Alamo Bowl

Greetings from Houston! We made it back from San Antonio.

I was SO sad I didn't get to go to my Loop party back in Dallas on the 29th. This is the anual Christmas party my high school buds have every year- the same party I met Conrad at (again) two years ago. So it's special to me...

Anyway, Conrad wanted to go to the Alamo Bowl and see Texas A&M- so I called my old buddy Lee at Pro Pac and he hooked me up with some seats. They were GREAT seats- about 12 rows up, on the Aggie side. I thought C was going to take his dad - so I was all prepared for another Dallas weekend, but then his dad wasn't able to go and Conrad REALLY had his heart set on going. So... I sucked it up, took one for the team and even wore a Texas A&M sweatshirt... and went to the game.

We had a pretty good time. We went ahead and put Blanca at Strawberry Dog for the night and used my Marriott points for a free night and off we went. Upon arrival and because I am a SILVER STATUS member of Marriott Rewards, ( I KNOW!) they gave us a Manager's Special card for this place called La Fogata. Apparently, a very nice Mexican place in San Antonio. Well- never one to pass up a deal, we loaded up the car and headed off to La Fogata. I don't know what came over me, but suddenly, I was a Samari or one of those Japanese voice-over people from the old movies. I started saying LA FOGATA very loudly and with that crazy Japanese voice-over voice... because just the name really DOES make you want to dredge up sound from the back of your throat and just spit the name out. So I did, like 100 times. Poor Conrad- he actually stopped in the parking lot the last time I did it, and told me to stop. Ha Ha Ha

Anyway- good eating. It really was. We were led in the right direction and the manager's special was a FREE flameado appetizer. SCORE!

We went back to the hotel where Conrad read all of the hotel literature to stay awake and I piled into bed and took a nap. Then off to the game- Aggies lost 24/ 17, although in the beginning it looked promising... then we were back in Houston yesterday at 11AM to pick up the baby. A very MAD and sleepy baby.

I am the only Abercrombie/Hopkins working today on this New Year's Eve- even thought we get out at 2- I left the other two at home this morning, snug in bed.

Happy and Safe New Year's Eve to all of you my family and friends. I will publish Christmas and Bowl pics very soon... but please be safe, don't drink and drive and if you do, please take a cab home. Everyone enjoy their relaxing day off tomorrow and let's all start the New Year refershed!

Remember- April 26 of this upcoming year, we'll be getting hitched! Big party in Houston for 2008.

Love and Best Wishes,

Karyn

Flamingo

Go Here...

http://www.colorstrology.com/

It's Adobe Flash, so I can't save mine and post it here... but anyway, this site tells you your "perfect color" by your birthday... and also tells you a little about yourself. My birthday is August 12th and my perfect color is Flamingo. The description of me is dead on. I don't know how they do it... the color name is hilarious.

1) When we were in Hawaii I kept seeing these flamingos. They had them all over the hotel property- and for some reason I kept telling Conrad, "Hey! Look at those cool pelicans!"... I have no idea why. I know what a pelican is. I know what a flamingo is... but for some reason, I have been getting them confused.

2) This Christmas we were back in the Dallas area and Conrad and his dad were speaking to me about those Spanish dancers. I said, "Oh yeah- flamingo dancers." Conrad says, "Um NO- they are flamenCO dancers". Whatever. I have never heard that in my life. I still say they are flamingo dancers. It makes sense to ME... I mean, flamingos with all their bright, flashy colors and feathers. Or is that a peacock.... ?

But for whatever reason, this appears to be my primary color. The one I should surround myself with... it's sort of a burnt orange, University of Texas color... OUCH! It's a good way to get killed in a Texas A&M family.

I don't know if it's just ME, but I would have thought a color named "flamingo" would be bright hot pink.




Karyn

Merry Day-After Christmas

Hello to you all!

I hope everyone had a very happy Christmas and got to spend time with friends and family. Conrad and I had a great four or five days. We exchanged gifts on Friday- he got me lots of things like DVD's and cookbooks, but he also got me a new digital camera which I desparately needed and the most beautiful Tahitian pearl earrings to go with my Hawaiian necklace.

We had a nice trip to Dallas. I think we both got sick. My worst day was Christmas Eve, but I seemed to get over it quickly... Conrad is not feeling well today- his is his throat. Just weather changing, etc... but we both had a nice Christmas with his family in the Dallas area. I finally got my long awaited covered casserole dish/dutch oven... I also wanted a cake stand with the top. Got that one too! I had been looking for a long time for one I liked and this one is beautiful...

I will post some Christmas pics this week. Keagan and Kamden had a nice time too, I think... although we were not able to bake our Christmas thing we had planned too. I still did some pies and dinner was delicious yesterday. I also got to see my neighbor, Toni, from Richardson. We had a nice day together on Sunday.

All in all, a fabulous holiday!

Karyn

Over

Secret Santa at the office is OVER! It's sort of quiet here this morning, but we needed to catch up on our work anyway... my last two gifts to my boss were: a tote filled with a book, a pretty bookmark, a candle, a throw blanket and pillows... and then the one from yesterday was a basket... it had dish towels, a hot pepper dip bowl, an avacado shaped dip bowl and a homemade recipe book- I put in salsa, guacamole, queso and Mexican dip recipes. She loved ALL of it and she had no idea it was me! Now she's asked if after the National Championship, we can have a plate making party at my house- she needs to make three more for her family- and then of course, anyone else from work who wants to come. Sounds like fun to me!

For the gifts *I* got- I got a candle warmer one day, which I asked for. The next day I got vanilla candles and yesterday- I got a keychain with Blanca's image and her name lasered into it. It's the most beautiful thing. I opened it and immediately started crying. I also knew right away who my secret santa was- she also has a schnauzer. It was a good time. We really have a good group here.

Conrad is working today - and there's only one lady in his office today. He felt bad for her, so he's going in to keep her company. Now isn't he the sweetest one?

We get early release at 2:30 so it's off to home I go to wash clothes for the trip to Dallas tomorrow. Also tonight is our Christmas together. I can't WAIT!

Karyn

Well...

