Tuesday Temptations

I made it home from school in record time tonight. The weather sucks tonight and is scheduled to get worse as the night wears on.

Baby Zoe is still keeping us all waiting. Trouble is fine and has been resting all day. S.F. has her money on Sunday the 1st, smack dab in the middle of the Super Bowl. OY, I hope she is wrong!

This might be a weird post of temptations.....kind of an eclectic gathering of things that have been flooding my mind. Rambling in a sort of fashion....

Erin, my marketing guru, had some cupcakes delivered from Crave Cupcakes. OMG - I think that one of their cupcakes is as close to sex as you can get and be eating dessert. I am going to get Trouble some when she delivers Zoe. I may even get Munchkin some for her birthday.....who knows, I may have to get one to share with S.F., if she behaves herself....

I am old and have eaten and slept, so I may have posted this before. I want to take a plain tray, stain it with a wonderful espresso color, and cover it with wine bottle labels that I like. This article tells me how to safely remove then so I can use them. I think it will be fun to find wines with amazing labels and use them, as well as labels from bottles that have sentimental reasons attached.

I've been thinking that all of the exercise and training that I have endured might call for an updated look. Something that help "show off" the new toned legs and curves. I like this, this, this, this, this, and this. Since I have dropped almost three full sizes since June 2008, I might as well go a little glam.

I was also thinking that I needed to update the suits as well. I might need this, this, this, this or this. Suits can be challenging, so I will continue to search. Blouses and shirts will be an issue as well, but I have not even considered them yet. Find the suit and the shirt/top will find the suit.

Of course with new clothes comes new shoes. After all, they add the attitude! I fell in love with these as soon as I saw them in the store. And this one is so classic, how could I resist? I'm not sure where I would wear these yet, but I love them. My daughters will kill me, but I want these or these for shorts, because I can wear them when a sandal is just not enough and tennis shoes aren't cute enough. And every new wardrobe needs slingbacks and these are made by my favorite!

Who can forget about purses.....I think I might need this or this for weekends. I love this one for work too. And this one screams evenings out for concerts.

And blame this on S.F., I am now looking to add watches plural to my wardrobe. I like this, this, this, and this.

Enough rambling for the night. I am still trying to find that new look that is some where between alluring, classic, and sassy. Hard to pull together, but I will continue the pursuit...

Manic Monday

I probably went overboard with the car show links in yesterday's post; however, the car show has long been a favorite past-time of mine and I have missed not going due to the life I was leading. Enough Said! Thank you for humoring me with it!

After S.F. and I had seen all the cars we could handle we had the second part of the outing. She took me to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross in Reliant Arena. James Stewart won the Houston event but is still behind in overall points. I had so much fun. I didn't really understand how it all worked at first but she patiently explained it all and we had so much fun!

Okay, now I know what you are about to say, "you say that about everything you have been doing". You know what, it is totally true! We are spending so much time getting to know each other and doing things that are neutral and not based upon "heat exchanges". She still doesn't always get my jokes, and I don't always think she is funny either. But, the most important thing is that we have give and take and neither of us wants the other to feel obligated to an event. We discuss all the plans and once we have an agreement we are ready.

Reminds me of an old Queen song "You're My Best Friend"

Ooo. you make me live
whatever this world can give to me
It's you, you're all I see
Ooo, you make me live now honey
Ooo, you make me live
You're the best friend
that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine
And I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
I've been wandering round
But I still come back to you
In rain or shine
You've stood by me girl
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend.
You're the first one
When things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And I love
The things that you do
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live.
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
You, you're my best friend.

Laugh if you want, but some how having a best friend like that has a great deal of comfort. Now, don't get me wrong, S.F. will never be the same kind of best friend as my "Big Sister", but she is my best friend for the relationship that we have and the benefits that go with that kind of peace and trust are wonderful.

Sunday was another day with Trouble and Jack getting last minute nesting things done so that Trouble will calm down. Zoe is a handful with her food cravings too. I have been having so much fun with them the last few Sundays. It is so obvious that he loves her and they both have a wonderful communication together. Bonus, George and Gracie love it there and they are so big now. They are approaching their first birthday (March). I will have to get pictures on my next trip up there.

