A Night at the State Fair

During our adventures, Kristin and I spent one night at the South Carolina State Fair. I missed the fair in Kansas this year, and it's one of my favorite things, so I was really excited about it! We were both tired, cranky, and didn't feel that great, but Kristin struggled through it for me. (Thank you!!) I think we both ended up having fun, though!



I've seen a lot of different fried foods at the fair, but never Kool Aid! We were intrigued, so we found someone who'd bought it and they kindly let us take a picture! They said it tastes like red velvet cake...maybe someday I'll have the courage to try it.

This is one of our new friends, Karen. Our other new friend, Ben, was one of her keepers...he tried to get me to ride Karen, too, but I've ridden an elephant before and didn't feel I needed to have that particular experience again! So glad Kristin enjoyed it, though, and I got to pet Karen for a little while, which was pretty neat!

Random

Today is a day of random. Forgive me now.

You've been warned.

1. Little snippet of random from a FB conversation earlier today

Friend S: I get off at 8:30 and don't have to work tomorrow.
Me: I kinda want to see a movie.
I think.
Or go to dinner.
Or go to the zoo. (**Note: The zoo was definitely closed by this time**)
Or something.
I really don't know.
In case you couldn't tell.
*Pause*
Although I -do- know I'm hungry.
Ha! I made a decision!
S: Food!
Me: Oh no. We didn't get that far. We decided I was hungry. The end.

I then apologized for my weird sense of humor and we moved on.

2. I feel it's time I introduced you to my baby. He's 9 months old and a total pain in my rear. But I love him to pieces!

This...is Beau.

On my couch. And my sweatshirt.

He thinks he's a lapdog. Or a person.

That's probably more accurate.

This is his perch in the back seat of my car. He would prefer the front seat, but he no longer fits. Hasn't for several months now.

 He's a boxer/Great Dane mix. He was supposed to be boxer & lab, but his body says otherwise! But we love him anyway.

3. Quite possibly the most random of all...

....my living room ceiling.

Side note: I don't know what the weird shadow thing is...it's not on my ceiling...maybe on my camera??

Anyway. I -hate- popcorn ceilings!! With a passion.

I'm not sure from where this hatred stems. I love popcorn! It's a food group for me! But I positively detest popcorn ceilings. Which is why I can't wait until I own my home and can get rid of such abominations for all eternity. Can. Not. Wait.

What a Weekend

We learn new things every day. Right?

Saturday I learned several new things when I took my cousin and her friends to a concert at the Granada in Lawrence.

1. Apparently at 17, I was not a normal teenage girl. Neither were any of my friends!

-These- are normal teenage girls. Teenage girls who are obsessed--and I do mean OBSESSED--with The Maine and Taking Back Sunday. Teenage girls who will wait in line for four (count 'em--four) hours to make sure they're in the very front row to see said bands. Teenage girls who will then spend the next 24 hours recounting every. single. moment. of said concert. About 4,273 times. To this day, I cannot name a single concert for which I would stand in line so long. Good thing I love my girls!

2. I do NOT like Taking Back Sunday.

Who decided playing instruments as loud as humanly possible and literally screaming into the microphone ad nauseum could be defined as music??

I really want to know. He/she and I need to have a very serious chat. I'm pretty sure it was a man. Just sayin'.

Because it's not. Music, that is. Trust me.

3. I hate mosh pits even more than Taking Back Sunday. Hate hate hate them!!!!!!!!!

Who in their right mind thinks this looks fun? No thank you.

I literally had to remove myself as guardian of the three underage girls because I was about to punch a not-so-underage boy for his atrocious manners. And then get his mother's phone number and ask her what in the world went so wrong. Because I want to avoid with my own children whatever mistake she made that caused her grown son to behave so rudely! But I digress.

4. As much as I complain, a weekend with 16- and 17-year-old girls is a lot of fun. I want to do it again. Tomorrow.

The gorgeous girlie on the left is my cousin E. In the middle is her friend S, and A is on the right. Sylas & Maddy's is an amazing local ice cream shop right next to the Granada, and the girls obviously had to run over for a treat while in the neverending line for the concert.

5. Introducing people to Lawrence's food, shops, and the KU campus is probably on my list of top 20 things to do. Pepperjax is just heaven, and Pizza Shuttle at midnight?? A must! I can't wait for this girl to be 18--or better yet, 21--so I can introduce her to the really fun parts!

Procrastination

Right now I'm supposed to be completing an accounting test. But that sounds about as appealing as cleaning did in my last post, so we're going to pretend it doesn't exist for a bit longer. Thank you for your cooperation.

I recently discovered The Pioneer Woman's blog, and have since been pouring over every single entry. I've got a ways to go yet, seeing as how she started it in 2006! However...the woman is hilarious. I don't think I could possibly ever get tired of reading about her family and their adventures on the ranch. And she's living my life. I'm sure of it. I mean, who wouldn't want a gorgeous home on a working cattle ranch in the middle of nowhere with four adorable children and two super cute bassett hounds?? Ok, so my version would involve five children and several enormous mastiffs, but the rest?? Totally my dream.

Yes please!!!



Lunch the last two days has been wonderful. I got to spend time some one-on-one time with two good friends. Yesterday J and I went for margaritas and yummy nachos at Cheddar's. That place is growing on me. It was really good to see him after so long...we haven't had much time together at all lately.

Mmmmmm, orange chicken!!

Today K and I took a walk down memory lane and hit up Panda Express so we could relive our weekly lunch dates in the K-State Union. It was so good to catch up with her and get to chat with someone who's known me for such a long time. She and I were a part of a group of about eight girls who went all through middle and high school as close friends. There's something special about a friend you've known for so long that you don't have to explain anything. They know your history, and just know...you. It's a very unique experience to be able to go months without talking to an old friend, and yet you can still pick back up like it was only yesterday. Twelve+ years with these girls, and we still have an absolute blast every time we get together! I just might have to make that happen more often...