Late Night Projects = Glowing Results

Mom came over last night again and this is what we worked on until 2:00 a.m.

Ghost luminaries - spooooooky!

Ghost luminaries - spooooooky!

Obama pumpkin!

I'll have better pictures on Monday. I forgot my camera and only had my blackberry to take pictures with. We have a fun night ahead of us!!!

Happy Halloween, everybody!!

Opposites Attract

Our family has decided to dress up as opposites for Halloween! What? That isn't enough of a clue for you? Okay - here is a hint.

Us on a normal day:


Hehehehe!!! Got it?

Well, we are having quite a few people over tomorrow night I do believe. With the husband working, me playing tennis for the third night in a row tonight, and pumpkins still left to carve - I'm not quite sure how it will all get done. But I can't wait for Halloween!!

Stay tuned for Halloween costume pictures! It's going to be good!

To All of You With a Message from Tommy

That's me! Sorry! I was signed in to my cousin's email because I sent his resume to a company for him. I didn't realize I was signed out of my blogger account and signed in as him, and then proceeded to go around leaving lots of comments. Ooops! So for all of you who think there is a mysterious 'Tommy' out there - it's me. Sorry!

**Update: I think this just got a little funnier. During my comment spree, I left Wep a comment on this post telling her what a good 'Master Baiter' she was. That comment coming from an anonymous Tommy is kinda creepy I guess. She erased it. Hehe!

You Win!

You win, blogging ladies who talk about nothing but Twilight. I am no longer able to function in the blogosphere without reading this series. So I bought the first book yesterday when I was grocery shopping. My work is going to wind down next week and I am taking a trip to the beach. It seems like a good time to start.

Also, I bought 2 pumpkins for my campaign-o-lanterns. And I forgot to put the link up so you can carve your pumpkins, too. Here you go. (I realize everyone else has probably already carved their pumpkins but cut me some slack. I will get it done in due time, hopefully before Friday.)

Happy Hall - O - Ween!

Get it? O..... Obama. Yea, I am definitely more excited about pumpkin carving after finding these.


There are Republican stencils, too, if you so choose to desecrate a pumpkin.

Hehe! Just kidding.... sorta!

A Dead End Road

or two, or three, or thirty.

I'm helping out my local Congressional candidate and agreed to put out yard signs for voters who requested a sign. I got a list of 38 houses, recruited my friend Brandon, and off we went across this great county city putting out yard signs.

The first sign - end of a dead end road.

Second sign - end of a dead end road.

I kid you not.

You people living on dead end streets are very politically active. Thank you for your support. Do you really think you need a sign in your yard that only you will see?

Let's play a game. Can you spot this political sign (or any other soul who might see it)?

Is that a house or hay bale?

Is that a sign I see?

Ahh.... there it is. Next to the lone driveway.

This was one of the first few houses. We thought it was too funny and snapped a few pictures to commemorate the moment. Well the night just got more comical. I swear - at least 30 out of the 38 houses were on dead end streets, most being the actual last house on the street.

So how else should we end the night but on the deadest end of all dead ends. (Did that make sense?)


There is a house back there....... I think. No kidding - there are apparently three houses back there. And this is in a subdivision. Yea! Nice houses, nice street, you get to the end of the street and off to the side runs this long gravel alley way that leads to a couple more houses. OMG! I am not going any further down this creepy gravel road. We stuck a sign at the end of the drive and called it a night.

Is this some opponent strategy that I'm not aware of - make campaigns waste valuable signs and make poor volunteers waste their gas for little or no exposure? I really wouldn't doubt it. Alas, I think I just drew the short end of the stick with my list.

Thanks, Brandon, for staying out until 10:30 at night putting out yard signs. 5 hours of work = dinner at McDonalds. That's about right. Ha!

Pomp and Circumstance

Okay, you all have your children to talk about. I talk about my smart little devil puppy.

For the last 8 weeks, Rafa has been going to school at Pet Smart. We are so lucky because Rafa is the only puppy in the class. There were a few to begin with but they all dropped out or switched classes. And then there was us! So Rafa has pretty much had private lessons this entire time (without the cost of private lessons).

Friday night was graduation!

