{So Many Hats}

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse....

I actually went 4 months without blogging. Let's just say that life was beyond stressful and leave it at that.  I am no longer doing the photo and writing thing, I got moved to another job and while it certainly has its unique challenges, it is not my passion and it takes a lot out of me.  Lots has been happening, and AJ and I are committed to sharing everything with you.  We will make sure that you get the scoop, but let me leave you with these teasers.... Christmas brought emergency surgery to our house and AJ was recently hypnotized.  Curious?  Check back this week as AJ and I take turns sharing our photos and adventures from the last few months!  I know, mean of me to tease and not put much, but I am SO tired and I need to get some sleep.  AJ is already racked out.... he just got back from Vegas and is still recovering.  We promise to visit with you SOON!!

You're stuck with me

Cuz AJ is packing.  Someone spilled the beans and told him I was thinking about running away for a quick trip in about a week and a half so he's trying to decide what he wants to bring.  I swear, he brings more clothes than I do.  He wants to know if I'll "unattach" his hat before we go but I haven't actually decided yet.  I probably will though, he's going to need a Halloween costume soon and I can't think of much that goes with a red hat!  OK... so we're headed out on a road trip, AJ and I are, because quite frankly, I just need a break.  So we're going to go play and I have to tell you, I got the most perfect road trip present in the WHOLE WORLD for my birthday!  I told Eric that I wanted a new stereo for the Mustang for my birthday.  Now mind you, we're talking the convertible, not Sally so it had to be a good stereo, and I needed new speakers.  He found the COOLEST stereo!  He went to Circuit City, found the stereo, found the speakers, and then called and told me what to go in an get.  It's AMAZING!  I was already excited about the stereo.... it is blue-tooth and satellite radio capable, and it has an aux port on the front for my iPod, but that isn't the coolest feature... it also has a USB drive on the front.  So all I have to do is load up a thumb drive of music, plug it in and away we go.  I had the stereo installed today (ok, a little early, but hey... what's a girl to do?) and let me tell you, I just wanted to drive all night!  The top was down, the night was still warmish, and the stereo ROCKS!  I now have back AND front speakers and it's LOUD!  I could never really hear the stereo before when I was driving on the freeway with the top down and now EVERYONE can share my music with me.... hee hee... only fair since in a convertible I often have to listen to other people's stuff!  Anyway... just wanted to check in and tell you the latest and greatest!  Sorry I've been hogging the computer lately, AJ complains all the time but I am buried in homework... so far I am passing in all of my classes though so I guess it is worth it.  OK... it's late and I am off to bed finally... sleep well my friends, and look forward to AJ letting you know where the open road takes us... we leave a week from Tuesday and we will take the camera!  Much love to you all... talk again soon =) 

Odds and Ends

So I decided that there were some odds and ends of things that I needed to talk about that I just hadn’t gotten to.  Nothing major, just some random stuff that I don’t think you know… and I thought you should.  Mom was watching the Emmy’s last night and I was looking at pictures on the computer and I was reminded of some stuff.  So I will try to post a few pics, and I tell you a few funny, and morally indignant stories. 

First of all, let me start by saying, I had almost totally forgotten that Grampa was not the only person who physically abused me on the trip to the drag races.  You remember… he was too cool to be seen carrying in a turtle so he put me in a PLASTIC BAG… really, have you been in a cave somewhere, don’t you know little kids can CHOKE on plastic bags… seriously… anyway… I also wanted to point out that Mom did a bit of abusing herself.  The story goes back a little but I know you will turtle with me. 

