My Tie

I had the pleasant duty of purchasing a tie for Joe today; he desperately needed one to go with a linen suit that he'll be wearing to an upcoming wedding. Hum! That's about all I can say to sum up my experience in the men's clothing store today. Finding that "just right" tie to polish off a suit can be a bit tricky. Do I got with the paisley pink tie that I think looks dashing with a black linen suit or do I go with a more low-key black tie with sea-green paisley accents??? Or should I completely forego the paisely and go with your standard stripes in red, blue, or grey? CRAP people, I mean CRAP! If I pick the wrong one, he just might have a hissy fit that I got him a girly-looking tie. Hem and haw..hem and haw some more...oh screw it, just buy two and hope that he will wear the one I like the best. We'll have to wait to see which one he decides on.

calling all Beach Bums

We were able to get away on a 7-night cruise to the western Caribbean just after Joe reported in to Ft. Stewart. Don't get this wrong...it was what some may consider a deal with the devil. He reported early, foregoing Airborne School, and in return the squadron commander agreed to let him have the "so-soon" time-off. Regardless, we had an amazing time the whole trip, just focusing on relaxing and doing whatever we wanted when the mood struck us.

We made day-long stops in Labadee, Haiti, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Georgetown, Grand Cayman; no excursions planned, so we simply self-guided ourselves through each port. Interesting to say the VERY least! We walked around Labadee and played in the beautiful water. Shopped and took an abbreviated tour of Ocho Rios while a taxi-cab driver named Billy, who took us to the "unseen" sections of Jamaica. Visited a beach club in Georgetown and then searched for an ATM so that we could pay our taxi...not easy when very few banks take American bank cards...sheesh.

The other days were spent at sea, taking in the cruise liner's activities, amenities, and accommodations. We met some fantastic people, namely a couple from England, Lynn & Ivan. All in all, the week was everything we could have asked for and much needed. We just might need to go on another vacation before the summer is up.

On the Freedom of the Seas:

Below is Lynn & Ivan - wonderful couple

Labadee, Haiti:

Ocho Rios, Jamaica:


Georgetown, Grand Cayman:

Another enters the working world...or at least we hope.

Joe's middle sister, Margaret, graduated from our alma mater, NGCSU, at the beginning of May. Super exciting to have another North GA grad in the family! We traveled up to Dahlonega to celebrate with the family and had a wonderful time. Hopefully, Margaret will find just the right job and next life path for herself...these days are hard, so we'll keep our fingers crossed for her. But, obviously this day wasn't too much about what tomorrow held, it was about celebrating her accomplishment, so HOORAY for Marge.

Margaret & Kathryn (the other grad)

Elizabeth, Margaret, & Stephanie

Watching the photo shoot