Today's Good Mood is Sponsored By........My Award Trip
By Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (55585)
Canada
April 18, 2026 5:16am CST
Yes, I am up bright and early, or dark and early, since the sun has not risen as of yet.
Today I begin the process of leaving for the Annual Epic trip for work.
The build up began in December when they announced who was invited. And honestly, December seemed a long ways off from April. The time has flown. The reality is it begins today.
The team arranging this trip has been giving us tidbits of information pertaining to the time away. Mostly there will be some surprises, that is the main take away that I have.
Of course I was not going to go, due to my terrible fear of enclosed spaces and heights. And really, what is a plane but a steel tube full of people flying high in the sky. I hate having such a crippling fear, but I am well armed with some gravol. As it turns out there are a few of us in this same predicament.
My husband, son daughter-in-law, and Willow and Harper left today for the west coast. They were flying from our city to Toronto, and then after a brief layover they will fly out to Victoria BC. They would just be touching down now in Toronto. The babies were so excited, I hope that they can stay awake until the next take off and then settle in for a nice long nap.
Me, I have a cab booked to take me across town. We are boarding a bus in a large parking lot near the highway. That will take us to Toronto, where we will spend the night at the Sheridan near the airport.
In the early morning we will take the shuttle across to the airport, and then we fly out to Victoria.
My closed-mindedness over flying and taking a trip without my husband is not easy, but I am a work in progress on this subject. I feel happy that there are others that work with me and know me enough to want to help me experience this. I am in a good mood because of the award trip-awards that I worked so very hard to achieve.
And thank you to @Marilynda for posting such happy, upbeat positive posts, many of which start with today's good mood is sponsored by...........
~Photo is mine
~Photo is mine11 people like this
11 responses
@snowy22315 (206175)
• United States
8h
If I had a fun trip to look forward to I would be in a good mood too. Try to relax, you deserve this.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (206175)
• United States
6h
@Juliaacv Hey, whatever floats your boat.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55585)
• Canada
6h
Thank you.
I hope that I do not embarrass myself due to fear, I know it is all in my mind and I will keep my mind busy during the take off-Willow told me to sing the A-B-C song twice.
Ron took a photo of them at the airport in Toronto a few hours ago during their brief stop over.
They looked so excited. But they were up around 2 am, so I am sure that they will nod off into a nice sleep during the long flight as it is 5 plus hours.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55585)
• Canada
5h
@LadyDuck Thank you.
Willow is such a mature and caring little girl.
They are half way there by now and I hope that the girls are getting in some much needed rest.
When they arrive, they will go to a butterfly conservatory until it is check in time at the hotel.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (90103)
• United States
5h
I'm so happy that you chose a todays good mood is sponsored by...
I know you're going to have a wonderful time on your "well deserved" award trip. I hope it all goes smoothly not only for you but for your family as well. Flying isn't my cup of tea either but once you land in Victoria it should be fun.
Can't wait to hear how excited the twins were flying (or if they were anxious & scared) and of course how the whole trip was in general,
I know you're going to have a wonderful time on your "well deserved" award trip. I hope it all goes smoothly not only for you but for your family as well. Flying isn't my cup of tea either but once you land in Victoria it should be fun.
Can't wait to hear how excited the twins were flying (or if they were anxious & scared) and of course how the whole trip was in general,1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55585)
• Canada
4h
Thanks, after the big gala awards evening and the trip back home, I intend on just riding out my time until retirement.
The girls were so excited when they came to pick up Grandpa in the middle of the night to arrive in time at the airport. Here they are after a short flight to Toronto to catch the other plane.
This was taken around 8am, and they had been up for about 6 hours at that point.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55585)
• Canada
3h
@Marilynda1225 It is still 15 months away until I pack it in.
Ron just texted me pictures of them at the airport, they have landed.
Willow asked some of the crew if they would have a rest and then bring the plane back to Ontario to get their Nanny and bring her to them.
My cab will be here in 45 minutes, but they always arrive early, so I have to get things closed up now.
We are expecting a cool down next week, and he asked me to turn the furnace on low before I leave.
I feel much more excited now than nervous, we shall see how I am in the morning at the airport. 
Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend.@Marilynda1225 (90103)
• United States
3h
@Juliaacv they certainly look like they're enjoying the adventure. Gosh they are just so cute.
Glad that your retirement is on the horizon. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I do
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (377831)
• Rockingham, Australia
9h
That's always such a great start to a title. I've say it again - have a wonderful time. I always find it helpful to say to myself 'this time tomorrow, this will all be over'. It seems to distract me somehow and I start thinking about where I'll be 'this time tomorrow'.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55585)
• Canada
9h
Thanks Judy, I tell myself that too.
Ron texted me from the airport in Toronto.
The girls looked so excited and happy, those happy faces will remind me to feel the same.
On a really positive note, I feel like my carry on is packed, and I haven't forgotten anything, although I may slip out and possibly pick up a small, more compact hair brush.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55585)
• Canada
7h
@JudyEv I am just such a worry wart.
Ron texted me a picture of the babies in Toronto during their layover, but he did mention that both our son and his wife are very tired and hope to get some sleep on the flight.
Me......I need to keep my mind busy by cleaning, somehow that relaxes me.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (57269)
•
7h
I am sure you are nervous since you've never flown before. It will be OK..you earned this trip and that's a wonderful thing. I hope you have the best time, Julia!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55585)
• Canada
6h
@MarieCoyle Oh yes, it is across town, so with traffic, I mean taxi drivers go faster than I would, it will be at least a 30 minute ride. The streets that we have to take are more like parking lots on weekends then streets.
I don't ever fill the gas tank, he drives it 5 days a week, and he watches the prices, and gasses up at the full service place usually mid week, as that is when the prices are the best. But we share a vehicle now. We got rid of our older SUV last winter, it needed some work, and it just wasn't worth the cost for how much it was needed. I only use it to go to the grocery store, and I shop on the days that he is home. We always wanted to go down to just 1 vehicle when we retire, and although I am not quite reitred, I could not justify spending so much on a car that I could easily live without. And hey, the lower insurance is not hard to take.
@Juliaacv (55585)
• Canada
7h
Thank you, I did work really hard to earn the trip, but I like to work hard and being in the limelight doesn't necessarily appeal to me. But the excitement starts this afternoon when I take my cab ride. Of course I am dreading that ride, even though I can expense it, the cost of gasoline is up 13 cents today from yesterday and I am sure that the ride will run me at least $75. Like I said, I can expense it, but there is so much that I take for granted just getting into our car and pressing the start button as I never fill the tank.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (57269)
•
7h
@Juliaacv
That will be an expensive taxi ride, good grief. Is it a long drive?
You never fill the tank? Does your husband always do that for you? Mine sure never did that for me…but then again he often didn’t take the time to fill his own vehicle with gas. Then he would take mine,and I would have to fill his before I could go anywhere. He wasn’t lazy but he just always said he forgot.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (188025)
• Boise, Idaho
36m
I have that same fear. I also have social anxiety and to be in a small space for so long would really do me in. This trip is a once in a lifetime thing and I am glad you decided to go.
@RasmaSandra (96480)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
Just now
I wish you all the best and ej=njoy and keep that mood upbeat,
