I'm still alive. . . . My post for 2013

 OK--I decided I better post before an entire year goes by. . . Hubby and I are doing great.

We had a 'family reunion of sorts' last year when our youngest son came home from his mission in the Philippines during the summer. . .

 My kids are all grown up. . . and it was so great having them all home at the same time!

We even got Grandma Carol to come out and stay with us for the occasion. . .

Middle son had a baby boy this past July--so now they have a Princess AND a Prince!

And I decided that since I am an 'empty nester' of sorts--I would get back into something I have loved since childhood. . . THE THEATER!

I had the great fortune of making two shows this year!  One in May/June entitled: The Dixie Swim Club:

And the other one I am just finishing up now--(Nov/Dec) entitled: If It's Monday, This Must Be Christmas:

Life has been busy, fulfilling and GOOD!  I'll try and be better about posting next year--but I'm not promising anything. . . . 

You can follow me on FACEBOOK  --since I'm almost always on there these days. . .

For now I will wish all my fellow bloggers the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years!

Be careful how you pick your friends

Did your mom ever warn you about being careful who you hang out with?  Did we ever listen to our moms?  Well, mama's warnings were in many cases spot on, truth be told. . . and now I'm reaping the consequences of not heeding that advice.

Case in point:  Last year I started hanging out with a new friend who wanted me to train her to get in shape. . . so I did. . . and THAT'S when all the mayhem fun started. . .

After this gal pal of mine got into shape--she decided to enter us into a bunch of races and dragged my fanny everywhere--walking and running all over the place. . . . 

I guess I should have expected that at some point, I would end up creating a monster.  But this was no ordinary fitness fan (fiend).  No--not by a long shot!  We not only had to race on the weekends--we had to do it in drag costume.

And of course she wouldn't limit us to flat raceways. . . there were bridges, trails, hills, cliffs, waterfalls and all kinds of natural and unnatural stuff to wade through. . .

 No matter where the next road, trail, arduous pathway takes us--I can only blame myself. . . I should have trained her how to cook instead. . . 

Girls just wanna have fun. . . Part 3 (Road trip)

Well, it started out as four wandering women. . . then three. . . and then there were two for the road. . .

Yep! We're talking ROAD TRIP!

This was not a trip for the faint of heart (or even responsible human being, for that matter)  When an ever-ready-for-adventure gal pal asked if I would help her drive one of her parents' cars from California to Idaho last September--of course I could be counted upon. That's just the kind of reliable friend I am. So I dragged myself from whatever mundane thing I was doing and flew to L.A. to meet her and start a week long road trip of mirth and mayhem.

FIRST STOP:   Las Vegas. . . and the Fremont Street Experience. . . 

Then a day of serious shopping followed by a fabulous dinner and 'Menopause the Musical' at the Luxor. . .

And of course we had to check out that Roller Coaster at the New York, New York Hotel. . .

 This was before the ride started. . . 

 This was during. . . 

 The roller coaster view from the street--after we safely made it off. . . 

The fun and frolic had to come to an end--because. . . 

NEXT STOP: on to Utah to visit my sons and daughter in law, who happened to be pregnant with my FIRST EVER grand daughter. (which would be born in late December--but that's ANOTHER story)  I told dear daughter in law that I found a cool restaurant in Vegas named after the little princess soon to be born:

 Uh, not the Michael, but the MINA part--since that was the name they were choosing for their soon to be wee one.  When they found out she might already have a franchise in her name (at least partly her name) they were elated:

NEXT STOP:  Idaho. . . . Boise to be exact--and for some reason I don't have one single stinkin' picture of Idaho.  Perhaps because by the time we got there we were too exhausted from all the playing (and driving) and eating (and driving) and sight-seeing (and driving) and visiting (and driving) and shopping (and driving). . . along with driving.

Then it was time to (thankfully) fly back to Portland and give the road a rest. . .

And I guess the 'girls just wanna have fun' will have to take a break. . . at least until another post. . .

Girls just wanna have fun. . . Part 2 (in Seaside, OR)

I just can't stand it if I'm not traveling sometime, somewhere, with someone. . . so in mid August, a couple of gal pals and I decided to hit the road and take off to Cannon Beach and Seaside Oregon.

(Thanks Frank, for the use of your sweet lil' beach house) where one of us got a bit wet and cranky:

While some of us managed to stay cool, calm, and collected. . . (as well as dry)

We had such a great time relaxing and beach combing and even found a baby seal to suntan with:

And what road trip can be complete without pigging out on sundry delectables as well as over-sized elephant ears:

You just can't go to Seaside without visiting the Promenade indoor mall and find crazy stuff in the store to justify silly photo ops:

Thanks to my crazy gal pals who always are up for living it up, laughing, and loafing at any ole' time.

Until next time. . . .