Like Eminem says himself, I've created a monster. A travel monster. No way am I going to wait 34 years for an actual vacation again. Take a chick from the sticks and throw a little first class at her and you would be amazed at what happens!

The vacation gave me lots to blog about. For example, the hubby and I were in the kitchen of a relative's house and we were hanging out with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. Brad was trying to get our daughter to give him a kiss on the cheek and Jennifer was lambasting my hubby for talking so fast that she couldn't understand what he was saying. In walks Jack Nicholson and announces to everyone that he is going to make himself a sandwhich and asks if anyone else would like one. Now, the thought of Jack making me a sandwhich is enticing but it was only a dream. Literally. It was just a dream the hubby had while we on vacation.

I would love to say that I was in LaLa land negotiating a deal for writing the screenplay for the next Indiana Jones installment. It sounds like they have thrown it to everyone else in Hollywood so hey - why not a rookie?

But, in real life, the hubby and I took the kids to his parents' house in Great Falls, Montana, and then hopped on an airplane for the midwest. We spent some time in an actual city and then drove two hours south to attend a country wedding.

We had a great time and I can even admit that we weren't all that anxious to get back to the kids. But the minute we saw them as we arrived, we were thrilled and realized how much we missed them.

No interesting (or shall I say gossipy) celeb sightings to report but I did miss meeting Ashton Kutcher by mere minutes. I don't think my daughter will ever forgive me for missing out on that one.

There are lots of things to blog about in the coming days but there are two realizations that I must include here:

1. There is no escaping Ben Affleck. He is everywhere. I'm beginning to take this as a sign with no idea of it's meaning.
2. There really is no place like home and I am grateful for my "simple" life in Montana.

Thanks to Tad for his great entry and to Pepito for the emails. I look forward to catching up on everyone's blogs and doing some blogging of my own.

So return your trays to their upright positions and fasten your seat belts.

Annie's back...

¶ 9:10 PM //

This is my last post until I get back next month. I must confess that I will miss the blogging comraderie that has developed all because of one mythical A-list celebrity blogger named Rance.

That's how I "met" most of you and let's be honest - how else would we have gotten together?

Let's just hope that we all get rich off of Pardon The Interruption or at least make enough $$ to fly everyone in and have one big blogger bash.

Maybe Oprah would do a story on it and we could all sit in director's chairs on her set to discuss.

Maybe Michael Moore and Oliver Stone will get together to do a conspiracy documentary called "Who Is Rance and What Has He Spawned?" As contributors we will all then get tickets to the Oscars when it is nominated for Best Picture.

Yeah right...and maybe Bush will get re-elected...(oh back off - I'm only have a little fun before I fly)

In my absence, feel free to roam the blog and look at some of my earlier entries. But as if that wasn't entertaining enough, Tad Bitter, Mr. Hollywood Screenwriter himself, has agreed to guest blog about MOVIES and MONTANA and his entry is below.

Like I say to my kids: Be happy, be helpful, be positive, be kind and be safe.

Later...

¶ 8:17 AM //

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Annie asked me to write something about films shot in the great state of Montana or better yet, films about Montana like “Legends of the Fall” which was actually shot in Canada.

As most of you know, shooting a film or a television series in a city other than the one it takes place in is common “Hollywood” practice. We all knew that the Boston of “Cheers” existed only on a sound stage in Los Angeles. However, they once did an episode where Woody claims he was a background extra on an episode of “Spenser: For Hire” which was set in Boston and actually shot in Boston. No one believes Woody until the end of the episode when Robert Urich shows up at the bar to visit him. This made me chuckle because it really meant that Robert Urich was on business in Los Angeles and not just dropping by his fellow Boston-based show’s set.

In a sitcom like “Cheers,” the “Boston” conceit works even though we never saw the gang step outside the bar for a quick stroll around Boston Common which was supposedly right outside its doors. But, by setting the show in a city like Boston it gave the series a little extra flavor. Sam Malone was an ex-Red Sox pitcher with a fair amount of notoriety. Cliff was the blue collar worker with a thick Boston accent. Diane had that WASPy New England air about her. Boston didn’t play a major role, but it worked as a subtextual springboard.

