Friday, October 31, 2008

Take me to your leader!

Conference Calls SUCK! So I've been on a conference call for the last 45 minutes and I think I might shoot my foot. It's dragging on forever and I really need pee. Just make a decision and lets move on - old men need to get on the ball and listen to what I have to say - HOLLA

Happy Halloween!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Splitsville

Even though I competed in a running/biking relay race on Sunday there is a serious problem. I'm concerned that maybe the dry cleaners shrunk my clothes or the washing machine in the garage just hates me. I was getting dressed and thought I was looking cute in a pencil skirt and black jacket but oh hell no. I bent over to pick up my purse and the freaking lining is the skirt totally split. I'm not talking a few stitches but all the way from top to bottom! Maybe this fat kid needs to do some more running before all her clothes bust apart. :(

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Excuse Me?

So when you are enjoying your Soup, Salad, and Bread Sticks dinner with Miss Peddler it is not appreciated when you burp as loud as you can in the restaurant. Not even kidding when the super loud table of teens next to us fell silent just long enough for one of them to belch (probably long enough to say the alphabet). I'm the first one to snicker at something like that when eating around the coffee table and maybe Olive Garden isn't the nicest place in town but really - come on people, there's a time and place to being gross.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Racing not so quickly

So the morning of the race probably wasn't the best time to decide that maybe I wasn't a good mountain biker....poor Dilly Dally passed me up running and I was on the bike. Sad but true, I probably should have trained and didn't but at least I finished and have the bruises to prove it!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Muddy Buddy

You better believe that I've waited until the last minute to make the shirts for the Muddy Buddy Race this weekend. Nothing like leaving in the morning to get a ton-o-shit finished! Making t-shirts, getting oil changed, dinner with friends, at wedding consultation and endless other things before leaving for Dallas tomorrow at noon. Wish me luck or kick me in the ass - take your pick, I kind of deserve both!!!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Boy or Girl

So when you print out a baby registry and can't find anything under $50 left what are you going to do. My first thought was getting a box of diapers and get out of there. I opted for a cute car seat toy and a gift card. Freaking-A, when I got home you better believe that I grabbed a gift card for a little boy and not a little girl. The actual card had cute little baby booties on it in an array of colors (both blue and pink) but on the back it say Congratulations on Your Little Boy. What do I do - try and get it transferred over to a girl gift card or but leave it?

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Blow This

I was sad to see that Target isn't carrying the blow dryer from 1999 - yes I was on a quest to replace the fire bomb. I opted for a very smart investment last night - a travel blow dryer with travel size diffuser. I'm going on a couple trips in the next couple of months and was debating on getting one anyway - so I bit the bullet. Let me tell you it was fantastic - I have good hair this morning; it dryed super fast; and nothing caught on fire!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

It's Getting Hot in Hair

First I haven't written in a while and I'm sorry about that but when I go out of town for the weekend blogging isn't on the brain. Frankly there really hasn't been anything super blog worth until today!

Just a suggestions to all those out there that own a blow dryer...when you see sparks that's a hint the you might need a new one. The handle on my 1999 dryer has been getting amazingly hot as I use it. Today was the end - it actually caught on fire and flames were shooting out of the cord. I was in the middle of the blow drying so you better believe I finished with flamed a blazing!

RIP - Revlon 1875 watt wonder of hair and diffuser to all things curly. This dryer has seen me through some great hair styles including the long and short, the curly and straight. The diffuser is the best and I'm going to miss you dearly.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Avon Calling

Well not really Avon but for some reason I've been getting tons of crazy phone calls lately....makes me wonder if someone wrote my name on a bathroom wall. Then hopefully it would be boys calling and since that's not happening oh well.

At lunch today the person driving parked in a service zone...the parking ticket was only $10 but actually paying to park was going to be $15 - DUH

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

What-a-what

So when you need a quick little nap at 12:30am on a drive home do not - I repeat do not pull into the Whataburger parking lot and crank the seat back. Someone will come up to your window and scare the ever living shit out of you and when you scream they will scream back.

I'm just saying!

I didn't even have the guts to go through the drive thru to get a Diet DP - embarrassing...