The outrage over Lynne Spears parenting book is now all over the place. Everyone is wondering why on EARTH she would have ever set out to write such a thing. Does that family not have enough money? The only decent one of the bunch is Bryan. Oh, you didn't know about Bryan? That's because he keeps his nose clean- he's Britney's older brother. He shows up once in awhile in Vegas with her, but now I wonder if it's just to make sure she doesn't leave her children somewhere. *SIGH*

My topic from yesterday was: the book One More Day by Mitch Albom. I read it a few years ago and Oprah recently produced a movie that ran on primetime a few Sunday's back. A short summary is that there is a guy named Chick who had sort of a rough childhood- his dad left them and he grew up to be a major league baseball player (his dad's dream) got hurt, became a salesman and drank himself stupid. He is depressed and upset over not being invited to his daughter's wedding- so he drives back to his hometown and decides to kill himself. Upon arrival, in a very nasty car accident, he meets up with his mother. His dead mother. She's been gone nine years, but he spends an entire day with her- reliving the past. He gets the opportunity to apologize for stupid things kids do to hurt their parents, tells her he loves her... etc...

It got me to thinking that we all wish we had one more day with SOMEONE... and I was thinking that if that someone is still here with us, maybe you should send that person a little note or card or call them up, while you can- and share how you feel about them. It would be such a shame to wait until it's too late and then regret never saying anything. It may be the best present you give someone.

Merry Christmas

Karyn

I am laughing...

I swear ya'll- I do NOT have it in for Britney Spears but this morning I read a few headlines and died laughing.

I go to People.com in the mornings to get my celebrity news. Today- big as life it said "Britney's 16 year old sister, Jamie-Lynn, pregnant"... so I am like OH GOD- and I read on. It happened with her boyfriend, she's 12 weeks, she has just told her parents, she went away to "think about it" for awhile before telling anyone and she's raising it in Louisiana, so it can have a "normal life", etc... I look down a few headlines and the next one I see is pertaining to the Spears clan is:

"Lynne Spears Parenting Book- Delayed Indefinetly".

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

I can not stop laughing. You don't say Lynne? You think you may want to delay that book- seeing as how you have one out of control daughter who CLEARLY married a gangster wanna be, had two children back to back- is a papparazzi nightmare, runs red lights and over cameraman with frightening reguarlity, is killing herself with saturated fats and Starbucks, smokes, drinks, SHAVED HER HEAD and tried to beat a photographer to death with an UMBRELLA... and parties to the wee hours and now your 16 year old who HAS A SHOW ON NICKELODEON is pregnant. Huh. Not sure why you'd cancel your book.

OH MY GOD. Hollywood is something else. Maybe she can write a joint book with Lindsey Lohan's mom and dad. I think that would be a bestseller.

I had another topic today, but this has just pushed it out of my mind. I am so stunned I barely know what to say... except for WOW, just WOW.

Karyn

Secret Santa

Well... the day has arrived! Today was Secret Santa Day # 1. We have three all total. There are 21 people participating and now I can tell you- I drew my BOSS.


I was in a momentary panic mode the day I drew the name. My boss is the BEST, nice lady, fun, great personality, etc... but she has expensive taste and I wasn't sure I would get it right. We did fill out a questionaire and it had stuff like Do You Think Gift Cards are Impersonal?... and she answered " Depends on who it's coming from- hint, hint"... which meas, "if you work for me, you KNOW me and I better not get an impersonal gift card" . OH THE STRESS!


Anyway- I figured it out and today was a HIT!


My first gift was an LSU plate. She is a DIE HARD fan. She has season tickets and bleeds purple and yellow, God bless her. So I went to Wal-Mart and got one of those clear holiday plates for a buck. I went to work and printed off pictures of the team during this season- pics of the National Championship a few years ago and also I did some text art with like Geaux Tigers and Angie's Team to personalize. This weekend I decopuged the plate.. painted the back black to fill in the holes and dated it. I bought a plate easel and painted it too- and gave it to her today. We have a $30 limit- so this present cost me about $2 and my time... not bad.


I had someone sneak it in her office while she was talking to us this morning. When she got back to her office, the screams filled the building. She was SO excited. She showed everyone- I saw her walking the halls for an hour with this thing in her hands... she showed everyone and said that the person who did this is creative as all get out and is getting a big RAISE, HA HA HA.


Anyway- it was creative and it stressed me to the max. I didn't want my present to look "homemade" but it actually turned out cute as could be. I heard her tell someone she wanted one for her dad- so guess what- I am back to Wal-Mart tonight to get another plate and start on that...


Oh- here is the pic I promised yesterday.

Still makes me laugh.


Karyn

Weekend Update

Ha Ha - Weekend Update like Dennis Miller (God bless him) used to have on Saturday Night Live.

There's uh- really nothing to update. We did go to the Westlake Chemical Year End Dinner (don't you DARE call it a Christmas party!) Friday night. We had been warned by many that it was lame, but it wasn't.... it was really pretty great. Everyone was all gussied up and happy to be there. The food was really good and it didn't last too long. I enjoyed myself.

Saturday/ Sunday were basic errand days although Conrad disappeared AGAIN for more Christmas shopping (keep 'em coming Conrad)! ... I have one more gift for him that will be purchased tomorrow. I had to wait for it to be available and it's not- til tomorrow. Am I giving it away?

I found this online today- and it's pretty dog gone funny. Britney- goodness gracious. Her behavior is really very bizarre... I also found another one of her in this terrible bikini/ dance outfit with a bucket of chicken next to her... KFC because nothing but the best for Britney! ... there is also a dog popping on a dress and in her hand is a bag of "Celulite Crispers"... and she is smoking a cig - pretty funny stuff. That Britney is a class act.

That one made me laugh too.

Perhaps tomorrow, in the spirit of Day 1 of Westlake Secret Santa (there are three days ending with a potluck) I will post it. I think the bucket of chicken thing made me laugh the hardest. Everyone knows how fond I am of poultry- I can't believe it was allowed to be maligned in such a way...

Tracy- might I suggest Britney as your ZERO of the day in an upcoming post of yours....

Karyn

Reflections

If any of you know my friend Tracy (from Castrol) she now has a blog as well. http://dailyheroorzero.blogspot.com/

I was reading hers the other day and she had highlighted God as her hero. As I alluded to yesterday, I'm going through kind of a weird work situation. Some hours it doesn't bother me and others I am mentally handing in my resignation. I think we are all feeling that way up here... so I read Tracy's blog and I started thinking that maybe I should be handling this with Grace and I'm really not. I want to be a manger one day or at the very least in a little higher position, so I should handle work trials and disappointments with grace and maturity not with pouting and resignation letters. But I have already been through one bad work situation in my past and I handled it with a resignation. At the time, it was really tough and my heart was broken. I felt betrayed and angry and hurt. I would have walked out that day, but I had to really think about it and not be rash. I did opt for the resignation and it was horribly painful... but with a little bit of time and distance between that time and now, I can see what I did was for the best... it started a chain of events I would not take back for the world. At the time, it was maybe looked on with a little bit of shock and WOW- she's immature, but I did it with as much Grace as I possibly could. I think handling change is good and getting through challenges is character building, but I do think that sometimes, your time is just up and you have to move on, as painful as it is. I felt that way when I made the decision to leave Dallas. I truly just felt that I would go no further there, as much as it was my home. I was too comfortable and my dad had told me many times that for whatever reason, somtimes you ARE supposed to leave and move on... there is no such thing anymore as security. There are no longer guaranteed pensions and 40 years of work and a gold watch at the end with one company.