No news on the baby Zoe watch. Status remains the same according to Trouble. She goes to the doctor again on Wednesday. We do know that Zoe is at least 7 pounds at this point. I have my overnight bag in the car until her arrival.

Tonight I was in a major cooking mood. I made potato and leek soup. YUM! I also made a huge salad, chicken in the toaster oven, and asparagus. I have enough soup for my Tuesday and Thursday night classes. And the chicken and salad will make a wonderful lunch tomorrow. Wednesday I am thinking about turnips, cornbread, and pork chops...

The 10K is February 28th...and I am getting nervous. I have my time solid at 6 minutes per mile. I can only hope that is is in the 60's and not raining for the race. For those of you that have no clue about the weather here for Rodeo....it usually gets COLD and Rainy right as the event starts....YUK!

Okay off to bed....tomorrow is a LONG day.

How did the week disappear?

Wow, I look up and it is Wednesday and when I look up again it is Sunday night. Running so hard that I forget to look up is not good....Some good things did transpire this week. I finally got to see both professors and get the syllabus for each class. I also am glad that the second one can be done via the web portal. That will get me home at a safe hour and I can work at my own pace, as long as I meet the deadlines....duh!

Friday was fun with the Posse! I was on baby countdown and needed a little break. I really liked the music this time and the hat that I had to learn about was worth the White Russian too.

S.F. has been sick, so I was not sure that we would have the outings we had planned but she went to the doctor and got medication. She was feeling well enough to venture out Saturday. We started with the Houston Auto Show.

We got to see the new Camaro up close. Oh man....she is hot! We also got to see the new Equinox. While I may not ever need seating for five passengers....it is a very stylish alternative to a mini-van. While I have never aspired to own a Cadillac, the XLR Roadster was quite a classic. She is certainly a beautiful car and no picture can do her the justice that seeing and sitting in her can.

The Toyota Venza was one of the biggest surprises. She was a clean marriage of car and SUV and she can tow up to 2500 pounds. The Toyota Tundra Crew Max was the finest truck I have ever sat in I think. The one at the show had the Lucchese Boot Company Package. Being here in Texas, I can't think of a more perfect marriage.....MEOW!

Of course we saw the Dodge Challenger. Having already been on a very through test drive of it with S.F. we were pleased to see her out in full force. They had one of each level and they were all a hit! She is one very sexy lady and delivers when asked to preform! But the Demon was a heart stopper for me. She was the ultimate two-seater....I could say a few other things but I would blush...I hope she makes it out of concept and into reality!

I cannot forget to mention the Chrysler Sebring convertible. I have loved this car from the very first day I test drove one at a Jeep 101 event. She is still as hot as ever. And the hard-top retractable roof option is very sexy!

We also looked at the Jeep Liberty Limited 4x2 and the Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4x2. I have to admit that the Liberty has undergone a lot of changes since her first introduction. I was very impressed that she is best in class and can tow 5000 pounds.

Rounding out of tour were some fine convertibles. We loved the lines of Saturn Sky. We both hope that Saturn does not die as GM re-aligns itself. Her sister, the Pontiac Solstice is also very attractive, but I prefer the Sky. The Pontiac G6 Convertible was an acceptable choice as well.

The Infinity G Convertible was one of the hottest new cars on exhibit. I'm not much for Infinity; however, she was very attractive. S.F. has a jones for their sports car and I must admit it was a pretty sexy car to sit in. I don't think I would ever want to drive it...it has too much horsepower for me....

In that same vein, she also has the total jones for the Nissan 370Z. We saw them at the dealership a few weeks ago and sat in one. Man oh man...I know why men loose their minds and women want to meet the drivers....it oozes sex appeal.

The final car that she wanted me to see was the Mercedes-Benz SLK350. The German's certainly know how to build a quality driving machine and this one is no exception. She is the grand dame of sports coupes and I would love to be able to own her one day. She made all of the others pale in comparison and I was bitten by the MB bug. Some Day.....

There is more to tell, but if I don't get some sleep I will never be able to start the work week....

Baby Zoe is still holding out but Trouble is getting very cranky and ready to pop....

