friday fun #9

From Friday's Feast...

Appetizer
Who is the easiest person for you to talk to? Hmm... Probably my dad. A lot of people around me are not good listeners. Love 'em anyway!

Soup
If you could live in any ancient city during the height of the quality of its society and culture, which one would you choose? Tulsa! I would love to have lived here in the oil days and be married to a loaded oil barron.

Salad
What is the most exciting event you’ve ever witnessed? Oh gosh... That's a hard one. I seriously cannot think of anything.

Main Course
If you were a celebrity, what would you do for a publicity stunt? Show my crotch... Just kidding. I'd adopt lots and lots of kids.

Dessert
What do you consider the ideal age to have a first child? 25 to 30. Any younger than that and you don't have the patience or tolerance for babies.

lazybones

I haven't been very creative lately, so I've been neglecting my poor blog.

I have been reading a lot, I mean - when I start, I cannot stop. It's nice to go home, crack open some wine, settle on the couch with Mr. Pedro and read the night away. I've been using big words lately because my mind is expanding from all the literature I've processed. hehe

In the past six weeks I've read these books (and went on two trips!):
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides - very good book, kind of a hard read because it skips around but I really enjoyed it.
The Bitch in The House by Cathi Hanauer - It's a collaboration of stories by 26 different women about dating, sex, motherhood, and marriage. I'm totally buying it for my girlfriends for Christmas, it was great.
Flush, Sick Puppy, and Striptease by Carl Hiassen - he's a great writer, lots of humor.
I'm Not Julia Roberts by Laura Ruby - didn't know it was about stepmoms, didn't really care for it because I couldn't relate.
The Little House by Philippa Gregory - cute, surprising story which I really enjoyed.
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume - always a great author!

I'm also currently reading Sweet Ruin by Cathi Hanauer and Rant by Chuck Palahniuk and listening to the Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella podcast. Go me!!! Who needs TV and cable and movies when you can read a book!?!?!?!!?!

Anyone got more suggestions for me?

friday fun #8

Hi readers! I've been a total slacker but I've been trying to get caught up from missing so much at work from my vacations. Enjoy today's Friday Fun - I forgot to link back to it... Oops. Have a spectacular weekend!

1. Favorite pastry? Mmmm... I'd have to say cream cheese danishes or maple donuts. Those count right?

2. How do you like to waste time? Reading, I've become a total bookworm as of late.

3. How would you describe your complexion? Clear 3 weeks out of the month, then I get a monster growth.

4. What do you hang on to that you should really get rid of? Clothes that don't fit anymore. Like I'm really going to be a size 7 ever again...

5. What is the last thing that made you hurt? Leaving my darling Toddles at the airport last Saturday. I cried like a baby.

Montana dreams...

Hey all! We got back from Montana on Saturday. It was the most amazing trip I think either of us have ever been on. We did so many different things that were extraordinary - I'll never forget this experience! Who would have ever thought that I'd love fly fishing and that both of us would get to drive a H1 Hummer? We were so fortunate to have won this trip. I know I shouldn't, but I love Phillip Morris. They got me. : )

Here's a rundown of each day...

Day 1 - Arrival; Todd almost missed his connection to Bozeman from St. Louis, NWA at Minneapolis really sucks. We made it to our gate on time and hoped on the plane. When we got to the airport in Bozeman, there were all kinds of people from the ranch, greeting us, getting forms, etc. They fed us and put us on a bus about an hour out of Bozeman. We got to the ranch found our room quickly. Our bed was covered with presents and we had a really great room with a sitting area, claw foot tub, thunder jug toilet, and a comfy king sized bed. We had a beautiful front porch with two huge rocking chairs that overlooked the town.

We roamed around the town reminiscent of the Old West for awhile. They had happy hour and then were fed. We had BBQ ribs, chicken, mac & cheese, two different kinds of salad, and plenty of cocktails. My dear T was kind enough to de-bone the BBQ for me, what a guy! After dinner, we went to our room to freshen up and headed back tot the Saloon for drinks. We met fun people, I got a chair massage, and we kept drinking - of course we closed the Saloon down and headed to bed....

Day 2 - Got up super early! We had fly fishing scheduled early that morning so we grabbed a quick breakfast in the Saloon. The morning was so beautiful! We slapped our waders on and learned how to cast. I caught on immediately while Toddles was having some trouble. He ended up catching a cut-throat trout, while I only got a nibble. I'm in love with fly fishing...

We had some extra time between activities so Todd signed up for mountain biking and I went off for a scenic horse ride. It was beautiful but the nearby fires made everything a little smoky. We got back and had time for a quick nap and then I was scheduled for a massage. That was wonderful... I found the only room in town with an AC! After my massage it was time for off-roading in the hummers. They split us up so that there was no backseat driving! It was sooo much fun! We went down hills that you couldn't see the bottom of, had 3 wheels on the ground, and took it to a 30* angle. It was a blast! We got back to town that evening for more happy hour and entertainment from Cowboy Cal. We got a group picture with our cowboys hats on, looking pretty cool!

That night was more great food and drinks and meeting lots of fun people. This time we ate in the Livery and had prime rib with roasted red pepper sauce, grilled shrimp, pheasant with grain mustard, rice, veggies, and more great salad. The prime rib was awesome and I had been craving it since I heard it was for dinner. We got to play poker, have lots more drinks, and really enjoy the cool mountain evening. I had to coax Todd to bed early, we had another big day scheduled!

