Mom's Visit

Soo Mom came in on Saturday - before she came in, on Friday Lewis had to go to the Dr, and found out that he has all kinds of issues with the blood vessels in his legs.  So the RV is officially unsure as to when we'll be able to get it.  He has another Dr. appointment on Tuesday (next week) so I'll have more info on you then.  Please keep him in your prayers.

So on Saturday I left here early to hang out with Rob for a while before my mom got here.  It worked out because due to the storms we were having, her plane was actually delayed so... woot for longer hang-out time.  I picked her up and came back to Granbury where we just chilled until time for bed.  She slept in on Sunday and we spent the day just watching football and eating.  Sunday night we were able to hit up a bar called Boozers and have some drinks and sing Karaoke.  Much fun.

Unfortunately, it's hard to get good pix of Mom because she moves around too much!

Big Tex at the state fair!

I entered for a chance to win this car.... I think it was meant to be!

Mom got pampered by a guy who is NOT gay, he just loves cosmetics.  She bought me an exfoliant that is supposed to help with my acne... we shall see. o_0

Work of art.

Little funness - yes, I'd drive this.

Yep, you're reading that right - bacon ketchup.

Mom had a fried margarita.  It's fried pieces of dough put in a glass, they pour tequila over it and top it with whipped cream and a lime.  Pretty good.

Yep - Albino diamondback rattlesnake.

So we had to find the "snakes of Texas" exhibit.

And there were flowers.

A natural butterfly habitat.

Hence, the flowers.

A good pic of me and Mom!  This does not generally happen - I'm printing this one!

Normal, very pissed off, diamondback rattler.  Look at that rattle!!!

Spidey - and spidey molts!

Scorpion, anyone?

 Another spidey.

And we went to the butterfly exhibit.

And saw the pig races.

 Big pig, small pig.

 Fast pig... slow pig!

 And fried Nutella!

Then we went to Billy Bob's in Ft. Worth because Mom HAD to see the biggest honky tonk... and the biggest belt buckle!

Charlie Daniel's fiddle.

Chris!!!  Yes, I love Chris Ledoux.

And more than just country comes thru Billy Bob's.

They have them autograph hamburger buns!!!

Monga!!!  I FOUND THE MONKEES!  Looks like only Davy and Micky, but pretty cool, still.

"In a world of egos and soundalikes, he was a unique artist and a wonderful man.  We have always been proud to represent his music.  Chris Ledoux, 1948 -2005"

Mom's Vanna White impression.

So we had a lot of fun.  Today we slept in, then I took her to the airport and she apparently got to Denver OK, but then had some issues with a cancelled flight (wonder what happened there) but will get home sometime today.

And I have to mention this because I laughed about it in my head a lot.  I once wrote a rant about what makes a "real" man a while ago on Facebook.  The quote from that note (because Facebook doesn't delete anything) is "real men drive stick shifts… there is something authoritative and hot about a man who can slam it into gear and get going."  Well, I stand by that statement!  ;)  And that's from 2009!

Caught up with a friend from college tonight, and that was also really nice.  Good ol' Colleen!  My crazy friend from Chicaago.  It was nice talking about some of our past mistakes and reasons for them.  My favorite is still "I was lonely and feeling bad about myself!"  Here's to not making those kind of mistakes anymore... I think it's time for all new ones!!  Hehehe.

Anyway, if you get a chance to go to the TX state fair, please do.  It's much fun.  Much love to all, I'm gonna try to figure out if my MP3 player has decided to stop being a jerk.  MUAH!

Crazy little thing called... life.

Sooo, most of you are probably aware that I've been living my friends Lewis and Linda since I've been back in the US.  You probably also know that it's a little crowded here because we have 4 dogs, 1 cat, 4 humans and 1 hanger-on who is usually here drinking with Lewis and sometimes brings his 2 kids.  This is not a big house, so I'm thinking I don't really need to paint you a picture of how crowded it can be.  Now, they live in an area of Granbury that has a homeowner's association and will not be able to park their RV on their property, so Ana came up with a solution.  I'm going to live in their RV and pay for renting out the spot in the RV park while remodeling the RV as they want (painting, making curtains and re-flooring it).  That way, I at least have my own space (something that is precious to me... my precious) and she has somewhere that she can run away to if she wants and Lewis and Linda don't have to worry about putting the RV in storage.  Everyone wins!  I'm getting very excited about this.

Now the unthinkable has probably also happened.  I want a dog, everyone knows that I want a dog.  Well, I'm considering getting... a small dog.  You see, Gigi has totally wormed her way into my heart and I want a dog as small, cute, friendly and mischievous as she is.  And I know that Lewis and Linda would not mind if I had a dog in the RV.  So a trip to the shelter may be in order.

