what I am eating today....

As I continue on the "I will eat my way through my 32nd birthday" path, this is the object of affection this morning. My favorite boys sent it to me...man, how much do I heart them?!? Is it bad I am totally eating the chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate covered bananas first?!? At least it IS fruit, right? ha, ha.

birthday party #5967

I just wanted to share some of the pictures from tonight....I'm a little tired so I'll have to write more later... All I can say is this :

this group of girls + champagne + that dang chocolate cake = a really great night!!!

K and OM - who is on rotation from Brazil and worked with me on one of my jobs at KPMG.

CC and K -- I recruited her so many years ago!!!

K and MP - Old KPMG friends, new neighbors!!! Welcome to the 'hood.

KF and K - another one I recruited and she also just moved to the 'hood.

the greece girls together again - K, TH, and LM. It was also TH's birthday today! Happy Birthday!

a little better...

I am a little better....thank you everyone for your comments, emails, texts, phone calls....everything. I know I am loved SO VERY MUCH and that means a lot. My heart is still going a bit crazy - but that is from worry and stress and I think after a glass of champange with the girls tonight as we celebrate my birthday, things will be a lot better!!! (and if not, I will just be silly from champange! ha, ha!)

And these are the cupcakes my friends from KPMG brought me -- they were so cute. They remembered I LOVED a cake from dessert gallery and couldn't remember which one (for future reference, it is just the plain vanilla cake with vanilla icing. AMAZING I tell you)....so they sat there and called out the name of every cake, and couldn't remember, so they settled on cupcakes. And man, were they good. And so was the chocolate Happy Birthday sign too!!!

And my favorite boys got me a present too....I will post a picture of that tomorrow. They are so fabulous to send me a present. All the people at work were wanting to dig in -- I told them to polish off the cupcakes first, then we could dive in!

I also got to have lunch with two of my favorite KPMG'ers LL and RH today which lifted my spirits a bit. I love those girls and they were just plain silly...

this morning....

ugh. that is what I should title this post. that is the way that I feel right now. I am struggling with all of this "health" stuff....the last year and a half has been just a rollercoaster for me. I don't know how else to describe it. First there was the thyroid that put me in the hospital for almost a week and that was LM and SM's first ER visit (and full flashing!) with me. Then with all the thyroid was meds, lots of blood letting, and so many ugly side effects that lasted for so long. Then we got the blood clots (thanks birth control and for me being the one in 500 that actually can't take the stupid medicine), which was LM and SM's second ER visit (and 2nd full flashing - but they knew it was coming this time!). Then all the blood letting, lots of doctors visits, and just life turned upside down - don't do this, do this, see this doctor and just being scared and nervous and not really sure what to do.

Now all of this. I swear it has come on like a freight train and I just don't know what to think or to feel. My breathing is really off...I just won't sugar coat it for you and I feel funny - I don't know how else to describe it. You won't know it from looking at me because I am really good at putting on a smile and acting like everything is okay - and inside being a nervous nelly not knowing what to think or do. Because I know if I talk about it, I will just cry and I don't want to do that. I'm tired of crying.

And so this morning's treadmill test just brought back all of this uncertainty and anxiety to the fullest proportions. I was a little worked up last night when I went to bed and I didn't sleep so well. I just didn't know what to expect and was scared. I said it. Scared. 32 year olds don't do stress tests. As evidenced by the waiting room. It was me and a bunch of 50-60-70 year old men. When I went in he did my blood pressure and pulse...and wow. It was sky high. I don't think it has been that high for a while. And when I say high - the doctor was concerned my pulse was at 85 and it was at 100. yeah. that's high. and I wasn't even on the stinking treadmill yet. The guy kept asking if I was nervous and tried to get me to calm down - but my body wasn't having any of that. And we won't even talk about how high my blood pressure was.

