happy birthday to thebestboss!!!

one day i'll hop back over the pond to celebrate with you!

to my unofficial little sister, happy birthday!

xoxoxoxo,
amp

ETA:  This post is for Jessica

w00t for niki and sarah being one more year grown up and working towards life goals!!

niki, sorry i didn't post yesterday!  but i'm so excited to celebrate with you both tonight!!

i knew that if i took last week off that this week would be busy... but i wasn't really expecting to work until 9:30 tues and 11:00 tonight...  this is why i can't have any other obligations.  i have so much work to do.

here i am laying in bed - just finished up Pride & Prejudice - rolled over to go to sleep - and then i notice:  no ninja cuddling with me... which is strange, as he has been very love-y since bob started academy and has only had one person to love on him during the week.

and then i think, "was it this morning when i fed ninja or this afternoon?"

and then i got up to check the house for him when Brian and Teri were all bundled up in the living room looking for a flashlight - because they discovered that the front door had been cracked open since this afternoon! 

a very long thirty minutes later, i found ninja hanging out with a cat who must live with a neighbor 3 houses down!  he is such a good kitty!  i was calling for him and as i got closer he started meowing responses... anywho, he's home and my dash outside and then back in to put a sweater and shoes on reminded me of Bridget Jones, so i put that on, but i think the adrenaline rush has started to wear off (there have been A LOT of kitties smushed on the road around the neighborhood the past few weeks...), so i may be able to go to sleep soon. cuddling with ninja.  who has since been spoiled with WAY too many treats.

my vacation was awesome, though it took me until Thursday to completely de-zombie...  (will post w/ some pics later)

back at work.  so much to do as this is a short month and i have to get ready for the board meeting and hope that it gets rescheduled.  worked LATE last night.  kicked ASS at a meeting this morning.  and i have the most understand, most awesome boss in the world. 

AND i have purchased Pride and Prejudice (the newer one)!!!!  I have a feeling that it will be played a LOT...  but now i am off to bed as i am trying to start running (ran mon & tues mornings!) to prepare for the 1/2 marathon... 

i just woke up from a dream in which Jason Russell (from HS) did someting uber romantic and i didn't notice for a month, and he got pissed off at me, and i was trying to explain that i've been really busy at work, so that's why i didn't notice.  he just couldn't grasp how busy 2 people are w/ the events that i've done... and we never even got to the fact that i had a boyfriend!

but now, irl, it's 7:26 am and my car is blocked in by Jerrica's bc i didn't think i'd wake up early, so i can't go buy the paint for my room...  (Behr brand "milestone" - a med-dark blue gray.)  An conway corp isn't open yet, so i can't call them and make the cable guy come over...  Maybe I'll steal Jerrica's keys and move her car. 

or maybe i'll go back to bed... put a movie on... this sounds like a good option...  i am looking forward to a vacation w/ a very flexible sleeping schedule.

Bob and I have been talking about getting a tent and going camping for a few years now, so he got us camping supplies for our 5 year anniversary! Below is the picture story - I remembered to take a few more pics than usual :)

Brandon Brown & Thalia in the car on the way to Lake Catherine. They LOVE car rides.

Bob, after we put the tent up. (I was too busy helping him try to figure out how to put the damn thing up to take pics.)



While we were resting, I noticed this bobber in the tree...



And then I started making the best s'moore cookers - out of wire hangers that had miraculously survived my wire-hanger purge.






The AWESOME "6 person" tent. It might actually fit 6 people, as there's plenty of room after 2 people and 2 dogs.



Brandon Brown being stoic.



Thalia refusing to pose.



A baby walking stick - it looked like an inchworm with legs.



Bob napping after putting the tent up.  There was an Antique Tractor Show on the grounds and while Bob was napping the tractors did a little parade.  It was kinda cool - and the guys driving the tractors were nice and waved back.  (I didn't take any pictures of the tractors - sorry.)



Thalia being proud of herself - she put her food bowl on top of her water bowl using her leash.



Brandon Brown chilling while Bob napped.



Nice view from our camp site.




Bob finally woke up, and we took the girls for a hike.



I made him pose for a lot of pics since I never remember to take any. This one while we were resting on a surprise bench.



This one on the trail.



I saw these pretty rocks and thought we should take a pic. Judging by the way the girls' tongues are hanging out, I think they enjoyed the break.



Some gorgeous roots.



Bob and the girls on the trail.



Thalia taking a drink. Brandon Brown doesn't like water enough to get her feet wet.



Bob being cute.




We got back to the campsite just in time to make a fire before it got dark. One set of nice, old-people neighbors were playing real country music - the old stuff that Norah Jones and others have remade.  After dinner, the marshmallows were toasted...



