Sometimes I think, life is like a rodeo....

I'm back and I survived.

The 7th grade trip was a blast--minus the 2:30 AM knocking on our door to report that a girl threw up all over the room and our bus breaking down on 59/I-10 after a 7 hour trip from Dallas (it's usually 4 hours). We visited Washington on the Brazos, A&M University, they visited the 6th Floor Museum (where JFK was 'allegedly' shot from) and a science museum--I was at the hotel watching an MTV marathon of "My Sweet 16" with the thrower-upper waiting for her mom to arrive. Then it was off to the Stockyards, home by train (whee) and a quick visit to Old City Park and then home again, home again, jiggedy jig.

What is it about a bus that makes everything so cozy and builds bonds that can't be built outside of traveling on the bus? The girls watched "Annie" on the way to Dallas and at one point, everyone on the bus (minus the poor driver) was singing along. And, of course, we all had to exclaim "oh my goodness, oh my goodness" anytime we felt it was appropriate. So fun. Reminded me of a time when my HS 1 Act Play team went to state. We were on the bus when REMs "Shiny Happy People" came on...even though the bus was in motion, we all jumped up and were dancing in the aisles. Even though I was young (17), I remember knowing that I needed to take in that moment, that it was one of those moments of pure happiness, a moment so small and insignificant yet something I would always look back on as a snapshot of a time and a place where all was right with the world. And it took place on a bus. I love busses (just not the creepy Greyhound type...that's another story...my midnight ride to El Paso on a Greyhound)

After my adventure, I had a day to turn the house around, rest up and get ready for a visit from A-Mac (ironically she was visiting from Dallas). We had a blast with our houseguest. Flinn called her 'nana' the whole time and enjoyed sitting on the counter with A-Mac while she put her make-up on.

1st on the agenda was to attend Miss F's St Patty's Day parade at daycare. She had the important role of 'audience'. They did a really cute parade with the older kids and some bagpipers. Very cute. My life has taken a 180 degree turn from the days of yore at Greenville's drunken debauchery parade to the parade of 4 year olds that keep tripping on their "Honk If You're Irish" sign.

2nd we went to the French Masters exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. After all that culture, we went to Target and WalMart. They go together, right? Fine Art and Wal-Mart?!?

3rd we had dinner at Rudi Lechner's, a German-Austrian restaurant with a 2 man (or 1 man, 1 woman) oompa-band. The guy plays "Edelweiss" on the cow bells, a giant alpen horn, trombone, tuba and guitar all while wearing lederhosen. The woman plays the accordian with no expression on her face. Mr. Alpenfest took a shine to A-Mac. It was hilarious. We drank, toasted and rolled out the barrel.

Next day--Rodeo time. We took Miss F to her first rodeo. She enjoyed her first pony ride, petting a wallabee and eating fried stuff. She also had a blast dancing and cheering at the pig races. She's now in training for a visit to the MN State Fair (hopefully soon!)

Today we did the zoo and then dropped Miss F with Mr. B and A-Mac and I had a tasty lunch of Dim Sum (dim sum good eats, y'all) and A-Mac flew home to Dallas and I went grocery shopping.

Whew.....How's everyone else? PS--points if you can name the song and artist from my blog title. Hint--Miss F went to the concert in utero.