Buzz Fest Part III

Where were we?

So, after dinner, we walked to the Banner Elk Elementary School Playground for the group shot. We always talk some poor, unsuspecting stranger into taking our group shot. And then hand them atleast 20 cameras. This time we were good and didn't do that. :) We just took a couple and Naj e-mailed it to us...however, i can't find it now. Ha! I will find it tomorrow and it will go HERE:


So, after dinner, some of the crew invited us to their cabin for a bit. When they rented the cabin online, it said "On Beech Mountain." Like THIS Beach Mountain - complete with ski slopes and quaint shops and restaurants. Little did they know - it was on the BACKSIDE of Beech Mountain - straight through redneck zombieville and everything! (That's what I call those windy, dark, backroads sprinkled with random trailers and modular homes... That's probably not very nice of me, huh?) I don't know who took that video of us but that's me and Ashley trying to get up the mountain to the cabin. (haha. Kidding. I don't know who those fools are...)

Anyway, when you say "it's 10 miles" up windy mountain roads, that means 45 minutes atleast! It was a pretty drive up - right at dusk - and it just SHOCKS me that people live here. And have grown up here and lived here all their lives. Like the kids who were born and raised in New York City. The mountain kids have the same mystery to me. I mean, HOW do school busses get up here? In the winter? How to they deal with not being able to run to wal-mart real quick? How do they deal with their driveways that go STRAIGHT UP the side of the mountain? These were my deep thoughts as we drove up to the cabin.

This drive was also when Clara made Ashley play her CD of bible school songs at top volume.

So instead of it being like our Banner Elk Cruising of the past: listening to 2 Live Crew "Ain't nuttin but a hoochie mama!" We were all singing this at the top of our lungs:

"I am a C. I am a C-H. I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N! I have C-H-R-I-S-T in my H-E-A-R-T and I will L-I-V-E- E-T-E-R-N-A-L-L-Y!!!!"

Like I said, A LOT changes in just a few short years...

The cabin was awesome!! Several people went in together to rent the 500 bedroom place - and it came complete with a wrap-around deck and jacuzzi. I bet the view from that porch in the daytime is amazing...

There was a rumor going around that the jacuzzi got a bit wild after the kids went to bed...but I don't recall where I heard that one.... I think her last name rhymes with Bacon.... but anyway, I was back home and asleep in the bed by 10pm. What would I know?? :)

Here are Lisa and Vinnie, toasting their brand new engagement!!













The next morning, we all met for Breakfast at the Banner Elk Cafe. This is the most astounding change to me since graduation in 1999. This little hole in the wall cafe is now a BEAUTIFUL lodge with the most amazing outdoor dining area I have ever seen. If any fellow LMCers have not been back to see this, you will be pleasantly shocked.

Ashley's husband, Larry, joined us for breakfast and stayed the night. (They only live 45 minutes away in Morgantown, so Banner Elk is "right down the road." Do you KNOW how jealous I was of them on travel home day?)

Here is part of the group - joined my our friends, the dead animals on the wall.



And here are some of the kids, enjoying the spiral staircase.



After breakfast, I made Stella and Clara pose under the Elk in the middle of downtown.




At some point - I can't remember which day it was - Ashley and I took a drive up Sugar Mountain to look at our old house... We rented this LOVELY (sarcasm) slope side house the summer of 1995...and SHOO, it was an adventure in MANY ways... The stories of that summer deserve a blog of it's own!





Courtney - this one is for you:







Anyway, back to Sunday. After breakfast, we walked through a craft festival that was going on...where I bought some local wine and a cute little angel picture frame thingee for my parents anniversary. Here is Larry and Ashley in their dream living room. :) I love all of the rustic mountain lodge furnishings...







When I have my mountain mansion one day, it will be furnished this way. Just FYI.

After the craft show, we rode around town and took the LONG way to Boone, through Valle Crusis - by the Mast General Store.

When we were in Boone, I decided that my nose hairs could not take it anymore and I bought a new carseat. It wasn't a waste because I bought one that will convert into the booster she will be in until 80 lbs... It was worth it to me! (Side note: Toby has put the offending car seat in this Jeep where it gets a lot of fresh air.)

We went back to Banner Elk and ate dinner at Sorrento's where I got my Tortellini dish that I loved so much all those years ago.. It did not disappoint! Sorrento's is another major memory for me...It's bittersweet being there now. So much has changed.... in a good way! But it still is kind of emotional...I do miss those days and my friends from back then that I was not able to keep in touch with for one reason or another....

