Uh OH

So.....just an FYI..when playing golf tennis ball with your dog DON'T hit the neighbors house! OUCH

We pretended it never happened!

Yes I am old!

All this post will include is the fact that I had my first single tennis match in about 14 years and had my ass handed to me on a platter...I had some shining moment and about 6 aces in the match..but my ground strokes need HELP....but I am back out there....keep me in your thoughts...I haven't felt the after effects as of yet..in the morning I may be calling for ben gay...

All in All...I am glad I did it..and my next match is next week, hopefully to a less of an embarrassment!

For now....GO BOYS....(oh yeah..the cowboys kick serious cheese curds!)

I"MMMM ALLIVE

Yes, Yes, I haven't blogged in a while and will make a desperate attempt to be better...But to let you all know the past two months I have traveled every week and I am exhausted! I guess I can start in the present and work my way backwards....So, recently I got back from my annual trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico for a week of fun and relaxation..This year I went with my good friend and colleague Valerie and my beloved Orson!

Saturday November 3, 2007
Yep that's Val behind the wheel! The drive took us about 12 hours, half a book on tape, 8 jam out cds (including the fitting "Into the Wild" soundtrack, and Vals conference call and a small stop at the great Abilene mall (don't ask).

As we drive into Ruidoso, we see the most magnificent sunset ever (the picture doesn't do it justice) and we know that the week will be filled with fantastic surprises....as it was! So we arrived safe and sound and thank goodness I packed some vino so we could relax after the long trip.....well....a little wine and no food...you guessed it we headed to the local pre party bar and grill Farleys for "take-out" (that was the plan kids!) So while we are waiting there having a beer or two and some chips waiting for the take out we get introduced to Dustin (Type A, OCD, bi-polar, Snow Board instructor trying to escape from his Dallas roots) and Jim (AKA, Russian with thick heavy accent originally from DC, Tree trimmer/Snow Board instructor/masseuse/actor?). So OF COURSE we have to have another couple of beers with these characters...I don't think I have ever met two friends that are completely opposite..but they ended up giving us a good laugh and heck we met some local yocals to show us around town! Yep, we exchanged numbers and then val and I headed home to eat our take out and go to sleep.

Day1 Sunday November 4, 2007

This morning or mid morning I woke up and Orson and took a good power walk, burning off that minor Head ache....Orson so far is loving the mountain and all the animals that go along with it...That day was just a fun day planning our menu for the week and all the activities....So that night we grilled Salmon on the deck and had more wine... (there is a story here, but can't type it for fear of incriminating myself).

Day 2 Monday November 5, 2007

Thelma and Louise hit the road! Headed to the Petroglyphs and White Sands on this day! With the windows rolled down the sun shining and Indigo Girls blaring out of the car we head south! Some petroglyphs are thought to be astronomical markers, maps, and other forms of symbolic communication, including a form of Pre-writing. Petroglyphs at Three Rivers were created by Jornada Mogollon people between about 900 and 1400 AD. These rock drawings reside at the base of the Sacramento Mountains. The views were spectacular...after hiking around, getting sun burnt, and tired of looking at rock carvings Val and I headed south to Alamogordo to the White Sands National Park!

White Sands Dunes are amazing...Here, these wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field in the Tularosa Basin. This is the worlds largest deposit of Gypsum. This year due to the time constraints of when we finally arrived we went on a sunset walk with a ranger to learn about the wild life that survives in the dunes..but next year I AM SURFING!

That night we got home and played about 3 games of scrabble....

Day 3 November 6, 2007

This day was our shopping day where we are staying in Ruidoso. Not too much happened this day, it was the evening that did us in...Yep Remember Dusty Downer and Genuine Jim? Well, you guessed it...we gave them a shout after walking around all day and met them up at Farleys for some beers and then headed on to the Quarter (Ruidosos' only night club) and you wouldn't believe it but it was Karaoke Tuesday! Dustin somehow disappeared..I think he forgot to take his meds and Jim sang "It's Raining Men".....Somewhere in between Val and I were back up dancers and singers for Raven....and there were shots involved..go figure....

Day 4 November 7, 2007

RECOVERY.....ALL DAY of HGTV and I didn't feel guilty about one bit of it....plus a fantastic mushroom swiss burger from the grill!

Day 5 November 8, 2007

This is the day that we went into the wild to the White Mountain Wilderness...The White Mountain Wilderness contains almost 50,000 acres within the Lincoln National Forest. Valerie an I headed north to the Monjeau Peak to start our hike. there is an old fort up there located at 9,750 feet. From there we hiked down for about 5 miles and then back up! We covered approximately 2,000 feet in our climb.....Orson, Val, and I were exhausted...I guess that means I am hitting the gym when I return to Dallas!

That night when we got home there was alot of scrabble being played and yep I think val beat me for the first time....that and well we had to numb our bodies from nearly destroying them on the mountain! Orson slept for a good 2 days!

Day 6 November 9, 2007

This was our last day and we had great expectations to find Valerie some jewelry and well I was just along for the ride! We hit the shops again.......and then we met up with Junkyard Jim....for dinner and our last night on the town! So, why do we call him Genuine Jim you may ask...So we went to dinner at Casa Blanca and then for drinks and live music at Le Cave....Our last night was a blast...with Jim showing us the local flav and offering us lift tickets when we come back! I think we will go!

Day 7, November 10, 2007

Heading home...this morning we woke up to find that the pine cone Orson ate the night before didn't settle well with him...and there was a mess on the floor! Not a good sign....That coupled with the fact we hadn't cleaned up AT all made the morning a mad rush....we cleaned up and got out of the condo by noon for our 10 hour drive home (no stop in Abilene). Well....remember Orson being sick in the morning....He kindof revisited that state in the car right before we got to my house....So that ends the story of my past week.....