I don't think resignation is the way to handle this situation- YET. However it has jolted me out of my comfort zone. I need to make a decision about what I want professionally and where I want to pursue it... and it begins with going back to school. My plan is now to start in January. We just got word we ARE getting the End of the Year Bonus, and we do have a 90% payback plan here at work for college... so I think I need to register ASAP and get this moving.

I also read somewhere or heard somewhere that God puts you where He wants you. Clearly, He wants me here- for whatever reason...

Enough reflection for today

Karyn

Tis the Season

I have really nothing to post about today.

The only thing on my mind is work related stuff... I have a problem or not even really a problem, but I have something going on here that bothers me a little bit. I'm trying to deal with it without being a ninny and at the same time, watching others and following their lead.

We DO have our Christmas party tomorrow night- the company calls it the Year End Dinner... so that starts at 6:30 and they are letting us out about 2. So I'll have time to get home, let B out and then get ready and go. Conrad will meet me there- he has something going on tomorrow that will prevent him from coming home early.

Otherwise, that is all that is going on with our little family. I still have done NO wedding planning, but if we get a Christmas bonus this year, I will start on that right away... I was waiting on some funds to move forward on a few things. If that bonus kicks in, then we will be full steam ahead on many of the items on the list. I haven't even opened my wedding book in what seems like weeks.

Shame on me. Either I am lazy or a true low-maintainence girl.

Karyn

SECURITY!

Christmas in Philly... a lot more Christmasy than around here!
I am no fan of the north, being a hard core southerner, but I must admit, with this one, they get it right. First of all, it was cold. None of this 80 degree nonsense. It was also rainy, none of this draught nonsense. Everyone was running around in long wool coats and matching hat and scarf sets. If I was in a cold climate, you can bet your socks I'd have more matching sets than you could count. One in every color! But what really got me was the Christmas window displays- they had them in all kinds and shapes and colors. All of the stores have these huge windows and they were made up so pretty for Christmas. It was a few days of heaven- until some Philadelphian would do one of two things- open their mouths thus exposing their accents OR make a comment about my World Champion Dallas Cowboys.

However the reason for my post today is to warn you to pay attention at the airports this season. I caused a mild security breach at the Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Monday morning.

I went to the kiosk as always to check in. It said "welcome K. Abercrombie" as always I got my pass, took out my license and went through security. No delays- awesome.
I get to the gate and it says Reno 8:30 instead of Philadelphia 8:50. I thought MAN they changed the gate, so I wandered over to the departures screen and sure enough, I was at the wrong gate. I went to the right gate (after the strap on my bag broke) and I just as fast as I can, with a bag tucked under my arm, arrive at the correct gate. I glance down to verify flight numbers and what's this?- wrong flight number... I look a little harder. My ticket says Julie Haver to Reno. WHAT?!

So I approached the ticket counter and explained to the lady I had gone to the kiosk, the kiosk had greeted me with my correct name, it printed my ticket, I went to security, then to what I thought was the wrong gate, then to the right gate and my ticket was wrong. You would have thought I was holding a pilot up at gun point. The rapid fire questions started. Why did you not look at your ticket? If you were at C35 then WHO told you this flight was leaving from C19? Did you just take the wrong ticket from the kiosk? Where are going? Why are you going? Did you check bags? Did you go through security? Who initialed this ticket - are you SURE they looked at your license?

I really and truly thought she was going to call airport security and maybe, she should have. I certainly did nothing wrong, but it was clear to me, her and all the people around us listening a HUGE breach had occured. The woman at the security area had looked at my ticket, my drivers license and let me through and they didn't match AT ALL. It was kind of scary.... and all the people around me at the gate were concerned too. I am not one of those impatient people. Forget that I hate to fly and any delay is a good delay- I am just one of those people who says safety first. If they had to strip search us every time we got on a plane to guarantee my safety- I would just learn to deal with it. Like I've learned to pack my toiletries in a see through bag which is ridiculous- like I've learned to wear socks because my shoes ARE going through the X-ray machine. So if they had needed to detain me and question me further, I totally get that. I don't get why they didn't... I think that in itself was another breach. I am deeply concerned for the air safety of the nation's airports...

I was very sure when flying home yesterday to check my boarding pass! So do the same.. or you'll end up in Airport Prison, where I was sure I was going Monday...

Happy Holidays,

Karyn

Philly

I'm going to be in Philly for the next few days- so no posting!

Conrad's birthday is Tuesday- so I guess my next post should be Wednesday some time. As soon as I get off the plane, I have to run to his birthday dinner... so Wednesday it is! Feel free to leave your "happy birthday's" here!

We had a great time at the Dane Cook show on Friday night. That guy is FUNNY! We tried the new pineapple upside down cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory too. YUM!

We've just been wrapping presents all weekend- Blanca had her pic with Santa, and I THINK Conrad is almost done with his shopping.

That's all folks!

Karyn

Skinny Cow

I am halfway on the plan!

Last night after dinner ( I cooked at home) I told Conrad we are ON the plan. We need to walk! But the trouble is by the time I've driven an hour to work, worked for 8 hours, driven home for an hour and then some, I am SO DOG TIRED when I get in the door- all I have energy for is cooking dinner... I said you have to MAKE me walk. He said well once you go for about two weeks, maybe you'll start to feel better then you'll WANT to walk.

My Conrad... he is SO smart. That is EXACTLY what is going to happen. I will complain and cry about it for two weeks and then it will become commonplace, so I'll want to walk. I told him his JOB is to MAKE me do it. He's afraid he'll get in trouble but I said NO, you won't. You only get in trouble if you give in to my whining and say it's ok to stay home.

The plan begins tomorrow because tonight we are going to The Cheesecake Factory and also to see Dane Cook at the Toyota Center for Conrad's birthday, courtesy of ME. My friend Lori and her hubby are coming from Beaumont- it'll be a rip roaring good time!

