this man...

has been gone for far too long...

Remember the London trip?  Well, we went because Sean had been there for work since November (love me a vacation with a free place to stay).

I can't say it's been easy...or enjoyable...being home alone while he's off touring Europe working hard.
In fact it's been the hardest thing I've had to do in quite some time.

I didn't realize how much I had come to love having him around 24/7.
I knew we were meant to be together considering we could work together all day and still want to be around each other after work.
So, when he's all of a sudden not around, I freak out!

6 hours doesn't sound like much - but it is when you're trying to find time to talk during the day.

But he's back now and I'm ecstatic!!!

I love that he loves my baby as his own.
I love that he supports me no matter how many hobbies I try.

I love that he loves to travel as much as I do.
I love that he's such a softy - even if he doesn't want people to know.
I love his free spirit and fun nature.

I love that he's also focused and gets stuff done.
I love our life together and so glad we're physically back together!!!

accountants just wanna have fun

I travel so much for work and have done so for so many years I have gotten to the point where I don't take advantage of what the city I'm visiting has to offer.  I've been to Tampa so many times all I want to do is just sit in my room and do nothing at the end of the day.

This week was a little different.  We actually went out and had a little fun - Splitsville style - where their gig is...

I'm IN!!!  I'm IN!!!

We bowled...

and played pool...

I totally loved their "rules".

The first round of bowling we had to guess what we would bowl.  I guessed 109 -  bowled a 106 - ROCKED IT!!!  Won the prize for coming closest.

What's your best bowling score?

funny photo

I saw this on the shuttle that takes you from the terminal to baggage claim in Tampa.  As soon as I saw it I died laughing and immediately thought of Ellen's funny photos.  I'm sure the other people in the shuttle thought I was a little strange for laughing and taking a picture (maybe should have included more of the ad in the photo).  Do you find it as funny as I do???

my weekend

Based on how my weekend started, it could only go up.

Nothing like waking up, putting in a load of laundry, going about my business when an unfamiliar sound startles me from the other room.  I quickly jumped up to see what it was to find water, spewing EVERYWHERE in the utility room.  Remember those pictures of all the snow and stuff?  Well, I guess I had a frozen pipe, so there was nowhere for the draining water from the washer to go except on the floor.  After having a freak out moment (and a calm down from some friends) I proceeded to clean it up.

The ShamWow is AMAZING in these situations.  I will never go back to a regular towel in these circumstances again.  If you don't own one - get it NOW!  (I have not been compensated for this shout-out.)

Do you have one of these...

- a big pile of clothes needing SOMETHING - a button, a hole sewn - anything?  Mine has been growing for years so I decided to finally do something about it.  I found all the buttons needed too - TOTAL BONUS!  It was like getting a whole new wardrobe!

There was also a lot of this going on, too...

I capped my weekend off by sitting in first class sipping a cocktail during the Super Bowl.  Bummed I missed Christina - love her - but heard she totally messed up the National Anthem.

Just when I thought things had turned around...
I got called "sir".  Oh well, tomorrow is a new day!

what a difference a day makes

little of this, little of that

FINALLY a picture of the new do...

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The dress in the picture above I bought several years ago.
It totally fit when I bought it...
but not when I got it home.
UNTIL last weekend!
Took the tags off.
On a similar note - put on a pair of work pants this week that I have to retire - WAY too big now and look horrible.
20 pounds to go!

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Sean wasn't home so the cardinals came for a visit - they're his favorite - wants them at the Camp but they don't come around.  I took a picture so he could enjoy them, too.

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Lesson learned this week - check the weather for the day you come back from a trip.
Left for Tampa when it was in the 70s in Texas, came back to an ice storm.
Only had flip flops and very light jacket.
Luckily I was parked REALLY close to the door.
Took me 1.5 hours to drive home from the airport.
Only fish-tailed once.
But ended the journey by sliding right into the garage.
Don't worry Sean - I didn't hit the wall or anything.

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Kermit looks like he's sunbathing in the sand...
except from this angle he has a scared look on his face.
Oh, that's left over ice from the storm on Monday night - picture taken today.
Snow is on the way again tonight...
but 50's on Saturday!

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Duke has the greatest name to add to any song...
"Ain't no other man but Duke..."
"Despite all my rage, Duke is still just a rat in a cage..."
"Since Duke's been gone..."
"But tonight I'm loving Duke..." - ok so that one came out creepy sounding...

I can hear you now - "what a freak" - but just wait - you're going to find yourself doing it, too...
...when you're all alone, in the car, stereo cranked, beltin' it out...just wait!

big beauty

I can now say I've been to two pageants - or can I really count it as three?

Many years ago I had a friend that was in the Miss Kansas pageant.

This past weekend I had a friend judging the North Dallas County Texas Plus America Pageant (it had two categories - Ms and Miss).

I would have to search through "real" pictures to find some from the Miss Kansas pageant (I didn't have a digital camera back then).  I took my camera last weekend though so you'll have to settle for those.

These two pageants couldn't have been more different - 2 contestants vs who knows how many, no interview during pageant vs interview competition live, contestants, size of the audience, I could go on and on...

But, at the same time, they were exactly the same - there were categories they competed in...

and winners were crowned...

It was such a BLAST!!!  Who said "big" isn't beautiful???

Thanks to Mark for getting us the hook-up!  We on for Nationals?