Upside Down

Back in June, the Company I work for announced that we would be closing our office in Northern NJ and moving down to South Jersey, we own the building and our other sister companies are there. It all made sense from a business standpoint and eventhough everyone (besides three people) were offered the opportunity to still have their jobs in the South Jersey office and still work in the Northern NJ office until March 2010 there was a lot of hostility towards those whom were going to the new office. Why? I have no idea but there was. It was bad to the point of swear words being used in the Corporate world which is UNCALLED for.

Jump ahead to last Thursday. There was a meeting called at the office that we are closing and the President announced that we would be STAYING in that office. There were applauses from majority of the room but some sad faces from others. There were people whom were planning on taking the severance and enjoying time at home with kids, enjoying maybe a few months off from work, using the money to pay off debt and I am sure a slew of other things. All of those things were now off of the table since they all still have jobs, which is great news for them, but when you have something planned and are looking forward to it this news might not be great.

Today as I sit back in the old office, I had already moved to the South Jersey office, I am awaiting boxes to come of my stuff and sitting here thinking I wish some people would leave. There are some two-faced people whom I can't stand now since the original announcement to move. Their work ethic dropped by like 300% and their attitude is piss poor. There isn't much that can change that now and they have jaded quite a few people. Sometimes the world just isn't fair to everyone and flips you upside down sometimes, but people have to realize that this is life and you have to roll with the punches that are thrown at you.

I hope attitutudes and personalities come back, little secret chats are put to a halt and that people actually APPRECIATE that the Company has now given them back their jobs in their same office.

The Road to Hana

The road to hana, also known as the Hana Highway, is a 68 mile long stretch of winding, curving roads that have about 600 curves and 50 bridges (most of which are one-lane). Scott and I ventured off to tackle this 68 mile road on our first full day in Maui.

The top came down off of our Jeep Wrangler, the sun was shining and snacks were packed for the day long journey.

The start of the Hana Highway!


The promosing look of another gorgeous day!

Stop number one, a smal roadside stand for a fresh made fruit smoothie!!!! YUMMY! Scott is trying to make his selection of what flavors to add together.

A view from the Huelo Lookout...isn't that beautiful.

A view of the road ahead. This was the standard for the whole road (basically 50 miles) until you reach Hana.

Some views along the way

The beautiful waterfalls along the way that you can stop and take a dip in.

Since we set-off at 8am and were not a bit famished for some food we stopped at another roadside stand and split this AMAZING pulled pork taco. Not just any taco but a Hawaiian style taca which was yummy!

The proof we made it to Hana! Although there isn't much to see in Hana there is past Hana if you are daring enough to go the extra distance.

On the next few miles here are some shots along the way. Scott took a dip in this waterfall and it was CHILLY.

About 8 miles past Hana is the 7 pools. It is numerous waterfalls that make 7 pools and eventually lead to the ocean. This is the lower half of the 7 pools.

A view from a bridge looking to the top of the 7 pools and the bottom (2nd picture)

We left the 7 pools and headed a bit further down the road to find the hidden grave of Charles A. Lindbergh. He is buried at a small church off of the beaten path. Here is the sign that is the landmark of where to turn for his grave.

The Palapala Ho'Omau Congregational Church:

This is the view from his grave.

A beautiful Banyan tree at the church.

Random pictures along the rest of the way up/down from Hana:

I know my family will enjoy this next picture. There are Cheeseheads on the Road to Hana!!!! GO PACK GO!

A beautiful black sand beach that you can drive down to and go swimming at.

We left at 8am and got back to the hotel at 5pm. It is a long day of driving but you do stop alot to see the waterfalls, go hiking, stop at roadside stands and swimming. Well worth the trip and if you do plan on going I recommend a convertible since you get to see so many nice views out the top!

For the love of the game

It is amazing with every passing season a new sport starts and while I love this, since I am a sports fan, I find it tough to get into the start of a new season when one is just ending. For example, my beloved Yankees were in the Wrold Series, as yes they did win number 27, but hockey season started a little while ago and I haven't been able to "get into it" like I typically do since my heart was hoping that the Yanks would do it. Now that the Baseball season is officially ending today (with a Ticker Tape Parade), I can turn my attention to the sport that I literally grew up with.