So to begin my plan (the one I am going to kill today by being at The Cheesecake Factory), last night I had a Skinny Cow. It's an ice cream endorsed by Oprah and on the Best Life Diet by Bob Greene. Not half bad- I had the nutty buddy looking one with caramel dripping off the sides. YUM-O.

I highly recommend this healthy treat- something like 100 calories for a treat. They are even regular human sized. FABULOUS!

I'll report in tomorrow on the show, the dinner.

Blanca has her pics with Santa tomorrow. We are SO excited about that!!!!

HO HO HO

Karyn

Dreams

I think I'm starting to freak out.

After the cake tasting and last visit to County Line, I just sort of stopped working on the wedding. AGAIN. I need to do a little bit of shopping for like the bubbles and things- I need to get some shoes, etc... there ARE things I could be doing, but for some reason, I guess Christmas or something has happened and the wedding has taken a backseat.

I am starting to get concerned about the minister- we still don't have one, although there are several options. I've dreamed every night this week about not having one. We get to the wedding and everyone is having a great time- then when we get to the reception part, I realize we never got married and we can't find a minister. This is completely freaking me out. I emailed Conrad's mom today and said we gotta get this cleared up so I can sleep again!

Not much more to report than that... Conrad is going Christmas shopping this weekend. I have Blanca's Santa pictures to handle. We have the Dane Cook show for Conrad's birthday tomorrow night - I'm in Philadelphia next week for work and then his birthday is Tuesday... we also have my Christmas party, mine and Conrad's business potlucks and then Secret Santa here at my work. There's just too much going on.

Aren't we all supposed to start fresh on January 1? How can we when we're so exhausted from December?

Ka

Boys...

Well played, Alex Menchaca, well played....

You see, Conrad and I have ANOTHER mutual friend we had in high school.... his name is Alex. He was so super cute in high school- he probably still is... and he was a good friend of mine, several years older.... (I don't know why I just told you he was cute- it's not relevent, but I know Candice knows and Mikel knows- so for you girls, I threw that in)... he was also in the band, a friend of Conrad's and took private lessons from Conrad's dad (band director). So we both knew him and of course, even through Alex, our paths in high school never crossed. Alex, God bless him, is apparently a faithful reader aka "fan" of this blog and yesterday Conrad said he received an email entitled "Ham N Cheese" hmmmm... and Alex proceeded to tell Conrad all about how he understood his plight and gave him advice based off ten years of marriage. Oh ha ha ha- you silly boys... you will NEVER figure us out- not even after fifty years of marriage... but I appreciate Alex's efforts and it was well played because he was trying to help his brother out - but his brother is weak and forward me the email. WA HA HA HA HA (evil laugh).

Speaking of his brother, Conrad - another funny incident last night- it made me laugh.

When we were doing the Dallas to Houston long distance thing I noticed Conrad was a faithful subscriber to Maxim Magazine. He could hardly ever be found without one ragtag, dog-eared copy clutched in his little hands. They were stacked under his living room tables and there were so many in the bathroom, it was a firehazard. I am SERIOUS- there were at LEAST 40 of them, probably more... and I mentioned one day that I thought Maxim was stupid and one step below Playboy. Kinda like people say Hooters is one step below a strip joint, which by the way is complete PHOOEY- that place serves the nectar of the Gods... they have the most pure ranch dressing to be found on the planet... and I daresay even if they BECAME a stip joint, I would still go just to get the wings. But I digress... Maxim is smut- but Conrad doesn't read so besides his unholy fixation on the evening news, this magazine is where he gets all his information... so I never said stop reading it, I said how offensive- this magazine is trash! Where did he get that I didn't like it out of that?! Anyway- Conrad is so super sweet and so good to me, he immediately, without my knowledge canceled his subscription and did not renew it. Once I moved to Houston, I realized it wasn't coming in the mail any more. I asked about it and he said I didn't like it- so he stopped it. Well now isn't he the sweetest thing you've ever laid eyes on in your whole LIFE? If I did not love him then (which I did) I would have loved him after that.. I said PLEASE don't stop your life for me- read the magazine, it doesn't really OFFEND me I just think it's dumb and smutty- and I laugh at you behind your back when you read it- but you can keep on, it's not hurting my feelings. But he didn't renew and alas, his knowledge of every day life in America went WAAAAAAAAAY downhill... as did his knowlege on up and coming gadgets, witty little snippets on how to deal with girls or how to GET an actual girl, upcoming movies, what's good on DVD, why your girl acts like she does and also what bikinis the celebs are wearing- (with pics!) just what DOES Lindsey Lohan want in a boyfriend and how come Angelina Jolie would NEVER EVER date a married man. Such crap.

Fast forward to a few months later- Delta Airlines sent me this thing and said you have miles, but not enough to count- so be a good girl and cash these things in - here are some magazines you can get. So being an EXCELLENT wife-to-be I got Conrad Maxim and Cigar Afficiando (spelling?) and told him... I guess he forgot.

Yesterday his first Maxim arrived in the mail- and I was off doing something else. When I walked by with a mixture of fear and giddiness he said " I SWEAR I did not renew my subscription- look!" and he had a copy of Maxim in his hand- a very sweaty and messy looking Eva Menendez on the cover, but whatever..... and I said "Um- I know, I ordered it for you. Remember- with my miles".... he was so relieved he was not in trouble.

But I went back into a back room to pack up some presents and I chuckled...

These are the differences between boys and girls....

Ka

Sugar Plums, Sugar Cookies

Today I am back to being totally cute. I LOVE WINTER!
I am wearing a black sweater, gray trumpet skirt and black boots... people have been commenting on it AGAIN. I really must be a complete bum in the summer- a vision of ultimate distress. It's hard to dress well when it's so hot outside and walking out to the car to go to lunch causes a heat stroke. Who cares about how you look when you feel so awful?

