Nicole’s Blog

Earlier today Vanessa and I were driving back from a meeting and I had to swing by my house to pick something up.  These little sheep live just a little bit up the road from me and I always like to look over and see what they are doing.  Well today it was absolutely pouring the rain and when I looked at the sheep this is what i saw.  They are all flat against the barn.. hunched up as close as they can get so that the over hang keeps them from getting wet!  That’s the only covered spot in their field.  I have never seen an animal try to get out of the rain before.. well besides my cats i guess.

I thought it was hilarous so we stopped right there in the road and took their pic so I could share with all of you.  I didn’t know whether to feel sorry for them or congratulate them for being smart enough to realize that if they stood under the overhang it would shield them from the rain!  You go sheepy’s! 

Ok in other odd news.. on our way back to the office Vanessa and I pulled into the car wash so I could get my umbrella out of the trunk.. you know to minimize the drown rat look as much as we could.  We pull into a stall at "Smillin Billies Car Wash" yes that is the actual name of it and after pulling in I know why Billie is smiling.  As soon as I opened the car door it was as if we were at a party.  There was music blaring over the loudspeaker.. i can’t remember the exact song.. but it made me dance back to the car with my umbrella as vanessa and I giggled!  Music to wash your car by… i like the idea and if I should ever get a whim to wash mine (its probably been more than a year since i even attempted a wash) I will definately take it there for some good times music.  Maybe they will even be playing "carwash" at the time to give me some motivation!

Since I can’t be there to meet her in person yet Jeremy keeps sending me lots of awesome pics of the new little princess Abby! 

This was her first ride in the car.. on her way HOME!  Yes the Allenbaugh family are now safe and sound at home and doing great. 

Isn’t she a doll.  I could just squeeze her! 

Apparently Petey likes to wear Abby’s hats.  Jeremy says he can’t keep him away from them!

It’s almost hump day!  The long weekend is almost in sight!

smart sheepy (at the carwash)

Its time for more baby Abby!   I love that Jeremy is already throwing up the rock out symbol with her!  One day she will appreciate that.

I have talked to Linz several times today and they are doing great.  They are supposed to be released from the hospital tomorrow afternoon. 

Until then they are getting used to life as new parents and sending me awesome pics like these two. 

I absolutely cannot wait until I get to see both my girls in a few weeks!  I’m so excited to kiss those little cheeks! 

In other news Stacey left me a voicemail tonight to call her back as soon as possible that she had a funny story that seemed like something that would happen to me.

She allows a friend to keep their sheep on her property.  The poor little things are eventually taken off for slaughter but being the animal lover that she is she makes sure they have a good life while residing at the Beverly’s.  She cleans out her fridge and takes them left overs… grapes, fruit, bread etc.  So of course they absolutely love their new friend who brings them goodies and have become quite accustomed to her nightly visits.  So tonight she hops the fence to bring them some left over bagels.  She decided to only give them half and save the other half for tomorrow.  As she is walking back toward the fence she felt an excruciating pain in her buttcheck and was knocked down on her knees.  She turned around and was face to face with a furry friend who apparently was not happy about only getting half a bagel so he butted her!  He hit her so hard with his little head that he knocked her down!    No fear she is ok and was laughing when she left me the message.  However her tushy will be sore for a few days.  She said when she got up she screamed "ouch" and hit him in the head with her bag of bagels!  Oh if i could have been a fly on a wall.. or a bagel in a bag to see that scene!

Well I’m glad i’m not the only one that ridiculous things happen too.  Hope you guys had a less eventful evening than Stace!

baaaaadddd one

A few years ago Ray and I acquired this maniquinn.  We got her when he first started doing photography to use as a still model to test lighting etc.  She has no clothes, no legs, no arms, a bag wig and her name is Manny.  Of course she is a guest at all of our parties and it never fails I will find crazy pics of my friends posing with her on my camera afterwards.  Ok fast forward to last Thursday to what I shall call Manny’s day out!  I was asked if we could bring her to model clothing for a work breakfast i had the next day.  So I loaded her up naked and all, seat belted her in and took her to work with me.  You should have seen the glares I got from other drivers as they looked over and discovered her.  Well Manny isn’t bashful at all and just stared proudly out the window.. this was her big debut back into modeling and she was quite excited! 