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Brookwood Community

I promised a separate post about the Brookwood Community.
http://www.brookwoodcommunity.org/

Last Friday my mom, Grandlin and I all road tripped it over to Brookshire, Texas to eat lunch and do some shopping at the Brookwood Community. This place is one of the most amazing facilities I have ever been to and should be a model. It is an educational/residential home for disabled adults. They have a cafe, gift shop and greenhouse that is run by the teachers and students. I went there often with I was in college to take tours and help out in the greenhouses.

It was the best food I've had in a long time...everything was homemade and down right DE-LICIOUS!!! The shopping was fantastic and wished they had a store in Austin that I could go to - the items there were half market purchases and half things made by the residents.

I'm not kidding when I say they have one of the finest greenhouse facilities and the plants they had for sale were phenomenal. 10,000 times better than anything I could get at Lowe's or Home Depot. I'm a plant freak so that just made my day. I would drive the 2 hours from my house to eat, shop and by plants there. The staff is happy to be there and they have students work in the cafe and shop too!

Check it out: http://www.brookwoodcommunity.org/

Weekend Update - Part Two

Friday Night - Dinner with the whole council at the local winery where I proceeded to drink about 5 glasses of wine and watch my dad give his outgoing president speech. Post drinks with friends at the bar that when I was in college I had way to much crawfish and beer and got sick prior to making to the bathroom. oops! sorry about that pool table

Saturday - Amazing tailgating before the game including sausage wraps and beer....the be all end all of things I love about football. Thank goodness I got those because the game was brutal and I left the stadium with a pit in my stomach. We lost so I met my parents in the parking lot for beers and wings. I was going to go out but sat at the camp and drank with friends and family - much better after the lose.

Sunday - Met back up with the parents for a breakfast like no other. La Bodaga has yummy thing that I have missed - including the pulled pork breakfast enchiladas!!!

That was the weekend craziness and I'm ready to do it all over again this weekend depending on tickets to the game!!!

The Weekend Update - Part One

So I know I didn't post for a few days and I have good reason, promise. I was in Aggieland for more than is considered a long weekend. I left work at 3:30 on Wednesday and was there until Sunday afternoon. As a "grown-up" I joined the College of Agriculture Development Council (COADC) - we advise the dean and provide tons of scholarships to students. We had our semi-annual meeting this weekend and there was a ton of stuff going on and it was a blast:

Wednesday Night - My dad and I hosted a dinner for 7 undergrad students to meet and discuss ethics in today's work place. The question I asked at the end was funny - is it ethical to come to a dinner for class credit when you only show up because it's free food? - hell yeah it is, these kids were hungry

Thursday Day - My mom, Grandlin and I road tripped it over to the Brookwood Community to eat lunch and shop. This is deserving of a separate post!

Thursday Night - The Scholarship Reception was fun and I got to see some of my old professors - they haven't changed a bit. I had one old man ask what my plans after graduation were and I told him I had no clue. I know I look 19 but I'm actually 28 and have 3 jobs - didn't feel the need to remind him of this for the 10,000's time. Then off to dinner with the executive members of COADC to meet the incoming director. She's great and will fit in well but I'll miss my extended phone time with Dilly Dally.

Friday Day - The business meeting was good and we had an amazing speaker that was there to talk about the war and mostly how A&M has sent people to Iraq to help with rebuilding the agriculture community and get back on their feet. No lie - I was amazed and extremely proud. Tour of the meat lab - yes they process an animal from the trailer to the freezer. Oh don't pretend to be grossed out - it happens and someone need to know how to do it correctly. The prof that was showing us around pointed me out specifically and said the if I didn't want to go to the kill floor he understood. I told him I was a blood and guts kind of girl and as long as my high heel weren't a problem to show me the way. SHOCKER!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Weekend Madness

So I know I thought I'd be able to post while I was in Aggieland but yeah - not so much! I have tons to write about but the boss is in town and it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Just wanted to update you on Project Florida....I booked my ticket this morning and will be spending an extra long weekend there with a guy that I haven't seen in over 7 years and only email about 4 times a year. I'm crazy, I know so no need to remind me.

Steak for dinner - thank you BOSS MAN!!!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Florida Predicament

Boys will be boys and I'd really like to join in the fun....

