Dear balcony,

Thank you for making the work I do from home much more...tolerable.

Dear Grandpa's Garden

I hope this season is a fruitful one (no pun intended) - here's to oodles of peas, carrots, radishes, green onions, tomatoes, beets, squash, green beans, green peppers, zucchini and cucumber.

It was lovely planting you yesterday.

Dear May 22,

An all-day meeting with a client does not make a happy Val.

Dear Academy of Country Music Awards

Thank you for giving me an excuse to:

1. Go to Las Vegas for the weekend (22hour road trip) with the girls
2. Harmonize to N*sync in the car
   
3. Stay in the MGM Grand and have some quality pool time in 107-degree weather (I love tan lines)
4. Dress up fancy and attend the Awards show in style
5. Be in the same vicinity as Nicole Kidman, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Jewel, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland (new fave) and Reba McEntire...just to name a few...I feel like we all connected
   
6. Eat an In-N-out cheeseburger (animal style) and a strawberry shake
7. Reconnect with my inner cowgirl
   

Best weekend trip for under $100 of my life.
So far.


*Of course, NONE of this would have been possible without the hookup from Noelle's sister's best friend who works for CBS and gave us the tickets. Thank you sister's best friend, thank you Erica, thank you Noelle (and thank you Laura for driving 12 hours - getting us there and back safe-n-sound).

Dear New Kids on the Block

I don't know if you got the memo - or skipped school the day opposites were taught in kindergarten - but you are most definitely not the 'new' kids on the block. As much as I love the hits of the early days (The Right Stuff, Hangin' Tough and Cover Girl to name a few) and reminisce over the days when my sister and I used to dance to your music in our family room, the fact remains that you are no longer kids, nor new. You've been around the block a few times (yes, pun intended) and once you become a checkmark in the 30-35 year-old segment, you forfeit being able to pass as a kid.

And don't even get me started on your new single 'Summertime.' A song which makes me hang my head in shame. You're sealing your fate of being regulars on the state and county fair circuit in 5 years. Nay, 2 years.

Dear Moab,

Thank you for the great weather, frisbee in the park, the Delicate Arch hike, the Colorado River - class III rapids, the wet suits & life vests, putting the wet suits on, helping others get their wet suits on, River Guide Jake, tailgate breakfast time, sleeping sans tent under the stars...illegally...sort of, early morning yoga from Cheryl, sunrises, detours in West Helper, slightly melted PB M&Ms, endless amounts of drinking water, true love in the Price Taco Bell parking lot, excellent road trip conversation, sing-a-longs, Chaco's tan lines, naps in the park, pizza buffet eating contests, jalapeño cheese bread from Maverick, Judd the bus driver who needed a lift and many many many more memories...priceless.

Dear Patience

I'm sorry I forget to use you when things start to hit the fan - especially at work. I tend to panic and resort to anger/frustration/loud outbursts as I read emails from coworkers who make my life difficult to exercise patience. It's not you. It's me. I'm working on it. Please don't give up on me. I think I'll need you more than ever in the upcoming months.