What's been going on

I haven't posted in a while, so thought I'd just post what's been going on. Really, there's not a whole lot new. Tony's came home from CA last Tues. We went to the WC football game last Friday, it was awful!!! The ref's were nuts!!! Anyway, Sat. we just hung out around here as Tony wasn't feeling well. Brooke and George came for dinner on Sunday so B could pick out our clothes for our pictures on the 4th. Tony left at 4 am on Mon. for AL. He'll be home Sat. morning and then will leave again Mon. for NY and return on Fri. I don't really like him being gone but it's really not so bad. I'm so busy during the week anyway it doesn't really phase me. However, it's more on the weekends that I miss him. He's usually home then so it's not so bad. I know it's not his fault, he can't control where work sends him. Plus, he does make more $$ while he's gone away. At this point in time that's fine with me since the wedding stuff is putting a big hole in our pockets. Really, with him being gone I think it makes us stronger as we have more to look forward to when he is home for the 2-3 days. You gotta do what you gotta do!

I think I've been very fortunate since I've bought my car. Today, my car died!!! Luckily I had jumper cables. Wasn't sure if it was the battery though. Sheri at work jumped my car and it started but made a funny noise still. Normally, for that I would take it to Wal-mart. To be on the safe side I went to the dealer. Sure enough it was the battery-should've gone to Wal-mart. I would've gone to W but we couldn't get it started again even with jumping it. I had to get a battery.. a whopping $177. OUCH!! There goes wedding stuff!!

So that's about the gist of it. Work is still stressful and having some problems but that's to be expected. Children who misbehave and parents who fight over children.... story of my life!!! Hope everyone is doing well!!

Dresses and photos

All of our dresses are here. The girls' and mine! They weren't supposed to be here until Oct/Nov. I'm glad they were early. Steph went and picked them up and took them to my parents house. My mom wasn't home so she left them with my dad. Like he knew what to do with them-they ended up on the living room floor. Now, I just have to have it altered.

We are getting our engagement pics taken on Oct. 4 at Smith Photography. I wanted to do some with Tony's race car, but since it's not in running order right now we'll have to wait until spring. We have our wedding photographer booked as well. Bob Foos, who goes to our church is going to do them. He took Adam and Julie's and they were great. He doesn't take pics anymore but said he would for us. Yes!!!

Not a whole lot going on here now. Tony's still in CA and it's still raining here. Sinus infections suck but hoping the rain will help me sleep!

Kenny Chesney

Wednesday, Sept. 10th was the end to my summer. I know summer had really already ended but it wasn't officially over for me until this day. It was my last Kenny Chesney concert of the year. He was the beginning to my summer and now he was end. It was held at the new BOK center in Tulsa. Tony was supposed to go, but how convenient he had to leave for CA that morning. Sarah was going instead. We left Miami around 4:15 drove in the rain to Tulsa. It had been years since I had been to downtown Tulsa and wasn't for sure where I was going. I followed the signs. By the way it was raining so that didn't help the situation. We made it downtown without any problem and found the BOK center right off. Next, on the agenda was to find somewhere to eat. However, downtown is horrible! It's all 1-way streets. UGH!!! I couldn't find anything! Again, it was raining. Sarah remembered there was a Spaghetti Factory close and we found it. There was a little problem though. I was driving on a 1-way road and was going to turn into the SF and some stupid lady tried to pull out when I was going to pull in. She almost hit me! She pulled out at an angle, so I couldn't turn into the parking lot. I had to keep going. She pulled out behind me and get up on my tail, swerving erratically and trying to hit my car. I turned the corner to go around the block and stopped at a stop sign. How she didn't hit my car I have no clue. Next thing I know, she is out of her truck coming up to my door. Sarah is on the phone with Brooke just yakking away. This skanky lady (40 years old I'd say) comes up to my car and starts cussing me out telling me she's going to punch my face in. She apparently though I flipped her off, however I didn't. I had my arm propped on the window with my fingers at top of the window. I could smell alcohol on her breath. She kept rambling on about how I was a bitch and needed to get the hell out before she hit me. It was really quite funny, all I would've had to do is open the car door and she would've fallen over. After that little episode, we made it safe and sound to the SF. We only had to wait about 15 min. While were waiting I overheard some people talking about how LeAnn Rimes wasn't going to be there as she was sick and that Miranda Lambert was taking her place. I sooo thrilled!!!!! I went to ask the couple to confirm. They did and I told them I was so glad!! They proceeded to tell me that they've watched LeAnn grow up and really loved her. Oops! Don't think they were too thrilled I was glad she wasn't going to be there. Oh well! Sarah was just as excited! I love Miranda! Our dinner was awesome. Sarah and I both had Manicotti (half with Alfredo half with red sauce). Delicious! After dinner, we made our way to the BOK and parked for $5 a few blocks away. The BOK is so awesome and beautiful. Our seats were wonderful. We are the 1st full section right by the stage where it T's in row 17. GREAT SEATS!!

