Did You Ever Have One of Those Days?

Ya know, it's a great life, a great job, et cetera, et cetera. But at this time of year, at this time of day.....I think sometimes (to myself usually)....On this day, it goes like this... I'm not a good leader, I'm not a good wife, a good Mom, a good friend, or a good housekeeper......WHY do I do this?

But the beginning of school is fortunately like giving birth to a child...you forget the pain and only remember the joy that comes later. Because there IS joy and there ARE rewards and my work ( I keep repeating this to myself) is worthwhile and has a greater purpose.

But.....I said I wasn't going to talk about education, didn't I?

It's easy as ABC

As the beginning of school nears, I am having an inner struggle. I am told that my conversation is dominated with education-related topics. That's why I haven't been writing very often...because I am determined that this is not to be a school, class, or campus story blog (and believe me I have some GREAT stories) but I have a need to prove to myself and a few select others that I have a life outside of education.

But then, as I struggle to find a topic....I begin to suspect that it may indeed be the case...darn it.

This past weekend was a fun and friend-filled weekend! We had a great time celebrating our friend, Lindsay's 30th birthday at Hummer's. In true Gill style, there were Gillions of people there to wish her well. We chose to leave the second day of partying (the Lubbock concert part) to the younger crowd. But then again, we stayed in Amarillo for Will and David to compete in cook-off. That was LOADS OF FUN.

If you love high winds, high heat and lots of protein, this was YOUR DAY. My hubby was very happy man. We finished off the day with prime rib, a VIP table, and a concert with Matt Martindale and Gary P. Nunn...and despite my previous remarks to friends...he is still very much alive and puts on a great show! Catch a concert if you get a chance and especially if you like to cut a rug.

It's a FABULOUS way to get your mind off work or SCHOOL!!!!

At Least We Looked Good

You know you will do almost anything for your daughter? Even when they are grown up and not little anymore?

When mine wanted to go to Lubbock to eat at her favorite Italian restaurant and even thought it was far, far away to travel just to eat a meal..no matter how fine...I agreed to do it. And I paid.

The end.

If you would like to hear her version of this story, please click HERE

Las Vegas, Church Camp, and the Moon

Great News!! We made it home safe and sound. As I write this, I am a little more tan, a lot more well-fed (SOME of that Vegas food is YUMMY!!) and a whole lot more well-rested. I did not tax myself while visiting Nevada. Well, except in that way that involves contributing a little "something something" to the coffers of the Nevada general education fund...or wherever that money goes.

On the other hand, I'm writing this and my hubby is snoring loudly from the other room. That comes from the exactly 1 and 1/2 hours of sleep he got last night. Wisely, he showed up at the room this morning at 5:30 a.m. with a cup of coffee in his hand for me. Wiser, but not wealthier than he was when he did THE EXACT SAME THING in April. Ahhh well...live and learn. He has a love/hate relationship with the blackjack tables.

The good news is we're back and everybody's healthy. In case you didn't read the previous post...he has had a few teensy problems making it home from Vegas in fine form.

SO.

It's definitely an interesting place to people watch. And because it is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Walking on the Moon (July 20, 1969).. the Fremont Street Experience is focusing on that and the whole Woodstock thing. So all the casinos and street musicians....well...all the music EVERYWHERE...because if you know L.V., you know they are GREAT at marketing and executing that marketing plan...so they really did the 60's thing BIG TIME. So....the tunes of the late sixties really took me back. It was pretty cool. And kinda groovy, ya know?

I remember watching the first steps on the lunar surface. I had just arrived home from church camp. (...For those of you who can relate, yes, it was Pan Fork Baptist Encampment. I can taste the Sweet Tea served from the pail on the table right this very minute.....ooooh the wonderful & fun memories from THAT place! But I digress.) I just know that I was ten years old and that at the camp we were updated on the progression of the Apollo 11 mission. Once I was home Apollo 11 landed on the moon and I gathered around the big old Zenith with my fam and we hung on each and every word Walter Cronkite narrated while Neil Armstrong spoke those famous first words on the moon. It was fantastic. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Even as a child, I knew I was watching something very important and historic. My father was great at helping me understand the value of these things. Thanks, Dad.

Peace.

I'm Taking his Insurance Card.....

No, really..

To (hopefully) finish up our month-long celebration of my husband's 50th birthday, we are heading to my husband's HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH. This is a place where he has had wonderful times, extremely good and bad luck at the tables (both gambling and dining). This is a man who has a LARGE time at his own personal DisneyWorld. I know that You know where I'm talking about:

We hit Las Vegas, along with several other couples....with a vengeance. You know how people say that when you are in LV you don't know night from day, you stay up all hours, etc, etc, etc? Apparently my body does not know those rules. SO. When I get tired, I hit the room for a nap. Eat when I'm hungry, sleep when I'm tired. Now THAT's my idea of a vacation.

My husband, on the other hand, is a classic Las Vegas vacationer. He has been known to sit at a blackjack table for 36 hours at a stretch. DON'T EVEN ASK, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS. Now I have decided recently that I have adult ADD and I can't imagine even doing something I love for 36 hours. Luckily, we have the rule that we can just go our own ways. Mine is more like 1) shopping 2) spas 3) slot machines.

I'm not sure what hubby does because like I said, we GO OUR OWN WAY. But I have my suspicions and the list is not as long as mine.

However, I do know this. The last two times we have gone to Vegas, he has spent the next week or so having medical procedures. Really, Vegas has a negative effect on his health. He seems to be okay while we are there, but when we hit the Amarillo airport, WATCH OUT.

I'm packing in the otc stuff just in case I need to doctor him up while we're there.....and taking the insurance card in case there's something I can't handle. Wish us luck!!