"I feel like Hank Williams tonight..."

That is from a song that Jerry Jeff Walker sings. I don't know if he wrote it, but that is his version I have running through my head. It just talks about his moods and what type of music he listens to during those moods. Hank Williams is the "I am in a funk" music. I am in a funk. The high point of my day was helping another goat get unstuck from the fence. I should be in a better mood. My friend Sylvia was here this weekend. We had a great time...didn't do much of anything besides spend money and laugh (a lot on both counts). She left on Sunday and it went downhill from there. Anyone have a sure fire cure for the blues?? I need it!

Donkey

Here is a picture of my neighbor, the donkey. He was pretty happy with me...I just fed him carrots and petted his head. Still haven't been able to pet the dog! I am working on him, though. He will come around eventually.

Motley {camping} Crue

Here are the crazy girls I went camping with. Notice the beer and cigarette...that pretty much sums up the whole weekend. This picture was probably taken 5 minutes after they woke up in the morning too!! Gotta love these girls!

Website Development, anyone???

This week I am taking a three day class to learn how to use Dreamweaver software. It is used to develop websites. I was nominated to take the class to support my company's website. I need to use it...anyone have a website they need??? You can pay me in beer or scrapbooking supplies...I am cheap! Anyway, what I want to know is why I never worked in a building like this when I was in corporate America? I think I know the answer to that. I think this building is used by many different customers. I believe it changes all the time, schedules fluctuate - have perks, just because their building is their product. Anyway, coffee, tea, and lemonade are provided at all times. Good coffee, tea, and lemonade. There is an ice maker and REAL glasses. Also, the restroom! Have you ever been out at a bar or night club and had the assortment of products for use in the women's restroom? Make-up, perfume, hairspray, gum, etc. that is monitored by a lady for tips. I would never use any of those things, haven't been that drunk. The restrooms here have stuff you would actually use: a lint roller, lotion, dental floss, a nail file. Stuff you might actually need and might not have on you!!! Of course when I did work in an office, I had all that crap in my desk. People just came to me for it, because they knew I had it. I was basically the restroom attendant, only I didn't get any tips! I really wouldn't trade my job for all of that. Can't stand being chained to a desk, even for fresh and good coffee, tea, and lemonade!

Wine, Houston, and Camping

I have had a busy couple of days! Winemaker's lunch on Wednesday. Good food, good wine, and I didn't sit by any wine snobs. Not bad. Thursday I had to get up at the crack of dawn to be in Houston by 11. I needed to stop off in College Station to pick up some wine, so it took me longer than normal. Had to pick up another winemaker (actually the winemaker's daughter, Kristen) for her visit to Houston. We had an employee tasting at the biggest liquor store in Houston - Specs Downtown. We did that, had a late lunch, and then had to be back downtown by 9 pm for a little wine/appetizer thing at a restaurant. It was fun. Some of the same Specs employees that we sampled to earlier were there. On your birthday, this restaurant brings out a huge martini glass (not a drinking glass, more of a glass for dips and what not that is in the shape of a martini glass) filled with cotton candy and sparklers. We pretended it was my birthday. Nothing like wine and a little food followed by cotton candy!!! I was supposed to stay with my friend Stephanie in Houston. By the time this was over and I dropped Kristen off on the North side of town, there was no way I was going to drive all the way South. If you haven't been to Houston, let me tell you, it is a big city. It probably would have taken me one hour to drive from where I was to where I wanted to stay. I ended up staying with Kristen in her hotel. I forgot to bring my laptop on this little trip, so I went to the hotel business center to get online. This was about 1 in the morning. Okay, they have two computers. One was occupied by an Asian guy typing (via the hunt and peck method of typing) a manifesto in his email. The other was occupied by a black guy looking for a date online. Seriously! It is 1 in the morning and you are on a hotel computer in the business center looking to hook up. After several different sites, he finally went to IM a couple of ladies. I gave up at this point. The manifesto was still being typed, at about one word per minute, and the other guy was still looking for a little bit of "late night". I got up super early again on Friday, because I had to be in Austin by 11. Once again, had to stop off in College Station. I finally made it back to Austin and picked up Stacy by 12. We were finally on our way to our camping destination. We had rented a "rustic" cabin in Concan (West of San Antonio). 8 girls were going. Most were on their way by the time we left. When Stacy and I arrived, the other girls were already drunk! It was about 3 in the afternoon. These girls were a hoot, but I am kind of afraid of them now! Just kidding! But several off these girls have done some hard living. The stories they told....they are so lucky they are still alive to be telling these stories. I feel like a nun compared to a couple of these girls. Anyway, on Saturday we went tubing down the Frio river. There is a reason it is named the Frio - it is cold. We were about the only people tubing on the river. We had asked all kinds of questions - how long is the trip, is the river up, how cold are people saying the river is, etc. We were told the river was up and we shouldn't have to walk, should be a relaxing float. I believe we were lied to. I ended up walking most of the river. I got tired of getting hit in the ass by a rock when we bottomed out. The one lesbian in the group thinks she lost her virginity to a rock on that river! LOL! Thank goodness I was not drunk. I would not have been able to keep my balance as well as I did walking in the water, while carrying my tube. I found a nice to stick to use as a walking stick about half way down. That thing saved me. I am bruised and sore in places I didn't know I could be bruised and sore in from that trip. The Frio kicked all of our butts - the Frio river one, cabin 15 zero! So, after a nice hot shower had by all of us, we relaxed in front of a fire with a couple of drinks. That was very relaxing...followed by more hair raising stories. I seriously wish I could type a few here. I just can't......I try to keep my blog PG-13 or at least rated R. Today I got up at about 9, packed up my stuff and headed back to Austin. All the other girls are staying through tonight. I couldn't because I have some work obligations that I can't miss on Monday. I was almost home when I got a call that a set of keys might have been left in my car. I pulled over, searched the car and didn't find them. That just totally sucks. No telling where we lost them. All 8 of us were piled in my mini van for most of the weekend, with both sets of sliding doors open. I know this isn't safe, but we were only traveling a short distance and not going faster than about 15 miles per hour. On the trip back from tubing we had 8 girls, two ice chests, and 9 tubes in or on top of my car. Plus, everyone was drunk (except for me). I believe we lost the keys at that point. Several tubes fell off of my car and we had to stop to get them. No telling what else flew out of my car. It was a great weekend. I didn't drink too much, felt fine every morning. Didn't get sunburned. Just a little sore from the river. I can't wait until the next all girls trip....

