Janie and Jilly Do Mansfield - Part 1

I promised, so here it be...the Jill and Janie Chronicles, Chapter 1.

(Who really talks like that? I mean, the “here it be” part?)

I called Jill, she of Jill Jill Bo Bill fame, Wednesday sometime. We had discussed me leaving Midland around 2 p.m., so as to miss the Fort Worth traffic and still get to Mansfield, our designated special meeting place. She told me it was halfway. (I beg to differ. My odometer says I trucked almost 350 miles. I think the Jilly-girl logged 90, up and back. Heifer.) We decided I’d call when I got to Weatherford, then she’d leave her house and head my way.

I really tried to leave Midland at 2 p.m....but it just didn’t work. Sometime right after lunch I found out we have a field trial this coming weekend, so I had to make last minute arrangements to take Zack the Wonder Dog to the trainer so he could rack up some practice before I came back home. I got packed, loaded him up, left the house...and there had been a wreck at the end of my street. I think 400 cars were diverted right in front of my house. I finally pulled out, got about 2 miles out of town, and realized I’d left Zack’s special food, and his medicine. Can’t have my Wonderdog getting sick on me! So, I turned around, going another way to miss the wreck. I missed the wreck, all right, but drove upon two more fender benders that had happened within the diverted traffic.

I swear, this stuff only happens to me. In Midland, no less. In a 30 mph neighborhood.

I finally got back home, loaded everything up, and headed to Big Spring to drop the Zackster off. He was SO excited, pacing up and down the seats in my truck, that dog knew Exactly.Where.He.Was.Going and that it meant “Hunting, Mom! Hunting! Hunting!” He is so funny.

And, I headed down the road. I think I left Big Spring at 3:30 p.m. I am freaking out, thinking I am going to be way late getting to Jill. We’ve had many a late night telephone conversation, but we’ve never met in person. I’m very excited - I know we’re going to have fun, finally!! LaToya the Sequoia and I put the pedal to the medal and drive about 83 all the way...and I beat Jill to our meeting place...’cause that’s how I rock, ya know.

I walk in to Johnny Carino’s, and she’s not yet there. I get a table, and wait. And wait. And wait.

Okay, I’m lying. She got there in like 5 minutes.

I had told Jill I was slobbing out in a t-shirt and sweats. No makeup. Not even any earrings. Hair screaming. Looking my very best for my hot internet date. You know what that heifer said? “Oh, me too! I’m wearing sweats. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Who cares what we look like?”

What a liar.

Jill glides in the door, beautiful, cute vest, all blinged up, hair cute as a button, perfect Texas Big Hair. And yeah, she’s got on sweats...velour ones. She’s probably going to call “What Not To Wear” on me, and y’all are going to get to see all my bad fashion diseases.

Heifer. (Have I told you I love this Jilly girl?)

Jill and I started talking, and it was like we’d known each other forever, and were just meeting for a meal(which I don’t even remember eating. I swear.). We can’t wait for ThoseMenWeLove to meet each other - we just know they’ll get along great! And if these same men ever get sick simultaneously, we’re going to lock them together in the same house so they can figure out how much men whine when they have the Man Cold. And we will go thrift store shopping. That’ll show them!

The managers kicked us out of the restaurant, I went to my hotel, and Jilly drove home - and called me when she got there so I wouldn’t worry about her.

Destiny, bloggers, destiny. It could happen to you! You just have to have the “want to” and the patience to wait on people who are perpetually late, like me.

Jill, thanks for your patience, chica. I’ll be back in town in a couple of weeks - like February the 10th or so. The famous Rebecca is going to cut my hair, and she’ll be serving margaritas and wine. Be there or be square! Now, quit showing your boob, heifer! Here's a better picture of us. Jill's the one on the left. Do you like my extensions?

To be continued sometime in February...

The Jill and Janie Chronicles

I had a huge day yesterday, going from appointment to appointment to appointment (do y’all think I’m repeating myself? Just wait!) to lunch to another appointment, to yet another one (hey David, I’m so glad you didn’t have a pink thong waiting on me when I arrived at your office) to another meeting at the Los Colinas Country Club. Then, when my young whippersnapper salesman Rockstar dropped me off at my hotel at 7:30 p.m., I had yet another date. Yes, another chariot awaited me at the front door of my hotel – Pam and The Bearded One were there to take me for dessert and coffee. I know, I am so spoiled. We had fun!

All that to say…I’ve not yet had time to regale you with the story about my meeting with JillJillBoBill. So, shoot me! Feel free to go visit the heifer…she made me laugh this morning with her version of our fated meeting! Love ya, girlfriend.

