Since my child was diagnosed on Wednesday with his second double-ear infection of 2010, this is what my (four day) weekend consisted of:

And there was snow, too.  And did I mention he's cutting three molars at the moment? Hopefully I'll manage to post some of those soon.  I am SUCH a procrastinator!  Actually, when I get home, my priorities completely swap.  I cram as much time with Carter into his few remaining waking hours as I can, manage to fix and/or eat dinner and do a tiny bit of relaxing before my eyes start closing on their own.  The computer is the last thing on my mind most days... I'll try to make a point to post some pictures though.  I haven't even documented my one year old, much less my (now) 13.5 month old.  Bah.

View from a deer stand, opening day

Even if I didn't see one dang deer, at least I saw a beautiful sunset.

Nobody's gettin' any younger...

Last weekend, we went to Baton Rouge for my brother-in-law's graduation from LSU. I wasn't really looking forward to the trip because 5+ hours in a car with a seven month old sounded more like torture than fun. But, turns out I had nothing to worry about. We kept his belly full, which in turn made him sleep- imagine that! It works the same way with me! In any case, it was a successful trip, complete with a dip in the hotel pool. He also fell asleep during graduation and on the sweaty walk back to the car- see?



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Remember when I said he had four teeth? Scratch that, there are six now. Well, technically five, with a sixth making my life a LIVING HELL until it comes through. He really is a great baby, even when teething, but damn those little teeth make him cranky. And me, since I haven't slept through the night in a couple of weeks either.

We tried YoBaby yogurt the other night and I thought he was going to leap from his Bumbo chair and attack me. I couldn't load the spoon quick enough for him which resulted in him yelling at me with his mouth open like my very own baby bird.

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Lately I've been noticing just how much I let fear control my life. Just about any idea I have gets pushed to the side in a "someday" file. Why not today? Because I'm scared. Everyone knows that taking the first step is the hardest part, yet it's always the most rewarding because it's a step towards something wanted. When did I become such a scaredy cat? When did my I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR voice turn into a kitten's meow? I'm really starting to get disgusted with myself about it, too. But then, I'm too scared to do anything about it so I might as well just get over it, right?

Wrong.

Tater Bug Today

(His first time in his jumpster... thanks Vegas Aunts!)

*sigh*

Make your card here.

Let's just end the season now, mmmmk?

32 Weeks!

• He's still a he.
• He weighs "approximately" 4lbs 6 oz.
• His head is big (measuring 36 wks).
• His tummy is plump (measuring 34 wks).
• As of Monday, he was breech, but with all the moving he's doing, I'm not sure if he still is or not.
• My hips hurt.
• My thighs feel like I've been horseback riding (I haven't).
• Stretch marks.
• My lower abdominal region aches when I stand or sit up or roll over in bed.
• Sleep is a luxury. I can only imagine how much more true that statement will become AFTER he's here.
• My doc said labor at 37 weeks would be A-Ok with her. Yes, that means Christmas.
• My complaints are superficial and a very small price to pay for what's in store.
• I have a poopload of thank you notes to write, but I shouldn't complain. I am so very truly blessed. Blessed and to be envied.

Have a great weekend, internet. I never thought I'd be saying this, but I'll be cheering for OU on Saturday. It will be painful, but it's in the best interest of my 'Horns afterall.

You know what time it is?

It's 8:41am and OU still sucks! We were at Jared a couple of weeks ago picking up our rings and the manager was giving me the Texas/Colorado score. He asked if I was a fan (YES) and then said, "You know, I have two favorite teams. Texas and who ever's playing Oklahoma." This weekend my friends, they're one and the same. I fully intend on digging out my "O Who?" shirt from last year and stretching it over this belly of mine. Perhaps it will be photo worthy.




(My apologies to my token Okie, E and to V- she can't help it. I can't let this weekend go by without a little friendly ribbing.)

Hurricane Ike, the bastard

New year, new look

• There's nothing better than a little change. Don't you agree?
• This evening, C and I are driving to Galveston for the weekend. It's not as good as Mexico, but it's as close as we're going to get this weekend. I know it's a dirty beach, but the hotel has a great pool.
• I feel sorry for the people who will have to see me in a swim suit this weekend. I apologizein advance.
• I received my first gift this morning from a co-worker. Lunch is at noon. Yay!
• My drivers license expires Sunday. I could renew online, but Lord I need a new picture. Does anyone remember me having long hair? Yeah, it was awful.
• Did I tell you I made C a ringtone of a donkey braying ? He thinks that's the best sound in the world - well, maybe not the best, but it makes me laugh everytime he hears one. I have it set as his ringer when he calls me, which prompts me to answer the phone "Hello, Don-key!"
• We're looking at two houses on Monday- with an actual realtor. Yippee!!!!
• Oh, and I'm taking Monday off. I don't have any reason why, pretty much just because I can.
• Happy Graduation, Little Sarah. I promise I'm going to get something wonderful in the mail to you. Or maybe money, which is also wonderful.
• TGIF, internet.
  