OK… so most of you know that I am a mascot for the green team at camp…. I have been since I was born.  SO… I got in massive amounts of trouble this year for not following the “non-distraction” policy.  Miss Connie was forever on my case about my pants.  See, when I was born, I didn’t get a big enough butt. I know, I know… a lot of you ladies out there right now are thinking, “Gosh… I wish I didn’t get a big enough butt.”  Let me tell ya’, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  Oh… cracked up… FUNNY!  Cuz that’s what I kept getting in trouble for… my pants sliding down off my non-existent butt!  It doesn’t matter what I do, I just don’t have enough junk in the trunk to keep my pants up and in case you aren’t up on current events, belts for turtles are a little hard to come by.  SO…. Mom, being the field expedient one that she is, SAFETY PINNED my pants to my heinie!!  She said that solved the problem, and granted, the pants stayed up, but seriously, at what expense?  That sucker hurt!  Ok… so bad enough that I have a safety pin in my nether regions, when we were at the races, mom was worried about my hat.  She got even more worried after Miss Ashley and Papa Force signed it.  She was afraid that she would be carrying me around and the hat would fall off and be lost forever.  She claims she was worried about sunburn and my “souvenir” but I think she’s been watching a little too much Grey’s Anatomy because she SEWED MY HAT TO MY HEAD… WITHOUT ANESTHESIA! She went to the front desk of the hotel and asked for more safety pins and instead they gave her a sewing kit…. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!  See, you can tell in the picture… the side where the hat lies unnaturally flat?  Yea… sewn on!  So LC kids, Daniel and Sarah… if you ever forget something a lot of days in a row and she asks you if you need a note stapled to your forehead, for the love of Pete…. RUN!!!!!!

Ok… now, the other thing that I have to tell you about.  Did you know we got a dog?  Well, Mom calls her a dog… I am not entirely sure.  This is her.  I think the only redeeming thing about her was that she had green in her ears when we first got her (you KNOW how I LOVE green!) but that has long since gone away.  She is a toy Chihuahua. Ok, cuz like a regular Chihuahua wasn’t small and annoying enough, they had to make a littler one?  I mean get real people!  Ok… so, I have to admit, she was kind of cute when she was small… and I didn’t see her much cuz she’s too little to get up on the bed.  I on the other hand, on the bed all the time unless we are travelling!  Here is a picture of us back when I thought she was cute.  So, I have to tell you this story though, she wasn’t as cute this weekend, Mom let her come and stay at the trailer with us.  She’s not been there much cuz she’s not really allowed… Mom got her when we were living in the other house and then she had to go back to the trailer so it’s all confused… ANYWAY… so she came to stay this weekend for a visit.  Let me share a couple of things with you…. Number one… it is NOT NICE to bite the hand of the turtle whose Mom feeds you!  Let me tell you something little missy, I am NOT a chew toy!  I am NOT rubber, I do NOT squeak, I do NOT dispense treats, do NOT chew on my hands, pull my ears or scratch at my shell.  Ok, and to you mom… I want to submit for record that not once in a restaurant have I endangered you ability to stay!  What am I talking about some of you may ask… Ok, here it goes.

Oh, and before I even start, I am NOT jealous.  I have been out to dinner many times with Mom, I just behave better!  Ok… the trailer has this fire alarm issue… since there are like, a million trailers all strung together they all have a central alarm.  So if one person sins, we all pay.  The fire alarm went off FIVE TIMES this weekend.  Well, it hurts the ears of the mutt.  So when Mom went to dinner (at the Olive Garden, with Uncle Mac, and DIDN’T TAKE ME) she took the puppy in case the fire alarm went off so that her precious little ears would be safe.  OK… I get that part.  Then it gets weird.  She took the dog, and the convertible.  And we all know that as long as the sun is shining, which it does pretty much all the time here… Mom will leave the top down, especially since it is such a pain in the butt to put it down and get the cover thing all sealed on it.  So… here she is with the dog and a convertible.  It’s not like she can leave the dog in the car… and apparently the trunk was out of the question although it seemed like a good idea to me…. So she put the dog and a blanket in a big zippered tote, left the zipper open about ½ an inch for air and put the dog under the table.  Now, I’m not the smartest turtle in the pond, but let’s think about this… tiny dog, small hole, Italian food… yea, you do the math.  All the sudden Mom and Uncle Mac are debating football teams and they hear “oh my gosh, what an adorable puppy” right around the time Mom realizes there is an awful lot of rustling at her feet.  Yea, Chulita shoved her head out of the bag, pushed the zipper over and climbed halfway out.  Luckily mom got her shoved back in and zipped right as the waiter came back.  The ladies at the other table said it was “their little secret.”  Sheesh… how dumb can you be?!  Anyway… just thought I would share with you. 

Ok… those are my odds and ends… I must go, mom is starting to pack up her stuff and want to ask her to post this for me.  Love you all… peace out!  Oh, and a picture of Tony Schumacher just cuz mom still thinks he's the coolest thing ever, even though he got beat this weekend!  Everyone has an off day now and again!

