She's BAAAACCKK!!!!

It's about time!  Natalie Maines is getting back on stage and going solo! 

And she's even more BA than ever!!!  Holy wow!  B.A. TO THE CORE!  Look at her!

source: nydailynews.com

I can't wait to hear her on stage again!!!!

You go, Natalie!  You go!

Craft-Valentine's Day

I thought it would be fun to show some of the projects I've done over the last couple of months.  [Actually they will probably be out of order, so it's up to you to save them to your memory bank for when you want to try something new].

My caveat.....I'm an amateur.  Complete.  I will also try ANYTHING.  I mean, pretty much anything.  Even if I know nothing about it.  I'll give it a shot.  Sometimes, I pull it off.  Sometimes, not so much.  Sometimes, I lose interest.  Sometimes, I do more than I thought I'd was capable.  And sometimes, well, I make it work.

In a future post, you'll learn some background as to how I got started in projects/crafts.  [A little hint:  my brothers-in-law refer to it as crap.  Not craft.  Does that help?]

Ok, back to my VD.  I mean, not, MY, VD.  Well, ok, it is MY VD.  Well, to be honest, it's really the VD I shared with my BFF.  Too much?   You still reading?  Ok, ok.  Sorry.  Here we go.

VD....Valentine's Day.

So, my BFF came for a weekend visit in January.  A much needed weekend of hanging out, laughing, trying a fun restaurant, and giving a go at a few of the Pinterest items we've been putting on our shared board.  [who knew you could share a board?  My BFF did!  That's who!]

We decided to work on a few VD themed items to create a VD Center for our mantels.  Much to Kerry's delight, the Joann's Store Headquarters are located less than two miles from The Drayer.  [I'm pretty sure Sweet Sarah and Kerry's husband, Mark, aren't as delighted as we are about this!]

So we headed out and got a bunch of supplies.  What started out as one project, turned in to three.  We actually had to finish two of the projects on our own after the weekend was over.  Here's what we came up with....

Kerry, plotting our plan of attack

The beginning of our heart trees

A finished little heart tree.  Only five more two go!

Mid-craft.  Several things happening here.  It's gettin' dangerous people!!!

The beggining of the wreath

Wooden letters drying

Ok, we have priorities!!!  FOOD AND SANGRIAS!!!
 We went to Paladar for dinner.  Holy WOW I love that place!

Poor Sweet Sarah.  She was pretty sick AND had to put up with Kerry and Me all weekend.

This is the finished product on my mantel.  Isn't it cute?!!!

My People....

Sweet Sarah LOVES Duck Dynasty.  She thinks it's hilarious.  I keep telling her that it's really not that funny to me.  Only because it's very close to my family.

Don't believe me?

See for yourself.  These are my great-grandparents.  And if you're not convinced....She wouldn't let us flush the toilet. Yep, pretty sure she coined the phrase..."if it's yellow, let it mellow...."

Happy Birthday, Dad

Today would've been my Dad's 64th birthday.

In case you're wondering, that's my attempt at growing out my hair.  Yeah....not so much.

I wrote this on his first birthday after he died.  Thought I'd share it again. 

Today

Today I’m going to order Uncle Herschel’s country fried breakfast,

And keep the coffee coming.

And I’m going to read the paper and save the sports section for last.

I’ll make out the Tiger’s line-up on the back of an envelope, Lord knows Jim Leyland could use my help.

I’m going to take as many times as I need to, to make sure my tie is tied perfectly. 

Wearing street clothes or a uniform properly is a matter of pride and respect.

Oh and don’t forget, I won’t loosen that tie until I’m completely done for the day.

And of course, I’m gonna fight crime today. 

Psssshhhtttcchhhoooo.

Today I’m going to order a chocolate malt so thick I have to pinch my butt cheeks to get it through the straw.

If it’s nice out I might clean the garage and ferret away some more things before anyone notices.

Or I might play catch and make up a game of pickle, as long as I don’t have to run.  But I could if I wanted to, because I’m cat like!

Have I told you I’d give me left arm to be ambidexterous?

On my way home, I may be forced to use the heat seeking missiles in my car because some boob cut me off.

And listening to George Jones as loud as I can get it, now that’s clean livin’.

For dinner I’m going to order something so greasy that it’d make a dog sick.

So greasy that when I pick it up the grease runs down my arm and I ain’t gonna apologize. 

And then I’m going to sit in my chair, with my shoes half on.  I like to bounce them around off the end of my feet while I’m thinking.

