Did that just happen?

So basically I was floored when I opened the door one morning and October showed up. People say it all the time but truly, time flies. I wasn't prepared for October and to prove it, my husband just complained yesterday about how he had to get evil with some clients on billing because they had not paid since May and it really took me a minute to figure out that May was quite a while ago. The moment before that realization I was questioning why he was so mad about past due from May since that was only 15 -wait!- 153 days ago. Ok, he can be mad.

Even more troubling is that now October has already packed its bags and hit the road for another year. I was very sad on November 1st because I hadn't even settled in with my beloved Halloween decorations and already it is time for them to collect dust in the opossum's attic.


Here is a brief update of what went on in my life in October. It was a really cool month, by the way. I enjoyed every fleeting moment of it. Really I did!






I got my hair done for the fist time in months. I love it! My friend April does my hair. I say that like I've known her forever and she just does my hair, too. I met her when I was in a panic for a new do and my usual girl, who is an hour drive away anyway, was always full up. So April became my new girl and she just started at a new salon in Old Town Keller in an updated, super cute, old house. They took old doors and put mirrors on them and I loved it! I have some old doors that Mr. Ferrell and I bought a long time ago and haven't figured out what to do with. Now we have an idea for one of them. Yea, us! April trimmed me, high-lighted me and gave me some kerotine treatment to take the frizz out (it totally worked) and now I am looking good!

I spent a lot of time watching Mr. Ferrell do things in October like, help build our new horse fence, work on computers, win a race in his stock car, and play with the fake bow and arrow from my Halloween costume. I was the wicked witch of the wild west. I love his butt and his flat stomach and his bicep all perked up and his chest but he had just moved his arm up right before I took this picture. Bummer! Aaron Ferrell...he's so cuuute! (If you were a Family Ties fan, you get the reference.)

Also, that dude I live with drove me all around the neighboring counties looking for giant pumpkins for sale to compare his giant pumpkins' growth. He wins! I always enjoy being the passenger and getting to look at all the beautiful trees, animals and clouds as we cruise along. I especially loved this set of clouds and felt very poetic as I watched them.

I got to meet Demarcus Ware (my favorite Cowboy) and Miles Austin and Tashard Choice at a breast cancer awareness event. Then my bud Marnie and I got awesome seats to the Monday Night game!!!!! We had a blast even though we lost. I love that she makes the best of things no matter what! Love love love her!

More amazing than all of that is that the Texas Rangers won the American League Championship against the Yankees and went to the WORLD SERIES!!!!! October 22, 2010 was one of my top 100 best days! This is an amazing team; an awesome group of guys and I am so proud of them! Yea Rangers!

Then to polish off the month, we had our annual Halloween party, Ferrell Fest! My niece, Alex, came in to town and a bunch of our friends and family (71 of them) came over to celebrate with us. Aaron took everyone on haunted hay rides, we had an awesome bounce house from my friend, Travis and of course a dj since the band thing is not working out too well. The food was great, the costumes were awesome and we had a fabulous time! Even better, Sunday was actually Halloween so we got to celebrate some more. Aaron took our neighborhood kids around on with the tractor on another hay ride so they could trick-or-treat and I stayed home to hand out candy at Spooky Ferrell Hollow. We really do go all out for this holiday and we have so much fun with it.

It's officially Fall round these parts. I'm a Summer lover so I have to make some adjustments to enjoy this time of year. Mostly just bundling up and making sure that there are extra sweaters everywhere, like in my truck, his truck, my office, everywhere! It's waaaay below 70 degrees here now and I am freezing!

Happy Fall y'all!

~Shan

I can't believe how much I suck.

I recently remembered the two other blogs I started before and never kept up with. The first one was in 2006, before the blog sites were very good. Since I am technoligically challenged anyway, that didn't work out too well.

The next time was the end of 2007. I logged on the site so infrequently and actually forgot about it for so long that, by the time I remembered I had it, I could not remember my user name or password or even which email I had it associated with. After messing around with it for days and even Googling things I remembered about it so I could find it (but never did,) I gave up and started this one. So far, not much better.

There are lots of reasons I would like to maintain it better outside of the obvious reasons. I really enjoy looking back and knowing what the weather was like for some reason. Also, later when people tell me that they did something substantial at a certain time in their lives, I am anxious to remember what I was doing then as well. Several other small reasons keep me attempting to stay active with this. My journal is so hit or miss. I just need one constant.