I’m heading back to the West of Texas, where the sunsets freakin’ rock, the sand blows, the rattlesnakes are a daily occurrence, and the only trees are pumpjacks. In other words, I’ll be baaaaack! Brace yourselves, me hardies!

Ron's Questions for Janie - Unplugged.

I volunteered to be interviewed by Ron of The Warped Mind of Ron. Read below if you’re interested!

Ron: Thanks for dropping by my blog and volunteering for an interview.

Janie: No problem, Ron. I’m stupid like that. I just love opening myself up for ridicule, derision, and laughter. I figure, if they’re talking about me, they’re giving someone else a break.

(we're really not talking. I just imagined myself on some interview show. What? Jerry Springer? No! Please! Make it...Larry King Live or something like that. I like all those little lights in the background. The lighting flatters my face and makes me look years younger.)

Ron: Question #1:
How in the world did you find my blog and what made you click on it?

Janie: Because I’m Warped like that! Get it? I clicked on the The Warped Mind of Ron because I’m warped and warps attract? Nahhhh. I think I scammed on through the crazy and zany Vodka Mom. No, wait, maybe it was Sabrae. Oh, heck. I dunno. I piggybacked onto one of your readers, then decided to follow. Just be glad I came by and graced you with my stupid royal assedness. I’m sure your good U.S. bank account will benefit in some way. Some time. You know, like when one of my relatives whom I didn’t know I had, and by the way, was rich as Croesus, kicks the bucket and I have to have some safe place in which to deposit said funds because the government’s trying to abscond with the family jewels. And I’ll split it with you 90/10. Me 90, you 10. Are you good with that?

Ron: Question #2: What inspired you to start blogging in the first place?

Janie: Oh, the twisted trails we take, all to further twist the tale. I would write stories about our trips and family life, which is Way Twisted, and send them to my customers. They loved them (they said!) (I didn’t pay them, I promise) and kept after me to write more. Then, somehow, I happened onto a local blog from one hilarious guy, Eric at The FireAnt Gazette. He has the driest sense of humor! And I was hooked, read it daily, and then read all of his linky love. A year later, I finally hopped into the blogworld as a pseudo-wannabe-blogger. Not much has changed. I’m still a wanna-be. Though I still send twisted stories to my customers, ‘cause that’s how I roll.

Ron: Question #3: For whatever reason you have no time to do any of your normal Holiday decorating or rituals. If given the time to have one decoration or ritual only what would it be?

Janie: Seriously? What is normal? I don’t do normal. And really, I have no time to do any Holiday decorating this year. Don’t even have a tree up. Bah freaking humbug. Zanna would shred everything anyway. Wonder if decorating Zack the Wonder Dog and Zanna the Wonder Pup will suffice? I’m trying my hardest to keep my head in the Christmas game, what with ThatManILove being gone for over three months now. I figure if I bought the presents, got them wrapped (thanks, Cherie!) and delivered them, I’d be knocking it outa the park. Ovah da fence. You know.

Anyhoo…One thing we always do is adopt families (or last year, four!) for Christmas, and that is still happening. It’s fun, and a blessing to us as well as the receiver. And I think that’s what Christmas is all about – loving on people. And we donate to our local Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization in which I totally believe, having been a single mom myself. But, enough. You don’t really wanna hear all that stuff.

Ron: Question #4:
Do you have a favorite Christmas Carol and if so what is it?

Janie: I don’t really have a favorite Christmas Carol, I like them all. But my favorite song of all time, Christmas or otherwise, is “Mary, Did You Know?”, written by Mark Lowry. Here it is for your viewing pleasure. I'll hum along.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Ron: Question #5:
What bank do you use and what is your account #'s..... wait... that may be inappropriate?

Janie: Well, I could give you all my Nigerian friend’s bank accounts…but you’d have to share all your information. I mean their information. You could send it to JanieSoundingForthIWannaMakeBigBucks@NotANigerianScam.com(Iwantyourmoney@hotmail.com).

Ron: What blogger from your regular visitors do you really hope volunteers to be your victim, ummm I mean interviewed?

Janie: I hope that everyone of them wants to be interviewed - and I promise to ask nice…well, sort of nice…not mean, anyway…questions!! Braja, Vodka Mom, Eric, and the Dooze. But she’s incognito, so I’d have to publish hers.

Ron: This question thing is harder than it sounds :-)

Janie: What? Asking, or answering? Are you freakin’ pre-judging me? I belong to Womensa. My I.Q. is through the ceiling…of the doghouse. And, by the way, is by no means related to the number of daily hot flashes experienced. I can ask questions. See? Like these. I can SO play this game.

Janie: What color are your shoes? Is your favorite book "See Spot Run"? Do you know Dick and Jane?

Ron: Thanks for playing along and have a very Merry Christmas.