Cindy and I went to Mayhem fest last weekend in Dallas and met Ivan Moody, all the guys of Amon Amarth and I got the phone # of a guy who was sitting in front of us during the main bands.  We spent the whole next day texting... the thing is he keeps saying he wants to marry his best friend and honestly he makes ME look humble and... I'm not looking for marriage.  I'm not looking for a boyfriend.  I'm looking for friends - people to hang out with and have a good time.  Not romance.  I don't trust romance... romance exists only to mask a guys true intentions.  So we'll see what happens, and to my credit I did tell him that I'm not looking for marriage.

Meeting the man... I like this one cuz it's like he's thinking "who the hell is that?"

The job continues... except I think I might be doing things too fast and my boss may have a hard time giving me enough stuff to do.  Can I help it?  You tell me how to do something once and I'm going to figure out an easier / faster way to do it next time!  I'm just that good.  And when there is no one else to compete with, I compete with myself!  (BTW, compete is a weird-looking word.  Are we sure that's right?  No red squiggly line, so I guess it's a word... I just hope it's the one that I want it to be!)  I'm loving my job, though.  For real, medical stuff is FASCINATING and the issues with government computer programs are never-ending.  The irony makes me giggle all day... you know... when I know the issue is not user error.  :)

I had to laugh at my little sister.  I had told her that I'm looking for a second job so that I can live on my own and not have to resort to living only on ramen noodles and she told me "add egg for protein."  It's the family support that means the most, you know!  She was also proud of me for getting a phone #... first time that's happened at a rock show and first time in a WHILE that a guy kissed my hand when he left.  Strangely nice, that.

Jess made me cupcakes for my birthday - chocolate with peanut butter centers.  AMAZING!  I just ate the last one today.  That woman sooo needs to open her bakery.  I could decorate cakes for her if she makes the icing!  Some things you never forget.  Oh, speaking of such things, I got to see my older sister for a bit before Mayhem.  Got a good pic of the three of us because with one looking at getting a job overseas, there's no telling when we'll all be together again.  And Linda had a birthday as well, she's now 70 and we got her a Wonder Woman lunch box, poster and t-shirt with removable cape and headband!  She looks great!  Ana cooked for her birthday so we had enchiladas, guacamole, shrimp and this weird, delicious soup-stuff.  No clue what it's called, but there was avocado involved.

This picture is sooo the start of a blonde joke.  "A blonde, a brunette and a redhead in the cab of an 18-wheeler..."

I'm not sure what else has been going on.  My only question for you today, dear reader, is this.  Why is it that guys never seem to understand how to SHOW that they love someone?  You can tell us all damn day that you love us but if you give us attitude when we ask you to do something or just generally act like an ass, how are we supposed to believe that you love us?  How can someone act that way toward someone that they love?  I've been VERY put off the idea of getting married lately... I just don't know if I'd ever trust someone that much.  And frankly, the poor man will have his work cut out for him - I'm the middle child so I'm going to need someone to constantly show me how much he loves me and God forbid he ever forgets me or takes me for granted.  I'm a sweetheart, but I can be an evil bitch when I'm slighted.  Just sayin'.

Been listening to a lot of Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch's new album "The wrong side of Heaven and the Rightous side of Hell"... give a listen to "Dot your I's" - friggin' awesome!  Also I thought "Mama Said" was about the funniest cover of a song ever.  Hearing Ivan growl "Make it rain down like a monsoon, listen to the bass go BOOM" is a cure for my down days.  Also Halestorm's "Here's to us" makes me miss all my friends scattered from Hell to breakfast.  Miss all ya and hope to share a drink with you someday soon.

So life continues and I'm loving the ride!  Got a kick out of going to Mass Saturday night and a heavy metal show on Sunday.  Oh, and where we saw Jesus at Rock on the Range, we saw the devil at Mayhem!  Here's some pix of the bands we saw on Sunday, because I know that's what you really want ;)

Attica 7

Butcher Babies - 2 chick singers... not bad.

Amon Amarth!!!  Straight from Stockholm, Sweden!

Children of Bodom

Amon Amarth during their actual set - a friggin' viking ship on the stage... whose eyes glowed red and smoke came out of the nostrils!

DEATH PUNCH!  Above is my favorite pic of Jason, and below is my favorite of all 5 of them.  Mostly because it's really hard to get a picture of the drummer.

ZOMBIE!!!!

Above - good pic of John 5 and Rob... below my favorite pic of the night.  It just worked out this way and I'm soo happy with it.

Rock mother... well you know the rest.

Yep, that's a ton of confetti and the Texas flag... they were filming for a DVD of his live show.  Have to let the world know where they filmed it!

It was a great couple week celebration of my b-day, starting with a concert in Glen Rose (HR and the Service Reps - guy from work is the guitarist/singer), then we had a lake party, then we went to see POD and Flyleaf and ended with MAYHEM.  So really, we started small and then went BIG!  Good couple of weeks... good way to bid a fond adieu to my 28th year... here's to 29!