He finally got me all hooked up to the EKG machine (which was so funny - he had to "scrape" my skin with this rough sponge to get the sticky things to stick to my skin. so I have to pull up my shirt so he can rub all over with that thing, then wipe it off with alcohol and then put them on. And the kicker - he had to attach the paddles - no worries there, but he had to put the "belt" on to hold it on while I was on the treadmill. he literally put his arms around me - which basically put his head RIGHT in "the girls" like he was nuzzling them. Akward, but freaking funny. I was trying really hard not to laugh). and then got me on the treadmill. I will say, I have been working out and can do the elliptical for half an hour and not be totally worked up. Well, that was not the case this morning. I got on the treadmill and my heart started going crazy. And by crazy, I mean my heart rate hit 150 like it was nothing. I think I heard the guy say something like "wow". GREAT I'm thinking. He said that was really fast...saying it like that was not normal AT ALL.

And then he hit the incline up a few notches and made it go faster. I had to get my heart rate up to 188 -- which obviously if you knock it up to like an incline of 10 and make it speedwalking speed, well, we are going to hit that pretty fast. And of course, since my breathing has been sucky, I was gasping for air (like I do when I am just sitting right now - but worse) and he got a little freaked out and made me stop a little early.

Which, lets be honest, when the guy is telling you he was worried about your breathing and your heart rate and your blood pressure, there is NOT a warm and fuzzy feeling happening. So I had to lie on the table and start the "cool down" process. And of course, the man had me so worked up and I was literally about to cry, there was no calming down. My heart wouldn't go back below 100 and my blood pressure just barely went down. He made me stay in there forever because he couldn't let me go until after I was back to where I was when he started the test. I'm pretty sure my heart rate never came down below 100, and I think he finally gave up and let me go.

I can't promise I didn't start crying as soon as I hit my car and called my sister who just kept telling me it will all be okay. And I know it probably will be - but I am really afraid that there is something going on - I just don't feel right and I just don't know how to explain it. I had prayed while the guy was out of the room that God control the situation and if something needed to come to light - that it did - and that he would give my doctors the wisdom and knowledge that was needed to do what they needed to do. And if something was wrong, then for healing.

And now I am sitting in my chair, asking God for comfort and calmness. I know that everything happens because he allows it, and he won't let anything happen that is not part of his plan. But I am just struggling. I am tired, and to be honest, in my selfish mentality I have right now - I just don't want to deal with one more thing right now. So God and I are going to talk about it right now - and I just ask that you pray for the whole situation too. I need it.

And I won't have results for a week....so we'll discuss it when I get those back. And to be honest, I just can't talk about it in person right now. I just can't. not without crying and I don't want to cry. So I apologize if you try to bring it up and I change the subject. When I can talk about it, I will let you know.

birthday...

I love birthday's for many reasons - but one thing that I love is that you are so reminded by how much you are loved....all the phone calls, texts, emails, and even all those people who are your facebook friends that you don't see very often...or ever...all wishing you a happy birthday and sending good thoughts your way. I LOVE THAT. now, yes, it totally allowed me to be interrupted at work all day...but it was worth it!!!

It was a wonderful day.....one of my fabulous co-workers JD had seen on my blog how much I LOVED flowers and decided I needed some to grace my desk.....they are SO beautiful and I am SO VERY THANKFUL for her! They were just what I needed!!! And they will definitely get me through the rest of the week!!!

And then there were these....

We all know I have a sweet tooth - and Crave cupcakes, well, we had to have them. Although we didn't finish - we have a tendency at work to have a knife and cut in 4ths and just share....I'm pretty sure there are tons left at my desk for me to eat today. Although, yesterday after smelling them for so many hours they almost made me sick -- just so sweet!!!!

And then there is my door...got to love my sweet co-workers for writing happy birthday for everyone to know! The best part was my bosses boss came by and laughed and said I have a birthday present for you -- you get to keep your job. (which was really funny only because of what has been happening at work...no worries, trust me).

