My dream

Well, here goes:  This is the plunge.  I've given over a year to this thought, and I'm very timid about posting it here.  I'm hoping my friends will be supportive, or keep their thoughts to themselves.  I honestly can NOT take any negativity right now.  I will mirror this entry on my Bogger journal...just to be up front and honest.

 

I visualize a book.  A coffee-table book or something.  I see the pictures, but don't yet see the text.  I may ask for help on that later.  I see some of Mom's poems, some of my memories, and some interview results.

 

I honestly won't say, yet, what I plan to do, but I'm starting on Friday.  I know the pictures that need to be taken.  I know how to organize them.  I know what I'm looking for.  I hope Mom will join me on my journey.  If I become a famous, published author, you all get a free copy of my book.  If I'm a proven failure, I'll deal with it, and appreciate your support.  If I'm a proven failure and a laughing stock, I'll point fingers and implicate each of you by name.

 

Here's hoping.  I'm 38.  I can't keep waiting for something to happen.  It's time to MAKE it happen.  Cross your fingers!

Quiz results, my birthday, and love

Well, thanks for taking my quiz.  I have a 30 gallon aquarium that has very few fish.  My fresh-water shark has grown to about 5 times his original size.  He's huge, and although he's friendly, he's eaten some smaller fish.  Time to buy larger fish.  Although my shark is huge, my plecostomus (scum sucker, or lawyer, for those of you who don't know fish,) is bigger.  He's almost scary, he's so big. 

My dogs deserve more than Ol' Roy.  They don't deserve much more than Purina, though, so that's what they get.  Hawkeye is the best dog in the world, I don't care what you say, and Lucy will spend her days on the back porch until she is FREE of accidents.  She's close, but no cigar.  All evening, all night, all morning, and all weekend, she's in here with us.

I don't own cats.  When I had that affair with Russ, he wasn't paying attention.  I used to have cats, but no more.  I sold them to gypsies and am now cursed by dog hair.  You take a chance, dealing with gypsies.  I only have dogs and fish.

Hawkeye sleeps on the couch when he thinks nobody is looking, and the hair tells the tale.  His hair is everywhere, no matter how much you clean.  He's worth it.

OK, that's the end of the quiz.  Sue, I'll be there tomorrow around 6, and I like cheap beer, so the "drinks" shouldn't be too much of a problem.  I eat anything, too, so any dinner is fine.

It's my BIRTHDAY!  I got many cards, ecards, and well wishes at work.  I also got Diet Coke, Pringles, a candle, a new blanket (my desk is in a COLD spot in the lab, and my old blanket was ragged,) and lunch with a friend. I came home to grilled burgers (I've been craving them since the weather got nice,) and name brand beer (I usually drink VERY cheap beer.)  Kevin and the kids are being awesome, and I'm having a great day!

Love is:

1. Your mom posting about your birthday before you're even awake.

2. The puppy trotting to your room, seeing you're not there, and letting her tail droop until you call her name from the next room.

3. Your 11 year old calling in birthday wishes to your favorite station before 6:30 am.

4. Your 9 year old singing Happy Birthday on the radio after 6:30 pm.

5. A husband who would do anything for me.  He would live or die for me.  He would give in to my whims and cook burgers while his body aches non-stop.  He always asks what I think before making a big decision, and he just...plain...loves me.

One more thing:  I've noticed that my annual post on Mom's journal was short-lived.  All it took was a Monday Photo Shoot, a Quiz, and a comment from my selfish brother to drop my entry to the bottom. :(  SHE'S ALWAYS LIKED JIM BETTER!!!! ::pout::

OK, I'm over it.  Jim, there is HELL to pay on your birthday, big bro.  I'll do something so incredible that she'll FORGET your entry altogether!  HA!

 

A quiz, and a *sigh*

Well, I'm having drama with the boy...the man child...the kid who, 16 short years ago, was a 2 year old wonder.  I'm letting it go for today.  It's my birthday-eve.  I won't think about it.  The problem will still exist on Wednesday.

For now, to get my mind off it, another quiz.  This one is about my pets.  Good luck.  The prize is a chance to take me to dinner, and take me for drinks after.  Or something:

http://www.quizyourfriends.com/quizpage.php?quizname=070303231157-891089&

The concert

What a most awesome night!  There are WAY too many pictures up there, but keep in mind that I took over 190 in all.  35 doesn't seem so bad now, does it?  It was smoky (manufactured, not cigarette) and there are some obstructions, but I got a lot of good ones.  I am one HAPPY camper this morning.

I will try not to bore you to death, but here are some concert etiquette suggestions, some observations, and some general thoughts from last night:

1. Old ladies should NOT hold their arm up with the "devil horns" sign through an entire concert. You look ridiculous and I'm trying to take pictures of the hottest man on earth.

2. If your child is going to kick off her flip-flops to stand on her chair, said flip-flops will be soaked in beer when she puts them back on.

3. No, it was NOT my beer.  I didn't pay their elevated prices. 

4. Plastic doesn't always work.  The Tshirts were "cash only" and I feel cheated.  Who wants to go into a crowd of 10,000 people with a wad of cash on you?