The summer before my senior year of college I did an internship on the Oregon coast and it was lovely. I worked on a cut flower farm with some great people. One of those ladies has a son that befriended me while I worked there. He was the only person I met that was my age and more than anything I think he felt sorry for me. I had a boyfriend at the time but soon after my return to Texas we broke up. That was eleven years ago - I digress.

We have emailed back and forth for the past eleven years just to keep tabs on each other and usually only during football season to give each other a hard time or brag about our teams, never anything more than that. About 5 years ago he moved to Florida and ever since has invited me every year to come visit and go to a Jaguars football game or something. I've never really thought about going until this year, without even thinking I said sure. So I'm about to book the flight and am freaking out. I'm nervous that there will be expectations so I need someone to tell me that it will be a fun trip to see an old friend. It's only for a weekend and if it sucks at least I get to go to a football game.....mostly I need support.

Help this single girl branch out of the comfort zone that for the last 6 years has been her couch!!!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Four Things

Four things

Four jobs I’ve had:
1. Florist - Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI
2. Shop Keeper - Goodnight Trading Post, Palo Duro Canyon, TX
3. Farming Intern - Flora Pacifica, Brookings, OR
4. Chief of Staff - Rep. Swinford, Austin, TX

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Sweetest Thing
2. Tombstone
3. Steel Magnolias
4. Waitress

Four places I’ve lived:
1. Quanah, TX
2. College Station, TX
3. Mackinac Island, MI
4. Austin, TX

Four TV shows I love:
1. Gossip Girl
2. ER
3. Jon & Kate Plus 8
4. Dancing with the Stars

Four places I’ve vacationed:
1. Cancun, Mexico
2. Seattle, WA
3. Toronto, Canada
4. San Francisco, CA

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Cheeseburger
2. Chicken Enchiladas
3. Steak
4. Cobb Salad

Four sites I visit daily:
1. Gmail
2. People.com
3. Allieflower.com
4. nytimes.com

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Golf Course
2. Happy Hour
3. Home Sweet Home
4. Pool

Monday, October 6, 2008

And the Reply is the kicker!

Dilly Dally sent this email:

COADC Executive Committee:

I would like to invite all of you (and your spouses if they wish to come) to dinner on Thursday, October 9th at 7:30 p.m. following the College Scholarship Reception to meet Ms. Brandy Douglass, the new COADC coordinator prior to the business meeting. We will have dinner at Abuelo’s on University Drive in College Station.

Please RSVP to me no later than Wednesday, October 8th to confirm your attendance.

This will be a great opportunity to sit down with Brandy and get to know her better before the meeting. I hope all of you can attend!

MY WITTY REPLY:

I would like to confirm that I will be at the Abuelo's Dinner without my spouse. For reasons unknown to me he has decided not to attend - rat bastard! (I'm the single girl in a club of about 100 married men over the age of 40)

Damn You - Capitol Grille

So at 1:45 I decided that maybe a grilled cheese would make me feel better. I've got some sort of weird sore throat thing going on and I'm still super sore from getting lost on Saturday. Comfort food was calling my name...."Allie eat me"...see calling my name. The lady at the grille said they are closed and that I could get a pre-made sandwich from the cooler. There's nothing comforting about a cold tuna sandwich that was made Lord only knows how long ago. Duh lady I don't feel good and you're not helping.

Bonus Star goes to Mr. Staffer for being the one that actually walked down to the cafeteria and talked to the lady. Thanks for being nice to the complainer!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

She's BAA-ACK

I was at mass this evening and she was there in full force. Cat Lady...this really sweet older lady that attends my church. She's been gone for a few months, visiting her son I find out via the loud talking she did before mass started. Nice lady but she freaking smells like cat litter and cats and everything relating to cats, I kid you not. I know, I know, I shouldn't be making fun of people at church but bless her heart she needs a shower and maybe a better bra. I did pray that someone would sit next to me so I could scooch down the pew...

Jesus loves me, Yes he does.

