I know as soon as you read the title, you heard the song in your head and you started singing like I did.

I was flipping channles and there was Sylvester Stallone and Burgess Meredith, of course i was mezmorized and had to watch for a few minutes, next thing I know, it’s that scene…he comes out of the house and starts running, then he’s running through town, through neighborhoods, waving at people he knows and who know him.

The next thing we see is kid after group of kids running with him through Philadelphia until he reaches those iconic 72 steps he runs up in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Steps.

I think for the entire scene, i was riveted, I couldn’t turn or look away, I couldn’t change the channel, I just had to watch and you know what, I was smiling the entire time. It brought back so many great memories from childhood and these movies. DCM and I were just talking about the Rocky series over the weekend, so seeing this clip made me smile for so many reasons.

Here’s the clip, enjoy.

“I can’t go skiing because of the snow”. Huh?

Yes, I uttered this sentence today and didn’t it sound silly? Yes, it did!

I had intended to go to Breckenridge or Keystone to go skiing today while DCM went to Błackhawk to play in a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament. Well…Mother Nature had other plans for us, and that was ok, when I got up. I looked outside and there was a pleasant blanket of snow on the ground and it was coming down steadily, not looking to stop any time soon.

Since the weather was like that, DCM decided to take his truck to the shop for some work instead of heading to Błackhawk. I thought two things…one, if he wasn’t going, I would stay to spend the day with him and toe, even thought Annie got us up to the mountains all those other times, it wasn’t actively snowing when I went and while she’s a trooper, she’s not a truck with four wheel drive, so a day with my beau was on the menu.

We got up leisurely, took the truck in, headed out for breakfast, did some shopping then headed to the apartment to settle in and relax. We caught up on some shows we had missed, lazed on the sofa and enjoyed each other’s company. That sounds pretty good to me.

Tomorrow, I head back out to Michigan for another week, so I am enjoying each moment we get to spend together.

See you tomorrow!

It’s cold in Michigan, that’s all I have to say!

When I left Michigan, it was -12, yes, I said negative twelve! It had warmed up though! The schools were not closing because it was above negative twenty! What? Let’s just say, it’s really, really cold!

It’s crazy, it was -12 when I left Michigan and when I got to Colorado, it was fifty! No jacket on, I shed the two extra layers I had on, dropped the top, cranked the seat warmers and headed home, it was wonderful.

It cooled down considerably as the evening wore on, but that’s to be expected. Not sure what tomorrow holds, actually it’s supposed to snow, but we’ll see. I just know it’s warmer than Michigan! But don’t be too jealous, heading back in two days.

Of course, seeing DCM was the icing on the cake, that warmed my heart and I am settled in for the night, happy to be home.

It’s true! I have a new phone! WAHOO!

As you have heard me, um, voice my concerns and experiences regarding my phone, I fixed the problem, I got a new one! It’s a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and it’s ginormous!!! And I love it!

I have had my eye on only two phones: the Galaxy Note 3 and the Droid Razr Maxx. The Note has a 5.5″ screen and the Maxx has a 5″ screen, the batteries were impressive, the Note: 24 hours, the Maxx 48! WHAT? They both run the Google Play app store: plus. The Note has a 13 megapixel camera, Maxx has a 10 megapixel, but the clincher…They both have 32G of internal memory, but…you can’t add memory to the Maxx and you can to the Note, that was the deal breaker. And I’ve been looking and looking and looking at the Note, so I went with what I wanted and in two years, I can get something else if I want it.

This phone comes with a stylus! and all sorts of neat little features that I have yet to discover and I am going to discover them all, well, I’m gonna try anyway! I found an app that I can sync my Motoactiv to, so bonus there!

JCT and I talk about phones we want and I usually get it first, learn everything and then when she’s ready, she gets the same one and we compare and learn more together! She’s about ready to come over to the darkside!

I have to tell you, the battery was at half when I got the phone about 6pm, it’s still at half! WAHOO!

Ok, what am I going to take a picutre of first???

Gotta go play! Night!

http://www.samsung.com/us/guide-to-galaxy-smart-devices/galaxy-note-3.html

There, I said it! Whew, it’s out in the open!

They say the first step is to admit you have a problem! ha ha

Years ago, it didn’t matter where I stayed, up to a point. Best Western was my hotel of choice at one point, it was reasonable, the rooms were clean, breakfast was free and I was only sleeping there, right? Right. Then I started traveling for work and I had to make a choice, well, didn’t have to, but you kind of need to stick with one to get the real benefits.

I have stayed at Marriotts, even have points there, SPG, Holiday Inn, you name it, I have points, but I decided that Hilton Hotels was the way to go for me. BG says he won’t stay at Hilton, he doesn’t want to give Paris Hilton any more money! Ha! He decided that Marriott is his hotel of choice and more power to him. I’ve stayed at a few Marriotts over the last few years and when I’ve stayed on the Concierge level, it’s very nice, but my last stay at a Marriott wasn’t the best, especailly since I’ve become spoiled by Hilton!

When I was on the road a few years ago, sometimes there weren’t any other options than Motel 6 or Days Inn or a few others and they were fine, a place to sleep, internet connection, but not my first choice.

There is something I really like about the level of service I get from Hilton properties. I am Gold Level, working towards Diamond this year and I know I’ll make it. I always have free wifi, free breakfast at most locations that don’t offer free breakfast, when I check in, two bottles of water, sometimes cookies or a snack waiting for me when I get to the room. There is a standard that they hold themselves to and strive to meet that level and standard at each hotel for each guest.