Wednesday Interlude

Well...yes, it is indeed Wednesday. As many of you know, last night was the first night of classes. I raced over to the University of Houston - Main Campus to get started only to learn that the first class had been canceled since the professor was in DC for all the festivities. A little pissed but I made the best of it. I went to the Student Union and proceeded to knit on Trouble's BMG's Footies. At the appropriate time, I headed to the second class only to be informed with my fellow students that the professor was also in DC for same said festivities. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it is great to do this; however, the school knew who was in these classes and they made us provide two email addresses as well as a cell phone number. Don't ya think that they could have notified us? Surely they know which professors were out....just sayin...

Okay, off the soap box....I have a temptations post almost ready...I promise to get it posted tomorrow.....

On the baby update...."mucous plug has been delivered, cervix is effaced, baby Zoe can make her appearance at any moment from this visit on...."that's all I have folks....need sleep.....

"Just Another Manic Monday"

Quick post.....preparing for classes to start tomorrow. I was reading some materials and looking at the map of campus when I was gripped by panic. Why? Well, what do you wear to class as an adult? What the hell am I thinking? Should I really be trying to get this finished now? I'm off all my meds, is this a good thing?

What did I do? Well, for starters, I fixed myself a cup of chamomile tea. Next, I started knitting on Trouble's footies. As I knitted I contemplated my fears one by one. I remembered that I am in control of my self and my choices. I remembered that I am very intelligent and therefore I should be able to handle this, after all, it is only two classes this semester. As for what to wear, duh....jeans and tennis shoes to haul my ass across the campus.

Best part of the night was the call from S.F. to tell me how much the weekend had meant and how proud of me she is. Reminding me that the lack of the degree never would have been used against me and that the decision to finish was all mine. Reminding me that only I could choose to start and stop and that regardless of my choice I would always have her respect for what I know and what I can accomplish. Her final thoughts that she left me with for the night, I have been given all the tools I need to succeed and I just need to have the faith in myself that she has in me and let her be my strength when I don't think I can read one more word, when I don't think I can finish one more assignment, and when I don't think I have anything left to give. Remember too, that it is okay to be afraid and okay to ask for help. I don't have to do it alone.

I have allowed myself to look into that mirror again. What do I see now? I see a woman that does deserve it all! I see a woman that has made mistakes, had lapses in her judgment, has let others control her, and has been afraid to be anything less than perfect. But most of all I see a woman that has allowed herself to be vulnerable and human and has been loved and accepted for those same reasons.

The waltz continues, and as each day closes, I see the valuable lessons learned from dancing the waltz. The foundation that has been carefully laid will ensure that the relationship will be solid as time passes. S.F. is probably the last boyscout on the planet and for that I am truly lucky. Everyone comes in and out of our life for a reason. I can only hope that the path that has been laid out in front of me at this point in my life will give me the love and relationship that I have been searching for and allow me to be the equal partner that I know I can be.

I crawl into bed this evening still feeling a little bit of trepidation, but safe in the strength that the love and encouragement that I know I have and will continue to receive.

Good night S.F. Sleep well and when we are there, don't forget to tell me, as I have not seen the destination and would hate to miss the stop.....until then, we share time when we can, value the friendship that continues to grow, and most of all, share our strength and weaknesses with each other to over come the past and create a future.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Okay, I should be safely asleep at this late hour, but I am just now sleepy. That will make Monday a LONG day.

Friday was the most amazing night! The Greg Trooper show was awesome, even though he was late starting and took a longer than normal intermission. We left the show at 10:30 PM (ish) and still had plenty of dancing time. S.F. and I met Carla and Kelly at a local place that has "Ladies Night" at their establishment when they are normally a "guys" place. We had SO much fun. I learned the difference between Two-stepping Panhandle style versus Houston style. I must admit that I was a bit stubborn at first and I resisted my lead....however, I acquiesced and to my surprise she was correct with all that she was trying to get me to understand. We were able to get a wonderful sync and the resulting dances were fabulous! I was sad to see the bewitching hour (2:00 AM) roll around. I am looking forward to more dancing time in the near future.