Here is Laura, his trainer, with the official crowning of the graduation cap!


Isn't he just too cute? He looks so excited!!

She shook his hand - yes, he can shake - and presented him (me) with his diploma.


Lucas had been out of town but made it just before we left so we were able to get a nice family picture at graduation. Ha!


And his proud momma!


He melts my heart!!!!


In case you are wondering, here are all of the wonderful tricks our little honor student has learned: sit, lay down, roll over, say please, dance, shake, give high fives, leave it (you can put food or a treat on the floor and he won't go after it), take a bow, say his prayers..... and some others I'm probably forgetting. He is such a good boy! Now if only we could calm him down a little!!!

Remembering Halloweens Past

The following memories are from Halloween 2006. This was quite possibly one of the best Halloweens I've had as an adult (okay, I'm using the word adult very loosely).

Candice, Shelby, and I drove up to Nashville to celebrate with old friends! Antics ensued!

Here was our group! We had some cowgirls, a pirate, Michael Jackson, Wendy and Tinkerbell, and me - Officer Ashley. Hehe!


We had a great time! We started out at some fraternity party but the troopers went on.

So, a police officer, a pirate, and Michael Jackson walk into a gay bar......


I just thought that was funny. Sounds like a joke. But it was no joke at all. We had the best time! And since we were all taken at the time it was fun to just dance around and not have to really worry much about standard bar losers. All the guys were great!


Check it out. Yea! He was under arrest. Ha!! And I'm in my serious officer pose. We met lots of great people - including Gay Super Man - I need to show ya'll that picture. It's at home. Let me just say, from this night forward my favorite song has to be 'It's Raining Men' Hallelujah!

And you just have to see this picture because you must know about these boots. And see - we're in Nashville. There's a guitar on the street!


I remember we were walking down the street and a police officer rolled down his window and said something - I don't really remember if he was talking to us or someone else - but I told him not to worry, I was handling the situation. Haha! He laughed - good thing.

I have a feeling that this year is going to be another great year! No Nashville gay bars - but it will be fun. Stay tuned for detail.

(I know I keep leading ya'll on but I want some good pictures of my plans before I start talking about this year's costumes!)

Slumber Party!

I spent the night with my parents last night. I had to come back to my home town (about 30 or so minutes from where I live) for a fundraiser so I thought I would go ahead and stay. It was so much fun and I was glad to visit. I had a little bit of dinner then my mom and I went to visit my grandparents. Then we came back home. Then we went to Wal-Mart. You know what, mom - we should have gone to Sonic. We use to always go to Sonic for a late night treat when we were up late planning and scheming.

Last night we were planning and scheming for Halloween. And let me just tell you, we've got some great costumes coming I do believe. I picked out a pattern online and my mom actually found it in the store so we had to go find fabric last night and also picked out a few accessories.

Another thing I got to do while home - watch cable (or satellite - whatever). Oh, my! Lucas, we are definitely missing out! We stayed up past 1:00 a.m. watching MSNBC. How great!

And Sarah - Really? $150,000??? Yea, ladies. She is just like us. Hmmm... I don't think so!!

Run, Ashley, Run

Weekend before last I ran in a 15k but afterwards my left foot has been bothering me a little. It has since gotten much better. But when I am on my feet for a long time (dancing all Saturday night or tennis match last night) it begins to hurt again. Therefore, I have slowed down my running. But I really have to get it in gear. I am less than 2 months away. I'm going to make myself get back on track this week - for sure!

All of this to say - I don't know what to blog about. I have a terrific barn star - thanks to Wendy - that I have yet to found a home for. Halloween costumes in mind but nothing yet accomplished. Crown molding up in the living room but yet to receive it's final coat of paint. Many more home projects to come but little time to accomplish them.

