What Does Not Belong?

Can you guess what image below (none of my own) was NOT a part of our Christmas day?

A rat-like Chihuahua, with eyes about to bulge out of its skull which makes the Christmas tunes that it "sings" even scarier

A coat of many colors, small enough to fit a rat

A living room not quite big enough for the amount of people in it

A family hanging around a Christmas tree

About 200 home-made tamales (yummy!)

Answer: Family hanging around a Christmas tree.

Vincent and I went to his grandmother's house for Christmas. For all of you who don't know and/or are blind, Vincent is half Mexican. We spent Christmas with the Hispanic side and had a good time. Interesting, but good. Thank goodness Vincent's cousins were there! I don't know how we would've gotten through the random conversation that came from all over the tiny room........

Main Event

Last week my dad decided to take the family to a place called Main Event. Main Event is awesome because it has everything.....video games, laser tag, miniature glow-in-the-dark golfing, bowling and beer! Since we weren't going to be together for Christmas Dad decided to take advantage of half-price night at Main Event and make a family event out of it!
He bought us game cards and we played video games while waiting for a bowling lane to open. I am so greedy because I walked around forever trying to figure out what games were good enough. By the time we got our bowling lane I had only played 3 games. Geez.......

Bowling was fun and we had a great time even though my sister, Naomi, and I were terrible. Dad was working it like a rock star on the lane!

Mom, Dad, and my little sister, Naomi in the arcade

Galen, getting ready to get his bowl on

Dad, being the champ that he was that night

My sister, Tam, serious yet somehow able to maintain her mohawk at the same time

My brother, David

My sister, Tamarah and I

Vincent, playing hide-and-seek with his bowling ball

Galen, with his balls in his hands :)

Six Flags- Holiday In The Park

This last weekend my family went to Six Flags in Arlington. Besides being extremely cold it was a lot of fun! My sisters couldn't make it but 2 of my brothers made it, with my brother's wife and of course my parents. My mom has recently had a lot of hip pain so it makes it hard to walk long distances. So we got her a motorized wheelchair. And when you get the wheelchair you get to go ahead of everyone in line but they make you wait at least a third of what everyone has to wait. But still it saved SOOO much waiting!! I know it stinks that my mom had to get the wheelchair but it kinda rocked at the same time!

Also I am absolutely terrified of roller coasters but I force myself to ride them because I feel like one day I will get used to it. NOPE. NOT YET. But every year we buy the picture of us on the Titan because of my face. Last year, no joke, I looked like I was seeing the Grim Reaper when it took the picture. This year, I think I was at peace with the thought of death. Check it out....

The Titan ride (back seat, Galen, then Mom and Dad, then me & Vincent, and finally in front and slightly cut off, Becky and David)

The Fam (back row: David, Becky, Mom, Dad, Vincent, and me and Galen in the front)

Riding the tram (Dad, Mom, Vincent, and me)

The ride I will never ride again- Superman

Vincent and I

Enjoying 1 of many fire pits, Vincent and me and Mom & Dad

My brother Galen, Dad, Daffy Duck, and my brother David

My brother David and Galen decided to take a picture with this guy because of the fact he was wearing spandex.....poor guy

My brothers Galen and David after taking the picture with the spandex guy

I Miss My Morgs!

I was reading my Facebook page (which I rarely do now since I use the sucky Internet mainly for my blog before it begins sucking). My BFF from college, big sis to me in my sorority, recent maid of honor, & soon to be blushing bride who lives in Kentucky, Morgan Smith, wrote me a message on there to tell me that she loves my blog.
This makes me very happy but also brings up the question of where her blog is. For a few (long, probably to her) days I constantly e-mailed her to tell her to start her own blog so that we can keep tabs on each other. We never get to see each other and I can't seem to get her to move down here! So if I can't have her down here, the next best thing is her witty commentary on a blog!
I heart you Morgs and wish you could live down here (sans Jake) but not everyone can be that blessed :) Good luck with the wedding plans and the new house!! Lots o' love!

If You Don't Behave, You're Going To Michael Vick's House....

About to attack......

Drunk......Again

Sporting her game day jersey....

This is Lilly.....our beautiful beagle. We love her. But right now she is the spawn of Satan. I don't know what happened. She is 1 and 1/2 years old so maybe it's terrible 2's for dogs. But in human years she'd be about 10 years old so I don't know what it is.
Just recently she's been behaving badly. She started playing rough (which she hasn't ever done). She's started howling (a lot) at other dogs and at us! But worst of all, as soon as she figures out something annoys the crap out of you, she can't stop doing it!
For example, she feels that she has to see your hands at all times. If she doesn't and they're under your legs, she'll dig them out. It hurts more than anything, especially if you're watching TV, not paying attention to her, and all the sudden you feel her claws...OUCH! Even if you swat her (or beat if you're Vincent) for doing it, she'll wait a few minutes and then she's back at it again.....
And that's why I've started threatening Michael Vick's house. Of course, he's in the BIG house now so I don't think she'll like that place much better. But if she doesn't get over this obnoxious phase soon and go back to being sweet there's a good chance we're taking a road trip to Virginia!

