Crossing off the Bucket List

Drum roll please... 

I got the awesome opportunity to go ALLIGATOR HUNTING with the Alligator Man himself! About two weeks earlier he called me up, said he had a free day coming up and wanted to know if I wanted to come hunting! Obviously, I immediately booked my plane ticket and began counting down the days. 

If you aren't familiar with this sport, but have heard of a little show called "Swamp People", then yes - that is what it is really like. Well, actually, we shoot with a pistol and are often standing in the marsh or the water when we shoot, but they are on a line and are MAD. 

I wasn't really sure what else to expect since this was my first time. I flew into Houston, my partner in crime - AKA Dad - picked me up from the airport and we started towards Lake Charles. Per my very sweet and convincing request, we stopped at Best Buy so I could buy a GoPro head cam, then scooted over to Academy to buy some legit swamp boots. We then got to Lake Charles, but RW was still out on a hunt, so naturally, dad and I went to the Casino. :) After losing a few of my "lucky quarters", we conceeded to watching the A&M game at the famous Jack Daniel's bar. I know...I watched an A&M game. But, we know their new Freshman quarterback, so I was guilted into supporting him. 

Sunday morning rolled around and it was ALLIGATOR time! We were headed towards the marsh by 5:45am and I was pumped! Still not completely sure what to expect, I had my boots and headcam donned and was ready for a rodeo. Basically, it went a little like this: 

1. We drive to each line to see if it's down

2. If so, RW and his wingman begin to pull the line up 

3. You stand there, armed with your pistol, ready to cock it at any moment 

4. When you see the gator's head, you aim right behind the eyes 

5. CHOOT HIM! 

6. Then you get to drag him to the trailer, tag him, load him, and hope you got bragging rights! 

I shot 4 of the total 14 that day, and my biggest one was just under 9 feet! It was a rush and I am already counting down to next year! 

After the hunt, we got to do a little Red Drum fishing and that was a blast as well! I caught a few monsters. 

Enjoy these shots! 

Game Watching 

We cleaned up!

My big one! 

Me with my kill! 

My first Red Drum

Don't mind the "Absolutely NO fishing" sign 

Dad at sunset

The gang

Stopped to take in the sunset

The hook is the size of my hand! 

My Alligator Man!

Girl on Fire

I apologize for my recent absence of correspondence. But maybe you'll forgive me after you read THIS:

It's been a very fun, busy, and adventurous month or so...

First, my sweet baby nephew turned 4! He was such a big boy and we had such a fun LSU TIGERS birthday party! Geaux Tigers! Here are some pictures from the party...

Aunt L, Kade and Cole in our LSU gear

The bouncy house! I was sore for days.

Lunch time with baby C

That smile makes me feel like the luckiest Aunt alive! 

Aunt Chels and Kade showing off their muscles!

Secondly...my dad and some of his friends flew in for a Ft. Worth filled weekend. My dad and I had a father-daughter date night that Friday night where he spoiled me with dinner at Eddie V's then we caused a little ruckus with cocktails at Whiskey & Rye. If you aren't familiar with Whiskey & Rye, it is at the bottom of the Omni Hotel in downtown Funkytown. It was the evening of the Michigan vs. Alabama game at the Cowboys stadium, and the hotel was hosting the Michigan fans...so my dad felt like it was the best idea to pay the band at W&R to play the Texas Fight song. Love that man.

His friends arrived on Saturday, and I was able to pull a few "strings" to get us dinner reservations at Del Frisco's. YUMMMM. Then they decided they wanted to dance...so we went to the Stockyards. Now stop for a second and picture this... Me...My dad...and three of his friends. Now one is only a few years older than me but they are all happily married (minus my bachlor-life loving father) with children and they don't get out very often. Oh Lord. It was really a fun night.

