Final Australia- Part 6

How sad that this is the last Australia photo posting... Saving the best for last (well, not really... just the last taken)

#1- Me pretending to be the wine expert at Yellow Bistro in Sydney
#2- Shannon being the pastry chef
#3- Me under the Harbour Bridge and flowering trees
#4- Hamilton Island at One Tree Hill (no, not the same as the CW teen angst drama...)
#5- Hamilton Island wharf shot

It's over... back to reality... But 60 days til SUNDANCE 2010!!! :)

Australia Part 5- Sydney!

Our sight-seeing and shopping day in Sydney!

#1- Harbour Bridge and Opera House as seen from the botanical gardens
#2- Me at The Rocks Cafe in.. of course.. The Rocks portion of Sydney--- lunch followed by shopping at the market
#3- Shannon and the bridge
#4- "Local" musicians at Circular Key where the ferries depart
#5- And a trip is not a vacation without me locating a cupcake bakery... this is was called The Cupcake Bakery (I know...) on George Street

Just keeps getting better and better...

Australia Part 4- More Hamilton Island and Start of Sydney!

Last pics from Hamilton Island and the start of Sydney... About 3 days left on the trip...

#1- Cockle Bay Wharf in Darling Harbour (we are staying right outside of this pic)
#2- View from above- our beach on Hamilton Island
#3- Our "Dirty Dancing" bungalows that acted as our accommodations for 3 nights... Loved having our own private digs
#4- Shannon and me on our "buggy"- remember, no cars on the island; just golf carts
#5- Out for a yummy seafood dinner on our last night on the island

Australia Part 3- Hamilton Island

Here are pics from Hamilton Island- Great Barrier Reef area of Australia- the Island is small, but wonderful- no cars- only golf carts- and 5-6 restaurants/bars total. Lots of fun, sun, boating, cocktails, etc. Oh- and much relaxing...

#1- View from the marina "downtown" Hamilton Island
#2- Me enjoying one of many refreshing island cocktails- I think this one is Dr Funk
#3- Our pool bar- The Island Bar, at the Reef Hotel- we are staying in a personal "bungalow" that really reminds me of the staff quarters in Dirty Dancing... I keep hearing "She's like the wind..." in my dreams
#4- Shannon and me entering Hook Island on a boat- do we look happy, or what!?
#5- Me on the bridge to Hook Island

Australian Wedding (Part 2)

Ok, I did not take many photos at the wedding, but here are 2...

#1- Me stoking the biggest fire ever.... In the barn at Emu Bottom homestead (as I stated on Facebook, I really just like saying "Emu Bottom")

#2- Shannon and Jude (the bride after COUNTLESS flutes of champagne)

Fun! Congrats Jude and Adam--- my first Australian wedding!

Australia Part 1- New Zealand and Melbourne

Here are some photos from the first few days.... Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia... Hamilton Isand (Great Barrier Reef) and Sydney are up next! Having an amazing time...

Me in the Bush

Kangaroos! Downtown Melbourne

Piha Beach- Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

TUNES CREW Night Out (courtesy of Tweety)

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS...

Some End-of-Summer/Start of Fall Photos...

Kitty in Prada (seriously...) Well, at least she has taste

The Iverson Family- busy little Dalton was to excited in his new surroundings at The Solinger pad that I could not catch him looking at the camera

Gustavus Adolphus College- 15 year reunion- Robin, Shannon, Anita, and me

NEXT UP: TRIP TO AUSTRALIA!!! HERE I COME...

Taylor Swift Concert!!!

Emily and I enjoying Taylor Swift with all the young girls... But we had TONS of fun!!! It's all about the love songs... :)O

The BK Drama

Story for the day... I am so not kidding on this one...

After hitting the gym, I was making a stop at the Burger King drive-thru to pick up some breakfast for Jarrod (it's critical that you know the food was not for me... not really sure why, it simply just is). There was a white truck in front of me and as he was handed his bag o'food, it was dropped to the ground. Now, I can't exactly tell you WHO actually dropped it, meaning exactly whose fault it was, but that was not really the point here... Customer is always right, eh?