Saturday was a busy day here at Chez RubyRingz. I had house work to get done and errands to run. I had a gift certificate to Yarns 2 Ewe and I headed there to get a few things. I know, I know, I am on a yarn diet. However, I needed special yarn to make Trouble some footies for her upcoming hospital stay. I picked up Panda Silk in color 8006 (Plum Tones) for her. I will be making the BMG's Footies that I have made before (take a look see at the Projects in Ravelry). I am proud to say that I have almost finished the heels on them....

I also picked up a skein of Rowan Cotton Glace in color 814 Shoot to make the same pattern for Munchkin's birthday. I plan on making then a tad taller than the footies, as she likes crew style socks. As soon as I have Trouble's done I will cast on for the birthday pair.

I also picked up a wonderful frame for Zoe and a birthday gift for Sweetpea. His birthday was the 12th and he turned six. He is so sweet. I got him a make your own Kaleidoscope kit. He loved it!

I also bought Zoe's car seat. I did a lot of research and thanks to my dear friends Jo and David, I learned about the LATCH system. Thank goodness that the Dodge Magnum that Trouble and Jack own has the capabilities to utilize this technology. And special thanks to the staff at the Wal-Mart in Meyerland. They "hooked" me up with a sweet sale on the seat due to a clerical error in their system! I also picked up a Diaper Bag that Trouble had requested and no one had purchased for her. I also picked up some Johnson and Johnson baby bath and lotion, and some baby gear. I still need to get Trouble a gown and robe for her stay.

Today was wonderful. A leisurely work out and coffee started the day. I loaded up the vehicle with several totes of clothing, the car seat, the diaper bag, a stroller, and music. I headed up to see Jack and Trouble. After getting around all of the road closures for the Houston Marathon (CONGRATS Melissa), several wrecks, and some disabled cars I made it to them. We spent the day finishing up the nursery and sorting clothes into the proper sizes. Zoe was craving Mexican food so we had deep fried avocados.....YUM!

The upcoming week will be full of activity. Monday is the slowest day I will have. Tuesday and Thursday I will be starting my new semester of classes on the way to finishing up the degree. Wednesday I will be headed to see Trouble and Jack to finish up any last minute details we have neglected. Trouble also has her weekly appointment that afternoon, so I will have the latest updates. Friday I will be getting my chores done and homework too. I will be at the Car Show and Supercross on Saturday and then back to Trouble and Jack on Sunday. Of course, all of this will be subject to Zoe's needs and desires, and the continuing training for the 10K which I now know will be February 28th.

Have a great week and I am looking forward to this week's Temptations and updates.

Thoughts on Thursday

Wow...what a day we had so far! The plane that crash landed in the Hudson River! I would fly on any flight with the pilot of that plane any day! He was no less than amazing and no lives were lost (at the last news report I saw).

Last night S.F. and I met and had Munchkin join us to listen to Patrice Pike and have beer and dinner. It is a pub after all. We had a lot of fun and I think that Munchkin liked the whole night. At least she claims to have enjoyed herself. She also admits that she was really nervous at first to be herself around S.F. because she had been such a snot at Trouble's birthday. All was forgotten quickly and they were a riot. Down to how they eat peas the same exact way. Damn spooky in my opinion....The night was too short, as all school night "dates" are, but we had a lot of fun and I hope that S.F. and the girls become close as time goes on.

S.F. and I are going to see Greg Trooper Friday and then Country Western Dancing after the show. I have not been able to locate a suitable dress yet, but I did find a cute Henley style sweater ($9.88) in a wonderful Lipstick Red! MEOW! I also grabbed a size 12 Wranglers today at lunch. They are the dark indigo wash and are the correct length for the boots. I am psyched! The trainer even said I can skip my workout Saturday if we dance enough! I think she has a date and doesn't want to get up early either but I just agreed with her! Bonus! S.F. has tomorrow off, so she should be totally rested for a night out with Chuck and Jana and then with Carla and Kelley!