After dinner, we went back to our house. SOME of the group went to Boone to do the new(?) ZipLine. I bet it was amazing but I think I can safely put that on my list of "Things I will never do in a million years." Those who agreed with my list came to hang out at our house while waiting for the others to get back.

I am sure we bored the crap out of Vinnie and Larry as the girls (Me, Ashley, Courtney, and Amy) did some Christmas shopping in my Thirty-one catalog. We couldn't help it! :)

So that was our last night. We got up early on Monday and hit the road for Richmond. I was anticipating heavy traffic and I was holding my breath the ENTIRE way down the mountain for fear of my daughter hurling in her NEW carseat (wouldn't that have been fabulous?) but it ended up being a great travel day. We made it home in record time - and I did not speed.

And we did NOT watch movies or drink chocolate milk. I learned my lesson on that one.

Anyway, thank you SnowBE's for a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I hope we do Buzz Fest in Banner Elk from now on.

It just seems RIGHT.

Two Videos

I know still owe everyone Buzz Fest Part III but I wanted to post these 2 videos because they make me happy. :)

Dancing Queen in a Diaper:

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Two year old using chopsticks. As if I needed ANY more proof that she's a talented genius. I am not biased whatsoever.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Buzz Fest Part Deux

Alrighty! Let's pick up where we left off...now where was that? OH. That's right. Puke City.

So, that first night in BE consisted of the laundromat, mediocre chinese food, and Food Lion. It was just nice to be with Ashley again...I really didn't care what we did - although I would have rather eliminated the laundromat part.

I'll rewind just a bit and show you some pictures from that first travel day...

Here is Stella, right before we hit the road. All cozy and ready to watch movies.....




And I was already thinking about documenting for the blog. Here she is "AFTER." Notice the styrophome of the car seat with no cushions. I think this is when she said "Feel better!" She looks like she feels better....If only this picture was in smell-o-vision.




Here are some pics of Banner Elk, as I was driving in... It was like I left it. And so different, at the same time.



The ONE stoplight.



And a shout out to the girls of TATE DORM! This is where I met my girls - back in 1994. Geez.






And here is the Little Rock Cottage. I was so in love as soon as we got there....



Here was the sign greeting us on the front porch.



And here are pics of Clara and Stella in the Chinese Restaurant where Ashley nearly had to call the police because they were being so wild... Can you tell??



Little Ashley and Stephanie - future roomies!




Back at the cottage, we got into some late night coloring...




Here was the living room, kitchen, and hallway....












The deck was HUGE and sat right over a babbling brook....







Finally! Day Two!!

We got up early (as usual) and ate breakfast, took showers, and just got the house ready for the lunch we were hosting for everyone. This would be the first time everyone was together for the weekend... We planned to just get pizzas from Sorrento's and then we had fruit and dessert to go with it all.

Velvet and Kennedy arrived first. Clara loves babies - can you tell?




Then everyone else arrived together! (We'll discuss the drive from THEIR cabin later on....)

We had a nice lunch and visit on the deck. It's so strange/surreal to all be together now in Banner Elk - with families. Things DO change in a short time!

Mostly everyone:

























And here is Stella's future husband, Preston (Courtney and Chris' son) - they were born a week apart and are destined to marry, whether they like it or not.



Here they are having a lovely lunch together.



Some decided to trek down to the creek.




After lunch, some of the group went to walk on campus...where a very special event happened.

Vinnie proposed to Lisa on the LMC Bridge!! Congratulations to Vinnie, Lisa, and Family!!

Then, the most important event in a Mother's (I mean, Toddler's) day: NAPTIME.




We all met up again for dinner at the FORMER "Big Chill." It's now called Smokehouse Bayou or something like that... We had a great section in the restaurant - thank God - because the kids ran around like nuts. I am SURE they were glad when we left that place!!

Kim and Brandon's son, Chase



Drew and Will



Will - looking like he's about to do something



My future son-in-law, Preston




Everyone!













After dinner, we walked to the Banner Elk Elementary School playground where we had the traditional Group Picture taken.... And that will have to wait for Part III.

I can't even think of a title. So I won't.

I know I owe you guys the rest of the Banner Elk update and pictures! I promise that will happen this weekend. So far, the calendar is not booked up and I plan to spend most of that time in my living room, wearing my big, comfy, blue and green plaid flannel pants.

