I ran...and no one was chasing me!

So, for approximately a month now my best friend, Rachel, has been trying to talk me into running with her. For some background information, I DON'T run. Not only do I not run, I hate running. I don't like being all sweaty and nasty and I don't like feeling like my lungs are collapsing inside my chest. I'm a pretty round girl and I should be running. I should be putting down the biscuit and running like my life depends on it. One day it may. But I don't. To me, it's not fun and it hurts really really bad. When I run EVERYTHING bounces, or jiggles, or rubs together so much I could start a camp fire. It's just not pretty and I hate it. Since I've been friends with Rachel she has been talking about running. This girl is mad crazy about it. She gets up at 5AM to go run?! What the crap! My clock doesn't even register time until 6:30am. And she talks about having a runners high. Says it's amazing. I usually just rolled my eyes and said good for you! One day she had the nerve to say to me, "You should run the Disney half marathon with me in February." hahaha! I looked around and asked, "You talking to me?" hahaha! Thanks, but no thanks. I don't run unless someone is chasing me. Then came her sob story about how much fun it would be to run this race with a buddy. Everyone else had a buddy when I ran it last year and it would be sooo much fun. Please think about it! (In attempt to make myself feel VERY wanted, I may have added a little more whining to that story than actually took place). I told her I would consider it. This weekend I made the decision I would make the first step towards making that decision. I would train three times a week for eight weeks. After that I would make a decision...Well, today was the day. Today could have been the first day of the rest of my running life :) I put Taylor down for her nap. Kissed Robbie bye and I was out the door. Rachel and I ran/walked 2.1 miles. It, honestly, wasn't as bad as I had imagined. Not one time did I feel like I was going to die. I'm still a far cry away from loving it and I've still got a long road ahead, but I'm taking it one day at a time. Could I, the one who never thought it imaginable, be the next participant in the Disney half??

Stay tuned!

We quacked up

Our hotel in Florida was right across the street from the Peabody hotel. My mom reminded us that the ducks walk twice a day and we should try to take Taylor to see them. Score! Great idea mom. So, after we got out of the pool and before Robbie's next conference we decided we would go down stairs, grab some ice cream (It's HOT in Florida people, don't judge us!), and head over to watch the ducks walk. We called ahead and were told they walk everyday at 11 and 5. We left the hotel at 4:45. We knew we'd be right on time! So we crossed the street and entered the Peabody. Once inside, we noticed it was eerily empty. So just started walking down the hall. Off a side hallway we noticed a hotel worker, Muhammad (his name should tell you a lot). Robbie asked him where the ducks were. He said follow this carpet around the corner and when it turns green, take that elevator to the mail lobby. There will be the ducks. We told him thanks and we were off. We walked for what seemed like miles and the carpet never changed colors. We never found an elevator, and there was still not a soul in sight. Finally, we got to a part of the hotel that was under construction. Down another long hallway comes another worker. Once again we ask, where are the ducks. The man takes us through the rubbish to an elevator, right this way. While we are waiting on the elevator the man looks at his watch. He says, you've probably already missed it. The ducks are very punctual! Whatever! Since when did ducks learn to tell time?? We looked at our watch. It was 5:02? Are you kidding? We've been walking inside this stinking hotel, lost, for 15 minutes. This is nuts! We got off the elevator and the man took us outside to the duck palace. Yep, we missed it! So, we started heading back to our hotel. It was almost time for Robbie's next conference to start. We take the elevators down to the lobby and head outside. We are about three blocks down further than when we started because we walked FOREVER inside the hotel. Although, I was very thankful for the air conditioning. This girl loves some AC! Anyway, off we go. It's beautiful and sunny outside when we start. About 5 minutes into our walk back to our hotel, without any warning, the bottom falls out. It is pouring rain...We quickly enter the first door we can get to and lo and behold, we're right back where we started from! Geesh, what an outing!




The Duck Palace


So sad we missed the ducks


The red carpet we would have seen the ducks walk down


They get their own elevator??


Taylor thought a little ninny would be good while waiting on the rain to stop!


I was prepared for the rain!! Thank goodness I put that umbrella in my purse last Christmas :)

We didn't get to see the ducks, but that outing made for a good laugh!!!

Orlampa

So, Friday the 13th was travel day one for us. We were headed to Orlando for Robbie to go to a Ron Paul political conference. This would be Taylor's 3rd flight and I was, again, nervous as to how she would act on the flight. The first 20 minutes were touch and go with some light fussing, but after some ninny it was smooth sailing until we got off the plane :)



Of course we would choose the rental car place with the longest line :( Oh well, they were the cheapest, so we waited!



