Ick, ick, ick, ick, ick

Several years ago there was a movie on that became a bit of a cult sensation.  It was called Snakes on a Plane.  I wouldn't go see it cause, like my friend Joanne, I HATE snakes.  Well, imagine my displeasure when I discovered "snakes in the lakes"!  Well, it was actually more like "snake in a lake", cause I did only see one.  But when you hate snakes like I do, one is definitely enough.  Ew, ew, ew, ew ew....I was going after one of my balls that went "astray" into some water on the 4th hole.  When I saw what appeared to be a little head in the water, I wasn't put off cause I'd seen so many turtles in the golf course waterways, I just assumed it was another cute little turtle.  Wrong!!  Ew, ew, ew, double wrong.  It was a 2 foot long black snake.....ick, ick, ick, ick, ick!  Needless to say, I didn't go near any other water on the course.  I'm sure the trauma of the event put me off my game...cause I lost today.  Mind you, it was one of the worst courses of the whole week, and it was an extremely slow game and a very hot day.

To run down our week's courses for any of you contemplating coming to Myrtle Beach for golf in the future, this is how we rate them:

1)  River Oaks - a 27 hole course that was in great shape...I liked it best cause it's where I played my best game.  You don't get to pick your 18 holes, though.  The starter assigns you to 2 of the 3 courses.
2)  Wicked Stick - a great course, well maintained, and great staff
3)  Possum Trot - also a great course, although not worth the extra $$.  It was our most expensive course, but I didn't see the value for the extra $$, so I rated it third.
4)   Azalea Sands - the only reason it got rated fourth was cause they had nicer golf carts here than at the #5 course.
5)  Indigo Creek - it was probably a bit better course than #4, but they had such terrible golf carts that they got listed as the worst.

If I was ever to return to Myrtle Beach, I likely wouldn't play #4 or #5 again...and I'd think long and hard before paying to play #3 again.

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  There's a new Pepsi on the market down here in the U.S.  It's called Pepsi Next.  It has 60% less sugar than regular Pepsi, so suits people like me who don't like the taste of diet soft drinks, but are trying to avoid the high test stuff.  It tastes every bit as good as regular, and you can drink it w/o the guilt.  It's much better than the new Dr. Pepper 10 that is new on the market.  It has only 10 calories.  Unfortunately, it tastes too much like Diet Dr. Pepper for my liking.  Pepsi Next reminds me of that Coke product that was on the market several years back.  I think it was called C2.  It was 1/2 the sugar as regular Coke, but didn't stay on the market very long.  I'm hoping that today's society is more health conscious, so perhaps this new product will have longer shelf life.  I'm not taking any chances though...I'm filling the trunk with it before I head home!!!

Once may be luck...but three times is skill!

The first victory might have been chalked up to luck, but when I beat Kier yesterday when playing at River Oaks, and again today at Wicked Stick, it can only be attributed to my developing skills.  Yesterday was my best round EV-AH!  I broke 100, scoring 98 on 18 holes.  We played the first 9 with a couple of fellows from Ottawa, who I labeled my "lucky charms" as I finished the front 9 with a score of 46.  Today's win wasn't quite as pretty, but a win none the less.  Tomorrow is our last 18 holes at a course called Azalea Sands.  The pressure will be on!

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  Golf is way more enjoyable when you're winning!

Have I mentioned that it's a small world???

Yesterday it was golfing at Indigo Creek.  Have I mentioned how I prefer to golf in a twosome, instead of getting paired up with someone else and feeling like every shot is being scrutinized by strangers.  Well, it doesn't happen very often here in Myrtle Beach that they let you go out by yourselves.  They say it's for our benefit, so we aren't sitting and waiting so long when the courses are so crowded.  Nay, nay, I say, it is for their benefit...more paying customers per hour.  We were fortunate on our first day out that there were no other twosomes to pair us up with.  Yesterday, though, we did get paired up.  And where did this couple come from??  Would you believe Canada?  Would you believe N.B.?  And would you believe Rothesay, N.B.?  They live just 10 minutes from us.  Who would have thought!!  Today while playing at Possom Trot, we were paired with a couple from Boston.  Both days we got along famously.  Wonder what tomorrow will bring??  Who will we meet?  Where will they be from?  Will it affect my performance??  Time will tell...