Last week, I visited Island Park, Idaho with my oldest brother, Rick's family. Rick and Jill; Richie, Amanda, Wyatt & Eric; Jason, Katie, John & Tyler (John Tyler-our 10th president-hee hee); and Matt & Aimee Bell. I love being around those people. Really love it. It was my first time to meet Katie and her boys and Aimee Bell. I think, for a first meeting, thrown together in the woods for days, we all did very well and had a delightful time together.

Two reasons brought us together at this place at this time. 1. Jill's parents passed away, both within the past two years and this was a memorial for them in which Jill and her husband and sons spread the ashes of her beloved parents on an island in the Snake River at the place where she and her parents had been camping for decades. Very beautiful! Matt brought an ipod player and played The Beatles "Here Comes the Sun" and it was just beautiful. 2. Richie is about to deploy for his third tour; this time to Afghanastan. He'll be gone almost a year, leaving behind his wife and two sons. It isn't something any of us are looking forward to. I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with those wonderful, warm, beautiful, loving people.

I could write for days about that trip but I am playing catch up with the rest of my life.

Ciao for now.

Another blurry weekend

So Friday night started out with a bang. Got home from work, rounded everyone up and headed to eat at Rosa's then raced go-carts off Northside Drive with Aaron, Alex Andrea, Alex & Jordyn Hunt and all 5 screamers. We had a great time. Saturday, we got up early. Aaron and I took care of the animals and then messed in the garden for a bit. Then I rounded up the three girls and picked up Elaine, Aaron's mom, for our fun-filled day. First we went to the Amon Carter Museum so I could introduce Alex Andrea to my beloved, Frederic Remington. I think they all enjoyed it. I did as well but was sad that my favorite sculptures of his were put in the vault until who-knows-when. Bummer.

Next we headed to Big D to meet Aaron's Aunt Neva for lunch at Cafe Express on McKinney. That place is so nice with a really pretty patio with waterfalls and fountains. We caught the trolley and got the tour and then picked up some delicious cupcakes before heading out of Dallas. On our way home, we stopped by Cowboys Stadium, which was hosting the post world cup soccer game between USA and Mexico so the area was full of excitement. We took pictures and then bought souvenirs. Finally we headed home and, after some serious confusion with Aaron, I took all three girls to Perrin to stay the night. I got some good pictures of the Parker County Courthouse on the way home (I love that endeavor) and then crashed with the tv and some snacks.

Sunday, Aaron and I went to Starbucks, then came home and cleaned a little. Then I packed up and headed to lunch with Kandice and little, baby Mia. Followed that up with a drive back to Perrin to meet the girls for a trip to Unks Lake. On the way, took pictures of the beautiful trees & stepped on a thistle which went through my flip-flop and into the ball of my right foot. Ouch! Unks Lake was really fun. We all had a blast. After a fill up and some refreshments, we took Ashley & Chris home, helped unload their new pool table and then I brought all three girls back with me. We hung out at the screamers and then I went to pick up pizza and we all just hung out and talked. I haven't laughed that much in a while. I really enjoyed my time with everyone this weekend.

Now I am excited to get a good work week in. New clients I am a wantin!

Oh, what a slacker. Honestly, I sit here and wonder where in the world the past two days went. Life is such a blur sometimes. I think since the last time I wrote, I have had a park board meeting which went very well, talked to my brother, Steven, who is moving here from Vegas, worked late, shopped, missed going to Six Flags with the Screamers and Alex Andrea and took my cat, Sioux, to the vet. He may have an infection but it's nothing major.

Well, it finally got hot this summer. Yep, we're in the 100's. I am not complaining. 1. I adore summer and the heat that comes with it. A.D.O.R.E! 2. We have had so much rain that things stayed on the cool side for a while. Even if it's 100 until September, it's still cooler than normal.

While perusing the net today (seems so archaic to say it that way) I came across this pic and I love it. It looks cool and refreshing. I love her dress and the way the grass looks under her feet. This picture captivated me and lingered in my brain long enough to drag me back to it and copy it. So, for your viewing pleasure (but mostly for my own) here 'tis.

Run!