When I was born, I was virtually born at a skating rink and not the ones you see on TV today but the good 'ole outdoor, parents shoveling the ice ones. I was born in Canada and my brother was 2 1/2 at the time and was a hockey player. We were at the rink every weekend watching him play. We then moved to Minnesota, Burnsville to be exact, and lived across the street from a pond and as Minnesota winters go the pond is frozen for quite some time. I guess as nature intended if I was going to spend that much time at the ice rink I might as well become a figure skater right? right! There we are the Flaten family all at the Ice Rink, my brother in his hockey pads and me in my skating outfits. So during those long Minnesota winters we would head to the pond for some skating which was great as there were a lot of kids our age on the street and a few Minnesota North Stars also!!!!! What is better than that??? We went to North Star games while living in Minnesota and became friends with Dino Ciccarelli, Neal Broten, Brain Bellows and Don Beaupre (since they were neighbors). Life was great!!!

We eventually moved to NJ and the North Stars went to Dallas. I had decided to leave them as "My Team" and try to find a new team. My parents bought season tickets to the Devils and we had been going as a family of 4 for about 10 years. We got to see Lord Stanley, meet and skate with the players and eventually call them "My New Team"

Let's jump to today. My brother and I are heading back to the rink but not for either of us to go skating but to go to one of those nice rinks this time, indoors, new and comfy. We are going to see our team the NJ Devils tonight!!!!! I love this game!!!

We are back.

We got back from Hawaii yesterday morning and got caught up on loads of mail, laundry, etc. Will post pics of the trip later tonight but will leave you with a text I got this am from Scott about vacation.

"You know u had a good vaca when ur work pants don't fit in the morning, ur waiting for the waiter to bring u ur coffee and then be lazy the rest of the day"....that should about sum up our vacation!

Aloha

We are off to Hawaii for some R&R. We will return with lots of photos on Nov. 1st

Counting the days

This weekend has come and gone with a blur and most likely due to the Hunt yesterday. The Hunt is a day filled with drinking and nothing but drinking, eventhough there is a horse race taking place around you, you really would have no idea. Every year it is always questionable as to what the weather decides to do and this year it was in the 40's and rainy in the am but cleared out nicely towards midday.

The tent area that we have every year is in the prime location for people watching. It is funny to see people get so dressed up when the field is covered in mud....I mean would you seriously wear stilettos to a horserace in the mud? In Jersey I guess they do, but that is what makes the day so much better since you get to watch them all fall in the mud when the get drunk. We were watching these 2 girls (one sober and the other drunk) and they were arm in arm walking through the mud and the drunk one got stuck and took her friend down with her in the mud...the best part was that she was wearing a white North Face fleece jacket. I mean come on people, mud + rain = NOT A FASHION SHOW.

On the way home from the Hunt to my best friends house something happened to my phone that my LCD screen cracked which made me make my way to Verizon today to get a new phone. Luckily the guy gave me a one time courtesy phone so that I wasn't paying $200 + for a new phone!!! Thank you Verizon Guy!

I sit on the couch now watching the Giants vs. Saints game and cheer on my Green Bay Packers and they kick Detroits butt and am waiting to cheer on the Bills this afternoon as they take on the NY Jets. In better news is that the Yanks are up 2-0 vs. LA Angels!!!!!! Wooot Wooot!!!1 LETS GO YANKEES TOMORROW!!!!!!!

The rest of the day will be starting to get the suitcases down from the attic and start getting things set aside for going to Hawaii on Friday! I can't wait to get out of this cold weather that we are getting here and into the warmth of Hawaii. Macadamia Nuts here I come!

Three Short Years

Three short years ago at this time I was sitting in the hair salon with my 5 bridesmaids all getting our hair done for the 3 o'clock ceremony. When we woke up in the morning it was a bit chilly and I was starting to wonder if we would all be too cold standing outside for pictures, but as luck would have it it was a beautiful fall day! Clear skies with a few lovely fluffy clouds, mid 70's and the beautiful changing of the leaves on the trees.

I still though can't believe that three years has flown by this quickly. This past year we went to South Africa for 10 days with my Parents, moved home to the US, moved back into our house after major renovations, both found new jobs and spent lots of time with family and friends trying to catch-up on lost time living overseas.

This year what's in store for us? Well we are off to Hawaii in 2 weeks to celebrate our Anniversary and Scott's birthday and planning a trip with our friends in London to go Sailing around Croatia next September for a week!

Happy 3rd Anniversary Dear! I love you with all my heart and can't believe that we have been married for three years already. I am looking forward to what is in store next and cherish our time together!

Love to a Best Friend! Love, your wife