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR ON THIS TRIP:  I am getting better at this golf game.  Well, that or Kier is getting worse....cause I BEAT HIM!  I...BEAT...HIM!!  I WON, I WON, I WON!!  He LOST, he LOST, he LOST!!!  Woohoo!!!  I WON, I WON, I WON!!  And no...I didn't rub it in...not much anyway!!  ;)

Shopping Heaven

I've been in a shopper's heaven since leaving home.  There were great outlets in Atlantic City, and then great shopping in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  And I haven't even mentioned JR's.  It's a spot at Exit 97 off the I-95 through North Carolina.  It can only be compared to a Mardens on steroids.  But be prepared to leave there feeling depressed.  There's a sign posted on the door that anyone looking younger than 40 will be asked for identification when purchasing liquor or tobacco.  So, when I'm checking out with my 3 little daiquiris I tell the cashier "I've got ID here, cause I saw the sign so I know that anyone who looks under 40 will be asked for ID".  Her reply..."that's interesting"...but she didn't want to see the ID.  And then, to add insult to injury, when Kier stepped up with his bottle of wine, the cashier says...you guessed it...."Do you have any identification?".  Maybe it's time to go back on the bottle....the dye bottle that is!!

Shopping here in Myrtle Beach is certainly plentiful, too.  There are outlet malls, Kohl's stores and our all time favourite, Ross Dress for Less.  It's the best.  I think that's where we're off to until our tee time after lunch.

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR ON THIS TRIP:   When you've got a Cadillac, it's hard to be happy in a junker.  My treadmill is the best....as far as treadmills go.  It does everything but run for you.  So imagine my disappointment when I went to use the fitness room and found the treadmill to be inferior to what I have at home.  You'd think these facilities would have the best...but I guess with the ocean at your doorstep, most people opt to run outside...but not me...I don't want to get a mile or so down the beach and be too tired to make it back.  Ya just never know!!

How do you spell "Lucky"??

I was all set to tell you about how much luck I've enjoyed since leaving home on this trip.  I mentioned before how I was able to gamble for 2 days in Atlantic City using THEIR money.  Of course I did dip into my own funds on day 3.  We made it the rest of the trip w/o incident, and arrived to find our unit was a beautiful one-bedroom apartment with an ocean view.  Check this out...

Okay, so it's not an UNobstructed view, but hey, by the look of that short little building, it could collapse any day now!  And my good luck peaked when I put on my golf outfit this morning and reached inside my vest pocket to find...$129 US (woohoo...don't ya just love 'found money').  Then...well, then we went to play golf at Wicked Stick.  After a few holes in torrential rain, we decided it was time to put away the lightening rods and pack it in.  We got a rain check (no really...now I know where that term came from), so will return on Wednesday to play 9 more holes.  Tomorrow it's Indigo Creek...and let's hope for better weather.  Although they do say the odds are one in a million that you'll get struck by lightening...hmmm....that would be my luck!!!

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  You just can't have blind faith in a GPS.  Especially one that hasn't had the maps updated for a few years!!  After a little incident in/around Boston, we had some real issues in North Carolina.  There was one point that the "dash bitch" almost found herself re-cal-cu-lat-ing on the side of the I-95, but thanks to an old fashioned Rand McNally, we were able to find our way.  And of course, using our own brains once in a while has proven helpful!!

Atlantic City or Las Vegas

It's been 24 years since I first visited Atlantic City.  To say that it has changed would be an understatement...if I could remember what it was like on my first visit, that is.  So, the big question is, how does it compare to Las Vegas.  I knew you'd be asking, so here goes:

Weather - well, it's a no brainer.  AC being in "Joisey" means that this time of year it was quite cool.  It wasn't too bad, but lets just say, the short pants never got out of the suitcase.  Fog seems to be an issue too,  as we had it every day.   Vegas on the other hand....always guaranteed good weather, no fog, always warm.

Flights - for us on the east coast of Canada, a short flight out of Moncton to Philadelphia and then another short connector into AC makes for little time in the air/airport.  Plus, if you play your cards right, you can use Aeroplan points of about 15,000 for the flight.  Vegas means a good 10-11 hours travel time and if you're lucky enough to use 25,000 Aeroplan points, you'll be getting that lovely "red eye flight" home.

Resorts - there are fewer hotels to pick from in AC, and the ones there are quite spaced out.  Four downtown, 2 more on the end of downtown, and 3 more at the marina, which is a bit away from downtown.  Vegas, of course, has the entire Strip full of options.  Having said that, we had the BEST room EVER while at Caesar's in AC.  A nice upgrade to a corner premium room with a view of the ocean didn't hurt.  And to prove it...just check this out....

Colliseum Tower Room 3818

Activities - the boardwalk is certainly a plus in AC with nothing to compare in Vegas.  You can walk/run for miles.  I did find one "water show" in the Pier at Caesar's.  It is a bit of a take-off of the Bellagio fountains, but that was about all I could find.

Shopping - in this area, AC has it heads and tails over Vegas.  You can just walk from Caesar's to the outlet stores.  There are about 40 - 50 in an area called "The Walk".  Very convenient.  Although Kier says the deals aren't really "outlet worthy".  Vegas you have to take a bus to the outlets.