I’ll watch a little bit of the Tigers.  And then when they tick me off, finish watching the second tape of Lonesome Dove. 

Ol’ Augustus needs me after all.

Someone’s gotta do it.

Lord knows….most men couldn’t handle it.

Happy Birthday, Dad.  We miss you!

He left this hidden in my planner in 1990.  I still have the note.

Surprise Date Night #4

I nailed it.  Yep, Sweet Sarah concurs!

Last night we had went on our fourth Surprise Date Night.  And it was a LOT of fun!

I sent Sweet Sarah a text while I was in Chicago telling her Surprise Date Night was scheduled for Saturday Night.  

The next day I sent her this text:

If this interaction doesn't typify our personalities!!!!  [who's the risk taker here?]

Throughout the day yesterday I took every opportunity to build up the night and the plans.  And, of course, Sweet Sarah took every opportunity to try and catch me in slipping up about our plans or the couple that was going to join us.  

"Do these people even know what Surprise Date Night is?"

"What if I don't like these people?"


While Sweet Sarah was in the shower I dragged our golf clubs out of the basement and hauled them to the garage.  [And, yes, it was 32 degrees and raining here yesterday!]

Just before 5pm our double date arrived.  I had asked Sweet Sarah's parents, Jim and Judy to join us for the evening.  They were very excited and played up the surprise to a tee!  While we were sitting around enjoying some appetizers, Sweet Sarah (being not so sweet) subtly asked a few questions about what the plans were or "So what do you guys know about the evening?"  

Once we loaded up and headed out I asked Sweet Sarah if she had any idea where we were headed.  She was absolutely stumped.  Thankfully we didn't have very far to go.

We arrived at Mac's Indoor Golf and Sweet Sarah was all at once shocked and super excited!  We were going to play a round of golf on an indoor simulator.    If you're a golfer and you've never tried this, I HIGHLY recommend it.  It was great fun.  And, given the fact, that it's been a year since I've swung a club, it was a great challenge too!  [If you're not a golfer, but you love someone who is, this is the perfect unique gift.  Tuck that away in your gift file and thank me later.]

Yikes!  That form needs work...though I'm certain I drove it 200 yards!!!  :)

My favorite M-I-L!  Our gallery and beer cart girl!

Sweet Sarah, clearly disagrees with her lie [note her ball in the rough]

Jim is eyeing up his approach

Best picture of the night!  

There are two important items to note in this picture.  First, Sweet Sarah is killing us!  Second,  the very item that gave us the evening's running joke.  When Mac asked Sarah to spell her name, this is what he heard.  Thereafter, she was referred to as, "SAAAARRRRR---HAAAAAAAAA" [think LOUD and DEEP, finishing with a nice guttural.]

It took us an hour and a half to play seven holes.  And since they charge by the hour, we called it quits and headed to On Tap for dinner.  

Overall, Sweet Sarah ranks this as a two thumbs up.  When I asked her if this was her favorite, she said she couldn't rank them against each other because they've all been so different.  [I would like the record to show, however, that it does rank above the poor planning/no dinner arrangements SPD].

Virtual Cocktail Hour--Cosmopolitans!

Well, another successful Virtual Cocktail Hour!

In fact, this one was so good, I only took one picture!

The drinks were delish!  It was a first for Sweet Sarah.  [She suggested this be the regular drink each month!]  For me, I like it so cold that there are ice crystals on top, which, of course, involves a lot of shaker shaking!!!!!  We used a common recipe, but I substituted pomegranate-cranberry juice for the plain old cranberry.  

As usual, we had a great time.  Honestly, folks, facetime technology is simply ahhhh.may.zing!!!!!

Prior to Facetime, we saw Shelley and Robin once or twice a year.  Now, seeing them once a month is just a blast!  It doesn't hurt that there are tasty new drinks involved either.  

If you're looking for a fun cabin fever sumthin' to do, plan a virtual cocktail hour with a friend you've been meaning to catch up....it'll be worth all of the calendar juggling.  Trust me!

Look at those beautiful drinks!!!

Spann Principles

this greeted me in the women's room at OHare Airport. Perhaps the Worker must've forgotten the key that day. Yes, yes. That is a clear trash bag threaded through the roll. And given the size of the roll, I'd say the little invention would make Poppy Hurshell proud. (You see, this picture is the epitome of two VERY proud Spann principles--homegrown inventions and surplus toilet paper!)

I'd like a comment card to suggest a raise for this employee! Dedicated to serving her customers regardless of the obstacles!