Well, it's June 30th and I should be just taking it easy and enjoying the summer, right? Well, when I go to do fun summer things, I do enjoy them and then I feel guilty for not doing my work-work, my house work or my homework (stuff that I committed to do with my extra curricular activities). Let's not forget studying for my GMAT's, as well. That has been so cast aside. Then, I want to call folks and stay in contact with family and friends. There just never seems to be enough time in the day to do everything one wants to do.
And now it's time for my favorite event that happens every year - The Taste of Chicago. OH - what fun. However, it's just more of a game to figure out what I can eat and what's not good for me since I've started the South Beach Diet. I've lost 12 lbs so far - so I'm really excited about that. The Taste is so filled with yummy fried whatever and tons of potatoe food items. PHEW - it ain't easy. Last night was the first night and it was PACKED with people going to see Frankie Beverly and Maze, the headiner for last nights show. I went with about 8 of my sorors and we had a BLAST! It was just a little too crowded at certain sections, though. It was also the first night so folks were really excited and showed up in full force. I keep telling my out-of-town friends to come up b/c it's such a treat.
My parents usually come up for the Taste but they are on a plane to NJ to see my Mom's family and then to ride down to DC to see the newlyweds - my brother Jeff and his wife Laura. That should be fun. I hope to see the lovebirds the week of July 9th. Should be good times for all!
OK, enough of this. I have chores and errands so let me get started on those. Will attempt to keep all the balls juggling. Hope to hear from some of you who read my blog soon and look forward to keeping up with you by reading your blogs, or by speaking with you (or even seeing some of you) soon.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Next stop - Asheville & Brevard, North Carolina
Hello everyone.
So the next stop on my two weeks of travel was to Asheville, NC. My client had a program there and I also have extended family there so I decided to go visit client and family at the same time. how convenient. My and my girlfriends Renee and Patsy stayed at the beautiful Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville - it was fabulous. Pictures will be coming soon. My client's program went well (from our end) so she was happy with me and my colleagues. Yea.
Saturday I went to a family reunion and saw many cousins and uncles and aunts and just folks I have not seen in YEARS! That was tons of fun.
Sunday was just a day of relaxation at the spa. Boy, did I need that! It was just fabulous. We stayed in the spa from 12:00 noon until 8:00 pm. There were 4 different pools and then jacuzzis and waterfalls and a cafe so you could have lunch and dinner there. It was easy to stay occupied and amused in there for 8 hours.
Monday we toured the famous Biltmore Estate, home to George Vanderbilt. It was HUGE and amazing.
So the next stop on my two weeks of travel was to Asheville, NC. My client had a program there and I also have extended family there so I decided to go visit client and family at the same time. how convenient. My and my girlfriends Renee and Patsy stayed at the beautiful Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville - it was fabulous. Pictures will be coming soon. My client's program went well (from our end) so she was happy with me and my colleagues. Yea.
Saturday I went to a family reunion and saw many cousins and uncles and aunts and just folks I have not seen in YEARS! That was tons of fun.
Sunday was just a day of relaxation at the spa. Boy, did I need that! It was just fabulous. We stayed in the spa from 12:00 noon until 8:00 pm. There were 4 different pools and then jacuzzis and waterfalls and a cafe so you could have lunch and dinner there. It was easy to stay occupied and amused in there for 8 hours.
Monday we toured the famous Biltmore Estate, home to George Vanderbilt. It was HUGE and amazing.
This was the main dining room of the estate. Pretty, huh? The place was really huge - almost too big for someone's home. But then again, I'm sure I could live with it. :-)
This is the Italian garden from the estate. If it had not been so hot, I would have shot more photos.
Those two photos are from the website. Once I get the pics developed, I'll share other photos from the trip.
That's all for now. Catch you later
Thursday, June 14, 2007
OK, sometimes this blogging thing is a pain...
I just posted an ENTIRE book of an update for what's been going on with me and somehow or another, the post disappeared. It took forever to type up and now it's all gone!!! I'm so frustrated. I'll try it one more time.
Where in the World is Cherai?
Hello everyone.
It has been so busy that I've either been on the run or laying low catching my breath for the past month. Well, remember that I said that I haven't been anywhere for a while? I've more than made up for it this month.
First there was the visit to Maryland in May - where I got to see Jeff and Laura (oh, as well as work at my hq warehouse with my boss - you can see what was the bigger priority for me). Since then, I have started training to do a 5K (fast walk - not ready to run yet) in September, started the South Beach Diet, worked like crazy for some VERY demanding clients, started the transition process from being a committee chair to being a Board of Directors member from one of my trade associations (Meeting Professionals International - Chicago Area Chapter) and won an election for a seat on the Nominating Committee of my sorority (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, - Chicago Alumnae Chapter).
OH, did I mention that I've decided to go back to school for my MBA? My anticipated start date is Jan/Feb 2008. The application process is lenghthy and involved. I'm not quite sure how everything is going to work out - timewise. However, where there is a will, there is a way and if I have to give up some stuff, then so be it. So that you do not think I'm insane, I did not definitively decide on the MBA thing until this month. I had already committed to the Board position and the Nominating Committee seat before I knew I was going to take on the MBA-thing. Otherwise, I would not have signed up for both.