Janie: (Got him, didn't I? I sooooooooooo smart!)Thanks for allowing me the pleasure, Ron! It was fun. Now, anybody else wanna bare their soul for everyone to see?

Let me know. I can aska da questions. I can. I can.

Meet Vodka Mom!

It is snowing up here in Pennsylvania! And before I forget, JillJillBoBill wins the at this moment undisclosed prize from Pennsylvania for guessing correctly the mystery blogger.

Mystery Blogger from Pennsylvania happens to be Vodka Mom! We tried to meet for 3 days, unsuccessfully, due to my husband’s work. She was very, very patient with her soon to be oilfield buddies! But finally, yesterday, ThatManILove and I came down from the wellsite early and were able to go to State College and meet Vodka Mom! We had a drink at Outback, and visited, and had a simply marvelous time. Vodka Mom is so funny, we all just hit it off immediately. She flipped out her wallet photos, and her kiddos are beautiful. Mr. Vodka was at the hunting lease, so we’ll have to meet him next time. And the Golden Child, her youngest, was wearing out Vodka Mom's cell phone. It was precious. I can't wait to meet them all!

And as you can see by this picture, Vodka Mom really does drink cranberry with her vodka! Isn’t she beautiful? (I’m the large tall one with the rained on hair. She’s the tiny compact going to the gym perfect hair little one. Heifer*.) And me? What is that in my hand? Why, that’s a freakin’ Shirley Temple. I promise it is. Okay, I lied, it’s the “Wallaby Darned”, otherwise known as the Peach Bellini. And I liked it wayyyyy too much. Until it gave me brain freeze. But, yeah. Good stuff, this meeting. Good stuff, I say. And the best thing is that if ThatManILove has to stay in the PA much longer, he has found himself a new adopted family.

And Jilly? Next weekend, girlfriend. I’ll be in Dallas. Sunday morning brunch somewhere, husbands included – Trulucks, maybe? Not your house, I know, you’re all cooked up. But somewhere, somehow, somewhen (is that a word?) we will meet.

*Vodka Mom knows that "heifer" is a term of endearment. So don't y'all be going and getting your panties in a wad on her behalf, ya hear?

Hunting Field Trial and More Hunting Dog Pictures

Okay, I have to show off pictures of Zack the Wonder Dog and Zanna the Wonder Pup from this weekend. They are so awesome. The dogs, I mean. The pictures? Yeaaaaaah, they're okay, too.
My friend Steve put out a live quail for Zanna to chase, and chase, she did! She caught it, and is bringing it back to me. With zero training. She is so funny!
And here are a couple of Zack the Wonder Dog on point. I never get to take these pictures, but this time, Kellygirl was with me, so she held my gun while I took pictures. And then, yes, I shot my quail. But that's another story unto itself, right, Kelly?
This is Steve's dog, Abby the English Pointer, on point. She's a beautiful gal.And this is Steve, walking up to flush the bird. Notice Abby never breaks her point? She's stout, stout, stout. I think she's beautiful.
And of course, LB1, who spent the weekend with me. The little guy woke himself up at 4 a.m. and stayed awake so I wouldn’t be late for the field trial. At 5:30 a.m., he knocked on my door.

LB1: Miss Janie?

Janie: Hey, little dude.

LB1: Time to get up! We don’t want to be late. Can we go get a burrito on the way out?

The kid is a bottomless pit, I swear. I can’t keep him filled up. God bless his Mom. I don’t know how she does it! We ordered a large pizza for supper, and he ate everything but the two pieces I had. He does love him some pizza! (Notice, Kellygirl, he has on your snake gaters!)
LB1 was so great at the field trials. He loved driving the golf cart, and timing the events. I think his second best thing to do was to blow the horn at the end of the timed sessions. He is such a funny, bright young man. I love hanging around him!

Here are Zack and Zanna, tied to the tail end of my new ride while awaiting their turn. Well, Zack's turn, really, since Zanna's too young to "hunt" yet.

Zanna asked to be put in her crate after Zack kept running over her while tied out. He just will not settle while hunting's going on. He thinks he has to be in on every run.

I’ve had a rough weekend, missing That Man I Love. It's been six weeks today since he's been home, and I’m more than ready for him to come back to Texas. Zanna has already doubled in size, and you just wait until Zack sees MLH. He will flat go crazy. He loves that man so much!

Janie: Hey. Can you hear Zanna snoring on the bed, through the cellphone? She is flat rocking out some ZZZZZ's!

MLH: No, I can’t hear her. Is she as big as Zack yet?

Janie: She’s about half his size. She’s grown so much. You know those moms that start talking baby talk when they’ve been around their munchkins nonstop24/7?

MLH: Yes?

