200th post!

I can't believe my blog has lasted this long. I started it on New Year's 2010, and I'm almost at my 1.5 anniversary! I have no idea if people read it or not, but I mainly use it for therapeutic reasons. And I like that it serves as an online scrapbook. So here's to blogging!!!

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you soldiers past and present for what you've done/do for our country. And a special thanks for their families and loved ones who selflessly wave good bye as they defend our country and allow Americans the freedoms we don't deserve.

Randy and I just hung out this weekend. I made banana pudding, and we had Rudy's for dinner. It's a requirement to have some type of grilled thing for holidays like these.

We also saw the Hangover 2. Bradley Cooper stole my heart. He's gorgeous!
The movie was pretty funny too. Did I mention that Bradley Cooper is in the movie and steals the show with his good looks?

This week is the last week with kiddos. Man, I'm ready for summer. The counseling office is busiest in the summer as we prepare to finish the master schedule and class schedules. I'll be working until the 16th and then freedom!!!!

Speaking of summer, we have finally booked our Vegas trip! I have bought our Cirque du Soleil tickets, and I have no idea what other shows we should see. I really want to see a magic show, a comedy show, and this really cool murder mystery dinner theater. Shows are so expensive, and I'm limited to two shows. I wanted to see the Cirque du Soleil because I've heard great things about these shows. So with my one option left, it should be a no brainer....


David Copperfield!
Ahh the man is a legend. I loved watching him as a kid. I've been mesmerized ever since he escaped that barrel in Niagra Falls. My brother and I liked him so much that we got a magic set for Christmas one year. We were way cool!

Well the problem is two-fold...
1) the tickets start at 95 dollars a person...eek!
2) apparently he's this big dirt bag.
Who knew? But apparently every time I mention it to someone that I want to see him in Vegas, they ask me if he's going to take me to his private island?

What private island?
Why does this sound slightly like a Michael Jackson creepster park?
Have I missed this memo? And why are the tickets so pricey if he's a dirty old man?

Ahh so many decisions...

Ahh I'm so excited about Vegas.

I started researching, and I know we're going to do the following things...

the Buffet at Bellagio (like how this is number 1 on my list?)
two shows (second one tbd)
the Hoover Dam (guess who's pick this one is?)
visiting the famous wedding chapel and taking oh so cheesy pics
laying out pool side while Randy loses money in the casinos

Any other suggestions? I'm just starting all the research. I'd love some tips!

Proud Momma!

It was about 140 degrees today! Yikes, was that a horrible preview of what July and August will feel like?

Well Mopac would have a heat stroke if we left her out when it's so hot. So she becomes a strict AC dog in the summer months.

AC means sleeping...all day long!

We needed to get moving, so we went to a park where Randy is designing a pond. The road that runs next to the pond is also going to be widened. We had to go and take pictures, duh!

P: "Umm I don't think you should cross that barrier Randy."

R: "Penny, I decided where that barrier was going to be put."

P: "Well, lah-ti-dah!"

Since Mopac and I are not criminals and are not interested in trespassing, we went on our own little stroll.

Afterwards, everyone was walking back the the truck. This car slowly is creeping along the side of us. It stops and the man rolls his window down.

Ha! I knew Randy was trespassing!

Man: "Excuse me, but ya'll have a beautiful Westie. That is a really pretty dog."

What do you say?

I went with the humble "thank you."

I really wanted to say something like, "We think so too!" or "I agree!" or even "Duh!"

My heart tripled in size. I love my little girl!

She's done lost her mind!

Mopac thinks she's a big dog! She weighs about 15 pounds. She's a little girl!

Every dog we meet on our walks she wants to tear them to shreds. I'm not sure where she learned such aggressive behavior...Randy.

Today she thought her new victim would be a Rottweiler.

Poor little girl. Small and highly confused.

I told her, "Mopac you are crazy. Momma is even scared. Keep your mouth shut."

Excitement

I am so excited for summer! Here's what I'm looking forward to...

1) shaved ice (mmm...I love this little place near the library)

2) speaking of library, tons of reading!

3) summer vacation (I can't wait to spend some time with my hubby!)

4) all the amazing produce and fresh fruits! The grocery store is ten times better in the summer! Bring on the sweet peaches!

5) fresh salsa

6) the smell of sunscreen

7) mastering the master schedule at work (it'll feel good to know what I'm doing this year)

8) spending time with family and friends

9) BBQ cook outs and frozen lemonade pie

10) spending time with my baby girl Mopac!

laundry, blueberry muffins, and dinner

I love productive Sundays!

I'm getting so much done!

Probably because I'm by myself and there are no distractions.

But most likely, it's because I should be reading "Managing the Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted" for my GT training on Wednesday. Eww!

I am tackling chores, washing towels, and making muffins for the week. The house smells amazing and the breeze is flowing through all the open windows.

I'm about to start on dinner.

Capellini With Spicy Zucchini-Tomato Sauce on the Food Network



I love homemade sauces with San Marzano tomatoes! Don't skimp on these. So, it's about 4.50 for a large can of these beauties, but they're from Italy!!! And it's so worth it! Their nice and tangy. You just can't get the same taste from Hunt's.

I'm pumped about dinner, and it's a great way to use our early zucchinis. Don't like zucchini? Pull a Randy and just pick those out.

Truck music

Randy has been gone all weekend! I started missing him oh about 10pm on Friday night. He and a bunch of friends were at a bachelor party for Layne in New Orleans.

