State fair of Texas 2018

Last Friday, Todd and I had the day off because we were supposed to be going out of town for a quick trip to New Orleans.  That got cancelled and so we took advantage of the beautiful day and went to the State Fair of Texas.  We had not been in a few years and we both were excited to go again.  We got there right around lunch time and so the very first thing we did was go get in line in one of the Fletcher corn dog stands. Now I am kinda funny about traditions. I HAVE to get mine from the stand that is directly in front of Big Tex.  I’ve ALWAYS got my corny dog there even though there are dozens of other stands that have them.  I also will only eat mine with mustard- No ketchup!!

We walked around most all of the exhibit buildings and our favorite are the car shows to see all the new models, and they the buildings are air-conditioned . It was really hot that day in the 90’s and super humid.  We tried a fried Reeses peanut butter cup with ice cream as our quirky fried food. They had it all!! Fried lobster, fried red velvet cupcake, fried chicken fried bacon, you name it- it was there fried on a stick.

We also HAVE to ride the Texas Star Ferris wheel.  Its one of the tallest in the US and it’s a great view of the city .  Last week was also our huge rivalry college football weekend for Texas and OU. The Red River Rivalry.  There was lots going on and they were setting up the FOX News booth in prep for the next days game.  Texas won the game and man was it good!! Won by a field goal in the last 9 seconds of the game.

It’s always such a good time and we enjoyed spending the day together with no rush and nowhere else we had to be.

this is made of butter and its huge

fried reeses with ice cream

Craziness and cancelled trips

Well I broke my cycle of blogging once a week and missed last week to post.  I’ve been super crazy busy at work. I’m training all day again every day for the next few weeks.  Lots going on still with Nanny.  When we moved her into the rehab/assisted living, we knew it wasn’t her final spot. She did so good with her rehab – she has to exercise and on strict diet and is better that I’ve seen her in a few years. A nursing home is right next door to the facility and we were supposed to move her there this weekend.  Unfortunately she fell this morning getting out of bed and reaching for her walker. The walker wasn’t locked and down she went. Fortunately she was exactly where she should be- they quickly helped her and immediately rushed her to get xrays. Nothing is broke- Thank God!! So, now she’ll be staying at the rehab center a little longer.  Lots of red tape too, we have to get her switched from Medicare to Medicaid to pay for the nursing home of our choice.  In meantime, I’ve been driving to east Texas every single weekend which is 4.5 hours round trip. My truck is getting the miles on but what do you do? I will do anything to help Nanny and to spend time with my mom. 

I HAVE been decorating a lot for Holliween , getting ready for my party on October 20.  That makes me happy!

Originally, this weekend was suppose d to be a fun getaway weekend to New Orleans with a couple that are good friends of ours, Thomas and Tammy. Thomas has never been to New Orleans and we booked flights and hotel  around the first of the year. We had been talking about doing this for a few years so we finally made plans.  Then a few weeks ago, Thomas ended up having surgery on his shoulder. He had been having some pains and there was no alternative.  So the trip of course is cancelled.  Todd and I are taking advantage of our vacation day and going to the State Fair of  Texas.  We used to go every year but we didn’t the last 2 years, so I’m excited to eat a Fletchers corn dog and something fried like oreo or snickers.  

Have a great weekend and i'll hopefully have a recap of our day of fun tomorrow for yall next week.

Say a prayer for Nanny too please.

Oh and what is this?  I bought it from Goodwill because it looks vintage and I love it anyways but not sure what its original purpose is for. I'm thinking maybe long matches or straws? It has holes in the back like ventilation.

Getting Nanny settled and North Texas Giving Day

Hey there,
So its been a super crazy busy week.  Last week, I spent Thursday night thru Sunday afternoon in east Texas with my mom and Nanny. Then, Todd had to leave Monday am for trip to California. I feel like we haven't seen each other in forever.  As mentioned in last post, Nanny was released from hospital but cant live in her apartment on her own now. She was admitted into a rehab/assisted living center over the weekend.  She's adjusting really well which makes me feel better. The first night was hard on all of us. Her room was just so sterile and not welcoming. She also got sick that night which I think was her nerves.  The very next morning, we brought her recliner, comforter, blankets, pictures, trinkets and a plant to liven things up a bit.  It was hard for her to realize that she couldn't just shower and eat , etc when she wanted to. She's on a schedule where she's at but its better for her.  Nanny is going to rehab every day to get stronger and she really needed it.  For some time, she sat in her chair in her apartment and got zero exercise.  Time will tell....

