This is NOT working...I need HELP

SO, the girls I am going to Europe with decided it would be a REALLY good idea if we all packed in carry-ons ONLY. Someone told them we HAD to do this (I wont' say who that was, but whatever I wasn't really up for this, but decided I would be a trooper and try. So, I did a practice packing a few weeks ago and thought I might could pull it off. I was kinda proud of myself. I tried to pack again today...for real. IT AIN'T HAPPENIN. NO WAY, NO HOW, NADA. Who knows what I am going to do. Its not the clothes, its the quart sized ziploc. AINT HAPPENIN. Any suggestions....

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Its across the ocean I go...

I can hardly wait. This time next week, I will be (hopefully) fitting all my clothes and toiletries into a carry-on bag to fly off to Europe. I am still having bets on whether I can get it all in a carry-on. Gibson says heck no---I think I can. Anyway, my friend Jane and I, and her sister are all going to France and Italy. I really have not idea how I talked Gibson into it, well, I didn't, Jane did. Anyway, I really wasn't going to ask him but Jane did and he said go on. I kinda was shocked but oh, well. No turning back now! I was really hoping he was going to go with me, but unless it has water and he can scuba dive, he's not too much up for it. Not that I am complaining by any means, because you will be AMAZED where you can scuba dive. AND if that is the case, I see MUCH more tropical locales in my future!!! Anyway, I do plan trips for a living BUT I am always open to tips, recommendations, etc. So if you have any scoop let me know. We are going to Paris, Nice, Venice, Florence, and Rome. Can't wait and I know I will have TONS of pictures to post when I get back!!!
I just home all those sleeping pills wear off before we land, or else we are going to have 3 sleepy girls when we land on the other side of the ocean!

Last mullett pics not good enough....how about these!!!

So, my cousin Brett that lives in New York informed me that my recent "mullett" pics were not truly a mullett. I agree, it was not the BEST mullet sighting I have ever had NOR is it the best mullett photo I have ever taken.....BUT STILL, it classifies as a mullett. And yes, Yankee's do have mulletts (sorry Brett--its not just the Southerners) ANYWAY, since this was obviously not good enough, I decided to post a few pics of some of our past "Mullet Hunts" For those of you that know us well, Gibson and I have MASTERED the art of spotting a mullet, discreetly alerting the other half of the sighting AND location, pulling out the camera, and snapping a shot of Gibson with the mullett...ALL without the "Mullett Wearer" ever noticing. WELL, there was this one time when a rookie member of our party started yelling.."where is it, where is it, I dont' see the Mullett, where is it" THis lovely outbreak nearly got us beat up...BUT we survived thankfully. That person now knows to NEVER EVER EVER bring attention to a mullett hunt. With that being said, I present you with some of our trophy shots! And since I cannot for the life of me figure out how to post the pics like I want....oh well. They are on here.




Nice...not one of our best shots, it was better from the side.

I think this is my PERSONAL favorite...Gibson just blending in as one of the crowd!


This was sitting directly in front of me and was just BAD....poodle mullet!

AHHH, the silverback!

If you saw me dancing in stage at the fair.....I sware it wasn't me!!!!

Headed to see Santa Fe!

Jason and Ashley

Jason, Ashley and Gibson...not sure WHY he looks so much bigger than them in this picture.

Gibson and Jason

My pilot, on the way to Little Rock...sorry...random pic


SO, our friends Jason and Ashley bought a new cabin at the fair this year---YAY, so exicted. We used to go with them, didn't for awhile, and now we are back...long story. Anyway, we headed over on Friday and had a blast. Saturday night, Santa Fe played. Nic, Meredith's (Jason's sister) fiancee is in the band so we got to go backstage/sidestage, whatever, with them. It was SO SO SO much fun. I was fairly calm at first but a few beverages later I didnt' care much, so if you saw a girl on the left side of the stage in a grey dress dancing, I sware, it wasn't me. PROMISE!!! Anyway, the weekend was WAY too short, but had a great time with everyone, especially Alli Grace...my FAVE 5 year old and very much looking forward to many more fairs!!! Oh yeah, provided they invite us back!!!

More wedding pics...

Um, no explanation for this one!

Myles and Johnny obviously conversing about something....

make that a DEEP conversation!

Its never a trip without a mullet hunt!

Make that a double mullet sighting!!!

The Fair, a Wedding, and a few other randoms!!!

Myles and Gina at the reception

Gibson and I at the reception
Myles and Gibson at the bar AFTER the reception.
Gina and I
Myles and Johnny, and I have NO CLUE what he was doing!


I haven't really been with it on posting, but I finally uploaded my camera, so I figured I would catch up on blogging. Not that our lives are that interesting, but still.... Summer has FLOWN by, literally. I cannot believe this is the first day of August. WOW. I am still trying to figure out where LAST January went. Anyway, besides my numerous beach trips this summer (hey..Gibson offered and I took FULL advantage) we went to Poland, Ohio in late June for Johnny Divine's wedding. Chris and Crystal were driving, but 15hours didn't sound too fun to me in a car, not to mention Gibson can't really take off that long in the summer, so we flew up there. We flew into Pittsburgh and drove over to Poland. WE had a ton of fun and the trip was fairly tame.....note I said FAIRLY. I did discover a new drink. A Watermelon Margarita...it is SO good. Not really too sweet like you would think. I got the recipe and planned on posting it below, but cant' find the napkin I wrote it on now (imagine that) so if I find it, I will post it later. The wedding was fun, although up there, they have the wedding in the afternoon (say 2pm) then the reception started at 6---weird, I know, but still fun. It was a fairly short trip, but we had a great time everyone we never get to see! After that, Gibson flew home and I few to Ft Walton, for yet ANOTHER beach trip!

