Bull riders and cowboys

One of the best nights I have had in a long time was last weekend when me and my closest girl friends went to a bull riding competition. The best part was just spending time with the gilrs I know the best. Amber, so dang cute, is now a big time cowgirl watching her man ropin' and ridin'. We had a mission that night, find Sarah a cowboy! Nicole did a great job pointing them out! It was so much fun drinkin, dancing, and scopin' out the tight jeans and cowboy hats. I love you girls, I'm so glad you are in my life.

Sarah learned how to play pool that night... below are some pics from the event filled evening!

I like this song

I drink good coffee every morning
Comes from a place that's far away
And when I'm done I feel like talking
Without you here there is less to say
I don't want you thinking I'm unhappy
What is closer to the truth
That if I lived till I was 102
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
I'm no longer moved to drink strong whisky
'Cause I shook the hand of time and I knew
That if I lived till I could no longer climb my stairs
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
Your face it dances and it haunts me
Your laughter's still ringing in my ears
I still find pieces of your presence here
Even after all these years
But I don't want you thinking I don't get asked to dinner
'Cause I'm here to say that I sometimes do
Even though I may soon feel the touch of love
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
If I lived till I was 102
I just don't think I'll ever get over you

-Colin Hay

Dear Jackson,

I'm sorry. I'm sorry you will never fully understand the reason I am not around. I wish I was able to explain these types of things to dogs. I can tell you a million times that I love you and miss you but you will never really know. I miss the nights it was only you and I and we would sit on the couch together and watch South Park and laugh at the stupid jokes while you chewed continuosly and your eye ball would go sideways because you were in such bliss. I wake up in the morning and get ready to take you out, but it's not me anymore. I'm sorry that I can't take you for hikes anymore to the power line and back, sometimes we would make it to the big ditch but we both know mama would get lazy and just throw a stick so you could get the exercise instead of her. Tell the horny toad I said hello, I'm sure he forgives you for pouncing him every time we walked by. Sometimes I miss buying you stupid toys from the dollar store that you would shred in 3 minutes and then I would have to clean all the little bean bag beads up with the vaccuum cleaner that never picked anything up. I do miss you puppers, I'm just not allowed to tell you anymore. When we went and got you, I was a little hesitant because Toby was in my heart and to be honest I really wasn't ready for you. It took me a long time to like you. Only you and I will know the good times we had and the love I have for you now. Please know, even though I'm not around, I miss you and wish I could see you everyday. I didn't leave because of you. I didn't abandon you. If only you could understand. I'm afraid that you don't remember me anymore but I can only hope you do. No matter what you hear, I am your mama.

Dignity

I started a new job in November. It only took me two weeks total to find a job after moving to Phoenix. I have been working with prostitued women. These women have the desire and dignity to get out of the sex industry. My job is to support them and guide them on their journey to success. These women have learned more about life than a lot of us, they only learned it in a completely different way. I have already learned so much in the few weeks that I have been there, I am excited to see how much more I can grow. Below is the starfish, the symbol we use to represent our program and the story that helps us all know we can make a difference.



Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf's edge and and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.
The man was stuck by the the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.
As he came up to the person he said, "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said, "It sure made a difference to that one!"

Happy No phone.

This isn't quite what happened at the stroke of midnight on Dec 31st, the only thing different from this picture is that my phone was dropped in to a glass of Rum and Coke. It was an accident of course, and out of kindness, but I am quite irritated about the whole thing only because I have now realized how addicted to my phone I am. It's actually rediculous how much I use that thing. But hey...now I get a new one. The screen was cracked so it all worked out for the best. HA! The funny thing is after I heard the splash, I sat there for a moment and was surprised...kinda drunk too so I reacted a little slow...then the boys yelled "take the battery out, quick!" I proceeded to slowly try to dry it off and take the battery out. They all told me not to turn it on until the next day but did I listen? No. I went inside and decided to dry it with a blow dryer, which only fried the screen. I then turned it on, that night, and caused it to short out. Good one Alanna. I just couldn't handle that I wasn't going to recieve any midnight phone calls or mass texts saying Happy New Year, one after another.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and if you need to know what NOT to do if your phone is damaged by liquid...call me.