Packing Assistant, Please? Anyone?

This Marriott Renaissance room is a mess.

And it’s a two-room suite!  (Which happens sometimes, thank God, when the hotel screws up your original king regular room reservation at the pre-appointed rate so then when they make amends they give you a two room suite at the same pre-appointed rate, which in my eyes, had to be the divine intervention of Jesus.  Man that was a long run-on-sentence.  But, I digress.  Again.)

This room is a mess.

We’ve been in Oklahoma City for 5 days for this AADE National Tech Conference.  Great conference.  Great people.  Great information.  Great fun/work trip!

As I look around, I realize we never unpacked our suitcases into the drawers.  We grabbed clothes out of the closet and our suitcases.  Meetings here.  Dinners there.  Breakfasts, over there.  People.  Places. Things.

And, now, it’s time to go.

Last night, I started making piles.

A pile of clothes to go to the cleaners in the next town.

A pile of clothes to go into the washer in the next town.

A pile of ThatManILove’s used workout clothes which absolutely positively will not be mixed with the regular clothes.  The guy can exude some sweat when he’s working out, and seriously dresses just for that purpose. Weirdness.

I have some major work to do just to get us packed.

And I’d best get to it.

We have some miles to log before we’re home close to home  okay dang it at our next hotel.

Y’all have a good day.

And I promise, after next Wednesday, I hopefully will be where I can get back to a more regular life for three weeks or so anyway and go visit your blogs and comment.  Thanks for being faithful to come by!!

Laaaaaaammmmmmmmmb What?

Cattleman's Steak House - Oklahoma City, OK.

I'm telling you, people, good eating.

Yup...Lamb…ummmm….yeah.  Too funny!!!!

Good stuff.

Winter Storm Rocky

I spent most of the day yesterday in a National American Association of Drilling Engineers Board Meeting, where I serve as the secretary on the national board.

I am taking minutes for said meeting.  My phone is blowing up.

Winter storm Rocky is messing with all the students heading to this conference, and they are all freaking out...some are presenting papers at this conference.  Some are just attending.  No matter what, I have 50 students from two different colleges that need to get into OKC and Storm Rocky is jacking with their travel plans.

Thank God that Raegan, Jenaya and Trey are with me, visiting the same board meeting, so they can answer my phone for me and deal with these students, their appointed bus companies, and all the drama that ensued.

I woke up this morning thinking, “We have 300 college students trying to get here for the conference.”

I bet my phone wasn’t the only one blowing up yesterday.

And this morning, in Oklahoma City, site of the AADE National Tech Conference?

It’s raining.   Not a blizzard.  And certainly not 11” of snow that was predicted for Oklahoma City.

Either Winter Storm Rocky hasn’t hit  yet, or it’s going elsewhere.

Reminder

Ahhhh.

I came back up to the office Friday night to get ready for our National AADE Tech Conference, and found this note from my friend/coworker.

We had both been working hard all day, at our jobs, and for this AADE conference.

And this note from sweet, beautiful Rae? Stuck on my computer monitor?

Made.
My.
Freakingly.
Wonderful.
Day.
Even.
More.
Wonderful.
In eight words.

Plus?  It made me smile.

Because, you know, young Raegan is so right.

We are too blessed to be stressed.

Take this note to heart, peeps.  I’m going to do the same.

We have a life to life.  And we should live it to the fullest!

Because, we are...

And Raegan?  I love you, girlfriend.  You are one of the reasons I do what I do...

Silent Sunday - I Guess He Thinks He's Hiding

He doesn't think I can see him.  Twerp dog.

You Can Pay Me Your Taxes, Okay?

Today, I went to our mailbox.

Since we’ve been traveling, GEEEEEEEZ MARIE, I had a ton of mail.

Thankfully, half of it belonged to someone else, so I had to turn it in for redistribution.

But there was this card in my mailbox.

This card that said I had not paid my property taxes.

And that this firm would take payments, at 9.9% interest.

It made me wonder...did I forget to pay the taxes?

I took a second. 

Called in.

Taxes?  Paid.

Whew.

My next question?

How did they get my records?

