Memorial Day in the MOB

Memorial day weekend 2010 was an adventure I will never forget, and frankly am surprised I remember... Kara and I headed down to Mobile for Chippy and Maggie's wedding. If a low key weekend on the bay was what I was thinking, I was soo wrong. What I found were awesome crazy ass friends, high gravity beer, and waaay too much 5 hour energy. (In case you though that stuff is a scam, i'm here to attest that it is not. B-12 is for real.)

Kara and Jess

Trippers

The pictures are full of "you had to be there" jokes and mostly embarrassing moments, so you can check out my facebook album for the full pictorial. I have to thank Kara for a hell of a time. While i'm at it, thanks to Kathy, Johnny Ruth, Jess, Tripp, Hermies Consignment, taco bell, and the wedding party for adding to the fun.

I thinking another trip must be planned soon, i'm already having withdraws from these three.

Upon my return, someone reminded me they don't like it when I leave.

Off again

This time its down to Mobile for a college friend's wedding. Jordan has to study (boo), so it's me and Kara rockin m-town. (there might be a more clever slang name for mobile, but im an outsider and need help). Pictures to follow post memorial day. burns out. (yes, i wrote this friday morning from my hammock....i might have withdraws this weekend without it)

Reflections from the Hammock

Its Thursday afternoon and beautiful, so I got home from work and went to my special place: our new hammock. Ellie is next to me checking out the wilderness (a.k.a our backyard). I actually just had a client call, and I discussed business from my hammock. This leads me to the assumption that as long as I have a computer, why cant all non face to face work be done from the hammock. As summer progresses, this may become hard to resist. Golf is also hard for me to resist right now. All I want to do is leave work around 3 and go walk 9 holes. I must stay focussed. I regress.

So, as I reflect on this week, a few things come to mind. First, the season finale of Lost was sunday.

Since I was in my poison oak coma, i didnt watch it until Tuesday. It gets a lackluster: ehhhh. I was over Lost about 2 seasons ago, when it started getting all science fictiony. The finale was all emotional and character driven, which they needed to do a few seasons ago when i lost interest. Loving the last summer marketing campaign though. The show's ending had extreme religious context, so it really made sense. Jordan and I had lengthy discussion after, of course, since he is a die hard fan. He was one of those that followed all the Darma Initiative stuff online. yeah. So, my real reflection is just i'm glad its over, and its one less show I now have to follow.

Another show that will soon end is The Tudors.

We are on Katherine Parr, the last wife, and Henry's health is obviously failing. This being my fav historical period, I will miss it being reenacted for me weekly. If anyone remembers Nip Tuck, you will certainly recognize wife #6. I wish Showtime would almost skip Mary and Elizabeth, and go straight to William and Mary, lesser know historical figures. Or maybe King James or Victoria. I guess there's just not enough sexcapades with that bunch. At least we still have Weeds and Dexter.

I wonder if I could camp out on my Hammock.....?

Outbreak!

This morning I felt just as lethargic as I did yesterday. Thinking I was just still tired from the weekend, i managed to get up and drag myself to work. However, once at my desk, I realized something was just not right. My chest got tight, breathing seemed to get more difficult, and I became quite uncomfortable. I do not like going to the dr, but after calling Jordan, I realized this is one time I should prob go. So, an hour later I was getting a steroid shot, benadryl, steroid pills, and cream. I, my friends, have my first case of poison oak.

Yes, I might have thought the bumps were bug bites...or that I was just tired from being overworked, but now that its spread all over my neck and its itching like crazy, i realize its not chiggers. I was telling the nurse that ive been out in the woods at camp or playing in my backyard my whole life, and have never gotten poison oak or ivy or anything. She immediately asked if I had cats. Yes... Do they go outside? Yes...,(ive been trying to give them more outside independence.) Do you hold them on your right shoulder when you pick them up? (where all the rash is located) Yes.  Your cats gave you poison oak. WHAT?!? So now Ellie is on outside probation until this goes away.  kitties......

Crawfish Boil

This saturday was my practice's second annual client appreciation event, and this year's theme was a crawfish boil. We had over 50 people in our back yard, and although im biased, i think it was a fantastic day. I have to give props to Jordan and his helpers, kevin and jason for their tireless efforts all day boiling those suckers. Also to my mom and mother in law, without your help, I would have been lost! Im a lucky girl.

The back yard was absolutely perfect. This was the first time we have been able to use it since getting it all cleaned up and wow, it was so much fun. My favorite addition, the hammock! This yard keeps surprising me. We found hammock hooks in those two trees, so naturally a hammock was added. If anyone needs me this summer, thats where you'll find me.

