Pictures I've taken...

~~Hope you enjoyed 'em!~~

I Just Knew It!

You have all been waiting with bated breath for the update on my vacations haven't you? Oh, you haven't? Well, here it is anyway!! Haha!

First our trip to Louisiana. The trip down was fraught will delays, layovers, hunger, and crabbiness. But in the end, we got to the Shreveport airport and were eagerly awaiting parents. I can still remember seeing Mama's face as she peeked around the people between us to catch her first glimpse of Blair and me!

I'll give you a basic run-down of the stuff we did while we were there.

The first night, after being picked up at the airport, we met Ash and Nathan and Lacy, William, and sweet Riley at fabulous Outback. (Let me say this once for all the places we ate...YUM!) We had a wonderful time visiting and I got to hold my 'niece' for the longest time! Turns out I wasn't even hungry because I had that sweet girl in my arms! By the way, she is the cutest, most calm, lovable little thing! Anyway, I thought for sure after the trip down that we'd had, I'd sleep forever on Friday, but lo' and behold, my eyeballs popped open at 7 a.m. and I was rarin' to go. So I went and woke my parents up and we called the sis and went for a family breakfast at Southfield Grill. We dropped Mama and Ash at Ashlie's and Daddy and I returned home. I was tired again by this point and wanted a nap. However, after only an hour, I was thinking of all the stuff I could be doing and got up. The day was spent mainly visiting and being visited by old friends and neighbors. (Thanks Jen and Mrs. Linda for stopping by!) For dinner we went to Cane's!! So, so good.

Saturday arrived and Blair and I went to South Bossier to drive by our old house and remincse about when we lived there. We ate at El Mariachi and then went to WalMart for the goodies we were to being for the ribfest and fish fry that was to go on at Ashlie and Nathan's that night. While the boys cooked, Ash and I strolled around on the boardwalk. I missed that place. You can find such great deals! The dinner that night was superb. (Once again, Nathan, you have ruined me on anyones fish but yours, my brother! I love it!) Good food, good company, what else does one need?

Sunday we went to church and got to see lots of folks! Good times. That night Blair and I got to see my "other" family, the Rosiers. It was so good to spend time with them. Monday was a girls' day and Ashlie, Lay and I went and got a massage! It was so nice to be pampered! After the massage, we went to visit Martha and her new baby in the hospital. I hated that I didn't get to spend much time with my friend but her family comes first! Tuesday I had lunch with an old work friend and we went shoppin' for fabric. It was so good to visit with her. Wednesday Blair and I went to walk through our house we have rented out down there. I thought it would be hard to see someone elses stuff in my house, but our renter appears to take pride in what they have. They seemed very grateful and were very nice too! Wednesday night the family got together again and we played dominos until way into the night!

Thursday, Blair and I got up early (after about 3 hours of sleep) and headed to the airport. Thankfully all our flights were on time and we got to Minot without difficulty. It was a wonderful visit and we both had such a great time. I can't wait till next time!

So Much...

...to update y'all on!

Blair and I have been to Louisiana for a week, home for a week, then to Mexico for a week...

Yeah, it's been busy.

But we had a BLAST!!

I can't wait to tell you all about it (and of course show pictures)!

But it'll have to wait till later, cause I gots to bring home some bacon (aka, work) till Tuesday!

Till then...

He's home, he's home, he's home!!!!

Ok well to be honest, he's been home for about a week...yeah, I'm slow at updates!

On Friday, September 4th, he text me around 11 a.m. and said that the computers were acting up and he was waiting to take his last test. Then around 4 p.m., he text me and said that he was going to have to stay an extra day so that the computer tech guys could fix the computer in order for him to take the final test.

Let's just say, folks, I was not a happy camper! To say the least, I was ready for him to come home! Being alone is ok, in it's doses...not on and on and on! To my credit, though, I did keep busy while Blair was gone. Every night I wasn't at work, I had something to do...a Stampin' Up! party at a co-workers house, an interior design party at another co-workers house, dinner with a friend, and a house party. I was a busy bee!

However, all that served to do was keep me from thinkin' day and night about how much I wish Blair was with me. It definitely helped that I was able to talk to him on the phone everyday at least once and we text'd quite frequently. (What would I do without text messaging? Hello! I love it!!)