So I leave you for the day with this:

"Time is free but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back." ~Harvey MacKay

NIAGARA

One of my favorite - no - MY FAVORITE Sarah Evans' song is Niagara:

Standing at the edge of this cliff
Gravity being what it is
I'm afraid that I might stumble
'cause I... I've never been this high
I'm so carried away by this place
And the simple beauty of your face
And the walls start to crumble and I'm
Helpless to fight

'cause you can't, ask the sun not to shine
And no one's ever, found a way to stop time
Oh baby it's unstoppable
I can't resist at all
I would never, try to slow down the wind
Baby it just, has to be what it is
And asking me not to love you
Is like asking Niagara
not to fall

I can't, worry my heart with what if
Oh maybe I should just give in
And wrap myself around you and
Let you take you down
Take me down

'cause you can't, ask the sun not to shine
And no one's ever, found a way to stop time
Oh baby it's unstoppable
I can't resist at all
I would never, try to slow down the wind
'cause baby it just, has to be what it is
And asking me not to love you
Is like asking Niagara
not to fall

No you cant, ask the sun not to shine
And no one's ever, found a way to stop time
Oh baby it's unstoppable
I can't resist at all
I would never, try to slow down the wind
'cuase baby it just has to be what it is
And asking me not to love you
Is like asking Niagara
not to fall

Rain Rain Rain down on me

Wash wash wash over me

Fall fall fall into me

............ okay, Sarah and I just had a moment there. Anyway, point of this being - my husband just returned from a work trip to Canada and while there he made a visit to Niagara Falls! How Cool! I wish I could've been there!

Caught Up!

Well..... sorta. When I came back to my bloglines subscriptions, I had over 800 posts to read. I did not read all 800 - but I did scroll and hopefully have not missed all of your important going ons. I made a few comments but for the most part am just starting fresh - so from now on I promise to be a dedicated reader.

I am currently in the midst of Halloween planning. We have found a fun party on the top floor of a parking garage in our dowtown area. We're trying to get a group together at our house to pre-party and pass out candy before we head downtown. I have costume ideas in mind but I'll save them for another day when I have more in progress.

I Miss My Candice!!!

My good friend Candice came to visit and let me just say - well - yes, I felt a few years younger that weekend. Candice is still a 'college girl' - working on her Masters in D.C. I am an old married woman and can barely keep up but I tried my best for her.

The first night there was Mexican - then back to the house - then out to the bars.
The next day there was shoe shopping (because this little devil got a hold of Candice's shoes so we treated her to a new pair)

Then there was card games and a BAMA game!


We cheered on our team!


and ignored the Georgia fan section -

AND CELEBRATED OUR VICTORY OVER THE #1 DAWGS! WOOHOOOO!

ROOOOOOLLLLLLL TIIIIIIDE!!!!!

Then we headed out to a bar to celebrate and throw ourselves obnoxiously around any Auburn fans that dared enter the streets that night. Okay, maybe not - but we danced all night in our Alabama attire!

Then, I got a little sleepy and passed out fell asleep and missed this.
Look - my two friends - dancing! I enjoyed this moment the next morning while flipping through the pictures.

Then she left and my world was a little less bright. :(

Come back soon, Candice!!!

Dear Abandoned Readers,

I hope this letter finds you well. I have been missing for quite some time and have no doubt missed much of your life and many of your creative ideas. I try not to discuss work much but I no doubt have some 'splainin' to do so let me just say this - WORK IS CRAZY!!!! Oh my, goodness! This has been the first time in my short career (2 years in January) where I really felt entirely overwhelmed for an entire month. Yes, I've had my days - but an entire month? Never! Oh, it has been crazy. While I am still not beyond this craziness, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. As that light draws nearer I hope to see all of my blog friends waving and welcoming me back with open arms - although I may not deserve it after deserting you all for so long!

Soooooo - I'm back! There isn't really a whole lot to catch up with on my side. I'm still working a lot, playing tennis, and training for my marathon in December. I ran a 15K race last weekend! Woohoo! As a warm up I ran 2 miles - that may have been stupid - bringing my running distance now to just over 11 miles. I am about a month and a half out and really need to step up my daily running.

Also, I got my barn star in the mail yesterday! I am going to have to find a special place for it then show it off to all of you.

And guess what? 3 weeks from today I'll be at the beach!! Yea!

So now I'm back to work. I have another pretty heavy task to complete before a Friday morning meeting. I hope to finish it up as quick as possible so I can start to catch up with all of you. I'll do my best.

Sincerely appreciating your patience,

Ashley