Anywhere But Here

Boots...check!

Cowboy hat...check!

Getting the H. E. Double hockey sticks outta here...check!

Music City here we come!!

What are we going to do there you may be asking.. it doesn't matter because anything we choose to do will be way better because it's not here! After a crazy week of working OT and new work flow implementations at work I am sooo ready for a week away from work to relax and have some fun. So my loyal followers I will be away from the computer for a few days check my twitter feed (box on the left or follow me Heatherb7) for updates from the road and pictures along the way)

Have a great week!

New Life Motto... Thanks Coco

source: http://www.bitsotruth.blogspot.com/

A Star is Born

pre-show

Kind of scary he looks so good in make up

Opening scene

trying to show the new princess a magic trick

plotting a test for the princess

he even does dance numbers

magic! He throws fire

magic trick finale

the test results revealed

The wizard's curtain call

too cute! Some fans wanting autographs

That's a wrap!

Tonight was the second night of the school musical Once Upon a Mattress, which is the story of the princess and the pea. NiBo made his acting debut as the wizard, who plots with the queen for a test for the new princess to prove she really is a princess. NiBo did a great job and the crowd went wild when he performed his magic tricks. True to his craft he even shaved his head for a "more evil" look he said. Everyone did a great job and gma even proclaimed that this was the best play she's seen "since Jesus Christ Superstar"... so you know it was good. We are very proud of you NiBo you did a great job!!

Here is his big magic scene, not the best quality but you get the idea!

What Did You Do Today?

I have so far had an enjoyable Friday off from work!

The morning started with a trip to the County Sheriff's office to take a scholarship application for NiBo, gma tagged along too. Then we got back into town and headed to McDonald's for some lunch Mmmm fish sandwich.

Sidenote: McDonald's in a small town should never be as busy as our small town McD's was today, it was ridiculous. We found the only parking spot available..literally that packed and went inside because gpa is picky and had to have his fish sandwich specially prepared. We used to have a cool McD's, sure it was in need of an update or two but it was our own unique design it fit in, it was a rock n' roll theme. But then the bigshots in charge decided to update. We now have two lanes, yes TWO lanes to order you'd think that a town of 3200 people would be ok with one but guess not, now two chances for an incorrect order (and no disrespect to employees, just sayin it doesn't happen often) But now our McDonald's is all modernized with bright colors and a very modern design. It's weird to see old people sitting on bright yellow roundish ottoman style seats sipping their coffee.... but I digress.

After our 20 minute McDonald's experience we dropped mom's food off at City Hall (yeah I know people at the city, it has it's benefits as you'll recall our alley was plowed first) and as we were talking I saw several motorcycles go by and decided 46 degrees is warm enough to take a spin around town and that was precisely what I did, twice around town was enough it's still a bit chilly. Now I am even more ready for green grass, leaves on the trees and warmer weather.

Tonight we venture out for the high school musical production of Once Upon a Mattress featuring NiBo as the wizard. Gma and Gpa got a dress rehearsal preview this morning and said it's going to be good can't wait to see his acting debut. There is even magic involved, yes! Check back for first night reviews tomorrow!

I Accidentally Read the Whole Thing

I didn't mean too. I was excited to have the pretty book cover over there on the 'Currently Reading' section for a few days. But I couldn't help it, it was too good to put down. I accidentally read all 341 pages in one night. The book was that good, and I could NOT put it down. Page Turner and I ventured out to the bookstore over lunch I had been wanting to buy this book for months and then the urgency of Page Turners excitement and impulse to buy got me all excited to throw down the dough and pick it up too, it's always more fun to read with someone and I'm so glad I did.

If you are a fan of The Pioneer Woman this is a MUST read. It tells the story of how she meant Marlboro Man! I always kind of pictured him as the quiet protector cowboy type but man does that man like to make out. I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this book, a chance meeting while Ree was out with friends in her home town, a flirty conversation and nothing... for four months. Then Marlboro Man appeared again and swept her off her feet and the perfect courtship ensued. Swoon.

Now all I can think about is a chance meeting with a rustic manly cowboy who will come and sweep me off my feet and whisk me away to a rural oasis.... well a girl can dream can't she? I really loved this book, I definitely give it at 5!! This is a book that I will read over and over. It's a happy all around book and I would definitely recommend this to anyone, Pioneer Woman fan or not. All I have to do now is sit and wait for Mr. Cowboy in his cowboy boots and strong hands, chaps that accentuates his perfect posterior, don't forget the cowboy hat and a crisp button up shirt.... oh sorry got a little carried away there. Do you think that reading books could ever be bad for you? lol. Go read it, NOW!

See Ya Later Facebook

Today is Fat Tuesday, which means tomorrow is Ash Wednesday which means Lent begins. It also means that if you pull up my Facebook profile you'll see this picture and this message: 

On facebook hiatus for Lent, be back after Easter! Should you need to get in contact with me go old school... call me, or better yet send me a letter, I love mail! or you can just text me. Have a lovely Lenten season everyone!