This is my Friday

Baseball season is upon us! My Rangers are 1-2 already, but I'm hopefull they'll come to life sooner rather than later. I need to watch some games and get to know the new faces.

Thank the good Lord Ramiele went home last night. I've never watched a complete season of American Idol, but C has got me into this one. That girl has sucked long enough! I'm so proud America finally came to their senses. I'll stop the rant now, but just know that I could go on and on.

Tonight I'm driving to Dallas for dinner with my sweet girlfriends and then tomorrow morning at the butt crack of dawn, I'm flying to New Orleans and then driving to Fort Walton Beach, FL. I'm going to visit one of my best and oldest friends and that little bundle of joy. His name is Tristen and he's already stolen my heart. I'm driving from NOLA because I had a free ticket on Southwest that expires next weekend and a $60 rental car sure beats the $500 airfare to fly me in closer. Plus, I'll get to see some Katrina sights on my drive. I promise pictures.

Last night I bought Tristen a camo onesie that had a picture of a high chair and said, "My first tree stand". I'm sure his daddy will appreciate that!

I've survived another Inventory and another month end close. That's about all I have to say about work.

Next weekend, C and I are going to catch a Rangers game and some Stoney Larue action at the ballpark, benefiting the March of Dimes. Justin Frazzell sure does come up with some good ideas.

That's all I've got. Y'all have a good weekend and try to stay out of trouble, ya hear?

Pollenator

Ugh, it's only 9:00am and boy is it already a Monday. It's my least favorite day of the week because it's the morning I have to roll out of bed early and leave a very handsome warm boy. Since I'm at it, that same handsome, warm boy is also a very sick boy! He missed a Zyrtec on Friday and by that evening, he was S-I-C-K. His allergies are so bad that he tried the shots for a while and now (he should be) taking a "cocktail" of Zyrtec and Singulair. Saturday we had crawfish for his dad's birthday and he had to go inside several times to "rest" his poor nose. He sounds like Barry White (not in a good way) and has been running fever off and on. So, yesterday I went to church with my mom and had lunch there before running to Walmart for some soft Puffs Plus (he'd been using t.p.). He didn't leave his recliner all day, poor thing. I did my best to take care of him, though. Even if that just meant doing all the laundry.

Even though I got half a day off on Friday, the weekend seemed too short- I guess because we were busy. Hopefully this weekend will fly and next weekend will be "longer". Ha!

Because we all love pictures

This weekend proved to be another with lovely sunshiney afternoons. Only pictures can do it justice.

This is a hole that was dug by what we can only assume are nutra-rats. This is no ordinary hole, but one that has puntured the dam in the pond and has drained about a foot and a half of water since the last time we were there. Said (four acre) pond also just got three inches of rain in the last week which promptly drained. Talk about PISSED! Along with the nutra problem, there's also a beaver problem. They've dammed up the creek which runs behind the pond and have a very distinctive trail beaten down from the creek to the pond where I'm sure they're dining on the freshest of fish. I can happily report that one of the beaver bitches is now dead, thanks to a snare. Two and a half feet tall and at least 40lbs. Now that's some serious tree gnawing.




























At the end of Saturday, I was giving my hook one last chance and C was looking for one last turtle to murder. Next thing I knew, my cork exploded. Below is his idea of a "joke".




On the way to the beer store after leaving my mom's, we saw this lovely burned out trailer. What you may not see in the first picture is the FOR SALE SIGN. Sometimes, I'm baffled by the things I see. (To their defense, it does come with 3.2 acres.)

































And here is the end of another beautiful weekend.

You and me goin' fishin' in the dark...

Well, maybe not in the dark, but we tore up some white perch and bass in my mom's pond (and we put them all back.. well, all but one). Here I thought all she had were catfish. We took the pups, packed some beer, bought some minnows and away we went. I can't think of a better way to have spent such a beautiful Saturday afternoon. We pushed our luck and tried to make it two days in a row, but we didn't have any minnows and the fish were fickle. So, we shot turtles instead. Well, C shot them and I missed a lot. Behold.. my handsome man, some purty fish and a gorgeous day.