Ah well... speaking of looking awful... my eating is out of control! Sugar plums- sugar cookies, whatever- Christmas is a baaaaad time of year for me! I have Conrad's birthday, Christmas parties... Christmas potlucks, not to mention cookie swaps and all that. It's a nightmare and destroying my diet! Now I have gotten hooked on making sugar cookies at night and drinking hot cocoa (made with milk!) before I go to bed. I have been watching Paula Deen obsessively and dreaming of all the lavish spreads I could make and parties I could hold... I HATE her! This is the time of year when I wish I had kids... I only want some for like one month out of the year... I want them to get in the kitchen with me and make cookies and all these cool Christmas cakes. I finally came to the conclusion though that HOLD UP- Conrad has two nephews (soon to be mine). I can always borrow them... Keagan is old enough. He's 6. I wonder if he'd want to head to Wal-Mart with me later this month to get some green food coloring. I bet he would be a willing party to help me mess up his mother's kitchen and create something fabulous for the family. You never know, it could become tradition. I could start taking over Mikel's kitchen and children for one day a year... I don't think she'd mind... the only thing is, I can't see 16 and 14 year old boys ( in a few years) REALLY being all that excited to continue the tradition... and that would break my heart... but that's what kids do right- break your heart- so I REALLY would be experiencing parenthood first hand. AH YES- this is a BRILLIANT idea. I am going to talk to Keagan about this STAT! But let's take this farther - what if Keagan and Kamden LOVE cooking and baking and it becomes their life's work- and they get rich like Paula Deen or that Art Smith that Oprah is so fond of. OMG- then we would all be SET for life and they could like put dedications to us in their cookbooks. SHUT UP- I need to talk to Keagan RIGHT NOW.

Anyway- back to my little problem... It's almost like I have forgotten I'm getting married in five months and will be showing everyone I've ever known in my life, and all the people our parents have ever known - all those cookies I scarfed down this season. My leg? No- no that's not a LEG- that's a bunch of chicken wings I ate during football season at Buffalo Wild Wings- OMG, have you tried their nachos!? My arms... yes, those are my arms... I know they look like they are ringed with Krispy Kremes, but what's a girl to do in Biloxi on Thanksgiving morning- nothing else was open! (GROAN ..... )

I had to physically MAKE myself go home and cook last night. All I wanted to do was go home and grab my partner in crime (who is NO help when it comes to willpower, by the way) and head to the nearest Chuy's for their delicious jalapeno ranch dip. YUM-O!

But instead I went home and started frying bacon immediately (because if I start dinner, I'll finish it- no waste!)... for BLT's... and that is what we had. All the while though I was thinking about those blue corn enchiladas and sugar cookies. I am SO sad.

Today I am going to lunch at Wal-Mart so I can pick up some Curvelle. There was an article in First about this month - it's like the holistic soution to that awful Alli thing that came out earlier this year. It's supposed to curb carb cravings- I HOPE so! I never met a piece of bread or a bowl of chips and hot sauce I didn't like.... so I am going there to pick that up. Sadly, Taco Cabana shares the parking lot- I'll try to navigate my truck back on the freeway, but for me, Taco Cabana is like a beacon of light in a dark, scary storm.

I have PROBLEMS.

Karyn

All is Well

It's 8:30 AM in Houston and all is well. We had a nice weekend. I seem to have gotten my raging emotions (see Hardee's post) under control and things are back to normal.

I am SUPER excited to report that we now have a guest room with a Queen sized bed in it. That sound make all the visitors happy! I was sad for Conrad to dismantle his office, but he really did never use it. I kept telling him it was not necessary, but he dismantled it anyway. He said once he got the wireless internet, he never went in there, which is actually true...

So I spent about three hours Saturday morning painting the "office". It was an ok color before, but it was the kind of paint (flat) that shows all the dirt. So I got that done, moved the furniture in and ta-da! It's beautiful. I'll take pics soon and post.

At lunch today I am off to Macy's to see if I can find a dress for the company Christmas party. It's FORMAL. FORMAL! Ick... Everyone was enamored with me on Friday- I am feeling pressure to be all dressed up for the party. Ha Ha

EDITED TO ADD:
I totally just got back from Macy's. TOTAL SCORE!
I found the cutest one piece black tank dress... everyone should have one. Well, ok- if you're female or if you are male and have a burlesque show on the weekends, you should have one. Very versitale! It was $89 and on sale for $33 and I also had a 20% off coupon. That's RIGHT- Conrad is getting himself a bargain shopper! Then I wandered over to another rack and got an eggplant colored sweater/shaw thing... it's open (no buttons) made of sweater material and all around the neckline and down the sides it's the same color, but gauzy fabric. It draped down past my hips. I can wear both pieces again, for other things.

I can wear either my black pumps or my black boots.

Karyn

Thank You Tracy

(See comments on last post...)

I love you. This is why I love you.
You always support me and back me up.

I will go salmon fishing with you! I don't really condone random murder of fish, but to get one more state and hang out with you, I'm kind of on board!

Much love to the RAZORBACKS who destroyed LSU last week.
Oh how I love Arkansas- and the beautiful women who populate it!

love ya Trace!

What's UP?!

I don't know whether to be flattered or offended...

You see- I looked in the closet the other day and realized I have NO winter clothing... and I really don't need WINTER clothing here in Houston, but you do need some pants and some long sleeve shirts and of COURSE I needed some skirts to go with my new super cute snakeskin (faux) boots. So I was looking through the closet and I was like WHAT did I WEAR last year? Didn't I have some decent black and gray pants? Where is that sweater- oh yeah- that's right- it's scratchy and I hate it. So anyway- I totally needed some new clothes. So I went to Kohl's. For $163 I walked off with several shirts, two super cute sweaters (one with sparklies!!!), two skirts, one pair of pants and one pair of gaucho/capri things.

So this morning I decided to wear the gaucho/capri things- they are brown. I wore a white undershirt and a pink long sleeve button down, but unbottoned. I paired this with my brown boots and came on in. My co-workers are acting like Britney Spears is in the building (cute Britney circa 1998- catholic school outfit Britney- not super trashy, no shoes in the Exxon bathroom- belly hanging out, circa 2007 Britney). There has been a distinct buzz in the air and people are stopping by my "work station" and saying things like - "HEY, you look PRETTY today!" or blinking rapidly and rearing back like something flew in their eye, they will say "Oh ... that's a really cute shirt... you look um- you look nice today."

Uh- thanks?! So I guess every other day of the week I look like ground hamburger. You never thought I was pretty before? Are you guys saying I am a total schlub who can not be counted upon to look decent most days. I'm not sure how to feel. I suppose I should just glory in being super cute today- maybe make a few unnecessary passes by the higher-ups offices at some point in the day- stop in, wave- look exceptionally busy and harrassed (cause then they'll think I'm stressed out and completely engrossed in my job). I mean dress for the job you want, not the job you have, right?!

My point to them, if it comes up, is LOOK Houston is like Africa 10 months of the year. I have no desire to put on layers of clothing, suit jackets and hose and come in here when it's 115 degrees outside and 91% humidity. There is absolutely nothing I can do with my hair that will keep in dry and in place, in weather like that- and hey, if someone could PLEASE fix the thermostat so it does not mimick weather conditions outside, that would be great. When it's 91 degrees outside, it should not be 85 inside... I think if we could get that fixed, I could make a little more effort to look nicer.