However, in single-camera television comedies, dramas and films that take place outside of a set or sound stage, location is one of the most important decisions a writer can make. It’s very easy to set a show in New York or Los Angeles. They are both multicultural cities with landmarks people across the globe can recognize. They are also ranked as the number one and two tourist destinations in the United States. But those cities have grown tiresome. So when a writer sets their story in these two metropolises it’s imperative that they use the city as something more than just a familiar backdrop or they run the risk of writing something that is routine and mundane.

A great example of using a destination to its full potential is “Sex and the City.” New York is so intertwined with the show that it wouldn’t work without it. Imagine “Sex and the City” set in Butte. Even though the women of Butte may feel like they are a Carrie or a Samantha, I doubt you’d find these four distinctive women hanging out with each other at Paul Bunyan’s Sandwich Shop. And how would Carrie’s sex column go over in the Butte Weekly? Would she be able to live off the salary they pay? Would she be able to pick up a new pair of Manolo Blahnik’s at the Butte Plaza Mall? The characters created for this show are intrinsically tied to the city they live in. New York is inarguably the fifth cast member of the series. This isn’t a slam to Butte or any other city, it’s just an example of how a location and the characters that inhabit it should be inseparable. A series about four career women living in Butte, though similar would probably explore different themes.

And even though Butte isn’t quite as exciting as New York City, I’m sure you’d get just as many viewers if you were to name the show “Sex in the Butte.”

As I said before, New York and Los Angeles have grown tiresome. Eighty percent of films are set in these two locations, so I always find it to be a breath of fresh air when an alternate setting is used. Sometimes a setting can be shoehorned in like Hawaii in the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore comedy “50 First Dates.” They tried to use the location to the best of their ability, but it was an afterthought and it showed. It’s not just enough to say, “I want to set my film in Montana.” You have to ask yourself if your lead character is a cowboy or a Native American? Does he or she like to fly fish? Or is he or she a history buff who loves to explore the Montana battlegrounds like Bear Paw and Little Bighorn? By choosing a location like the great state of Montana there’s too much history and culture not to utilize it.

To be honest, I’ve never been to Montana. It’s on my list of “must visits.” The film that put it on that list was “A River Runs Through It.” I thought this was a wonderful movie that used Montana to its full potential. Not only did it open our eyes to the majestic beauty of Montana but it also made us appreciate fly fishing. Not because it’s a unique sport, but because of the way Robert Redford used it to tell his story. It was a constant good in a family wrought with turmoil. It held together not only the movie, but the family that inhabited it.

And it looked like a lot of fun too.

T.B.

¶ 8:16 AM //

If you look very carefully at the picture of Conan O'Brien on page 45 of Entertainment Weekly, you will see that he strongly resembles a younger version of Bob Hope.

¶ 8:15 AM //

According to my handy dandy sitemeter, many people end up at this blog because they are looking for a status and/or notification report on the Bravo Situation Comedy Screenplay contest.

http://www.bravotv.com/Situation:_Comedy/

Rest assured, I am just as anxious as everyone else but alas neither I, nor a fellow blogger who also entered the contest, have heard anything.

I emailed Bravo to see if they have a timeframe for the next phase of the contest but have not heard back yet. Knowing my luck, I'm sure they will probably email me while I am on vacation. But if I hear anything before that, I will post an update.

So good luck fellow contestants...may the best amateur screenwriter win!

¶ 6:56 PM //

Runaway Bride and I have a little game we play while attending large festivities. We will walk by people who resemble celebrities and giggle to each other "Brad Pitt made it. Carol Burnett is here. Look - there's Wilfred Brimbley."

One time we were walking the concourse at a Griz football game and I said "Heeerrrreee'sss Ed!" And damnit - it WAS Ed McMahon. He was in a track suit and was on his way to be introduced to the crowd at halftime. Luckily he didn't hear me.

See how easily I'm entertained?

¶ 2:06 PM //

Girly Blog....Partially why I took the month of October off from screenwriting.

Forgive my giddiness but I have never been on an extended trip before. 4 days to takeoff and I am already packed. The organizational obsessive in me has everything neatly in place, travel sized and portable. I also told myself that there would be no "mom" attire on this trip so that justified a little shopping. I don't know if shopping ON the trip will actually be as much fun as shopping FOR the trip was.