Before bed, we were good kids and brushed out teeth. On the outside of the bathroom there were all these shells from some creepy bug with two long tail feelers. Bob assured me that he made sure that none of the creepy bugs were on, in, or near the tent.




The night was SO cold, but we made it.. I almost pushed Bob off the bed trying to get warm. At 7:30 we decided that it was warmer outside, and got up. We had to go ahead and break-down camp since he has to go back to Academy today.



This is me, not helping fold up the tent...



Another great view from our camp - this time w/ fog.



The girls in the car - ready for another ride.






The car packed and ready to go.



We are smelly, but rejuvenated.  And we have a list of supplies to take (and not to take) next time for an even more successful trip!

these are things that will happen this week:

1. spend a day watching movies - may or may not get dressed that day
2. talk to admissions counselors at UCA (grad programs) and the Clinton School of Public Service
3. pick up info on the GRE
4. take Ninja! Kitten to the vet
5. get new bras!
6. make cookies for bob & fellow cops-in-training.  (some other wife/sig. other made cookies and i'm totally going to show her up.)
7. look into why the heck this Board wants me to join them.  possible attend a Board meeting.
   
8. get a little rest in.
9. get my hair trimmed.  thea, how do i get a hold of your awesome hair person?
10. spend time w/ my girls.

the luncheon went really well.  there were a few snaffoos, but everyone loved it.  we had almost 1,000 people there - 300 more than last year - that's as many CY corps members as there are across the entire US - and TWO staffers did the whole freaking thing...

Halloween:  i had to work late.  came home to a house full of friends, changed into my costume, took a few pics, had 1/2 a beer and a hot dog, hung out a bit, then took a shower and went to bed as the next day was luncheon.  but my friends, they made it an AWESOME hour of celebration.

bob and i are going camping tomorrow.  taking the girls.  going hiking.  making s'mores.  it's going to be wonderous :)  need to remember to charge camera.

next week is vacation.  i'm going to spend an entire day in bed watching movies; chat w/ an admissions counselor at UCA re: grad school; go to viccis to get a few new bras; and possibly join a Board of Directors... more info on that later, but - man! - did i feel special when i got the invitation!

after the week off, i have a TON of work to do, but my closest event is in Feb, well, besides Board meetings.  so i should be a good friend again.  ::smooches::

i just freaked myself out thinking that i had missed daylight savings and that it was actually 11:00 instead of 10:00 am. 

at this very moment, i am THRILLED that daylight savings was moved to Nov 4.  now let's see if I actually remember it next weekend...

my eyes are almost cleared up - not hurting/itching/as red as they have been. but besides that, i'm pretty healthy compared to this time last year!

work has been hectic. i had to print ALL 1000 tickets to our luncheon thurs night - on our S-L-O-W color printer. was in the office until 11:45 thursday night, then worked fri from 8:00 - 6:30. this week will probably be as hectic. luncheon is thurs. i'm hoping to get at least 1/2 of fri off. btw, our luncheon is going to be HUGE this year - 300 more attendees than last year.

sat was the mud run - didn't run this year bc i didn't want to get sick again. bob and i took the girls and watched Jerrica run. the costumes were AWESOME. jerrica and her friend went as "gay pride fairies."





there was a group of ninjas; beauty queens; a dragon; the running of the bulls - and they ALL went into the mud. my favorite, though, was this guy who was getting married that night - he dressed as a bride and all his groomsmen were in bridesmaid dresses. when they went into the mud pit, the "bride" threw the bouquet and all the "maids" dove for it!


after jerrica frolicked past the muddy finish line, bob & i took the girls to the LR dog park - something i've been wanting to do for a long time. kadi and finney were there. kadi got to meet the girls for the first time. they got so excited and made a ton of new friends - well, except for the dog that kept trying to hump brandon brown. it was sweet, though, bc thalia kept trying to protect her. (i would have pics, but i forgot to charge the camera.)

besides sat morning, the weekend was terribly normal. i was too tired to do anything exciting.  we mainly watched movies, played some WoW, laid around the house, and scrounged for stuff to eat so we didn't have to leave to get groceries.  the normalcy of this weekend SUCKS bc then it makes bob leaving so much harder.

i've been scrapbooking all the random crap that i keep for nostalgic purposes.  it's keeping me busy, but i get a bit tired of it now and again.  but i've been rambling for a while, and jerrica just pulled up.  bob and i are hoping to go camping next weekend to wind down from the expectedly busy week.

Yesterday was Bob's and my 5 year anniversary - and we celebrated all weekend! 

Friday, I got off work an hour late, was exhausted, and had just realized that I have pink eye.  So Bob and I got some Chinese buffet, picked up my prescription, and went to bed early. 