There you have it, this year it's not DQ Blizzards or candy... it's Facebook. This may not seem like much of a sacrifice but I'm from the social generation remember. I was on Facebook way back when before you had to worry about a friend request from your mom (which for the record, sorry mom still not gonna happen) I was a member of Facebook when it was only open to college students with a valid school email address, you know... way back when.

How did people survive without Facebook, how did you keep track of who's dating who and what if it was someone's birthday how did you let them know to have a happy day?! How did companies let you know what contests they have going or an update for almost everything. How did you know what your favorite celebrity was up to, if people didn't check in how did you know where they were? Man that must have been a scary world to live in not knowing everyones every move.... oh wait I lived in that world it was called every year before 2005 (when I joined Facebook, wow six years of my life) That world wasn't so bad was it?

So for the next 40 days I'm kickin it old school..no Facebook. If you hear internet rumors that I've died they aren't true (that is a side effect of no Facebook activity) if you hear rumors as to my whereabouts I'm 85% sure they aren't true... but you never know. If you hear I've run away to Nashville, that is true!!! I'm heading out for a few days to Music City later this month and I couldn't be more excited! Don't worry I haven't given up on North of 10th, you can still check in to see what I'm up to right here..... see being a follower will pay off for once, you'll be the first person to know if anything exciting happens.

It's Just Another Manic Monday

I finished Still Alice today, and it is a sad book. It's about Alice who finds out she has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. You follow Alice through the initial shock and realization that her memory isn't quite as sharp as it used to be. As a professor of Psychology at Harvard and only fifty years old you see the frustration and heartbreak as her and her family deal with this disease and it all happens so quickly.

My grandma on my dad's side of the family is dealing with this disease as well. It starts out with little things here and there and it's passed off as 'old age' then the forgetfulness becomes more and more frequent, then there is getting lost in a town you've lived in for many years to not even knowing your own children. It's heartbreaking for everyone, she gets frustrated and tries to remember it's not that they don't want to, they just physically can't remember. The saddest part is their is no cure, it's just as hard if not harder for the families watching a loved one suffer through this terrible disease and lose their independence.

If I ever get it, I hope to go out like The Notebook.... man that is a great movie and um hello Ryan Gosling. Yummo!

In other news, Monday you suck. Stupid, unorganized and last minute work flow changes are my enemy, oh and so are grumpy people who like to complain, you both do not put a smile on my face. Nor does my inability to overcome laziness and my severe lack of motivation. One of these days I hope to find the spark that is my motivation and self control. That is all, goodnight.

Artful Designs?

I had the great pleasure of joining these two lovely ladies for a "therapy" session at the local artsy fartsy pick something and paint it store. Clearly this was my first time as you'll see in the 'after' picture below, but I had a lot of fun.

First, I was completely overwhelmed by the choices of things to paint. There were plates and bowls, gnomes and dragons, and pretty much anything you can imagine, even a hot dog bank. OL and I chose to go with a smaller (less expensive) first time item while Page Turner has been waiting to paint a Christmas tree that lights up and you put the little bulbs in which turned out to be the simplest item to paint. OL went with a cute little puppy dog and I chose a happy penguin.

I'm kind of a perfectionist when it comes to things like painting and I honestly could have stayed there several more hours perfecting my little guy, with some nudging I decided this was my first time and he wasn't going to be 100% and I'll need to leave room for improvement.

So after a few hours (time passed very quickly) we were all satisfied with lovely creations and were ready to call it a night. We left our creations to be thrown into the fire and made all shiney, we'll have to go back in a week to pick them up. I'm already trying to decide what pretty thing I'll create next time, I'm thinking a plate would be easier but I'll have to think about it and don't worry about Page Turners Christmas tree, we were promised that the fancy glaze used on the tree would turn green once they threw it in the fire.

A Double Good Reason to Have Some Cake!

Today is my One Year Blogoversary!

Thank you to everyone who has read my blog the past year. I hope you've enjoyed what you've seen and you'll stick around to see what's come. Your comments and words of encouragement are much appreciated.

If you've been a secret follower this past year go ahead and make it official, click the little follow button on the bottom right and show the world you're out and proud and follow North of 10th! (or if you're ashamed just keep on coming back every once in awhile to see how it's going or you can post a comment anonymously whatever works for you) any way you choose to show some blog love. I've enjoyed sharing my stories, dreams and random thoughts with you all and the best part was getting to meet blog royalty this year!! Thanks guys!

Today is also Dr. Seuss' birthday! If you didn't get to have green eggs and ham today wish him a happy birthday in the comments with your favorite book or quote (you know I love me some quotes)

Thanks for stopping by the blog today, hope everyone had a Seussical day!

For the Record

I was up at 5am, walked by a mirror. The world is not ready for this girl at 5 am on a day 1. I didn't leave the house. I hit up the Wii Fit instead...baby steps.

I'm so ready for Spring, I'd rather run outside anyway, oh well. Happy March 1st!