It's been a rough time around here lately.

My job sucks now. I cry a lot. (Public shout out to Toby, Mom, and Dad who have all had to deal with that.)

Toby's job is nearly unbearable for him. He works so hard but he works in circles because the company is so unorganized.

And then yesterday, we found out about a tragedy involving one of Toby's good friends. We don't know what happened. We do know he was going through an ugly separation and custody situation with his estranged ex. We do know that she was doing some awful things to their family - cheating on him, leaving the kids in unsafe situations, etc. Mike came by often to hang out. I do think he looked at Toby as a mentor/counselor-type friend who he looked up to. We both tried to talk Mike into getting better legal help to get the kids in his custody... You could see in his face he was pained by all of this - and it had been going on for nearly 2 years. He adored his kids, especially his older son. That's why I just don't understand..............

On Wednesday at 10am, he shot and killed his ex and then killed himself. Toby is devestated and confused. I can't stop thinking about it. We'll never know what happened or what made Mike "snap." I think it was the years of constant pain and suffering - and he was sure he just had to end the misery. But in this "crime of passion" he left 2 children parent-less and that makes me sick to my stomach.

News Article

Buzz Fest, Part 1

I would update you on my work situation but have decided against it. Because this is a public blog and because I don't want my head to explode in a million little pieces and ruin my beautiful Coach bag. If this is any indication, I am listening to Marilyn Manson on my iPod through my speakers OUTLOUD on my desk.


Moving on to happier things: BUZZ FEST 2008


Unfortunately Toby could not go as his job was facing a hard deadline and he had to work all weekend. It was just me and Stella for the long roadtrip. I loaded the car on Thursday night. It looked like we were going on an extended deep sea diving expedition for 3 months. Good LORD the stuff you need with a toddler! (Funny - you never end up using half the stuff, but if you didn't bring it.... guess what you would need?!)


We got up at 8am on Friday and we ate breakfast and loaded the rest of the stuff. I loaded Miss Thing in her carseat - all ready for the trip. Complete with Dora blanket and MOVIES on the portable DVD, with a sippy cup on the side.


And away we went!


The trip started out a bit rocky when after 3 hours we had not even gotten to Durham yet - that normally takes us 2 hours. By this time, it was near lunch so we just stopped and ate at Burger King (healthy!) Stella was excited that I let her sit in the booth like a big girl. She was yelling "HIIIIII!!!!" at all of the other BK patrons. She really didn't eat her lunch of apple fries and chicken nuggets, so I packed them up so she could eat in the car when she was hungry.


So, we get back in the car and I have to change her diaper on the front seat as there was no changing station in the BK bathroom (why why why?) and there was no space to LAY her down in the car. Of course it was poop. Because my life just rocks like that. It was all good though... No poop on anything.


We get on 85S again and immediately hit traffic. Some GENIUS decided that the friday before Labor Day would be PERFECT for major roadwork. Thanks guy! (I say "guy" because you KNOW it was a man who didn't plan at all....) It took us about an hour to go 10 miles...


So after that, it was smooth sailing. From Durham to Wilkesboro was a breeze! At one point, Stella yelled "eat!" and I was so proud of myself for packing her lunch from BK. She ate it up. Every last bit. After another couple hours, we stopped for a bathroom break and I thought *Stella is being so good. Let me get her a treat.* So I got her a chocolate milk since it's her favorite. The one with the rabbit on it. A BIG one.


In North Wilkesboro, I went through the McDonald's drive-tru for a GIANT coffee for myself. I love how in NC they put the cream and splenda in for you! Back on the road again - and you all know that the climb starts after Wilkesboro. I turn off the overdrive in my car and my ears started popping and I wondered about Stella's ears... but she was sucking her fingers (as usual!) so I figured that would help to pop her ears... and she was transfixed by the Little Mermaid. So we continued to climb the mountain to Boone...and I am making excited phone calls to Courtney and Ashley to tell them how close I am getting....


We see the "Welcome to Boone" sign and I literally CLAPPED and yelled "Yay Stella! We're in Boone!!!" I was going to ride through Kings Street and do some hippy watching...and maybe stop by "Melanie's" restaurant - my friend Scott owns it... All these plans!


Then I heard it.


The biggest gag/wretching sound of my life.


And then I saw it.


In the rearview mirror.


My child had turned into the exorcist. But her head did not spin around and it was not pea soup. It was apples fries and chocolate milk.