I don't know- now I feel all this pressure to be super cute everyday. I have to go home and take complete new inventory of my closet and decide what goes and what stays... and I need to find some comfy summer/business clothes- although I really think there is no such thing. I'm SO STRESSED OUT. Why does being beautiful have to hurt SO MUCH?!

I should go home and ask Blanca how she deals with the pressure day in and day out.

Super Cute and Hot in Houston,
Karyn

Round Two

So I told Conrad I had posted about my crazy hot ham n' cheese inspired breakdown. He said he will be interested to log on in a few days and see if anyone has commented. Clearly, he still thinks I am in the wrong on this one.

We ended up hashing it out again. He said what bothered him the most was the tears. He has never cried over a hamburger in his life. Well me NEITHER- I was crying over a hot ham n' cheese. There's a huge difference. Hello?!

Anyway, no resolution. He still is confused and scared of me and I still say it was at least 30% his fault I got that bottomless heart attack in a bag.

The good news is he has gotten almost the entire office cleared out. I saw it last night- VERY impressive. I will paint it this weekend and move in the queen set that was mine in Dallas. So it should be a pretty snazzy room. Conrad wants to keep his Bevis and Butthead poster up, but I am not on board with that... poor thing- he needs his own room to decorate. Maybe I should go get him one of those sheds they are always selling in the Home Depot parking lot- he could put up as many Beavis and Simpson's posters he wanted...

Karyn

The Crazies

So I got the "crazies".... seriously. Poor Conrad. I don't know how he makes it through some days. This is kind of funny NOW, but it wasn't really at the time.

Let me preface this by saying that I am heavier than I used to be- thanks to the Graves Disease and I am very sensitive about it. There's not a whole lot I can do- maybe more than I do- I mean I could work out harder and eat better but the fact is I have a disease and this is one of the side effects.

Second let me say I love Hardee's. They have a hot ham n' cheese that will knock your socks off. I ate them all the time when I was a kid- this is a joint that's mostly in the deep south. Texas has none. VERY SAD. But it's been a few years since I had a Hardee's hot ham n' cheese...

On the way to Florida, I stopped in Louisiana and got myself one. HEAVEN, I told Conrad on the way back I was stopping to get another. Saturday rolls around- I leave FL and we get to somewhere in AL and I'm hungry. Now here is where it's funny but kinda not, WHY do men just NOT HEAR anything we say? I clearly said on the way to FL and on the way back that I loved HOT HAM N' CHEESE sandwiches. I even told Blanca I would share mine and give her some ham. Conrad heard me say that...

We get to the window, we order his burger and I order the #7- hot ham n' cheese... I was not paying attention, I admit... and I guess on the screen it popped up something else. Conrad SAW it and said naught.... I pull through get the order and proceed on my merry way. Well we are hardly out of the parking lot when Conrad starts diving up the food. He hands me this massive burger and I hand it back- no he says, I got the sourdough, this is yours. Apparently, the woman thought I said the # 11, not the # 7. Conrad SAW the # 11 order come up on the screen and he didn't say a word. I even think the woman repeated the order back- but I didn't hear her. So I am looking at whatever the # 11 is and it is I kid you not, the most massive burger I have ever laid eyes on- this is a double meat bacon something or another. Well- I had my lips set for hot ham n' cheese.. HE HEARD me order it, he KNEW I wanted it and he said nothing when they gave me something else.

Promptly, right there in the parking lot, I burst into noisy and wild tears. I was wailing and he had NO idea what to say... when I finally calmed down, this is what I said... "I miss my daddy. I have just left my daddy and I miss my daddy. I wanted a hot ham n' cheese and you knew it. You let this woman give me this double meat burger. I mean, am I THAT big? Am I so big that you would think I would need a double meat burger? Shouldn't you intervene if that is the case? If it ever gets to the point I am ordering double meat burgers, there is a PROBLEM. I mean- when have I EVER in two years EVER ordered a double meat anything? You must thing I'm a massively fat giant woman.".... and here is Conrad.... ????????? He later said, and rather unconvincingly, that he thought I had changed my mind. WHAT?! How in the space of 2 seconds would I have changed my mind and what made him think I could operate a motor vehicle with a 2/3 lb burger clutched in my jowls... ?

I cried for 25 more miles... and even though he offfered to share his fries I said no. Even when he offered to stop at another Hardee's and get me what I wanted I said no. I passed another 7 Hardee's and refused to stop. I finally fished the offending burger out of the bag in the truck and ate like four bites. It was so big I could not get my mouth around it and it frustrated me so bad, I just threw it in the garbage and kept driving, hungry... I cried and wailed all the way into Louisiana. I have no idea what my problem was... About two hours later, in the silence of the car, (because I think Conrad was afraid) I thought about it and how Conrad said "how can this by MY fault?" and his complete disbelief... and me being so unfair but him KNOWING I wanted that ham sandwich... and it suddenly seemed very very funny to me. I laughed and howled. He sat there just looking at me, very confused and a little scared.

Anyway- I apologized for my behavior but prefaced it with he KNEW I didn't want that burger... and told him I don't know- my grief drove me to act that way. I am STILL upset about that sandwich though. I still wish I had it... and yes, I know Conrad does not think I'm fat.... and yes, I think he is still scared. We finally did pull off late into the evening in Lafayette and he bought me a Big Grab bag of Doritos because I was starving... sweet guy.

CraZy Karyn

Bedroom

... and here is the new bedroom furniture. All delivered today. It's BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Florida Update

Ok, so updates with a few pics. We did have a great time- and I think we're both now well rested. Conrad got THREE NEW STATES! I was so excited- we went through MS and AL, of course- on Friday morning, my dad and uncle took us into Georgia where we ate at the Farmhouse. They were um, serving MULLETS?


I also promised a picture of us with the kayak. Conrad had to haul it up the stairs of the LOVLIEST Motel 6 I have ever stayed at. It was such a pit. I didn't even want to take a shower there- if he had not brought that kayak in, it would have been gone when we woke up. Here it is, cozy in the room!
I have sort of gotten myself a new brother. My parents semi-adopted a really nice kid from the town they live in. His name is Chestin and this is the first time I've met him. He's very nice- good sense of humor, fits in well... he is the quarterback of his high school football team and this year he's a senior. They are one game from going to state- the entire town is in an uproar- so excited. So I guess my brother is about the hottest thing there is in town. My parents never understood my love of the Dallas Cowboys. I was the first one standing on the couch, biting my nails and screaming- now, it's them... they go to all the games, even the away ones, rain, shine, hot or cold... and one of the playoff games was Friday night. We all went- and it was COLD. Here we are - oh and the Madison Cowboys won 45 to 0. It was a complete shut out. WOO HOO!