So not the drama!

Ok, I take it back, I've learned, there is SO MUCH drama!!

Wow… there’s so much to talk about and so little time to do it in.  For those of you that haven’t been paying attention, Mom took a ride on the crazy bus and decided that she was done messing around with college and that after 20 years she really needed to finish.  Well, in her weirdly OCD way, she decided that meant NOW.  She decided that since she graduated from High School in 1988 (Oh my gosh, she’s old as dirt…) that she needed to graduate from college in 2008 because that “had a nice, symbolic ring to it.” Let the record show that she had FOUR classes to finish.  For those of you keeping score that’s 12 SEMESTER HOURS!  As in full time student status.  As in she works herself to death at work, has no personal time, no down time and no free time and yet she has decided to take FOUR upper level classes for her final semester.  It was recommended she only take 2 this semester and 2 next semester but could she do that? NO.  And do you know why?  Because then she would graduate in 2009 and it would be TWENTY ONE years and that wouldn’t sound as linear.  What the??!!  Please someone, save me from the crazy lady.

On other interesting news… we were SUPPOSED to get to go to Colorado this week.  You remember Colorado, home of the mountains, green trees, English speakers, restaurants with “Guac Live” (oh my gosh, SO YUMMY) and of course, ARCHIVERS… our personal fave for scrap supplies, they have the CUTEST little monkey stamps that Mom is addicted to and I must admit are pretty darn cute… but WE DIDN’T GO.  And why do you ask?  Well… because we got in a car accident on the way to the airport.  Now don’t go panicking, we are all fine, but totally bummed that the trip got cancelled, we had dinner reservations at all our faves and I even had a kickin’ coupon for the scrap store =(  I’m so sad.  Let me tell you what happened….

First, let me clarify… we weren’t quite on the way to the airport when the accident happened.  We were on our way to the hospital already… kinda ironic ‘eh?  So anyhow… Uncle Mac said he would take Mom and me to the hospital and then on to the airport cuz Mom doesn’t really like to leave the Mustang at the airport since she’s a little paranoid that she will and it will end up in Tijuana So… we were on the way to get Mom’s stitches out from her skin cancer thingies (again, totally fine, just a preventative measure… WEAR SUNSCREEN PEOPLE!) and we were on HWY 54 and traffic just totally stopped.  So there was much tire screeching and swerving and the nitwit behind us decided to pull out and be beside us on the left and then there was a guardrail and embankment to the right and so BAM…. We hit the guy in front of us.  We smacked him good and the airbags went off and everything.  Let me tell you, those things are a serious hazard!  They exploded out, cracked the windshield in 3 places, burned Mac’s arms and shot pennies at Mom.  They also filled the truck with noxious gas and were generally yucky.  It stank!  So we did all the stuff we were supposed to do, filled out the reports, exchanged insurance information, filed a police report, called the insurances, and then we went to the hospital.  Not to get checked by the accident, just to get Mom’s stitches out.  She is good friends with her doc, who also goes to her church and works with her in AWANA so she asked for a favor and he gave her Motrin and Uncle Mac some burn cream and they went on their way.  Well, Mom’s toe had been bothering her since the accident and she thought she jammed it (she was wearing FLIP-FLOPS in the accident) and it was starting to hurt and she was trying to get to the airport on time after taking the broken truck back home to drop off and she forgot her work hat so she called her boss, told her that she didn’t have a hat, was trying to make the flight and would probably need to go to the emergency room after she got to Colorado.  Well, the boss lady decided Mom should stay here and take care of everything so we didn’t get to go and now I am pouting. I love Colorado, and furthermore, our friend is leaving for Kuwait for a year in like, two weeks and now we can’t say goodbye.  That blows.  Oh… you probably want to know… the ER docs said mom sprained her big toe (there might have been a small fracture but they couldn’t see it) and she strained her calf muscle really bad.  Seems like she was trying to stop the car from the passenger side.  Women!  Anyway… they gave her good drugs which knocked her on her rump for a day but they made her sick to her stomach so she is refusing to take them now and since Gramma isn’t here there really isn’t anyone to force the issue.  I figure if she hurts bad enough she’ll give in and take the drugs.  Uncle Mac got some muscle relaxers to go with his burn cream and he is doing much better.  The same can’t be really said for the truck… it looks like it might be a loss since it’s old, has a lot of miles and the air bags went off.  There appears to be some frame damage also… I’ll try to post some pics here this weekend but right now I have limited internet access and Uncle Mac has the pics and we won’t be seeing him for a while cuz he’s working on a HUGE photo project that’s going to totally rock but keeps him really busy.  I’ll try though!