Janie: Well, I feel like I’m talking to Zack and Zanna every minute of every day and night allthetimenonstopdoyouknowwhatImean? I’m probably going to start incorporating my doggyspeak into my normal workday. You know, "Down, boy! " " Heel." "Hunt 'em up!" "Come arouuuuund!" "Fetch dead!" Oh, that won’t work at all. (MLH is laughing.) Oh, hang on, Zack has to go outside.

MLH: He’s probably just trying to fake it so he can grab Zanna’s rawhide.

At this point, Zanna wakes up, and runs to the door to be the first outside. She may be small, but she’s totally dominating Zack. And Zack? Doubles back, hops on the bed, lays down…and grabs Zanna’s rawhide. I am not even kidding you.

MLH is just heehawing on the cellphone – I guess I’ve given a narrative while I laid down the phone, or he figured it out by what I said to Zack. Which I’m not even going to repeat, so don’t go there.

Okay, enough whining already. Have a great week!!

New Blogger in Town!! Meet Kellygirl!!

Today was a great Friday! I went to work, and then was scheduled to go practice with Zack, as we have a field trial tomorrow. Around lunchtime, I got a call from our newest Midland blogger, Kellygirl at Life in the Sahara. Kellygirl just moved here from the Metroplex. We decided to meet for lunch.

We’d never met before, so Kelly and I had to do the “I drive a new blue Sequoia.” and “Well, I’m the girl sitting on the bench at the KentKwik where they’re washing my car.” No problem. We knew each other immediately…and when Kellygirl got in the car, and got in, well, I had a surprise for her - someone was on the speaker phone, namely, In_Spired at For Love of Home. Kellygirl’s circle of influence includes In_Spired’s pastor in Munday, Texas. And In_Spired introduced me to Kelly, so the rest of today is In_Spired’s fault! (Right, Kellygirl?) After everyone visited for a bit, we said “Bye” to In_Spired, and went to lunch at Schlotzky’s.

I knew right away that Kelly and I would get along. It was fun! And when I told her I had to go hunting, she expressed interest. So, I asked her to tag along, and she did! What a trooper! She even caught some pictures for me (will post later!) It was Kellygirl's first bird hunt (maybe her first hunt ever!)and I think she really liked watching the dogs work. She never missed a step, following us all around that field. We all had a good time watching little Zanna chasing a quail around, catching it and bringing it back to me. Zanna did well!

Oh, yeah! I had outfitted Kellygirl with some protective gear, and I sort of explained it, but as it unfolded, I’d not explained it well. We got the dogs loaded back up, and got in the truck to leave.

Janie: What did you think about that, Kellygirl? Did you have fun?

Kellygirl: It was fun! I'd like to go again! The only thing that bothered me was that snake skin. (Kelly walked right across where a bull snake had shed it’s skin.)

Janie: Yeah, that’s why you’re wearing those snake gaters over your jeans, just in case we ran onto a snake.

Kellygirl: Snake gaters?

Janie: Yeah. Rattlesnakes can’t bite through them, so they’re protective gear.

Quiet. Deeeeeeaaaaad quiet.

Kellygirl: Oh. Okaaaay.

Janie: I'm sorry, I thought you knew what they were when I handed them to you. (Well, heck, she just put them on like a pro!)

We laughed. She took it very, very well. Kelly decided to make it a day, and join me in the rest of mine. We decided to go eat Mexican Food…’cause you know they don’t have that West Texas kind of Mexican food in the Metroplex!

We ran home, put the dogs up, and picked up Little Brother #1, who's hanging with me for the weekend. We then met Bob and Cherie, who’d just returned from Toledo, at Casa Madrid. I believe Kellygirl had a great time! She and LB1 got along well, and I know she enjoyed meeting fellow bloggers Bob and Cherie!

Now I’ve flung a cravin’ on the Kellygirl for shooting, so we’ll be going and trying out some sporting clays on her next day off. What y’all wanna bet I’ve got her hunting before long?

Y’all go meet Kellygirl at Life in the Sahara, and give her a good ol' West Texas welcome!

These posts are going to be a day late, since we’re traveling. Bear with me. Cell phone coverage is minimal, regardless of what the commercials say.

MLH and I left Midland on Tuesday, driving towards Dallas. About 4 p.m ., we’re two hours into the drive, and Elder Son calls.

ES: Hey, Mom.


Janie: Yes?

ES: Younger Son just got out of work. Can you fly us into Dallas? That way, we’ll only have one car. I checked the flights, it’ll be cheaper than driving up and back in YS’ truck.

Turns out he was right. So, we flew the boys into Dallas, and after a short stop in Fort Worth to deliver some well files, we picked them up, and promptly went to eat a late supper at Pappas Steak House. It was great, and one of Elder Son’s friends met us there. She was a beautiful girl named Megan, with a great sense of humor. Case in point:

Waitress: Where are you from?