Gaming - well, as usual, I can only speak about the slots, cause that's all I play.  And I'd have to say that I had more luck in AC as far as how long my luck lasted.  I was still playing with "their money" after 2 days.  I didn't win any big pots like I did in Vegas the last time, and I didn't come home with any extra money, but overall, it seemed the slots in AC are "looser".  Kier would certainly disagree!!

So, all in all, we figure we may make a trip to AC again in the future, especially if we can use our Aeroplan points to fly there and Caesar's will comp us again.  Don't know that I would drive there again.  Why, you ask?  Well, just see below.

WHAT I LEARNED SO FAR THIS TRIP:  I've become a very nervous passenger.  Not so bad when I'm behind the wheel, but I'm definitely nervous in that right hand seat.

Where DOES the time go????

In another couple of weeks, on March 29th to be precise, it'll be a year since I had to drag my carcass out of bed to go to work.  And what have I got to show for my time, you ask???  Well, I'm living in a new house that we helped to build;  I had a fabulous 5 week retirement holiday in Australia; and I found several new hobbies. Okay, 2 new hobbies....plus a few of the old ones are still hanging in there.  I play bridge once a week with a great group of women who are very patient and I'm working out regularly.  Now that curling is finished for the season, I'll be joining a book club, and we're starting golf season with a trip down to Myrtle Beach.  So all in all, what I would call a productive year.  Were there days when I found myself at odds with retirement??  Definitely, but as a friend of mine that retired a couple of years earlier than I did once told me "Katrina, there were days at work that were boring too".  Good point, Ed!  So what am I going to do on the 1st anniversary of my last day at work?  Well, I'm going to go back to work!!!  Yup, you read that right.  I've gotten an offer that I can't refuse in the form of a contract with my previous employer.  It'll be for a year to 18 months, and I can do that standing on my head!!  I can't wait to get started with this new challenge.

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  Good things come to those who wait.  This job offer has been 9 weeks in the making, but it finally came through.

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle

I love commercials.  Always have.  Sometimes I think I only watch the programs to keep me entertained between commercials.  My current favourite is the new "Ms. Brown M&M" commercial.  I just LOVE it.   Seeing Red pull off his candy coating and start dancing to "I'm Sexy and I Know It", makes me laugh every time I see it.  Especially when it gets to the part where he "wiggles".  Yup, it's great.  And it goes without saying that I was upset to learn that "Salty" is missing AGAIN.  Poor Pep....when he cries those little pepper specks on the sidewalk underneath Salty's "Missing" poster....aaaaahhhh...heart wrenching!!   Some would say I've got too much time on my hands....other's would say I need a hobby...and those remaining would say I need a life.  I, on the other hand, just appreciate the value of a good commercial.  They're not all gems, though.  'Splain this to me....why does the Cadbury Easter Creme Egg want to melt himself in front of the hair dryer?????  Don't get that one.  Hmmm, gotta run....I'm now craving an Easter Creme Egg!!

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  My blood pressure is normal again!!!  Yeeeaaaah....pass the popcorn!!!

Where do things go when they go missing?

Every time we move, something goes missing.  Once it was the back off a Director's Chair.  Another time it was the pendulum off a clock.  Then a jacket of mine and this time a book.  Considering the amount of times that we've moved, it's surprising that we have anything left.  Yes, I did say that with a straight face.  Some of you think that I am like my mother...a bit of a pack rat.  My mother has spent the first half of her life filling the basement, and now spends the last half of her life trying to empty it.  But me, no, I only keep the important stuff.  So why has it taken this long to identify a missing book, you ask?  Well, I'm still unpacking!  Yes, it's true.  In an effort to find my missing book, I've finally gotten to the last 2 boxes.  And no, I didn't find the book.  But I did find something very important. 

And, no,  it's NOT just a pink pig.  It's a very important pink pig.  It's the pink pig that I got as a gift from my cousin Gael and her husband Jim when they got married 41 years ago.  It was my duty, along with another little girl, to circulate the guest book...which I did admirably.  How do I know??  Cause I've got the pink pig to prove it!! 

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  Buying a BBQ is not an easy venture.  We found a great sale at Canadian Tire in Quispamsis yesterday, but, of course, they only had the floor model left.  But there are three in Sussex, they told us.  So this a.m. we called Sussex, prepared to travel there to pick one up.  Yes, it was THAT GOOD of a sale.  But, as the ole saying goes, "ya snooze, ya lose" and Sussex were sold out.  So, in to Saint John store we go to check for ourselves.  They don't have any, but Fredericton has three, they say.  After a couple of attempts to speak to someone in the know in Fredericton, we learn they don't have any after all.  Back to Quispamsis to see if they'll sell us the floor model.  Yes, they will, and for a further reduced price.  So onto the back of the truck it goes, strapped down so it doesn't fly off in transit.  Just as we're leaving the parking lot, Kier's cell phone rings...it's the store in Fredericton...they found two BBQ's...they'll hold one for us.  But, as the ole saying goes, "ya snooze, ya lose"!!!