Anyway… so now you know what I know, and you know why I am not on here a whole lot… when we do get internet access Mom is pretty stingy about using it for school and she’s been trying to stay away from too much access cuz it makes her not do her homework cuz she messes around.  I know, shame on her!  Ok… well, here’s to you all who are faithful readers…. Until next time, keep your chins up and your shells clean!  Much love, AJ

P.S.  Shhh, don’t tell anyone but guess what we get to do on Thanksgiving day?  Seems a certain Texas team is playing a certain Washington team in the only sport that EVER MATTERS and it looks like we are going to be there.  Now, I SAY we, cuz I am pretty sure I get to make the trip, but unsure if I get to go to the game.  If I do I’m totally borrowing Murphy’s jersey… but don’t tell him, he’d be SO jealous cuz I really am the favorite and I get to go EVERYWHERE… well, except on that one cruise… Bearemy did that.  SIGH… maybe next year!  Peace out peeps!

Sorry for the delay

Sorry about the delay in posting for AJ last night. The hotel was less than helpful in getting us online so that he could post.  I thought I should add this picture.  I took it Sunday morning at the track as we arrived for early morning chapel services.  I just really liked the colors and the raceway sign silhuetted against it.  And then of course I had to put in the picture that AJ took of Dad and I in the stands in our matching members only tee-shirts from US Nationals... the nice guy (with the awesome camera lens) that sits next to us gave him a hand cuz the camera is a little heavy for AJ to hold by himself.  So today is Monday, it's final round, either AJ or I will let you know how everything turned out and I will help him get that photo album posted just as soon as we get back to El Paso and we have a decent internet hookup so it doesn't take us all day!

What a day, what a weekend!

OK… I feel much better now.  Probably a really good thing that I went to bed early last night.  I’m tired! I can’t believe that just sitting around at the races can wear you out so much but it does.  Grampa says it’s because of the heat.  I think it’s because of all the excitement of meeting the cool people around the race track.  Did I tell you that mom got to meet AND have her picture taken with Tony “the Sarge” Schumacher?  She was SO excited! She presented him with an excellence coin from her unit and got all choked up and emotional and could barely get any words out much less her elaborate speech she had planned! I wanted to post pictures for you but she won’t let me have the camera chip that has those ones on it.  She’s so mean.  She did tell me that I could post this one though, I don’t know if you can see me in it, I am sitting on her lap, but Grampa took pictures for us.  It’s a race simulator thingie and it kind of replicates what you go through when you drive a real race car.  It was kind of tough, but we did OK. We didn’t win, but we did OK.

So you’ve been waiting for the big announcement and unveiling… well, I see mom kind of trumped me on the unveiling but here is the car as they unveiled it... it was fun and they made a big deal about it.  It was cool to be there to see it unveiled.  It was actually pretty cool to see them peel the cover back and expose it.  Plus it is a really nice shade of pink, not to bright, not too garish… just nice.  And let me tell you, I am officially a Force Fan.  I mean, I was digging on them earlier, but then today cemented it.  Here is the first Force that I met…. She was down by the pit that she shares with her sister Brittany and she very graciously allowed me to take my picture with her… isn’t she the sweetest?  She signed autographs for her fans and didn’t even hesitate when mom asked her to be in my picture.  I was hoping that Brittany would be there also but I haven’t met her yet.  I still have a couple of days though.  So Courtney was SO sweet and SO nice… I am totally cheering for her and her sister in their class!  After meeting Courtney we went and wandered around some more and then Grampa went into the stands and mom went to go to the bathroom… she took this picture, isn’t it funny?  She says that she had to take a picture because that NEVER happens.  She says the line is usually at the women’s side.  She was tickled.  Anyway… she noticed that the people seemed to be setting up a press conference in the hospitality tent where we are allowed to hang out because we are in the Top Eliminator Club.  They had just had all the motorcycle riders in there and so mom knew that they did autographs and everything so she went and got Grampa and we went to the Smokeless Showdown press conference where they introduced all of the drivers that were eligible to run for that and yup… Miss Ashley AND her daddy are in it.  In fact, they will be going head to head in round number one!  So we went through the line and I got this first picture… isn’t he nice?  He didn’t mind taking his picture at all… his name is Tim Wilkerson and he is in the showdown also.  I told him about my blog, he thought it was cool.  We got autographs from all the drivers there on a cool poster with their pictures on it so we could have it framed to hang in Grampa’s garage.  I think it is going to look cool!

