Houston - We Have A Party.

When you're packing for a road trip do you make a list to check off everything so that you don't end up forgetting some tiny little object of importance - like hairspray? Or that extra 5 pairs of shoes? No? Only me? Yeah right. Y'all do it too. Just maybe not as um, shall we say 'detail oriented' as I do.

First, I write out what I'm going to need to do to begin getting ready - laundry, fill up car, etc. Next on the list is what I'm wearing by the specific day I'll be wearing it complete with jewelry and shoes. Finally, I then write out exactly what I need to pack and in what bag it needs to go in which is either the suitcase or the hair bag. Yes - I have a bag dedicated solely to my hair products I take with me when traveling. Shut it.

I may have forgotten to mention one little step in the list-making/packing process. That handwritten list? Yeah, it's no more. Now it's now a typed out Excel spreadsheet in alpha order complete with a column to check off the item as I pack it. Kate Gosselin's got nothing on my mad organizational skills.

In the words of Ron White, I told y'all all that to get to this: My list actually contained these words: "pink flask" (as opposed to the other colored flasks one might have?), "Firefly (both kinds)" and "hairspray (regular and purse can)".

You think this is crazy? Read what precious Katiebug posted on my Facebook wall last night: "While y'all are having fun this weekend please remember that even though y'all birthed us, not a one of us kids can afford bail money!" Michelle responded that "We ain't afraid of jail." Within minutes Katiebug replied "Just no hot rollers or makeup!" Aunt Crazy (aka Christy) said she can't go to jail because they don't let you have a flat iron in there. Or smoke.

Candance summed it up best I believe. She said, "No hot rollers or makeup is way scarier than jail. By the time someone figured out we hadn't come home and that it was actually a bad thing, we'd be freaking running the joint. We're that powerful." How precious is she? (For the record, last night when the FB conversation was relayed to That Man he asked what we had been smoking. Bless his heart.)

And Katiebug? For the record, Mary Kay Latourneau rolled her hair on tampons when she was in jail. It's true. I saw it on the Lifetime Movie "Mary Kay Latourneau: All American Girl".

One more tiny little detail. In the event you live anywhere within, oh I guess a 100 mile radius of that little ol' Texas town called Houston, The Southern Girl Gang is riding through this weekend. Don't say we didn't warn ya!

Seriously? It's Really Truly Happenin???

In only a mere 48 hours The Southern Girl Gang will descend upon the City of Houston for a girls weekend the likes of which has never ever been seen before. It's the very first, but definitely not the last, time that all four of the gang members will be together at the same time. We've been together three of us but never the complete posse. Lord help us.

We're all getting there at various times Friday evening but you can rest assured the Firefly will be flowing and by the time the last one gets there, the hope is we haven't depleted the stash.

Saturday morning - oh.my.gravy. I can hardly write these words without squealing just the teeniest bit. Saturday morning we will be heading over to Reliant Center to spend the morning with the Queen of Butter herself, MISS PAULA FREAKIN' DEEN Y'ALL!

We've had these tickets since January and every time I open my desk drawer and see the file marked "SGG" it makes me smile. I've taken them out a couple of times and sent pictures to the girls just to let them we're still going. We've been emailing each other like crazy the last few days asking who's wearing what, does one have to have fall colors on their toes since it's now after Labor Day, updating on who's already packed packing...you name it. I told Candance that I was so excited about this weekend that I was practically levitating. She said so was she. I don't know what I'm more excited about - Miss Paula or the fact all of us will be there to see her.

We're not sure what's on the agenda for the rest of the weekend but you better believe there will be pictures and blog material galore. Some of which will probably be shared. Others will more than likely have to be kept under wraps until all investigations are complete, or the statute of limitations runs out whichever comes first.

Houston may never be the same after we leave.

Finally Friday!

Thank you 6 lb, 8 oz. Baby Jesus – this week is finally over!

Even through it started out with a Monday, the week begn pretty well, other than everyone being tense and a little stressed out at work getting ready for a really huge trial.

Tuesday – eh, not so much. I got stopped because apparently my license plate was not renewed back in May (when it expired) and come to find out my insurance had lapsed. Here in the Bayou State, they pull your plate and tow your car if you’re not insured. The state trooper DID pull my plate but was nice enough not to tow it. Instead he just put a ginormous neon green sticker on my back window. So first thing when I finally get to work that morning, I’m on the phone trying to get the insurance issue straightened out. After a little while I’m official to once again drive the streets of LA. Remember that trial I said is coming up? Well, I haven’t left the office for lunch or before 6:30 since I got the slight infraction, so tomorrow a.m. the runner from our office is going by the DMV to pick my plate up for me.

Wednesday, I send an attorney to Houston to take a deposition of the surgeon in the upcoming trial case and realize I forgot to arrange for a court reporter to take said deposition. In the 10+ years that I’ve been doing this, I have never forgot to arrange for the court reporter. Oh, I’ve remembered pretty last minute once or twice but never completely forgot. Thankfully it all worked out but it didn’t do much for my stress level…which in turn caused a HUGE fibro flare-up. I have been in pain for the last 36 hours. Argh!

Thursday (yesterday), I get a text message from Michelle telling me if we needed to evacuate for the hurricane, we were more than welcome to head up to her house. My response? “Um…what hurricane?” Her reply? “Time to watch the news honey.” Ok, so I’ve been busy. I mean really busy. In addition to getting ready for the trial of a 6-yr. old case, I’ve been helping That Man with his remodeling project for the last 4 or 5 months, every weekend, Saturday and Sunday. I look tired and a year older than the Bible, and feel even more tired. I barely have enough energy to brush my teeth when I get home much less watch the news. Anyway, I checked the local weather page. Unless things go crazy as a shite-house rat overnight, it looks like we’ll only get some much needed rain.

Then there was the drive home from work. Now I’m all for keeping yourself healthy and helping the environment where you can but this man, this one right here? Every day that I pass him on my way home from work causes me to almost lose my religion.

Do you see where he is? Right in front of my hood. There is not a bike lane there on the bridge (remember this bridge Candance?) but he continues to ride in this exact spot here in traffic, every day of the week…rain or shine. Holding up all the traffic. I swear some days I just want to pull up beside him and fling open my door. That’s not nice and certainly not what a lady would do but man…argh.

Well, thanks for sticking around ‘till the end. I’ve literally fallen asleep twice writing this.

So long y’all. Have a great long weekend everybody and stay safe!