Day 3 - We were scheduled to do the Yellowstone day trip. We loaded up early, grabbed another great breakfast and boarded the bus for the trip 80 miles to Wyoming. The weather wasn't really on our side this day, it was a little chilly - but like they say about Oklahoma, just wait, it'll change. We explored Yellowstone Park, we saw travertine terraces made from hot springs, sinkholes, and some really beautiful mountains. It sprinkled on us all day and really started raining when we went to go rafting on the Yellowstone River. There was one good section that was rapids, the rest was pretty much like the Illinois River here in Oklahoma. It was freezing! Todd was a great captain for our raft and I think only one person fell out of the 5 different boats. The moment we got off the river the rain let up and the sun poured down. (Go figure) Todd saw 2 moose on the way home, I was snoozing...

We headed back to the ranch for more entertainment and food, this time at the pavillion on the lake. We tried rattlesnake and bison sausage, it was really tasty! For dinner we had NY strip and horseradish crusted salmon, more salad, and a squash medley. The desserts each night were tasty too! They led us all into the livery and had a little show for us, the staff did some line dances and other stuff. We signed up for a poker tournament that night, we didn't do so hot. Cowboy Cal tried to teach us how to rope, it was a little difficult for me... Big surprise! The drinks kept coming and everyone was having a blast, after being together for a few days we had made some really fun friends.

Day 4 - Time to go home. Everyone was really sad to get on the buses to head out. We boarded up at 10 a.m. Todd was supposed to be home by 9:00 that evening but had a rough flight and didn't make it til much later. I too had a horrible day of travel, I didn't arrive home until after 1 a.m. because of the rain in Minneapolis.

The pictures don't do it justice! I cannot wait to go back to MT, it was absolutely amazing!!!

hello hello

On my lunch break and wanted to jot a little note. Had a blast in Iowa at the races, got the shirt to prove it! I've never been so sweaty and dirty, it was fun and nasty all in one.

I think we set a wedding date - October 25, 2008!!!

This time tomorrow I will be en route to beautiful Montana...

I'll update with pics when I get back.

quickie...

I haven't been on much because I've been busting my hump getting all my work finished before my lil vacation.

I'm off to St. Louis today, Iowa tomorrow, and Montana on Wednesday - I should be able to pop in and update on Monday.

For now, I'll do a food survey I found on myspace, enjoy! Copy it and link back if you want!

FOOD SURVEY
1. What's your favorite kind of sandwich?
Turkey club with lots of honey mustard!

2. What do you put on your burger?
Mustard, pickles, onion, and bacon.

3. How do you like your steak cooked?
Medium

4. Ice cream: in a sugar cone, waffle cone, or a bowl?
I don't really eat ice cream but I'll take a teeny bit in a bowl.

5. Name your favorite fast food restaurant and what you usually order there:
Wendy's - spicy chicken sandwich, side caesar, and an iced tea.

6. You're at the salad bar. What do you put in your salad?
Lettuce, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, cheese, chopped egg, baby corn, sunflower seeds, and bacon bits, topped with ranch dressing.

7. What do you usually order at Starbucks?
I'm not a patron...

8. What do you usually order to drink with your dinner?
Iced Tea or water.

9. Do you have any BBQ grill skills?
Sure do - I can BBQ with the boys!

10. Dinner bread: biscuit, toast, roll, breadsticks or cornbread?
Cheesy bread should've been an option but I'll take toast.

11. Favorite breaksfast cereal:
Kashi Strawberry Fields

12. Favorite kind of chips:
Cheetos, Fritos Scoops, and Sunchips.

13. Potatoes: Mashed, baked, scalloped, french fries, or hash browns/home fries?
D. All of the above.

14. Favorite Chinese dish:
Egg Foo Young

15. Favorite Italian dish:
Canneloni or lasagna.

16. Favorite Mexican dish:
Cheese enchiladas topped with fried eggs and rice on the side.

17. Favorite Indian/Thai dish:
Indian - saag paneer; Thai - panang chicken or pad thai.

18. What do you put on your hot dog?
If I have to eat one, mustard and relish.

19. Chicken....white meat or dark meat?
Both please.

20. What's the best thing you can cook?
Enchiladas, lasagna, and breakfast.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

crazy week

After last week being a total blah, it ended more spectacular than I could have ever imagined. Toddles proposed on Friday. It was perfect, just us at home with music and candles and flowers, the whole works! So dreamy and unexpected!!! My baby wanted to catch me off guard and he did, I had no idea this was coming.

I haven't blogged all week because I cannot stop looking at wedding stuff. It is so overwhelming and we haven't even set a date yet! We will figure that out on our road trip next week since we'll have 4+ hours in the car. Hopefully we'll be able to agree on things, the first being who is moving. That has been the first question on everyone's minds. We'll figure it out, after 10 years - there's no rush.

I am skipping my Friday Fun this week. Let's look at my bling instead!

Mmmmhmmm... Isn't it wonderful? You can't even see half of the diamonds! There are diamonds on the band, diamonds on the side, freakin diamonds EVERYWHERE! My baby did so well!!!

I had no idea there was another level of happiness but I've certainly found it. I'm incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful man that wants to spend the rest of his life with me.

Have a great weekend!!!