Some days are diamonds

Every once in awhile a day happens that is just right...in every way.  Everything from the Roger's tech guy comes, on time, at the beginning of the 3 hour appointment window, and fixes all your cable tv issues in 30 minutes or less.  You have a great run with no aches or pains.  You have your favourite meal guilt free.  And the best thing about the day....you receive your income tax refund less than 2 weeks after you e-filed.  It doesn't get any better than that!!!

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  It's the simple things in life that make me happy.  For details...just re-read the previous paragraph!!

You can't suck in a double chin .....part II

No, you can't suck in a double chin, but it is possible to eliminate one...and I'm slowly working my way towards that goal.  I don't know if it's the diet, the exercise, or a combination of the 2, but everything is starting to come together.  Watch out Shelley!!!  I've lost 2 more pounds in the past week.   It won't be long till I'm back to only one chin!!!  They say that the first place you lose weight is the last place you put it on....hmmmm, makes me wonder where that is exactly, cause even though the scales are showing a reduction, I'm not seeing any drastic changes. 

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  What I miss most about work isn't really the paycheque, or the people, or even the stress and responsibility.  What I do miss about work is office pools.  Now that Survivor and The Amazing Race are back on, I don't have an opportunity to be involved in any pools.  There was always an office pool somewhere on the latest reality show.  I loved being involved, and even won an Amazing Race pool when I worked in Halifax.  It just makes watching the show a bit more exciting.  So, I guess I'll go on the record and make my picks.  For Survivor, although I'd like to pick Monica, I just don't think the women are going to have a chance, sooooo, I'm going to pick Tarzan (not Troyzan...who picks a nickname like that anyway??).  And for the Amazing Race...although I'd really like to see Nary and Jamie win (you know, because of their professions), I think it'll be Rachel and Dave.  Stay tuned...and feel free to weigh in on your choices!!

Just because you asked

Many of you have been wondering (oh, I knooooow you have!!) what music I use as motivation to get my little arse (that's poetic license for those of you that think I'm just plain exaggerating on the size) down the stairs to do my workout.  Okay, maybe you didn't ask...but I'm going to share it with you anyway.  It's a very eclectic set of tunes, some 300 or so on the old mp3 player by now.  No, I'm not going to share them ALL with you.  My goodness you faithful readers...you are getting more vocal these days!  And yes, I can hear your voices...albeit in my head...eeewh...maybe that's NOT a good sign??  I'm just going to give you a taste of what keeps me going from day to day while chalking up those miles and going nowhere.

River Deep, Mountain High (the Glee version, not the Tina Turner version....although I'm sure hers is good too!)
Fox on the Run (by the Newfoundland band Siochana)
The Devil's Right Hand (Steve Earle)
Waterloo (Abba)
My Maria (B.W. Stevenson)
Peace Train (Cat Stevens)
Let's Go Higher (Johnny Reid)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (Celtic Woman)
Sunglasses (Divine Brown)
Viva la Vida (Coldplay)
Womanizer (Britney Spears)
Fat Bottomed Girls (Queen)...no, I don't relate to it....I just like the song!!!

And those are just the highlights.  I've not included any of my Madonna, Cher or Bon Jovi.  Like I say, it's an eclectic collection, but it keeps me going....day, after day, after day...

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  Now that I've kicked the Coke habit, it's time to kick the Diet Coke habit.  It was a sad day when I had to give up my "nectar of the gods" because of the high sugar content, but it only took about a week to convert myself to the Diet Coke habit.  Don't get me wrong.  Diet Coke pales in comparison to "the real thing", but one gets awfully bored drinking nothing but water all day.  Sort of like a diet of lettuce 24/7.  Yech!  So what has prompted this need to eliminate Diet Coke from my diet, you ask?  Well, a few years back I went to a Naturopath about my perimenopause symptoms....night sweats, hot flashes, blah, blah, blah.  She told me that first and foremost, I had to give up any drinks that contained Aspartame.  That was all I needed to hear to get back on my Coke habit.  (I think I was going to weight watchers at the time, so was drinking Diet Coke).  She said that as bad as the sugar was for me, the Aspartame was worse, and also contributed to my symptoms.  Hokey, I thought, but hey, it justified me going back to my all time favourite beverage.  But hokey, really??  Nay, nay!!  Since I've been back on the Aspartame in the past 3 weeks, I've experienced a noticeable increase in night sweats.  Theyyyyy'rrrrre baaaaack!!!