Anyway… the last two drivers that were introduced were Miss Ashley and her dad John.  So they were at the end of the line we were going through.  We got a little nervous because as we got closer to the head of the line, all of the sudden they both just ran out.  It turned out to be qualifying time for Courtney and Brittany so Ashley and John had run out to watch the qualifying run.  I think that is part of the reason that I like them so much.  It doesn’t matter which one in the family is racing, if the others can be there, they will.  Ashley, John and Momma Force are always there when Courtney and Brittany are racing and then Courtney, Brittany and Momma are there when John and Ashley are qualifying.  It’s pretty cool to see.  Anyway, by the time we came to their spot in the line, they were back and I FINALLY got to have my picture taken with Miss Ashley AND she signed my hat!  It was the COOLEST!!  She’s so nice too!  I was digging on her green and white shirt, I mean you know how much I like green!  I wanted to tell her how excited I was to see her pink car but at the last minute I turtled out cuz I didn’t want her to think I wasn’t manly or something.  You know what I am saying?!  I mean, I know that pink isn’t exactly a guy thing.  Then I got my picture taken with Papa Force and he signed my hat too (even though I didn’t ask him too!).  So now I have pictures with Ashley, Courtney and John Force.  I’m feeling pretty lucky and not even minding that mom hogged Tony Schumacher all to herself!  It was a good day… I’m lucky to have gotten to come on this trip and I am really glad that mom likes taking pictures so much and that she let’s me meet all these cool people and doesn’t mind too much when people look at her strange for hauling around a “stuffed animal.” We figure what they don’t know won’t hurt them!  Ok… I’m going to be done for now…. Tomorrow I will tell you about the UPS truck… it was totally cool too, just my size.  But I can’t put everything in one post, people will get tired!  Oh, and thanks for your comments guys, it really helps motivate me to keep writing when you let me know you are reading.  I am sure you don’t know, but each post takes me close to an hour with the writing and loading of photos so I don’t like to think I am wasting my time!  Especially now, mom is back in school taking her final 12 credits for her degree and she doesn’t like me to hog the computer for too many hours when she has homework to do.  OK, peace out my friends, I’ll wrap this up tomorrow!  Love you all! 

AJ got sent to bed early

Too much partying like a rock star and not enough sleep!  Gramma, I saw your comment about being carried in the bag and not being seen by the girls... let me tell you, at this point it may be a blessing.  I am sure that AJ will be BURSTING with new for you tomorrow... he had a pretty big day and met some pretty big names in the racing industry and has the pictures to prove it.  It seems everyone is totally taken with  the little charmer.  I know he really wanted to tell you all about it but he really did need to get some sleep, he's worn out.  So instead you'll have to settle for me, and I can only stay on a minute.  I just wanted to show a picture that I thought was hot.  I know that AJ gets the pretty girls and all that, but this is what turns mom on.... think I can have one like it?  100m to 400m.  Not at all practical for everyday life, but awesome for sporting events and concerts and stuff like that.  And by the way, NHRA doesn't care what kind of camera you bring in with you.... I'm telling you that the NFL could take a lesson from them.  OK... so back to the lens... someone shoule write that down on the Christmas list.  It is the only thing this weekend that I saw that I really liked... well, I did see something else but I'm pretty sure the lens would be the lesser of the two evils... unless you insist and then instead of the lens I would take THIS... Yea... that would be nice.  I'd take that in a heartbeat!  So pretty, so ladylike, so kick butt powerful it makes the ground shake.  Yea, it fits!  Stay tuned for AJ to be back tomorrow.  Thanks for letting me fill in for a night.  Goodnight my friends, sleep well. 