Happy Belated Birthday, Monique!

This blog is dedicated to my great friend, Monique! Not only is she a fabulous friend, an amazing decorator, a fantastic make-up artist, but also a great mother to 2 beautiful kids (who happen to have been my flower girl and ring bearer) and wife to Dave, who turns out to be equally as great as she is!
Since I don't have the amount of money it would take to buy her what she really deserves......I'll dedicate a blog to her instead!
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, MONIQUE!! (it was yesterday) Keep on truckin' ............

(I totally stole this pic from her myspace page!!)

Totally Awesome 80s Party!!

So I am finally posting pics from the party because my brother just gave me copies of the pictures from the photo booth.......and they are awesome!!
I decided not to post each strip of pictures (just to save room) but instead I chose the best pictures from each strip and am posting it.
By the way, this is my family's photo booth so if you ever need one or know someone that does, this booth is amazing!! The website is www.ctmbooth.com
As for costumes (excluding props in the photo booth)......they were awesome!! Everyone looked great and I really do applaud the effort made. Y'all looked totally 80s!

------Carms

Me, Vincent, and Lilly ( sweet bow and sleeves!)

My brother, David, and Lilly

David and Lilly again (Lilly got used in the photo booth quite a bit)

Our neighbor, Clay

Dave, Monique and Gabs

Caudell

My bro and his wife, Becky

Isaac (his costume turned out great, by the way)

Vincent's cousin, Jenn, and her husband Shaun

Ladytrica and Sam

Megan & Amber

Terry and Melissa

Should It Stay or Should It Go Now??

So a long time ago my mom dragged my sister and I to a "sale-on-cheap-good-art-show" in some hotel ballroom. We were completely bored until we found this horrendous picture and we dared one another to buy it. I can't remember who actually bought it but it was hilarious to see my mom's reaction when she saw it. She wouldn't allow us to walk near her. We had a great laugh about it.
Until we got to the car and then we were like....."Umm, what are we going to do with this picture? It's so ugly!" Tam agreed to keep it at her apartment because she thought it was funny. I thought it was funny but not funny enough to hang in my apartment. Well after Vincent and I got married and moved into our new home a little bell went off somewhere near my sister that said "Free storage at Carmelle & Vincent's house!" We now have everything my sisters owns and can't keep with her right now, including the picture.
A few weeks ago I caught Vincent hanging the picture up in his bathroom. I asked him what he was doing and he just giggled. I know it's his bathroom and I don't have to use it but the thing is UGLY! Every time I put something away in his bathroom and/or closet I see the picture hanging above the toilet and try to remember how it was ever funny. But Vincent sure laughs...
So for everyone that has had to or will have to see this picture, please don't judge me---just Vincent!!!
----Carms

The awful picture! (I mean, it is funny that the little angel has boobs but it's also disturbing! Everything in this picture is like that!)

Scaredy Cat!

I've never told Vincent this because I've never been scared of this before. There is a reason that I don't watch the news-- it always makes me scared of things I never used to be scared about!
I take Lilly out back through the garage because our driveway is actually on the main street and there's a great place down the street for her to go potty. When I come back in through the garage I have this completely absurd feeling someone is following me. As soon as I get in the house it doesn't go away. I am convinced that whoever is following me is going to come in the garage and wait until I come out again to attack. So I always stand at the back door and watch the garage door roll down all the way just in case someone tries to sneak in at the last minute. I know it's completely ridiculous because 1, our neighborhood is very safe and 2, what threat do I pose standing at the back door if someone were trying to sneak in??
I don't know if this actually happened on the news or if I just created it out of fears but I feel really dumb when I stand at the back door watching the garage door close and Vincent asks what I am doing. I usually mumble something and walk away quickly. I guess now he'll know.......

----Carms

Success...With Videos!!

So I figured out that I could use Photobucket to post my videos to my blog. I'm not sure if this is the best way to do it, but it worked!!
I posted 2 videos to the blog "Our Honeymoon" and 2 videos to "Go Speed Racer Go". Check it out!! Hopefully it works!!
---Carms

It's Just Been One of Those Weeks....And It's Only Tuesday!!!

Here's how my week has been:

1. I can't seem to upload any of my videos to my blog. I have tried to research a way to make the size of the video smaller and I just can't do it. And they are some pretty good videos....

