Music City Adventures

I am in Nashville for the Presidential Debate tomorrow.  We had an incredibly smooth trip here and setup went fabulously.  My hotel room is the bomb.  Awesome King size bed.  HDTV.  Oh, how I wish I had these things at home! 

The wireless internet is pretty sweet, too, so even though I'm pretty exhausted and we have an early call tomorrow morning - I have to share a great story with you.

Wes, Sally & I met Wes's friend Eric out tonight on Broadway for dinner.  We went to this great BBQ restaurant called Jacks.  It was perfect.  BBQ served on styrofoam plates.  Yum-o!!

So, we're sitting there, eating and talking and I realize people keep walking by the window to the outside and stopping and taking pictures.  I say out loud "What are all of these people taking pictures of?"  I was puzzled.  I looked around for anything out of the ordinary but I couldn't spot anything.  Just a neon sign that said "open" but hello, that's not out of the ordinary!

Then Eric realized that Gene Simmons was sitting in the booth next to us, alone.  Ahahaha!!  So then, we went from talking pretty loudly to whispering about him and formulating our plan to have our picture taken with him.  Then, Gene Simmons turns around and STRIKES UP A CONVERSATION WITH US!  I am not even kidding you!  We talked about a lot of things.  Richard Simmons (how he's not him and I told him he has way better moves than Richard Simmons!), the Presidential Race, how he likes his chicken... I mean we're like pretty good friends with Gene Simmons now.

So, Sally and I got in a picture with him.  Wes took it.  Eric witnessed it all.  So, there you have it.  My first night in Nashville and the celebrities are approaching me.  Oh yeah, baby!

Sally and I both had the urge to open our mouths in the picture, but we're classy ladies, so we held back.

My favorite part of our dinner conversation with Gene (yep, we're totally on a 1st name basis) was when he was telling us about how he is sometimes mistaken for an Elvis impersonator.

Then he sang "Don't be cruel..."  and he actually sounded really good!

I think he enjoyed us!  It was a fun encounter!

After Jacks, we went to a Honkeytonk Bar and heard a bit of live country music.  I definitely want to come back to Nashville for a visit.  It is a great town!  I didn't hear any Kenny Chesney cover songs, unfortunately.  I *may* have seen a guitar hanging on the wall that had been signed by Kenny, but I wasn't wearing my glasses, so I'm not exactly sure.

That's all for now, kids.  Tomorrow - McCain vs. Obama, part 2.  I'm looking forward to the debate! 

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Tomorrow (Monday, October 6th) is my Mom's birthday!! Everyone join me in wishing her a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I will be in the air tomorrow, headed to Nashville for the 2nd Presidential Debate.  So, that's is why I am posting this now.  I am the video girl in my family.  Last year, when my mom turned 50, I put together this video for her but my stupid computer had something against me and even though I was up all night working on it before we went to Ocracoke last year, it didn't end up working.

Soooo..... It's back.  And better than it was last year!  It even has some updated pictures :)

Mom - I love you so, so, so much.  Happy Birthday!

I hope you like your video!  I love you!

A Fabulous Fall Weekend

Greetings, my loyal readers!  This is a special edition.  On a SUNDAY night!! Yes.  That's right.  I get to enjoy a whole Sunday!  It is GRAND not having to go to sleep at 5pm on Sunday.  I'm going to actually watch some FOOTBALL!!  I may even put on my Steelers jersey... if I can find it...

I have some pictures to share with you from last weekend (just a couple) and from this weekend - which, looking back - was filled with fall-ness.  (shout out to my fall loving friends!)

First of all, before you read this, if you missed SNL last night, do this first: go to NBC's website and watch the spoof of the VP debate.  It's much more entertaining than what you're about to read here, I promise.

Okay, now that you're back, here are the pictures...

Brokaw doesn't know he cant catch squirrels.

Please don't tell him.  When he sees a squirrel, he goes after it with all that he has... and perhaps if he wasn't always attached to a somewhat heavy human, he'd get one!

I think he'd definitely TRY to climb a tree in order to do so.

Saturday, I switched my closet over.  Sigh.

I packed up the yellows, pinks, and whites.

Pulled out the browns, reds and more black.

I usually don't do this until after my birthday but the next three weekends are going to be super busy so I had to go ahead and get it out of the way.

I have such mixed emotions switching out the closet.

