Can you believe it is almost November?

I CAN'T!

My nephew is about to be 1, a whole YEAR old. I am amazed, but I bet his Mom and Dad are even more AH-MAZED. How fast the year has flown!!

This face, to me, looks just like his Dad!

Before we leave October I have to post Mr. Big as SUPERDOG...

It's a BIRD, It's a PLANE, No- it's SUPERBIG

Yep he is about a foot off the ground... he will do ANYTHING for bacon!
One last frontal photo of SuperBig!

I have some other great pictures that I haven't had time to post. Life has been busy, busy lately. The last four weeks have been filled with the Boo Bash and then we moved right into Stride & Ride, which is in 9 days. After the Boo Bash we have our Thanks For Giving lockup on the 20th, budget meetings the week before that, our holiday potluck at the office on the 21st and then it will be Thanksgiving. *I need to get a flight!*

The end of 2008 is just speeding by~

Mom and I in Houston Thanksgiving 2007!

THIS WEEKEND is the Tech vs. Texas game, people have been living in "Raiderville" since Monday afternoon. Raiderville: the space right outside Jones Stadium that is filled with tents; the university provides electricity for anyone that is camping. The students are lining up because only 10k students will be allowed in on Saturday for the game. Have you seen the newsreports for tickets? Online sites are selling them for up to $1k!!

WRECK 'EM TECH! A GREAT memory from last year when Tech beat OU!

Now, the great photos from the last few weeks.

Look at Uncle Jon and Jordyn... such a pretty smile!

She looks like a little doll sitting there in Mommy's lap. Finally, thank you to all of you who have voted everyday for the MDA!! They have posted a top 5 we aren't in it right now, but EVERY vote helps and I REALLY appreciate it. :)

THE EASIEST WAY TO GIVE

GO:
http://www.citybankonline.com/community-rewards/vote.html

VOTE FOR: Muscular Dystrophy Association

****REPEAT EVERY DAY!!!!******


I know some of you still read this blog- help me out!
Citybank is giving away $10,000 to 5 local charities thisholiday season- help make the West Texas MDA one of them!!!

The money will stay local, our West Texas families will benefit from this grant through support groups, clinics, summer camp and research. Be a part of the fight for muscular dystrophy!


You can go to the "Check these out" link on the right side of my blog and click on "Vote for MDA"
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

(everyday.... every vote counts... and this vote is MAKING A DIFFERENCE!)

BOO BASH 2008

It is over ... such a high during the week to make it to the event and now it is over. I survived my first social event with the MDA, YAY! It was so much fun. This is Sarah Palin and a Black Cat, ie Holly & I.

Jon, Jeff, Amber, Brandi and Adam all came. You guys, it means so much to me that you came out to support me at the party. I know it is nice to be able to eat, drink and listen to pretty good music, too! THANK YOU!!!!

The Boo Bash is in its infancy so this wasn't a blowout bash but it was a success. Everyone who came had a good time and the Gut Grab SOLD OUT, the silent auction made decent money and the live auction was AMAZING, we had a wonderful group of people at the event. The money they raised is going to help research, local kids in West Texas and help find a cure for muscular dystropy.

The event was truly wonderful- we had ladies from the Midland district intown to help, as well as, our regional staff. Holly and I were able to enjoy the evening as hosts because these ladies held down the registration table, gut grab and silent auction details.

This is the GUT GRAB & Marcie :)

We recognized the 10 people at the event for their roles in charitable activities, for being industry leaders etc. We auctioned off research minutes- I can't tell you how awesome it was to have people "buy" 5 minutes of research.

The KLIFSNOTES played and they are a pretty awesome band. The lead singer is pregnant- way pregnant and she was belting it out! Then we ended the silent auction and had a live auction of a Troy Aikman football, trip to Vegas to stay at The Venetian and Lasik surgery. It was awesome to see people getting exited about these items and bidding.

Jeff was the BEST player at the Gut Grab, he donated a MINUTE of research to us last night!!
and Amber helped him out, too.

Jon was my convict "Doc" last night, it was wonderful to have him there to experience the event and for me. It was so nice to know he was there :)

Brandi and Adam came too as the Milkman and well you'll see :)

Soemeone actually thought Brandi was pregnant with twins.. hahaha! As you can see it was a basketball!!

6th File, 6th Picture

Amber and I on New Years Eve three and half years ago.

BOO~BASH 2008

IT'S COMING....

this FRIDAY OCTOBER 24 7:30PM @ INSIDE 4 BAR K!!!

7-0

And Tech smashes Texas A&M 43-25!!

TEXAS TECH IS 7-0 this season!!

Watching the game today was fun- just me and the Big-ster hanging out watching football. Harassing Craig was great, too. Good thing Nick will be a smart nephew and overcome the maroon in his house and LOVE TECH! (Wishful thinking according to his dad, I have hope)

This week at work was exciting, we have temporary employees, which we call VRC's (Volunteer Recruitment Coordinators). We hired three last week and they are doing a wonderful job recruiting jailbirds for our lockup on the 20th of November. One VRC has a laugh that is close to the sound of nails on a chalkboard~ it is a nervous laugh but seriously does she have to laugh at EVERYTHING? I am definitely getting my management skills tested in my ability to support her work and keep her on track ....