I really don't think there is a bad seat in the house. Brother Trouble was the 1st act (Next Big Star). They were really good and I loved some of their songs. Next, came Miranda Lambert

She put on an awesome set. She is so full of energy and has the best kick-ass attitude! Sarah and I were so happy and impressed! She's not this skinny little thing, she's real and sings about real things and events! She rocks!!! After her high energy show it was time for Kenny. This makes my 9 or 10th show and each time it's just as amazing as the last. I know it would be rockin! The lights went down, the screen came on and the little Pirate intro started and the music came on and up he came. The crowd was wild!!!! He put on a amazing show. Another surprise was Uncle Kracker was there. There were only 3 more shows left (counting this one) and UK was there for them. They did their normal, WTSGD, Follow Me, and Drift Away. He ended with my fav. song She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy. The show was loud, amazing, and most of all it made me forget about all my troubles! That's what his shows do for everyone. It was over about 10:30. We were home by 1:00. It was easy to find the HWY and get back on 44. I was so tired on Thurs. though. It was well worth it!!! Hopefully I'll be able to go next year but with marriage and all who knows. Tony owes me one!!!

I WON!!!!!

Well, for once in my life I finally won something. The day we went to get our dresses, they had some drawings and stuff from different vendors. I got a phone call today that I won a free engagment picture setting with Smith Photography in Joplin. We get the setting and 1 free pic. That's fine with me, they do an excellant job. I was quite excited about that. I don't have the appt. yet, I have to wait and see what Tony's schedule is like since he leaves for CA on Wed. Brooke is going to come and pick out our outfits (she's good at that stuff). I wanted to have a pic with Tony's race car, but it's tored apart at the moment. So we'll do those in spring.

This will be a great week! I get to see Kenny Chesney for the 10th time on Wed!!!!! Tony was supposed to go, but he's leaving for CA. Sarah is going again! YEAH!!!!

Racing Season

Well, Tony's racing season is officially over as of last Sunday. He got home from NY a few days early so we went racing on Sunday. I was really hoping he'd do well so we could race the 5oo today. During Hot Laps, he was smoking because of a water leak. So we had to put on new gaskets and put everything back together. During the heat, it started smoking again and then his car fell apart. The pulley fell off (holds the power steering belts) and is connected to the crank and the fan. Anyway, so he had to towed off and that was the end to our night. We were hoping he just had to replace the pulley. After Tony took it apart the motor is shot. So, needless to say our racing is over until next season. We are going to go watch the Bomber 500 2 nite instead. Here are the videos from that night.

Grandstand view


In-car cam

Reception NIGHTMARE!!!!

