Some Catching Up

How sad is it that I've got this great blog, and don't use it like I should??? I mean, how hard would it have been to do????

Chris and I had our 11th Anniversary, and we went to Florida for a nice 4 day vacation. Even now, I think about the time we spent together, *heavy sigh* it was just so wonderful.

We left Memphis and arrived in Tampa on the 18th of September and returned on the 22nd.

We had a terrific time!!! We did a LOT of walking around, saw Dark Knight at the IMAX (that kicks butt!) ate some wonderful meals at the various restaurants at the Bay Walk, did a dolphin tour, and met up with our online friends Desi and Shannon. I have known Desi for gosh,.... I'm really not sure how long now... 5yrs? So, it was just awesome to meet them both in person!!!! We had a GREAT GREAT time!!!!! I laughed so much my cheeks were sore LOL We drank so much, that well, hubby said the night of our Anniversary, that he didn't think he'd EVER seen me so drunk,..... man that was fun LOL I am so glad that we had the opportunity to take this trip, to do all the wonderful things we did,... and to meet these two wonderful gals. I want to thank Shannon big time for opening her home and her family and friends to us the night of our Anniversary. The BBQ was great!!!! We really enjoyed it all!!!

Our last day, was the dolphin tour,... and then that evening was our big concert,..... NIGHTWISH!!! We'd been dying to see them since we got hooked on their music. What a great way to spend our Anniversary!!!! The opening band, Sonata Arctica really kicked ass. I was pretty impressed as I'd not heard a whole lot of their stuff,... they put on a GREAT show!!! Nightwish ... man.... was amazing. They're awesome live!!! They're all so very talented!!! I just could gush on and on, but I will refrain. The killer part was, that hubby had told me earlier in the night, that the drummer Jukka, would toss one drumstick out close to the stage, and always threw another far back. Well, I watched at the end as he tossed the first out, and then the second came flying out towards our right.... I looked at hubby before he threw it, I wanted him ready to catch!!! He was fiddling with the camera on his cell to catch them take their bows.... *GAH* I'm looking, watching as this drumstick flies through the air, end over end.... I swear the couple that jumped for it, they weren't 5 feet from us,.... hands and fingers stretched upward trying to get this stick,.... by now I'm in such a panic because it was OURS!!! it was like major slow-mo "NNNNnnnnoooooooooooo..." I watched as the stick bounced from their fingers, (seriously, this all happened so quickly, but it seemed like it took 2 mins to me, everything was going so slow) it fell down towards the ground with a wood on concrete sound *PLINK!!* I was stunned.... as it rolled a couple times (I swear I could hear that sound too, but hubby laughs saying no way, place was far too loud for that) I lunged down, grabbed it up, as I rose up, I caught a glimpse of the couple that missed and they didn't look too happy lol I turned right into Chris's chest holding it tightly between us, my heart was just racing. I got the drumstick!!!! OHMYGAWD!!!!! I GOT IT!!!!!!!! Chris said that the couple were coming at us, he gave a quick stern shake of his head like "back off" and they did,... I of course didn't see this, I was saying "Let's get the hell outta here" LOL I was on a major high for the rest of the evening. Could our trip have ended any better than that???? We had a real trophy from our trip....

Between meeting Desi and Shannon, being out on the water to see the dolphins, and having a terrific time at the concert,.... well, it was a trip I won't ever forget!!!

Here is a slide show, full of pictures from our time spent

In other news.... I forgot to mention that we tried like hell to get VIP tickets to this concert. Sadly, by the time we realized they were even available, they were sold out, and even worse yet,.... they were never supposed to of had a VIP event!!! So, those that did manage to score those tickets, did get to go backstage, meet the band, pictures, etc.... the whole works. Sure made us ill. Then, get this,.... our concert was the last one that Nightwish was able to perform as Annette became very ill and had to return home to Finland!! So, while we missed out on VIP, we still got to see them perform, and got the drumstick :) It was really our fate that all that took place I think :) I know, sounds silly.... but I really believe that it was all meant to be for us.

Well, last month,... Chris was working nights, he text me saying that Nightwish was going to be in St. Louis in May 09. Better still was that they had VIP tickets for sale!!!! Go see them AGAIN????? You didn't have to ask me twice!!! LOL MEET THE BAND?????? Does a bear poop in the woods????? It being so much closer to home, and Brian being a big fan, we worked it out, and got 3 VIP tickets!!!! The concert takes place ON Brian's 18th Birthday!!!! What an awesome 18th huh??? We're so very excited about going!!!! Going to be freakin awesome and what pictures I will have to share then!!

Lastly,... we have a new addition to the family. Our little Ares. He is a UKC Yorkshire Terrier. When you look at the pictures you'd think he was a poodle LOL He's got the thick wooly wavy coat. Took him to the vet yesterday for his boosters, and at 3mos old, he already weighs 5lbs. He's gonna be a big boy compared to our little Xena. Who at 7lbs seemed big to me at times LOL It took awhile for Xena the Princess to warm up to him. She is highly jealous and so very spoiled, I really didn't know when and if she would get over it all. She would growl and snap at him when he would try and sit on my lap with her,.... everything belongs to HER,... my toy, my bone, my mommy.... sheesh. I was glad when it didn't seem to take that long, and they were running around and playing together.

Ares at 10 weeks old


Xena and Ares sitting at the front door, watching me while I fold laundry LOL


Had to share this, Xena in her Ladybug Halloween costume,.... yeah, she hates it LOL