EVERYWHERE.


She blows chunks (apple chunks) everywhere and starts to whine because she's scared - but never did cry.


I was the one crying. Not really - actually not YET.


I pulled over and jumped out of the car and opened the back door and didn't know WHERE the hell to start. I pulled off her Dora blanked which was COVERED...threw it on the ground.... I unbuckled her and noticed all of the puke DOWN IN THE BUCKLES but just continued to work to get her out. She was also covered from head to toe. I got her out of the car and stripped her down and threw he clothes in the pile with the blanket. I put her in the front seat of the car while I assessed the situation. It was NOT good.


So the cushions and covers on the carseat were all covered. I took off the layers (who knew there were 3249687203598672367 layers of cushions on a car seat.) And that's when I realized that this quite possibly could be the worst thing that has ever happened to me.


There was puke in every single crevice and hole and notch and opening in the car seat base. (and who knew there were 304976230967 of those...) Puke saturated the straps that save my child's life. And in the buckel that holds it all together?!?


I'm trying to block this out....


So, I wipe it down as best I could with 2 of the towells we brought...and then I did the unthinkable.


I got Stella's toddler toothbrush. The Gerber one with the cute little chipmunk on the handle.


And I scrubbed puke chunks out of my child's car seat while pulled over on the side of a mountain road while my naked child sat in the front seat.


The smell.....oh, the smell. Forever stuck to my nose hairs.


I worked for a long time and got really upset when I realized that it was IMPOSSIBLE to get all of this out. So I put my naked child in the BASE of the carseat, strap her in with the putrid straps, and continue UP the mountain to Banner Elk - our final destination.


We made it there safe. And I realized it was just car sickness when Stella announced "Feel better!" from the backseat. I have to say, I was very relieved that it wasn't a 24 hour flu bug and I would be spending the next 2 days in the cabin, surrounded by puke and dirty laundry.


So, we arrive at our little house we rented with Ashley and her 3 year old, Clara. They were not there yet.... Oh my, the house was PRECIOUS but all I could think about was the dang carseat and getting it all cleaned up and finding a laundromat. I checked into the house - and by checked in, I mean WALKED in the house. The owners had already been there and left the key in the door and a sign on the porch welcoming us. No one locks ANYTHING in Banner Elk. I miss that place...


So I get Stella out of the car and she runs around the little yard in her diaper. I bet the neighbors thought "Who is this looney tune that is renting the house this weekend?" I worked diligently on trying to get the carseat OUT of the car - while yelling "STELLLLLAAAA!" every 30 seconds to make sure she was right with me and not running down the huge hill to the creek in the backyard.


I tried like hell to get the latches undone from where Toby had put the carseat in. He had it in so tight a bomb could have done off and blew the car to bits but the damn carseat would be right where it was before. GAHHHH

So I pulled and yanked and cussed and cried and sweated. All while Stella ran around the yard in her diaper and crocs.

I finally gave up and just sobbed. What in the hell was I going to do? There was liquid puke UNDER the seat. It was oozing out. (Sorry folks. Gotta share this vision with you...)

Then I had an epiphany: Scissors.

I searched the cabin for a pair but could not find them. So I grabbed a giant knife. Yes, I had lost my mind. But as I was walking out to the car again, I saw the "Welcome Creemore Party" sign on the front porch. (Yes, they left out the K.) At the bottom it had an arrow and said (over) so I turned it over and there was the owner's phone number with the statement "Feel free to call for any reason." BINGO!

I called and told the lady I had an odd request. I need scissors STAT. Her husband walked right over with a pair. I'm sure he was taken aback by my sweaty face and hair and wild eyes. I was on a mission.

He then told me that he wanted to extend the offer to stay on Sunday night for FREE. I took him up on it right there. My trip had started off so bad, I needed an extra night to make up for it!! (We had originally planned to leave on Sunday but that went out the window...)

So anyway, he left and I CUT THE CARSEAT OUT OF THE CAR. It was attached by the "latch system" so I just had to cut that one strap. I could still hook it in using the seatbelt so I didn't ruin it by cutting it...although Stella ruined it by YACKING in it.

I pulled it out of the car and found a hose and sprayed it down completely and let it dry on the porch for a bit. (When we left again later, I put a clean towel in it and Stella road with the hard plastic exposed..poor child.)

