Well I had an interesting weekend to say the least.

First off I want to give my Jacks a hoot and a holler and say Axe 'Em Jacks because SFA is on their third straight win this week. I just might be their little good
luck charm and didn't even know it because ever since I've been working the ticket booth at the games we've been winning. I don't believe we've won one game since I've been here so it's a nice change to be on the other side of the fence.

I've enjoyed working the games so much and the ladies I work with constantly keep me laughing. Our little school is so awesome because even though we are not a football power house the kids still get so into it. It's great to see the painted bellies and faces and all the kids wielding their painted axe handles. It's something I never had at UTSA that I longed for so much.

I didn't have much planned after the game since Chad had left for Arkansas this weekend to look into buying a Bronco so I decided to hit up my coworker Crystal to see what she was up to. That's when the fun began.

Crystal has been a temp in our department for a bit and for some reason I don't really chat up the temps. I'm civil but I guess I don't invest too much because I don't know if they'll stick around or not. Well not only has Crystal stuck but she's also become my office neighbor. It's also a bonus for me because I am no longer the youngest person in my department anymore (I'm sure I'll regret that statement down the road). But she and I are now quickly becoming fast friends.

Well Crystal talked me into meeting her at the Crater better known as Durango's Canyon outside of Mt. Enterprise to see Little Texas play. This place is a hilly pasture in the middle of nowhere with a stage in the middle of it. So basically is was awesome! I could not for the life of me remember what Little Texas played or what they were famous for but that didn't last long. They fired up with Amy's
Back in Austin and ended with God Bless Texas and rocked it all the way in between. But I'm glad Chad was not with me because they are a little bit "softer" band which was evident by all the middle aged women crowding the front row.



With Crystal was her good friend Nikki whom I liked the instant I met her. They are both Garrison girls which around these parts is "'nuff said". But girls from Garrison kind of remind me of girls from Uvalde: a little wild, a little bit country, a whole lot of fun! When the concert was over Nikki told me that they were "initiating me" and taking me to the Chicken House dance hall. It's a bar in a chicken house... no lie.

We piled in Crystal's car and drove down a series of country roads that kept getting smaller and smaller until I had to finally ask "ok where the hell are you taking me" and then we pulled in. I had to laugh it was just too funny. There were like 6 hound dogs in front of the place. We walked through a screen door to get in and it was pure country. I instantly felt the need to tuck my boots into my jeans like the rednecks!



I had the best time and we are now talking about making the chicken house a regular thing because it was just that awesome.

"The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more." - Jonas Salk



Do you see this picture? I'm in there somewhere doing my little hand sign just happy to get my free snazzy purple shirt. I had no idea what road was ahead of me just like right now I still don't know what's ahead of me. But I am glad that I'm about half way down that road.

I'm not going to lie, work has been really tough lately but it has been so rewarding at the same time. I have really learned a lot about myself, my abilities, my awesome BS skills I didn't know I had, and my patience. I'm really proud of my section of this gigantic overhaul of ours. In fact, starting soon I will become a sort of mentor to Sam Houston State who will be implementing their overhaul in January. I've also been considered to speak at the convention featuring Banner about the P-Card section. I've been told to not be surprised if I end up mentoring several universities as I was the first to do this.

I'm not patting my back yet but all of this has put a little spring in my step... today. Monday I could easily be tooting a different horn. But all of this has come at a price, I haven't seen my mom since the beginning of July and for me that is looooong. I'm also missing Easton's second birthday tomorrow. But soon the dust will settle, my job will become more routine again and all will be right in my world again. And then there will be one thing left to do.... vacation.

I know I haven't been around. In fact I haven't touched a computer for fun in a while. My keyboard has somehow become a grindstone.

The word 'Banner' may not mean much to some but to me and my coworkers it's a four letter word, here lately it's become the bane of my existence.

When I first started at this university I remember sitting down to get trained on the program that they use for all record keeping and what was staring back at me looked an awful lot like DOS - think Wargames the movie from the eighties. I actually said "you're kidding, right?" Little did I know that the ITS department was cooking up a plan to change... everything. So here we are smack dab in the middle of the Axcess project (we're lumberjacks, get it? An ax...? Oh, well... I didn't laugh either.) We are in the middle of a software conversion and the P-Card Program is completely on my shoulders. In fact my boss wants so little to do with it that if it fails it's all on numero uno.