Trouble called too! She had her weekly appointment with the OB/GYN. She is right on target at 37 weeks! She also had her first really strong Braxton-Hicks contraction this afternoon. I am hoping that she can hold off until the 22nd. Why? Well, Trouble was born on Emma's birthday (My Great-Grandmother) and they are 100 years apart within five minutes of their time of birth. The 22nd is Mary's birthday. Mary is Emma's daughter (My Grandmother and my Father's Mother). It would be cool if Zoe could share Mary's birthday. Regardless, I don't think Zoe will wait until the 9th of February....

Plans for Valentine's Day? Who has some? S.F. and I will be having dinner with Munchkin since it will be her 23rd birthday. We are looking forward to it. I have a few gifts in mind, but I need to verify the list again with her. As for me? I have no clue! I do not plan celebrations on Valentine's Day so that Munchkin has her birthday without any competition. Suggestions for a new tradition? I would love to hear yours!

I need to thank Adam for dinner on Tuesday. He was a gracious "victim" for a test meal from the crock pot. I also need to thank Jessica for dinner tonight. She too was a welcome dinner guest. We shared wine, dinner, and wonderful conversation. It seems that she and I need to introduce The Boyfriend to S.F., as they seem very much cut from the same mold.

Okay, off to sleep, so that I can be ready for the date tomorrow and all that goes with that!

Side note - Happy Birthday to Aunt Jane (7th), Uncle Joe (7th), Leah (8th), Pat (13th), LLG (17th), Aunt Sissie (19th), and Grandma Mary (22nd).

Tuesday Temptations

What a week this has been already and it is only Tuesday! I can't believe some of it yet myself, but as soon as it sinks in I promise to share!

I forgot to tell you all that I had a wonderful dinner with Trouble, Melinda Sue, Baltrip, and Special Friend on Saturday. We ate at a Mexican place and we had so much fun. It was really good to see Trouble so happy and visit and catch up with Baltrip. Special Friend really enjoyed meeting Baltrip and Melinda Sue and especially had a wonderful time getting to know Trouble a little better.

Okay now for the Temptations....I have been searching high and low for dresses that match the ones that Sandra Bullock wore in Hope Floats. I have not been very successful so far. I know that I have posted about this movie before, but it is so romantic and I can say that I have been to Smithville and would love to go there again. I would love to think that if I ever wanted a romantic getaway for an anniversary that we could stay here. Any how....what I want is a cotton dress similar to the one that is worn in the dance scene. It is impossible to find one at the moment and with the Rodeo coming in March, I would like to get this finished....

I found this, but it is not really Western....I know that this would be fun. I also realize that I might have to make a dress, so I love this or this. So, I guess I will need to get the sewing machine tuned up and get myself ready to make something unless you all have some links for me. Be creative! I am looking for a new image! Button up with some sophistication!

"These boots are made for walkin'...."

Actually, these boots are made for dancing, and they are now mine. No, I did not get them from the site I linked and I did not pay that much either. Special Friend and I just happened to be shopping for jeans and I saw them. And speaking of jeans, I am SO proud of myself!

S.F. was teasing with me about my jeans being too big, so I agreed to try on some. I am proud to say that I bought these yesterday in a size 13 regular. For those of you that do not understand cowboy jeans, they should scrunch up a bit a the bottom, so you get them just a tad longer than usual. What was most impressive to me was that I was actually much smaller than I expected to be. The 13's are juniors. I need about 5 more pounds and I could get the misses size 12 on. Hopefully in two more weeks I'll be there and then I might have to have these or these. Look out dance floors....I feel a lot more two-stepping about to come your way.

It is amazing what running, diet, and a change in perspective can do for your image!

Friday Fill In

1. It’s January it is the start of the new year and the right time to end bad relationships and start news ones. It is also the right time to start new traditions.
2. A rare steak and a Caesar salad for dinner is what I crave most right now.
3. Cork and wine go together like the perfect pattern and yarn.
4. Communication with others to avoid misunderstandings is so nourishing.
5. Let us dare to make sure that we leave a positive mark on each person we come in contact with daily.
6. I feel free and alive in my home.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I plan on getting my grocery shopping done and soaking in a bubble bath, tomorrow my plans include time with Special Friend and what ever spontaneous things we decide to do and Sunday I plan on watching football with a very dear friend and his family in their new home.