I am CURSED when it comes to ATLANTA!!!

SO, I am never ever ever ever ever going to Atlanta again (yeah, I know, I will, but at least not for a little while) Anyway, not sure if you know how my past two trips to Atlanta went, so I will quickly fill you in.
Trip 1- March 7th, 2008, I arrive in ATL on Friday, the 7th for the Spring Market with Erin (owns Sulm's) All is good until Saturday night when I find out in the middle of the night that my house was on fire. I get the first flight home on Sunday morning to the lovely pile of rubble that is left of my home!

Trip 2- March 13, 2008 Gibson and I drive to Birmingham (to do some shopping since we aren't exactly going to sit at home) on the way to ATL for the SEC Basketball tournament. Game is Friday night....SOMEWHERE along the way, Gibson develops a SEVERE sore throat and feels horrible, he spends the weekend in the bed. I go the MSU basketball game with my dad--well, we all know what happened next...TORNADO. I wasn't actually in the stadium for it though...the 70 year old lady sitting behind me NEVER shut up and had a horrible tone to her voice. I am usually pretty mellow when it comes to this, but I guess my nerves were a little on edge. MSU's GREAT game wasn't really helping this situation. SO , I finally snapped and knowing that knocking her head off was probably NOT my best option, I looked at my dad and told him that I had to get out of there. SO I walked out of the Dome, got in a cab, and drove the 2 minutes to my hotel (walking alone was not a good idea) ANyway, I am in the room MAYBE 2 minutes and Gibson jumps up and runs to the window. Wondering what the heck he is doing I jump up beside him....right about that instant we both look up and SEE the tornado coming toward us. By the time we both fly across the room to the shower, it is over---well, they kept coming over the intercom to tell us to come down to the basement all night b/c more weather was coming. Since we cant' go to the game anymore, we head back to Greenville. We are eating lunch in Tuscaloosa, when my dad calls and asks if we are still there. Apparently, the Bulldog Club's first top hundred members or so get tickets, but you had to be there to get them. WE didnt have time to get back for the game. Since we are homeless, we decide to spend the night in Starkville and watch the game---good thing we didnt' go back to ATL b/c we all know how Georgia won that one!

Trip 3- July 10, 2008---I am back at market with Erin. I fly in Thursday morning with an uneventful morning.....so much for that. I land and take a cab downtown to the gift mart. I should have NEVER gotten in that cab. Anyway, my cab driver speaks ZERO English, has ZERO air-conditioner, has some name I can't even begin to pronounce, and Arabic newspapers are all OVER the cab (not trying to be prejudice, but it was quite uncomfortable) Anyway, we are driving along and he is flying (at least I get out of this this sauna of a cab faster, I am thiking) Well, I look over and he has cut this red car off. The red car proceeds to swerve at us, my driver swerves back, red car swerves again at us, we swerve back.....I am getting quite nervous at this point but it is happening so fast I dont' have time to think. I look back at the car RIGHT BESIDE US and duds has a little black pistol pointing RIGHT at us. (since he is a little behind us at this point, guess who is going to be the target--ME) I flip out start screaming that he has a gun and hit the floor of the cab--(glad I didn't buckle up at this point) My cab driver NOW decides he can speak English and starts saying " What...he have gun...OH NO, OH NO" trying to catch back up with the guy. I start screaming at him not to..Lord only know what else I was saying at that point. If we had not been in the middle of the interstate I would have had him drop me off on the side of the road. Anyway, we arrive downtown without any gunshots and I am at the NEW building 2 west wing. I have been to market five million times and know all these buildings like the back of my hand. I have NO CLUE where I am and am so flustered, I cant' figure it out.
After calming down, I head to the REAL bulding 2 to drop off my luggage. I lean down to unzip my suitcase and put my shoulder bag in there (didnt 'want to have to pay the extra $4) My suitcase is locked, I am LIVID. Brand new suitcase (my others burned remember--red from Steinmart) and Security has gone through my suitcase, found my lock, and locked it. NOW, How I do it, I dont' know, but I fenangle the lock of, open it and guess what---ITS NOT MINE. WHAT, now I am really flipping out. Apparently Deborah Frazier and I BOTH got the exact same RED suitcase from Steinmart AND the same luggage tag. No, I didnt' even look at the name when I left the airport for two reasons. 1- didnt' really figure anyone else would have the exact same brand complete with exact same (did not come with it) luggage tag 2- I had flown first class over there and it had a big priority tag on it so it came out first. Who would have thought. AFter I go back to the airport and get MY luggage (in the middle of the MONSOON that hits ATL right then) I FINALLY got my luggage. THe rest of the trip was fairly uneventful--oh, except for when it dropped the flood gates on ATL in about 5 minutes and all the water went off in all three buildings---that was NICE.

I am NEVER going again!!!