The worst part is that I have nobody to refer to because the trusty Banner people have no idea how the P-Card section works because no other university in the country uses it. Sure is lonely around here... For the next two months I've got to take all my expertise that I've accumulated by the endless testing I've done and use it to train every cardholder on campus, rouqhly 500 people. Needless to say my GMAT studying will be put off, the stress is just too great and ever accumulating. Add the fact that it's been way too hot to run and you've got a woman on the edge of pulling all her hair out piece by piece.

So, I'm bidding adieu for the meantime. Let's hope that this is a huge success and that I'm completely adored and celebrated. But when you work for the state, don't hold your breath. Take care!!

Chad and I had a funny conversation the other day. It was funny because I've never heard him talk to me the way he did Sunday night. He has heard me say for almost 2 years now that "I've got to call the Grad advisor" and "yeah, I'm going to go to grad school soon" and the ever classic "I'm not going to get anywhere at a college without my masters".

Well, we were at dinner and I had just busted out with one of the above and Chad said, "you're going to quit talking about it and go and get your masters". I was a little shocked because his tone was pretty stern. I asked him if he was going to force me and he said "no, but I'm not going to listen to it anymore."

At first I was a little stunned and then I found it kind of sexy I'll have to admit. But I'm really not one to take orders, I mean I'm an aquarius it's not in my nature. But then I found myself talking to an advisor the next day and ordering my GMAT books. I think that what was keeping me back is that I was afraid of rejection and it doesn't help that I work with the people that would be thumbing over my application.

But I also HATE studying for a big test. It is the very reason I left the industry I was in, the dreaded Series 7. But after playing around with the numbers I really don't have to do all great and will still be able to get into the MBA program. But I've decided to aim high, crack the books and get to grad school by the Spring semester. I guess I just needed a kick in the pants.

You know, maybe I should just have Chad start ordering me around and I'll start to get more done. But I could see "you will do the dishes and quit talking about" losing it's luster after a while.

It was just a matter of time... I thought it would happen later rather than sooner. But this weekend I discovered something. *sigh...*

I can now tell which side of my face I slept on the night before by simply looking in the mirror. Last night I slept on my left. How do I know this? Because there is a wrinkle between my left cheek and my nose that informs me and the worst part is that it is still there!! It's the afternoon and my wrinkle is still there!!

What's next, crow's feet? Liver spots!? I know I'm getting older but I thought I was too young for tell-tale face bed wrinkles.

There is only one thing to do. I'm sleeping on my back from now on, at least that way all my bed wrinkles will be covered up by my hair!

Ok, so I know I've been a sourpuss in my last blogs (even the one today) so I'll share a story that is sure to get you smiling and laughing.

Check out this story of the two lovely ladies named Tara and Bella. It is sure to warm even the coldest of hearts.

What a roller coaster this week has been. I'm exhausted from feeling so many emotions.

Thursday Chad and I left for Concan. It was time for our yearly trip with all the people that my parents went to high school with. I always look forward to this trip but there was something definitely missing this year, my dad. Needless to say it was bittersweet.

Friday Josh and Reagan came up with Easton to see everyone and as they were walking up they had Easton hand me a piece of paper. IT WAS A SONOGRAM! I'm going to be an aunt times two!!! I couldn't help it I screamed at the top of my lungs because I always thought they would wait a little longer before they'd have another one. What a surprise and what a joy.

Yesterday marked the year anniversary of my dad's passing. I tried not to let it get to me but with all the exhaustion and emotions it was hard not to. While we were in Concan my brother gave me a copy of a speech my dad gave his football players on attitude. I was scared to watch it yesterday but I thought "well I can't get any sadder". So Chad and I sat down and watched it. Another blessing. The first thing my dad says was "I have done everything in my life that I wanted to, I have a wonderful wife and two great kids and if I die tomorrow that's fine with me because I'll have died a happy man." Listening to his voice and seeing his face healed something for me. Watching a parent helplessly deteriorate is a hard image to get out of your head so to have a video to remind me of him is exactly what I needed.

The good with the bad, I guess that's how life will always be. But the bad makes you stronger and the good makes you appreciative. And it all makes you better.