ES: I just flew in on a jet plane, and Megan came well recommended from an escort service.


Janie: ES!


Megan: Yes, rest assured, I’m the top girl at the agency. He’s paying out the butt, I promise.


All of this on our first meeting. Megan’s a sweetheart, from a small town near Dallas, and we all had a great time. (And no, she was not from an escort service – they met at one of ES’ gigs.)

Shortly thereafter, we went to our friends’ house to spend the night. We got up the next morning at 4:30 a.m., and made it to the airport by 5:15 a.m. – just in time to get US Airways to correct ES’ name on his ticket. (I had tried to get this corrected no less than 4 times on the great US Airways customer service number.) Finally, a nice lady helps us…and the minute she changes his name on the ticket, it puts him on standby. Craziness. Thankfully, she called ahead and cleared the way, we were able to board, and we arrived in Providence, RI yesterday afternoon at 1 p.m.




We checked into the Providence Renaissance Marriott, right downtown, and enjoyed the scenery for a while. The boys crashed, then went to the mall right next door. This was the view from our hotel room, and the building is the State Office in Providence, RI. Beautiful.


Our friends, Doug and Karen, wanted to go to Noank, CT, to find Doug’s great grandfather’s historic home. Noank is a small town, but we were able to find the house just by driving around. Every historic house has a name and the year on it – it was great! After we found it, Doug called his mom, who had never seen the house. She looked up some of her grandfather's paperwork, and found he had paid $400 for the lot in 1846, and built the house himself.









We then went to a restaurant called The Fisherman, and had appetizers and drinks. MLH and Doug were able to schmooze with the locals, which was fun. From there, we went to a place on the bay called Abbott’s Lobster In The Rough. And oh, my Lord. We ate tons of lobster while sitting on picnic tables overlooking the bay. It was awesome.
Yep, that was our order. Craziness. We had a lot of fun, but I was full and sleepy driving back.

Tomorrow, James Taylor. Oh, yeah, baby. I can hear him crooning now.


“In my mind, I’m going to Carolina…”

Welcome to Cathy and Melanie!

Please, please welcome to the Midland Blogosphere – my friends Cathy over at Cat's Page and Melanie at Blonde Mafia and the Godfather.

These ladies are sweet, sweet, sweet – both of them, hard-working moms. I think they blog to debrief, because it’s fun, and they also use it as a great place to showcase their families and the beautiful babies in their lives, and of course, their dogs!

Their blogs are fairly new, so go back to their oldest posts and read forward – they’ll make you laugh!

Go! Enjoy! Blogroll!

Best Burger in Fort Worth

Tonight, we (MLH, Pam O, Michael O, and myself) went to see Charlie Wilson's War. Afterwards, we were to meet some mutual friends, Totila and Lynn, to experience “the best burger in the Metroplex” at the Love Shack at the Fort Worth Stockyards.

So, off we went to the stockyards. We found the Love Shack. We went in…and quickly realized there was no freakin’ roof…and just a couple of fires in the middle of the eating area by which to keep warm. I quickly called calf rope – “This is NOT going to work for me.” It was very cold, like in the low 40’s, and I’ve been sick. My cohorts quickly agreed the time was ripe to leave – so, off we went to the next “best burger in the Metroplex” at Dutch's Hamburgers, in the TCU district.

Little do you know that in the very recent past, I’ve become a Pappas Burger fan. Pappas serves an amazing burger, people. But I’m a-tellin’ you, folks, Dutch’s beats Pappas all to heck. I could not believe it. Dutch’s hamburger buns were absolutely delightful. Onion rings, old fashioned, piled high in the basket (yup, basket.) French fries, made from scratch. It was great.

We sure enjoyed visiting with our friends – and when we were leaving (as usual, one of the last groups to leave the joint), I catch a glimpse of a guy putting on his jacket*, and crack up. And of course, we have to get him to pose for us. (Thanks, PamO, for having your trusty camera ready!)

So, here’s MLH, goofing around for the camera.

Here, MLH coaxes the Enzyte smile out of the jacket guy. (Somehow, the jacket guy's smile looks more sincere than MLH's, don't ya think?) Michael O’s comment to MLH concerning the entire episode?

“You’re standing next to Viagra and all you can get up is your thumb?”

Such are the days of my life.

*Gwynne- BTW, girl - I get the NASCAR/jacket connection. No explanation necessary.;)

More fun in the Metroplex

I’m in Mansfield, Texas….laying on Pam's floor, laughing at her while she is laughing at your blogs. We’re both logged into our computers, trading addresses of our favorite blogs, so, if you have a new commenter show up named MammaO, you’ll know from whence she came.