First I needed something stylish, jacket wise to wear on the plane. I found a gorgeous chocholate brown suede knee length jacket that actually looks nice on my long torso. It is long enough to wear as a dress, casual enough to look classy with jeans, fall enough to look warm and fancy enough to wear as a coat to the wedding. I love this jacket so much I think I might even sleep in it.

The purse issue was difficult. I wanted a stylish bag for the flight that could hold everything important but yet wasn't bulky. Hello fake black Birkin. It was a bit too oversized to take to the wedding so I HAD to go buy the most sophisticated yet tiny black bag. Smartypants me put all my jewelrey in it and it fits neatly inside the Birkin.

Black bags call for black shoes. I am a boots wearer so I have boots to wear 90% of the trip but those don't go with my dress for the wedding so I had to get new shoes. The hubby agreed with this purchase and suggested tall "f**k me" pumps. We compromised on a thick heel instead of spiked ones.

Lingerie: Maybe a tad bit personal so let's just say there will be no cotton underwear in my suitcase. (Sidenote - there is one lingerie store here in town and there were about 8 construction workers that I had to weave my way thru in order to get to the front door. The owner of the shop told me that their work is taking twice as long as it should. Go figure.)

Sunglasses: I have a very hard time with the sun so I always, always wear sunglasses. They seem to break a lot too so I don't spend $$$$ on expensive ones. Instead I just needed to make sure I had an extra pair with me. Hello JLo.

Jewelry: As a mom, I rarely wear anything other than small pearl posts on my ears. Hello Chandelier lovelies and a couple trendy necklaces.

Reading material: I am a magazineaholic so I figured I had myself covered with this month's Cosmo, Glamour, Interview and Vanity Fair. Nope, couldn't stand not to read them so I decided maybe a book would be a better idea. I have been dying to read P.S. I Love You by Cecila Ahern so I picked that up too. Thinking that I better make sure I like it, I read the first two chapters...put it down...finished it that evening. Runaway Bride told me I should take the Shopaholic series so I figured I would read the first one to see if I liked it. Well then I just HAD to read the second one to see what happened next. I was saving the wedding one for the flight but somehow found it by the bathtub last night. (Good thing I am a speedreader.) I have resigned myself to just buying a book at the airport and hoping I don't finish it while waiting to board.

So what you may ask, am I going to shop for on our trip? Well I need a new watch. The watch I have now is very sentimental to me. It was the first gift my husband ever bought me. In eleven years, it has died twice and was costly to repair both times. I have reluctantly agreed to give in and look for something new on our trip. Hopefully this one will last as long and be a reminder of a fun vacation.

And the plus side is that it is something else small enough to fit in my Birkin bag....

Many thanks to Tall Poppy and Africanuck for their very helpful travel suggestions!

¶ 8:37 AM //

Our dogs ran away tonight. They are out there, in the dark, with the bears, deer, wolves, rabbits, racoons, porcupines and god knows what else. I'm sure that they are down by the river trying to catch some ducks but I can't leave the house to go down and get them since I am alone with the boys.

We got our first dog, Murphy, for free. Her mother was a purebred golden retriever who accidentally mated with a purebred black lab. Since her owners use her for breeding, they had to give away the mixed pups and Murphy was one of two female goldens. We got one and my brother got the other. Murphy has grown up to look like a purebred golden retriever. She is smart, lovable and lets the kids do whatever they want to her. Dress her up, pull her hair, drag her around, sleep on her, paint her toenails. She is the best damn dog there is.

One night the hubby was out late and I accidentally locked him out. He had his house key but I had locked the screen door as well and he couldn't get in. Rather than ring the doorbell and wake up the kids, he tried to crawl thru the doggie door. He is a big guy (over 6'2) and Murphy attacked him thinking he was a burglar.

Murphy was pretty hyper as a pup and really pouted when we left her alone. Our vet suggested that we get another dog to be a companion for her. So we got Skippy. Skippy was a lab/malamute cross. He was a very friendly dog but he liked to dig underneath fences and go visit the neighborhood. After a few complaints (4 in one evening) Skippy relocated to a farm with no fences.