And then I did what I really wanted to do - I came home, ordered pizza and watched TV and talked to lots of friends. It was exactly what I needed with everything going on. Tonight is another b-day party (we are trying to see how many people I can meet up with for my birthday and tonight is just one of the many b-day parties) and then Friday we have a work party and Saturday is Halloween (yahoo!) and then Sunday is another party with the girls (and hubbies) at La Vista. I can't wait - we get to celebrate PR's b-day too that night!!!

So, it was a fabulous birthday - thanks to everyone for all the good wishes! You guys are the best!

Papa's 90th Birthday

this past weekend I went home to celebrate my grandfather's (Papa Lippe) 90th birthday. all of my aunts and uncles, as well as my parents, planned a big gathering for the family and friends in Lockhart where my dad grew up and my grandfather still lives. It was so great to spend some quality time with the family (especially since most are aggies and the aggies were playing - and beating - texas tech during the party! we had so much fun whooping and cheering the aggies during the party!). Above is my sister L and I.
Here is K and I....when we were little we always had joint birthday parties with our Papa....it was always fun to get to flank him on either side -- and he could just envelope us with his arms and we could all blow out the birthday candles together. My grandfather is a BIG man...I'm not sure how tall he is, but I am 5'10'' and I come up to his chest...does that tell you something? I think my dad is around 6'3'' and he is taller than him too!!!
Here are the three of us toghether. It is so great to have L back in Texas so she gets to be at all of these family events!!!
Here is the whole family....with Mom and Dad Lippe...
Here we are with my cousin E. She just started law school and we got to spend some time talking to her about that and life changes...you don't realize how much your life will change when you leave college and move onto the next stage in your life...and she is definitely feeling that! but she likes it and is doing well!
Here we are with Papa Lippe....I wish he had been standing so you could see how tall he really is! I still remember meeting one of my clients when I was at KPMG and they knew my family since the President and VP grew up in Seguin - and they remember meeting my grandfather because they liked my aunts.....they called him Big "E" and said that all the guys their age were totally scared of him because of how big and solid he was! how awesome is that!
Oh, and the picture of the favorite grandchildren. These two have a running contest to see who can have the most pictures up at our grandparents house and it is a constant facebook war about who is the favorite. I totally got caught up in it -- although I could never win...I'll just stick with being my parents favorite (ha, ha...just kidding sisters!) - cause it is so much fun. They were lucky as they spent most of their childhood right around from my grandparents and got to see them a lot more than we did.

all in all, it was a great time to get to catch up with the family and celebrate Papa's 90th birthday! I only wish I could make it that long and still be doing as well as he is!!! He is absolutely amazing!

Impromptu Birthday Party with Old Friends...

This last weekend while we were home, we ended up having an impromptu gathering with a few of our old High School Friends. I have talked about these girls before, but we have all been friends for a majority of our lives (my mom remembers most of them being born!) and have gone through so many ups and downs togehter and we still have gatherings at least once a year! So since both K and I were coming home, we decided to have a little gathering at my parents. Of course, we tried to get them to bring their husbands, but they decided we should just let them babysit and have fun on our own! LOVE that! So, out came the food and the wine and we just had a grand ol time together. Above, AS and GG.....and can I say that GG looks FABULOUS for just having a baby not too long ago!
Here are CS, AS and K...
And K and I before everyone got htere....ironic how we both brough home brown shirts to wear....it must be that twin thing happening! ha!

We decided to eat outside because it was just FABULOUS weather...so we filled our plates and headed outside...with a LOT of wine! We had so much fun sitting on my parents back porch (and we already know how much I LOVE it out there!) and just catching up....laughing about the old days, laughing about their kiddos and just enjoying the time together!
And of course, because these girls are SO fabulous, they brought over party hats and birthday cake so we could celebrate together. Here is CS, AS and GG in their party hats!
Here is AS and I in our party hats...and of course, my sister and I haven't celebrated our birthday together in years...and I mean, like 10 years. so it was great to get to blow out candles together again. Of course, we spent most of the time laughing about it....as you can see below.

