Apology to the residents of Massachusetts

So today I received my very first traffic citation. I might add that it was for a pretty lame reason. So Todd and I were driving home from Boston, chit chating about what a great day it was when I looked in my rear view mirror and saw one of Massachusetts finest behind me, lights flashing. Ugh! I looked down at my speedometer...65 on the dot. I pulled over and when the officer approached, I sincerely said:

"I'm so sorry sir, was I speeding?"

The Officer replied and I quote:

"No ma'am, you were not speeding. You were cruising in the far left lane which is illegal if you are not passing anyone and it really pisses off the residents of the state of Massachusetts"

Immediately, I looked out on to a fairly empty freeway and again sincerely responded:

"Sir, oh my goodness, I am so sorry, you see I'm not from around here and I didn't know...."

But is was too late, he had already snatched my license and registration and walked back to his patrol car. The next five minutes Todd and I spent staring at car after car all 'cruising' in the far left lane thinking...'what???' Finally he came back and issued me my citation with a fine for $100. $100!!! Now I realize he was just doing his job, and I did break a law that I had never heard of, but I wasn't speeding, I wasn't tailgating, I wasn't driving irrationally. I was just driving the speed limit on a fairly clear highway having a nice conversation with my hubs...is it such a stretch to just give a warning?

So to the 3 other motorists on the 4 lane highway with us today, I truly apologize. I had no idea that you were quietly hating me behind your steering wheels for occupying the passing lane for too long. You see, I'm from California, a land where you are welcome to travel in any lane, or at least I have never been bothered about it. I truly didn't know. I hope you were able to forgive me and go on to enjoy the rest of your weekend.

We are in the hub of the Universe...or Boston!

We think calling their city 'the hub of the universe' is just a touch arrogant but we love Boston anyways. Today, Todd and I set off to the city to enjoy the beautiful weather and take in a little history. We decided to do the freedom trail that has you walk by 16 historical sites and is about 2.5 miles long ending at the Bunker Hill monument. We had a great time walking around and learning about Boston. I will have to say, the Bunker Hill monument is a bit of a fitness reality check. It has about 300 steps and 16 years ago, my 12 year-old self climbed it with ease and gusto. Flash forward 16 years and I still climbed it with gusto but once at the top thought I was in the beginning stages of a heart attack. Of course my Ironman hubs barely broke a sweat...show off! All in all, we walked a total 5 miles around a great city and learned a little more about our nations history.

Todd in front of the USS Constitution

Trying not to die at Bunker Hill

Time for an Intervention...

Hello, my name is Shannon and I'm a shop-aholic.

::group chants hello shannon::

I have always been pretty frugal. Some of my dear friends have even called me, dare I say it, cheap. I have been known to spend whole minutes in the grocery store looking for the best deal on aluminum foil. I've just always been this way. Then I met my cute hubs, saw how incredibly frugal he was and knew immediately that we were written in the stars. Now I know everyone has their vices. Some people like designer purses or shoes but for the Coyers...its furniture. I don't know what it is, but every time we walk into a furniture store, we immediately open our wallets and start throwing fists full of cash at the nearest salesperson. Our newest purchase? A fabulous bed set! It truly is fabulous. I decided that I will never leave our bedroom again, which is unfortunate as both Todd and I need to work in order to continue funding our addition. So I'm reaching out to our readers ::waves at everyone:: it might be time for an intervention but first you must excuse me, I'm feeling just a little tired and think I'll go lie down.

fabulous...

fabulous...

fabulous!

Just call him Gunny!

The message came out today and Todd has been selected for promotion to Gunnery Sergeant!! Myself and our families are so incredibly proud of him! What this means is that some time in the next coming year he will be promoted to Gunny. However, since Todd is currently on loan to the Navy, and the Navy likes to promote immediately, he will be 'frocked' on July 7th. Frocked means the he will be able to wear his new rank and name. To my sweet husband, you work so incredibly hard everyday. You wake up at 4am, six days a week to condition future officers for what they might face ahead. You have sacraficed many months if not years of your life in service to our country, never with a single complaint or annoyance. You are truly one of the few and the proud and today the Marine Corps continued to agree. We are all so proud of you!

Its the Great Clam Chowder Cookoff!

Now that it is summer, Newport has so many cool festivals and the Coyers are determined to participate in all of them. Today was the 'Great Clam Chowder Cookoff'. It was held right on the wharf and there were a ton of people there. The competition was basically divided into 3 sections. The first was the clam chowder competition, followed by 'creative' chowder and then seafood chowder. There were 35 booths in total and Todd and I fasted for 2 days in preparation. We learned quite a few things today at the cookoff:

1. 80 degrees is not the ideal soup eating weather
2. There is such a thing as bad tasting chowder, so when you tried a baddy, it took some coaxing to get back out there and continue tasting as now you were afraid of getting more baddys.
3. "Creative" chowder is a nice word for experimentation. Experimentation and seafood= The Coyer's bypassing that entire section. Mango shrimp chowder anyone?
4. You can indeed eat too much chowder.

We had an awesome day. We ate more chowder than 2 people ever should and you can count that we will be back next year!

Me and Beth waiting in line to get in.

Hello!

Just sittin' on our porch watching the days go by...

Todd and I were really lucky with the place that we live. Its only a 10 minute walk from downtown, it is on a beautiful street and we have a large porch. We noticed immediately that New Englanders love to lounge their weekends away just hanging out on their porches chatting to anyone that walks by. We thought this looked fun, so we ran out and bought ourselves some porch chairs. With the weather seriously warming up out here, it really is a nice place to just relax. I know exactly where you will find my dad all day when they come to visit in August!

Worlds cutest model ever.

Whose jealous?

While my husband has been known to fight with small fuzzy critters, I recently have been having a war against a critter of my own....the dust bunny. A dust bunny is produced when hardwood floors, dust and my discarded hair mate. They are disgusting. Never having hardwood floors before I have never experienced this. Day after day, I sweep up these terrors. Well those days are over! For my birthday, Todd bought me the Roomba or 'Roombie" as we have affectionately call it. This is the coolest gift. This little robot just wonders around our house and vacuums. He does both hardwood floors and carpet, its awesome! The best part is that when our home is dust bunny-free, he returns himself to his charging station. God bless technology!

Roomba action shot

Go Roombie go!