Yesterday was North Texas Giving Day and is annual event. It's an online event where several charities are included for awareness and you donate to one or more charity through the North Texas giving day sight. Many charities have had sponsors, etc who will even match the donated amount. I am a volunteer for Refuge for Women. I know I've mentioned before and i'll do a post soon specifically explaining what we're all about.  In Denton ,(where the University of North Texas ) on the town square, several charities set up a booth to also raise awareness locally and hope that people will donate. I worked the later shift so I could attend when I got off work from corporate job.  Sadly, an hour after getting there, some rain and storms were coming in and the winds were picking up so everyone had to take down tents, flyers, etc and it disbanded earlier than planned.  It was fun while it lasted.  

We raised $36,700 dollars!!!

There was a quick storm that went by before I left home and was headed to the event and I was able to take a pic of the pretty rainbow from my patio. 

We have 2 girls graduating from the program tomorrow which is a very big deal. I am so proud to be a volunteer for this group.  Other than that, we are just going to stay close to home and i'm decorating my house with Halloween.   Have a great weekend!!

Last week's musings

Last weekend I stopped at garage sale and got this awesome Frankenstein head and hands. Its perfect for my theme for Holliween this year which is Classic Halloween. I also got some orange lights and some furry spiders at the sale.  We got down all the Halloween tubs of decorations from attic also so I can start getting a lead on getting house ready.  I started way too late last year and was decorating up to the very day of the party and it was really stressful.
I do already have both Todd and my costumes so that's good.

Last Saturday after I went to garage sale , I got a hair cut ( got 4 inches cut off). I usually go twice a year for my fall cut and my spring cut.  Just before I went into hair salon, I  got call from Mom that Nanny was back in hospital.  I cried because I didn't have good feeling about this.
That evening, Todd and I went to concert with some friends and saw Alice in Chains.  We love them and saw them in 2016 the last time they were close.  The concert was great!! One of their old albums was titled Dirt and it was also 2 days after the news that Burt Reynolds had passed.  I thought this was funny- they had this on all the large screens at concert:

On Sunday , Lila disappeared for a short while which is not unusual because she's always prowling around the yard and under the bushes.  Here she comes trying to bring her find into the house. Fortunately I closed the door before she came in and todd grabbed a plastic bag. Then we let her just inside the door and took it from her.  She has to watch Todd go out the gate and throw it away or else she goes nuts and constantly looks for it.  She' just got one and brought in house 3 weeks ago and laid it out for us so proudly. LOL

So today is a somber day of course since is 9-11.  Today is also my 23rd work anniversary.  Its been a wild ride professionally for sure.
I saw this on Instagram and shared it as well:

Now for the bad news, we have to admit Nanny into a nursing home this week. She wont be able to go home from the hospital and we are a wreck!!! Its the right thing to do and she will be in good hands but the knowing that when she left her apartment not realizing that it would be the last time she would be there just kills me.  She has been falling more and more and she lives alone and its too scary to think about her getting hurt unattended.   I'm so glad my mom has been here for all this.  I am worried about her too though because all the stress has made her lupus flare up like crazy.  Please send prayers.  We will have the nursing home narrowed down tomorrow or Thursday and then we'll move Nanny.  This isn't easy. 

Celebrations and visits

Hello my blogger friends! How was your Labor Day weekend?
My weekend started off with a great celebration of my 5 year wedding anniversary.  Our tradition is to have dinner at the same restaurant that Todd proposed to me at. Its super nice and I always look forward to knowing we'll go there once a year. The restaurant is called 3 Forks https://www.3forks.com/ and the steaks are amazing!!  We both look forward to the 3forks salad which has blue cheese crumbles and a maple pecan vinaigrette that is incredible.  I also always get a side order of lobster mac n cheese which is my favorite. I always end up taking some home and eating the leftovers the next day. 

They always bring a complimentary slice of cake if you tell them you're celebrating a special occasion

 The following day on Saturday, my cousin Monya and her daughter Emma came by to pick me up and we went to East Texas to visit Nanny and my mom.  It was a nice day of just hanging around and we stayed until after 4 which means we didn't get home until around 6:30.   It was nice to see my mom and I look forward to having her back at my house for a visit soon.  Nanny was doing Ok but I am worried about her. I feel like she's declining slowly . She's doing great for 91 but I see some changes.

Mostly on Sunday and yesterday, we were lazy and sat on couch and watched movies. It was great not going and going.  It rained all day yesterday and it was perfect lazy weather!  We also started watching the series Shameless finally. We're only on season 1 episode 6 now but we're liking it.  A bunch of our friends told us we had to watch it so we're way behind. 
Last month was also my 7 year anniversary for blogging. Its been quite a whirlwind with some lengthy stops in between but I am so glad I started this blog and so very grateful for the friends I've met along the way . 

Happy Tuesday yall!!

