Coming Soon...

A Full Report on MD 2009. I am working on getting the all the pictures. I had to solicit some from friends, a few from my mom's camera, and of course I have a few myself. It was a wild weekend... and I would like to be able to create a sufficient post with pictures included... Until then, here's a sneak peak:



Forgive the shades... we were wild and free. (plus Ryan was borrowing my sunglasses as he is currently without)

Long Weekend

It's Memorial Day 2009! I love this holiday because it marks the 'true' start to summer, in my opinion. This little holiday has earned quite the reputation among my friends. We love that we are all together for a weekend enjoying the lake. We are all getting together for a good ole cook out one day and we are going to Marshall Tucker Band Concert at The Amphitheater one night. I just love it! I am super excited and ready for the festivities to begin.

I do want to point out, however, that we shouldn't get caught up in all the festivities and forget about the reason we actually celebrate this holiday. *que star spangle banner* I am so thankful to live in a country where we are free to be who we are and where we have soldier that proudly fight for our freedom. I hope that everyone has a wonderful and SAFE holiday weekend- just take a minute to remember why we are celebrating!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! Enjoy the long weekend.

Back From THE BEACH!

I got back Sunday from a little much needed vacay. I took a few days off last week and took it on down to the beach. Ryan and I met Deidra and Shaun in Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, AL for a great weekend away.

Ryan and I left early on Thursday morning. We had a few errands to run prior to heading out of town that put us a bit behind- like Ryan had to vacuum out my car, I forgot our concert tickets at my office, and we still had to hit the bank up for a little cash flow. So needless to say, we didn't leave before the sun came up, but 9:00 is early to me when I'm on vacation.

Once we had all of our errands taken care of we were headed south!! We were super pumped. I love the beach and everything it entails. On the way down I decided not to get Garmin (the GPS) going because, quite frankly, I knew I had to take Exit 37 and on top of that I have been to Gulf Shores enough times in my life to have it down pat. (or so I thought) So off we went. Ryan and I were casually talking about everything under the sun. We must have really been into our conversation because we started crossing a bridge that I didn't recognize and I was all, "What is this bridge? Do we always cross this bridge?" To that Ryan responded, "I have no idea. I don't think so. We're crossing some river and now a lake and I don't think this is right...."

Well we kept driving until the next exit which was like Exit 22.... We had gone a bit too far- we were headed straight for Mobile! Not a part of the plan, but we went with it. I decided that we should, at that time, get Garmin going. Long story short we ended up this passing this:

And we thought HOW FUN? Then we were in this tunnel:



And when we emerged from the underground... would you believe what we saw?



The USS ALABAMA. If you were in my Camp Fire group as a young child- you get it. I was so excited! I think Ryan was excited too.

After all that excitement we finally made it to the Tanger Outlet Malls in Foley.... Where we shopped til we dropped!! Not really... but Ryan bought several things in Polo and I picked up few things in various places. By 3:00 we were finally at the Condo. YAY!!

The main reason we went to the beach this particular weekend was for a concert. Sugarland was playing at The Wharf and I just HAD to go. Deidra was on board immediately and the boys didn't care either way... they just heard "beach trip" and were along for the ride.

The concert was Friday night. It was so GOOD. I've loved Sugarland for sometime now, and the concert completely reaffirmed my love. We danced and sang. We blew bubbles during one song and had glow sticks for another. She (as in lead singer, Jennifer Nettles) did all of their hits and even covered a few songs. I loved every minute of it. Here are some pictures from the concert:









When Sugarland came back out for the Encore... Jennifer had this wig on....



BECAUSE HER ENCORE SONG WAS LOVE SHACK! I was eating it up! It doesn't take much too pump me up... and I was loving this.

After the concert Ryan and I headed over to the infamous FLORABAMA. So much fun. Here's late night "self shot" of the two of us...



(not so good of me... but good of Ryan)

We spent our days at the beach and our nights enjoying great seafood and night life. We even had time to hit up a little putt-putt golf. Here are a few random pictures from the trip:

The night we went to Tacky Jack's for dinner, drinks and music.



A little beach fun...

The boys jumping the waves. Very entertaining to watch. Then you have Dee and Shaun enjoying the ocean, and one of me and Ryan on the beach. Ryan had to rock his white-tee the second day on the beach because he was soooo sun burned. Bless his heart.





Last but not least... Putt-Putt action shots. The course was "pirate themed" by the way.

I know for sure when the time came to leave Ryan and I were not ready to come home yet. We love a good trip to the beach- but then again who doesn't? Hopefully, and I quote ryan here... "We WILL be going back to the beach at least four more times this summer."

Tuesday with Harley

Oh the sweet smell of spring is upon us... Harley just loves it and, quite frankly, so do I.

Just look at him. He loves that the weather has gotten warmer and the days longer. ME TOO, HARLEY. ME TOO!

Or... it may have been that he was simply mesmerized by the treat I teasing him with. Mmmmmmmm. It was so good.

Either way, I am glad that it's spring!

