The Gala

The gala was a blast. I got dolled up and went down there determined to meet some cool people. Boy did I! I ended up seated next to a couple in their fifties. I'll call them W and C. She is a nursing professor from another school in the state and he is a lawyer. We hit it off and cut up throughout the whole dinner- totally ignoring all the "Nurses are great, yadda yadda" speeches. Those women could talk all they wanted as long as the waiters kept bringing us more wine. And did they!

Afterwards the three of us went to a bar in the casino and had another drink. While there, I spotted a flock of men who were ALL extremely attractive. I mean, not one wingman in the group. I told W go get them and bring them back to the table so I could see why so many hot men were in one group. (Never challenge a lawyer). He brought them back and thanks to some liquid courage I asked them right away "Why are ALL of you attractive. The ratio isn't right. What's the story?" Get this. They were models! Ha. They were at the casino doing a shoot for billboards and mailers. At least I know I've got good taste. Heh. So we chatted for a little bit (they were a bit dull) and I sent them on their way.

After that W, C, and I played the dollar slots for a little while. We won $200! Granted, they put $100 in- that's still ahead of the game. When you play slots there is a woman who comes around and takes your drink order and comes back with your drink about 10 minutes later so that you will stay at the machine. Let me share a secret with you: Free drinks get you drunk faster. I swear they do!

W and C let me stay in their hotel room since I was in no shape to drive. Don't get all creative with what you think happened. It wasn't that kind of evening, don't you worry. I will say, it was strange walking through the lobby the next morning with bed-head and wearing an evening gown. W and C walked me out and I can only IMAGINE how scandalous it looked. One woman recognized us and you should have seen the quizzical disgust on her face. Priceless. People always assume the worst, don't they?

Fleas and Chocolate

I am posting this from Wesley's mom's house, which is on the coast. After being eaten alive by mystery critters last night I took drastic measures today. I started with a trip to Wally-world where I got flea bath, flea spray, and bug-bombs.

I came home and bathed Chloe and Sasha in my bath tub. I have a large scratch down my right arm to prove it. I was shocked, Shocked I tell you, to find that cats don't like being bathed. They really didn't like being immediately stuffed into a single cat-carrier to for an hour-long, wet drive down here. I know, I'm evil.

I wanted to get us all out of that critter-infested apartment as fast as possible. And I did... right after I let off two 700 sq ft bombs in my 400 sq ft apartment. Overkill? Maybe. Bug-free bed... you betch yer bottom.

Ms Lucy and I had a great night. We started out with dinner at Barnes and Noble. They have surprisingly tasty paninis. Then we went to the Grand Casino in Gulfport. We played penny slots and at one point I was up a whopping $2.83; not that I kept it. After the third time Ms Lucy said "This is the last dollar I'm going to play," I took her player's card. I was promptly informed that I was 'just no fun.' Is this what parenthood feels like?

After that, we walked around and watched people play at the poker and black-jack tables. Let me tell you something. People do not like for you to just stand and watch them play. I don't know what the big deal was, but we got some seriously dirty looks from the players and the dealers. Did we let it phase us? Hell no. We shot those looks right back and kept on watching.

We finally left after the last drawing for a plasma TV (they kept pronouncing our names wrong) and came home to enjoy some wine and chocolate. I brought Hershey's dark chocolate bars, but Lucy Jane had a jar of fan-freakin-tastic truffles that Wesley's brother brought her from Atlanta. I've got to find out where he got them so
that I can stop by there on my next trip to Asheville. Oh my God, they were so good!

All in all, it has been a very fun evening. Ms Lucy has offered to help me flea-comb the kitties in the morning and we should go home tomorrow a much healthier trio.