And then we stopped for a second to take one quick picture with our fabulous cake!
Thanks again girls for coming over and celebrating with us! It is so special to both of us to have great friends to spend our lives with -- especially those that we have known forever and we have that history together! You guys are the best!! Love to you all!!!

very quickly...

there has been a lot going on....as usual...had a great weekend in Seguin with the fam and high school friends...I'll post more about that later. I started feeling sick again last week -- and I think I posted that the doctor didn't see anything and gave me some meds and I went on my merry way. I started not feeling well again this weekend and went back to see him today. After a lot of blood letting and a cat scan, it would appear my lungs aren't doing so hot -- there is supposedly a nodule in the top right and the bottom of both are not working as well as they should (I think the word was constricted). This is probably due to an infection at some point (when, who knows) but I heard nodule and I started to tune out (as I do when I hear bad news) and didn't probably catch everything I should have. I need to have another session with the doctor tomorrow to have him repeat it all over again! The verdict was another cat scan to look at it in a few months to monitor the nodule and try to work on breathing deep to get the bottom of my lungs to work properly again.

Then I did hear him when he said he wanted me to do a stress test. I think he is a little worried because my heart rate is up again and he doesn't want to chance anything....everything else I've ever done (EKG's, Echocardiograms) all have come back okay - so now I think he just wants to make sure. So I have to hop on a treadmill really soon and let them check it all out. And he mentioned after that he wants me back on beta blockers....which I was on after the whole blood clotting incident and I got off around May when I started working out again. I really don't want to go back on them AT ALL....but that is just me hating taking meds and having my body rely on them. Plus don't even get me started about how it could impact my other meds.

Yes, I am really nervous and scared....I don't know what to think or do. Is this whole thing just not a big deal or should it be a big deal? I really don't know. My doctor didn't seem so worked up about the lungs....maybe a bit more about the heart, but I don't think that there is anything that I can get worked up about right now about because he doesn't really know anything yet - he is just trying to cover his bases.

But this is me, and I am worked up regardless. I just hate medical stuff....especially when I don't fully understand it all.

So say a little prayer that everything is really okay...and for peace for me....

doctors, hospitals and blod clots, oh my! (a year later)

Almost a year ago I was in the hospital with some serious blood clots....and ever since then I have been on blood thinners to make sure that whatever caused it didn't cause any more. The doctor felt like it had to have been birth control since I had just started taking it that month and that month I got blood clots....which is VERY common and one of the biggest "side effects".

I know I blogged about going to see the hematologist way back when -- because this lady just has literally zero bed side manner and is VERY direct. Well, I went back to see her today and I had one mission -- get off blood thinners. We talked about how things have been and she reviewed all my medical charts from the past year and basically started down this path -- it COULD still be hereditary....especially since both my dad and grandfather have had clots. She said I could go off for 4 weeks and see where we are (knowing that if it is hereditary, then I could get blood clots so I have to REALLY pay attention to my body), and if my levels aren't right, then I would have to go back on....for life. yes, I just said life.

My favorite part of the conversation was when she asked me AGAIN if I had tried to get pregnant ever. She wanted to know if I had "miscarried"....basically if you spontaneously abort, then it could be a sign of a blood disorder. When I told her that I wasn't married and therefore not TRYING to get pregnant, she basically said "Why? You should be trying to get pregnant". I wanted to say, well, yes, why don't I am go and sleep around and get knocked up so my hematologist can see if I have a blood disorder. That makes sense. And you can tell my parents why i did it! (especially if it doesn't spontaneously abort!)

And ironically, the day before I had been to the doctor and she had said "you know, I would just be happier if you could pop out 1 or 2 children pretty fast". My response had also been, well, I'm not married and therefore, no babies. She said "that's just the culture - you can do whatever you want". I once again thought - yes, my doctor told me to go sleep around and get pregnant just so I could pop out a few kiddos - let me run and tell mom and dad that. They would love it. And oh, wait, and then let me explain to God about my sexual immorality - because my doctor told me to. That would be just awesome.