The next day was the Stockyards music festival, which is the real reason they were in town. My dad's friend, RW, is good friends with Hank Williams Jr, who happened the be the headliner for this festival. Now, RW is known as the REAL alligator man. He has built a very profitable business hunting and selling alligator. Hank Jr wears a gator necklace, vest, and boots from RW. Ok, I know this is getting long, but let me give you a little back ground... I went to a Hank Jr concert in May because RW got me tickets and I happened to get asked to come on stage and ended up going backstage and on the bus and hanging out with the band that night. No big deal. So, when they figured out they were coming to Ft. Worth for a concert, the road manager called me up to make sure I was coming. I happily told him that I was and that I was coming with the Alligator man! So fast-forward...we spent all day with the band, hung out backstage, and I got to meet and hang out with Pat Green, Shooter Jennings, Merle Haggard, among others. We ended up going to a little bar before Hank went on and the guitarist played an impromptu acoustic set at the bar to kick the night off. Here's just a few pictures:

At the Thirsty Armadillo 

Someone has to be VIP :) 

Guitarists

Me and lead guitarist Ricky C

backstage!

Hank Jr

Me with my 4 ALL ACCESS passes. Band Status!

Who is that girl on stage?? haha! 

I even got to play the guitar! 

Dad and RW. AKA Frick and Frack.

And the third and final adventure of the last few weeks is TOO much to be in this blog, so I'll start a new one. See above! :)

My Quirks...

I am a very laid-back lady. But I have a few quirks - here are a few... 

1. I don't like dishes in the sink - but I can't STAND it when the dishwasher doesn't dry the dishes all the way. AND I organize the dishes in a very specific way in the dishwasher. 

2. I love being barefoot but don't like it when my feet get wet and things stick to them 

3. I don't like getting in a hot car but will NOT turn the AC on full-blast at first because I hate it blowing hot air more. 

4. I hate turtle necks 

5. I can NOT sleep in socks 

6. I don't walk slowly. Ever. 

7. I'm not really a morning person. 

8. I love to cook but rarely cook just for myself. 

9. I used to have to sleep in matching clothes. I have since let go of that. :) 

10. I'll set my alarm early so that I can snooze it at least twice. 

11. I'll eat onions like candy 

12. I like my feet to be dry when I step out of the shower 

13. I am OBSESSED with music

14. If I wasn't a physical therapist I would be a storm chaser 

15. I chew gum - a lot. 

16. I'm sure I'll think of more... 

28 and counting.

Well another birthday has come and gone. While this one wasn't much to celebrate,  I had many sweet friends and family members make it special. I spent the weekend in Tyler where my sweet friends threw me a Pirate Party...ARRRG on Saturday night. Then my awesome family had a huge birthday lunch for me on Sunday with all of my favorite eats and treats. My dad and I went to a Red Sox/Rangers game on my actual birthday on Monday. All in all, it was a great 3 day celebration!

As I reflect back on my 28 years I realize I have done a lot, but still have so much more to do. I have lived from Boston to Abilene, traveled from Chicago to Nigeria, studied math to neurophysiology, worked from a bartender to a DPT. I have truly learned some amazing lessons during this time and feel that the Lord has been so graceful in teaching me in those times. I have gone through some serious personal struggles with the divorce of my parents, my dad's battle with cancer, and some of my own demons, but through the provision of the Lord, I always come out on top and for the better. I've experienced my share of heartbreak and wondered how I'll ever move forward, but here I am, single but in a place of peaceful solitude with a healed heart.

My sweet friend P - the official Pirate host

MB and RS - the love the booty. :)

Oh the fun we had that night. 

Sunday's family party

Complete with all my favorites - everything from dressing to buttermilk pie! 

Rangers game with Dad

All the birthday cards! It's so nice to feel loved. 

I know I have so much to look forward to...meeting my soulmate, wedding bells, sweet cries of babies, continued learning and growing in my profession, seeing the life journies of my loved ones and friends. But I have to tell you, things are looking pretty good from where I sit right now. And I am so grateful for the abundant blessings in the last 28 years. So...here's looking to 28!

Viva la Vacation!

