A Day…Never Forget

September 11th is a date my generation will forever remember.  It is similar to the day JFK was shot or the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.  We will remember what we were doing, where we were, and how we felt.

I was in high school.  A senior.  I was at school early that morning for band practice.  I called my mom before school started to ask her for a favor when she told me that we needed to turn on the TV.  The band was outside on the field, but I was inside with the color guard and majorettes.  We grabbed a TV and turned it on.  We saw the second plane hit.  I remember the rest of the day every classroom had a TV on and we saw the towers fall and the news coverage of the day.  It was scary and sad day filled with uncertainty.  I remember realizing the skyline I had seen firsthand a few years prior was gone.  I will never forget that day.

Michael and I will be going to NYC in a few weeks.  We are going to the 9-11 memorial site and it will be hard to be there and remember.   

Happy Monday…I mean Tuesday!

I can’t believe I haven’t blogged in a week.  I have been doing really good at blogging few times a week.  I wish I had some good excuse, like I was traveling or something, but I don’t.  In fact, Michael was out of town last week, so one would think I would have had more time on my hands.  I, for some weird reason, was very busy last week.  So a quick update.

I wanted our house to be clean and look nice for our tailgate, so Michael’s cousin and I cleaned the whole house while Michael was out of town.  I love his cousin for keeping me company while Michael was out of town.  I really don’t know how Michael stands me being gone for work all the time.  I definitely have a major respect for him now that I have experienced it first hand. 

We had my family and some close friends over this weekend for a tailgate.  We decided that being the first game and all that we could do it at our house instead at the stadium.  I think it worked out better for everyone.  It was very hot Saturday, so we all stayed in the house and watched…ESPN of course.  The boys played a little wiffle ball in the backyard, but came in gross.  We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, and everyone brought a side dish.  Great food!!  We all just played and hung out.  Kids became friends.  We got to watch College Gameday and enjoy opening weekend of college football.  We went to the game and watched the hogs win 51-7!! WPS! 

Sunday was a lazy day.  We ended up on the La Huerta patio for drinks and dinner.  We played a little shuffle board and shot some pellet guns. 

On Monday, it was so nice and cool here that we decided to go on a hike.  We were going to go to the lake, but it was too cold for the lake.  We grabbed Gabby and went to Devil’s Den to go hiking.  This was Gabby’s first hiking experience and she loved it.  My fearless dog was all over that trail.  It made me nervous a few times, but she was safe.  We did two trails and probably hiked 4 miles total.  It was a great day for a hike and I am so glad we did it.  My legs on the other hand are a little unhappy this morning. 

5 Days!!!

If you have ask what happens in 5 days, then you are not from the South.  I am counting down the days until ARKANSAS FOOTBALL starts!!!  I cannot wait!!


The people of south would say Fall is our favorite season and that is because it is college football season.  I know people in the north do not quite understand our football craziness, but they don’t know what they are missing out on.  Michael and I lived in Chicago for awhile and one day I was asked by a co-worker why Southern States get so crazy about College football.  Let me explain for those who just don’t understand.


When we talk about Southern College Football, we are talking about the SEC.  South Eastern Conference.  The SEC is the strongest and best conference.  It is made up of 9 states and 12 schools. 


West Division:
Arkansas – University of Arkansas, Razorbacks
Mississippi – Ole Miss, Rebels/Bears & Mississippi State, Bulldogs
Louisiana – LSU, Tigers
Alabama – Alabama, Crimson Tide & Auburn, Tigers


East Division:
Georgia – University of Georgia, Bulldogs
Florida – University of Florida, Gators
South Carolina – University of South Carolina, Gamecocks
Kentucky – University of Kentucky, Wildcats
Tennessee – Vanderbilt, Commodores & University of Tennessee, Volunteers


So, again why are we college football crazy?  Most football craziness in other states comes in the form of the NFL games.  Well, in our 9 SEC states, only 4 of them currently have NFL football teams.  If you take out the Tennessee Titans, who moved to Tennessee in 1997, then 3 of the 9 had teams.  What does that mean for the south?  We love sports and since the majority of our states do not have NFL teams, we have to back our college teams. 