Reality

I finally have time to post and I'm feeling very uninspired. It's FREEZING (literally) outside, there's nothing on tv and I'm not in a good mood.

We made a mad dash to Ft. Worth for NYE and saw Josh Grider and Walt Wilkins. C, of all people, ran into people he knew there. I found Heather her future husband, too... maybe I can get them together soon.

I've got Jury Duty in a week or so. I hope it gets cancelled, but at the same time, it's a day off work. I got a traffic light ticket in the mail a couple of weeks ago. My picture was taken "running a red light" on the day before I left Dallas. Yippee. Watch those cameras, people.

I got very spoiled to only having to work half a day between Christmas Eve and New Years Day. Niiiice. Speaking of Christmas, it was a good one, but I'm equally as glad that it's over. It's the first time I've really felt that way, but I was so glad when the last present was opened! C & I got to spend a LOT of time together, too. He and I were both off at the same time and it spoiled me into thinking what it might be like someday. Iffin'

I wish life was as easy as it appears on tv. Or, maybe there should actually be a show based on real life. Real problems. Real fights. Real make up. Real desire. Real love. Really real.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

So two things have kicked off my morning swimmingly.

First, I checked my email after I showered and saw that the place I interviewed a couple of weeks ago has reposted the job on Monster. This comes after I received a call from the recruiter on Tuesday to ask how the interview went and to see if I was still interested. She said the hiring manager thought it went "pretty well" too. WTF? Now they've reposted the position. So, my question to you, internet, is:

Should I email/call the recruiter and ask her if they decided to go in a different direction, or just let it be. C seems to think that act would appear desperate, but I think it's an innocent question since I SAW THE REPOSTING. If you don't want to hire me, just say so. Ugh.

Second, freakin' Whataburger screwed up my taquito. All I ask for is no egg- is that so hard? I didn't realize it til I was already to the freeway and couldn't turn around. So, one of my coworkers got a free breakfast. Double ugh.


Last night I got an email telling me I'd won a $250 gift certificate to Robbins Brothers (where we looked at horses, aka engagement rings). I had signed up for their email list and they said I could win prizes, but hell! Now I'm torn because:
a) C isn't making any moves towards purchasing anything- at least that I know of.
b) There's a guy in Midland one of his coworkers is buying from that he's shown interest in talking to.
c) They don't have anything but wedding/engagement jewelry (though they might have some necklaces). What would I spend $250 on if not towards a ring?
d) They want me to take a picture with the manager and write a paragraph about my "winning experience". "Uh- I opened the email and saw I won. Yay." WTF?

I'm supposed to reply within 48 hours.. I'd like your advice on this, too.


Tomorrow, I'm going to attempt to leave work a little early (around 3:00), in an attempt to get out of Dallas and arrive in Houston after rush hour. I'm going to see my Heather's new home and watch my dear friend Lacy marry. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is the driving, but that can't be helped. Unless I drive to Tyler tonight and meet C to drop off Shiner and fly. I doubt that will happen though.

I promise better blogs are coming.. you know, a little more thought provoking than "Whataburger screwed up my order". I'm in a funk, what can I say?

UPDATE: +2 for this morning: 1- We're getting laptops! Hopefully quickly followed by working from home a couple of days a week. 2- Campisi's for lunch!

Swap Shop

My boyfriend just called to tell me that he and a co-worker called the Swap Shop and put his other co-worker's car, a Buick, up for sale. Said co-worker is out of town this weekend for a wedding in Baton Rouge and of course, the boys gave out his cell phone number on the radio. They said the car was his grandfather's and he only wanted $1500, so you can imagine the number of calls he's receiving. C got a text from him right before he called me that said, "Stop it with the Swap Shop" which illicited howls of laughter. Good times.

On tap for this weekend- the FAIR! Fried everything, Big Tex and Billy Ray Cyrus oh my! My Vegas girls are coming in, so it will surely be one for the record books. I know at least two of us are in the market for new COCK hats! I'll post pictures if I bring my camera.

This week has been a range of emotions for me. I may or may not write more about it, time will tell. It could be life changing.. I'll just leave it at that.

Happy Friday, friends!

Life's a Garden.. Dig It.

