chocolate thing with this raspberry sauce. Hard to describe the deliciousness of it, but it was the best part of the meal! Anyways, it is now 10:30 Fri night, France time , 3:30 pm in Alabama, and I have to go catch up on my sleep. We get a tour of Lyon tomorrow, and some free time in the afternoon, so hopefully I can get some shopping in! </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:8eb9d37f-1541-4f29-b6f4-1eea890d4876:9111c522-4abf-4048-9de3-85ba886c51fe" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:8eb9d37f-1541-4f29-b6f4-1eea890d4876:9111c522-4abf-4048-9de3-85ba886c51fe" class="wlWriterSmartContent"></div> Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04506049906315709240noreply@blogger.com1