A SURPRISING Evening!

The girls got me. I thought I was having dinner last night with the "original" four...the girls that have been together since that Bid Day run to the Chi Omega house. I was picturing a couple margaritas, a few "oh gosh, don't remind me..." stories and a lot of laughing. I got that, times a few. When I walked into the restaurant, the unmistakable chime of "SURPRISE" let me know I'd be dining with even more wonderful friends. We went to Mattito's, home of the infamous Rumba Rita, and the site of MANY great evenings.

Thanks Shufy for playing papparrazi and getting some candids!

The Entrance

The beginning of the never-cute-cry-face

A little sweet to end the celebration!

*Note to self, horizontal stripes, not flattering. Oh well!

Thank you sweet friends for sending me off with lots of well wishes! I'm already excited to come back and visit, and I expect to see your lovely faces in California soon!

If It Wasn't for Texas....

It still feels a little surreal that this is my last week in the Lone Star State. I've come to call it home these past six years and leaving is truly bittersweet. One thing I'm grateful for is my discovery of  true country music. George Strait's "If It Wasn't for Texas" seems appropriate this morning.

I tried to write a list of things I'm going to miss about Texas. Not only would it be too long to fit into one blog post, but the things I'm going to miss are truly intangibles that I can't put into words: memories, friendships, traditions, creature comforts. Texas, and Dallas in particular, will always be an incredibly special place for me and I know that I will miss it (and everyone who's made it so amazing) dearly.

Thanks for the good times!

Oh Hey There 25.....

Didn't see you coming! No, really, my birthday this year has TOTALLY snuck up on me. Considering all that's happening, it's not surprising the 25th anniversary of my birth has been overshadowed by:

Packing

and jetting across the Pond for a wee wedding

Early this week it was my friend JStay's bday as well. His adorable girlfriend The Glam Nomad got a group together for a sunset boat ride. So fun!

The birthday boy playing captain

And don't worry, I managed to squeeze a little birthday love out of the evening too!

I also started today off right: went to Starbucks with my "Free Birthday Drink" card in hand and walked out with two free drinks because they messed my first one up. Yay for a highly caffeinated birthday!

Super Fail.

Well, it's official, I should not be allowed to own a camera. After going quite awhile without one, I purchased a new Canon Powershot a couple days prior to my departure for Scotland. I captured amazing photos of Glasgow, St. Andrew's, and best of all, my cousin's wedding, particularly one shot of the groom and I looking amazingly dapper.

WELL. I got on the plane back to the States, but my camera did not. Sometime between taking pictures of the head table at the reception and getting ready to leave the reception, my camera and I parted ways. Cross your fingers a particularly honest guest realizes he or she picked up the wrong camera and we are once again reunited.

If we are not reunited, BestMomEver was very picture happy the whole trip, so not all is lost. I just have to wait until she gets around to sending me the photos.....

Lately

This weekend, BestMomEver came to town to help me do a big packing push. Tomorrow, we leave for Scotland to see Doggrell#2 get married. Kilts and all! Hopefully lots of stories and pictures when we return!