Fun Filled Friday

My commute is 21 miles one way door to door to work and typically takes about 40 minutes. On Friday night that commute took me 2.5 hours. Yes 2.5 hours. The main reason...I got rear-ended by an Audi. I am fine which is all that matters since my car can get fixed.

I was sitting dead stopped in the right lane (exit lane) waiting for the traffic to move...typically dead stopped since it is getting onto Route 80. The traffic in this lane is always stop and go so you have to be careful. I was about 2 feet behind the car in front of me when I feel my car getting pushed forward and a load crash. That was the Audi hitting the back of my Mercury Mariner. Thankfully I have a truck since the real damage to my car is the tailgate and bumper (well all that I can see). I put my car in park and turn it off and go out to see the damage. The girl who gets out is all in panic since it is her brother's car...3 days old mind you. Fluid out of her car is leaking everywhere...and she left it running (STUPID). A state trooper pulls up almost one minute after (on his way to another accident further south) and gets us out of the right lane and into the shoulder. We get out the cars again and we are standing in between the two cars and her car starts rolling forward...she forgot to put it in park. (Are you getting the idea of whom I am dealing with now?) The cop tells us that he needs to go to the other accident since it happened first and that he will be back. I didn't realize that you had to take a deli ticket number for accidents. I will remember that next time, but hopefully there won't be one. About 25-30 minutes goes by and a different cop shows up. He takes all of our information and gets me on my way while the Audi gets put on a flatbed.

My truck now rattles (exhaust pipe is loose) and looks a little sick from the back but will get fixed soon I am sure.

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!