Here we go round in circles...

Ash and JR met me and FJ at the skating rink...and AJ got us in for free. Shhh! Don't tell!

It was AJ's last week to work. so we came to hang out and skate. It was a crazy, random time. We met a really nice girl named Colleen, who was incredibly articulate, especially for a 12-year-old. It was retro night, so the weird guy in charge of the music, not AJ, was playing '80s music and was totally getting in to singing all the songs. And a sorority group came in and took over the lobby. Strangely enough, they didn't skate all that much. I think they were busy taking pictures with Flat Jason. I've already seen one rogue pic on Facebook. Sigh...that's what happens when I turn my back...the ladies flock to him.

I win!!! and lose...

A couple of weekends ago (yes, I know I'm behind) Flat Jason and I hit the bowling alley with the Sunday evening crew...and it was the most amazing bowling night ever! I got the first strike of the night, I broke 100 AND I WON the game, beating Brian by a good 15 points no less. Brian pretty much sets the standard. He used to play on a league, and even though he's all washed up now (out of practice, you know) he can still pretty much beat the pants off anyone who plays him. Ha ha! Not this time!

We won't talk about the second game...:(

It's the Great Pumpkin, Flat Jason!

Bright and early! That's the only way to see the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival. We got there in time to see the parade, which I feel is the best part of any festival. I firmly believe the quality of the festival can be determined by the parade. And the Hartsburg festival has a lot of, well, heart. Bands, politicians, sports teams and the local MU Extension 4-H club...who can ask for more than that?

Judy Baker stopped to talk to us along the parade route. She even took her life in her hands to pose with Flat Jason. Seriously, the band almost ran her over. Every time I see this photo I feel like I should be singing either "76 Trombones" from the Music Man or "Before the Parade Passes By" from Hello, Dolly! Ha!

Next, we scoped out the free samples. The pumpkin fudge was good and luckily there were two free sample per family. More for me!

We also found some puppies, and while they were definitely NOT free, they were amazingly adorable! I wanted one so bad, and Flat Jason seemed to be having a good time with them as well, but I knew in my heart that the real Jason wouldn't approve of me picking puppies without him.

We ran into some friends from the ol' Campus House days.

Before we left, Flat Jason wanted to make sure he got a chance to help make the apple butter. We went back to Erin's apartment to rest and talk to A.J., who came to visit. Then we headed over to the Maryland Parking Garage for some serious tailgating action.

It was the first time Flat Jason and I had ever tailgated. Tracy and I played washers and talked while FJ hung out with Tommy and Sunday Phil. He fit right in with his Mizzou fleece that he borrowed from Brian M., but by the middle of the afternoon it was almost too hot for it.

Around 5 p.m., the group began to split up. Those who had tickets started going into the stadium to get seats while those of us who didn't, cough...me and Tracy, went home. I think we may have gotten the better end of the deal, though. We took a long nap and then carved our pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns. Guess who mine is...

Birthday Flowers - Yeah!

Birthday luncheon for four turns to five

Erin, AJ, Flat Jason and I headed to G and D's Steakhouse after church for an impromptu lunch. I ordered the special, of course. It was Jason's day to call me, so I spent a lot of my time talking to him instead of Erin and AJ. Thank goodness they're such good sports!

After dinner, we took photos with the restaurant patriarch.

Versailles throws me a belated birthday party - Apple Fest!

Apple Fest!!! Even though Lauren and I stayed up way too late the night before, we got up early and got ready for the Apple Fest. Breakfast came from Wal-Mart, and we had to stop at the car wash to get all the bird doo-doo off my car. Grr...the hazards of parking under a tree overnight.

We got a good parking spot near Dad's office (the best part about being early) and met Grandma at the truck Uncle Dwayne had left in front of the office the night before to save our spot. The Schads ALWAYS watch the parade from in front of the Farm Service Agency office, at least as long as I can remember. Family began trickling in, and I got to hold both of the new babies.

We watched the parade, hollering at people we knew riding floats and those just walking by. Lauren and I made short work of the festival booths, which could be generally categorized as food or crafts, most we'd seen before. I picked up some ornaments for Christmas and a necklace; Lauren bought a bag that was decorated with skull sporting a mustache. I must admit I was more than a little jealous!

After the fun and festivities, we went to say hey to Peggi Sue at KS95, the Lake's Best Country, 95.1 FM. Ha, all the taglines are still in my head from when I worked there a few years ago. It's been one of my most favorite jobs so far.

We went back home to change clothes and grab pies for the Eldon FFA Hog Roast. At the hog roast, Flat Jason decided to buy some raffle tickets, but he was sad when he found out how expensive it would be to enter the drawing as many times as he had at the family reunion. He settled for six tickets.

Bonne anniversaire!

Happily, my birthday was on a Friday this year. It started as a nice day and only got better when Brian from upstairs gave me a Twix. Mmm...chocolate! Then, I got the other half of my birthday present from Jason - flowers!!! I even got a phone call from my long-lost cousin Josh!

After work, FJ and I went to Versailles and met Mom, Lauren and Grandma at the Royal Theatre to watch the Apple Festival play, Hello, Dolly! We were late, so Mom and Lauren saved some pizza for us, and we sneaked it into the theatre. Hooray for food!

I was horrified and confused when music for the play began and I realized it was pre-recorded and playing over the speaker system instead of coming from a piano strategically placed in a corner and played by the gray-haired lady like so many years in the past. It was a kick in the gut to be sure. It was almost as if I had just learned that my favorite small, cozy, intimate corner saloon had been demolished to make way for a raging discotheque. To add to my confusion, I wasn't very familiar with the plot because my love/hate relationship with key people in the movie had kept me from getting into it. After I settled down and eaten my pizza, though, the story began to grow on me. The actors did a great job and so did everyone else who had a hand in it, from sets and costumes to directing and selling popcorn. Flat Jason got a little love from one of my favorite character actors, Reva, after the play. (I don't remember her character's name.)

Then we went home to make pies for the Eldon FFA Hog Roast on Saturday. Flat Jason helped Mom make two pumpkin pies and a cherry pie while Lauren and I worked on the dishes. We listened to Pogey and took a break to eat some birthday cake. Mom made Red Velvet Cake, and FJ helped blow out my candles. Year 25 is off to a good start!

Happy Early Birthday to me!

I got birthday greetings from Cold Stone Creamery in my inbox this week, and I was nothing less than excited. On Thursday, Flat Jason and I went after work to get some Birthday Cake Remix from Skye, our ice cream barista. (I don't really know what his title is...is there a real name for that job?)

Then, we went to Jesse Auditorium to see Billy Currington in concert. The opening act was one I'd never heard of, Love and Theft, from Lousiville. All three played guitar with one stopping every now and then to tickle the ivories. I was pleasantly surprised by their tight harmonies...very nice! We visited with them after the show, and they gave Flat Jason a free CD! Thanks, guys!

Billy Currington also put on a nice show. FJ and I stayed out of the crush of people that crowded against the stage, but we still got a few nice photos. After the show, there weren't very many people waiting at the stage door, so we decided to wait, too. While we were hanging out, we met Melissa and Stephen. They took a photo of us with the keyboard player; he was wearing a Punisher t-shirt. Flat Jason's a fan.

Billy finally came out and we got an autograph. We were told he didn't have time for photos, but Melissa got one of us while we were getting our paper signed. Hopefully she e-mails that soon.