And the men in our lives? Are in the living room, playing Wii, having the time of their lives. They are funny. A Wii is absolute proof that you really never have to grow up.

It’s been a great vacation - we saw lots of friends, and made some new ones. MLH and I did our requisite Neiman-Marcus shopping – and before you think we be’s some high-rollin’ folks, we go there for one thing, every 4-5 years. Curious? Wondering what would make us pass through those gold-plated doors in our t-shirts and tennis shoes to hobnob with the ultra-rich? The super-elite? The uber-bourgeoisie?

Only one thing…a humble place setting.

We collect…single place settings. One of everything in the collection, from the charger plate all the way to the cup and saucer. And we did find a cool place setting to add to our collection, and some really rocking goblets (we bought 4 of those)! (Someday, I’ll take pix and show you – as for now, everything breakable is gently stored in bubble wrap outside in the trusty ol’ just crossed 90K miles Yukon XL.) We actually collected another place setting, of some cool Pfaltzgraff pottery, while we were in Terrell, Texas, on Friday. So, we’re two up for this year!

Tomorrow, Pam and I are heading to Hillsboro to meet one of her friends and maybe hit the outlet mall. It’s been great to just hang out and not have to worry (too much) about work. We needed a break.

Oh, yeah…. Lone Chatelaine – Girlfriend, Pam and I went shopping today for your “regionally appropriate” gift! I think you’ll love it…but there’s only one way to know, and that’s for you to send me your address so I can ship it to you!! Hint: it is fragile, so it needs to come to a safe stopping point somewhere!

Happy trails until we meet again!

New Year's Plans....fun!

Wow. I’m finally feeling better. We delayed our trip to FW until the 26th because I had the flu or some type of respiratory stuff, which has continued in some form or the other, until today. I have been ingesting huge quantities of Emergen-C and taking a Wellness Formula herbal defense complex…I just couldn’t stand to go back on antibiotics. (I had just finished a regimen less than 2 weeks ago.)

A lot of it is probably just exhaustion – we have now been enjoying a much needed rest. The day after we arrived, we drove to Shreveport to the casinos, then came back and had lunch with my cousin Kristy at Longview. Last night, we drove to Dallas and had supper with some friends at a new restaurant called Cuba Libre. That was fun, and the food was amazing!

Tonight, we’re schedule to eat supper at the Chophouse Restaurant and then, attend the Robert Earl Keen concert at the Bass Performance Hall with our friends from Lubbock, John and Suzan and their daughter Becky. Tomorrow, we hope to entice our friends Mike and Pam into the mix, and just gad about town, shopping, going to museums, whatever we can stir up. Later in the afternoon, Younger Son should be coming into town, hopefully fresh and rested (snark!) from a Reckless Kelly concert in Gruene, Texas.

Later that night, you will find us all in Arlington, at the house of a friend of Mike and Pam’s, where a bunch of guys will play their bagpipes and pipe in the New Year. That will be a first for me, and I’d bet, for the rest of my crew, as well. New Year’s Day, ten of us will meet at the The Worthington Renaissance, our Fort Worth hangout, for a sumptious New Year’s Day brunch.

And within that schedule, there will be lots of fellowship and napping. What a way to end a holiday season!

If I don’t post again until after the 1st, y’all have a safe Blessed and Happy New Year! God bless you, each and every one!

A Weekend in the Life of a Salesperson

This has been an extremely busy weekend. Early breakfasts, lunch dates, activities with customers, and then evening receptions every night, going from there to formal dinners.
I don’t think I’ve had so much rich food since…last year’s event in Santa Fe!

We’ve had a good time, and I thought I’d share with you the life of a salesperson during an event such as this. (I know you’re dying to know!)

Thursday
Drove to Albuquerque, arriving around 6pm
Went straight to Landry’s, reserving a table for 8
After a long dinner, took customers to casino, stayed out way too late.

Friday
Drove into Santa Fe, checked into La Fonda, a historic Santa Fe hotel, unpacked
Took customers and about 25 co-workers to La Casa Sena, where we dined on excellent fare, and were greatly entertained by our singing wait staff. I recommend this restaurant to anyone!
My boss suggested we help him take customers to the local casino. Rerun of Thursday.