Okay, well I'm apologizing now if I start ranting on here! This last week has been very stressful. We (my mom and I) have been trying to find a place for my wedding reception. If you know me, you know my mom and I don't get along well. We are two totally different people so you know where this post is headed! Originally, I wanted to have an ALL reception at the church and an invite only one elsewhere. Adam and Julie did this and it seemed to work well. My mother didn't like that idea as it excluded people. I wanted dancing and champagne punch so we couldn't have it at the church. Plus our church basement isn't the best for receptions as it's divided into 2 rooms and is fairly small. So began the searching process. Mind you, there will be 150-200 people at this shin dig. My mother made it very clear she DID NOT want to clean up period! My father and Tony want food (since it's late afternoon). Option 1: Butcher Block. Cost $13.99 per person for the appetizer buffet. Not including the $30 per server and to pay for the bar service. Option 2: Granny Shaffers. Cost $12.99 per person. Total cost for these two places around $3000, just for the venue and food. Now, as much as I would've liked to have it at the Butcher's Block I couldn't let my parents pay that much $$. Option 3: First Methodist Church in Joplin. We have some friends that attend there. We could rent their gym for $550, pay their cleaning ladies to clean up, they would do the catering and we could use some of their decorations. Downside, no dance floor and no champagne punch. To my mother, not cleaning up this was the winner. Not for me! Option 4: Jack Lawton Convention Ctr. in Joplin. only holds 100-150 depending on how the tables are set. Option 5: Holiday Inn. 3 rooms=$750. Here's the kicker, no outside catering. Cost for that a min. of $5000 food and beverage. If you spend the $5000, the rooms are free. I'd hope so! Option 6 and final Carthage Memorial Hall. I know quite a few who have had theirs there. Rent has gone up to $325. In order to have liquor or any alcohol (champagne punch) you have to have a liquor caterer and then hire security ($50/hr). The liquor caterer would have an bar (people pay for that they want). Here's where the fighting begins! My mother seems to understand that this is my wedding. She tells me that people might not come if there is alcohol there and will be offended. UGH! I said they won't know till they get there and she says well then they might leave. GOOD! Let them leave. If they are offended and are leaving for that reason I don't want them there in the 1st place. It's not any different than going to a restaurant. You have a choice to buy alcohol and you have a choice not to. It's their money if they want it they can buy it. Then she thinks there will be scene. I asked who I was inviting would cause a scene?? She couldn't give me an answer. She couldn't give me one either on who would be offended. I said the only person that will cause a scene will be me if things keep up like this! I said this is my wedding, you had yours. She's worried about what everyone else will think and not what I want. I was sooooo ANGRY! So, after many aggravating and crying phone calls to people the consensus was my mom is nuts for thinking that and it's not right. In the process I call Tony to talk to him about this. He gets on me thinking we need to send our invitations now. Are you kidding me??? He thinks that people have to ask off work 6-8 months in advance. Ha! I said it wasn't going to happen and if he was that worried he could do it himself. End of that story! Back to my mother... I called my father thinking my mom was at church. Apparently, I gave her such a headache she didn't go. I told him what she said and so he confronted her and then got mad at here. Brooke asked come adults in choir at church that night what their thoughts were and if they'd be offended. ALL OF THEM SAID NO! It was their choice and their $$. DUH! Results of this: I called my mom and told her it was her $$. If she wanted to pay $3000 for Butchers Block she could or pay for Memorial Hall. The only date open at Carthage was July 11 so we had to decide quick. My mother also though it would cost $500 to rent table clothes-UM NO!!!! She was worried about decorations too. I have plenty of friends who have stuff for me to borrow or know where to borrow them from. MSSU rents tablecloths. Joplin HS rents out props. That's the fun is decorating. The girls at school volunteered to serve food. There will be plenty of people willing to help clean up after. Clean up required: clean kitchen if used, take out trash, and pick up decorations. NOT THAT HARD!!!! So the decision: Carthage Memorial Hall, since it's all about me mother said. She was being sarcastic in that tone!!!! No onto catering. We have a friend who is head of catering at Red Hot and Blue/Charlie's Chkn. It would be $1200 for RHB and$1400 for Charlies. That is including all the utensils/plates/and food warmers. Table clothes are $3 at MSSU. The liquor caterer is around $600 and if you use them for food they give you a discount. I asked my mother after the talked to liquor caterer if there was anything else I need to know before we booked the hall. Her response was no. So we booked the hall. Needless to say my mother and I were not on good terms!!! When are we?? Thursday, mom and dad were down and things were fine we got along. Friday, they were here again. She brings up the champagne punch and that the liq. caterer has to do it and he charges $1 per cup. What the heck? That's like $200 for 1 cup each. I know people will want more than 1. I was furious as to why I wasn't informed of this before. My mother stated that she didn't think about it. UGH!!!! That would've made a big difference. So that started another round of fighting! I decided I would pay for that part myself. I informed her that I would be drinking all $200 worth if things kept going the way they were. This is ridiculous and we are still 10 months out! She is too busy trying to impress of her friends and wanting everyone to think I'm this little perfect princess who does nothing! WRONG!!! I'm totally the opposite. If people don't like it they can leave. That means they're not really there for me. So, that's the end of my little story. I'm sure there will be more drama to come!! Not sure if it can get much worse. If it's any consolation I bought (well my mom) my wedding dress last Sunday. It's so gorgeous! The girls bought theirs too since they got $20 off. At least it's one thing we didn't argue about!

Grad School-Easy A

Well, I had my first night of MAT class on Tuesday. It will be very simple, however a little more difficult for me since my kiddos don't read. This is a reading class! There is only one other elem. teacher in there (2nd grade); the rest are upper elem. or hs. The teacher is really nice; she rambles a lot and knows it! We were done by 6:45 and will be done by 7:30 every week. The class isn't supposed to be over until 8:20. We have all of our assignments which are simple. We have 3 presentations to do. One: pick an age appropriate vocab word, write the definition on the board, use it in a sentence, and then the class (MAT class) has to use it in a sentence. Okay.. age appropriate for me is dog, cat, potty, yes, no...lol. My word I decided is going to patience! I have to say this a lot in the last week. We have to pick 1 reading strategy and create a lesson using it. Our 3rd presentation is to read to the class for 5 min. (it can be anything). Each week, we have a short assignment due. Class time will consist of the teacher going over 2 reading strategies, then followed by the 6 presentations (2 for each thing), and then we're done! Hopefully, I can stay on top of everything! Now if all my classes would be like this!!