Tomorrow is March and I've got to get at least 1 post in for February, so here it is....

I'm going to pretend like it hasn't been over a month since my last post. I'm going to pretend like I've been blogging this whole time, no one has missed me (which, let's face it, is probably the truth), and we will just all go on as usual. Ok? Thanks.

First, an update about my other blog that I told you about in my last post. If you're thinking that it is the reason I haven't been posting here, you're wrong. I've been totally neglecting that blog as well. In fact, I posted on it twice and then just sort of lost steam. See? It's a good thing I didn't tell anyone the address. Now I can just erase it and pretend it never happened. The blog, that is. The weight loss is going great! I'm down about 9 pounds last time I checked, and more importantly, I'm losing inches, so pants that haven't fit me in years are getting a second life! Yippee!!!!

Here is how my February went down.....

My Great Aunt Hazel celebrated her 87th birthday this month, and her children had a party for her up in Dallas. My mom, Betty Nuggs, came down for the festivities, as did several of her siblings. We had a great time eating, laughing, shopping and visiting. Here are some pics from the party.

Me and Nuggs at the party.

Me, mom, aunt, uncle, cousins and Great Aunt Hazel (center). Happy Birthday Aunt Hazel!

I bought some new fabulous cowboy boots while we were in Dallas. Actually, these are my first pair of cowboy boots. Shame on me, I've lived in Texas for nearly 4 years and have never owned a pair. I love these. They are cute and very comfortable.

The Cowboy bought me some beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day. My favorite - calla lilies.

Aggie took up residence in the laundry basket, after we had to throw away her dog bed because she chewed it up. Hopefully the laundry basket lasts a little longer.

My newest knitting creation. It's a scarf made out of a bunch of leftover pieces of yarn from various projects. Thank goodness I hung on to all of them! I tried to make the "theme" of the scarf green, and then threw in some complimenting colors.

Rather than knit this scarf length-wise, as with most scarves, I knit it width-wise. I cast on 180(ish) stitches on size 11 circs and changed yarn every single row. I absolutely love the way this turned out. I have enough odds and ends to make at least one more, possibly two. What will I do with them you ask? Drum roll, please................ I am opening an Etsy store!!! I having been knitting and sewing like crazy lately, (hence no blogging) in an attempt to get a stockpile of things ready to sell in my Etsy store. I am hoping to have everything up and running over spring break - which is 2 weeks away. I will be sure to let you all know when it's open, and post a link. In the meantime, here's a sneak preview. It's my store banner.

Speaking of new exciting things, Lexey Rhea was born this past week!!

Congratulations to proud parents Johnny & Tiff, and big sister Sydney! I can't wait to meet little Lexey.

It snowed in Austin this past week. Like, a lot. Serious accumulation. It's the most snow I've seen down here since I've been here, and I heard it was the most snow that they've seen here since 1985. Here are some pictures, taken from school, where I was stuck all day because they didn't cancel school. Boo.

The kids had a blast, though. We took them outside in the morning and let them run around and play in it. Many of them had never seen actual snow before, so it was fun to watch them. Someone tried to make a snow angel, but there wasn't quite enough snow for that, and it ended up being a dirt angel.

Today, it's sunny and 65. I love this state!!

That's my February in a nutshell. I would promise to try and write more, but we both know I don't mean it. So in case I don't blog again until the end of March, I hope you all have a great month!

Something Old, Something New

No, I'm not getting married. Sorry mom.

Tomorrow here in Central Texas we are supposed to be getting some "winter weather". Oh boy. The high temps are going to be in the mid 30s, and it's supposed to precipitate, so the forecasters are calling for the-possibility-of-a-chance-of-we-could-see-some-snow-flurries-with-some-light accumulation-on-the-grassy-areas-perhaps-between-2-to-3-inches.