How is that people look to me for answers?

My sister says it is because I am just plain bossy, people think I am in charge because I am bossy. Last night is a prime example. We were unpacking boxes of scrapbooking supplies at Archiver's. We all got the same instructions. People repeatedly asked me what we were supposed to be doing. What? Were you not there when they told us what to do? This included the shift supervisor. She kept asking me what we were supposed to do, how we were supposed to do it, and sent people to me if they had questions. She was there on Saturday, just like I was. Saturday was our first day in the store and Monday was the second. A girl that had not been there on Saturday worked last night - her first night of work. This girl asked the shift supervisor for a run down on what we had done and were doing. The supervisor said that she didn't really know and sent her to me. I had to update/train the girl. Not to mention that as we are unpacking stuff, half of it these people have never seen or used. Moral of this story....don't come to the Archiver's Austin store and expect to get answers to your questions unless I am there. The other employees probably don't know the answer and will send you to me anyway! Seriously, this is why America is going down hill. People don't care, don't pay attention, and are too lazy to figure shit out for themselves.

Circle Journal Layout

I still had the stuff out from my Dwight layout and I needed to do one for a circle journal on my home town. My title: I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could. My journaling: "I was born in Denver, Colorado in 1971. I loved Colorado, never wanted to leave. In 1985, I was drug (kicking and screaming) to Three Rivers, TX. A small town in South Texas with a population of less than 2000. I thought I was going to hate it. Little did I know it would shape me in to the person I am today. Mainly because of the girls I met there. These girls have made me a better person. Love You! Nikki"
Just a simple layout on a place that has a big impact on my life. I truly do not think I would be the person I am today without Three Rivers, Texas and my friends that I met there. I am a much better person than I would have been. Thank you Stacy, Stephanie, Michelle, and Emma....and thank you Three Rivers, Texas.

Maybe I do have some funny stories!

Monday I met Stephanie and Stacy at a Mexican restaurant for a few drinks and some appetizers. The bartender cut us off!!! Several pitchers of beer and a few tequila shots later he said we were done. Well, maybe just one more, but this is your last pitcher. Okay, you can have another drink, but not a pitcher. What kind of drink do you want...Stacy and Stephanie got beer. I asked for a margarita....and can you put a shot of grand marnier on that??? Oh, the bartender loved us! I stole a lime (for my beer that I knew I had at home, like I needed to drink anymore). At one point he asked us which one of us was driving...we all pointed at someone else. Total Three Stooges!!! (I know my sister is rolling her eyes at this point...she thinks I have been boozing it up {her words} too much of late...she is probably right!) On Wednesday night, after my hard few hours at paper training, I called Stacy to see what she was doing. Oh yeah, she had already been to happy hour and was feeling no pain. There was a lot of noise in the background, music, but I knew she was at home. She tells me to hold on and says to the background "Hey, y'all take that keg outside. You are too loud and I am trying to talk on the phone.". (She was just joking...it was funny). She then says to herself "where did I put my stereo remote? I think I left it in my truck...". Finally to me she says "let me call you back...". Why she would have her stereo remote in her truck is any one's guess, but she does get crazy with the music after she has had a few drinks. So, she calls me back. We are chatting away and then she says "oh shit" and starts to giggle uncontrollably. I ask her what and she still giggles and then says never mind. Then she says...."I dropped the stereo remote in the toilet". Okay, she is on the phone, has the remote, and is going to the bathroom....is it just me or is that a little too much going on?? Gotta love that girl!

Where have I been?

