Yeehaw!

The rodeo happened.  I missed the bullriding, but managed to catch "Family Day" with bucking broncos, calf wrangling, cowboys, cowgirls, the NRA tent.  I was tempted to purchase some boots... It was one of the top 10 craziest things I have ever attended.  I watched in fear as men & teenagers were thrown from the horses. I hope everyone gets to attend a rodeo at least once in life, just for the craziness.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Guess what we just did?

An Artsy Afternoon

While on the Southcoast this weekend for Thanksgiving part deux, we went to an art fair in New Bedford. It was in this old factory which has all been turned into workspaces for artists of all sorts: paintings, soaps, textiles, stained glass, jewelry..everything really. I sort of felt like I was walking through etsy, but you could chat with all the artists and see/walk around their workspaces, which made it much more fun.

Reunions

Went to breakfast today with Max, Andrew & Hannah, Amira & Nate, and Rachel. We ate at 3 Cafe which recently moved into the shops, it was so delicious but the portions were enormous and I am so stuffed now!

Max and I took this pic for you before heading out, we also started talking about some dates for a girls weekend down south with you :-)

Meeting Neil Gaiman

Last night Greg and I went to a book launch in Lexington for Lunatic Heroes by Anthony Martignetti (which is a collection of memoirs, my favorite reading of his was based around the weird things he was made to eat as a child). The main draw of this event (for us) was that the author's good friend Neil Gaiman, whose books I absolutely adore was also going to be there and reading from his upcoming book The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which I am incredibly excited for now. Afterwards he was signing books so we got to meet him and he even took a picture with me. I was (am) a little starstruck and really excited about the whole thing.

And then there was half-time...

Half time show at the roller derby was a group of hoopers with light up hoops.  It was strange yet mesmerizing.  They had some impressive skills and reminded me of the time a friend tried to teach me her mad skills with a hoola hoop last summer.  Just a regular Saturday night.

Roller Derby

Last night was the last Roller Derby bout of the season.  The Blue Ridge Rollergirls (in black) vs. Tallahassee Rollergirls and then vs. Richland County Regulators (in yellow).  Blue Ridge swept both bouts.   We spent most of the time trying to figure out the rules and why the players were put in the penalty box with our seat neighbors.  It was really intense, the falls looked like they hurt, a lot.  Maybe I'll try out for next season...jk. 

Holiday Parade

Happy Holidays from the South, where Christmas shopping begins in October.  Also, please note the shorts and lack of coats happening right now as it was 60 degrees out today.  This morning I went to see the local holiday parade complete with LaZoom bus tours (which I really want to try because it is supposed to be hilarious).  Note Buddy, the elf, in this picture.  The Flying Nun is on the top of the purple bus.  This weekend was epic & its only Saturday, get ready.

Impromptu Studio

Last weekend I got my artsy on.  It's not totally finished but here is the dandelion blowing in the wind.  My studio is my patio - which I also need to set up.  Next weekend.  Happy Friday everyone!

What a hoot

I found this little guy by chance when looking on CB2 and couldn't resist ordering him immediately. Haven't named him (yet), but he looks quite at home nestled next to this plant. So adorable.

Cheers

We found a random flea market while driving through Lynn today, and there I found these cool German beer steins...I don't really have a use for them but I really loved them and couldn't not bring them home. 

Kenilworth Pumpkins

I took this last week on Halloween.  A local neighborhood hosts a pumpkin carving festival every year, this was the last year they were doing it.  There were hundreds of intricately carved pumpkins.  This set of 8 made a tree with roots, was in someone backyard.  They were incredible.  I'm glad I got to go.

Snow!

We got maybe an inch of snow last night, it's all already melting away with the icy cold rain that's falling hard and fast right now. 

Healthy Living

We had a health fair today in our office. Our HR director flew in along with a team of people to do different biometric screenings (note the band-aid from the blood they took; all of my results are right where they should be, yay!). We also got some swag from our different benefit providers, like a salad shaker, keychain flashlight, jar grip, and a pen.

I voted :-)

Civic Duty

Election day is just around the corner and rather than face long lines on election day, I figured I would vote early at my local library.  Living in a swing state has been pretty interesting this election cycle.  The attack ads in NC are much more negative than I've ever seen.  And I've received a lot of unsolicited advice.  Tuesday should prove interesting...