I LOVE SUMMER!!  Sorry, I just do.  I even love summer clothes.  So, when I do the switch over, I always have a lot of empty hangers :(

Yes, my closet is color-coded.

What can I say?  I like to have a cute closet.  It's genetic.  You should see my mother's closet.

Goodbye, Summer!  Goodbye, summer dresses and capris and skirts.

I'll see you in a few months, when I will undoubtedly pull you out too soon and force Spring upon the world.

Brokaw was being quiet when I was doing the closet switch-over....

When I can't see him and I can't hear him... SOMETHING is up.

Yep.  He was chewing on a sandal.

BUSTED!

I had to get him to give it back.  I needed collateral, but I was out of dog treats.... so....

Atta boy!  Brokaw loves 100 cal packs.

I got my sandal back.

Phew.

After church on Sunday, I set out to make something I had never made before - pumpkin pasta!  

I found the recipe online.  The ingredients were pretty mainstream... nothing I needed to make a trip to a gourmet market for or anything... or so I thought.

Too bad I had to go to THREE GROCERY STORES to find canned pumpkin!!!

I was beginning to think it had been recalled or something!

Anyway - after all of that, I decided to reward myself with a Pumpkin Spice Latte for lunch.

I think Rachael would have been proud of me.

I whipped this thing up pretty quickly!

And I used a "garbage bowl!"

Check me out!  I was REALLY COOKING here.

Wisk and all!!

I even shredded my on Romano!

Oh, yeah, baby!!

I topped off my Creamy Pumpkin Sausage Pasta off with fresh parsley and organic pumpkin seeds.

Mmmmmmm!!! It was a giant hit at the church event I carted it to this afternoon.

I expect my voicemail will be filling up with calls from producers from the Food Network.

Sigh.

When I downloaded these pictures, I realized I did have a couple of pictures from last weekend, so here you go:

Here is Pastor Mike introducing Ann to be commissioned at last week's service at Rainbow Forest.  Jonathan knelt to pray with her.  This was just before almost everyone got out of their seats to join Ann in prayer.

It's not the best picture (sorry, Ann) but at least it's something.

Check out how organized Ann's yard sale was!!

She's such a teacher!

Oh, and I have to show you this!  So, this house where Ann is staying right now is on top of a mountain in suburban Roanoke.  It's pretty much on a farm or part of a farm, or something.  I don't know.

All I know is there are cows everywhere!  I woke up to "moooooo" Sunday morning and I didn't know what the sound was.

At first, I thought it was my blackberry buzzing on the table.

Uh.... no.  This is pretty far from a blackberry!

I think all the "mooing" was because this baby got out!  

I saw him standing in the driveway as I was leaving!

Poor little guy - he must have slipped under the fence, but he couldn't figure out how to get back.

I don't know if this cow was the Mama or not... but it was really sweet.  She was walking along the fence with the baby.

It was really sweet.

Ann called the man who owns the cows and he came and let the baby back in, so that's good!

Mooooooo!!!!  hahahaha

It's Friday, I'm in Love

The way I celebrate Friday, you'd think it was some kind of holiday or something.  But I really, REALLY look forward to weekends because that's my only chance to sleep - in the DARK - like a normal person and I love it.

I'm in love with sleep.

I'm in love with Fridays.

I'm also madly in love with a beautiful man I will see 2 WEEKS FROM TODAY!

I ate ice cream cake for breakfast.  I think I've worn make-up MAYBE twice this week (I always bring it to work, it almost never makes it onto my face).  I wear all black when I'm too tired to put an outfit together - I'm wearing all black today (with the exception of my green trench coat) and it's the second time this week I've done that.  I need a break!

Pardon the grumpyness.  I didn't sleep much because I got up to watch the VP DEBATE last night and I'm glad I did!! I don't like to wax all political on my blog (for obvious reasons) but I'll just say that It definitely beat what I saw of the first presidential debate!  I'm looking forward to Tina Fey on SNL this weekend - she definitely has some new material to work with!

I leave Monday for Nashville to cover the 2nd presidential debate.  I'm so excited!! And I'm praying for good weather because if it's all rainy and gross it will be hard to make beautiful television!

Happy weekend to everyone!! It's a lovely Fall weekend here in DC.  I'm hoping to enjoy some time outside.

Random note: Last night I went to McDonalds, where I saw a sign for a pumpkin shake and some kind of pumpkin pie turnover or something.  Has anyone tried this stuff?

