Fame and Fortune

Minus the fortune.

And the fame.

But who's counting.


Here is Ruby, my little Starlet on the Pioneer Woman's website.

Pictures

Courtesy Claudia Barnes, who was at the book signing just walking past and asked to click a couple pics of Ruby Tuby. They're here on Flickr.

Amber, Meet Ree. Ree, Amber.

Yesterday I forsook all dirty dishes in my sink and loaded Ruby up in the car for the drive over to the BIG city. I really hate driving in Dallas, but this occasion was totally worth it. I was going to meet Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman!
I don't think the bookstore really knew what they were in for with this crowd. It was packed!

Ruby made quick friends, as is her fashion.
This is Vicki, and let me tell you - She was the life of the party! She kept us all in good spirits with her humor and exuberant excitement for the event. She cracked me up.
And she watched Ruby while I went to the bathroom. Good woman.


Notice we are wearing yellow bracelets. This meant we were in the third hundreds. I would have hated to have been in the sevens...

Getting closer...

Right about now all I'm thinking is how late it is, how cold and wet it is outside, how crazy I am to have spent my entire day waiting in line to meet an everyday, ordinary, but fantastically classy woman. And Ruby was really really sleepy.
So all my thoughts leading up to the event were how fun it will be to meet Ree and how I'll naturally fall into quick and light and easy conversation with her. We'll find ourselves just chatting it up and laughing like old times... And after 20 minutes, the staff will finally have to break it up because there are four hundred people in line behind me and it's 10:30.
Yeah, well... All I could say when it finally was my turn was... bleeby blippy dee... She's so tired... bluppy... blurby... dooo... that's all folks!

Blubbering idiot with absolutely nothing to say. There was no shooting the breeze. No So how's your mother? No You poor dear. You must be exhausted. Need some water? Or coffee? No I love your dimples. You're hair looks fabulous! Love the boots!

"She's so tired."

Really? That's the best you could do?!
I didn't even tell her her name!

Then it was my friends' turn:

This girl and Ruby were the best of friends in line. She sang to us and showed us her farm animals. She's going to be a good big sister. In 50 days.

Vicki made Ree homemade tortillas, salsa, and chips. She got to stand behind the table. ;)


Everybody had a great time. I got in line at 6:00pm and left the store at 10:35. Home at 11:40 (Did I mention I hate Dallas traffic?). Head hit the pillow at 12:04. Ruby was a perfect angel the entire time. She didn't fuss, complain, or cry. She played. She waved at strangers. She made friends. She fought sleep. Of course she crashed the instant we left the parking lot. Angel, I tell you. There's an angel living in my house. Her name is Ruby. Ruby Grace.

I Kid You Not

For reals, it is snowing outside.

Ruby is so excited!

Okay, so maybe I am too.

So maybe I've texted everybody about it already.

But it's SNOWING outside!
Snowing!
Seriously?!

Family

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We spent Thursday here cooking up a storm. I roasted my first turkey, made a double batch of yamadandy and three pies. We celebrated with about 22 other residents and/or their wives. It was nice for all of us away from our families to be able to spend the day together.
Friday was Spann Thanksgiving in Abilene. Boy, was it ever a party. I think the final head count was 45. Ruby entertained the masses while I helped Mom in the kitchen. I counted 2 turkeys, 80 rolls, and 15 pies. It was a nice not-so-quiet gathering with family. We enjoyed Blokus, Ticket to Ride, Catan, Secret Santa, Bocce, and more pie. My family can really party.

Coming up this week:
I'm attending this event Tuesday and am looking for somebody to go with me!
Thursday I'm canning. Yes, I'm a little late.
Monday, I'll be old.

DARE YOU TO MOVE

You may not be a Biggest Loser watcher, but even YOU can't help but be inspired by this video of Rebecca:



Did you here her say that five months ago she couldn't have walked 10 miles? Now she's running it!
Yeah, so I went to the gym this morning. Thanks, Rebecca.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Kent just killed a roach.
I hate them.
And I love him.