So I missed yesterday. Oh well. At least I ran for the first time in about 9 or 10 days but forgot to drink extra water so awoke with a major horrible heaadache that also caused a sick stomach at 3 ish in the a.m. Yuck! But at least I ran! Having Alex here is so wonderful and I wish she could stay forever, just be my kid, but I have gotten out of the normal routine. I need to find a way to make it jive so she's not bored sitting around while I run. What to do, what to do.
Aaron is so nice to me I just can't believe it. Skyler turned 16 today and we went to the screamers' for cake. Aaron worked in the garden and I went on the golf cart with Skyler, Hunter and Alex. We saw Roseanna and then went home, took a shower and fell asleep on the couch. Aaron tried to scare us by putting "The Ring" in the dvd player while we had fallen asleep so we woke up to a scary movie. It was kinda creepy. Funny thing is, he's been consumed by this one plant in the garden that we did not plant but is likely a left over seed from something that was planted last year. He thinks it's a watermelon and I think he's silly for thinking that. So last night I snuck out to the garden and placed this giant watermelon I bought under the vines for him to find. We played tricks on each other yesterday but he still does not know it. :)
Later!

Crazy life

The weekend was much too busy to log on and post anything. Friday, after a roller coaster of emotions over a friend and working late, I got home, quickly changed and went to the rodeo with Aaron, my niece Alex and our neighbors, the screamers.
It was interesting.
Then home, burned popcorn in the microwave, stunk up the whole house (it still stinks) made some pizza for Alex and Aaron then went to bed. Friday was a weird day.
Saturday was normal and we did our usual Starbucks deal. Grande no water chai with whipped for him (such a chic drink,) grande soy chai for me and a cinnamon apple spice for Ms. Alex.
Then we ran some errands, Sam's, met a client, went to Tran's then home and Aaron stayed home to work while Alex and I ran around some more. My offices (old and new) then Ross, Whataburger, Cupcake place and then on to Justin. Later, after a fun filled day we had scary movie night and pizza at the house since the races were rained out.
Sunday, we did the same Starbucks routine as always, dropped Aaron back at home to do yard work and then on to Steve's and Mom's to visit for a bit. Back home, cleaned and got ready for our country visit to Perrin. I always love going out there. Rode horses and went to Jacksboro for dinner on the square. Got another courthouse pic. Saw the milky way, jack rabbits and an owl. Fun day.
Now it's back to an action packed work week.
I have one thing that needs sorting out and one thing I know I will never figure out. Good times though!

Right on time

That's what Aaron always says when something happens just the way he wants it to. It's Friday and it came right on time.
Unlike with my journal, and for reasons still unclear to me, I never know what in the world I will write about here until my fingers start to fly. But it somehow comes to me.
Yesterday was rainy again and I need to check the records but I am pretty sure this is the rainiest July of my life in Texas. We've become so accustomed to planting things that can withstand our dry, hot summers that those poor things have achieved root rot and the flowers have wilted. Oh the irony.
After a productive day at work (my new office is working out quite well) and a WCR luncheon where I ran into all kinds of people I rarely see anymore, I raced home to pick up my lovely great-niece, Alex. Then we went to Justin to hang out with my brother, her grandfather, and my dad while they replaced the floor. That was loud. Later we went back home and watched What Happens in Vegas. I just love that movie.
Also, I texted a friend and laughed at myself because as much as I used to hate texting, the Blackberry has helped make this something very easy for me. Almost as fast as a keyboard.
It continued to rain and I put all the animals up. At least the pumpkins are benefitting from this weather. They look better than ever if we can just continue to keep the squash bugs at bay.
I am very much looking forward to the rodeo tonight. Alex's first! I love this place.

Already missed a day

I started this thinking it would make things easier in lieu of my journal but then realized there are things I don't want to put out into the world about my feelings. However, I have noticed that when I write about things that have happened, people I see, places I go, on a specific day, I tend to remember the feelings as well. As I am sure most people do. I often miss days on end with my journal but was hoping that would not be the case if I had the blog to quickly type the goings-on of my life. Then I could still write about the feelings in the journal but have a more consistant log on here. Then I already missed a day, two days in. It ain't looking good.
The 4th events are over, most of my out-of-town relatives have gone back home and things are settling down again. My great-niece is still here, staying with us until 7-16. Two whole weeks with her and I am very glad for it. We hardly know one another so I knew this would be difficult at times; lots of silent moments. But we are really getting to know each other. Aaron has made that easier. He's the funny one in the family and he is good at breaking the ice.
I beat everyone at Monopoly last night. I remember as a kid how our Monopoly games would last for days because we would bail one another out of bankruptcy over and over. This game was only about 5 1/2 collective hours between two evenings.
Aaron chased Alex with a spider and scared her to death. After his workout we went downtown to eat at Pei Wei, which is always good. Then we finally finished (stayed awake through the rest of) The Village. Alex said it was not as scary as it was interesting. I think so as well. So that was Wednesday. Tomorrow my nephew, Jason, will be 31 and I wish I were in SLC to celebrate with him.
Until tomorrow~ (maybe)