There are three schools looking at Chestin now- one of them is Middle Tennessee- football scholarships... he wants to turn pro. I would like that as well. We sat down this weekend and talked about ways he could somehow recognize me when he turns pro. The things I did for him, the ways I helped him out... and I told him I was going to need some sort of signal like- when he throws for a touchdown, I need him to like point to me in the stands or better yet, run over to where I'm sitting and point to me or something. We really had not worked it out when I left, but I'm quite sure he's still thinking on it ... oh, and I also said I would need free tickets. Duh.

Karyn

Florida U

Back from the Sunshine State

We are home and we are tired!

I hope everyone had a nice Turkey Day- we did! We were so tired though. We left about 3:30 when it was all said and done on Wednesday- we drove all the way to Biloxi and stopped. We had to get out of Houston which took at least an hour in all the traffic and then of course, I-10 was shut down between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, which added over an hour to the trip. We stopped and slept at the worst hotel ever. I would have gotten more rest just going on and sleeping at 4 or 5 when we got there. We even had to haul the kayak up to the hotel room - ha ha ha! That was funny! I took a pic and will post it later of Conrad, Blanca and the kayak in the hotel room.

We had a great time. We drove all the way back yesterday- left Florida about 1:30 PM and pulled up to the house at 2AM this morning. We slept til about 10 and then got up and started the day. The new furniture is coming tomorrow, so I had to run get new sheets and all that... Conrad did some Christmas shopping... then this evening, we took the old bedroom suite apart and moved it into the den, temporarily... I am painting the old office/new guest room this weekend before we move in the new furniture. It occured to me this weekend that people will start coming around the house more and more as the wedding approaches, so we need to get some things done. We have lights to hang and rooms to paint- pictures to get hung up- we have lots to do before the people descend on the house.

Ok, well I am getting tired again. I took Monday and Tuesday off though so I have a nice few days to just chill out. I have a few wedding things to handle and a Christmas present or two to get for Conrad, but otherwise, a few more days off!

Karyn

Quickly

Just a quick post before we head out of town. I'm at work this morning, so is Conrad- I think we're meeting at the house around 2 to load and go. I-10 is shut down between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, so there are big delays to have to deal with. NOT looking forward to that!

But very excited to see my family!

I also wanted to add, I re-read my post from yesterday. I don't know if I came off sounding diva-like or whatever but I wanted to explain the furniture thing. I think for the long haul, with two people and a dog who refuses to sleep in her own bed, a King is the way to go. When we were in Hawaii we slept in a bed that was like no other we had ever encountered. We were so enamored with it, we pulled the sheets off to see what it was. I haven't slept well since I left Hawaii- Conrad either. So we went to the store, on a strictly a fact finding mission- I THOUGHT... but once Conrad Hopkins got there and found his bed, that was all she wrote... so we went ahead and got it. The bed in the master now is a queen, so we had to buy a King to go with the new mattress. I guess because furniture isn't something you buy every day- we just decided to go ahead and do it right, get all the pieces we wanted and a nice set we could use for a long long time.

Conrad assures me that I need to enjoy my new bedroom suite, my tables he bought me in April and my ring, because he said he is doing all the good stuff now- so I will want to marry him still- all this spoiling that is going on. He says enjoy it now because I am not getting new furniture again for a long time and this diamond should not ever need to be replaced or upgraded.

Ah Conrad- so innocent (shaking head), so misled...
Karyn

On the Road Again

Craziness abounds!

We went Saturday night and bought a new bedroom suite for the master bedroom. This one is a king it has an armoire which I am SO stoked about! I get to actually hide the TV and get rid of the stereo cabinet in there. SO HAPPY! It's being delivered the Monday after Thanksgiving. Conrad has been busy dismantling his office so we can put my Queen set in there and have more room when people come visit.

I finished all the Christmas shopping and only have Conrad now to finish up. I will get him done on Monday or Tuesday of next week- we also have a cake tasting and I am going to swing by County Line and get some general information like where can a DJ set up, are their plugs outside, can I change the beer kegs to a different beer, etc... I have an entire list written down. Won't they be so excited to see ME coming?!

We leave tomorrow for Florida... taking Conrad down to see the daddy-kins. Should be a good time, but a little rushed. We plan to stop and sleep in Biloxi overnight and then onward to Madison, FL. Conrad does not yet have Mississippi, Alabama or Georgia. My first reaction upon hearing the news was - "WHAT? And you call yourself a southerner?", but I have since calmed down. I am stopping in MS and AL so I get his picture in each state (PROOF) and then of course, we will make a jaunt to Valdosta, GA on Friday to shop or something. Maybe he can try a good ol' Georgia peach or something on his visit. HOW EXCITING!!!! It is not often one gets THREE new states in two days. I did it once- I got Michigan, Indiana and Ohio once in three days... oh wait- and then there was that time I got Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine in two days. Ok so well, for ME it's pretty normal, but not for others. We have yet to print out the US map for Conrad to color in where he's been- shocking I know. My entire family has maps and all my former co-workers at Pro Pac had them too. I forced everyone into my little game. The only person I know who has beat me is Ms Tracy Curtis- King who has all 50. Because I love her, I forgive her- but the rest of you better let me win!!! NINE MORE TO GO.

Ok- off to the races. I have so much to do... including strapping a kayak into the back of my truck....

Karyn

Attention K-Mart Shoppers

Today has been a whirlwind shopping day!

First of all, we drew names at work for Secret Santa. It's three straight days of gifts, given secretly and with a $30 limit for all total. On the third day we have our Christmas luncheon and you get to guess your Secret Santa. I drew the most difficult to shop for person there is in my group. I can divulge no more in case my co-workers read here... but let's just say I have been CREATIVE!