In his place, we got the cutest little puppy. He was the same coloring as Murphy, golden with white paws and floppy ears. He is a border collie/cocker mix so he is cute and runs like the wind. We had the hardest time coming up with a name for this dog but finally settled on Rocky because he loves to "playfight" with our retriever. He's a cheapshotter too. Always biting her leg or jowels.

Rocky's name has since become Forrest after Forrest Gump. Just like Forest, Rocky ain't smart but he sure can run fast. And that's what he's out there doing right now. Running....

I'm sure Murphy is close on his heels being the protective mother but they should know better. They heard the doorbell and knew I was up in the loft. As soon as my daughter opened the door for her friend, they bolted out into the night.

Meanwhile my kids are freaking out...

UPDATE: Dogs came back about 10:00pm wet and "dog tired."

¶ 7:16 PM //

I'm not a big wine drinker but since this is close by, I have become a fan.

Actually I just think their labels are pretty...

http://www.missionmountainwinery.com/php/go/index.php

¶ 5:34 PM //

Vent Blog:

Ok, this is one of my biggest pet peeves. The constant need of people in my life to tell me things that are either obvious or something that could be taken care of easily by the person reporting it. Some examples:

Doorbell rings. "Someone's at the door." (Get off your ass and answer it.)
Phone rings. "Someone's on the phone." (Ditto)
From the bathroom: "We are out of toilet paper in here." (Then change the damn roll.)
From the cashier: "Your receipt is in the bag." (I know that - I just watched you put it in there.)
From the car wash guy: "Your windshield has a crack in it." (Yeah and so does every other car in Montana buddy.)

Maybe it's because I'm off the Diet Coke now but these little things are really getting on my already-in-withdrawl nerves. One of these days I will no longer be the peacemaking Libra who keeps quiet so that things are on an even keel.

The smart ass in me will emerge and be victorious!

¶ 6:55 PM //

(Inspired by comments from JCanuck and Rubber Duckie on Pepito's blog)

To me, I view Deja Vu as god's way of letting you know that your life is headed in the right direction. If I haven't had Deja Vu in awhile, I start to get nervous.

Luckily I had it two days ago...

¶ 1:26 PM //

It's wrong but oh so much fun:

1. Toilet papering someone's house. TP is ok but no eggs or maxipads please.

2. Pouring gasoline on the highschool lawn to burn your class number into it. "88"

3. Changing the city initial on the hill to that of the first letter of your high school.

4. "Borrowing" multiple real estate signs from houses that are for sale and putting them on the lawn of the high school.

5. Lifting up someone's car in the parking lot and rotating it so that it makes an "H" with the other cars.

6. Rearranging letters on business sign boards to say curse words.

7. Letting air out of your teacher's tires so that she is late for school and can't give you your test.

8. Passing out copier shrinked "cheat sheets" before a test.

9. Developing a sign language code for multiple choice tests.

10. Hazing the sophomores.

When I was in high school, hazing was allowed. It was all in good fun and no one got hurt but of course the PC nazis took over and all of that ended.

It is with fond memories that I recall having to stand up in front of class and (to the tune of the Oscar Meyer Weiner song) sing:

I wish I was a junior or a senior
That is what I'd truly like to be
For if I was a junior or a senior
This would not be happening to me

And even fonder memories of having to watch other people sing it as well...

¶ 9:11 AM //

Wow! A lot of emails have come my way thanks to the latest Entertainment Weekly magazine. There is a story in there about Annie Duke, Ben Affleck's Poker Coach from Montana. So to set the record straight, I am not Annie Duke but I would love to play poker with her sometime and I am really looking forward to the sitcom about her life that Lisa Kudrow is producing.

And speaking of magazines, recently I was chastised by a semi-famous person for subscribing to UsWeekly. I was given a rant about how it is supporting the papparazzi by buying magazines like UsWeekly and In Touch.

I thought "tabloids" were things like the National Enquirer, the Star and the Globe.

Those I just read those in the grocery line, I don't purchase them.

¶ 5:10 PM //

For those who follow this blog at all, you are somewhat familiar with Runaway Bride. Runaway Bride is my youngest sister and my best friend. This morning Runaway Bride was involved in a severe car accident.