Life is so hard =(

I spend all this time blogging about my adventure and no one is reading about it.  Well, if they are reading about it they aren't commenting on it... I have been so good and blogged EVERY DAY even though I am totally EXAUSTED from all the sunshine and fresh air and the crazy pace that Grampa keeps.  Did you know he only has to sleep like 4 hours a day and he's raring to go early the next morning?  I think getting old might be OK!  Anyway... I'm not blogging anymore until someone tells me that they are reading.  So there.

Another big day!

Oh my goodness gracious… I have had so much fun today and met so many amazing people that I don’t even know where to start!  OK… so this morning Grampa and Mom got up and mom got all dressed in her uniform and everything and we went to the Don Schumacher Racing open house.  It was a benefit for Riley Children’s hospital and let me just say this, it was AMAZING!  Not only was the whole DSR place open for viewing with race cars and all of that, but there was a whole car show going on at the same time so we got to see a lot of really cool cars that weren’t race cars.  I mean wow, these guys have some sweet rides!  There were a couple of Model Ts there and Grampa got out his scrapbook and starting talking shop with some of the guys.  And speaking of talking shop, did I mention that his fingers are almost all the way clean?  Amazing what retirement will do to take the “grease” out of “grease monkey”!

Oh, I almost forgot… mom had an epiphany today and remembered that she could upload vast quantities of pictures into albums on here so she promised to teach me tonight and I will make an NHRA album so that I don’t have to put so many pictures in my posts.  I am starting to get to be a VERY well known turtle you know, and I can’t put ALL my pics in the posts, mere mortals would be jealous! 

So…   back to the DSR thing… we got there at like, 0900 and had to hang around because officially it wasn’t going to start until 1000 and then Tony wasn’t going to be there until 1200.  Mom felt SO bad because Grampa was missing the racing but she decided that it was going to be worth the wait so we did.  I got a lot of pictures with the Army car and that was pretty fun… I took pictures in the cockpit, I checked out the engine, and then I even sat on the tires to see how big they were compared to me… let me tell you, them suckers are huge! You'll be able to check those pictures out (well, not the cockpit one, it's on here... but the rest) in the album because I have a couple of WAY better ones to show you!  I've been feeling a little down because I haven't run into any of the pretty force girls yet and so my countenance has been dragging (ha... I told a funny) anyway... DRAGGING a little and I was sort of sad when I got to DSR.  Well, after we walked around and got some pictures I decided to go over and have a little shot of Rock Star energy drink... they were offering samples and mom said I could have some, so I went over and had a bit of Rock Star.    Let me tell you, when they say "party like a rock star, they ain't kidding!   Remember I said I had been feeling a little down?  Well, after this not only was I feeling pretty jazzed up, but I also made some sweet new friends.  Now I'm not saying that I don't still want to meet the Force girls, but I am here to tell you, if there is anything that can make a young turtle forget his problems, it's these beauties!  And when they heard about the blog and that I had been so bummed lately from not meeting any celebrities, they did their best to make it up to me... let's just say that I'm glad I had the Rock Star energy drink ....gotta love pretty girls in short shorts and tee-shirts! Plus all the kisses helped improve my mood as well!  Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, at the open house there were all these raffles for things and the money went to benefit the hospital.  Well, mom put her tickets in for a couple pairs of bluetooth enabled sunglasses, a rile scope that Grampa wanted and this awesome little car... Well, Grampa put three of his tickets in for the rifle scope, one for some painting thing and one for something else and guess what?  Yep... Grampa one the kickin' $700 fiber optic rifle scope from the raffle.  Now doesn't that just beat all?  He and mom were exchanging high-5's in the stands when they heard the news.  She didn't even mind that she didn't win anything, she was just so excited for her dad! 