Saturday
10 am Ladies’ Brunch at La Fonda Terraza , where the entertainment was Lisa Trujillo, co-owner of Chimayo Weavers, along with her husband, Irvin. Their work is on permanent display at the Smithsonian, and Irvin was just awarded The National Endowment for the Arts 2007 NEA National Heritage Fellowship. I promise, I will never look at a weaving the same again. These people gather plants, make their own dyes, and put hours and hours into weaving their wares. I am amazed, and plan to make a trip back up to Santa Fe just to visit their facility. Go! See!
12:30 pm – shopping Santa Fe with customers and their wives
6 pm – Attended formal reception for BJ Services (around 500 people)
8 pm – Attended our customer appreciation dinner (around 300 people)
10:30 pm – finally went to bed (left MLH and others milling around the bar)

Sunday
Breakfast at the hotel, talked business (it never ends, really.)
12:30 pm – took customers on a winery tour – what a fun time!

We stopped first at Balagna Winery, San Ysidro Vineyards, where proprietor John Balagna, a retired nuclear chemist, entertained us mightily! And of course, we walked away with a few cases of his wine. If you get a chance, go visit the Balagnas. Their 500 acre homestead includes a beautiful canyon and a great view of the Rio Grande River.


We then went to Santa Fe Winery, where we purchased some port and chardonnay. And someone, namely MLH, goofed off for the camera in the Wine Diva visor.

6 pm – Attended the Devon/Marathon reception on top of the Eldorado Hotel , so crowded we couldn't move (it was too cold for everyone to be outside, so we were sardined up!)
7 pm – Attended the NMOGA kickoff reception (around 1000 people)
8 pm – Went to dinner at The Ore House on the Plaza
10:30 pm – Back to the hotel, where we crashed

Monday
8 am – Up, working on the computer
10 am – Going to late breakfast with customers/friends
Noon – hopefully heading home!

Such is the life of an oilfield salesperson…and you thought all we did was have a great time!
(We did!)

Texas Highways and Byways...

Okay, I know all you city folk understand what’s going on here…but I was clueless. Well, clueless, in a "when are they going to start the toll road?" kind of way. I had wondered, when driving around Lewisville, Tx. up to Allen, Texas, why it said SH121 was a toll road, but there were no booths. As some of you know, SH121 is always under construction, I just figured they were getting ready to make it a tollway.

Well, I no longer puzzle over the quandary that is SH121.

Today, I received an invoice from the Texas Tollways, Texas Dept. of Transportation. The invoice is complete with my tag number (how do they do that?) and the times of entrances and exits on and off SH121. And for their efforts, a paper invoice was generated for $2.40 worth of exits and entrances, plus a $1.00 invoicing fee.

I’m glad to pay it (and did so, online), but it makes one wonder…about wandering up and down the Metroplex.

So, what happens when you’re in a rental car?

PS – Foo and Turtle, you should have warned me! Half of this stuff happened when we were coming to meet y’all for lunch! (Though the lunch, and the pleasure of meeting y'all, was well worth the tolls!)

Self-confession...

Last night, MLH was out on his lease, working, and was planning on staying in Pecos. Younger Son and I went to meet Sarah and her mom, Rhonda at Chili’s for supper.

We left the restaurant and we were all standing in front of our trucks talking. We heard this noise, and looked at each other like a calf looking at a new gate. The first thing that went through our minds was “Rattlesnake!”, so we all froze.

And then, we got it.

Literally.

In less time than it takes to say "Run!", all four of us were soaked by the automatic sprinklers.

It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed so hard that my stomach hurts, but it does.

He's my brother...

The last two days, my (real) brother Scott has been in Midland due to work concerns. And through some divine timing, we’ve been able to spend a couple of hours together over the last two days, sans spouses or kiddos. (We didn’t mean for our spouses to be out of town, but they are.) It’s been fun!

The distance of forty miles apart is nothing. Many people drive that far to work each morning. Scott and I both live busy, multi-faceted lives – and our kiddos have different interests, so oftentimes, we have to schedule get-togethers. We do talk on the phone quite a bit, which is good.

It’s been nice to polish the jewel that is our relationship. And our relationship is definitely one I treasure. Scott’s job will require him to spend some time in Midland, and that’s a good thing for me, his sister.

And it will be good for him, too!

Nate

I have a young shotgunner friend named Nate. About a year ago, I suggested to Nate's parents that he be enrolled in 4-H shooting sports. At that time, he had no shotgun, but was very interested. I mentioned Nate and the lack of a suitable shotgun to a couple of mutual friends, and one of them loaned Nate a gun. Nate joined our local 4-H club. He took a lesson from one of the local range pros, and fell in love with shotgun sports.

This young man of 10 has been mowing lawns and doing yard work all summer in order to save up to buy a gun. One day, his father called me, and asked if they could come see me. We set up a time, and father and son came by my office.

When I get a call like that, it’s usually a plea for sponsorship. Not so this time.

Nate just wanted to personally thank me for encouraging him towards shooting sports.

He. Is. Ten. Years. Old.