Not much funny going on in my crazy life...nothing real exciting to report. I started training for my new part time job, at Archiver's. Yes, we have to be trained on scrapbooking supplies...and I am shocked that most of the people in my group have not used a lot of the supplies!! They are all scrapbookers. First night we did stamping basics. Yes, we are getting paid to play. Several ladies in attendance had never embossed before, never stamped before, never even heard of acrylic stamps. What??? I know most of you out there are supply junkies, just like me. How can you not have done that stuff before? Last night we did scrapbooking basics and adhesive training. How funny is that....adhesive training! Again, got paid to play. We made a one page layout and then got to play with all the adhesives. Again, several of the women in attendance had never used several of the adhesives. What the heck kind of scrapbooker are you that you haven't tried every kind of tape out there???? I think I had used all of them and had definite opinions on which ones I would recommend. Tonight we have cutter training....can't wait to hear what these ladies use to trim their stuff with....probably some old, dull kitchen shears!

Crazy baby stories...

They are coming at me left and right! Houston Stephanie is pregnant. Last year, she wanted to have a third and her husband didn't. Then, this Christmas he tells her he is ready. She found out she is pregnant...got pregnant right before she came to see me in Austin. Remember her trip to Austin...drinking and tattoos. Yeah, that Chinese symbol for mother she got tattooed on her ass is right!!! So, she calls me this morning giggling and crying...asks me if I am sitting down. She is having TWINS!! OMG! Her oldest child, Jacob, is a sweetheart. The second child, Mo, not so much! Love her to pieces, but that girl is going to be a handful. Now twins!!! It was nice knowing you, Stephanie...
Now, on to my other friend. She will remain nameless to protect her identity (grin). She is someone who never really wanted to have children. Her husband has one daughter - teenager - from a previous marriage. Anyway, she goes in to have a little bit of cosmetic surgery...nose and boob job. They ask if she is pregnant or any chance she is pregnant. She says no, but you better check anyway. Yeah, PREGNANT. No surgery for her!
Moral of these stories...ladies, watch out! There is something in the air, in the water, going on with the tides, etc.

I really don't like my bank right now!

First off, they decided to change our debit cards from Visa to Master Card, without really telling anyone. My sister told me about it, because her debit card was denied. Because of my move, I had a heck of a time actually getting a new debit card. I finally get one in the mail a week or so ago and my pin number still has not shown up. Stacy and I go out for dinner on Friday night. I wanted to pay for her dinner, because she has done so much for me since the whole move. Yeah, debit/credit card is denied. She ended up paying for dinner, but I had enough cash to pay for our beers the rest of the night. We went to a local dive bar...I don't know if they take anything but cash. We got our butts kicked in shuffle board, but that is another story. Anyway, I call the bank Saturday morning. They said my debit card was not associated with any account. Great! No wonder it didn't work. In the mean time, I have transferred money from my account to an account I share with my sister. That debit card works. Only problem...transfer still has not shown up. When I look at my account online, it says both of my accounts have money. When I try to debit money, it says my account is negative. I just want to get some money! Somebody please help me!!!!!

Funk it UP #6: Secret

For this challenge we had to use the word "secret". I decided to do the project on my secret flame, Dwight Yoakam. My sister gave me the idea of doing my layout in an office file folder. The outside of the folder says "Top Secret", "Confidential", "Do Not Open", and "Shhh...". My actual layout journaling says "It is the man, the music, the clothes...but mostly the lyrics. He writes the way I feel or the way I want to feel.". Dwight has a way of writing and singing that gets me. I sometimes think he has to be living my life (not really, but I can relate to a lot of his stuff). Plus, he has that old school country sound. Not to mention the fact that I really do love his style. Love the custom boots and his flair with western wear.

Across the alley from the Alamo...

I love San Antonio. I seriously did not take advantage of it when I lived there while in college. This weekend I was in San Antonio. Stacy drug me to a wedding - one of her cousins got married. It was a blast, and I think I drank my weight in alcohol. Not really a good thing, but I had a heck of a time. Highlights of the weekend: the mother of the bride wearing a short dress that was a zebra print, the mother of the bride shaking her money maker out on the dance floor dancing by herself the whole evening, being called a dick by Stacy's brother Preston, getting smacked on my ass by Stacy's brother Preston, telling Stacy's mom about all the people using the "f" word (cause you know I got in trouble for saying it in front of her), hanging out on the street today drinking beer (I didn't drink, but had a lot of laughs). Quotes from the weekend: "Stacy did you convert to Kabbalah?" "Stacy you have salt on your face." (This was from all the margaritas and salted beers she drank.) Stacy and I purposely got a hotel close to the wedding venue, so we wouldn't have to drive after drinking. We ended up being in a car with 7 total people and having to stop at 3 hotels. No one really stayed at the same place and several people didn't have a ride. That was a scary car ride! F=m*A. Force does equal mass times acceleration. A vehicle handles differently when the driver has been drinking and you put that much weight in a car. We made it safely to our hotel and made it back to Austin in one piece...just our livers a little worse for the wear! "I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt. The beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more for dessert..."