Hope you all have a great birthday!
If I’ve forgotten you, please let me know so that I can add you to my list!

Every morning, the dog has been very frazzled because we are leaving so late. I’ve told him that it’s not time to go to work yet… but still he paces around the house, following me up and down the stairs as I am getting ready.
It amazes me that he knows something is not right. At first he would sit in the backseat of my car and bite his paws (he does this when he’s nervous). He’s better now, and seems to be fairly content with the idea of riding in my car - he sleeps on his blanket, and on the way home in the afternoons… he’s very excited when I turn into our neighborhood. (I always open the window for him so the wind can blow in on him). Again, I am amazed that he knows our street from any other street that I turn on during the drive.
I wonder what’s going to happen when SB starts taking him to work early again every day!

Last week, I read this wonderful post here - kentucky girl.
It reminded me of all the lovely days years I spent working in retail. I’m so glad there is someone else out there who feels like me, and is not afraid to write about it.
Sometime around the time I read that post… it was my turn to get breakfast for me and Kim at work. I went through a local fast food joint’s drive thru… the person took my order, and said “second window.” I’m thinking… um, no total? Whatever. I pulled around, paid, was given my food, and left. No other words were ever exchanged in the drive thru. Alrighty then - what about a “Here you go!” or a “Have a nice day!”
I guess that’s not proper anymore. Go figure.

Later, I was in a local sandwich shop. A sign was taped the counter saying that with the rising prices of lettuce and tomatoes, they would be limited the amount that they would be putting on the sandwiches. If a customer would like extra, a $1.00 charge would be added. With the recent “tomato ban,” I haven’t wanted to eat tomatoes anyway… I don’t care if Georgia tomatoes are safe. And- in most cases, I end up with more than enough lettuce on my sandwiches anyway.

SB and I started our “healthy living” program again yesterday. We were doing so well before the cruise… but since the cruise, we’ve been kind of lazy - missing the gym, not eating completely healthy, etc…
We’re going to be back in the gym, and not visiting Winston’s so much - I’ll surely miss having fun with friends most nights… but I know how much better we’ll feel by continuing our “healthy living.” And we’ll look better, too!

June 2: Happy Birthday Vanessa (A) R. - 29
June 11: Happy Birthday (hubby) Steven - 35
June 12: Happy Birthday Joey (F) N. - 31
June 16: Happy Birthday Stephanie (B) P. - 32
June 21: Happy Birthday Adam K. - 36
June 21: Happy Birthday Sandie C. - THIRTY
June 23: Happy Birthday (co-worker) Kim S.

Hope you all have a great birthday!
If I’ve forgotten you, please let me know so that I can add you to my list!

It’s amazing the things we have experienced and accomplished in our 30 and 35 years. We have lived and loved, seen and done… and we’re still young - there are so many more things to see and do over the years we have ahead of us.
Happy Birthday, SB! Here’s to many more happy, healthy ones!

Yesterday at work we found an old chemical in our warehouse. It’s used to remove rust from fabrics, and is supposedly super strong.
The bottle looks very dated, so who knows how long it’s been back there. We got a laugh while reading the instructions, as it says, Works on all types of fabrics except glass.
Alrighty, then!

I received a package in the mail at work today. One of my clients in Indiana sent me a bottle of liquor! It’s Sailor Jerry Rum, which I’ve never heard of or seen. We’d talked about it several months ago… and since I’d never heard of it, he said he’d send me some. Cool!
Anyone have any thoughts or opinions on Sailor Jerry? I’m ready to give it a try this weekend and see what it’s like!

In other news, I’ve been 30 for almost a week now. Thank you for all the kind comments!
I have cool friends, too - I received so many cards through the mail! I love mail!
My parents are coming to visit for the weekend - Steven is cooking dinner for all of us tonight, then tomorrow night we are going out. I think it’s going to be fun!

My twenties were from May 1998 - May 2008.
In my twenties, I have seen gas prices range from $1.13 per gallon to $3.99 per gallon.

Highlights of the decade include:
1998: I graduated with my associate’s degree, with a concentration in Elementary Education.
I bought my very first ever NEW car.
I moved away from my parents for the first time to attend school 325 miles away.
2000: This site, stefr.net, was born. I haven’t gained many readers since then, but it’s been a great tool to keep up with friends, and tell my “life story.”
I bought my cat, Oliver, and hid him in the college dorms until graduation.

2001: I graduated with a B.S. in Mass Communications, and landed my first out-of-college job as a DJ for a radio station.
2002: I moved into my own apartment all alone, with no roommates.
I got my second “real” job, working at a bank- first as a teller, then as an assistant manager.
2003: After 8 years, I finally left “my career” with Target.
I went with Steven to Georgia for a week to meet all of his friends and family. By the end of the week, I knew everyone’s name and which kids belonged to them!

