Linda's Sunflower

I found out on Wednesday, January 4th that I would be attending a workshop in Melbourne, Florida with 5 others from the Eagle. We are getting a new advertising system, and this was the set-up workshop and training on how to build the system to work for us. Our flight left at 6am on Monday, January 16th, and we went straight into the workshop after checking into our hotel - Crowne Plaza. It was a very INTENSE two weeks of work, and there is much more to be done. Corby flew down late Thursday afternoon - the workshop stopped at 2pm on Friday so the folks who were flying home for the weekend could leave. Three of us stayed, and three in our group flew home. I had opted to stay because it didn't make sense to fly home for 36 hours and then get back on a plane to Florida. We enjoyed a lot of rest and relaxation, and went to Cocoa Beach on Saturday afternoon. The weather was beautiful the entire time, and I started my day watching the sun rise over the ocean. ...

This will obviously be listed in my "January 2012" books post in February, but I just finished "The Witness" by Dee Henderson. I've read Henderson's books before, though it's been a long time. I got this one free on Amazon, and I truly enjoyed it. It was a pretty unique story line and a book I would highly recommend!  

2011 re-cap: 74 books by female authors 14 books by male authors 2 books by couples total = 90 books top female author = Robyn Carr - 6 books followed by Sherryl Woods with 5 books top male author = James Patterson - 6 books followed by Stuart Woods & John Grisham with 2 books each Starting January 2012 off with Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr...

I only read 5 books in December. Could it be because December is a crazy month for everyone? Anyway, here's my list: 1) Longing - Karen Kingsbury (paperback) 2) A Love That Multiplies - Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar (hardback) 3) Lethal - Sandra Brown (hardback) 4) Kill Alex Cross - James Patterson (hardback) 5) Comfort & Joy - Kristin Hannah (hardback) These are all authors I've read before, and some of them are my favorites. I love Patterson's Alex Cross books, and this one was great! Hannah's book was a quick read, but very enjoyable. Lethal is one of Brown's best books. Kingsbury always leaves me wanting more. And the Duggar family continues to intrigue me. This book was written after baby Josie was born prematurely and spent months in the hospital. I'm not sure I learned much reading this book because I watch their TLC show, but it was interesting none-the-less. I'll be recapping my 2011 books sometime in the next few days. I read a tot...

Florida that is. Found out today that work is sending me for 2 weeks of training to Melbourne, Florida. It's for the new advertising system. Last minute... Hoping Corby can take a few days off work and come down on the weekend in between for some sight-seeing and to celebrate our 24th anniversary (Dec. 26, 2011).  

of stamps... Now I need to get them put together so I can use them!!!! Back to work for 4 days, then I'm taking a couple of days off next week. Hope the unseasonably warm temps (high 40's up to 60's later this week) stay around for a while, of course, we'll pay for it sometime soon I'm sure.

Slept in a bit this morning. Brandon had to work, but the rest of us were off. Went out to Lowe's to look at front doors - we need one desperately. We found one we liked that wasn't too expensive, but rather than have them install it (for $250+) Corby is going to see if Paul will help him install it and then we'll pay him. We also picked out a new water softener. Corby with either drive Kaitln's truck one day this week to pick them up, or they'll go after work one night. Kaitlin took this picture of us at the Wings game on Friday night... Here are the games we played on New Year's Eve: Love both of those games. The adults (me, Corby & Melody) played against the kids in Buzz Word, and they beat is both games. The second game was much closer though. Kaitlin won both games of Apples to Apples. I never win, but enjoy playing! Today is college football bowl game day - in fact they go on for another week or so. K-State is in the Cotton Bowl, pla...

The last few weeks have been super busy. Kaleb came home on Friday, Dec. 23, and just went back to Manhattan today. We loved having him home - he's our very own stand-up comedian, so he keeps us in stitches most of the time! We got together with my whole family, including my niece, Lenore, who was here from Germany on Christmas Eve. Our meeting place was the clubhouse where Mike & Diana live. It has easy access for both mom and Rhonda. We had a great time - lots of good food and a great gift exchange. Corby got me a Shocker hoodie, a Shocker umbrella and a new robe! Brandon got me BOSE speakers for my computer (WOW!), Kaleb got me a Wildcats bowl t-shirt, and Kaitlin got me a Shocker t-shirt. I also got another Wildcat t-shirt, and I know it was from either my brother or sister-in-law, but I honestly can't remember. Isn't that terrible? Too much going on when we were opening gifts and I lost the gift bag. Anyway, I got some cool stuff! All 5 of us went to the W...