Anyway, back to the blood thinner issue - I decided to go off of them for 4 weeks....I just really want to be done with them. You just don't realize all the things you can't do when you are on blood thinners! So, say some prayers that all works out well over the next four weeks and that my body can "do it's thing" properly to stay off the medicine! (especially if I have to go back on, that means I have to do the shots again....ugh.)

And while we are on the medical issues (if any boys actually read this - this would be a good time to skip to next paragraph!)-- I met with my doctor to discuss premature ovarian failure -- it seems to run in the family and I wanted to make sure that either 1) it wasn't happening, or 2) if it was, what were my options. Based on our discussions, she doesn't think that I suffer from it due to everything being so "regular". But I am still going to have my hormones tested -- you have to do it on the 3rd day - and see where it is. So, I am awaiting the lab request to have that done. If it is happening, well, then biological Lippe Grandchildren are probably not an option. Say a little prayer for all of this -- both for me and my family as we are all affected by this in one way or another....

So, that is most of the medical issues. Right now I have a WICKED cough and it keeps me up at night...so tomorrow I see doctor #3 to see about that cough -- hopefully since I am off blood thinners I MIGHT actually be able to take some drugs!!! Woo-Hoo!!O therwise, things are going well...I didn't feel so hot today so I stayed home....and I feel a lot better. But we'll see if I can sleep again tonight!

God is so good....

There has been so much going on in my life....some of it I have blogged about....some of it I haven't. And I won't -- its been just too much and too crazy to even begin to post it here. And between work and everything else, I really just wanted to get away....I needed to rest. My body felt run down (btw - the 2000 MG of vitamin c only works when you take it consistently....and it seems when you forget, well you get sick. My throat hurts, I have an awful cough and I have a man voice right now, but whatever. it will go away soon!), I was exhausted and emotionally drained.

On Thursday I went home to see Seguin. I know I have said this before and I will say it again, just pulling into the driveway and my blood pressure drops. And then of course getting loved on by your parents makes the hurt start to go away. And then to be able to sit out side and just ENJOY God's majestic world in its full glory, and well, that makes all the stress go away and reminds you of how wonderful He is, and how he knows exactly what you need and when you need it and he provides it in ample doses.

Just imagine laying on a pool chaise outside, its about 75 degrees outside, the sun is beating down but there is a gentle breeze that is floating around you making the sun feel even more glorious since you just don't get hot. You can hear the bees buzzing around, trying to gather all the sweet they can from the big colorful flowers that are surrounding every foot surrounding you. When you open your eyes, you see about 20 butterflies swirling around, playing with each other and chasing each other around the backyard. Then you look up at the sky, and you see the big amazing oak trees that just take over half of the back yard and are just so beautiful to look at.

I mean, I just can't think of a better way to spend the day...besides getting to wander in my PJ's through the back yard drinking coffee at some early hour of the morning, getting a tour from Mom of her flower beds and plants and seeing all the amazing things she has done with her green thumbs (and hearing the excitement in her voice over showing off her talents)....and getting to see the bunny that likes to play in the flower beds RUN to the fence as soon as we spot him (and hearing Dad's story about the hawk that sat on the fence and tried to eat the bunny for 2 weeks and the bunny is still around!). Then getting to hang out with one of my most favorite people in the world, catching up, laughing, trying to solve the worlds problems and drinking way too many margaritas....at lunch. And then getting to go shopping with Mom, Dad and sister (and finding LOTS of good finds!) and getting to enjoy a meal with them- laughing and poking at each other just a bit and loving on each other a lot. It was a PERFECT day and just what I needed. And I can't even tell you how much I needed it!!!! (and HE knew that and made some things happen that made all of this come together in perfect harmony).

And very unlike me, I totally forgot my camera....so I used my Palm Pre to take these pictures -- because it was so glorious I needed pictures to remind me! Above, the picture of one of the big oak trees in the backyard.....with the sun streaming through, reminding me of God's amazing beauty -- I mean, this tree has been there forever, and God has been forming each branch so perfectly.
This is one of my favorite things about my parents house....in the back at the beginning of fall, these "Bodark" apples cover the ground. They are huge -- think bigger than a softball - and HARD. But there is something so beautiful about them when they cover the ground. This pictures doesn't even begin to do it justice!