Runaway Bride was involved in a car accident (not her fault) about three months ago in which her car was totaled. After the accident, she purchased her dream car, a white Volkswagon Jetta, and has only had it for about two months. She was on her way to work this morning, driving past the high school and got held up in traffic. A high school girl was behind her, not paying attention, and slammed into Runaway Bride at about 45 mph.

This caused Runaway Bride's car to hit the car in front of her and then veer off into the oncoming traffic. Fortunately she escaped with minor injuries (she had her seat belt on and the air bag deployed) but the car is more than totaled. The police said that the people who called 911 said whoever was driving it was probably dead.

The worst of it is that our mother (on her way to work) drove by the accident about ten minutes after Runaway Bride was taken to the hospital. She saw the car and freaked out.

All ended well and everyone is ok. Fortunately the high schooler has insurance so now Runaway Bride has decided that maybe an SUV is not such a bad idea after all.

After she left the hospital, Runaway Bride went to pick up her personal effects from the place that towed her car. The only things left intact were her cell phone and the empty keg from homecoming that she had in the trunk which she was supposed to return today.

There is not a scratch on it...

¶ 1:21 PM //

It was Homecoming this weekend for the Griz and the game was great. Over 22,000 screaming fans and it seemed like double that at the tailgates. Everywhere we went the hubby and I ran into friends, former co-workers, college buddies, high school friends and even a few former clients of mine. It seemed like we couldn't walk five feet without running into someone. It was great fun and it also made us realize what hermits we had become. We made plans with people, promised to get together more often and traded email addresses and phone numbers.

(Sidenote: A couple people asked for my business card. When I told them I didn't have one anymore it lead to some interesting conversations which I will blog about another time.)

We spent Sunday at my parents house surrounded by family (17 people). My parents have lived in their house a long time and all of us kids have all grown up, gone, returned and gone again. The coolest thing about my parent's house is the closet door. Ever since we all lived there, we have charted everyone's growth with dashes and dates. The grandkids think it is a special treat when it is their turn to get measured and see how much they have grown. My parents have promised that if there is ever a fire, that is the one thing they will try to save after themselves.

I sat at the dining room table for a few minutes (because that's all a mother gets) and just watched all the noise and commotion. Despite the fact that I was still in hangover hell and the screaming children were making my headache worse, I realized that the house was no longer "mine" anymore. What used to be "my house" is now referred to as my "parents house" or "grandpa & grandma's."

My old room is now the "office". My "stuff" is retired to a box in the storage room and I just can't bring myself to take home. My brother and sisters have our old furniture and while our dog is long gone, his doggie door is still there.

The house has now become that place that resides over the river and thru the woods...

¶ 9:28 PM //

Once again, Jamie Kelly from the Missoulian inspires a blog entry for me.

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/10/08/entertainer/twaddle/fat71.txt

Yes, Montana is a nice place to live. Yes, Montanans are friendly but to quote a bumper sticker I saw once:

"Welcome to Montana. We're glad you are here. Enjoy the scenery, spend lots of money and then get the hell out."

Did you ever hear the joke about the couple who moved to Montana from California and made a bunch of money by advertising a "send us back to California" garage sale? It's not a joke. It really happened.

This is serious business. If you are an "out-of-stater" trying to move in, it's not always a welcome wagon greeting. Especially if you are from California. I don't know why there is so much "anti Californiaism" here.

But it's not just out-of-staters who run into this. For example, I was furious when we came to the valley to find a place to live. We found a house and when we were ready to make an offer, our realtor suggested that I draft a letter to accompany it which stated that we were native Montanans and that my family originally homestead in this area. She suggested it would "strengthen" our position as buyers.

I'm sorry but is the seller really going to give us the house instead of someone from out of state just because we were born and raised here? We were not in a bidding war. In my experience, a seller is not going to turn down a full price offer that is accompanied by an approval letter from a bank. I was really offended by that but of course I wrote the letter because I wanted the house.

(I am now reminded of the scene in Under the Tuscan Sun where Diane Lane gets the house only because a bird shits on her head.)