We, the SEC, will always cheer for any other SEC school unless they are playing your team.  This is probably why, since 1998 when the BCS Championship Game was created, the SEC has won 7 National Championship games and the next closest division is the Big 12 with 2 wins.  We have the best players and the best teams, and we continue to show why we are the greatest conference.  The fans are the best.  The ladies are the hottest and we definitely take tailgating to the next level.  If you have never been to an SEC tailgate then you are missing out.  The girls wear their cutest outfits that will match their school colors perfectly.  Their makeup will be prefect and the hair will be done.  The food will be perfect, the men will be grilling and the ladies will handle setup and cleanup and of course the socializing with all the guests and other random drop bys.  We welcome anyone and everyone to stop in and grab a bite to eat.  People might say we go over the top, but I call it normal.

5 DAYS AND COUNTING……WPS!!!!   

Hurricane Irene’s Weekend Damper

It is all over the news, Irene is going to hit the east coast.  The plan was for a little vacation in NYC this weekend.  It is really sad, and I am pretty bummed about not going to NYC.  Michael and I sat back and really looked at the storm and a few other factors including Michael needing to be somewhere next Tuesday for work, and decided to postpone our little trip.  We made this decision yesterday.  I was really upset about not seeing friends this weekend.  I have been looking forward to it for weeks. 

We decided it would not be a fun trip if it was storming the whole time.  We also decided it was kind of silly to go into a possibly dangerous situation.  I am sure it will be nothing or not as bad as they are predicting, but I thought if I knew a tornado was in the town next to us, would I drive there?  No.  Michael has been in a hurricane before, and at one point said it could be fun.  I think Michael realized he could get stuck there and since he has to be somewhere Tuesday morning for work, it became more clear.  I could work from anywhere, so I didn’t worry about work.  I woke up yesterday morning with horrible pain in my ear.  I went to the doctor and was told I have an ear infection.  How old am I?  The doctor told me it was probably a good thing I wasn’t going to be flying today, as my eardrum might have burst.  That would not have been a fun flight.  I am on medicine for it, but I guess Irene is a blessing in disguise. 

We will go to NYC in a few more weeks, which is okay, but it is sad at the same time.  I will get re-excited in due time. I am hoping our friends will still love us visiting in a few more weeks.   

Gabby–Happy Hump Day!

Gabby had a little photo session yesterday.  She is such a good little model.  Our friends' little girl is going back to “school” and at this school they have a wall of pets.  It is such a cute idea.  All the kids get to bring in a picture of their pet and place it on the wall.  Well, Stella doesn’t have a pet that lives at her house, but she does have Gabby.  I am pretty sure Stella’s first words went something like Daddy, Mommy, Gabby.  She loves Gabby and kisses her and hugs her all the time.  They are best friends.  Gabby is Stella’s best friend and I have decided Gabby will love her a lot more when she throws a ball further than a foot.  Since technically Stella doesn’t have her own pet, Rachel asked me if they could put Gabby up there.  I, of course, said yes. Stella loves Gabby so much and will be walking around school now saying Gabby Gabby Gabby.  She even grabs my phone and talks to Gabby or the picture of Gabby on my phone.


I wanted Stella to have a good clear picture of Gabby for her wall.  I have tons of Gabby pictures but a lot of them have me or Michael in them.  Photo Session time.  I had Gabby sit and get pictures.  Gabby will stay in one position for a long time if I tell her to stay, so it was quick and easy.  I got two good choices for Stella.  Hopefully she enjoy Gabby’s company at school. 

Late last night, Michael and I gave Gabby her Kong.  We always put peanut butter and a bone in it for her.  She gets all the peanut butter out fast and then works on getting the bone out.  This could take hours, so it is great when we are wanting to relax.  I took this video of Gabby last night trying to get her bone out.  I think she is pretty smart, trying different ways to get the bone out.

N Y C

Who needs a vacation?  Michael and I do!!  Well, I worked on a surprise for Michael a few weeks ago.  Michael has been working long hours for probably the last month and a half.  I know I travel a lot for work, but working long hours is like a tease.  I would see him a few hours a night and typically he was exhausted from work and just wanted to veg out.  Since, I work from the house, I am almost always dying to get out of the house come 5:00.  Even if it is a trip to the gym or a walk around the block, I must get out of the house! I occasionally have a freak out of GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!  We both are hitting that point.  I kept thinking we have Hawaii coming up in a few months, we don’t need to go anywhere, but then it hit me.  We have to get away from Arkansas.  Michael and I typically take 3 vacations a year.  Yes, I know that sounds like a lot, but most of the time 1 or 2 of those are long weekend trips. 