Live From Panera Bread...

I just dusted off a bowl of Broccoli Cheddar and an Orchard Harvest Salad.  I absolutely love "You Pick Two."  Now, I'm cruising along online courtesy of Panera's free wi-fi.  It doesn't get much better than this, really.

I love Panera but it's just not really convenient in my current universe.  I really bonded with Panera when I lived in Pittsburgh - it seemed like there was one on every corner!  When I first moved to Pittsburgh, I ate at the Panera in Monroeville almost every night.  It was a nice chance to get out of the marijuana-smelling Extended Stay where I spent a month of my life in early 2006.

I ate A LOT of Broccoli Cheddar soup and Cinnamon Crunch Bagels!  I remember driving to Panera in the snow!!  Scared to death.  See, Panera has helped me through a lot.

So, it's nice to be back.  I'll be here a while.  They're replacing my windows in my apartment today so Brokaw and I had to get out.  I dropped him off at PetSmart, where in this very moment he's probably chasing some Cocker Spaniel or Lab around in circles, loving it.

This blog is going to be heavy on words, light on pictures.  Sorry about that.  Suzie Snapshots just hasn't been very snappy lately.

I spent the weekend saying goodbye to my dear friend, Ann.  It was an amazing weekend!  God is unbelievably good.  Well, maybe not unbelievably, you should still believe - He is God.  But for real, it was an amazing time.  Ann is leaving soon to go onto the mission field in Thailand.  (I hope I'm blessed enough to visit her at least once so I can get me some REAL Pad Thai!!)  Saturday, I helped her have a Yard Sale and although it was raining and our marketing campaign wilted over in sadness on the sides of the road, we made out with three digits - so that's not bad, right?  Then it was dinner at the Grooms house.  Man, that place just feels like home!!  I think back on my Roanoke days with such a smile.  It was a great time for me.  Coming of age.  My first job.  First apartment.  A lot of firsts there, just being Dana.  The Grooms family was like a family to me - I even spent Christmas opening presents there!  It was great to be back at that "home" and to be at Rainbow Forest Baptist Church Sunday morning.  I am so encouraged to see some of the girls who were just teens when I was a youth leader there -  doing so well - and stepping into leadership roles themselves.  It's incredibly rewarding.  I saw one who is now leading a Sunday School class.  Another who is a new mother.  Another who is completing medical school.  I am amazed to watch their lives unfold - I am incredibly proud of them - each and every one.

Sunday morning, Ann went to the front of the church to be commissioned.  I went up there and knelt beside her to pray for her and man, someone seriously turned on my water spicket!!  The tears ran down my face and just splashed in my lap.  I am so incredibly honored to have a friend who is willing to give up all that she has to do what she truly believes she was made to do.  Ann, I will miss you so much.  I promise to pray for you each day.  And I expect some form of contact on a regular basis!!  

Hopefully Ann will live up to the challenge and blog about her adventures in Thailand!!!

Please keep her in your prayers as she goes.  She leaves for training October 19th (also known as my birthday) and leaves for Thailand in January.

Unfortunately, we didn't take ANY pictures this weekend. (I know - would you believe that??)  Not even a bad one.  But this post needs SOMETHING so here you go:

Today my honorary nephew, Baby Roland, is three weeks old!!  I can tell that he is really growing his own little personality and I am pleased to report - Baby Ro and I already have a lot in common.

I present to you the following examples:

 

He likes the beach.

 

He likes to take self portraits with Courtney.

 

And look how he is laying with his hands under his head... 

That is exactly how I sleep!

(side note: look at his lips, don't you just want to smooch him up??)

Another completely random blog... buckle up.

I am really regretting cutting my own bangs a few weeks ago, because now they're growing out all weird.  I guess that's why we should leave such things to the professionals.  Maybe soon I will be able to afford to get my hair cut again.  I will have to walk in, all ashamed of my self trim and self highlights.  Helen will undoubtedly take me back, though, because she's marvelous like that.  I can't wait!  One bad hair day is one thing, but bad hair day after bad hair day means that something needs to be done!

I am still searching for the perfect grocery store.  I miss Giant Eagle.  I miss the "fuel perks," because at least if I was paying $5.00 for a gallon of milk, it was going to help me get 10 cents off my gas.  I tried another store yesterday, but it's just as expensive as the other one!  The only store that's cheaper is the one that sells the expired stuff.  UGH!