But now the wait is over and Blair and I are totally back in the groove of daily livin'. (He's made dinner twice this weekend so far because I've been working...how good is that? What a great man!)

Married life, it's a wonderful thing, good folks, I tell you what.

Not for anything would I give this man up. I love being married and can't wait to see what the next, oh, fifty years brings our way!

One down, two to go...

Well, week one has come and gone since Blair has been gone. Working and hanging out with friends has kept me sufficiently busy enough not to think every second of every day about him being gone. Mostly I sleep, work, go to the gym, sleep, and do it all over again.

We get to talk on the phone and let me tell you, that is what is keeping me sane! I think about these women who don't hear from their husbands for weeks or months (or in the old days, waited for letters!) and I feel very grateful that my husband is in no danger and that we're able to talk at least once a day. Sometimes twice.

So we've only got two weeks then he'll be home. Thank God. I can't wait to see him. Hold him in my arms. Kiss him. Just be with him.

Soon. Two weeks. I can do it. I know I can!

Unexpected and unprepared...

...for Blair to leave so quickly! We've known for a while now that he'd have to go to "Seven Level School" in Wichita Falls, TX sometime in August. Then about a month ago, we learned he'd need to be down there by the 19th. I was figuring in two days of travel, but when I called him at work before I left for work on Tuesday, he told me he is leaving on SATURDAY!!!! Yes, folks, this Saturday.

I am so bummed! I thought we'd have the weekend together before he left so I wasn't worried about my work schedule this week; which coinsidentally, it's worked out that I have not seen hide nor hair of my husband since Sunday. You heard right. Sunday.

Am I happy?

No. I. Am. Not.

I get this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon, along with Friday, and that's it. He'll be leaving early Saturday morning.

I am really trying not to complain though. Women I know personally, and other bloggers, have husbands gone for way longer to dangerous places for months and months at a time. I know Blair will be okay...it's just I'll really miss him! He and I are so content just to be with each other that I'll miss just being in his presence.

So, readers, when you crawl into bed with your love, snuggle up and think about how lucky you are to have them in your arms.

I will, on the other hand, be holding Blair's pillow; which I'll have liberally sprayed with his cologne.

Thoughts and a Question

Ok folks, I have a question for y'all. First, a little background...

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I am a picture and photography fanatic. I have tons and tons and tons (you get the picture...pun intended!) of pictures printed and loads waiting for the privilege of making it to the print shop.

Now, for mine and Blair's anniversary, he let me get a nice, new Digital SLR camera. His one stipulation on buying this piece of equipment was simply that I had to learn to use it. I am slowly but surely learning my way around and playing with the settings and features as I go.

Now, I stumbled across a class (actually a co-worker told me about the site, jessicasprague.com) that teaches techniques in Photoshop that allow you to edit pictures. I hastily signed up for the class thinking that if that one went well, I'd do another and go from there. Turns out, I LOVED IT! I could (and have) sit for hours upon hours just playing with my pictures.

Now what tends to happen with me is that I get all gung-ho for a while and then the enthusiasm tends to peter out. However, I have had an idea in the back of my mind for quite a while, just kicking it around, thinking about it, turning it this way and that, trying to see all the pros and cons of my idea.

So, my fellow readers, I will pose my question to you. Sort of like market research.

Now, my idea is for you (by you, I mean my potential customers) to email me pictures that they have taken, then allow me to edit the picture (not altering the original picture data). I have the ability to put text on pictures. I can make a picture have a vintage feel. I can do black and white with a punch of color on a specified spot (i.e. a flower, eyes, a ball, or whatever). I can do collages with up to nine pictures (more may look too squished). Storyboards would also be available.

I have also tossed around making invitations. Probably not too in depth in the beginning, but if someone would like wedding invites, birthday or shower invites, I believe it would be totally do-able.

I have a lot of ideas and would like to bring them all to fruition. So my question is this...would any of you like to take advantage of this? My prices would be reasonable (I realize the economy isn't the best). I would love to have a business doing something that I love to do. I would like to eventually expand this to do the actual taking of the pictures I edit. For the people locally, that would be an option.

Now, I'm sure no of you would think to be mean, but I'm going to say it for those who might...but I am really putting myself out there right now by bringing this to you, and if you have anything other than positive comments, keep them to yourself please!!

***I will post more examples of my work at a later time, but for one example, look at the very bottom of this page at the sepia toned building I edited.***