From there Manny was transferred to Lara’s car so she could take her to the conference center to meet Stacey and Vanessa.  Of course from the moment she got in the car I had texted a pic to everyone so they could see Manny’s adventures and Stacey and Lara did the same.  We got responses like "take care of my girl" and "wow manny’s on the move where is she going?"  Lara wasn’t as cautious or maybe she brought out Manny’s wild side because she didn’t buckle up!  Lara texted us this picture. 

She arrived at the conference center where Stace and Vanessa escorted her inside.  Unfortunately due to her lack of arms and small shoulders the merchandise she was supposed to model didn’t fit and they were unable to use her.  Although she very much enjoyed her day out of the house.. manny on the move!  After a hard days work she let her hair down.. or took it off rather and crashed out in the back of Stacey car.  She is still visiting the Beverly’s and recovering from her o so exciting day!

Ok.. so this is what it looks like when you fight a dresser drawer and the drawer wins!  Friday morning while getting ready for a work breakfast I pulled out the top drawer of my dresser.  I was in a hurry to not miss Manny’s big debut and trying to get there on time.  I dressed and turned around to walk out of my bedroom forgetting that I had pulled the drawer out and turned right into it.  I hit so hard it almost knocked the wind out of me and made my teeth chatter.  Ray heard it all the way from the living room.  By the time I made it to the breakfast this lovely pump knot had already started to form.  Of course we had a good time with it.  Lara and I even held objects up to it for size comparissions.  I was told I looked like a klingon and a unicorn.  My head is still sore, but luckily it didn’t really bruise!

Friday night Ray, Vinay, Anna and myself played the fastest game of monopoly ever.  We managed to play to the finish in just 3 short hours.  I am obligated to say that Ray won, but I certainly put up a good fight to the end.  I hadn’t played in forever and had forgotten just how much fun it is.  When Ray and I first started dating we would play for days… literally.  We would just leave the board set up and come back to it after we rested for a bit! 

And last but most certainly not least at 3:51 today my god child Abagail Rowen was born!!!!!  Here she is our adorable princess!  Linz called me earlier today to let me know she was in labor.  She went in the hospital at 7:30 this morning.  The bad part is.. she had been up since 4:30 a.m. with a virus!  I don’t think I have ever heard of anyone getting a bug the same day they go into labor.  She sounded exhausted, but ok.  The doctors gave her some meds, but they wouldn’t even allow her to eat ice chips because she had been throwing up so much.  I haven’t talked to her since the baby arrived, but I spoke with Jeremy this afternoon and everyone is doing great. 

Have a great week,

The fairy godmother

Ok so i’m going to make an effort to get back into my nightly blogging.  I’m not sure what’s come over me, but I have been bored with it and had little to say.  But I know that Sheryl and especially my mom get frustrated when I don’t so here goes.  Today’s blog is about things I recommend.

Tuesday afternoon Lara, Wendy, Vinay, Anna and myself decided to try a new spinning class at our gym.  For those who may not know spinning classes are hour long aerobics classes on stationary bikes.  I LOVED it.  The hour went by so fast and the music was good.  So if you ever have a chance give spinning a go do it.  It’s a fun way to de-stress and burn a few calories!  I do recommend though that you either get a padded bike seat or wear padded bike shorts as those seats are hard on the tushy! 

After spinning our wheels and getting no where we headed to Wendy’s house for a night of fun with Rock Band!  I so love this game and want one of my own.  I could play the drums all day.  However I recommend if you ever play with us that you don’t sit close to Lara while she’s drumming.  Last night she was working what her momma gave her on the drums when one of her sticks broke in mid play, went flying through the air and smacked an unsuspecting Rocco in the face while he was singing.  Yes she was jammin out so hard that she actually broke the stick….however what she didn’t break was her rhythm.  She just kept on going.. atta girl!  Wow Luka and we thought you were the animal when playing this game!

I just finished reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold.  Les has been after me forever to read it and I finally did.  It is an incredible story from the perspective of this girl who was murdered and what she watches her family go through in the aftermath of her death.  It is one of those books that once you pic up is hard to put down.  I recommend this book and give it the Austin two thumbs up!

