It is my last night at the hotel.  I came back early from the conference as my asthma was acting up and I needed to neb.  I met my friends for drinks and supper at Angie's Canteena.  My FAVORITE!!!   I have been having a great time, but I just wanted to spend my last night in my room and try to finish reading my book.  I am really enjoying this book.   So it is about 7:45 and I have changed into sweats and I am going to read until bedtime and enjoy the last moments of quiet before returning home tomorrow night.   And believe it or not....I still have not turned on the TV since I have been here. 

Later!

Today is the first full day of the MACMH Conference.  I am heading down to have breakfast and go over to the convention center to hear the keynote speaker this morning.   Later!

I was up early this morning.  I went and had breakfast and then came back to my room to read until my friends woke up!   We headed out to the mall this morning and shopped.  I go shopping twice a year for work clothes.  I found a number of great things today.  I bought 3 pairs of shoes, 2 jeans, and a number of tops.  I am all set for summer now.  

Then we came back and I went over to register for the conference.  I returned to the room to read and take a little nap until supper time.  We headed over to the Taste of Saigon for supper.  The food was great.  I tried Saki for the first time...not my fav.   Went to the room for a bit and then went over to Angies to have a margarita.  YUMMY!!!  Now that I like!  

Now I am back in my room and ready to call it a night. I will curl up in bed with my book for the night.   Would you believe I have been here for three days and I have not yet turned the TV on in my room at all.  I love the quiet and am enjoying my book alot!!  Great, great book!!!

Tommy here is the video of the boat that came in  today....I email the other movie to your daddy.  He will show you later!!

Another boat...I almost missed this one!!

Hey everyone.....thought I would just pop in and say hi!  

Tommy - here is another video for you.  What did you do today????  I hope you had fun!!  Miss ya!

 Believe it or not, it is still snowing in Duluth.  The flakes are huge.  I went out for a bit and visited some shop on the canal.  I bought a couple of things.  I found the prefect prize for the contest I want to get up and running on my book group message board.

Well my friends just called and are all checked in.  They are actually in the room next door to me.  LOL!!  I am off to figure out where we will be eating this evening and chat a bit!

Here is my Afternoon Adventure.....

Good Morning, Tommy!!!

Here is the morning weather report from Duluth.  What is the weather like at home??

I am off to read my book until lunch time!   I might even venture outside then and make a bit of video.  You might want to see Duluth without looking out my hotel window and the window screen!   We will see.  My friends are hopefully coming up tonight.  I will be meeting them for supper this evening.  Later!

Hey everyone - I made the trip.  It was raining and no fun driving the entire trip here.  I decided since it was raining I would eat before checking into the hotel.   I had supper at Red Lobster and enjoyed a lovely Ultimte Feast while I read my book.    While I was dining my mother called me.  My brother, Monte is in the hospital in Rapid City.  He is going to be transferred to the VA hospital in Sturgis.  He has a very serious infection in his arm.  He has a MRSA infection and his whole arm is swollen.  He had seen the Dr earlier in the week, but it didn't get better on the antibiotic they had given him so he is the hospital now.  My brother is single.  My parents are going down to be with him in the hospital. 

I got all checked in and am getting ready to put on my sweats and curl up and read for the evening. 

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Hey  Tommy......Here is a video of where mommy is staying.  I will try to make you another video tomorrow about my day.  So just like when I put you to bed, you can still asked me "how was your day??".    Here is my day today.....love ya, buddy!

Good Night, Tommy.  Love ya!

I am heading out for my get away and conference in Duluth today!  YEAH!!   I have a number of things to do around here before I can leave.  I hope to be on the road listening to my book on CD by noon!   I can't wait to have some free time.  I will finally get caught up on all your blogs!!    So I am sure I will be stopping by your blogs this weekend.  

TO DO:

Supper in Crockpot
Pay Bills
Clean behind Furnance (repair guy coming today)
Pack my stuff
Stop at Grocery Store
Go to Bank
Pack Erik's meds for the weekend
TOmmy's Read-a thon

Mom has hit the road...................................Happy Adventures!

We are all happy Daddy got home from his conference yesterday.  I sleep soooo much better when he is home.  We just a quite evening at home watching American Idol.  Today I have to be at work early as I have a training on Federal Regulations for Child Placement.  Sounds exciting, eh??  

I have to call the heating and cooling place as our air conditioning is not working properly.  We turned in of for the first time yesterday and it froze up on the outside of the furnance and leaked water all over.  Hopefully I can get a repairman to come tomorrow when hubby is home.   I am leaving to go to Duluth tomorrow.   I am looking forward to it, especially since I am really enjoying the book I am currently reading.  I didn't think I would like the book, but I was pleasantly surprised.  It is called World Without End - Ken Follett.  It is a REALLY long book though so I am not sure I will even get it done while I am gone.  Over 1000 pages.   I believe it is set in the 1300's, when here were knights, earls and the whole religious system of the priory, etc.  Almost a medieval soap opera.  LOL!!!

I still need to pack and wash some clothes.  I hope to leave here by noon on Friday.   I have Friday evening and Saturday alone in Duluth and then my girlfriends are coming up on Sunday.  We are all planning on going clothes shopping on Sunday at the mall and out to eat that evening.  Then Monday the conference starts, though Monday night we always go out to eat at the canteena.  

I did finish one book last night.  While the Locust Slept: A Memoir - Peter Razor.  It is one of those kind of books that really bothers me.  Peter writes about his experiences growing up in the Minnesota State Public School in Owatonna, Minnesota in the 1930's.  He was abandoned there as an infant.  The abuse he experienced at the hands of those entrusted to care for him was unthinkable to me.   He was treated even worse due to his Native AMerican heritage.   I always read these books and can't believe how society can place such little value on a child.  I certainly know why the laws to protect children in placement are there.  I can't believe how the social workers didn't know what was really going on.   I know I could never have walked away from something like that as a social worker.   I am glad my profession has change so much since then.   (3/5)

Well I better finish getting ready and head to work and learn about the great Federal Regulations For Children in Placement, which is a good thing.  At least we value children more today..................

I created my first message board.  I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks!!!  

http://jasmine1931.proboards82.com/index.cgi