summer = boating time!

boating is my favorite thing to do during the summer. relaxing in the sun... lounging and chatting on the boat... wakeboarding until your legs start shaking... airchairing high in the sky... tubing until your neck is kinked... and most important, spending time with family and friends... here are some highlights from this summer: Kassie is my "little sister" from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. i was so excited to spend a whole saturday together for our activity. she loved trying wakeboarding, knee-boarding and riding the tube.Dani and Adam came up to the lake with me one saturday. i don't get to hang out with them very often anymore so it was nice to spend a day together. Landon learned how to wakeboard this season. he got a new wakeboard for his birthday and was a very quick learner! he was up and bunny-hopping the waves in no time. what a proDallin showed everyone his mad airchairing skills. he's a natural on that thing and so fun to watch!My dad trying to out do Dallin on the airchair. almost... but not quite. he's still above averageTracy surfin' the wakeImproving my jumping skills on the wakeboard.One saturday was girls boating day. randah, susan, tricia and angie graced us with their presence. we had so much fun!! it was really nice to have all the girlfriends back together.The tubing was intense, but such a blast. hold on! i just love these gals! it's been a great summer so far and i'm hoping for more before winter rolls around.

Congratulations!

My good friend Nicolette married her sweetheart last Friday, June 25. I was able to enjoy the special day with her, her family and friends in Houston, TX. She looked absolutely radiant. I've never seen her so happy. I wish her and Mark an eternity of happiness.

I can't think of a way...

...to make this picture more creepy.

MORE reasons BP needs to be punished for the oil spill

okay.... NOW I'm mad!

Atlantis Shuttle Launch

On May 14, 2010 at 2:20pm EDT, Space shuttle Atlantis launched into space from Kennedy Space Center in Cocoa Beach, FL. Atlantis had a successful 12-day, 4.8-million-mile mission to the International Space Station and landed today (5/26) at 8:48am EDT. This was the 32nd and final scheduled flight for Atlantis.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I was able to experience. I have a friend that works as an engineer at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX who invited me out to Florida for this event. He was able to swing some VIP passes for us! The general public viewed the launch from 6 miles away, but we were able to watch it from 2 1/2 miles away which was incredible. Launch site up closeOn the VIP bus driving to Kennedy Space CenterBefore the launch, we explored the exhibits in the Kennedy Space Center. So many cool things to see32 seconds before launch!

Atlantis takes flight!Because we were so close to the launch site, we could feel the vibrations during take-off

Only Gonna Break Break Your Heart...

Just got back from another cruise... Yes ANOTHER cruise. I'm becoming an addict! It was an amazing and horrible vacation. Let's start with the bad news. My friend Mike had a diving accident at our beach party in Cozumel, Mexico and is now paralyzed. It was a horrible day, but he is continuing to recover. He is staying at the Bellevue Hospital in New York. I was just told today that he is starting to speak and move his shoulders a little. I pray for him constantly that he'll make a full recovery and be able to walk again. People are so generous and have donated copious amounts of money to help pay for medical bills. Get well soon Mike!!Lara, Mike, me & Billy relaxing on the beach in Miami a couple days before the ship left. I can't wait to go back. Miami is crazy!The Girls on the lido deck. If we weren't exploring a Port, this is where you would find us.The Crazy boys. Love them! Lara, Kristina & Me shakin our tail feathers at the Disco.

Leaving our last port, Cozumel. This is the view from our Balcony suite. It was heaven! We are already booked for the Halloween cruise this year. I can't wait to be out at sea again. Only 6 more months!

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE!

Awesome.

I went to see Hot Tub Time Machine with a friend this past weekend and wasn't quite sure what I'd think of it. We went because we needed a girls night and heard that the movie was quite funny. And it was. What's not to love about a time travel movie that places a bunch of forty-somethings back in the year 1986, when they were in the prime of their lives? Lot's of 80's music, fashion, pop-culture and nonsense provide excellent nostalgia. (Anyone remember the bright-yellow cassette Walkman?) It almost feels like you've actually gone through a time warp watching John Cusack running around a 1986 party at a ski resort. You almost expect a kid to show up and say, "Where's my two dollars? I want my two dollars!" It helps that the movie spends plenty of time making fun of itself - The scene where they realize that their hot tub turned into a time machine is the best. Supporting performances by Chevy Chase and Crispin Glover complete the sensation that you are lost in the 80's along with the cast.
Oh, it's stupid; don't get me wrong. Poop, pee and sex jokes abound. It is rotten, funny and one hell of a good time! Go see it!