And this....I had tears in my eyes. My mom knew I was struggling and left this by my bedside because they knew I would get in fairly late since I had to work a little late. She knows how much I love the roses she grows in the back yard and left some on my bedside....and knows how much it means to me to have a little note left on the bedside.
And my picture of my toes (well, I could have done the full leg, because about the whole leg was out enjoying the sun...I mean, I needed some Vitamin D!!!) You can see the beautiful hibiscus on the left, then the bougainvillea, then all the other flowers that are planted around the pool....and what you can't see are all the yellow and purple flowers -- and the bees that were buzzing around all the flowers as I laid there. And even better - I had my new favorite book in my lap - Crazy Love by Francis Chan - that I read in between closing my eyes and basking in the sun -- and in God's glory!

I have to also say that between getting introduced to Crazy Love by KJ (well, now KE!!) and then doing an amazing bible study with a small group of very wonderful girls. And well, I can say that the Lord has opened my eyes and my heart to so many things. It has been amazing to see the things that he has shown me and has really put on my heart. I wish I could explain it all - but it seems like every day that I open my book to do my quiet time (this bible study has 5 days of "lessons" to do every week), God shows me one thing that I do and why I shouldn't do it, or even just a better way to act or respond. It has been great - because between the book and the girls - I have just learned SO MUCH and am so stinking blessed to be able to have this time to grow closer to Him...and get to know these girls even better. I know this sounds so cliché, but when I am reading my bible, and talking to Him (or praying, however you want to say it), and talking about Him (especially at Bible study) I just feel different and at times, even act different. It's like a better version of the Karen you probably know (and I know you can't imagine a better version that what you already got!! ha, ha!) . A version that I like better...and that I know He likes better.

And my favorite thing that I have learned from this whole bible study is about meekness (or described at gentleness often in translation). It is hard to describe (we've spent 10 days learning about it - so obviously its a pretty big topic) -- but it is basically describing how we should act. There are so many examples of it - but here is my favorite -

"Meekness always responds to God in submission and trust. It does not fight or struggle. It does not contend with God. It realizes that the insults and injuries which others may inflict upon it are filtered through the fingers of love, and permitted and used by God for our discipline and growth." - Lord, Only You Can Change Me by Kay Arthur

And trust me - exuding meekness is probably one of the hardest things ever to do - it is responding in a way that we are not "built" to respond - and learning to REALLY trust and submit everything to God - knowing that He will take care of it all. And that God is like our father and will discipline his children when we do something wrong -- and we have to know that he is only doing it to make us better people and to do His will and we need to respond to it in the right way.

So with all of that I leave you -- I have had a wonderful amazing weekend and feel so blessed to have such amazing friends and family, have been blessed to have some wonderful girls to do bible study with, and to really get to know who God is and what amazing things he has taught me and to see what he has planned for me in the future. I am truly blessed. God is so good.

2000 mg of Vitamin C

apparently 2000 mg of vitamin C does the trick....on Monday I started popping vitamin C and when I woke up Tuesday I felt a little off, but not as bad as I expected, and today, I feel MUCH better. I am SO thankful that I didn't get the "full blown" cold / flu stuff, because that would have really stunk!

Work has been REALLY busy as we have our budgets due tomorrow and we are all busting it to get it done. But at least I have a great staff that did most all of it, then when he left on vacation to go to Jamaica (I know, sad he didn't take me with him. I told him I could fit in his luggage, although it would totally be over the weight limit!!!) I only had to do minor updates...well, besides a few disasters which are ever present, everything has gone quite well!!! once I turn it in, I can't wait to take some time off (like all Friday afternoon! YAHOO!)

in bible study last night we talked about meekness....I don't think I ever understood what that really meant - but my favorite quote that described it was "God, if it pleases you, then it pleases me". I wish that when something happened and it wasn't what I wanted, or it hurt, that I could have that attitude....and after reading all about this and pondering it and discussing with the girls - I realized that most of the time it is me and my attitude that prevents me from responding like this. I often have this "woe is me" attitude and I don't embrace these things as a "gift from God" and a "learning experience".