A good time...

We had a great weekend. I got to spend some quality time with a few friends while sun bathing by the lake on Saturday. Then on Sunday Ryan and I spent time with our families for Mother's Day. My family had a fish fry... and when I say fish fry I mean we had fish, onion rings, hush puppies (my fav), french fries, cole slaw and to top it off we had three different kinds of pie. Needless to say, we all walked away full. Here are a few pictures from the event. Enjoy.

OH SOMEBODY....

Please vote for the little Chinese Crested over in the dog poll (right side). It is hurtin' my feeling to keep seeing him at 0%. Somebody out there has got to feel like they are a little different from the rest of the pack.

So it's Firday...

I haven't been very good with staying on top of my posts lately. I'm sorry. Now that we've got that behind us I feel better. I will work on it.

I guess by now it's apparent that I didn't win the "Derby Pot" I entered. I know-SAD, huh? One of my horses came in second place... are you believing that? Second place. I would have rather both my horses finish dead last than to tease me so. I just knew Pioneer of the Nile had it in the bag.... and then "Mine that Bird" decided to come from behind- and out of nowhere WIN! It's okay though... I will end up buying a new pair of shades regardless. Plus- I'd just be lying to stay I didn't love seeing an underdog win the race. Can you believe that horse only cost $9,500? I know... such a great story!!

I've been meaning to post some pictures from a wedding that Ryan and I went to a couple of weekends ago, but like I said before... I haven't been on top of the blog like I should be. Again, my bad. The wedding was really pretty and Ryan and I had a great time. Here are a few pics:

Ryan and I, about to enjoy dinner.

Several of the guys + Mr. Randy about to see the couple off.

My best good friend, Bess. I just love her.

A little late night impromptu dancing.

And one more pic of Ryan and me. We had been dancing the night away.

Finally- This weekend is Mother's Day. YAY- for all you moms out there. I had someone tell me happy mother's day earlier and I was all "honey I ain't no mama. I ain't even married yet..." You may have had to have been there, or know where I work to have thought it was funny. I have a really great mama. (that's right, I said "mama" because that's what I call her. Not mother or mom- she's my mama) You may know her as Wanda (I call her that sometimes- jokingly) and she is one of the sweetest people you will ever know. Some people tell me that I act a lot like her... and I always respond to that comment with a "thank you." Because if I act anything like her then I am pretty exceptional. So thank you for being the best mama in the world- I love you.

And this is your present- Me telling the world of your greatness! Enjoy it. Relish in it. You are now famous! Just kidding- we have you a little something more! (but you are a little famous now... I have readers in Canada, you know.)

In honor of Mother's Day, this weekend my family is getting together for a good ole fashion fish fry. Yum. I can't wait. I will post pics next week.

Oh- one more big thing is going on this weekend. A couple of friends are coming to town. I think we may go out on the lake tomorrow. I love, love, love my friends and I love the lake. I can't wait. I will post pictures of this next week as well.

Have a great weekend- and show some love for your mama!!

The Kentucky Derby!

Oh how I wish I were posting about how excited I am to be going to The Kentucky Derby this weekend, but I'm not. I'm not going, but I would love to go just once- and not to the in-field. I want to dress up in a fancy dress and put on my big hat and order a few mint juleps... while Ryan politely takes several hundred dollars and bets on the horse of my choosing... Then in a perfect world that horse wins and Ryan and I laugh and jump up and down (but in a very sophisticated way) Then we would finish the night enjoying the high life and all of our new found riches. That is the Kentucky Derby experience I one day hope for.

However, it would probably go more like this: We freak out because our "fancy" isn't fancy enough. My hat seems cool when I purchase it, but looks awful the day of. I order a mint julep and realize I don't have much of a taste for it... then we put the rest of the money we have with us on the horse of my choosing (which I choose because it's a pretty horse) and of course it loses and we are too broke to make the journey home. At which time- we have to call home for our parents to wire us money for gas to get back.

Maybe one day, when I am fortunate enough to experience the Kentucky Derby, it will be somewhere in between, if not the first of, the two above mentioned scenarios.

I do have $100.00 riding on the derby this year. It's true. I do. I entered a "Derby Pot" if you will, with my co-workers and if one of my two horses wins I will have $100.00 in my pocket come Monday morning. Oh it just makes it so much more fun! Now I realize I only paid in $10.00 so technically I think I only have "$10.00 riding on it" but I have already spent the $100.00 in my mind on a new pair of Ray-Bans so that means I need one of my horses to win.

The two horse I drew are:

"General Quarters"





and- "Pioneer of the Nile"



Normally I wouldn't know one thing about a race horse (unless it was Seabiscuit-just because I watched that movie) but I have done some research this morning and I think that Pioneer of the Nile has a good chance. But I feel like General Quarters needs my support too- he didn't get there by being a slow poke.

So this weekend. Have a mint julep, put on a big hat, and please, please pull for Pioneer of the Nile and General Quarters. Thanks.
pictures via http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/