So, I wanted to surprise Michael with a trip out of the state.  I started looking at quick trips to the beach or mountains.  Nothing was jumping out at me.  Then I started thinking we should go to Chicago.  Oh how I miss it during the summers and I miss my boutiques.  Then I got the brilliant idea to go visit Michael’s best friend and my good friend in NYC.  Yes that would be PERRRRRFECT!  I started texting Zack and Peggy with two possible weekend choices.  From there, I had to get Michael off work.  Funny thing is that I don’t have his boss’s phone number or email address.  I was going to have to use my sales skills and find out.  Michael actually has two bosses that would have to be informed.  I contacted the wife of Michael’s friend who also works at his company.  Thank goodness, she was able to get me the information.  I contacted them and they said yes!  So, I jumped on it.  Flights were booked, with miles, and the ideas started!  I was thinking I would wait and pack for Michael and tell him the morning we left.  I thought it would be amazing to see his face.  Well, my mom reminded me I have a dog.  Boo Gabby!  I have to make arrangements for her to go to my parent’s house for the weekend.  Michael is sure to wonder why I am taking the dog to their house.  Instead, I made a plan to let him in on my surprise. 

I first made a cute card that said SURPRISE!  I went to the store and bought the biggest red apple I could find, and since none were big I bought three.  I hate fruit so he is sure to catch onto my plan.  Lastly, I placed a taxi cab globe my friend Peggy got me from NYC and it says NYC.  When Michael read the SURPRISE on the card, he looked scared, I think he thought I was trying to tell him we were preggers.  NO WAY!!!  Michael come on Taxi Cab APPLES!!!  Really!  Anyway he opened the card and read it and looked at me and said REALLY, WHEN?  I told him everything was done, flights booked, work knows, and we are staying with Zack.  He couldn’t believe it.  He just kept saying I haven’t seen Zack since Christmas.  I knew going to NYC would be exciting, but Michael was beyond excited!  Michael needs the break from work and so do I.  I can’t wait to leave Arkansas and relax, party, and go SHOPPING!!!!  I know this is really a trip for Michael, but with the terrible shopping here I can’t wait to get my new fall wardrobe.  We get to see good friends and have good food!  I couldn’t ask for a better mini vaca. 

Happy Monday, Ya’ll!

This was a good weekend to relax before the next few weeks start.  I am very excited Michael and I have 3-4 day work weeks in a row.  Michael this weekend was go go go.  He couldn’t stand to sit for 5 minutes.  Friday night his monthly poker night, and I love to hate that day.  On Friday, I went to see a brand new super cute baby boy with my friend Rachel.  We took them dinner and coo’d at the baby.  Then we rented a girly movie and relaxed.  Why do I hate poker night?  Well, really I love the time I get at the house or time I get to go out and do something girly, but it is a late night normally (late night = good poker/ win money night) and Gabby and I hate sleeping without Michael.  Gabby barks at every little noise thinking he is home, which scares me every single time.  One would think I would get use to it waking me up, but my heart just goes crazy. 

Saturday, Michael ditched me to go play golf with his buddies.  It was supposed to be a short golf day and I was okay with that because my brother was in town.  YAY!!  He came all the way up from Fort Smith to be a GREAT brother and fix my broken ice dispenser in my fridge.  And yes, he fixed it!!!  Love him for that.  As his payment, I treated him to HammonTrees, which is fantastic, for lunch.  I wish my brother lived in Fayetteville, and we could hang out more often, even though he would probably hate hanging with me all the time.  Saturday night became date night for Michael and I.  He came home from a long day of golf and apologized as soon as he through the front door.  He thought it was going to be a 9-hole golf game but the people he went with wanted 18-holes.  That goes from a few hours to all day really fast.  He told me we could go get sushi and a movie.  He knew I could never be mad at him, especially when good sushi is involved.  Plus I got to pick the movie.  Payback!  Just joking.  He took me to see a movie I have been dying to see…The Help.  I read the book for book club, but then missed the book club meeting where they went to go see the movie.  Girls, take your men to see the movie.  Michael liked it.  Plus the movie theater was full, and it wasn’t just girls.  Great book and great movie. 

Sunday, was housekeeping day.  We mowed and took care of household chores.  It was an all day process.  I made dinner Sunday night for us and the neighbors.  The boys play wiffle ball and the girls talked.  Then…Michael’s cousin, Lindsey, came over.  She has been in South Africa ALL summer.  Boy have I missed that girl!!!  She told us all about her trip and filled us in on her starting grad school and all the important stuff.  We decided to go to Braum’s and get ice cream.  I forget about Braum’s all the time.  I need to remember their ice cream next time I am craving something cold.  It was so great to visit with her.  I am so glad she is home!  Well, off to do some work!  Happy Monday!