You would think WWIII was about to roll through town, the way people are freaking out. I went to the grocery store after work today to pick up some batteries and everyone and their brother was there. I ran into no fewer than 7 kids from my school, and the lines were outrageous. I find it highly amusing, and yet very annoying (especially in the store situations) that the people down here hear the word "snow" and they think they better stock up because "who knows when we'll be able to get out to the store again". Oh for crying out loud. It's snow, people! It's supposed to melt by Saturday morning, and it won't even make the roads slick. Geesh.

Also, the school was all a-buzz today with talk of cancellations and snow days and inclement weather and buses and what would we do if? like questions. Bunch of ninnies. I'm not saying it's not been chilly down here - for Texas this weather is unusual, especially this time of year, and it

hasn't taken long for my blood to thin out and for me to become acclimated to the weather. However, snow isn't anything to freak out about. Do you hear me people of Central Texas? I declare,

"SNOW ISN'T ANYTHING TO FREAK OUT ABOUT - ESPECIALLY NOT 2-3 FARKING INCHES!!!!!!!"

Moving on...

That wasn't what I wanted to blog about today. I realized that I haven't posted since my trip up to Michigan for Thanksgiving, so I thought I'd better remedy that. I'm not going to post a bunch of boring pictures of my family and I on Thanksgiving (that doesn't mean I didn't take a bunch, just that I'm not going to post them you see) or bore you to death with the details of my trip. I'll just say that it was fabulous and everything I'd hoped it would be. The food was great, I got to see some friends and hang out with my cousins and aunts and mom. In fact, my mom and I went yarn shopping and I picked up some new sock yarn and some Noro. But those are boring details that I promised to spare you.

Christmas came a little early for me this year while I was up north. My grandmother gave me a wonderful gift!

My Gram and I on Thanksgiving (Ok, so I posted one boring picture of me and my family)

Here's the back story. When I was a little girl, I loved my Grandmother's house at Christmas time. It was filled with familiar faces, food, smells and decorations. My favorite decoration of all was this ceramic music box that I believe on of my aunts had painted and given to my Gram. It

depicted Santa snoozing in his chair, near the fire, and had a Christmas tree with 2 elves on either side that rotated around, which was how you wound up the music box. It played The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire....), and it amused me for hours. I would wind those elves up and happily watch it turn. I don't know why I loved it so, but I always have.

My Grandmother gave it to me this year.

It's probably my favorite Christmas decoration that I have now. And I have a lot. It looks like Christmas threw up in our house. But I love it that way.

The Cowboy and I are scaling back our Christmas gifts to each other this year, for various reasons. One of the things I had asked for, before we decided to keep it simple, was brand new bedding. The whole shebang. Bed skirt, comforter, pillows, sheets, etc. Our dogs, I love them, but they tear shit up. And to be fair, I'd had my old quilt on the bed for a few years now, and it was time for something nicer and newer. Grown up bedding. Well, The Cowboy surprised me yesterday with an early Christmas present!

This isn't the best picture, and it's still a little wrinkly from being in the package, but here's our new bedding! We set it all up, I took a quick picture, and then we had to cover it all up with the "dog blanket", which is our old quilt, which we are keeping on top of the new stuff, so the dogs don't tear it up. I wish we could see the bedding all the time, but it makes me happy just knowing it's there, and I love sleeping in new sheets.

Well, I'm off to watch the weather report and laugh at some fools. I hope it does snow, though. That would be pretty neat to see. But I'm not gonna lose my cool over it or anything.

Burn baby burn. Vacation inferno.

Oh hi. I'm back from my vacation to the pits of hell. Er, I mean Palo Duro Canyon. Same difference. Pardon me if I'm in a salty mood. I have to work tomorrow. Boooooooooo.

So yeah, it was hot. Hotter than hell. Hot hot hot. Ole ole, ole ole. Let's see how many stupid song references I can throw in here.

Palo Duro Canyon was beautiful, don't get me wrong. But we spent 10 hours in the car to arrive at a place where you had to get up at 6:00 am every morning (which, let's just be honest for a second, isn't my idea of a "vacation") just to be able to actually see anything cool in the canyon, because by 10:00 it was 110+ degrees. Every. Single. Day.