But when I look back at all of those experiences that I would classify as horrible, I think that yes, it seemed horrible at the time, but I look at all the things I learned and the relationships that grew over that time and in some weird way, I am so thankful that God allowed those things to happen.

There was another great description that said that "all things filter through Gods hands" -- good and bad. It really hit home that he really does choose to allow things to happen and he totally does have a purpose for whatever it is.

so from here on out, I am working on an "attitude" adjustment. and if you feel like I am not responding appropriately to something that is happening, just remind me "God, if it pleases you, it pleases me." Cause we all know that at times I can do a good job of wallowing in self pity!!!

I can also say that I am very blessed to start this bible study with these other 3 girls...it is perfect. I originally wanted more people as I love the views, opinions, etc of everyone, but God has really blessed me SO VERY MUCH by these girls, their thoughts, questions and just getting to love on each other as we do this bible study together. I am SO very thankful that it has worked out so well....especially with all of our crazy schedules!!!

I am also excited as I get to see my parents for a bit this weekend....I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!

sickly.....

I should have known....every year after busy season I got sick after working crazy hours...and I think after last week working crazy hours all over again my body wanted to throw in the towel. Today I started feeling a little bad -- my throat was hurting and the mass quantities of hot tea was NOT helping. Then around 4 I started feeling a little worse....so I came home and climbed on the couch. I thought I was feeling better - so I got up and made some zucchini bread (such a fall thing -- reminds me of my mom making it during the winter as a child!) and then I had to make it back to the couch.

I don't think it is the flu...but it is like an ear infection is coming and I can tell that tonight is going to be bad...and tomorrow may be worse. Thank goodness for unlimited sick time at work :)

this weekend....

The bucket says it all....after a very long week, and laying low on Friday and most of the day Saturday, I decided to meet some friends out at Howl at the Moon. I should have known when they started talking about the trashcan punch - or as I liked to call it "the bucket 'o fun". No, I didn't even think about trying it -- I just let the others kill themselves with it. It was a LOT of fun -- the dueling pianos were so much fun (dirty, but fun). We danced a lot, sang a lot, and well, drank a lot. (well, actually, everyone else did.....I was the great DD for the evening).
Here are me and some of the boys for the evening...to the left is EW --- this is one of the few pictures with him actually smiling and not trying to hide his face or make a face -- and BM - one of the boys of 1732. This picture was from the beginning of the night.....
And this picture was from the end of the evening...I think I have about 20 pictures just like that. Awesome.
And here is RO and I.....she worked with me at KPMG and I just loved her....and then I met her husband and I love him too!!! And she is really good friends with the boys from 1732 so I get to see them way more often!!! She was a cheerleader in college and she has this signature hand move she did -- and will NEVER do it anymore....but we learned to give her a drink or two and you can get LOTS of the hand moves. It was so awesome....and even better that the roommate that left wasn't there to see it and he has been asking her for YEARS since college and she won't ever do it -- and then we got it like 6 of them! And below is her and her sweet husband!

*sigh*

the title says it all. it has been a REALLY long and hard week. going into it, I think I thought it would all go okay...and of course, after day 1, that all went out the window. I'm pretty sure I only made it home one night before midnight this week -- and I probably shouldn't have left that early. I wish I could say that there was one factor that caused it all, but it was like 500 things that all happened to make it so sucky. The bad thing is that I am getting too old for this -- my body is revolting....you should see the cankles. horrible, I tell you. no skirts for me this week! ha, ha.

and to make it even more fun, I promised my friend RH that we could start working out together. (I had been working out, but during hard weeks I always sleep instead!) So every morning she was at my house at the unimaginable hour of 5:30.....and I only wussed out one morning - after getting home at 2 am, I just couldn't pull it together to make that happen. I do think that the working out helped -- at least I wasn't as tired, but still!!!! At least she kept my spirits up as she was CRACKING me up at the gym...the faces, the commentary, all of it. HILARIOUS. It was worth the lack of sleep to get to spend that time with her!