I’ve also had a time or two where something was wrong, and when hasn’t that happened and they corrected the issue immediately, that’s what matters to me. I was reading something that compared Hilton to Walt Disney World, that level of white glove service, well, they have me hooked.

When I need something, they do what they can to accomodate me, I always have a handwritten note in my room welcoming me to the hotel by a manager, little things that make me feel welcome. One time I stayed at a Doubletree hotel and as you may know, they are famous for their warm chocolate chip cookie at check-in [you can even buy a cannister], I asked when were they going to offer other cookies at check-in, they asked what my favorite cooke was, white-chocolate-macadamia-nut. I went to dinner that evening at CWB’s house, wonderful evening with her daughter, SB and husband, DB, and when I got back to my room, on the desk was a tray with two glasses of milk [with saran wrap on them] and a plate of 4 white-chocolate-chunk-macadamia-nut cookies [saran wrapped] and a hand written note with a flower on the front drawn with fruit/colored markers. How nice was that?

I know that Hilton properties are not inexpensive and definitely easier when traveling on business to have someone else pay, but I’ve earned points and sometimes I can find one for less than $80/nite and to me, it’s worth it. In addition, you can find a Hilton Hotel almost anywhere!

The beds are so incredibly comfortable and the pillows, you sink into them and if it wasn’t for the alarm, I’d sleep and sleep and sleep! And if you get to spend the night at a Homewood Suites, even better, they have full kitchens [full sized refridgerator, sink, dishwasher, oven, range, microwave] sometimes a separate bedroom with a cieling fan, living room, it’s your home away from home, even serving breakfast, happy hour and dinner, how can you beat that?

So, there you have it, I am a hotel snob and I’m ok with it! I am going say goodnight, get under the covers and snuggle into my very comfy bed and drift off to sleep! Sweet dreams!

http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en/index.html

It’s Valentine’s Day! It means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

Valentine’s Day has its origins hundreds of years ago, there are so many stories and traditions. Since the 19th century, we have been sending notes and then cards and then chocolates and gifts. Some people think the bigger the better, others feel it’s the thought that counts, that doesn’t mean to say that means nothing, it just means what’s important to that person.

Flowers are a big deal, roses more specifically, here is the meaning of the colors, http://www.rkdn.org/roses/colors.asp. Isn’t it incredible, roses are not an inexpensive flower, but get incredibly more expensive as we get closer to Valentine’s Day, it’s a sellers market. Don’t get me wrong, I love roses, brown, orange, white, yellow, they make me happy, but my favorite flower? Sunflowers, how can you not smile when you look at a sunflower? Daisies, they can make you sigh.

Some people feel that jewelry is the way to go, and hey, I’m a girl, I like the sparkle, shiny and bling! I’ve received some sweet and wonderful jewelery, and I love it, I’ve received teddy bears and bubble baths, all making me happy, but…Let me tell you something…being a techno junkie dating a techno junkie is awesome! I’m not going to tell you what I got, I don’t want to seem like a braggart, but if my friends ask, I will tell them. The best part…I was TOTALLY surprised, which is not easy for DCM to do! It wasn’t the “normal Valentine’s Day gift” but then again, I’m not a normal girl and he’s not a normal boy and when I saw what it was, I almost passed out! I’m way happy! Thank you DCM!

I think he thought my gift for him was “sweet”, lots of different items with notes on them telling him how I feel.

I also get the most wonderful and thoughtful gifts from my dad, he has a way of finding things he knows I will like! This year it is a “Sketch-A-Day” book! He had sent me “Wreck this Journal” which I am still working on! Thank you daddy! I hope you like what I sent!

For some, Valentine’s Day is a challenge, what to do? We just started dating, do I get him/her a gift? Do I just get flowers? Do I go crazy to show how I feel or hold off so s/he doesn’t think I’m stalking or a nut? Things are not going so well, do I break it off before Valentine’s Day? Do I wait and get something for him/her so it’s not awkward? If I wait, how long do I wait? The pressure!

For others, it’s a day of haters. Maybe you just broke up with someone, and hate everyone, maybe you’re single and feel it’s just another chance for industry to make money. Maybe you go to a black heart dance/party. Maybe you have a party for one, or take yourself on a date, the possibilities are endless!

For others, its a time to spend with family and/or friends, celebrating the time you have together, enjoying each other. For some, it’s a day to get married, easy date to remember! it’s a day filled with love, so why not? and when it is on a weekend, even better! maybe it’s a day to get engaged, same reasons!

For one special and dear friend and her daughter, it’s Gotcha Day! This refers to the day that the adoption is finalized, it’s official, parent and child. From the book, The Joy of Family Rituals, “It is designed to show your adopted child how much you wanted him and that every year you continue to cherish him.” – See more at: http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=127#sthash.Qefx10Gy.dpuf

Of course, i am talking about SDL and the pickle, Miss A!!! Wow were all our lives changed when she brought Miss A home. What a sweet tribute on FaceBook today! A fantastic picture of her smiling and laughing and a wonderful message from her mommy. It was three years ago today that SDL walked out of the orphanage a mommy and Miss A, her daughter, officially. I got to pick them up from the airport, with her parents, when they came home, the family was complete.
http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=127

So…however you celebrate Feburary 14th, Valentine’s Day, I hope it’s what you wanted and hoped for and enjoyed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day