At that point, I started to hear arguing... in a nutshell, the "drive-thru boy" (who was really a man) basically informed the guy in the white truck that he would have to pick up the bag o'food off the ground. The GREASY OIL SLICKED DRIVE-THRU ground!!!

White truck guy drove forward, stopped, got out, walked back, picked up the bag, and threw it with gusto into the drive-thru window. At that point I waited a moment until white truck drove off and I pulled forward. Must say I was a little stunned.

This is where the story gets really good...
#1- As I pulled up, I literally saw BK Boy take the food out of the greasy, oily bag and put the food back into the "trays" to serve it to another unsuspecting customer. Really!!!

#2- As I was waiting for my food, I saw white truck guy go into the restaurant and start screaming bloody murder at the poor girl at the counter. Wow!!! Now, I would not be pleased either, but I would say that was a bit much. Postal worker maybe???

So, I figured, at that point it was my cue to take my croissandwhich and drive away... drive away like the dickens and leave the shame of what would be burned in my mind as BK Drama in my dust... This may even be worse that that creepy BK King guy from the commercials. Gross.

2009 Fall TV Preview!!!

I LOVE this time of year... why, you ask? The smell of Fall in the air... bonfires and pumpkins... hmmm....

I also love the Fall TV previews. I anxiously await the TV Guide issue that provides the details of the new shows (42 this year!) and a break-down by network. OH! How exciting! This is my version of a drug (of course behind cupcakes and shoes and purses!)

Here are my elections for the "Best of the Best" for this Fall:

Eastwick (my very top choice!)
Cougar Town (choice #2- bring back Courtney Cox!)
Vampire Diaries (darn the Twilight and True Blood influences)
Accidentally on Purpose (bring back Dharma!)
Trauma or Mercy (we will see which medical drama sticks this year)
NCIS: Los Angeles (LOVE LOVE LOVE Chris O'Donnell)
The Good Wife (Mr Big is BACK)
Melrose Place (huh... deja vu...)
The Beautiful Life (we'll see on this one...)

What do ya'll think? I am not sold on Glee or The Forgotten... those seem to have "high ratings", but I was never one to align with the critics.

How about repeat faves? I am still a fan of...

The Biggest Loser (so addicted!)
Ghost Whisperer
Ugly Betty
CSI
Grey's Anatomy
Private Practice
Desperate Housewives
Brothers & Sisters
Cold Case

And of course there are the "premium shows" that I must pay extra for...

Entourage
Dexter
Nurse Jackie
Weeds
Hung
United States of Tara

Huh... seems excessive, eh? And I wonder why I am always short on time? Thank my lucky stars for DVR. So excited for the month of September!!! Happy viewing to ALL!

Work Gang

Because I spend some much time (fun, of course!) there, I thought I would post some work gang pics... Over the past few months and a meeting in Seattle last week with my wonderful HR team...

Heather and Darien at Happy Hour after the meeting in Seattle

Colleen, Dave, Alice, and Heather- VERY engaged (maybe cuz drinks are involved???)

THRDs and HP DHRMs in MN (acronyms... I know...)

Darien, Steve 1, Steve 2, and Sean in Alaska at 1AM (not kidding- yes, the sun is shining)

Brett "hangin' loose" in Seattle

And the best for last (just in case they read this!) Heather, Darien, Rebecca, and Rosalind (aka Heat, Becky, Dar, and Rosie) in Las Vegas

Recent Fun Photos!!!

Vanessa in Vegas at MGM- Vanna White or The Price is Right?

The Girls with "some guys" from North Dakota in Vegas

Apparently Vanessa said something VERY funny!!!

Just the Girls at the bar

Jen & D - Mexican dinner at TI

Rudy and Vanessa at the Wine Bar in Reno

Kenny Chesney & No Doubt Concerts!!!

July Concerts with Friends!!!

Kenny Chesney at AT&T Park with Dan

No Doubt at Shoreline with Jennifer

Look for more to come in August!!!

OH TO HAVE ABS LIKE THAT!!!