5. A good, loving husband is an amazing thing to have around.  I can't believe he drove that far, waited that long, and put up with all of that for a country concert.  He doesn't listen to country!

6. A fat drunk girl, charging the stage, won't even get close.  She'll get ejected from the building.  Even if she begs on the way out.

7. Watching your daughter high-five Craig Morgan as he sings his way down the aisle is a priceless thing to see.

8. Old, drunk people dancing is both sad and amusing.  Take some lessons or something, would ya?

9. Trace without a shirt makes my knees weak.

10. No matter how many comments I make about his hotness, or how weak in the knees he makes me, I would NOT leave my husband for him.  I bet he wouldn't drive me to St. Joe for a concert, or buy Burger King at 1:00 in the morning on the way home.  I bet he wouldn't put up with my comments about another man.  I bet he's not half the man that Kevin is.  A couple of hours to find out wouldn't be bad, but then I'd be RIGHT back here at home.  Honest!

It's shaping up to be a GREAT birthday

My "three day birthday" doesn't start until tomorrow, but the celebration starts tonight!

We went to Mom and Dad's this morning, for a brief visit.  She was riding Blue, and Dad was doing some dirt work in the pasture.  We took the dogs, because they love it so much there, and Sadie seems to like having visitors.  Brett stopped by, then Kevin left to take Monica to her friends for a sleep over birthday party.  Natalie and I took the dogs home, after Brett went to work, and the two of us ran to the next town over for a Shamrock shake.  Yummy!

Kevin got home and the two of us old farts took a nap, so we could make it through the night.  We're leaving, in less than 15 minutes, for the Trace Adkins concert.  It's about a 1 1/2 hour drive, and we plan to be an hour early so we can try to hang out with the radio station goobs.  Natalie and I do things like that.  Kevin will sit in his assigned seat and roll his eyes at us.

Danielle Peck is ok, Craig Morgan is awesome, and Trace is HOT HOT HOT!  I get to see all three.  Also, I just checked the seating chart.  We are 4th row, center!  AAAAHHHHH!  I'm so excited, and so happy to own a new camera.  I've got spare batteries in my pocket, so I won't be caught like I was at the Trent Tomlinson concert.  I'm prepared, baby.

Wow, I can't sit still.  I'll post pictures tomorrow...unless I'm so wired when we get home that I can't go to bed.  Then I'll post....ummmm, well....it'll still technically be tomorrow.

HOME ON TIME!!!! and other good news

So, I got home from my trip on time (earlier than expected, actually) and life was good.  Had to take a little side trip to the Plaza, though, but it was worth it, and all good.  My customer visit went very well, and the boss and I had a good time...even when we got lost for about 10 minutes.  We flew into Mt. Vernon, IL, and had to drive about 15 miles to get there. 

As usual, the boss had wine on the plane for the trip home.  It was choppy in a few places, but a great flight.  Ted was the pilot this time, and he (just like Joe) makes a trip as smooth as possible and the landing was impeccable.  I love our flight crew.  When I complimented the landing, the boss said "They're quite good.  This is expected...and appreciated."  I like that.

I had a concert dilemma, which I posted about on my other journal.  It has worked out.  Go there to see the result.  I'm so happy, I could pee myself.  Oops, too late.  JUST KIDDING!  But I *did* almost have heart failure while on the phone with the station.

The pictures are nonsense, mostly, and you need to know that I like cloud pictures.  'Nuff said.

*Another* Impromptu trip????

Well, here we go again.  At 2:15 this afternoon, I was informed that I was to go on another customer visit tomorrow.  Where am I flying in to?  Oh yeah, the same airport as last week.  This customer is ALSO in West IL.  The forecast, according to www.weather.com? and I quote: "Rain showers in the morning then thunder showers in the afternoon."  *sigh*

The pilots and owner (my only travel buddies this time) assure me that we'll get back with no problem this time.  They said the same thing the last time.  It's not their fault.  Nobody (even high-paid meteorologists) know what the weather will do.  This time, I'm packing a very small bag with underwear, sweats, Tshirt, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, and contact case with solution in it.  I will NOT get caught off guard again.

Once again, I'm looking forward to the visit.  Once again, I like this part of my job.  Once again, I can tell you that I am spontaneous and like the unexpected.  BUT.  BUT!  Kevin can't handled the unexpected.  My kids will FREAK if they think I'm flying out for a "1-day trip" again.  My work will sit and wait for me until Monday. *sigh*

Mom knows, Kevin knows, and my coworkers know.  I won't tell the girls about this trip until I pick them up (early) tomorrow evening.  I don't want to lie to them, and I haven't.  I just don't want to cause anxiety for them.  It'll be good to pick them up early, then announce that I've made this trip and got home on time.  It'll prove a point. 

I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, not telling them, but my gut tells me that it's the route to take.  I try to follow my gut whenever possible.

By the way, the St. Louis forecast for tomorrow? And I quote, "Partly cloudy in the morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers later in the day. Thunder possible."  *sigh*