around the river bend

its time for another valentine trip. i will be driving solo. for the 8 hr trek. part of me is excited for this. the other part of me remembers this past winter when we drove up for granny's 80th. it was nice to sleep for 4 hours. wake up. eat breakfast at grand island. (neither grand nor an island. insert audience laugh). and then have family sing alongs until we arrive. ill just have to belt it out even more by myself. and not sleep.

since it is summer. and there is only so much you can do. in a town population maybe 3,000. a river trip is in store. i'll miss crazy days tomorrow. but i am sure a shopping trip to the few shops downtown will take place. and a prime rib dinner at the casino will also be on the list. the most exciting part. i will be away from work for 4 days. i havent done such things in a long time. i need a mental break. from work. from doggies. and from life. until i return...be on the look out for bumper stickers!

(actual photo from niobrara river in valentine - according to the internet)

bumper sticker xxviii

spotted wednesday by rach. my favorite hair gal. we need to work on her camera skills. i would really like to see the artwork. and car make/model. but she has been one of my top contributors, so i cant hate.

"I'll keep my guns, money and freedom. You keep the change."

bumper sticker xxvii

spotted today by lp. love the clever spin on this one.

one of my favorites from lemonade's wedding. priceless. love ya b!

onsies

i got so wrapped up in summer. i forgot that little princess zola suh turned one. on july 7th. i dont think the parents threw her a party. but they probably gave her lots of treats (because thats what they do). took her on a fun walk (opposed to the non-fun ones everyday). and maybe slipped her something special in the dinner. she also got to go on her first big road trip to grandma and grandpa's house in austin. she was good and slept the whole ride. and then chased cats. and hammed it up with the grandparents. i meant to take a picture of her when i visited yesterday. but you see. i have a bit of a sinus attack. and any extra movement. really has to be justified. we played some. napped together. and she shared lots of kisses. zola is almost out of the puppy phase and is a sweet girl. until she grabs anything at her level. that she knows she shouldnt have. and wants to play chase.

also happy birthday to ry-guy, baby winstead. i cant believe its been a year since i met him. and nanny stacy and i played dress up. he is a perfect little guy and getting so big. but remains - adorable. wish i could have been there! (photo courtesy of mom).

am i alone

or does anyone else get aggravated by voice messages at work. specifically from internal folks. like cant they just send you an email. it takes me longer to call my vm. enter the pass code. listen to them ramble. delete it. hang up. and either call. or i personally email back. i dont like talking on the phone that much in my personal life. and now it is transferring to my work life. ugh. just make it go away.

itchfest

i am trying everything in my power. not. to. itch. my left calf is covered. tiny red bumps. so that when my jean hits them. they start to tingle. and ITCH. i try to think of something else. to refrain from moving my hand down. letting my nails scratch the surface. but then i move my foot ever so slightly. and my sandal hits that giant red bump on my arch. with ten others surrounding it. and then i can feel one on my thigh. and my innner arm. they just want me to itch them. i grab the cortizone cream. to only bump my hand against the bite below my thumb. that one. it has been scratched a lot. easy access. its almost gone. from being scratched so much.

needless to say. i am in pain. i will drug myself with benadryl. to not scratch during the middle of the night. i tried to show untitled my leg over lunch. she was grossed out immediately. and asked me to stop. with a look of disgust. it is a bad site. i hope the little bastards that did this are dead by now. and i am sure my coworkers think i am a freak. when i have to apply anti-itch cream through out the day.

i love summer...