No, I don't want to see any pictures of the delicious beignets you ate while you were there!

I can't wait for 7pm tonight! That's when he returns, and life won't be boring anymore!

Randy drove my car to Houston in order to meet up with the gang. Oh you know, it's the whole, "it gets better gas mileage" argument. My car has been the taxi since I bought it in February. We drive my little car everywhere! It's because it gets better gas. I know, I know, we've all heard the gas argument.

I've been tasked to drive his monster truck since Friday morning.

I feel like I am road warrior behind the wheel in that thing! Look out people!

And when George Strait comes on the radio, it's like he's SUPPOSED to be singing!!! I had more fun belting out "Amarillo by Morning" today than I ever have before.

The Cammy might get better gas mileage; but George sounds way better in the truck!

baby face!

There is nothing worse than getting interrupted at dinner time. Thursday night, Randy and I were sharing a hot meal that Domino's so lovingly put together for us when the doorbell rang.

Grr...

I keep eating my pizza and pretend I don't hear it.

Please go away! Please go away! Please go away!

If we're real quiet, they'll leave.

However, Mopac went into attack mode. Her ferocious bark was giving us away, especially when Randy yells out, "Who is it Mopac?"

Randy opens the door and the guy said, "Umm hello. Is your mom or dad home?"

hahahahahahahaha!

Randy replies, "No they're not actually."

Salesguy: "Do you know when they'll be home?"

Randy: "It'll be really late tonight. I'm sorry."

Randy proudly walked back to the table gloating with that whole "I'm glad I don't look old" look.

ugghhhhh!

I'm so done with...

this school year

504 reviews

Quest Diagnostic (I'm not paying for blood work that you lost and never got to my doctor. Oh the rep agrees and has told me three times that it's been taken care of...clearly it has not!)

this blog (I have nothing positive, funny, encouraging, or inspiring to say. And I refuse to make this blog sorrowful and depressing. Who wants to read that? I don't want to write it. This will be the extent of negativity, my griping.)

Ugghh can you say bad mood city?

I need a vacation! Maybe I'll start posting recipes again.

Happenings

Okay, I know you guys have missed me.

I miss my blog too. The truth is, I've been so exhausted that I haven't had any time to write anything, well anything blog-worthy.

Why is that you ask?

Because as the TAKS coordinator of our campus, we administered approx. 1760 different TAKS subject tests last week. I know, I know, I'm a big deal.

I can count answer documents and make sure teachers bubbled the "S" in the score code field.

No seriously, it is a TON of work, and now I can get back to some counseling (I mean 504 meetings). The spring is no bueno!

Anyway, what else has been happening.

BIRDS!!!
I absolutely hate birds. Ever since that horrible day when I was walking on campus as a freshman. Oh my beloved UT! I had my new Jansport colorful backpack on, and I was cruising by Littlefield Dormitory (oh how I loved being a Ladybug) and I did the unthinkable. I thought a really nasty thought about that nasty grackel bird patrolling the sidewalk. I thought to myself, "What an ugly creature? And they just look so stupid with their beady eyes." Well you'll never believe what happened.

It.jumped.on.my.back.

I'm.not.kidding.

I screamed and threw off my backpack violently. Sorry laptop computer!
This was out of control. I started crying and breathing really heavy. People probably thought I got attacked by an invisible man. I was a little disappointed no one bothered to come ask me if I was okay or push the campus police call button for me.

I'm sure they were in shock, and I felt the need to give the "don't think ugly thoughts about birds" speech to warn others of the perils of such a risk. But I was just a scared and embarrassed freshman.

So birds and I do not get along. Mainly the black grackels. I love to look at birds as long as I'm behind glass or maybe in a lush tropical rain forest. Don't get me wrong, some are kinda cute. Hummingbirds and those little bitty ones are cute. Pigeons and grackels are...wait no ugly thoughts because bad things happen...see above.

One of the items we got from Granny's house is her bird feeder. No one loves watching birds more than Granny. I'm not sure why Randy requested it because let's be honest, bird food costs money. And Randy doesn't like to spend it.

Well he hung the bird feeder proudly in our back yard next to the dining room windows. He loves to watch them feed from it. I love how they fly into our windows and scare the tarnation out of me.

I think the bird feeder is about to go away.

2 reasons...

1) Randy: "Man, those little birds are bottomless pigs. They're eating us out of house and home."

I know that 3 dollar bag of bird seed ADDS up!

2) Mopac is in love with their dribbles. Randy wouldn't have to fill it so often if they weren't such sloppy eaters. Half, no 3/4 of their food ends up on the ground.
And Mopac eagerly awaits their crumbs. See, she is used to sitting below people when they eat. She knows this is her best opportunity for a free hand out. She has a permanent spot under Randy's chair during dinner.

How do we know she's guilty?

Randy shoots the water hose on her poop.

I'm.not.kidding.

Who does this?

He says it breaks down the poop and acts as a fertilizer for our grass.

That's just gross.

How do I know she's guilty?

I caught her red pawed today licking her lips under the feeder.
I gave her the whole, "Dogs don't eat bird food" speech.

I also should warn her about thinking bad thoughts about birds. The moment one of those things jump on her back, that feeder is gone!

Way, I mean way, way, way pumped!

My favorite book becomes a movie! I am so giddy; it's kind of ridiculous!