Last time I checked, it was still a free country...we can live wherever we want right? Unless you are trying to get into a co-op in New York. I've heard that there is nothing worse than the torture those housing committees/boards put you thru.

¶ 10:36 AM //

Today I am giving up my Diet Coke addiction. After three to four cans a day, I am quitting cold turkey.

¶ 7:12 AM //

I guess I should clarify. This is the message Runaway Bride left me first:

"Hey dude. Where the hell are you? I tried you at home but got your cheesy suburban answering machine. What's up with THAT message? I need to know what you want me to do with your football tickets since I won't see you before the game. And where's my money for that by the way? How come you are not answering your phone? I hope you are not out shoppping without me. Work sucks today and I was going to ditch but evil boss lady is actually IN THE OFFICE. Can you believe it? So anyways I'll be at my desk pretending to look busy for the rest of the afternoon. Call me back. Where are you?"

Voice mail message that I left for Runaway Bride in response to the voice mail she left me.

"Hey dude. Don't give me any shit about my voice mail message when yours is nothing but the standard corporate "I'm away from my desk or on another line" bullshit. I would have taken your call but I was in the middle of carrying a screaming demon child out of TJ Maxx who was pissed because I would not buy a porcelain Santa cookie jar. It would not have looked good for me to put him down and answer the "Can Can" ring on my cell phone. However, it did make for interesting exit music out of the store. And as far as the Griz tickets go, I sent you a check but I got it back in the mail today because there was no postage stamp on the envelope. I'm sure I put a stamp on it but probably forgot to lick it. Just leave the tickets at mom and dad's and don't say a word about demon child because mom is babysitting for us on Saturday so that we can go to the game. I'll just meet you at one of the tailgates with cash for the tickets so that you can spend it on the fun things that single life affords you. Later..."

As you can see, the swearing runs in the family. (But none of us would ever swear in front of the parents.) It's all in good fun...

¶ 3:24 PM //

The doctor gave me the ok to "return to normal activity" as far as the knee goes and I am very grateful because I miss my morning walks.

When you have three kids, two dogs and a husband who works all the time, your life is not your own. Gone are the days of long showers, lunch dates, window shopping and working out at the gym. I'm not complaining - that's just how it is.

In an effort to gain a little bit of sanity along with some much needed exercise, I go for a hike every morning, rain, snow or shine. I walk along the old farm that used to belong to my great grandfather to see the farm house that is still there along with the barn and several pieces of old farm equiptment. The acreage is being turned into a subdivision now but the house and barn will stand for another year.

After leaving the farm, I hike down by the river. Right now it is just beautiful with all the leaves changing colors. I think the animals are getting used to me as the deer, ducks, racoons and eagles no longer seem afraid. I have yet to run into a bear but I carry pepper spray just in case.

The walk gives me time to clear my head and I enjoy all the smells and the sounds. Lately it has been very dark in the morning so I walk with a flashlight. Just another reminder that winter is around the corner.

I'm not alone. There are others who walk with their dogs. A younger woman, two old men and the occasional jogger. It seems as if we all have some sort of unwritten agreement that we won't disturb each other's peace other than to say hello.

The whole walk takes about 30 minutes and I arrive home with a sense of calmness that only comes from spending time alone with Mother Nature.

If I'm lucky, it lasts about two minutes once I shut the front door.

¶ 9:10 AM //

When I was in the corporate world, we were told never to use black ink. It always, always, always had to be blue ink so that you could immediately tell an orginal from a copy.

It's a hard habit to break. So now I am applying that to my blogging as well...

As you can see I've made a few changes. There will be more to follow...

¶ 10:02 PM //

Is the question "paper or plastic" an issue for anyone else?

Some stores will just give you paper bags unless you ask for plastic.
Some stores flip it the other way around and give you plastic unless you ask for paper.
If you have to ask, why is there a need for the dirty look from the cashier and/or bag person?

Are we supporting the logging industry by using paper bags?
Are we supporting the plastics industry by using plastic bags?

Isn't it recycling either way?

There is one grocery store here that offers handles on their paper bags. I love shopping there for that reason. But I also like plastic bags to use for things like doggie duty and dirty diapers. So to equally make everyone happy, I ask for a mixture of both.