No, on a serious note it was a great experience to interview these people and train them to efficiently and effectively do their job. Holly and I "coach" them during the day which makes accomplishing our work difficult but do-able. They really are nice people that enjoy doing well and want to do a good job for us.

So far no BOHs in this office, what can I say I am the luckiest person I know right now. I really do love the work I am doing and I LOVE my boss. She is truly a wonderful person- she is energetic, fun and has the drive to make our ideas work and accomplish our goals. It was nice a few weeks ago our regional director wanted us to shelf a social event, which is October 24, Holly asked my opinion (it was looking grim) and I told her that I didn't want to waste the organization's money, but I also don't believe in giving up. What a tough position... we decided to give it two more days for something positive to happen. What is nice is WE really did decide together, I really am a part of a team that cares and wants my opinion. The event started to TAKE OFF ~ we have a PSA for the event playing on 2 stations in LBK, it is a donated 30 second spot. :) We have KOOZIES that are awesome as gifts for all the attendees, I created a program, and we have a silent auction!! I am so excited for this event and looking forward to the 2009 Boo Bash!

Jon is doing great, the semester is almost 1/2 over and he studies like crazy! It is so weird to be on the other side- because he studies every single night. I am proud of him though- he is taking college algebra and Texas history, he is enjoying the classes and doing very well in both of them. In the meantime I am learning a lot of TX history.

Mr. Big went to the vet this week, he weighs 15.4 lbs!! I know, I know he has gained 2lbs in the last year, but the vet said he is one of the most LEAN yorkies she has ever seen. Apparently, running 2 miles with me 3/4 times a week is keeping him in great shape- I'm glad one of us is benefiting from this!

We ran this morning and it was so nice- the weather is changing in Lubbock, cool days with the sun to warm you up- it was GREAT.

Received new pictures of Nick- yay- :)

Look how cute my nephew is!!!

He is so stinkin' ADORABLE!!!

I miss him so much, I haven't seen him since June and he has changed so much- I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM AGAIN~~Make him a Tech fan and an Aunt Ashley fan!!

We went out last Friday for Amber's 23rd birthday and I have some photos ~~

Amber and I at Fox & Hound

Jeff & Jon at F/H

So, we don't do A LOT because Jon has school and working full time is more exhausting than I thought ;) but we have fun when we get a chance to go out.

No big plans this weekend, Jon has to work all weekend as usual, but we may be out tonight for Ross' birthday. LOTS of October birthdays-- and one more coming up :)

WRECK 'EM TECH

USA TODAY POLL

The top 25:
1. Texas (6-0)

2. Alabama (6-0)

3. Penn State (7-0)

4. Southern California (4-1)

5. Texas Tech (6-0)

6. Oklahoma (5-1)

7. Florida (5-1)

8. Brigham Young (6-0)

9. Georgia (5-1)

10. Oklahoma State (6-0)

11. Ohio State (6-1)

12. Missouri (5-1)

13. Utah (7-0)

14. LSU (4-1)

15. Kansas (5-1)

16. Boise State (5-0)

17. Michigan State (6-1)

18. Virginia Tech (5-1)

19. Wake Forest (4-1)

20. South Florida (5-1)

21. North Carolina (5-1)

22. California (4-1)

23. Vanderbilt (5-1)

24. TCU (6-1)

25. Ball State (7-0)

A wonderfully thoughtful gesture...

Tonight Jon and I decided to have Chik-fil-A for dinner (I forgot to thaw dinner). Oops!

The Chik-fil-A in Lubbock is ALWAYS busy, you just don't go to cfa in hopes of a quick trip through the drive thru; not to say they aren't incredibly efficient for the crowd. Back to the point~~ We are in line, Jon is so hungry he is discussing his meal choice :). Everything is
kop-a-setic at this point, we order our food, drive around the building, and when we get to the window I attempt to hand over the money and the gal tells me that the guy in front of us paid for our meal.

She asks if we knew him, nope, never even seen the Jeep with a palm tree sticker of the back. She is as shocked as we are, we thank her and take the meal. We drove all the way back in shock wondering why this guy decided to buy our dinner versus, hearing of this kind of thing happening but didn't expect to experience it.

What an unexpected gift from that jeep; it is really refreshing to know that there are some pretty wonderful people out there!

So, now Jon and I are taking this gesture and will "pass it on" in the next drive thru...

Has this ever happened to any of you??

~a wee bit of an update~

So, in May Mom and Dad gave me a wonderful gift for graduation.....

There they are- I am official and the degrees and officially secured in BEAUTIFUL frames!

The one above if my BBA, Marketing

This one is my Master of Arts, Mass Communications

THANKS Mom and Dad!! I LOVE THEM

Here are some pictures of Uncle Jon and Jordyn.... he smiles so much when he is holding her :)

(Love the little mittens)

So cute.

Jordyn and I, I think she is 3 days old here.

She just curled up and went to sleep while we all watched a movie; she just won my heart over.

Finally, what is a post of my life without a picture of Mr. Big~~ he is so cute wearing my pink TTU hat!