wow, I've been neglecting the blog!

Our life has been absolutely insane lately...and this blog has been neglected. Between my work and traveling about 3 days a week and my booming photography business I've had no time to give an update. I do update the photography blog at least a couple of times a day, so if you'd like to see what I've been up to check there.

Yesterday my mother got married. The girls got to be flower girls and loved it. It was at their house, so it was nice and quiet. Very nice. I am working on proofing the photos from the wedding, and I'll post some when I'm done today. :)

Halloween is on top of us and we don't even have costumes yet. Life is too busy! I am traveling Monday through Wednesday this week and Chris' parents are staying with the girls and dogs, since Chris is also traveling for work. I'm going to have to con someone into helping me with that. I'm having bad mom guilt about it, too. Thank God I get home in time to take the girls trick-or-treating.

I have been averaging two sessions a week lately, which I'm loving. I'm doing mini sessions again on Saturday afternoon out on a farm complete with a sleigh, so can get Christmas photos.

That's about it for today. I'll try and be better, I promise.

Don't Mess with Texas!

Tonight I'm writing from a hotel room in Dallas, TX. As always, my travel has provided me with much to write about.
Getting here was a mess. I walked into the airport at 6am to the longest line I've ever seen at our small airport. My flight was at 7, so I wasn't overly concerned. It was actually pretty entertaining standing in that long and slow-moving line...I got to watch a lot of people stroll through the automatic doors with tired but relaxed nonchalance.....and then see their face fall into a look of horror...and then read their lips (and minds) as they go into a fit of not-so-well-hidden swearing.

Made it to my connecting flight in Minneapolis on time and found my gate. I had received an email from my boss saying that all flights into Dallas were delayed at least two hours due to bad storms...but the lady at the desk and the pilot standing nearby both assured me that there was to be no delay. Got into the air on time, as promised... and then we got stuck there. Stuck in a strange vortex above Dallas....flying in circles over and over and over for nearly two hours. Finally the pilot was able to break free of the bizarre air pattern and we made it to the damp and steaming ground of Dallas.

After our meetings we went to the Texas State fair. Home of 'Big Tex' (yes there were photographs of me and the big man) huge hump-backed cows, six inch tall horses, and two headed snakes. It was a bust, though....not too many people there and not too much going on. I'm glad I got to experience it, though, especially with my Texas Tour Guide, Ms Michelle. We both wore cowboy hats and she even had some kickin' cowgirl boots. She looked MUCH cooler than me, that's for sure. But us Cheeseheads just don't look cool in cowboy hats....we're more suited to the big orange rubber wedge hats of Packer glory.

Speedy LaRue meet Stinky LaRue....

So I just arrived in Cincinatti..well, Covington, KY actually... this was an interesting trip. Don't you just love the traveling adventures of Reb?

On the first plane, to Detroit, I sat next to Stinky LaRue. He reeked of booze and also took up half of my seat. I had to lean out into the aisle for the entire flight with my hand over my nose in the least obvious way possible. When I thought I had made it through alive and could see the end of the tunnel....well......he farted. I thought I might need the barf bag.

On my next flight, from Detroit to Dayton, I again sat next to a large person and spent the flight leaning into the aisle. Fortunately she did not stink. Well, actually she did put on a terribly noxious scented lotion before take off, but that faded fairly quickly. We were, however, sitting in the last row, next to the bathroom. After landing we had to wait for 20 minutes for a gate. It was at least 100 degrees in there, but I'm going to guess it was even hotter. Mmmmmmmmmm the whole plane smelled lovely.

Made it to the airport and got my rental car. I got a GPS this time since I had to drive well over an hour to my hotel....thank God because it was dark and a maze of interstates.

.....I was doing okay with Ms GPS guiding me. Unfortunately she didn't announce speed limits in addition to directions. I got pulled over on I-75 while I was in the left lane...being the clueless natural blonde that I am, I pulled over to the left...only to hear the police officer yelling over his intercom to pull to the right. Oh yes, I'm an idiot. Made my way across three lanes of traffic and stopped. When the officer came up to me he gave me a lecture about the risk of death when pulling to the left.... and I got a really nice ticket. He informed me that I can mail it in, unless I'd like to come back to Ohio for court. What a sweetie......

And here I am in the hotel room (no poop on the toilet this time, so no jacuzzi this trip) eating room service. Good night.

Zoo Day!!!

We went to the Milwaukee zoo yesterday and had a great day. It was a little too hot at 86 degrees, but the zoo was fairly deserted which made it much nicer. Both Libby and Amelia had a blast and were such great girls. Libby walked the entire time (it's a big zoo) and Amelia never cried (that's a treat). We were all exhausted by the time we got home. I jumped into proofing the photos from Friday's one-year-old session (several are on my Soul Reflection blog...I really like these) and worked on that until I started to fall asleep on the computer. I cruised through the session and finished them up this morning already. I brought some feather boas to the session and loved how they looked in photographs. I'll be using them a lot, I think! I have another session next Saturday and am really psyched for this one. Two beautiful girls of COMPLETELY different skin tones (both are adopted, one very blonde and the other African American). I get to do some at their home and then finish up out at a pumpkin patch. I am hoping that Chris will bring our girls out there, too, so I can catch up with them when I finish the session.
I am on the road three days this week..Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, but hopefully Thursday's will be on the motorcycle again if the weather is nice. The last two weeks I've visited the same place in Milwaukee and have been able to take Maxie the BMW :) Makes for a good day when you're paid to ride your bike for three hours!!!
I just discovered Amelia in by the dogs while they were eating. She came out with a mouth full of dog food. That's my girl...eating anything in sight.....

Yikes

Wow, I think this is the longest I've ever gone without updating the blog!! I've been B U S Y with work and photography. I did five mini sessions and one full session on Saturday, so whenever I haven't been working for my full time job I've been proofing photos. I have another session booked for Friday, and another the next week. I can't believe how busy it's become. I love it. There is a lot of new stuff on the photography blog.

Today I am in Detroit for a presentation, then heading back home this afternoon...then off to Milwaukee on Thursday.

Last night I had a dream that I was in a plane crash...nothing too bad, everyone survived, but wow...it was scary!! We took off and then lost control. Probably brought on by the very turbulent flights I've had lately. The last two have been like a bullride. I also dreamed last night that Libby broke her collarbone while I was gone on a trip. Mommy guilt, anyone?

We're headed to the Milwaukee Zoo on Saturday :) We haven't been there this year and I'm excited. I haven't even told the girls yet....or they wouldn't sleep until then.

My mom is getting married at the end of the month. Sounds like it's going to be a pretty drunken day...should be fun :) I'm standing up. The only time I've ever stood up in a wedding and it's for my mother...how funny is that? I just hope I get to wear a shiny teal dress with lots of pouf and sparkle...

I suppose I'd better dry my hair and get going for this meeting!