Saturday, we got up EARLY - Katie and I did the Race for the Cure and Bob cheered us on. 

(Katie & me before working up a hearty appetite during the Race for the Cure)

After a nap, Bob and I took Thalia and Brandon Brown to the pumpkin patch & corn maze in Mayflower.  The pumpkin patch was a bit of a let down (no patch to walk through), but the maze was awesome.  And there were a TON of people there!  And all the kiddies wanted to pet the girls.

(Bob & myself in the corn maze)

Then Bob and I took the girls to Laurel Park - the park that we went to on our 1 year anniversary.  We took a picture on the same patch of grass that we took one on 4 years ago.

(Me & Bob in Laurel Park)

We had a really great meal at Mike's Place, even with the tiny snafoo of the host not putting our name on the list after we checked in for our reservation and not being seated for 40 min...  But it was all worth it because when Bob was talking to the manager (he had asked what name the reservation was under - mine bc I made it...), the manager called him "Mr. Potter"!!!  This is actually about the 3rd time that's happened and I think it's hilarious. 

Today was another good meal - Brick Oven Pizza - (because the food at Academy is apparently crap and Bob doesn't get to eat all that much) and ran the normal errands... Plus shopping for camping equipment!  (Bob got me the MOST AWESOME anniversary present - camping supplies - we've been talking about getting a tent for 2 or 3 years now...)

Well, Bob's back to Academy, but I have plenty to look forward to next weekend:  bob, mud run, dressing as ninjas, camping with bob and the pups... 

last night jerrica28 invited me to come to a reading by Michael Cunningham at UCA.  omg i fell in LOVE with him.  and, since i'm such a nerd, i told him so after he did a little publishing prayer over the books he signed for jerrica and signed my book.  i couldn't help it.  i mean, just look at him!

i've been too successful at keeping myself busy while bob's gone.  i am D-E-D tired.  and i have minutes from 3 meetings that i need to finish up and don't have time to do them during office hours.  so i'm going to have to crap out on Brandy tomorrow bc i can't do them all tonight.  i just want to zone out.

before deciding that the responsible thing to do would be to work a little both tonight and tomorrow night, i took a 45 min break to do a bit of shopping (stain remover, a cute little denim skirt for $4, and a 1/2 price pair of cargos for bob) and got some Starbucks.  i'm really hoping that the caffeine kicks in soon!  and i have 2 or 3 little projects at home that i would much rather do than type up these minutes....

i have been SO diligent today!  even though 1: it is raining (somehow makes me feel like i shouldn't work - should go to library and curl up w/ book in kiddy corner), 2: i am ALONE in the office (kadi went home sick and officemate is taking the day off), 3: did i mention that i am alone and it is raining?

i've been processing checks and credit cards all day.  that gets kind of monotonous.  and i'm also not loving my XM radio so much.  i have a lullaby/rainy day mix on my laptop that i would much rather be listening to.

also, i have enough random errands to run that I could totally leave the office at 4:00 and not technically be skipping out early, but NO.  I had to promise some lady that i would be here to take money from her right before 5:00.  WHY did i say that?  meh.  maybe i'll go run errands and be back before 4:30.  i REALLY want to get out of this lonely office.

at least i have Community Bakery goodness...

Thursday night Brian, his partner Jeremy, and Jeremy's wife (Katie) took me to my first tailgating experience & college football game.

Afterwards, Katie stole the keys to Brian's AWESOME new Jeep Cherokee and we did a little bit of joy-riding before going home.

Last night was another first: the Ctown Supper Club, with Brian, Bob, Jeremy, & Katie. It wasn't nearly as trashy as I expected - and a good time was had by most if not all. Brian and I ended up singing karaoke and Katie recorded 20 seconds with Brian's phone...



The only people you can actually hear on the video are Bob (Whoo!) and Katie (Show us your boobs!)... And then, on the way home we thoroughly enjoyed the Jeep again when Bob took us on Rolling Hills Circle, which, when slightly intoxicated and in a Jeep w/ an open top, is very much like a roller coaster.

Today we went down to Southside Main Street's "Hidden Treasures Art & Antiques Show" (my office-mate's first-time event). Brian worked security, Bob and I wandered about. Went on a bike tour of the residential area around there. It was a pretty nice way to spend a Saturday... Well, except for the CREEPY babydolls (and the women who worked the booths were wearing nurse scrubs...



We're all dead exhausted, so I think that we're going to spend the rest of today watching funny videos online - right now it's Robin Williams.

No matter one's stance on the War on Terror, our troops are out their risking their lives every day.  Xerox is doing this cool "Lets Say Thanks" project where they had kids design cards, anyone can put a message on one, and then the cards get sent to soldiers!  it's an easy, quick, and free way to make a soldier's day a little better.