AND - the funny part is that I did not realize that the Board seat is a two year committment. Somewhere in my brain I had it for a one year time-frame. Funny how you miss the fine print.
Think I have enough to do? Oh, I still plan to have a social life, as well. One of my sorors has fixed me up with a friend of a friend, as well as one of my former dating buddies has come a callin' again. When it rains, it pours, right? The challenge is just to schedule everything in without burning out.
So, Cherai has been rather busy trying to keep my head above water. It's all good though.
OH - I have not mentioned the travel in June yet. First, I went to Minneapolis June 7 - 8 to check on my client's program that was happening at the Minneapolis convention center and just give the client and her team my regards. That went well - until the flight home. Summer travel is such a pain in the rear. Don't get me wrong - I love family and kids (well, the moderately behaved to the well behaved ones). Air travel is difficult enough these days with the extra security checks, the lines for the luggage check in, then drop-off and then the security lines. Add to it the family with kids who only travel every once in a while and are not used to all the new rules and regs and all the gear they want to carry on for the kids, it makes a regular business traveler want to tear their hair out. I just grin and bear it - even with JR kicking my seat for the entire two hour ride. First class is such a lovely thing.
Next on the travel itinerary was a trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on June 10 - 11 for a MPI-CAC Board of Directors retreat. It was fabulous. The resort was pretty nice (not swanky but very nice in the middle of the lake and great for creative thinking). The area up there by the lake is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. The homes were tremendous. As soon as I get my film back (don't know how to work my digital camera yet), I will post some pics from the boat tour we got to do on the lake.
Upcoming this Friday is a family reunion in Brevard, NC and then a spa getaway at the Grove Park Inn in near-by Asheville, NC. I am so looking forward to the rest and relaxation. well, the rest and relaxation AFTER the reunion. The reunion should be very interesting, to say the least. I'll share those details and more later on.
So you all have a wonderful June and enjoy the summer. I promise to write more soon.
Hugs,
Cherai
It has been so busy that I've either been on the run or laying low catching my breath for the past month. Well, remember that I said that I haven't been anywhere for a while? I've more than made up for it this month.
First there was the visit to Maryland in May - where I got to see Jeff and Laura (oh, as well as work at my hq warehouse with my boss - you can see what was the bigger priority for me). Since then, I have started training to do a 5K (fast walk - not ready to run yet) in September, started the South Beach Diet, worked like crazy for some VERY demanding clients, started the transition process from being a committee chair to being a Board of Directors member from one of my trade associations (Meeting Professionals International - Chicago Area Chapter) and won an election for a seat on the Nominating Committee of my sorority (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, - Chicago Alumnae Chapter).
OH, did I mention that I've decided to go back to school for my MBA? My anticipated start date is Jan/Feb 2008. The application process is lenghthy and involved. I'm not quite sure how everything is going to work out - timewise. However, where there is a will, there is a way and if I have to give up some stuff, then so be it. So that you do not think I'm insane, I did not definitively decide on the MBA thing until this month. I had already committed to the Board position and the Nominating Committee seat before I knew I was going to take on the MBA-thing. Otherwise, I would not have signed up for both.
AND - the funny part is that I did not realize that the Board seat is a two year committment. Somewhere in my brain I had it for a one year time-frame. Funny how you miss the fine print.
Think I have enough to do? Oh, I still plan to have a social life, as well. One of my sorors has fixed me up with a friend of a friend, as well as one of my former dating buddies has come a callin' again. When it rains, it pours, right? The challenge is just to schedule everything in without burning out.
So, Cherai has been rather busy trying to keep my head above water. It's all good though.
OH - I have not mentioned the travel in June yet. First, I went to Minneapolis June 7 - 8 to check on my client's program that was happening at the Minneapolis convention center and just give the client and her team my regards. That went well - until the flight home. Summer travel is such a pain in the rear. Don't get me wrong - I love family and kids (well, the moderately behaved to the well behaved ones). Air travel is difficult enough these days with the extra security checks, the lines for the luggage check in, then drop-off and then the security lines. Add to it the family with kids who only travel every once in a while and are not used to all the new rules and regs and all the gear they want to carry on for the kids, it makes a regular business traveler want to tear their hair out. I just grin and bear it - even with JR kicking my seat for the entire two hour ride. First class is such a lovely thing.
Next on the travel itinerary was a trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on June 10 - 11 for a MPI-CAC Board of Directors retreat. It was fabulous. The resort was pretty nice (not swanky but very nice in the middle of the lake and great for creative thinking). The area up there by the lake is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. The homes were tremendous. As soon as I get my film back (don't know how to work my digital camera yet), I will post some pics from the boat tour we got to do on the lake.
Upcoming this Friday is a family reunion in Brevard, NC and then a spa getaway at the Grove Park Inn in near-by Asheville, NC. I am so looking forward to the rest and relaxation. well, the rest and relaxation AFTER the reunion. The reunion should be very interesting, to say the least. I'll share those details and more later on.
So you all have a wonderful June and enjoy the summer. I promise to write more soon.
Hugs,
Cherai
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