Now, let's talk about birthday stuff.  Mom, I know you're reading this, so what do you want for your birthday? Hahaha.

In case anyone is making a list for me... All I really want is my man (he gets here in 23 days, but who's counting, right?) I could use some new candles because I've been rocking the tealights inside my candles for months now... and Kenny Chesney has a new CD coming out!!

Check out his new video here.

That's all for now.  Thanks for reading!  Y'all come back now, you hear?

Fall!

Happy first day of Fall to you!  I am not a head-over-heels Fall lover like some of my friends (Becky & Christin!) but I'm friends with Fall.  There are things I really love about Autumn - like all things Pumpkin flavored, football, hoodies, MY BIRTHDAY, the beautiful leaves changing, having the windows open...

But there are things I don't like, too... socks, losing my tan lines, fruit becoming more expensive... um, I guess that's about it, really.  So, see?  Fall is my friend.  I DO NOT like Winter at all.  I don't want to get started on that, trust me, you don't want that either... it's QUITE A RANT.  I'll save it for November.

Today for some reason, I am really, really, really longing for a normal life.  I hate that I completely lack cultural context because of my sleep schedule.  I hate that I didn't say goodbye to Yankee Stadium, watch the Emmys or any NFL football yesterday.  I hate that there's another small group I'd love to join at my church that starts tonight, but I know I won't be able to do it.  Bleah!!! Waaaa!!!

Side note... this is the 3rd Monday in a row (that I've been counting) that Morning Joe has (at least in part) been live out of Washington.  Why, I ask?  What's going on?  It would be awesome if they split the show and did it half out of DC, no?  That would be SO COOL!  Even better if they wanted to hire me... but... I don't know... I may be just over this shift enough to even say no to Joe!?!

You feel me?  I'm exhausted.

No title for today's post.  No plan for it either, really.

Free flowing thoughts in 3... 2... 1... (contact!)

1.  I can't stop watching this.  I think I've watched it at least 5 times.  I even found a way to sneak a bit of it into yesterday's morning meeting.

2.  I just ate a bowl of Chef Boyardee's dinosaurs.  I don't think any of those pieces of pasta looked anything like a dinosaur.  One looked kind of like a menorah, but not a dinosaur.  I do think Michael Phelps is semi dinosaurial, though (on a completely unrelated note)

3.  Yesterday I registered for a half marathon.  Today, I'm scared.  And secretly hoping the ipod that's been in my gym bag that's been in my car for 2 weeks, isn't dead.

4.  Nope, sorry.  No number 4.  I don't have it in me.  Only three thoughts for today.  Cheers!

Oh, Baby!

I am just back from seeing a special little man.  Roland IV.  Sounds like a king, right?  He pretty much is royalty as far as I'm concerned.  It blew my mind to see Courtney (who part of me still pictures as a 15 year old girl in a 17th street sweatshirt) as a mom.  But it was awesome!  I'm so proud of this new little family!

 

Courtney and Baby Ro.

 

The peanut handoff.

Auntie Gretchen falling in love with the latest model of Gehweiler.

Look at him!!! He is so incredibly sweet, I can't even deal.

 

Smiling in his sleep.  Doesn't he have the most adorable hair?

The "mommys." HAHAHAHAHA.

Courtney, thank you for your service as a surrogate, HAHAHAHA.

Making our dreams come true!

(the real) Mama and baby.

He has a funny look on his face here.

Like, "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?" or something.

 

Kisses from Daddy.

Have you noticed his boxing gloves yet?

 

Retro.  See?  This is why I really need a good Digital SLR camera.

To capture such moments.

Argh.  Why can't my mom hit it big in Atlantic City?  Please.

 

My turn to hold baby Roland.

And of course he's SCREAMING.

(but looking darling in the onesie I bought him when he was in utero!)

 

He just wanted to walk around.  He settled right down.

I think he likes me because he feels safe, you know, low to the ground and all.

:)

 

This one is fuzzy, but I like it because you can see just how tiny he is.

I know he will grow up so fast.

Then, I'll be at his high school graduation, and because I'll be pushing 50, I'll be needing to make myself feel better...

And I'll tell all his friends about the time he pooped and I changed his diaper and I saw him pee in his own face.

He is beautiful.  Amazing.  I can't wait to get to know him.  CONGRATULATIONS COURTNEY & RO!!!