So of course, back at the track this was MY favorite car of the day... just remembering every time it ran what it felt like to party like a rock star!  Oh, and I also got this picture today....  yea, I know it isn't the real thing, but sometimes beggars can't be choosers and who knows WHEN (or if) I will even get to catch a glimpse of the Force Family, much less get time or a picture with them.  It's funny down on pit row...  there are SO many drivers and SO many sets of trailers and everything, but there are only a handful of people hanging around the other trailers and a HUGE crowd around Team Force... it's totally crazy.  I guess they are kind of racing royalty.  Ashley has to compete against her dad in the Smokeless Shootout here.... she qualified in 1st place (read: rockin'!)  and he qualified in 8th (read: last) and they are going to be going head to head.  It's the first time a female racer has been in the Shootout and i think it is pretty awesome that not only is she there, she's sitting at #1.  I hope she wins... I am cheering for her in Funny Car and then of course, we are cheering for Tony Schumacher and the Army team for the TF Dragster.  Mom would be a little upset if I cheered for anyone besides the Army car, that's for sure.  Well, I have a lot more to tell you, but I really need to go to sleep.  I'm starting to get a little worn out and there will probably be a lot more excitement tomorrow!  Ok my friends, I will catch some zzzzs and I will try to get an album of pictures on here in the next couple of days... mom was supposed to help me but she racked out so she's useless!  Ok... talk to you tomorrow!  Peace Out!

Off to the races!

 

I love it when they make smoke with the tires.  I just think it is the coolest thing.  I seriously think that mom should go home, take out Sally and stand on the brake and gas and see if she can do that some thing…. It’s just cool!  I know that she has been turning the idea over in her head about turning the Mustang in the garage into a racing car... I don't think she can afford it though so I'm guessing probably not.  Besides, who is she kidding? She's getting a little on the old side and I don't think her reaction time would be quite the same as when she was younger.  Maybe she should let me drive.  Wait, I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking that's like letting Gramma out on a Sunday.  Well check this out my peeps, aren't I the cool one?

I know that it's hard to see me inside the cockpit there, but let me tell you, it was totally cool.  Here's a little bit better picture of me sliding into my seat...

I was kind of hoping to get one of those cute Force girls to come and give me some pointers but I didn't see any of them... I think they were probably all out laughing at all the guys that Ashley is going to beat in her pink car tomorrow.  That's got to be tough on the ego you know... I mean, not only can your friends go, "Dude, you like, got beat by a GIRL!" but now they can also say... "Dude, you got smoked by a chick in a Barbie mobile!" Gotta tell you though, mom is wishing for a pink mustang in the WORST way right about now.  The car is still under wraps, but every once and a while a breeze will lift a bit of the cover and you can see the color of pink underneath... it's nice.  Yea, I know, I'm a guy... but I am secure enough in my masculinity (or turtlinity if you will) to recognize a nice color when I see it and this is a particularly striking shade of pink.  Not garish, not pepto bismal, just a very pretty pink.  Pretty in pink... I wonder if I can convince her to go green for me... I mean after all, her dad drives the green car... OK... anyway... enough about my little crush... on to some of the fun pics.  I decided that I could talk to Grampa again after the bag incident cuz he took mom to get me a new tee-shirt and a hat and some glasses to keep the sun out of my eyes here.... Plus he also went around the Nitro mall and asked the vendors if anything happens to any of their NHRA bears during the weekend could I have their t-shirts.  Now, I don't wish any harm on my brother stuffies, but I am so totally digging on maybe getting one of their cool shirts.  That would totally rock... thanks Grampa!  Anyway, about my other new clothes, I don't have them on in today's pictures cuz I wanted to save them to look extra nice tomorrow... I'm going to the pits to have my picture taken there!  Anyway... so here are Grampa and I with our super cool ear mufflers on sitting in our seats in the Top Eliminator Club grandstands... aren't we just the coolest EVER?!  After the races today we went to Grampa's favorite restaurant and had his favorite meal... I'd tell you more but I got in trouble for taunting yesterday and had to sit in time out so I don't want to say we went to Cracker Barrel in case it's someone's favorite and they complain so I can't tell you that so don't ask me anymore.  Just know that I had a good dinner and now I am going to bed cuz tomorrow is a VERY BIG day!  Mom is going to try and meet Tony "the Sarge" Schumacher and see if she can take his picture and do a little interview with him so she can write a story about going to the races.  It should be pretty cool.  I'll tell you about it tomorrow.  OK friends, I gotta rack, I can barely keep my eyes open and mom is insisting I take a bath tonight before bed.  SIGH... I just took a swim in the pond... shouldn't that count for SOMETHING?  OK dudes and dudettes, catch ya on the flip side... night y'all!