I am hopeful for the future - but not looking forward to year end. We are trying to make it better - but it just takes time. and with the other manager leaving, well, it has made it a little more stressful -- especially the first time around. but hopefully it will get better. at least now I know how long things take and what all I need to do -- that is the first step!!

on top of all that work stuff - I got an email this week that my grandmother isn't doing so hot. she has been in a nursing home for a while and after my grandfather died last year, well, I wasn't sure how long she'd make it. She has no appetitite, she is so very tired and in a lot of pain. So pray for her -- that God will either take her home or that he will take away the pain and make her comfortable. And pray for my mom and aunt -- and the rest of the family -- this is going to be sad for so many reasons....and this is probably one of the last visits to Electra where they lived....a place that brings back so many memories of visiting the farm, riding four wheelers, picking strawberries (random I even remember that), walking down the "driveway" to get the mail, pine cones and snow, riding in the tractors, and just having a blast surrounded by all of the family.

So this weekend, I am taking it easy.....sleeping a lot, enjoying the nice cold weather, and trying to get organized and ready for next week....which hopefully will be a LOT better!

today will be a good day....

well, I keep telling myself today will be a good day even though it was in the middle of close and nothing is seeming to go right! but with these flowers on my desk, it definitely helps! These were the center pieces from the gala and I got to take 2 home with me....so one is gracing my dining room table, the other my desk. They are ABSOLUTELY beautiful. This picture really doesn't do them justice!!!

the St. Judes Gala

My friend KC has been volunteering with St Judes for quite a few years now and this year she was the chair of the St. Judes Gala this year....so all the girls decided to all go to the gala this year. My friend LG and I went to see Isaac the make up man to do our makeup before hand and then went and put on some pretty dresses and headed out to the party! We had so much fun hanging out, having dinner, and of course, dancing the night away!!! Above, the girls (KC was running around -- kind of sad we didn't get a group picture of all of us!!)
Here is PR and I....she is preggo and due in January and we had to get the cute belly in the picture......that is hers, not mine! ha, ha. When we were leaving at the end of the night, my friend BJ was trying to teach baby boy PR animal sounds. It was cracking me up!
KC and I at the beginning of the night - I caught her while she was running around and got a quick picture in!
Here is LG and I....I can't wait to print this picture off and put it in my office -- especially since she now sits in the office right next to me! LOVE THAT!
Here is BJ and I...he is one of my favorite boys in H-town I was so blessed to have him go with me to the Gala....and LOVED that we got to spend most of the night on the dance floor....at the gala and then at the black swan!!!

It was such a fun night and I was so glad to get to spend the night with some of my favorite girls -- all dressed up and on the dance floor!

I love Benjis....

I don't know if you have been there -- but I am in love with Benji's on Washington. It seems like the girls are meeting there more often these days....it always starts with some champange and then followed by dinner....and it is always fabulous. We have tried a few different things on the menu -- they try the seafood dishes, I stick with chicken and beef - but everything is always so good. Especially the chocolate cake!!! LM swears that the icing is like chocolate brownie batter...and it is YUM!

I think the best thing I like about it though is getting to spend time with the girls...catching up, laughing and just spending time together!! And no, it might not take over for my love affair with La Vista (where the other group of H-town girls usually goes) -- but it does give it a run for its money!!!

I also have to mention that I am getting excited about going to the St. Judes gala this weekend. Our wonderful friend KC is the chairwoman this year and so the whole group of us got tickets and are going together. It is at one of our favorite hotels -- the Omni -- which is known for the club downstairs the black swan - where the dancefloor is always full and the music is always good! I can't wait to post pictures -- it promises to be a REALLY good time!!!