Susan’s Journal

“Come on, Rain, just one picture. We’re not leaving until you let me take one picture.” That’s why they look so happy in this picture.

I love those white puffy things behind them, and I was so wrapped up in the whole get-it-over-with thing that I chopped them off. Nice, huh?

A few days ago, a friend from my church had given me three tickets to Hawaiian Falls. They were left over from a church group trip–exactly three–and they expired in a week. I’d love to take the kids, I told her. Thank you so much for thinking of me.

So we packed a picnic lunch, put on our swim suits, stopped at a gas station for drinks, and headed to the local water park. We got there about half an hour after it opened. We got good parking. We got three chairs in the shade and put our cooler, towels, and flip-flops there.

I have to tell you that this has got to be my favorite water park I have been to. The biggest reason? I went on just about every ride that was open. That’s not normal for me. The kids were excited to have me going on all the water rides with them, and honestly I got sick of climbing all the stairs before I got sick of going on all the rides.

We probably spent about half the day in the lazy river, in about four different stints. That’s how I got this sunburn I’m sporting. It’ll be gone in a day, though, and it was worth every minute of it.

Halfway through the day, we had a picnic lunch of peanut butter and jellies, chips, our new coolered drinks, and chocolate pudding. It was enough to quiet our tummies and send us back on our way again… to one more ride, and then Mommy can’t we go on the lazy river again?

I am so thankful to my friend for giving me those tickets. It was a real blessing. And I promise, the kids were much happer about the whole day than they look in this picture.

Wow… I haven’t blogged since the Fair?

Friday afternoon at work.
While I was sitting at my desk Friday afternoon, one of the managers walked past my desk to the “beer fridge” in the back corner and got himself a Shiner. As he walked by my cube, I said, “I want a Shiner…” to which he promptly turned on his heel, opened the beer fridge, popped the top off another Shiner, and brought it to me. How many people can sit at work on a Friday afternoon, finishing up their work with a Shiner in their hand?

Soccer, and tickets.
Saturday morning I took my daughter’s soccer team photos. One little girl hadn’t shown up before the game started, so I took the team picture at the end of the game–as the whole team was leaving. Wait, wait, I was saying… and I finally got it done. After two hours in the sun in jeans, I was a little hot; but I had told the kids we could go to the mall, so off we went. As we were just about to park at the mall, the radio announced it was giving away Maroon 5 tickets. What the heck, I thought. I had already tried to win them for more than a week. One more time wouldn’t hurt. I dialed once, busy. I dialed the second time, ring… ring… and someone answered. “Hi there!” the man said. I froze. Had I actually gotten through? HOLY SHIT! I won tickets to see Maroon 5 this coming Saturday night! I about shit my pants! I was screaming in the car! The kids were laughing at me! I was just so excited! So this coming Saturday night, I’ll be out in Fort Worth, watching that cute, well-dressed band live…

Some Sox.
Saturday night I watched Game Six of the ALCS. The Red Sox won! I about shit my pants! Only one game away from the 2007 World Series!

Media control.
Sunday morning I brought the kids to church. After dropping them off in their kidlet-church room, I was on a quest to find the media control room. That’s where I spent the service, learning how they do all the media stuff behind the scenes. It was super, super cool. Just… super cool. I was in hog heaven, watching every switch be flipped, watching every command be spoken over the headsets to the camera people. Completely awesome. When we left church, I was so excited, and I told the kids about all the stuff I had learned.

More Sox.
Sunday night I watched Game Seven of the ALCS. The Red Sox won AGAIN! THEY ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES! I about shit my pants again!

Coming to Dallas…
Monday morning on the way to work, I heard on the radio that Billy Joel was coming in concert to Dallas. BILLY JOEL! I couldn’t believe it! I about shit my pants again! I never thought he would tour again–I saw him live when I was about ten and I REMEMBER it, it was so awesome… Saturday morning 10am, you know where I’ll be baby! On ticketmaster.com, with multiple laptops, buying tickets!! Seriously, he is second only to Sting in my book…

Rainlin’s birthday.
The only other thing I have in the works as far as concerts go is Kelly Clarkson. The concert is November 23, three days after Rain’s birthday, so that’s going to be her birthday present. The funny thing is this: Kelly had originally booked a show, then cancelled it… then rebooked it… for the day after Thanksgiving? Is that a dumb date to book a show to anyone else besides me? Won’t most people be out of town? Maybe I’m just crazy…

Lunchtime smile.
Today at lunch, I walked into a 7-Eleven near here to buy a newspaper. While I was in line, a man commented that he liked the smell of my perfume. I told him I live at Bath & Body Works. A few minutes later, as I was walking out the door, he went out of his way to tell me to have a nice day, with a smile. I can’t remember the last time someone has talked to me like that. It was nice–nice to be noticed, nice to be appreciated by a stranger. I think I’m changing somehow, besides of course losing weight…

And on this day,
October 23, 2005… I was trying to define my vlog and my blog, and decide if I could work on them both…