And what if people don’t understand, and just start paying the bills, monthly?

I would be so mad.

I think this is unfair.  Not to mention, it wasted my time. It looks so official.  

But it's wrong.

Just saying.

Dude. You SO Have Bad Breath.

Have you viewed a YouTube video lately?

I have.

And I have to say, I'm sick of the Orapup commercial.  You know, the one that comes on prior to every video.

Oh, yes, I am.

But I might just buy some of those Orapup brushes for my friends…dogs, that is.  

Yeah, my friends' dogs.

Help Me Make It Through the Day!!

Today, I have to:

1.   Go get my allergy shots
2.   Meet with my boss
3.   Update the Permian Basin Oilfield Calendar
4.   Finish my expenses
5.   Update my ECRM Sales Force tool
6.   Finish what’s needed for the National AADE Board        Meeting
7.   Teach Trey how to do the AADE Chapter Report
8.   Go to the cleaners and the bank
9.   Make a reservation and go to dinner at 5 so we can get to the REO Speedwagon Concert in a timely fashion

But here's what I feel like doing, and it's not even 7 a.m…

Home. Sweet, Sweet Home.

Ahhhh.  Night two in our my own bed.

I should be asleep, but no.  Wide awake.  Sooooo wide awake, I think I’m going to the gym in about 45 minutes.

With my husband.

This is a new trek for us, both of us going to the gym at the same time, utilizing the same trainer.  At this point in time, ThatManILove is more into it than me.  And he’s still dropping weight like crazy.  It’s awesome.

The Wonderdogs are home, and glad to be so.

Because of a committee meeting, I didn’t get home until 8 p.m. tonight, but ThatManILove said Zanna the Wonderdog was trash talking him, in his face, barking.  I imagine she was jumping his butt, telling him no way shoul she have to go to the kennel when we are out of town.

Zack just laid down in the living room and waited on us to come surround him with love and hugs. He’s so laid back Joe Cool.

It’s good to be home.

Home, Home on the Range…(links provided)

I'm a little late posting yesterday and today…but I'm here!

So glad to be home…for four short days.

The Wonderdogs will be home shortly for a short respite from the boarder.

My list of stuff to accomplish in those four days to get ready for a National AADE Board Meeting (housed within a three-day National AADE Technical Conference) is a little overwhelming, but I think I've might have it drilled down to manageable. (no pun intended)

I just finished my Pathways WALK.  I'm really excited about the next phase of my training, and I have some homework to do.

AND Friday night, we get to see REO Speedwagon at our local Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center!  I "heard it from a friend"!!!

And until then, I'll keep on loving you!!

Check out REO Speedwagon here!

Our Favorite Spot…Vamos Por La Casa, Senor

 Talk about comfort…this is our first stop towards home.

We stop here, every time, en route from DFW to home.

God bless you, you people of Starbucks in Weatherford, Tx.

God bless you.  Your coffee.  Your clean bathrooms.

Silent Sunday - Metal Flower Art

Boots and Must Have Accessories - Part 2

I promised you in yesterday's post that there was a part two to the must-have Boot Accessories.

Well, peeps, here it is.

My very favorite boot accessory.

The Boot Shaper, by Austin Abbott.

I snagged these on Amazon for a mere ~$14 each, including shipping.  Just search "boot shaper"…you'll find them. I ordered a couple of cases of them and gave them to some of my friends.  I'm all for functional (and cheap!!) gift giving!

These things are the freaking Bomb.com.

They keep your boots upright, no matter how many miles you’ve walked.

They even have a hanger in them, if you’re blessed to have empty clothes rods.

Why Are You Looking Into My Boots?  STOP IT!!!

They are amazing, and help me keep my closets, well, if not totally organized, better organized!

Thought you’d love to see them.

They work on men’s cowboy boots, men’s knee high boots, okay, I’m gonna stop there.  And they definitely work on women's boots!

Here’s a good representation of, ummmm, yeah, part of the boots in my closet.  Some, more worn than others, but there ya go!

Go get ya some!  And...Save Your BOOTS!!

