Maureen goes west...

I'm always excited when my work travels take me to a state I've never been and this June I got to check another one off my list - Arizona! I had a work event that took me to Phoenix and while I'm not sure I'd recommend visiting the desert in the middle of summer - I will say it is a beautiful place and I wish I'd gotten to see and explore more of it.

I guess I wasn't really sure what to expect as far as the scenery was concerned but as my flight made it's approach into the Phoenix area I was blown away - those desert mountains are really something to see. Catching a sunset through those mountains was truly remarkable.

Of course most of the trip was spent indoors - as most of these work events are - though when the temps outside are 120 the AC inside is welcomed.

The event was a really good success - one of my co-workers whom I travel with often, Chase, was the chair of the planning committee for this symposium and did a fantastic job. Always fun to see your colleagues succeed!

Got to spend time with some of my favorite folks in my industry as well and enjoyed some incredible meals - including the best tacos I've ever had - hands down.

Phoenix you are a thing of beauty - I look forward to returning someday (perhaps in winter) and exploring more of what you have to offer - and maybe bumping into Larry Fitzgerald as well.

See you later...

The morning we headed home, Andy, Sadie and I headed back to the beach at sunrise to pay our respects to our sweet Liddy girl & to memorialize her. We brought the shell home with us and will always think of our Liddy Poppins everytime we look at it.

 

See you later Liddy...

OBX 2019 Edition... Part III...

While it certainly wasn't easy to try and enjoy what remained of our beach week we did our best and found some happiness through all the tears. Not the vacation we had imagined but I think it helped that we were all together and in a favorite spot - the sea air helped to begin to heal our wounds. 

Sadie became our focus and we got her to the beach everyday - she hasn't been nearly as much of a water dog as Liddy was - but she started to get her sea legs and definitely enjoyed running on the beach and just being with us laying under the umbrella. We know she was healing as well. 

Adam continues to be our beach bum. He even took a turn using the kayak out in the ocean. He was a stud - I wasn't nervous at all (yeah right.) 

Harper made friends with the life guards and got to check out their jet ski - on the sand only. He also became less and less afraid of the ocean as the week progressed - I was equal parts happy and not happy of that - haha. 

We took in as many sunsets as we could - though the clouds didn't always cooperate - still - they are always a thing of beauty to me. 

The boys even humored me one evening by "dressing up" and taking some photos. 

We did lots of bike riding - Adam and I even rode bikes down to this cool smoothie/acai bowl spot. Of course lots of golf cart rides as well. 

The pool was a favorite spot in the afternoons - and Harper became even more comfortable swimming - so that was a bonus as well. 

Our last evening we had crabs at Mark & Kathleen's house. A nice meal to end a tough yet memorable week.