The 25th Hour ~karenjcardoza.com~

I’m parked in my usual spot in the hotel lobby in Ft. Lauderdale and just finished securing tickets for our friend for Sunday’s game. We’re having a few cocktails and just ordered food.  It feels good to just relax and enjoy the company of good friends.  It’ll  be even better to see a good win on Sunday!

Our flight down was a bit bumpy but was uneventful and after meeting up with Bama and securing our car, we dove into lunch. We hung around in the lounge waiting for our room and caught up with friends. I was pleased to get some reading done and tomorrow I’m hoping for some sun so I can get some pool time in.

For now, I’m just content to kick back and be a lobby lizard… Go Pats!!

Looking forward to a long weekend to read, relax, soak up some sun (hopefully) and cheer on my boys… We’re heading down to Florida for the weekend for our annual trek to watch the Patriots vs. Miami.  I’m hoping for good weather.  God knows we’ve had some cold snaps down there.  Regardless, it’ll be nice to just get away.  I’m ready for some football!

Read about and see pictures of our previous TREKS!

Took the Inlaws out to dinner for their 60th wedding anniversary this afternoon and it was very nice. It was a busy weekend full of eating, drinking and family.  Good stuff but busy stuff!  Usually on a Sunday night, I’m switching gears early and getting into work mode with an early night retiring to the room with my book and pot of tea. Tonight though, the Pats are playing the Colts on Sunday Night Football and I consider them to be our arch rival. (Yes, we are no longer in the same division but we are in the same conference and every time we meet, it’s meaningful. I expect tonight to be no different!) So, while I it’s still early, I’m getting my clothes and things ready for tomorrow and am popping on here to post to keep up my NaBloPoMo streak… I’m halfway there and don’t want to blow it now!

Go Pats!!!!!!

NaBloPoMo 15

This summer while at Patriots Training Camp I was asked to be part of  a PSA recording for the Be a Hero Campaign:  Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,  and also to participate in the recording of the stadium Code of Conduct.  Both are being played on the jumbotrons during the games.

Here’s the Be a Hero PSA:
Be A Hero Campaign

Final Camp Pic

Today was the day that Bruschi Backers dreaded:  Tedy announced his retirement.  I must admit though, that after watching his press conference, I’m happy for him. I love the fact that he left having accomplished all of his goals.  He’s such a class act and is looking forward to the rest of his life.  I am selfishly  hoping that the next chapter includes coaching for the Patriots and I think he do an awesome job. Regardless of what the future holds, Patriot Nation will always be thankful to our Full Tilt, Full Time player, Tedy Bruschi.

We’re in the midst of a heat wave here and it seems like summer has finally arrived full steam ahead!  Patriots training camp wrapped up today with a double and while I really didn’t have time to make to both sessions, I did.  Since school ended, I’ve been swamped with errands and lots of To Do’s.

Recent Randomness:

*Garden has been exploding with the heat wave and I’ve been harvesting green beans, cucumbers, herbs, zucchini, tomatoes and lettuce daily.

*What I couldn’t get from my garden, I picked up at the Farmer’s Market at the Visitor’s Center on 295 today. I’ll be visiting each Tuesday through October.

*Had another productive Rendezvous Prep session on Saturday and once again had an enjoyable time with our crew.

*Actually went in the pool TWO days in a row!  The girls love it when we hang out there in yard for the afternoon. And Bells really loves the pool and twirls around and yelps to come in.

*Free is a good thing:  Since I leave my Old Navy Visa for the kids to use for gas, I manage to earn $10 and $20 reward coupons to use at the store. Yesterday,  I walked out with a bag of merchandise without paying a dime. (Two pairs of flip-flops, two metal water bottles, a yoga tank top and yoga/bike tights.)

*I’ve been riding on the Blackstone River Bikeway as much as I can although this week has been too busy and too hot. I hope to get another ride in soon.

*I’ve been getting quite a bit of reading done (both audio and book) since school let out last Thursday and hope to keep it going!

I’ve got a very busy week ahead with a full calendar of appointments and things that I need to do around the house and yard before heading on vacation,  then right back to school. I’ll be busy this week but once I get to NH it’ll be nothing but relaxing for me.  At least I’ll get one week to just do nothing. Where did the summer go?

After pretty much a sleepless night last night, I’m expecting/hoping for a good night’s sleep tonight. I had lots on my To Do list and mind and just KNOWING that I don’t have to get up for work tomorrow should allow me to sleep soundly.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks, with Patriots Training Camp in session, teaching, my niece’s wedding, the usual mom/wife/doggy mama responsibilities,  and various unexpected things occurrng.  Camp has been going well, and although it feels weird to NOT be at every session due to work, I’m attending as many as I can.  I’ve also posted a few camp reports and podcasts when I’ve gotten the chance. (I’m still having trouble updating the website but hope to get that straightened out again soon.)

Tonight was a good night, as I spent the evening filming some PSAs for the Patriots along with a few other Pats fans in the studio at Gillette Stadium, then attended the in-stadium practice session. It was pretty packed, practically filling the entire lower bowl and I don’t remember a bigger turn-out in recent years.

The updated Training Camp  schedule is out and the guys will be getting some time off so, I will be as well. ;-0  That’s ok though, because I’ve got plenty to keep me busy here around the house and yard to catch up on. I also hope to get a couple of bike rides and runs under my belt. If you’re planning on heading out tomorrow, note the time change.  Since it’s only 45 minutes, I’m not heading up as it is likely a walkthrough anyway.

Practice Schedule
August 7: 10:30am – 11:15am; 3:45pm – 5:30pm
August 8: No Practice
August 9: 3:45pm – 5:30pm
August 10: 9:30am – 11:15am; 3:45pm – 5:30pm
August 11: 9:30am – 11:15am; 3:45pm – 5:30pm

It’s  Patriots Training Camp  Eve and I can feel that familiar excitement building…!  It’s going to be strange not attending every single session because of work but I’ll get there as much as I can. With the advent of technology and “Old Media” embracing “New Media” and the fact that I won’t be there every session, I’ve decided to forgo my traditional Mrs. B’s Training Camp Reports. I still may make some posts but the sense of urgency and need to rush home and drop everything to post is no longer necessary.

The PFW dudes will be live blogging from the tent and many people will likely be tweeting as well. Naturally, Mike Reiss and the other reporters will be posting from camp too and it’ll be all over the message boards and dissected and discussed before I even make it to my car.  I’ll literally have nothing to say two hours later when I finally make my way through the traffic and get home.  Besides that, there has been a ton of stress and other RL (real life) things to fill my mind these days and I really need to just go and enjoy camp without the stress of being “on duty”.  So, I’m not saying that there won’t be ANY reports or podcasts but I’m giving myself permission to just play things by ear and enjoy myself.  Fair enough?

School has been going well and even if I hated it I would still need to do it from a financial standpoint this year.  But… I don’t hate it at all.. I actually Love It!!  I’ve got a great group of students and while I love teaching my Severe Profound class during the year, I’m enjoying teaching academics to a higher level group this summer.  It’s a treat to be able to cover different material and work with them. The hours are also great and who can beat a 4 day weekend all summer?

Yesterday, I took a nice long ride on the Blackstone River BikeWay and it was great.  I’m lucky to have it so close by and it’s beautiful.  I had planned on riding my bike back and forth to school a lot this spring and summer but unfortunately, we’ve had so much rain, it’s been hard to plan it.  I hope to get back out on the path again soon.

As for right now, I’m hoping do some reading before crashing tonight because once camp hits it’s Patriots and nothing but Patriots for me from here on out!