songbird's crazy world

Had to make a presentation at work yesterday.  I think it went well.  My coworkers say I always present interesting and amusing cases. Annual holiday party at the office today. We serve breakfast and entertain the kids with magicians, crafts and visits to Santa, and everyone goes home by lunchtime.  It's been a long time since i brought my kids to an office party....though Jen now has a once-a-year job as a cartoon character at someone else's office Christmas party. I am the mother of Minnie Mouse! Why is it that the most macho-looking guys on the subway are the ones you want to tell to "man up"?  Those poles and handrails are there so people can hang on while the train is moving, not so that you can lean on them (and on my fingers) looking "cool" .  Winter officially started on Tuesday, but I'm already "done" with cold weather ans snow.  Wish I had a Caribbean trip planned for this year, but alas.... My Avon lady gave me more of tha...

(cross posted at Midcentury Modern Moms ) When you read this, I will be on vacation in the Caribbean. WITHOUT MY CHILDREN! I am celebrating a ...ahem...milestone birthday.  My significant other and I have planned a romantic week aboard a cruise ship...I am sure a few margaritas and a bottle of wine or two will be involved....not to mention, some "boring" trips to Mayan ruins and rum factories... The doors of the cage have opened, and the songbird is flying free. Funny how your life changes, isn't it? Ten years ago, for the last milestone birthday, I took a trip to Walt Disney World with my daughters.  Jen was 9 and Becca was 7 and I was...at a very different place in my life.  As a single mother who "lost" her children on alternate weekends, I couldn't imagine taking a vacation or celebrating a birthday without my kids. Every moment with them seemed all the more precious.  So songbird and her chickadees spent 5 glorious days spending money I co...

in just a few days I will be on my way to my Caribbean cruise. Months of planning are about to pay off. And it couldn't come at a better time.  We're still digging out from the blizzard and the forecast calls for more snow next week.

After months of planning (documented in my cruise blog ), we're in the final countdown to our cruise.30 days until we set sail for the warm Caribbean. We fly to Miami on 2/14 and board the ship -- the Carnival Valor -- for a 7 day cruise the the Western Caribbean.  We have shore excursions planned for each port of call.  In the Cayman islands, we will take a ride on the Atlantis submarine and then tour Grand Cayman Island.  In Belize we will take a riverboat ride through rainforest and then climb Mayan ruins.  We will take a boat tour of coral reefs off of Roatan Island.  and we have a beach day planned in Cozumel, Mexico. I've been planning, shopping, making packing lists.... Yes, the excitment is starting to build....

songbird's birthday cruise blog All about our upcoming Caribbean cruise.