Life...

I was cleaning out some of my college things today and came across a quote that I wrote down, not sure when, but it must have had an impact on me when I wrote it down and it did again today when I found it....here it is...

Life isn't a destination - it's a journey.

We all come upon unexpected curves and turning points, mountain tops and valleys;

Everything that happens to us, shapes who we are becoming.

And in the adventure of each day,

We discover the best in ourselves.

As I have been growing up over the last 28 years, I have seen myself in so many different lights. But, I guess what this kind of hit home with me is that we all make mistakes, no one is perfect, having it all really comes from within and most importantly you have to find yourself from all the adventures you as yourself have been on...I forget to sometimes to take a moment and really take the "journey" in and have it help shape me. For example, Brad and I went down to Cinci yesterday for just a day trip - we test drove some cars, stopped and had lunch, stopped at the outlets and then came home. For the first time we didn't rush home, we didn't worry about what was waiting for us at home, taxes, dinner reservations, cleaning, etc. We just took it all in and enjoyed it. We had a great time and made some great memories on what seemed to be such a simple trip or can you really even call it a trip? We both have so many things going on in our lives and we get so caught up on talking thru them all - we spent the day joking about how out of shape I am, how he is a control freak and discussed our future and we were both excited. That simple day was a mountain top for me, it made what has been such an emotionally hard and busy year, seem better because we are still here, we still have each other and we have so many memories ahead of us.

So, I have never been good at English, so maybe I totally misinterpreted this quote, but to me it was perfect interpretation.

I hope that everyone can enjoy everything that makes them who they are - we aren't all perfect, our faults or mistakes most of the time make us a better person and at the end of the day, we are who we are and we should embrace it! Why waste time away from enjoying the moment to focus on what else might not be right with us!!!

So, that is a lot for a Sunday - but it felt good to write it down! More upbeat things this week - promise!!!

finally...

Thank goodness, I have finally adjusted from the jet lag and feel like I am back to normal! What a great feeling. No more falling asleep at 930 on a Friday night, having to take a nap at 8pm on a Saturday to be able to make it to 11 o'clock! It feels good to be back!

So, more thoughts on life, love and the pursuit of happiness...the weather is starting to warm up and it is getting to feel a little more like spring. I don't know about everyone else, but I need that! The winter is just going on and on and the uggs are ready to be retired...please winter go away!

Last Sunday was Easter and what a fun holiday it was. It was the first without Grandpa and I found myself tearing up not having his stories heard or laughing at him when he was on his 3rd drink and then letting us all know that he hadn't had red wine in awhile and you are supposed to have a glass a day, so he had some catching up to do. It was hard and I can imagine Christmas Eve will even be harder. Back to Easter, we had Easter dinner at our house and we had Brad's family over as well as some of my family. It was a fun night, I hope everyone enjoyed it. It was fun to have two different families together & celebrate! I decided that we need a bigger house because we can only fit 8 at our dining room table and our family is just too big - a good problem to have. I was very excited to see Baby Caroline...she is so cute and has started to move around...she was the entertainment of the evening for a little bit! She is so cute I could just squeeze her! Other than that, we had good conversation, watched some basketball and ate some good food!

Basketball - a new topic of conversation...what is going on with the teams this year - doesn't seem like any of the shoe ins are playing well at all - kind of disappointing, but great to see some other teams shine for once. Michigan State was able to beat Pitt, Grandpa would have been so proud, Dave and Cam are a little upset, but they will be able to move past it! :) Seems from the talk around the office that it will be an interesting one as to who wins the pools!

Well, I had better get back to work! Hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoy the week ahead of you!

24 hours later...

I arrived back in the states with no sleep and wanting a shower! The plane ride home was a bumby one at one point I was wondering if we were going to make it back alive - it is all over now, so I feel good to be on the ground! We were delayed in Chicago for a bit and that was a little hard - being so close to home, but yet still having so much time until you get there is never a fun thing. Brad picked me up from the airport, we got carryout and then headed home to watch some TV and relax. I passed out around 11 and woke up at 3pm this afternoon - I woke up for about a minute to say goodbey to Brad and then back to sleep. Needless to say I feel like I could still sleep for 12 more hours and then feel okay! I plan on going to bed early tonight - the rest of the week and weekend will be too crazy and I won't be able to catch up then!

So, more about the plane ride - 15 hours without sleeping and no where to go gives you a lot of time to think. My good friend, Cam, gave me a great book for my birthday..."males, nails & sample sales - everything a woman must know to be smarter, savvier and saner sooner". It was a great little read and I loved it! Some of you know I am not the best saver, in the book it talks about neccessities versus luxurys. I never thought about fashion as a neccessity - always a want, and I try to always get what I want (being really honest here). Well, now thinking about it as a neccessity seems scary, but here is where the good stuff comes in - a prada handbag is a luxury, a new pair of expensive shoes are a luxury. Luxuries don't have to be purchased all the time, they are more appreciated when purchased every once and awhile. So, that is my new stance...only every once and awhile. She goes on to talk about what all women need...a great moisturizer, an amazing leather black handbag that is seasonless, a great white shirt (button down and tee) and a personal shopper to call for those last minute needs. Okay, the list goes on, but these things I don't have - so I am on the look out...these are also viewed as luxuries because they last so long...excited to start shopping for the great leather handbag...if anyone has an recs for the moisturizer I am open!