So this morning I got up and went garage saling. I was looking for a few things like baskets I need for this Secret Santa thing. GRACIOUS- it was the BEST haul in years. I drug home brand new KEDS shoes in my size, never before used things from a newlywed couple who were selling off their gifts, an unopened Mary Kay bath set that I KNOW retails for $45- I got that for a buck... and a kayak. Let me explain. My dad has had kayak fever for about three years. Last year he finally got one and he's practiced and done well- and I thought there was no way he'd want another one. But on the off chance, I called him up this morning and told him I'd found a $500 kayak for $45... and he practically screamed at me to get it. He wanted me to sit in it so no one else would get it. I had to give the man $10 to hold it and go back to the bank to get more cash. Lucky for him (dad) I'm driving to Florida for Thanksgiving next week anyway- so it just happened to work out. He said he gets lonely on his own boat and was looking for another one so other people could go out with him. It is kind of a solo sport. Frankly, it's probably safer this way anyway. I always hated to think of him out on a river somewhere alone, rolling his kayak. I digress... I got the dog gone thing in my truck and came home. You should have seen Conrad's face when I hauled an oar out of the back of my truck. :) Poor thing probably thought I had one of my off the cuff moments and had decided to take up kayaking in the Gulf or something.

Then I went to Tuesday Morning and Target and FINISHED MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! I rock the cas-bah for sure!!! The only person I have left is Mr Conrad himself. I already know what I am getting and where I am going- and since we are always together I gotta wait til he is at work. I took a few days after Thanksgiving off and we'll be back in Texas- so I'll go then and get him done. By the time I get back to work I will be DONE!

WOO HOO...

See? Whirlwind shopping day!

Karyn

Pic attached is of my dad teaching himself to kayak in his pool this summer.

Sick-O

Great sakes alive! By the end of next week I will probably be in the hospital nursing a nasty case of pneaumonia.

Turkey Day is almost upon us and yet, Houston is still in the blistering temperatures. When we left for Hawaii it was still Africa Hot here in town. We get to Hawaii and the time difference between the islands and the mainland almost did us in. We get back, to still blistering temperatures and have to deal with Daylight Savings Time (Hawaii did not change, so that REALLY screwed us up). Like a loyal employee, I got up and went to work the next day and darn near fell asleep in my "work station"..... then this past week I have to fly to Detroit- where it was a blustery 36 degrees. At night, it was like the air was just cutting through you. It felt like Chicago. Today I land in Houston- back to almost 80 degrees and then on Wednesday, we're heading off on our "southern road trip" to Florida to see my dad. GREAT SAKES ALIVE if the time changes back and forth don't kill us, the up and down weather I'm experiencing certainly will do me in. I feel like I'm 67 years old- no offense to all you 67 year old young people out there.

Ah- some good news. I don't want to JINX it, but it appears my dad has sold his house in Orange, Texas. It had been on the market when he first left. It never sold and my uncle moved to town- so he moved in and thank goodness- Hurricane Rita tore through there and did some damage. Uncle and Aunt Beth were there to be able to supervise all the repairs. Uncle accepted a job in Florida (yeah I know- uncle and dad always end up near each other) and so Aunt Beth stayed behind to sell the house. There was an offer accepted this week and if all goes well, they close December 20th. Merry Christmas to dad! Having two housepayments for three years probably wasn't fun.

Speaking of Christmas- this is the perfect time to purchase my dad's book- Shadows of the Prince- sold at barnesandnobel.com - I will be happy to get him to autograph it for you and sent to you in time for Christmas. Really now- isn't that a FABULOUS gift???!!!!

Check out his website at www.davidabercrombie.net

Much Love and Pneaumonia,

Karyn

I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane

Tomorrow- for Detroit. Gotta go on my first bizzzzzzzzniz trip for Westlake Chemical. Plan to go see an old school chum while I'm there as well. So I may not be posting til Friday or Saturday.

I have a few more pics from the island.

Our last night, they shut down the Maui Ocean Center (aquarium) for us and we had dinner there at the Seabreeze restaurant. Good fun, good company- for me, once you've seen an aquarium, you've seen them all. For me, the most exciting part was seeing all the coral. Conrad and I had been collecting it all week, so it was sort of cool to be able to see it alive and well and reading all about it...

But I digress- it was a wonderful time, but it was HOT HOT HOT. It was Houston HOT in that place... all the pics are of us bloated and sweaty. It was an open air restaurant, which in theory is very nice and romantic, but in reality it's hot and uncomfortable and I may have contracted malaria from the insects. Not sure yet. Here are some pics from the Maui Ocean Center and Malaria Center. HA HA

.... and here's a pic of me, on a hammock, near the beach. The hotel had several of these and they were so much fun! I was surprised how often they were empty. So I hopped into this one and almost fell out- I was swinging back and forth so hard. Poor Conrad had to stop me and help me out!

More to come- after I get back from DETROIT ROCK CITY!

Karyn

Eatin' In

We are so awesome. We have not eaten out since we got back from Hawaii. I have been quite the kitchen maiden! I cooked dinner Sunday night and went on ahead and boiled eggs for egg salad later in the week AND I made potato salad we ate on Monday. I ROCK.

No Hawaii pics today- they are on the home computer and I am not home.

So I'll update more later.

Karyn

Continuation

I almost feel normal again...

Ok, so yesterday the Blogger cut off all my picture adding. I was talking about the pool at the resort and how I wished we had more time there- it was spectacular. So here is just the pool itself early one morning before it was overrun with all the honeymooners - there must have been 2000 of them... all the girls with their shiny new rings and all the boys who looked bored out of their minds.

We did get to spend a lot of time on the beach. There wasn't a ton of room really to lay out- but plenty to walk on and so we did. We walked and collected shells. Here's the Rad-Man getting his coral.

Then we had a night where they let the entire group split up (about 75 people) into groups of three and pick from a list of three restaurants to go to. We picked Kimo's- it was on the water. The dessert was Hula Pie which I guess is kind of famous- but it's basically an ice cream pie. Pretty good- but another restaurant served Creme Brulee which is my FAVORITE- but oh well, the Hula Pie we won't really normally get anywhere else.

So we got all gussied up (or as much as you can in Hawaii) and went out. This was us, getting ready to go- the background is where they hold the Luau.

A few nights later- they gave us money and we got to go where ever we wanted. We picked Pacifico's on the beach in Lahaina- which is a little fishing town a few miles away from the resort. This is where we went to shop. We had been to Lahaina earlier in the day to get shot glasses, my magnet, the frame I always buy for my pictures... and we had stopped into a jewelry store. Conrad saw a wedding ring he really liked, he tried it on and they offered 60% off. We thought about it and left... we went back to Lahaina that night for dinner... and he ended up going back to buy the ring... it was a great deal and it's very pretty. I'll have to see if I can take a pic of it. If anything, it's a nice memory and also cool to be able to say you bought your wedding ring in Hawaii. He wants to wear it now, but I said NO!

Here we are at Pacifico's.

Alrighty- that's all for today- I can continue tomorrow!

Karyn