So, I made it back from the beautiful beaches of Mexico! I can honestly say I would have stayed another week. The time was so very relaxing, the resort was beautiful, and the time with my mom was very sweet. Our travel was extremely easy and the transport back and forth from the airport was easy peasy! We flew into Cancun and had about an hour and ten minute drive to our resort in Riviera Maya. We spent the next 4 days lounging on our backsides. We would go to the beach in the morning and lie poolside in the afternoon. We were never more than 15 feet from the bar or a cabana boy. Our daily routine was sleep in, eat, drink, nap, drink, eat, drink, dance, drink, and sleep. Basically, I was in heaven. Of course, I made a few cameo dance appearances with the resort boys, but there are NO photos of those trists....only Mexican legend. Speaking of pictures...here are a few...

Check AND Check

I'm a list maker. Always have been, always will be. My mom claims I was making her lists and post-it notes before I could even write. I'm not really sure how that worked out for her...seems like she would have had more sense than that. :)

I make lists for work, lists for errands, lists for the grocery store (duh), lists for lists. But MOST importantly, I make a MEAN packing list. I am getting ready to leave for the Riviera Maya in 2 days and I think I have already made 3 lists. And, guess who asked me to make HER a list... yep, my mom. She's my traveling buddy and as we were talking about all the things we needed to do... it popped out "Why don't you just make me a list?" Old habits die hard.

The older I get the more this list making is a contradiction to my lifestyle...I'm much more flexible, easy going, spontaneous than when I started this list habit. But these lists ensure that I don't forget my deodorant, or my favorite high heels...or worse...my floss! I know I kill millions of trees in the form of post-it notes...

But it feels so good to check things off!


And further proof of my genetic theories:

Post-it notes from my grandmother on my trip to Africa :)

See you when I get back with my tan lines :) 

All Star Tuesday

So, I love baseball. Plain and simple. Yes, I realize I am a female and that automatically discredits my love of the sport to a certain level. But, I can tell you about a squeeze, a balk, a cut-off man. I can call a double play before it happens, and have been known to call a grand slam more than once. We can even talk about predictable pitching changes depending on a Righty or a Lefty coming to bat. I can talk to you about ERAs and batting averages. I know most of the major league players names. I am an American League girl at heart. I'm getting better at recognizing the weird pitches like a Slurve ball or a Circle Change-up. But, I don't know how to keep a box score...that kind of annoys me.

I'm not sure when this love really started. My great uncle was the biggest Rangers fan I have ever known, and that was instilled in me at a young age. Now I know my girlfriends are getting a smug little smirk on their faces right about now, thinking "You love baseball because you love baseball players". While that might be true, this love was waaaay before that, and runs way deeper. While I LOVE looking at a good pair of baseball pants (from either side ;-)), have dated some VERY handsome baseball players, and actually made some good friends who play professionally, its something more than that. As cliche as it sounds, going to a game makes me giddy. It makes me feel patriotic when I sing the National Anthem, and makes me feel youthful when I sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the 7th inning stretch.

My dad and I got a mini-season group of tickets for the Rangers this year, and I have to say it has been some of the most precious time I have ever spent with him. Yes, parking is a nightmare. Yes, beers are expensive. YES, the garlic fries are AMAZING. And NO, I have not let him try the 2-foot hot dog yet. But looking over at him and seeing him get as excited as I do during a double play, or trying to catch a homerun in our great seats, or clap when they play "Deep In the Heart of Texas" really does tug at something deep in the heart of me. I don't know...maybe this whole baseball love is genetic and I'm just now discovering it.

And tonight is the All Star game. I get SO competitive around this time of year. When the play-offs come around, I'm an official mad-woman. I even took a tambourine and cymbals to a bar last year when the Rangers were in the World Series. Yes, yes I did. (and it was a hit, I must say). So guarantee I will be sitting on the very couch I am on now, cheering, yelling, and occasionally jumping up and down.

All I have to say is TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!

Post Script: I feel it would only be appropriate to spend my 28th birthday at the ballpark watching my two favorite teams the Rangers and the Red Sox play my most favorite game with my most favorite dad. Yay for July 23rd!

A little Rangers warm-up...

Nothing like a good game with a great friend. 

Ranger's Stadium 

White Sox Stadium

My boy Josh Hamilton

View of Astro's Stadium from a suite :)

Nellie

Yes, I organize several "Rangers Days" at work.

LT and I run the Ranger's bases!

See it??

I'm in heaven.