Happy 2017!

First of all, HAPPY 2017!! I hope your holidays and New Year were FANTASTIC! I know, I haven't posted in two months. Shame. On. Me. You have probably been wondering what I've been up to lately (okay, you probably couldn't care less, but humor me). I've just been so busy (so you can understand why I've been absent from the blogging world). I know, where are my priorities? Well, as you will see below, a lot of things were more important to me.

I have been hanging out with friends.

I went to San Antonio to see Billy Joel in concert. Shout out to my sweet friend Eric for taking me (it was my Christmas gift). We made the round trip in a day. San Antonio is about 4.5 hours from Dallas, so you can imagine, we got back like at 3:30am. Thanks to Eric for driving the whole trip as well!

I spent the holidays with my family.

My cousin Travis surprised my folks with a visit at Christmas. We hadn't seen him in eight years.  

I saw a handful of my nieces and nephews at Thanksgiving (no, this isn't all of them). Everyone takes a picture with Aunt Rachel (whether they want to or not). Lol.

I went to several Christmas parties.

My Sunday School class Christmas party

My friend invited some of his favorite co-workers (that would include me) to his church's Christmas party (which involves free steak). I won a door prize that included a free set of steak knives and a $100 gift card to a nice steak restaurant. Funny story: It was almost 80 degrees when I went to the party, so I didn't take a coat. A cold front hit during dinner, and it dropped to the 40s. I was quite cold when I left! 

I saw Breakfast At Tiffany's in the theater. Yes, I own it on DVD and have seen it 100 times (not an exaggeration), BUT, it was my first time to see Audrey Hepburn on the big screen. It was awesome!

I spent New Year's Eve with Stan Lee and a bunch of nerds/geeks (I say that lovingly). 

Stan Lee was super nice. He was so full of energy too. I hope I'm like that when I'm 94!

Maurice LaMarche and Rob Paulsen- better known as the voices of Pinky and the Brain (I'm standing by Rob- the voice of Pinky). Fun fact: When I worked for a newspaper, my nickname was Pinky. My friend was The Brain. We still call each other that to this day. When I got my picture signed, I told Rob that my nickname was Pinky, he signed it "From one Pinky to another". 

Peter Mayhew, better known as Chewbacca from Star Wars. Yes, he's tall. He's sitting down (and he's still almost taller than me).

I won an Emmy. Okay, I didn't. BUT, this is a real Emmy. It belongs to Mark Kistler. He's the host of a children's art program on PBS. He let me take a picture with it.

I would like to thank all my fans for making this possible....

I survived the great cold front of 2017. It dropped to temperatures my Texas body cannot handle. It was maybe 12 degrees at one point (all of you up north kindly stop laughing at me). HOW DO YOU PEOPLE LIVE LIKE THIS FOR MONTHS??

Okay, I am HOPEFULLY getting back to my What I'm Loving Wednesday post next week. Stay tuned!! :)

XOXO!

Thursday Thirteen...with a Thirsty Thursday thrown in!

A few weeks ago I got to have lunch with my friend James (he stopped in Texas on his way moving to Alabama from California). For the past 11 years or so, we've referred to each other as "Pinky and the Brain". It's a very long story on how we ended up with those nicknames (and let's not go into details on which one is "Pinky" and which one is "Brain".) ;) It all started when we worked together at a local newspaper while we were in college. Anyways, for those not familiar with the show, you can click here (or this list won't really make sense). For those of you are ARE familiar with the show, you know they always had a segment where Brain said, "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?" and then Pinky would give some random, off the wall answer. So, in honor of James, The Journal, and Pinky and the Brain, I give you 13 of my favorite, "Are you pondering what I'm pondering" quotes.

1. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
I think so, Brain, but where are we going to find a duck and a hose at this hour?

2. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Uh, I think so, Brain, but balancing a family and a career ... ooh, it's all too much for me.

3. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but isn't Regis Philbin already married?

4. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Wuh, I think so, Brain, but burlap chafes me so.

5. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Uh, I think so, Brain, but we'll never get a monkey to use dental floss.

6. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Uh, I think so Brain, but this time, you wear the tutu.

7. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
I think so, Brain, but if they called them "Sad Meals", kids wouldn't buy them!

8. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Well, I think so, Brain, but I can't memorize a whole opera in Yiddish.

9. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Well, I think so -POIT- but *where* do you stick the feather and call it macaroni?

10. "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Umm, I think so, Brain, but what if the chicken won't wear the nylons?

11. "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Well, I think so, Brain, but if Jimmy cracks corn, and no one cares, why does he keep doing it?

12."Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
I think so, Brain, but Pete Rose? I mean, can we trust him?

13. "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
I think so, Brain, but why would anyone want to see Snow White and the Seven Samurai?

Pinky and The Brain theme song:

For more Thursday Thirteen participants, go here!

And a new addition to my Thursday post. This is for Vic over at Freckles and Fudge (check her out, she ROCKS!!!) :)

She is so much more styling than me with her Thirsty Thursday (Arbor Mist and getting all dressed up fancy to go out). :) I, on the other hand, am sitting at my desk at work, enjoying a Dr Pepper from RaceTrac (gas station). If you buy one of their mugs ($6.99), you get free refills on sodas AND slushies until September 6. And I tell you what, their slushies give Slurpees some SERIOUS competition. And they have Dr Pepper flavored slushies at RaceTrac **insert Hallelujah chorus here**. Sorry 7-11, until you get Dr Pepper Slurpees at all locations, I might have found a new place to get a refreshing, icy beverage!

Cheers my friends!!

:)

My Thirsty Thursday