It's not that big of a deal is it? But perhaps there is an episode of Desperate Housewives here?

You'll think of me next time you go to the grocery store now won't you?

¶ 6:32 PM //

This afternoon the hubby and I took the kids and dogs for an "afterschool drive". We drove out to the lake and spent some time throwing rocks, having the dogs chase sticks and collecting leaves.

We took an unusual route this time and meandered thru the the countryside. I am always intrigued by old farmhouses and barns that are left abandoned in the middle of nowhere. What are their stories? We saw several of those today and I wish I had taken my camera. But it's a luxury to know that I can always go back.

We also came upon an Elk Ranch today. I've never seen one of those before and there were elk everywhere. They were prancing around as if they were taunting the hunters that drive by saying "you can't bag us."

¶ 6:32 PM //

So yesterday the neighbor is outside and she comes over to say that they like our Halloween decorations. She says the neighborhood has dubbed us "The Grizwalds". Ok so we are a little extravagant when it comes to decorating the house for the holidays. But it's all in good fun!

Thanks to everyone for the birthday posts and emails. You're quite a swell bunch with some sickos thrown in for good measure!

A few random thoughts today:

1. Affleck "was da bomb" doing his Carville impersonation on SNL.

2. A golf themed greeting card company has asked me to come up with some verses for their Christmas line. All I can think of is dirty things you can do with a putter. I'm sure after awhile I can think of some more appropriate verses.

3. Pink Poppy has graciously offered to pick up a Brighton Think Pink bracelet for me. I can't wait for it to arrive! http://www.brighton.com

4. How is it you can go shopping for a dress and come home with a suit, a pair of pants, two sweaters and a little black bag. What would I end up with if I went shopping for all that stuff instead?

5. Desperate Housewives is one of my new favorite shows. I could write a few episodes for them!

And lastly, my son's school called to say that he is having a harder time this year and they want to have a conference about it. I mentioned it to his equine therapist on Friday and he said that all the kids in his program had trouble last week. He believes that it is because there was a full moon and the changes in the barometric pressure are too much for kids with sensory issues to take.

We'll see what the schools says about that!

¶ 1:47 PM //

So what do I really want besides world peace, a cure for cancer and AIDS, health and happiness to my friends and family?

Money...lots and lots of money...

Ha Ha

Happy Birthday also to Edgar Frog and Seann William Scott (Stiffler)

¶ 10:02 AM //

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, this entry is pink.

I wish to recognize those women who have had to face the sorrow of finding out that they had breast cancer while they were pregnant. It's an unbearable thought for a mother to think that if she treats the cancer, it will harm the baby and if she doesn't treat it, the pregnancy hormones can cause the cancer to grow so rapidly that she might not survive nine months of pregnancy.

Granted, this is not the scenario for every woman who develops breast cancer while pregnant. Some are able to treat the cancer and go on to have healthy babies. But there ARE those that are faced with this extreme situation.

I have had two lumps removed. The second one was found during the first trimester of my third pregnancy. It was removed on a Friday and we had to wait the weekend for the test results. I'm a pretty positive person but this was just about unbearable. Fortunately, we were very lucky. It turned out to be benign and we were blessed with a healthy baby boy.

But there are many women out there who do not get good news. And my heart goes out to them and their families.

I wear my pink for them and for my grandmother, a double mastectomy breast cancer survivor.

¶ 8:00 PM //

October is my favorite month of the year. This year particularly for the following reasons:

1. The husband and I will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary
2. Support for Breast Cancer Awareness (no pun intended)
3. My birthday
4. Dodgers and Braves are both in the playoffs
5. The World Series
6. Halloween
7. Homecoming at Griz Stadium
8. I can now wear jeans to cover up my legs that never tan
9. Octoberfest - big beer drinking holiday
10. Vacation!

Yes, in just 19 short days the husband and I will be on our first ever trip alone. We are going to a wedding and then taking our own honeymoon/anniversary trip. We are flying on an actual airplane, staying in a nice hotel, eating at restaurants without children's menus, golfing, shopping and basically doing whatever the hell we want. Seven fun filled, kidless days.

And there will be a celebrity or two at the wedding which should make for some interesting conversation.

¶ 9:10 AM //