Manager of the Year

I am pretty excited - I am officially the City of Vista's Manager of the Year for 2008! A few weeks ago I was told that I was nominated and over the last weekend while on our fishing trip I received a phone call from the City's Awards Banquet with the news that I was the winner! I was pretty shocked, it is a very cool and prestigious thing! On Monday Jeff took me out to dinner to celebrate and I finally got my award (see below). I also won some pretty cool prizes including a stay at a Bed in Breakfast and some pretty other neat things! I haven't been able to see the nomination form that my boss wrote about me (so I don't even know really what I did yet), but hopefully I'll get to see that soon! Yeah for me! It is nice to be recognized and appreciated!

Here Fishy, Fishy!

All I can say is what an amazing weekend! Jeff took me up to the Bishop area to go fishing down the Owen's River. It is absolutely beautiful up there - as you will see by the pictures! We had such a good time. Friday morning we got out to the river and organized all of our gear. I caught 10 fish on Friday and Jeff caught somewhere around 16. Jeff would have probably caught a lot more, but he was the most wonderful husband helping me with all of my issues like tangled line, loosing lures, and getting the fish off the hooks! It was so relaxing and peaceful - it is always so much fun to be in nature. On Saturday my dad and brother joined us up there to continue the adventure! It was great to hang out and spend time with them. I am so glad they were able to come. Also on the trip was Jeff's brother Dan, his Dad - Steve, Dan's Father-in-law - Mike, and his friend- George, so yes, I was the only girl on the trip. I originally told Jeff to just go have a guys weekend, but he really wanted me to go (and I did too). To be able to see the scenery that inspired Jeff's Grandpa's (Pop's) famous garage mural was priceless. The trip definately involved a lot of hiking and at some points seemed more like a safari than fishing, but it was all worth it. They were all memories that I will never forget. See some of my picures below:

Here I am all decked out in my fishing gear (note the red boots w/ white polka dots!), and the view behind me is amazing:


Here Jeff and I are before we started our adventure - so many fish! so little time!

Here is Steve (Jeff's Dad) in all of his fishing gear!

Here are Jeff and Dan (Jeff's Brother):

Here are the Livingston guys as we packed up at the end of Day 1.

My dad and brother (Corey) joined us for Saturday and Sunday. Here is our group shot before the fishing began:

My love with a rainbow trout!

This is what I mean by it feeling like a Safari:

Here I am with one of my proud fishies! I learned that I have a personal "I got a fish" dance and song too! It just came to me every time they took my bait!

Here Jeff and I are at a peaceful point in the river - beautiful!

You can see my dad fishing in the background of this beautiful scenery - He loved to stand in the water and try all of his different types of bait / lures!

Absolutely amazing scenery (and it was better in person):

I am not exactly sure how or why Corey ended up on the floor (you'll have to ask Corey or Jeff). But this picture shows the carpet in the hallway of the hotel - trout and fly rods and line - very appropriate!

We enjoyed yummy dinner both nights and crashed super early around 8:30 - they were long days of fishing! Also before we left Bishop we stopped at Schat's Bakery for some tasty bread and sandwiches! All I can say is what a trip! Thank you to my husband for taking me and to my Dad and brother for coming along too! It was very special!