So as you might imagine a lot of our time was spent in the wonderful air-conditioned oasis-like coolness of the camper. Praise the Lord for AC. Because of this, rather than a bunch of beautiful scenic photos of the park to show you, I have a ton of videos of Sydney. Because that's what we did. Played with the kid and took naps and ate junk food (the napping and junk food are totally my idea of a vacation). So here you go..... scenes from my vacation.

In this first one, we see Sydney growing up just a little too fast and exploring my makeup bag.




This next one features me tickling her. I love the way she laughs, and at one point, she snorts. Which is always funny. You can also hear Tiff in the background looking for the fly swatter. Here's another downside to Palo Duro - flies EVERYWHERE.




And my personal favorite, us quizzing Sydney on what certain animals/people "say". We asked her this no fewer than 20 times and it never got old.




And ok, I admit that we did get up early a few mornings and go hiking.




















And the canyon was lovely.















And I took some pictures.


























































Of things other than Sydney, I mean. Such as The Cowboy's back covered in flies.




















I told you it was bad.




























































As I said, it's back to school for me tomorrow. Summer was fun, but I'm looking forward to getting back into a routine and seeing my kids again. Hope you all had a great summer too! (although it's hard to imagine that summer is "over" when it's still 100 degrees outside every day....oh, Michigan falls, how I miss you)

Freaky Friday

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, and instead of offering you a million excuses about why, I will instead dazzle you with some scientific fact, which, I believe, will also inform you as to why I haven't been around.















It's too hot. TOO HOT. Here in central Texas we've been having a wee bit of a heat wave that started 3 weeks ago and hasn't let up. Temperatures have been in the 100s every single day. Yesterday it was 106. I am not making this up. It's fricking hot here. It's too hot to blog. It's too hot to breathe. It's too hot to do anything. Really.

This is the end of my third week of summer vacation. It hasn't been a total waste, though. I mean, I have kept busy.















I've been busy taking pictures of Sam.















That dog is ridiculous.




















And I even tried to get the dogs to wear my reading glasses long enough so I could snap a pic.






























The crazy times never end around here, let me tell you. Dog in glasses!! Whoo. What's next.

I must have been temporarily insane yesterday because I attempted to clean out the Cowboy's closet. The Cowboy and I, thank the Lord above, have separate closets. Mine is organized, tidy and neat (most of the time). The Cowboy's is the exact opposite. But worse. The Cowboy's looks like a land mine went off in there. It looks like North Korea dropped a bomb in there. It's just piles on top of piles on top of piles on top of mismatched shoes and socks and boxes and ammo and papers from 1997 and wires and broken hangers and a bottle of something suspicious looking that may have been wine 10 years ago but now who the hell knows.



















It's a mess.



















But, he wanted to find a particular t-shirt that he owns, because tomorrow we are driving to Houston to watch the Houston Astros play the Detroit Tigers (his team vs mine, in other words) and although he's got about 20 Astros shirts (and I know this because I found every last one of them in there yesterday), he had to have this particular shirt. And because I'm a nice girlfriend, and am bored out of my ever loving mind, I decided to tackle the closet and find that shirt.



















I've also been reading quite a bit because, obviously, that requires minimum movement, so I've knocked quite a few books off my summer reading list. And I've been working on my tan.



















Today is me and The Cowboy's Anniversary (hence, the reason for the trip to Houston) and he surprised me with flowers this morning - delivered to the house after he left for work.



















My favorite - Calla Lilies!

So I went to the Super Special Cupcake Store and bought these bad boys.















They are almost too pretty to eat, but I'm sure we'll find a way. S'mores, Strawberry Cheesecake and Toffee Chip. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

But I suppose the biggest news of the past 24 hours, what everyone is talking about, and what I wouldn't feel right about including, would be the death of a pop icon.


















Say what you will about him, and all jokes aside (and I've even heard some good ones about his death, not even 24 hours later), he was an amazing entertainer. At least back when he was in his hay day. Every little kid I knew growing up had the Thriller tape and idolized Michael Jackson. The man was not without his problems, who among us is, he just happened to be more in the spotlight than the rest of us. Well that, and perhaps he was a bit sick in the head. But that guy could sing and dance. And in his death I suppose we should focus on the good he did in the world, and the music that affected and shaped my childhood. Rest in peace, Michael.