Boots and Must Have Accessories - Part 1

Who, seriously, doesn’t love boots?  Men, women, who cares, we all LOVE boots!

As you can see, I do.

So I wanted to introduce you to my two newest boot accessories.

This...is not a toy.

This...is serious business.

Because, I have large calves.

This tool helps me buy regular boots of superb quality (on sale) and stretch the calves a little bit.  (Okay, quite a lot.)

It looks wicked, doesn't it?  I saw this little tool one day at Merry Marketplace, where one of the vendors was putting it to use on a pair of $800 boots.  I was all in her business, asking her about that tool.  I decided right there and then I was going to get not one, but two.  TWO boot stretchers.

Now, far be it from me to buy a pair of $800 boots (well, maybe someday), but I have been known to thrown down a couple of hundred on a half price pair!

I’m NOT stupid, people.  Leather boots are an investment.

Here’s how that little tool works.

You wet the inside of the boot with a spray bottle (I used RO water).

You insert the tool into the leather boot. (Make sure you loosen any buckles.) The spreader has two parts - one, to spread the ankle, and one to spread the upper part of the boot.  

And you turn it to the right.  The spreader stretches the leather.

Takes about 5 minutes a boot.

And voila, they fit...just right!

(Stay tuned for part 2…it will be worth it!)

I Need To Video These Wonderdogs

So.  Happy Valentine's Day, Y'all!

And speaking of Valentines….

ThatManILove swears, that when he’s out of town, he comes in, and Zack the Wonderdog raises his sweet little doggy head up from ThatManILove’s pillow, and looks at him like, “What?  You were gone, I am here, possession is 9/10ths of the law.”

ThatManILove shakes his head, shushes Zack out of the bed, and reclaims his lawful place in the bed.

Well...

ThatManILove has been known to go to the back yard, pull a cushioned chair out into the yard, and just nap in the winter sun.

This past weekend, I decided a little fresh air would do me good, so I went out on the back porch, with a blanket, my computer, my iPhone, and a bottle of water.

And what to my wondering eyes did appear, but Zack.

Zack the Wonderdog.

Who promptly walked quietly up to ThatManILove’s favorite chair, and stepped up into it, and curled up.

Oh, yes, he did.

He cracks me up.  I had to take quick pictures, because I knew ThatManILove would never believe it.

Fruitfly Wonderdogs

One Sunday afternoon, I decided to sit on the back porch to blog and write in my journal.

I had been feeling funky (allergies were kicking my proverbial butt, and my real one, too!) but thought I just needed some “outside time.”

Out I went, in my pajamas.  I grabbed a blankie, my iPhone, my MacBook.  ThatManILove had brought me a chai tea latte.

I was set.

And then, something I read flung a craving upon me...for an orange.

I unwrap, pad into the kitchen, grab an orange.  Peel it.  

I look down.

Zack is drooling, Zanna looking all expectant.

Yup.  

I pad back to my chair.  Wrap all back up in my blankie.  Computer on my lap.  Get all set.

I look left of my chair, where I am so wonderfully ensconced.
Zack is drooling, Zanna looking all expectant.  Again.  What part of this did they not get?  Grrrrrrrr.

It turns out that they’re orange-tarians.

But at least they sit while they’re getting their treats.

I lost a full half of my orange to them.  My weirdo, fruitfly dogs.

And I Do Not Lie...

I get these spam post comments all the time.

And sometimes, I get the religious stalker spam comments.

When I opened up my email, and looked down and saw this, I laughed out loud.  Really, I did.  Not just the “lol”.  But the real, honest to goodness, laugh out loud deal that real people really used to do.

Because, peeps, I’ve already got this one faded.

The Bigger Butts part, anyway.

Not only faded, but straining at the seams.


That is all.

Have a good day.

Snoozebuckets Galore - Janie Down

Yup.

I didn't feel good at all this weekend.

And ThatManILove decided to show you a shot of his life from his perspective.  Snoozy Saturday morning.  These allergies, and the accompanying meds,
 are kicking my butt.

The Little Horse That Would Not & Happy Birthday To My Son

Today is my oldest son's 32nd birthday.  I was going back and looking at his pictures, trying to figure out how best to commemorate his birthday.