I cleaned the car - thank the Lord for leather seats and a container of Wet Wipes. That's one thing working in my favor!

I unpacked the rest of the car and got Stella inside and dressed...and Ashley and Clara arrived. After they brought their stuff in, we were off to the laundromat (which by the way, is NOT behind the Black Diamond anymore...I went there first!) Luckily, it has moved up by Food Lion and we were going there anyway...

I filled my giant Ikea bag with the offensive clothes, towells, and car seat cushions and we filled up a washer at the Banner Elk Laundromat. The Ikea bag went into the trash can.

We walked down the sidewalk to the Chinese Restaurant where Stella and Clara proceeded to LOSE THEIR FRIGGIN MINDS! I think they were so excited to be together - but geez. I almost had a mental breakdown over my sweet n sour chicken. They were wrestling on the floor and dancing in their chairs...and the screaming that could bust an eardrum....

Ashley had the quote of the weekend. Clara was acting up and Ashley reached for her purse and ever-so-calmly told Clara that "I'm going to give them a call...I just want to warn them..." And I'm thinking: who is "them?" And then she proceeds to tell me that she "calls" the police all the time on Clara. She warns them that Clara is acting up and they might need to come by and check on her... You know what? IT WORKED. She said she also "calls" Santa Claus a lot. GENIUS.

After we ate, we switched the laundry to the dryer.

To whomever used the washer after me: Sorry about the chunks.

We then went to Food Lion and bought food for the weekend and for the lunch were were hosting on Saturday for everyone... Afterwards, we picked up our nice clean laundry (I could still smell it in the cushions - Ashley couldn't.) and went home to the Little Rock Cottage.

To be continued soon - with pictures! Somebody send me the group shot! :)

Just a few things...

I really shouldn't be blogging right now as I am SWAMPED at work. I can't get my inbox down to less than 10 e-mails as hard as I try...I like being busy because it makes the time go faster but when I can't everything done in that time, then I get stressed! And I hate not having 5 minutes to balance my checkbook or check my daily boards just for a minute... Anyway, I have been so busy, there has been no time to blog, but I do have an ongoing list in my head at all times... Let's see if I can remember some stuff....

1. I have alluded in previous entries to the books I am reading right now. To say that I am obsessed is putting it mildly. As I am at work, I'm thinking about the book. I take it to the gym at lunch and read on the treadmill (that's one way to get my ass to the gym!) I read at stoplights. I put Stella to bed at 9pm and instantly pick up the book for my 2-3 hours reading session. This is unheard of for me!!

On the cover of the first book, it says "soon to be a major motion picture" so for the first time, I looked up these books on the internet. Holy Harry Potter! Where have I been? It's like a CULT! I was shocked to see all of the fan sites, blogs, etc.... I did dig a little too far and read a sentence about something that is going to happen in book 4 and I could have smacked myself! But I'm trying to block it out as I read.... So I stumbled up on the author's site and read her blogs and saw pictures of the cast of the movie - they look almost exactly as I had pictured them in my head. Good sign #1. It comes out on November 21 and I might take off work. I'm not even kidding. I thought I was excited about Sex and the City: the Movie. That doesn't hold a candle to this! I'm ready for my giant popcorn with goobers poured in... and Edward's lovely pale face on the big screen.... Ahhhh.....

2. XM Radio. I have it in the car. How come every SINGLE time I turn it on Top 20, it's something about a Lollipop. I'm so sick of those songs! So I usually just keep it on the Boneyard channel. Last night on my way home, I heard "Bang Bang" by Danger Danger. I used to love that song. Hearing it just brought back how genius some hairband lyrics are.. .such as:
"Bang Bang! What's that sound? I gave you my love and you shot me down."

I mean, seriously?

This morning, I heard "Same ol' Situation" by Motley Crue and cranked it up and sang at the top of my lungs... And then "Don't Stop Believin" by Journey came on and I shocked myself at knowing every.single.word.

Then I pulled into the parking lot and immediately yelled "F***!!" because I saw my bosses office light on when I thought he wasn't going to be here today and I was late........

3. So it's no secret that I take anxiety meds and have for over 10 years now... I think anxiety runs in my Fam... And I have it and keep it under control with meds... fine by me! But I did decide to switch from Lexapro to Wellbutrin a couple weeks ago. My company completely pays for generics and Lexapro does not have a generic...so I was paying $20 a month which is not alot but when you add it up over the year, it is. SO, I switched. I followed Dr's orders and tapered down the Lexapro and increased the Wellbutrin over 10 days....