Thoughts On Thursday

Last night was the first get together of the Houston Heights Hurly Knitters for the new year. We meet at a local coffee shop called Waldo's and it is a wonderful place to gather and knit/crochet. The group is a lively assortment of ages and skill sets.

Finally, for the first time, Jessica was able to join us. She is a sweet young woman that I consider one of my best new friends. She has a wonderful new puppy, Andy, plus two cats. She went to the yarn festival in the fall and brought me back malabrigo sock yarn in colorway 801 Boticelli Red. OMG....I could barely stop petting it.

It is now lying in the center of my table at home looking at me wondering what it will become. I cannot tell you how sweet of a gesture that was and how much it meant to me. I need to find a pattern that will show off this yummy sock yarn goodness to the fullest potential!

I also have to tell you that the gathering was wonderful. We laughed and got caught up from the Holidays. We shared what we were working on and I brought one of the baby sweaters I made for Zoe. Some how, knitting from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM with this wonderful group of women is just the boost I need to keep my sanity! I really look forward to the get together and miss them dearly when I cannot make them. If you have not found a little group to meet with, you should consider doing so, it will be good for the soul!

Tuesday Temptations

Okay, I have a twist on this week's Temptations. I was treated to these temptations by S.F., so we can all blame her if you are suddenly compelled to acquire any of them....

My first "treat" was to see the Russell Simmons Jewelry. This piece in particular was part of the treasure hunt, as was this one. We looked at this one, even though it was not part of the treasure hunt. It looked great on, but not practical for riding on the motorcycle. Perhaps for dressing up....

We then went to the Ed Hardy store and looked at these, these and these. Don Ed Hardy is an interesting man. The Houston Store was fascinating and I am looking forward to going back there and trying on some of his clothing lines after I finish training for the 10K. The body should be better equipped to wear some of the pieces and actually due them justice!

We were also trolling online at this site for rings. We were looking at this, this, this, this, and this. No red flags or alarms should be or need to be raised or sounded. We were both looking at different rings for different reasons. I was helping Trouble and Jack research some options for their rings and looking for a new ring for me. I have always wanted one to wear on my thumb, but I think that I need to look at some that are between 2MM and 3MM thick instead of the 6MM ones. I will admit that I am also getting an education on Stainless Steel and Tungsten. There are so many more choices of metal available than I ever knew about and each of them has their respective merits.

I will admit that this ring was beautiful and should I ever need to get a band for someone this would be the first thing that I would consider if it was the style they liked. I was also elated to see this ring. Why? Well, first ruby is my birthstone. Second, it is very classic. But most important, I have placed it out here as a graduation present to myself. I don't know if I will order a class ring from the college I am attending, so placing this as my graduation present to myself has a special value. Besides, I am worth it!

I also was pointed to this website. A very dear friend of mine suggested that I may want to get one of these for Trouble and Jack. And while I was on the site, I noticed this. I will most likely order it for my parents. I think that they would like it, especially since our heritage includes Welsh descendants. And if I ever decide to be in a serious relationship again, I think I would like one of these for myself.

Okay gang, that's all for this week's Temptations.....

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

What did you do Saturday?

Here I sit at 11:00 AM CST drinking my second cup of coffee and reflecting over what a wonderful day S.F. and I had yesterday.

But before I tell you about that, I wanted to share a small thing I heard this morning while making coffee. I turned on my TV and I heard the end of a sermon that hit me like a 2x4. People that insist on being your crutch are actually not helping you, they are trying to control you. When they "help" you pick clothes, suggest how they think you should wear your hair, who you should be friends with, what you can drive, and the list goes on and on are actually controlling you for their own benefit not to help or protect you. At first, it didn't sink in; however, after the coffee began to work that special caffeine magic, I cried.

I realized that the last 28 years of my life I used those crutches willingly because I thought, hoped, believed that the people guilty of these things loved me and wanted to protect me. I realized that in my own blind love for them and in my acceptance of their control, I had crippled myself and it was hard to swallow. But, I can proudly say that I am past that now. I know that I have all the strength and talents within me that I have always needed to wear my hair, pick my clothes, buy a motorcycle, and do the things that I have wanted to do. I am now totally free to meet each day with a new optimism I have never had before. It is liberating in the most profound way.

