Countdown to Monday

Another weekend has come and gone. Thankfully I have a mere 40 hours to work before nine blessed days of vacation. Hopefully Jen can perform an extraction of my Blackberry when I'm in Texas so I won't check my e-mail incessantly. I have a serious problem with that thing.

The other good news? No traveling this week, unless you count Rogers. But I don't, because I spend more time there than I do in Siloam most weeks.

On Friday I met with a loan officer and then made an offer on my house. The bank has until 5 p.m. tomorrow to respond (it's in foreclosure, and I offered $27K less than it was listed for a year ago), so my fingers are crossed. My mortgage would be about the same as my rent has been, and I won't have to move. I'm sure the roof will blow off or a toilet will explore mere moments after signing on the dotted line, but oh the joy of taking the interest off my taxes and not watching my hard-earned money (okay, my money) being flushed down the toilet every month in rent for five more years.

After a marathon work lunch, I headed south to meet Paige and we went to the Miss UCA pageant to cheer on our friend Erin. She was the interview winner and third runner-up.

Taylor had a game in Fort Smith Saturday morning, so Eck and I went to watch. They have a great team, and it was fun to see Hope and Chance, too. Hope was in an especially good mood and was generous with the hugs and kisses and declarations of love. Not quite sure what that was about.

Five days. 40 hours. Then sweet freedom.

Bring on Turkey Day!

Happy birthday to me

I am in official birthday countdown mode (it's a mere five hours for those of you who still need to overnight my presents).

I love any day when others realize that the world revolves around me. All kidding aside, I don't need presents. I just demand that everyone acknowledge my natal anniversary. I've already gotten five birthday cards (thank you Granny, Memaw Kat, Estella, Paige and Kelly), and that makes me so happy.

Tomorrow three guys from work are taking me to lunch. Granted, I dropped hints for about a week to get a lunch invite, but still... there will be frivolity and hopefully some singing. Then Dad and Vickie are meeting me in Fayetteville for dinner. This weekend I'm headed up to Mount Nebo to spend a couple of nights with Scott and Alisa, so I'm managing to stretch this birthday into several days.

Only 366 more days 'til the next one.

I'm back!

Heatfelt apologies for my absence. I've been driving around the world... well, at least northwest part of the state, since last Thursday. I spent Friday in our Little Rock office, then stopped at UCA to see some old friends. I was in Russellville on Friday and Saturday, emceeing the Miss Lake Dardanelle pageant. Here's me, Erin, and Paige, just after the pageant.



One of the great things about my job is that I do get to travel quite a bit, which gives me the opportunity to catch up with old friends. In addition to seeing Lon, Jen, Brady, Avery and Peyton on V-Day, I had lunch with Alisa and Grey on Saturday, and I got to spend two nights with Paige and her mom, Lynne.

Yesterday I left Russellville early to head to the Fort to pick up my grandmother for church. I usually attend the 8:30 a.m. service since I am not at all interested in being on TV. Yesterday I picked a spot far enough away from the camera, but of course I was caught anyway. Several folks e-mailed and/or called to tell me the news, and since I DVR church every Sunday, I got the chance to see me and my four chins for myself this afternoon. Ugh. Back on the diet.

I spent today in the Fort Smith office and got to have a tasty lunch at Blue Plate with Susan and Ashley. Overall, it was a productive trip, but I'm glad to be home, back in my own bed. For two nights at least. Then it's back on the road.