Hope everyone has a great, not 105 degree weekend, and this includes me, but alas that will not be possible because we'll be in Houston where, if you can believe it, it's even HOTTER than Austin. I might melt! Go Tigers!

No Freaking Wonder

It was 81 degrees in Austin yesterday.

Then, last night.....THIS

It's no freaking wonder I'm sick.

**To my friends and family in Michigan who are going to tell me to shut up because it's been snowing there for a month already and I used to be used to it and blar blar blar, I say the following: 1) I'm not complaining about the snow...it was actually quite lovely (while it lasted for all of 20 minutes) and 2) SAVE IT. You come live in a warm climate for 2 and a half years and tell me your blood doesn't thin out.

I have seen the light

I almost died last night. For reals, y'all. I saw the baby Jesus come to take me home. Sort of. I mean, it could have happened.

Last night was a perfectly lovely evening to begin with. My belly was full of Mexican food, and I was left to my own devices for watching the results show of American Idol (more on that later) and then perhaps a bit of reading, or knitting. I really need to get off my lazy ass and finish that baby blanket for Sara, since that baby is a-coming next week if not sooner. But anyway....last night. So I watch Idol, enjoying some friendly back and forth banter, via Text Message, with some of my Idol cohorts (you know who you are), and when it's over, the local news starts.

Top story on the news is the weather. The clouds had been black all day, on and off rain, big red radar blobs on the TV. News anchors warning us how to take cover. A tormado was coming.

"Tormado" is what I used to call a tornado when I was little. I also used to say "anTANuh" for antenna. Sometimes I still do.

So yeah, the weather was bad. BAD. But I dig a thunderstorm, and it makes me want to curl up and read even more than usual. And I'm reading a vampire book, so I figure a good t-storm is prime condition for a little blood sucking action. It was going to be ON at my house.

I get up and am going to start doing a little picking up, putting away dishes, etc. La la la. La.

*tap. Tap.*

*tap-tap.*

*taptaptaptaptap*

*TAPTAPTAPTAPTAPTAPTAPTAP*

*TAP TAP TAP TAP*

*BOOM*

*TAP TAP BOOM*
*TAP BOOM*

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

Well you get it. Or maybe not. The taps are the hail and the booms are the thunder. There was lightening too, but there isn't a good descriptive word for that. Probably because it doesn't make sound.

So I'm all "Hmm, what's that noise?" And I look outside and it's a crazified, full on hail storm. I text my mom, "Hey mom," I say, "It's hailing like crazy here."

I guess there wasn't enough urgency in my writing because she writes back "Hail, hail, the gang's all here."

Hilarious mom. I might die and you're making jokes. Awesome. So I say to myself, I say, "I'm going to prove to her that I am in dire peril. I will take a picture of this Monster Hail."

<-------------- Monster Hail

"That'll show her", I thought defiantly. And then I ran and hid under the covers of my bed and cowered like a baby.

Thank you to all of my friends who sent me TMs to make sure I was ok. All both of you really helped me through the hard times. To make a long story longer, Blain eventually came home to find me hidden under a pile of blankets and clutching to my cell phone. The Monster Hail eventually died down, no tormadoes were reported to have touched down in our area, and the Great Storm of 2008 just reduced to a heavy rain, which the flowers in my garden needed anyway, since I'm so darn lazy. So it all worked out in the end and everyone was happy. Except this poor bastard.

Ouch.

(this picture wasn't actually taken by me, or even anywhere near where I live. I have to give credit to my friend Marlene for it.)

In other news, even though I feel that American Idol is a total Sham. And also, a Ripoff. I would still like to plug my fave.

Go David Cook!!

Oh yeah, and what was that whole Fantasia thing about? I am still confused about that. So much so that I don't even have anything witty to write about it. That was ridiffiluss.