Ummm, I did not know I would go through HEROIN WITHDRAWLS.

I mean, seriously!!!

For the past few weeks, I have had this weirdo dizzy sensation that if I turned my head too fast - I felt like I was going to fall out. And my whole body would get this tingly feeling every 10 minutes or so... I kept having to take deep breaths to "center myself."

It's been almost 3 weeks now and I am FINALLY feeling somewhat normal. I am really glad I am getting off something that is THAT potent.

So, in addition to the physical changes, I can tell that my emotions are a bit wacky. Not too bad...but I can cry at the drop of a hat. Whenver I talk about work to someone, I tear up. Whenever I watch TV and people are happy, I cry. Case in point: I was watching the Democratic Convention re-cap on the Today Show the other morning and they were showing Hilary Clinton's speech and the camera panned to Bill and his face was so full of pride....and I cried.

I DON'T EVEN LIKE THE CLINTONS.

4. Stella and I are hitting the road tomorrow morning for a weekend in Banner Elk! We are having a small college reunion of friends, lovingly refered to as the Annual Buzz Fest. Don't ask. I am so excited I could bust. Ashley and I have rented this little house and we are having everyone over for lunch on Saturday...then big dinner out Saturday night... We are coming home on Sunday so I can have Monday to recover and get ready for work on Tuesday... Toby wants to go with us but he has to work. And two nights away from Stella is as much as he can handle - so we're coming home Sunday.

I'm excited to see everyone! To see the kids playing togehter! To tool around Banner Elk - even though it looks nothing like it did when we were in college there. And I'm VERY excited to show Courtney my new planner/daytimer system that she is going to be so jealous over. :)

You think I'm kidding....

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone! Safe travels... Love to all.

Thirty Two

My 32nd Birthday was a good one!

On Friday night, we had dinner with my grandmothers, my aunt Nancy and her boys, and Mom and Dad... We went to Casa Grande for my FAVORITE: the shrimp quesadilla. Mom got the traditional Ukrops cake - but flipped it upside down by accident so here was my "Happy Birthday Stephanie" - I laughed so hard. I love it! It tasted good and I should know because it's GONE now...




Mom and Dad gave me a BEAUTIFUL silver bracelet that is engraved with "God could not be everywhere so he made Mothers." It's so special and wonderful.

On Saturday, my actual birthday, Toby gave me the best present - he kept Stella while I went grocery shopping by myself. :) Actually, I really don't mind having Stella with me while I shop - she's so fun all the time... I love her company. But man - it was very nice to roam around Wal-Mart by myself. I usually do not go to Wal-Mart with her - we usually do a quick Kroger trip. But since I was alone, I got a giant coffee from Starbucks for my stroll around Wally World. I took my time and didn't feel rushed or guilty. It was lovely!

I bought the 2nd book in the Stephenie Meyers series - because I am about 100 pages from finishing the first and I MUST have the 2nd book on hand for when that happens. There is NO waiting period between - I am so in love with these books.

I arrived home to a napping toddler AND husband. I unloaded the groceries and ate the leftover half of my shrimp quesadilla for lunch while watching a DVRed Intervention. Then, Toby's Dad and his wife, Yvonne, came over to bring me a present - which was a surprising treat!








Then Toby's sister Kim and her daughter Kendall arrived. Kim was going to keep the girls so Toby and I could go out for a movie and dinner. We went to see Tropic Thunder (I was disappointed by it, Toby liked it...) We got a small popcorn to split - which Toby ate 95% of.... and then was too full to eat dinner - so we got a couple gifts from Bed Bath and Beyond and Michaels, and then just came home.

WE ARE PARTY ANIMALS.

My brother and his lady went to the beach for the weekend so they were not here for the Friday Night Family Dinner... They came by today and brought me my gift:





Yep! Be jealous. Be very jealous. :) I could not believe they did that!! I told him I did not want to put my crappy stuff inside such a gorgeous bag!

So, it was a nice birthday! I certainly ATE my way through it... My daughter didn't let me forget my birthday for one second since it has become her favorite song... which is just fine with me!


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These pictures...

...take me to my happy place.

I heard "Talk Dirty To Me" on XM in the car this morning on the way to work. Makes the drive to H-E-Double Hockeysticks tolerable! I highly suggest it.








Thanks to my friend Heather's sister who took these at the show last week.