After packing and unpacking the car three times in the blazing hot Florida heat, we were off! Since we couldn't check into the hotel until three we decided to drive to my old neighborhood and check out where I grew up. It was actually so sad to see how different it looked. My house looked different, my neighborhood looked different, and my elementary and middle school had completely changed!


This is the house I grew up in!


And this is my old elementary school. I liked it better the old way!


My middle school actually looked about the same except for this crazy blue sign.


My church actually looks exactly the same except for the obnoxious new green roofed building they added.

After our trip down memory lane we headed back to the hotel!! Not only was there a Ron Paul political conference going on this weekend there was also an annual Star Wars convention and a huge Indian wedding. Who knew I'd witness some many different people groups on this vacation! It was wild!








The pool at the hotel was huge! I couldn't wait to get in it!!! During one of Robbie's conference breaks, that's exactly what we did!!! Taylor loves the water!





On our drive in from the airport my eagle eyes spotted a COACH OUTLET!!!! So the last day we were in Orlando Robbie watched Taylor so I could go shopping. I've never owned a Coach purse, but my best friend, Rachel, has turned me on to them! Thanks Rach!!!




This place was huge and I could have spent A LOT of money here. I had a hard time deciding on this



or this



Thanks to modern technology, I texted Rachel and we decided on the first one! Had the blue one been a little more navy, I may have chosen it, but I just loved the grey one! Thanks honey, for watching Taylor. Looks like you guys had fun too!




On Sunday we made the two hour drive to my brothers house in St. Petersburg. The drive really wasn't bad. Taylor slept most of the way! And we were all very happy to see Jacob and Jonah!




I couldn't believe how much Jonah has changed in just three short months!



Robbie has always been a big baseball fan. I on the other hand, have not! In fact, I hated baseball. It's so boring. I mean who wants to watch 9+ innings of baseball and walk away with a score of 1-0? Not very exciting! It's just not like watching football. Anyway, a few months back Robbie and I read a book about Texas Rangers player, Josh Hamilton. He has a great story!! Since that book, I've been hooked on watching him play. Honestly, if the rangers aren't playing, I'm still not that interested in baseball. However, if they are, I'm all over it!!! It just so happened that the Rangers were playing a three game series against the Tampa Bay Rays while we were in town. So, Monday night Robbie and I, my brother and his wife, and our THREE kids packed up and headed to Tropicana field. The beauty of the entire evening...IT WAS AIR CONDITIONED!!! Thank you Lord! The rangers lost, but we had a great time anyway. The babies were fantastic!






Did I mention how fantastic it was that this field is INSIDE in the AIR CONDITIONING!!!







These babies were fantabulous!!!








This seemed like a super fast trip and I always hate to leave my family, but we had a great time!

Friday's hodgepodge

First things first. I changed my blog and it's name! What do you think? Honestly! I have been considering renaming it to something a little more fun, but I really liked the background before and I certainly had not planned on making any changes yesterday. However, when I published my post yesterday I noticed my blog had completely funked out. It was white and you couldn't read anything. After a while of hitting the refresh button, I realized it was a lost cause. I called Robbie and he told me I needed to just redo it and choose a background from the blogger site. I was so upset. Frankly, because the ones they offer aren't near as cute as the ones you can find through other sites. But, I didn't see any other choice. So, instead of just whining about it, I decided to whine about it while redoing it :) I found this one and once we got all the colors fixed just right, I actually became quite fond of it. It just looks so cozy...and so I appropriately renamed my blog "Pillow Talk". I mean, who hasn't curled up with a pillow and a best friend and shared the deepest darkest of secrets, laying there before you drift off to sleep?! Some of my best girlfriend moments were during a spend the night party, laying in bed with the lights off, and talking for hours!!! Anyway, I'm quite pleased with how it turned out!!


Yesterday evening Taylor and I went to Hanceville with my mom and dad, and my niece, Rylee, to see my grandparents. My grandpa just turned 90 in January and he's the cutest old man you will ever meet. He wears his pants so high, that if he was a girl, they could double for a support bra! Anyway, it had been a while since we had seen them, so I was glad we got to go. We didn't stay too long because they had to go to the funeral home. One of their friends had passed away. We kept saying, "well lets go so they can get to the funeral home." And my grandpa's response. "Oh don't hurry off, they will still be there when we get there." haha!! Funny old man! I certainly know where my dad gets his sense of humor! Anyway, whenever someone dies it always makes me think about their death. Did they know Jesus? Did they know they were about to die or was it shock for the entire family...I'm so nosey so I guess that's why I want to know about everything!!! Well, I'm certainly not ready to die. I think I have a lot of living left to do, but I'm not scared about it. I am for certain I will spend eternity with Jesus! However, when I do die, I have one request. PLEASE BURY ME IN MY PAJAMAS!! My husband thinks this is a very stupid demand, but if I'm not buried in them, I will come back from the grave and haunt you! I mean, I'm asleep. I don't typically sleep in my jeans or Sunday dress. Don't argue with a dead lady. Just do it!! I'm making this request known because if you come to my viewing and I am not in my pj's please take my husband outside and beat him. Then, change my clothes!!