A few days ago Ray and I watched the movie Zodiac.  It’s a true story about the serial killer that murdered people in California in the 70’s.  I am a junkie for court TV, crime drama’s and murder cases (yes I know I am a weirdo, but im facinated by this stuff even though it freaks me out and I can’t sleep..ha)  Anyway the Zodiac killer corresponded  with several California newspapers during his crime spree.  The movie is about one of the reporters and his quest to find out who the killer was.  So if you are into morbid movies like me I would definately recommend this one. 

And if you aren’t watching Tori and Dean then get on the band wagon people.  I LOVE this show.  Last year when the second season went off and they moved out of the b & b the show as if it was the final season.  So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it back on a few months ago and have been hooked again ever since.  Definately recommend this for the category of mindless tv!

I recommend you duck and take cover if you intend to pass by my or Staceys office.  For the past two days we have been chucking one of those stress balls shaped like a bus at each other.  The point of the game is to catch each other when you aren’t expecting it.  Like yesterday a volunteer came in to meet with Stace and I had him throw it at her as he walked through the door.  Yeah I know its juvenile, but stuff like that makes my job so much fun!  Today she just opened my door and slapped me in the back of the head with it.  It’s getting a little dangerous up there so look out! 

Finally I recommend if you are pumping gas you watch the stories you tell as the gas clerk may just be listening to you!  See previous post.

Hope you had a happy hump day.  The weekend is almost here!  Yay!

spinner

Ok I will preface the following story with a "you really had to be there warning".  Because it was truly hilarous, but no one else we have told seemed to laugh nearly as hard as we did.

Again you can file this under the strange things that happen to Nicole folder.

Today Stacey and I pulled into a gas station on our way to lunch.  I shuffled around for a few minutes in my purse trying to dig out my gas card.  As soon as I opened my door to get out and pump a voice from above said "hello there".  I looked around a few times completely puzzled as to where this mysterous voice was coming from and said "uh hi..hello.. hey hi" all the while looking for the mysterious person talking to me.  I mean he literally sounded as if he were standing by my car or inside the pump! 

This wasn’t a conveinance store, but one of those free standing stations where the attendants are visible in a tiny glass booth.  I glanced over and sure enough there he was smiling and waving from inside his glass bubble.  I’m not sure I’ve ever had a welcome greeting at a gas station before, but ok i’ll go with it.  Stace rolled down both windows on my side to talk to me.  She had heard everything with the windows up and was laughing. 

So at this point for lack of anything better to do while waiting I picked up in the middle of a story about a friends wedding.  It really wasn’t anything significant other than one of the groomsman was a guy I dated one summer when I went to governors school.  He was from another high school and I broke up with him to go out with someone else there (yeah I know not nice.. but it was a long time ago… ps.. i hate that i’m now referring to h.s. as a long time ago).  I’m not sure he ever spoke to me again after that and I really didn’t have to communicate with him anymore since we were at different schools.  I was telling Stace that I didnt think I had seen him since and wanted to say hello, but there was never really a good time to say hi.  It was funny because Ray recognized him too because they played basketball against each other.  I know he saw me a few times, but he either can really hold on to a grudge or didn’t have a chance to say hello either.  So I’m filling her in on all this when the pump kicked off.  I start to take my receipt when i’m once again startled by the mysterous voice who then says "wow you are a noisy little critter aren’t ya".  

I immediately started laughing and apologizing to the gas pump… I realized I was once again talking a gas pump and stuck my head around to the glass booth where both he and his co worker were he hawing with laughter.  I waved and jumped in the car laughing every breath and drove away as quickly as I could knowing that he had been listening to my story the entire time.  I guess most people just pump their gas quietly.  However being the chatty patty that I am you know I’m going to be talking to whoever is with me.  I’m not sure if they have their pump mics on all the time or if he was so amused by my reaction the first time he spoke he decided to listen in.  Goes to show you that you never know when someone might be listening to your conversations even when you are simply pumping gas.  I’m glad I could be there for his amusement, I guess it does get kinda boring cooped up in there just watching cars drive by.  If I had a fun speaker system like that where I worked I would probably mess with people too.. ha!  All I know is Stacey and I laughed until our stomachs hurt over this one. 

You have to watch out for those bank people and gas station attendants they will ease drop when you least expect it!

the noisy little critter