Ahhh.. what a great weekend. Since I had Friday off, I drove to my sweet baby's arms Thursday night. He had to work on Friday, so I met his stepmom for lunch and shopping in the small town. It was nice to spend some time with her.. I hope she and I can have a great friendship. I really like her. Friday night we went out to eat for our anniversary and then I fell asleep on the couch by 10:00.. go me! Saturday was the opening of Dove season, so he and I both left around noon and took off in separate directions. I really, really, really hate leaving him. Have I said that lately?

Saturday night, my second weekend began. I met some of my best girls in Ft. Worth and we partied down. I got home later than I should and woke up bright and early (9:30), ready to do it all over again. We went to the Red Dirt Roundup in the Stockyards. Normally, I loathe big festival, all day concerts. But this one wasn't as bad for three reasons. One, it was Erica's birthday and I sure do love that girl. Two, I needed to catch up with my girls for some proverbial "girl time". Three, we had VIP tickets which allowed us to sit in a tent with fans and misters. We had our own bar in there and it was in the middle of both stages. Now, that's the way to do it. As V and I said, "We know what they look like" and I happily parked my ass only leaving for turkey legs and the potty.

Sunday was Pickin' for Preemies. What a wonderful event that Mr. Frazell organizes to raise money (about $20k this year) for the March of Dimes. He and his wife just had their second preemie and man was that little toot cute. I told her that his butt probably didn't even have a split in it when he was born-- just like a tadpole! Last year it was in Dallas, just minutes from my house and this year it was at the Glass Cactus at the Gaylord Texan Resort. As pretentious as that place is, it turned out to be a wonderful day. I have tons of pictures (that I didn't take), but I haven't gone through them yet.

Now's the part where I name names. I should offer up a disclaimer and say these thoughts are my own and do not represent anyone else's.

The first set began with Walt Wilkins singing Poetry. If you've never seen Walt- GO. He's a wonderfully peaceful, spiritual and poetic man. His very presence is powerful, yet soothing all at once. Poetry was a fitting song for the event and brought tears to more than one eye.

Third was Ryan Bingham and the cool cat he is. I've been going to see Ryan for many years and I'm thrilled he's finally drawing the crowd he deserves. He wins over new fans at every show- I highly recommend him, too. Ryan's a storyteller-- and they're not necessarily happy stories or politically correct stories- they are his story and that's what makes them so amazing. The thing about him is that he has lived every. single. word. He's a gypsy and I could listen to his words for hours upon hours.
















The last guy in the first set was Mr. Adam Hood of Opelika, Alabama. I love Adam and the way he says my name, Sayra. His is a soulful song with a new twang that is welcome in a scene full of so many posers. Adam always has a smile, a hug and a hand shake. It's refreshing.



You may notice I skipped #2-- Darren Kozelsky. I did it for a reason, because I don't feel he belongs. That probably won't sit well with many folks, but it takes more than a big shiny tour bus to impress me. Darren's a great guy, very genuine and nice- I just don't have much else to say. Each time I see him in a songwriter setting, he's out played and out sung with every effort. Just my opinion, however.

I missed all of the second set as I'm not much for the twangy, redneck country that is Kevin Fowler and the others in that set. Sue me.

The third set... man, oh man. Randy Rogers, Radney Foster, Brandon Rhyder and Josh Grider. Sweet Jesus come to earth, that set was amazing. It was my first time to see Radney, which has been on my list of things to do for a LONG time, and his brief four songs only got my mouth watering for more. Radney produced Randy's last record and is producing Brandon's next record. It was so cool to see his reaction to their new stuff and to Josh's songs.. It was an amazing, amazing set. The show could've been over right then and I would've been a darn happy girl.








Last set was Wade Bowen, Cody Canada (of Cross Canadian Ragweed), Stoney Larue, and Jason Boland. Wade was great. He's serious, for lack of a better word. He's serious about his music, about the art of it all and serious about respect. And I love him for it. Boland on the other end, he too seemed to be in a rather introverted mood. He's looking kinda scrawny these days, but so healthy and happy. I love this Jason. Cody and Stoney-- man, they came to cut up! Those boys, all tatted up, played and picked and told stories on and about each other. It was such fun to watch them having so much fun together, since three of the four honed their craft up in Stillwater. I can't really explain why I was a tad disappointed by this set.. I just was.














Last night I went to bed at 9:30 and if I have my way I'll do it again tonight. I'm still recovering from my weekend and getting back in the swing of things.


I don't care what anyone says, I just don't have a dog in that race anymore.