*Part of my punishment for eye rolling during church is the pain I am in for getting lost on the hike and bike trail yesterday and going an extra 4 miles! Good work-out equals burning thighs and calves.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Friends of Mine

So I've been blogging for a whole whopping week now. I know my mama would be so proud but I haven't really told her yet - oops. I've come up with come crafty names for my friends. I'm sure they all really love me writing about them - if not oh well sorry 'bout your luck. Some friends I've already talked about and some not yet but to protect the identity of those who shall remain nameless you're all getting nicknamed whether you like it or not. Most everyone has so far been called by their job but I have lots of friends that are in the law profession so that's not going to work so well. Any suggestions as to what I should do?

Mama = my mom - duh?

Dad = really?

Bro = the most awesome little brother any girl could have, he lives in Dallas and I miss him tons. He's funny and smart and I wish I had a job that gave me a company car and cell phone just like him.

Coach = she's my cousin that is a high school basketball coach and mother of 4, in the middle of building a house in the middle of nowhere.

Miss Peddler = someone I call my sister and love her like she is my sister....see this posting

Ad Girl = Bro's girlfriend and now a friend of mine. She's going in the advertising business and is mighty good at what she does. She's participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. She tolerates our crazy family and the bear sandwhiches.

Lawyer = use to be my boss and then she left for law school and I took over her job. We really became friend - friends after she left and I don't know what I'd do without her. She's someone that will let me bitch to no end and then laugh when it's all over. She also likes to go to the movies with me - we meet there, watch the show, and leave....feeling as if we've had some awesome quality time together.

Selena = she's a lawyer too but more importantly she loves to sing and dance and mostly just be crazy for all of our enjoyment. She's sassy and drinks more champagne (out of a can) than anyone else I know.

Golfer = is a wonderful mother and attorney as well. She played golf in college and professionally for a while. She has the cutest baby ever and I love to go over and play with them. The only person I know that when I go over to visit I can fall asleep on the couch and she just leaves me there - I must have been really tired.

Winter = my only friend from high school that I talk to on a regular basis. He's in law school right now and live far away. We have an on going joke of marriage at the age of 35 or 40 (I can't remember which). His family is a constant source of humor for me; so is he.

Attorney = is living the life downtown. She's on the corporate fast track, and not loving it so much - tuffing it out long enough to pay off the student loans and build up a wedding fund and then she's out of there (maybe). We were the single girls but now she's got a boyfriend and he's treating her like a princess. Good for her!

PA = my cousin who is currently attending Wake Forrest University in North Carolina. She love the medical field but tends to call me freaked out about a test or problem. For some crazy reason I'm the one who can calm her down or at least make her laugh and take a deep breath. Miss her tons but so very happy that she's jumped out of her comfort zone and rocking the Carolinas!!!

Dilly Dally = is my Muddy Buddy. We're scheduled to run the Muddy Buddy race in Dallas - good luck to us. I've slowly been training and I hope she's still my friend after this. We have long discussions about nothing in particular and laugh at other people. Her husband and I have a running joke about the love for cashews and exchange cans of them when we visit each other.

There are many other people I will write about but can figure out names for them....if you know who you are and I don't have you listed on here please give me a suggestion for your name or I'll pick it and it may not be nice! If you are on the list and don't like your name...let me know and we can discuss a change.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Things to Smile About

I'm not saying that I'm singing right now but after the car debacle yesterday here's some things to be happy about.

Fall Weather - not that it's cooling off in Austin but at least it's not 100. The weather channel was showing snow in the North....something to dream of for later.....much much later.

Halloween Candy - purchased the econo bag yesterday at Sam's. Got to love a month of having candy around the house for no real reason. Any bets on how much candy will actually still be in the basket by the time Trick-or-Treaters show up at my door step? I'm not saying but I'm saying that basket's going to be refilled before the 31st.

College Football - I'm so excited to be going to the Aggie game next weekend. True reason to drink beer before 10am(not that I really need a reason); the smell of smokers going on the asphalt; sausage with mustard on tortillas for breakfast and lunch and dinner; being on campus and remembering how rediculious I acted while I was there (see drinking before 10am); and secretly wishing I could act that way again every once in a while.

Hamburgers and French Fries - I love the grease on a good burger and as of late that's been the food of choice (except texmex - duh) Mike's Pub, Players and Red Robin just to name a few. I say screw the diet and inhale some grease. It will make you feel better and duh-it's just plain good.