More of my worktrip in Utah

I was sooooo crazy busy last week supporting the location in Salt Lake I actually could not find the time to make a post last week and I had been doing so good.  Oh well, maybe I can make it up somewhere.   I absolutely love it when I am so busy that time flies by and its already lunch time then you're running around and before you know it its almost time to leave.  The fast pace is what I enjoy! Yet, its also nice to be back at my desk  to breathe and get caught up on emails.
So last Saturday I ended up working from 7am to 2pm.  Todd had flown in to work as well in Salt Lake and so he hung out in the hotel and he worked a little, had breakfast at Ihop that was across the parking lot from hotel and then he met me at my location to see the Harley shop.
Once I got off work, we drove up to Park City to show Todd around. I had been there before years ago but I wanted him to see it. Its the coolest little ski town where also Olympics have taken place there.  It was a nice drive and we listened to some live bands performing off the main street. We got a frozen coffee drink and just walked up and down the town.  We also had to stop at the Walmart on the way out of Park City to buy a new pillow because the hotel pillows were awful!
When we arrived back in Salt Lake, we drove downtown and saw the Mormon Temple and all the buildings associated with Latter Day Saints.  Last time I was there , I also visited inside the Tabernacle Choir building and visitor center. It was very interesting.  Todd didn't want to get out of the car because of parking, etc so we just drove around.  We stopped to eat at a very very popular place called the Red Iguana.  They are 2 locations within just a few blocks of each other and it was a 45 minute wait for both locations.  I ordered a combo platter and when I got to my enchilada, I cut it open to eat the insides ( lol - I was full and just wanted to taste the meat inside) , and there was a small hair with food cooked on each end.  Honestly yall, I used to be a restaurant manager so I know it can easily be done. I cant think of anyone that would purposefully add a hair to food.  The heat will kill any germs so it doesn't gross me out.  I just calmly told the waiter and I told him that I didn't need to be comped for it. They did anyway but it wasn't necessary because I ate everything else on my plate.  
So speaking of food- Salt Lake has a local chain called Crown Burger that is a must! It started by a Greek family and they have a large variety of things to choose from.  The burger comes topped with a piece of pastrami and it was so yummy!  I subscribe to Cowboys and Indians magazine and there's actually an article specifically mentioning the Crown Burger.  Very Cool!!
What was really nice is that a work friend was also in Salt Lake supporting our larger location in Salt Lake. She lives in California and I got to know her very well many years ago when I did the Cali Conversion. We met up for dinner on Thursday in downtown Salt lake at Squatters Brewery before she headed to airport to fly home.
I flew home last Friday and I was so happy to be with my dogs and my bed and my husband.  No place like home! 

Park City bench

Mormon Temple

My crew I worked with last week in SLC

My work friend Genelle

More concerts and work travels

Hey there, I ALMOST let a week go by without posting.  You got to admit, I've been trying hard since I've come back. LOL
So this week has been crammed packed starting with this past Tuesday night's concert.  We saw the Revolution 3 tour which is Bush , Stone Temple Pilots, and The Cult.   We typically don't ever pass on The Cult when they come to town.  It was such a great concert and we had bought the cheap seats in the lawn and we had a nice breeze which helped.  Ironically, it poured down rain up until a few hours before the concert started and then not another drop.  It was perfect!  I had never seen STP while Scott Weiland was the lead and then of course he died a few years back (2015). They replaced him with another guy Jeff Gutt who does  a pretty darn good job as the lead.  I had already seen Bush in the 90's and The Cult 3 or 4 times but it was still a show we wanted to see. A band called The Dirty Hooks actually opened for all of them and yall- we really enjoyed them!!! The drummer is a chick who also has great vocals.  If you're on Spotify, you can find them there.

concerts are the best for people watching

Yesterday, I flew to Salt Lake City which is where i'll be working until next Friday the 24th. I am supporting a conversion which means i'll also be working tomorrow and potentially Sunday.  I've been here before a few times so I really don't mind working from here.   I will tell you a funny story ( to me at least), I was using my google maps app on my phone and as I was approaching my work location I saw the Harley symbol for their store, I was thinking that's cool that i'll be somewhat close to Harley, when right when I passed it my GPS said you've reached your destination.  I laughed out loud thinking how does google maps know my love for Harley.  I didn't see my location anywhere so I pulled over in a parking lot and called an employee here for the correct address and when they told me, it was actually behind another store facing the street and i'm directly across the street from Harley!  So cool and special bonus that I can hear the bikes coming and going all day. I stopped by today in fact on my lunch hour. 
Then speaking of extra bonuses,  Todd also flew in last night a couple hours after I did and he's working all day with one of his brokers. Which means his company paid for his trip.  He also has some family here who we're having dinner with tonight.  I am so excited to have Todd here for a few days because that really breaks up the loooong time I have to be here. Send prayers that tomorrow goes smoothly and I don't have to work too late so I can show Todd around.
Last night, I just happen to glimpse out my bedroom hotel window and spotted the sunset.  It was so pretty! 

So that's my week- concerts, rain, packing, flying, working.  :)
Have a great weekend and have fun and be safe!