So, this book also got me thinking about those New Year Resolutions that I made and have not stuck too, so I am telling the world...and I can't let them down - so here it goes...

Work out and get in shape
Save more money
Follow Brad's Budget

Hope I can do it! Well, I am going to head to bed now! Hope everyone has a great week!!!

Last Night in the Kong...

So, the trip has finally come to an end...needless to say I am dreading and looking forward to the flight tomorrow...14 hours, 4 hour layover and an another hour flight is going to be a rough day when all I want to be is home and back to the little things...here is what I miss the most...
saying hi to brad every morning, being able to drive to work and know exactly where I am going or being able to tell the cab driver where I need to be with my voice and not a card, being able to eat a small breakfast and be okay because I know lunch will be something I can eat and not jellyfish, my bed, TV shows that are actually current, understanding what people are saying, having my own desk without 20 people having 20 different conversations around you!

I will say that this has been a trip for the record books, it was fun and we saw a lot thanks to the people who were with us that are over here all the time. We shopped at some of the best shops, ate on the top of a hotel overlooking the harbor, walked around seeing the cultures and what the day and night life is like, we finished so many things for work that would have taken months had we not been here, we were able to be self sufficient by the end of the trip which was a huge succes, drank with a ton of different cultures and even managed to get in an argument with some UT students that OSU is actually a good football program - a little OH-IO never sounded so good - I miss it!

Well, it is getting late and I had better get to bed so I can get up and get to the sirport for the long flight home!

Hope to see everyone soon! Hugs and Kisses...
Kate

The Day Off...

Hello from Hong Kong!

Today was our first day off, it was beyond needed...some went and got spa treatments, some went to get their fortune told & I laid around and slept. The lack of sleep was starting to get the best of me...ask Brad - if I don't eat and don't get enough sleep I am the worst person to be around...so between no sleep and not having food that I like - I was on the verge of being the worst person to be in a room with! I slept in and thought about all the beautiful things I could buy on the Rodeo Drive of Hong Kong. At noon, I went to grab lunch with a few of the girls and then we headed to the market to do some shopping...man I wish I made more money right now!!! They have some beautiful things over here. Scott, I am still on the search for your fake Tag, haven't found an amazing one yet though! still searching...more to come on that...

so at the market I was buying a gift for two people who will remain unknown...well, let's be honest, they can't even read yet...

So, I was told you can get one for $70 or 2 for $140, I opted for the 2 thinking I was getting the most amazing deal ever!!! Didn't even realize it until after I had purchased them! Oops!

So, we had an amazing dinner tonight - it was an asian/italian fusion thing - so good, but the view was just breathtaking...we were on the 28th floor and overlooked it all - here is a picture so I can share...the food was great and the wine ever better! We have a busy day of work ahead of us tomorrow and then home on Tuesday! I am counting down the hours! This is the longest I have been away from Brad since we were married and I am miss him so much! mom, I miss you too!

Can't wait to see you bradley - if you read this and mom I will see you this weekend - I miss you and love you! Hope Cali is still alive!

Hugs and Kisses to everyone!

Margs in Hong Kong...

Somethings should just be left to the people that do it best...in this case...keep the tequila in Mexico! The margs here are the worst I have ever had!! But, it was fun to say the least that I had a marg in Hong Kong! Here is the picture to share the fun!

Yesterday was an eventful day - we were able to attend the company annual dinner and it was one of the neatest things I have seen. They had the Chinese Dragon Dance and the backstreet boy of Hong Kong sang. The dinner was okay, but the entertainment was enough to last a lifetime! Too funny for words! Had a great time & felt great to be part of such a great organization...granted we are their clients, but still - it was so fun!

So that was the fun part of the day - we did some factory visits in China and I will say it was pretty amazing to see how product goes from one stage to the next. Being in China was interesting too - I am just glad that I didn't have a fever and was able to make it back across the border! :) It was an interesting experience to see such a different culture, but I will say that sticking to the Hong Kong side is the right thing to do!

Well, I am so tired and it is almost 1030, so I am going to head to bed, but I wanted to say hello to everyone! Can't wait to be back in the states next week! I miss it!!

Day 4 and beyond tired...

Hey everyone! I miss everyone so much! I have to say though - Hong Kong is unlike anything I expected.

I am on Day 4 and beyond tired...I sleep about 3 hours a night - waking up at 3am and ready to go...3pm hits and I am about to pass out we have been working like crazy trying to finish up the line and it is starting to look so amazing! 14 hour work days on 3 hours of sleep is a little tough!

So, more about Hong Kong...I feel like a giant...everyone over here is so short!!! :) The city itself is very nice, but I have not been able too see too much of it. Hopefully this weekend. The food is okay - I ate jellyfish - just to be nice. Last night I had Italian and that was a nice change...enough about food I am getting hungry! The smog over here is unbelievable - I have a nice view of the harbor in my room and you can't even see the mountains, all covered up with the smog from China.