Okay, enough serious stuff.

Yesterday, we met for breakfast at Le Peep. Bear in mind that I am not a morning person and I did not have any coffee prior to meeting her. We read the paper together and had a leisurely breakfast. From there, we went to the motorcycle shop to get some things she had ordered for the "Red Ghost". Of course, I had to try a few more bikes while I was there. It is a good thing I am determined to keep a promise to myself. I promised myself no bike without a degree and I will honor that , even thought they are making it extremely tempting purchase one. From there, we went by the place Munchkin works to see the new car and her. She was surprised to see us and her face lit up. It was wonderful to share.

From there, we headed to the Galleria. For those of you that know Houston, you are aware of this Mall. I have linked to it so that everyone else can check it out. We saw some wonderful things that I will share in Tuesday Temptations. We spent several hours shopping and laughing. From there, we went to the Black Lab for lunch, at 2:00 PM. The place was sparsely populated and we had a wonderful lunch and deciding what to do next.

We decided to go to a local place, Meteor, for a beer and catch some sports before we went to the evening showing of a movie. We never left Meteor. When we arrived, we saw a "woman" in a cheer leading outfit. We were curious, so we entered. Turns out, they were having a fund raiser for several wonderful local organizations. It was open to the public. We met Sonna and Denise, Ann, and Miss Ginger Grant. I cannot remember when I had so much fun. If you check the slide show, you will see two of the wonderful performers, including Miss Ginger. We got there at 4:00 PM and stayed until 8:30 PM. S.F. even won a baseball cap that was part of the auction for fund-raising. It was a chopper cap with a red Maltese Cross and other bling sewn on. It was so much fun.

I dropped S.F. off at the "Silver Streak" and drove the "Black Beauty" home. Laugh now. Yes, S.F. has named the bike, her truck, and now my car. Part of her charm, believe me. I can't remember such a spontaneous day ever. The only plan we had when we started was breakfast and the motorcycle shop. Everything else just happened.

Today, I have grocery shopping and laundry to get done. I also want to get some knitting done. Low key day spending time on me. I hope everyone has recovered from the Holidays and is ready for the new week. Don't forget to write 2009 and not 2008! And if I have not haunted your blogs in a few weeks, rest assured, I will get caught up to each of you before this week ends!

First Post of 2009

First, Happy New Year to everyone!

I hope that your New Years Eve was safe and that today was peaceful. I spent today taking down the Christmas tree and decorations and getting the apartment back in order.

I also hope that you all received gifts for Christmas that you wanted or needed. In addition to the one gift from SF that I posted, I received some wonderful presents. SF also gave me a long-sleeved tee shirt that I have been lusting for. Munchkin gave me a wonderful digital picture frame, a calendar that she personally made with pictures for me, and some storage containers that I needed for lunches. Trouble and Jack gave me a wonderful cast iron #10 skillet and a cast iron cornbread pan. They also gave me a wonderful piece of the pottery that I collect. I will have to take pictures and post it later.

I have been working on new traditions, and this Holiday season was very new. Christmas Eve was the first time that I opened presents with someone and I liked it very much. It was intimate and special. Christmas Day was the first time I ever went to the movies after dinner. We saw Benjamin Button. I loved the movie and the company was hard to beat. Dancing by the pool after the movie was also a special treat.

I also helped Munchkin get herself her first new car. She purchased a Chevy Cobalt. It is Silver Moss Green and she loves it. I was so pleased that she worked with the salesman and the finance staff to stick to a payment that she knew she could handle. She is not totally grown up yet, but she is getting there.

As for me, the new year has the promise of more new traditions and growth. I will be starting college soon to finally finish my degree. I am looking forward to adding that to my list of accomplishments, even though I find it absurd to have to get the piece of paper to prove I have a brain that works. No matter, I will forge ahead. I made a vow to myself and I need to keep it.

Resolutions, yes I have a few. I will post them later this weekend. For now, Happy Birthday to Melanie! And Happy New Year to everyone!