Now, changing gears. My husband has recently taken a new job at Fontaine 5th Wheel in Trusville. It's different hours then we were used to and that has taken some getting used to, but I think we are all adjusting to it well. Robbie is liking his job and it was a wonderful opportunity for our family. So, tonight is our first family/work get together. I'm a little anxious because I will be mingling with all the big whigs from Robbie's company. Most of them are quite a bit older than us, and I hope we aren't viewed as "the little kids." We are going to a Birmingham Barons baseball game. I'm new to liking baseball, but I think it will be a good time. This will be Taylor's first baseball game. I hope she loves it (and behaves)! I'll update you tomorrow on how tonight goes!


Happy Friday, friends! I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

What the heck...

Obama was on The View today??? I see more than one thing wrong with this! Does he not have better things to do then be gossiping with Whoopi? I try to respect the position of president. However, I think he's one big goober!!

Testy Tuesday!

So I realize I'm a bit testier today than I usually am. However, since I realize it I'm trying to cap it off! I think it's because I'm not getting the sleep I'm used to. Sweet sweet Taylor has slept badly the last three nights and momma is tired!

Anyway, today I had to go to Walmart. As if that doesn't make you testy even after the most restful nights sleep...but I loaded up and off we went. After climbing over the mounds of people on every isle and in front of every item I needed, I made my way to the front to check out. Only to find that there were about four registers open. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? Everyone in Cullman County is in Walmart and you can only open four registers. (So, lets be honest. There were more than four registers open, but there certainly were not enough to handle the massive amount of people waiting in line.) I searched and found the shortest line, but still found myself three people back. That's ridiculous! I realize everyone is trying to get by with the barest amount of workrs, but I shouldn't have to wait in line 25 minutes just to checkout!

Then, on my way home I was sitting at a red light. Kind of daydreaming and possibly sleeping with my eyes open. The light turned green and I started to go. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a police car approaching very fast! He had to be doing at least 70! Let me add, he did not have his lights or sirene on. I thought to myself, surely he's on his way to a bad accident or burgulary. Something bad. So, I slowed and let him go on by. If I needed someone I wouldn't want them to be held up by traffic. Well crap no! He pulled into Dairy Queen! I understand people have to eat, but last time I checked an empty belly is no real emergency! Just because you drive a cop car doesn't give you a free pass to drive like a mad man! Now don't get me wrong, I don't usually drive the speed limit, but I certainly don't drive 7o through the middle of town. It really griped me! GRRR!

Guess what...

A few facts you may or may not know about me!!


1. I HATE the phrase "Rest in Peace"! I mean your dead, the only way for you to rest is in peace. Right? I've never heard a dead person complain about their nights sleep.

2. I love fresh, clean sheets on the bed. Ooohh, it's the best feeling to crawl into bed with non wrinkled sheets!

3. I'm not superstitious, but I have a thing against odd numbers. For instance, the volume in my car and on our televisions counts numerically. I can never let it land on an odd number...

4. I adore baby feet, but once you get old enough that they get stinky, they really gross me out! However, I am very thankful for the people who don't mind feet because I love a good pedicure!

5. I'd rather do any household chore than empty the dishwasher! Loading it is fine, but unloading? No thank you!

6. I have a shoe problem, I totally admit it. I own way to many pairs and I keep buying more. I love them. I think it's because it's the only part of my body that never changes size!!!

7. Growing up I always wanted to be a check out girl at Walmart. Secretly, I would still LOVE to do that job! It would be so much fun!

8. My favorite vacations are cruises. I'd go anywhere warm or nowhere at all...it doesn't matter to me. Just float me out in the middle of the ocean and I'd be one happy lady!

9. I have twin toes...it kind of freaks my husband out, but I kind of like them. I wish Taylor had them too, but I don't think she does :(

10. I hate the starving children commercials that are on TV. No need to play "Amazing Grace" as background music, I am already crying from the photos.

11. I hate spiders, roaches, and all bugs in general. When there is one in the house, I squeal like a little girl and call for Robbie. It's like I freeze when I see one! YUCK!

12. I love mexican food!! Rosies? Yes please!

13. I hate chinese food! Not in the way that it's just not my favorite, but in the way that I would rather starve than eat it!!

14. I'm in love with Auburn football. Football season and everything about it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

15. I think baseball pants should be tight and fitted and baseball hat bills should be bent. Whoever started the trend of baggy baseball pants and flat billed caps should be shot.