I did not hang around these guys long during the purging process. gross.

Happy cooks. bless them, i couldnt have done that if i tried.

Musical entertainment brought to you by our friend Grey. He was fantastic! it looks like he only had one fan in this pic, but trust me, everyone loved him. We are working on getting him awesome rocker business cards. 

Friends came too, which made it even more fun. 

Afterwards, Jordan, myself, kara and laura managed to find some energy and headed over the greystone for another crawfish boil. I dont have pics from the night, but it was one of the most fun outings of all time. It was awesome to hang out with my girls, and introduce them to some of our "other" friends. Because of these two events, I spent all day today doing nothing, it was awesome.

Pallazo & Palladium

I have finally recovered and detoxed from my Vegas trip last week. That city will really take it out of you. I was hesitant to even return to V-town, seeing that last time I went was with a bunch of guys (jordan included) that were obsessed with playing poker at all hours of the day. Hence, no structure or concept of time. I'm a control freak, that didnt work for me. This time, luckily, we had a schedule daily. I went for a conference sponsored by Monex, one of the nations leaders in the wholesale precious metals trade. What I discovered is that any company that deals in gold, silver, platinum and palladium knows how to do Vegas right. So, myself, my business partner, David, and two other advisors from our office, Fergus & Patrick, had a fantastic time in the city of sin. First, upon arrival we each had our own limo to take us to the Pallazo. Awesome. Arrive at the Pallazo, wow, what an amazing hotel. Sure as hell better than Harrahs where we stayed the last visit.

lobby

heeyo, there were 3 tv's in my room (my fav, the one in the bathroom)

Patrick had dinner reservations at two different places for us each night (loved the choices). The first night, a place called First at the hotel. It overlooked the Treasure Island pirate show on the strip.

our view from the restaurant

 they are very excited to be in vegas

right before i had the best mojito known to man. Sparkling wine was involved, it will be replicated.

The next two days were filled with conference, pool, slots, dinner, blackjack, & repeat. We did learn alot about what types of metals clients can purchase, how, when, ect. They even had a 12 million dollar reception for us, which was all of us in a room with over 12 mill in gold, silver, palladium, platinum and sunken treasure. It was pretty cool. I won a Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar. The history nut in me when a bit nuts on that one. 

Dinners were the most fun as we checked out some of the best Vegas had to offer. First was my fav from our last trip, Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. On the menu for the night: 

App: 

GOAT CHEESE “QUESO FUNDIDO”

Rajas + Blue Corn Tortilla Strips

Entree:

SOUTHWESTERN SPICED DUCK BREAST

Carrot-Habanero Sauce

Chorizo-Goat Cheese Tamale + Thyme Butter

yummmm

The next night we tried out Mario Batali's B&B, 

on the menu:

App: Rabbit Confit Crostone with Favas and House Made Ricotta

Entree: Beef Cheek Ravioli with Black Truffles and Crushed Duck Liver

We also did a good bit of exploring the strip, plus we had to walk off all the calories we had consumed

As I said, we spent a good amount of time by the pool. I took this pic during our lunch break. David and I were being cool in our business suits at the pool, when we realized the sign behind the lifeguard. Can you read it? It says no lifeguard on duty. Vegas might be cool, but no one said it was smart.

View of Trump towers from the pool

view from hotel room, hey mtns.

Before we left, David and I had a mission. To find the pawn shop from the history channel's pawn stars and get Chumlee's autograph. So, we go the address, got in a cab and took off for South las vegas. Success! 

But our success was short lived. Turns out they film on Fridays, so we were quickly turned away. I cant even explain how bummed out we were. Not only did we waste $30 to get there and back, we didnt even get to see the guys. However, we did get a good view of their filming. 

pretty cool. 


So, that was Vegas. After this trip, I def want to go back. However, it would be much more fun with girlfriends. Any takers?

My yard

I'm too tired to post about Vegas, bc its gonna take a while, so instead how about a look at the progress we've been making in the yard. Remember that yard we bought with a house behind it?

well, we've been putting in a little work this spring:

ellie made an appearance by the mailbox with the new flowers

The former owner really liked her hostas

and more hostas, those will soon be moved bc im feelin some shrubs should go there instead

and even more. Ellie doesnt care for the hostas either.

and moving to the back yard. Those weren't tulips but instead Irises. So, behind them I planted knock out roses, I hear they are hard to kill, perfect.

My test pot. If I could keep this one alive, then i could move on to others. Success!

who needs a bird bath anyways? (yes, i have a little weeding to do)

Macros of my hydrangas. 

I wish my yard were covered in just these....