2004: I moved in with Steven.
I was fired from my job. It was the first time I’d ever been fired, and though it hurt at the time… it was probably one of the best things to happen to me.

2005: I started a job doing computer/IT work for a bank. It was a great job - I met many wonderful people, and found a job I really enjoyed doing!
I quit my job in radio, not because I didn’t love it… but to lessen my workload and concentrate more on my personal life and relationships. It was the first time in several years that I’d had only one job at a time!
Steven proposed to me among our families and friends at our favorite bar, Fanatics, in Johnson City, TN.
My cat Oliver passed away; so began a newfound love for Steven’s dog, Vincent.
Steven and I moved to Georgia. Though we hadn’t sold his place yet, we needed to get things ready to start our new life together in a new state. We started new jobs, and began house-hunting.

2006: Steven and I bought our first home together!
I got married to the most wonderful person I’ve ever met!
2007: My husband and I went to DisneyWorld! It was my first visit there in many years.
We traveled to Las Vegas! It was my first trip there, and I was picked up at the airport in a Limo! Sweet!

2008: Full speed ahead to thirty! I just returned from a cruise to the Bahamas, and I’m still floating from the experience.
I have many great friends and family, and I don’t think there is much more in life that I could ask for! Thanks to everyone that has been a part of this decade- for your wisdom, friendships and experiences -in some way, you’ve made a difference!
HERE’S TO THIRTY!

We began our journey on Thursday, and traveled to Daytona Beach, where we spent the night in the same Hilton we went to last year. We enjoyed a late dinner at Hyde Park there, and ended our evening with drinks on the deck overlooking the beach.
Friday, we went on to Port Canaveral to meet our ship, the Royal Caribbean Sovereign of the Seas. Ship security isn’t quite as bad as the airport, but it still took awhile to get through the terminals onto the ship.

We had our first drinks before the boat left port, and began our trip of rest and relaxation! The ship left port around 5pm, and we went exploring to find the casino, buffet, dining room, and of course, the bars.
Steven played Craps while I tended to my penny and nickel slot machines… and later, we visited the Viking Crown Lounge for drinks. We ended up staying until the bar closed.

Saturday we were up early, and watched as the ship pulled into port in Nassau, Bahamas.
We were greeted by many market vendors, while making our way to a taxi to Cable Beach. There are so many neat Bahamian souvenirs- but all I purchased was keychains for my collection, and shot glasses for some friends!
We visited Steven’s uncle in Cable Beach for most of the afternoon; I was amazed at how clear and blue the ocean was there!
Steven played Craps with his uncle- they have wanted to gamble somewhere together for quite a while now, so it was nice to meet him in the Bahamas!
That evening, we visited Atlantis. I’ve seen so many beautiful pictures of it before, and I enjoyed it even more seeing it in person. Being evening, though, most of my pictures didn’t turn out - they’re all too dark.
We missed the captain’s dinner that night - I wasn’t ready to leave Nassau! My sunglasses enjoyed Nassau so much that they relocated there, and have decided to stay there forever. We had pizza on the ship… and retired once again to the Viking Lounge for drinks.

Sunday we were at Coco Cay, which is Royal Caribbean’s private island. Also anchored there was Sovereign’s sister ship, Majesty of the Seas.
The ocean was very rough that day- in fact, the ship had to be repositioned to keep the rocking to a minimum. We did take a shuttle boat out to the Cay, it was quite a ride!
The beach and island there is very pretty - the water isn’t as clear as in Cable Beach, but it was still very pretty, and the weather was amazing! We spent time sunning on the beach, and even went swimming for awhile - it’s been a very long time since I’ve swam in an ocean!

Sunday evening was our farewell dinner, and time to tip everyone. The dining room waiters sang to us, made puppets out of napkins and did table tricks for us. It was all quite entertaining! I took my video camera, so I have quite a bit of the fun on tape.
We visited the casino after dinner, then went back to the Viking Lounge (can you tell it was likely our favorite place?!) - we closed the bar down, then Steven had one more round on the Craps table.
We didn’t go to bed until 3am, even knowing we had to be up around 7am to leave the ship! I didn’t want to sleep at all on the ship - I always thought I’d miss something good. Our entire trip was wonderful… and I’m seriously ready to go back very soon!
A cruise is a definite must for anyone that likes to travel - I highly recommend experiencing it at least once. Kudos to Royal Caribbean and the staff for a wonderful trip!