And I found this story from 2009, on my old blog.  It's funny enough, I'm going to share it again.

So, Happy Birthday, son.  Thanks for all the laughter!  You're one of the funniest people I know.  I love you!!

This morning, my phone rang. It was Elder Son, though I could barely understand him.

ES: Mom.

Me: Yeah, babe?

ES: Mom, I had to ...call you. (He’s hesitating, sounds like he’s crying.)

Me: What’s up? Is SOMETHING WRONG????

(I can hear all this snuffling, and scuffing around, and some type of weird guttural noise.)

ES: Jason and I are having to load these little...(more snuffling, weird sounds) miniature horses that Jason’s granddad bought for Jason’s kids at the livestock auction, and...and...(mumbles off into nowhere, and I can hear him laughing and trying to catch his breath.)

(I can hear Jason laughing out loud.)

Me: What? What's going on?

ES: Well, Mom, it’s just that.....(fades into laughter again. He finally composes himself)...we got all the horses loaded except for...(and off he goes again) except for this (Jason laughing his butt off in the background)

Me: (I start laughing, too.) Tell me! Finish your sentence!

Now, I ask you, how stupid is that, that I start laughing? I can’t even see them, I don’t even know what’s happening. But I can imagine. Jason isn’t a tall guy, but Elder Son tops out well over 6' - he's one tall lean bean. And a miniature horse, much less 7-8 of them? Just the visuals are funny!

Me: Elder Son! Finish, please?

ES: Mom....I can’t....it’s just that, I’m really trying...okay, give me a second....okay....we’ve been trying...trying to...(and he dissolves into man giggles again.)

I just sit there, grinning like a cheshire cat. I don’t know what it is, but I know it’s going to be good. It’s gonna be one of those worth the wait ones. I wait.

He finally calms down a little bit.

ES: Mom, we’ve got all these teeny horses loaded in this honking huge trailer, ( and they're laughing again, they’re losing their voices)...(they finally catch their breath and ES resumes) except for (bustin’ gut laughs now) the little stallion. (And he cracks up again.)

Me: The what?

ES: The stud miniature horse, Mom. He’s a stubborn little &*O(^)%(&.

Me: Oh, Lordy me (I really started laughing now)!

ES: Oh, Mom, we are so frustrated. We tried to herd him up with the rest of the horses. He’d get halfway up the ramp, which is really short to the ground, then fall off. He’d just tip over. He’s really fat. We’d start again - he’d back down the ramp. He did not want to go. Then, we tried to lead him up. No go. Then, I led and Jase pushed. That didn’t work. So, Jase led, and I pushed. (Laughter. Then escalating laughter.)That didn’t work, either.

And now, Mom, the horse is mad. He’s snorting at us and pawing at us - it is so funny, the little thing!(Uncontrollable laughing from both he and Jase.)

(By now, tears are running down my face and I’m having trouble breathing!)

And then, Mom....(giggles)....I finally got so frustrated I tried to pick the little b*st*rd up and throw him in the trailer. (huge laughter.)

Me: What? You tried to pick him up?

ES: Yessssssssss...(fades into sputters and they’re off again, laughing hard!.)

Me: Did it work?

ES: Hell, no, Mom, it didn’t work (and they crack up into laughter again), he weighs 400 pounds and he was thrashing around and trying to get away!

Me: Oh, Lordy.

ES: I gotta go, Mom, we gotta figure this out, I just had to call you.

And he hangs up laughing.

I talked to him this morning. They finally got the little stud horse loaded into the trailer. Elder Son and Jason physically picked up the horse, together, and stuffed him in the trailer.

Elder Son is still laughing.

Me, too!

I Hope You're Having A Great Day…..ACHOOOO!!!

Allergies are kicking my butt.

I’m having to do a sinus cleanse morning and evening.

And then, nose spray.

And allergy shots, twice a week, my arms feel like pincushions sometimes.

Frustrating.

I’m working hard to follow doctor’s orders.

I’m ready for the “system” to kick in and start working.

Meanwhile?  I’m gonna buy stock in Puffs Tissue.