On the news over here they are discussing getting ready for the Olympics...everything they are doing needs to be done...the elevator is a rush and you get psuhed around like you are nothing...they are starting to fine people in China if you don't form a line and be nice to everyone. I guess you get fined for spitting on people too, haven't had that happen yet thank goodness!!!What else - let's think here...hopefully I will have more to write soon!

We are headed to China today to see some factories...I am a little nervous about that...didn't bring the right shoes either - only heels and they are telling me that we are going to be walking a ton - oops! Oh well - I can handle a day in heels more than people think!

Well, I had better try to get my 530 am nap in!

More to come - hopefully I will start to see more of the city soon!

P.S. That flight was AWFUL!!!! 14 hours is such a long time to be on a plane!

Blizzard of 2008

Was supposed to be arriving in Hong Kong today, but with the lovely winter weather, I am still in OH...kind of glad - as of Friday afternoon, I wasn't packed, wasn't even ready to begin packaging, so it was a blessing to say the least! Plus Brad and I were able to spend some more time together!

So, speaking of Brad - doesn't he think he is a little rockstar. He couldn't stand being in the house all day, so we ventured out. At first I was a little scared, but we made it all the way to Easton and back twice! Well, we almost did - we stopped over at Kevin's to say hello and see Rals play in the snow - so cute! Anyhow, we got stuck in our own neighborhood - needless to say - it was funny! Big thanks to Kevin to helping us push our way out.

As Brad says, "He lives for driving in this stuff"! I was laughing so hard...he then went on to explain how he and Brian used to do doughnuts in the road on the way home from school...Please give us a daughter, don't know if I can handle boys!!!

I have to also say this is the first time I have really missed skiing...with all this snow all that kept running thru my mind was heading up to the mountains with my friend Brandee and hitting the slopes...seems like the snow is a big waste around here - not one person can ski in Columbus! :) It was good to see such a beautiful snow - but I am so ready for Spring - when is it coming?

If I could figure out how to post pictures, I would post some of how tall the drifts are at our house, but I have no idea...gotta figure that one out!


Well, hopefully tomorrow morning I will be off to the Pacific...we fly over that ocean right?? I will keep everyone posted on the trip and put some pix up too! Miss everyone already!

missing him...

I have always wanted to put my thoughts down and see how it makes me feel, does it help you move past, does it help you deal with situations you are in because it doesn't keep you awake at night? So, with the events of this past week, I am officially starting the blog that I have always wanted t, a o.

This past week, I lost one of the most important men in my life, my grandfather. He was such an amazing man. Someone you looked at and always wanted to be like...his character was unlike anyone I have ever met - it was his own. He had his own strong opinions on life and everything else. He stood by them and believed he knew what was best for himself and his family. He loved life and lived it to its fullest. He was supposed to be here forever, he was supposed to be on the today show with his 100th birthday and Willard Scott saying, "contributes his long life to, reading, martinis and my grandchildren keeping me young". He was 13 years shy of that 100th birthday and I am forever sad about that.

He died unexpectedly, so I never really got to say goodbye, I never got to give him that last hug and kiss goodbye. I didn't get to hear that "hey there old girl" with a clap and a big hug waiting at the end. I never got to give him a great-grandchild, a Chestnut tree or any of the other things that I wanted to do for him. I regret so much right now that it just hurts. It is painful on the inside and out...I wasn't ready for him to die. I started thinking that that is too selfish...I wasn't ready for him to die, but maybe he was ready to go and I just have to start to deal with that.

So, that is what I am doing right now, grieving for the man that left my life...I miss him and I love him and not a day goes by that I won't think of him. I am so blessed to have the time that I had with him and most importantly have him in my life.

I will say though, that thru his death it taught me that there might not be a tomorrow, so live today like it is the fullest...say everything you want, tell everyone you love them and those who are voting against you - forget them, surround yourself with people that love you and support you. With people who want you to be everything you can and you want the same for them. Time is short and tomorrow might never happen for you, so why live with regrets, why live with what if's? Why do that to yourself, say what you have to say and live life the way you want and don't worry about anyone else who doesn't want the best for you. These are words that are hard to implement, but after loosing someone who was so important to me with no notice, I have decided to live by them...

I am now going to have to live with the what if I would have gone and seen my grandpa the night before he died instead of working late? Would I have given him the hug I didn't give him on Sunday? Would he have really known before he died that he was important as he was to me? I don't want any of my friends or family to ever wonder how I felt about them, so I love you all and I am so blessed to have you in my life. I know sometimes I get too busy to say it, but I love you all so much, more than I can express.

I want to give a big thank you and I love you to my husband, Brad. I couldn't have even made it thru a moment of this week without your support. This has been the lowest time for me since we were married and I am truly blessed to have you in my life. Thanks for letting me cry whenever I wanted and letting me breakdown when I needed to. I couldn't have made it thru it without you. You are an amazing person and as my Grandpa always said, I am lucky to have you in my life. Here is to our life together - making it all it can be.

To my family and friends who were there for me this week, you are amazing and I love you all!