I have watched this young man bloom, in a matter of months, from a shy young boy to a more confident, look you in the eye, not be afraid to ask you questions young boy. And Nate is a young man well able to take instruction. At the recent 4-H fundraiser shoot, though one of the youngest shooters there, he went to the stage with the older teenagers to help distribute awards. Not one moment’s hesitation did I see. All the rest of the kids his age were chunking rocks and playing by this time of the day. Nate just went up there and got busy. Another benefit I see is that Nate and his dad are getting to spend some really valuable time together, sometimes with the rest of the family, and sometimes just the two of them. They’re all having a blast!

I called Nate yesterday to ask a favor. We needed to 3-hole punch a huge mass of card stock scorecards in order to get ready for this weekend’s shoot. I've been very busy and it would help me out.

His reply? "Sure!" He came up, and went straight to work, getting the chore done in record time.

Though Nate nor his parents asked, after that first visit Nate and his daddy made to my office, MLH & I did sponsor Nate. And with the sponsor money, given with the restriction that it be used for shooting supplies and entry fees, he and his father opened Nate his own checking account. Nate added his earnings from the yard work. His parents are smart – they are teaching this young man money skills at the same time they are letting him participate in the shooting sports. And he’s having a great time, meeting some great people, and realizing the value of money.

Nate’s turning in to quite a little shooter, too.

I’m excited for Nate.

Grace

Those who read this blog might remember me mentioning my spiritual parents, Leo & Becky, and how they've been such a huge part of my life. A couple of weeks ago, Becky’s sister, Grace, passed away after being in a coma for a year. My heart goes out to Becky, Leo and Grace's family. I've lost a brother, and I remember how the tearing of that feels.

Grace was a Registered Nurse who traveled the country and worked contract at hospitals everywhere. I remember meeting her once in Fort Worth at Leo & Becky’s house, and being struck by her beauty and vibrancy. She was a pistol, this one – so very full of life. I bet she made friends wherever she went.

Leo was asked to speak about Grace for the service. In his new blog, Songs From the Green Bench, he has posted his text from Grace’s memorial service.

This is absolutely beautiful, and a perfect reminder to us to see each other as God does.

Meandering, leisurely Sunday

We hit the hay way late last night. Got up early this morning, and worked on the house again. Picked up our friends, went to late brunch at Wall Street.

Then, we dropped by Pier One, picked up some green accent pieces for our "music room", then came over to our house for a nice afternoon visit with our friends, just catching up. Younger Son is here studying, which is always good.

In a short while, we'll all head over to MLH's big brother's home meeting, where our friends are the guest speakers. It will kind of be like old times and we'll see some people we've not seen in a while…and gather with them and worship the Lord.

I'm looking forward to it.

Friday...no, Saturday...wait, it's Sunday now?

What a day…or has it been two?

I popped out of bed around 3am Friday morning and started working on my expenses. I don't know why, I just knew that was what I was supposed to do. Crazy, huh? MLH left around 5:30am for the oilpatch, and I went to the office at 8am. Worked on some projects, and the plan was to leave at lunch for the Larry Ratheal 4H Scholarship Shoot. I easily coerced MLH's baby brother (in town for a wedding) to go with me, and we trekked out to Windwalker in driving rain. By the time we arrived at Windwalker, the rain had stopped. Whew! Didn't want to get my gun wet – but loaded both guns, still in their protective sleeves, into the shooting cart. Baby brother and I went under the pavilion to eat lunch, and all of a sudden, the sky opens up again, and pours down rain. We run to the cart and retrieve our guns…and voila! I was soaked - one of my peers asks me if I'd like to borrow a cap. I exit stage left, jump in the cart, drive to my truck and grab a ball cap. I was pretty scary. Waayyyyyyy bad hair day.

We waited the storm out under the pavilion, and then headed out to the stations.

Where. It. Promptly. Started. Downpouring. Once. Again.

Beautiful. I love shooting in the rain.

At least the temperature was cool, and it was a fun shoot, raised lots of money for the 4-H shooting kids scholarships.

MLH came in from the patch late last night just in time for us to enjoy a 10pm supper at Outback with Baby brother and his wife who were in from Whitney for a wedding. We had a great time. I was tired!

We got up this morning, ran to get a Starbucks and a burrito, and started working around the house. We've been busy all day long. Bob & Cherie stopped by for a bit, and it was good to see them. Then MLH's brother, wife, and daughter stopped by and just now left. Some friends from Oklahoma are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, we're looking forward to seeing them, as well.

Tired. Better hit the hay. Happy trails, all – have a great weekend!

Something about a man and a toilet...

We had a fun time today meeting Bob and Cherie. And Bob had a gift for MLH after reading his oilfield toilet story! (MLH is sitting down, Bob standing at his shoulder.)