2. The weather was 37 yesterday and was supposed to be 62 degrees today. I wore a breezy shirt to work today to celebrate the warm weather only to have the weather make a fool of me. I come outside and not only is it cold but foggy and rainy. Yuck. For goodness sake, it's December!!

3. I know that it's really close to the holidays but I really feel like something else is going on in TV world. I really think it's the writers and their strike. I am about to fly to LA myself and give them whatever it is they want to get them to do their job again. Yesterday I looked in our TiVo for the schedule for the week and I notice....NOTHING is being recorded!! I surfed the channels and settled for a movie starring Cedric the Entertainer (which will remain nameless for reasons of embarrassment) and then after turning that movie off after about 10 minutes, I almost started crying. I don't remember TV going terrible this far away from Christmas before. Call me crazy but those writers do make all the difference in the world and at this point, I may be writing a letter to my Senator.....

4, and last. I would love to blog everyday (especially now since TV sucks). But I can't because my Internet connection is like a person. To be exact, an overweight person that doesn't like to do anything except eat and sleep. The Internet only works when it wants and sometimes only for about 3 minutes. Then it sits on the bench for about an hour and a half until coach puts it back in the game to play for another whopping 3-4 minutes. But then it has to stop because the wheezing is so bad and it's making a fool of itself. I love being in the middle of sending an e-mail when the Internet decides to join a game of dodge ball where it becomes a quick and easy target and my e-mail is stopped somewhere in cyberspace. Since our budget can not afford better Internet right now, we're stuck with Fatty McGee for quite awhile.....

I guess it's really not that bad but maybe I am a little bit of a drama queen!! I'm sure Dr. Phil has some good advice for me--I'll go check it out........


---Carms

I Got A New Job!!

Yay I finally got a new job!! Don't get me wrong--I loved everyone I worked with at PIN but the lack of raises, bonuses, and respect there should have made me look a long time ago for a new job. Now I'm working at a place called Staff Care. Staff Care is owned by The HMA Group, which owns a lot of companies. Staff Care is basically a temp agency (also called locum tenens) for doctors and surgeons. Apparently this is the more popular choice for the medical world now because hospitals are having a hard time keeping 1 person in the same position for long term. So now the hospital just hires our company to find a doctor for the position and we arrange everything. We find the doctor, book his flight, find him lodging & a rental car, then give him directions for everything as well as paying for everything including moving animals or other people with him/her. A lot of doctors will work 3 months at a location and then take 3 months off and then work 3 months at a different location. I would definitely do this if I were a doctor--it sounds like fun and you get to see different parts of the nation!
My job is to book the doctor everything they need to get to the work site and then the 2nd biggest part of my job is making sure all the bills are paid 5 days within being received. At 1 time I will have about 40-50 doctors that I will be in charge of. It really takes a lot of organization, which I totally have!
I love this job for several reasons. 1st, you have to have a college degree to work there so it's nice that my degree is finally being used for something. 2nd, everyone that works in my department is anywhere from 25- 32 so we all can pretty much relate to one another. 3rd, the company has amazing benefits and great chances for promotion. And 4th and my favorite, they have a cafeteria (never worked where there is one) and they have a gym!!
I am now about to start my 3rd week and so far I've caught on pretty quick and everyone has been really nice. Honestly I can't say enough about this company! If you know anyone that needs a job, they place a lot of emphasis on employee recommendations so I would be more than happy to help!
----Carms

A GREAT Book

I first heard about this book from my Vice President at work. She was talking work stuff and then got sidetracked and started talking about how this book changed her life. After about 30 minutes of talking about it she realized that she probably shouldn't be talking about it since it wasn't work related and was a religious book so she apologized and moved on. I was more than curious. So yesterday Vincent and I went out and bought the book and started reading it. We are only 20 pages in but already this book is definitely life changing!! I recommend this book to anyone that is married because it explains a lot of "stupid" things that men and women fight about and why.
---Carms

I Heart Christmas!!

Last night Vincent had his company Christmas party and since it was over near Frisco and we're never near Frisco I decided that we should go see my favorite Christmas lights after the party. Of course I forgot the camera so I found their video from YouTube so that I could share it. If you haven't seen these lights, you simply must take the time and visit this house--it's amazing!! The website is friscochristmas.com, so go there and get their address and go see the lights!!
----Carms

The Turkey Trot

On Thanksgiving last week Vincent, Lilly and I met up with Vincent's cousins to run the Turkey Trot. Vincent's cousins have a beagle as well so we thought it would be good fun if we could get them together. We ran the 3K and had a blast!! Of course the entire time we're jogging my dog is trying to get every jogger out there to pick her up which ends up just tripping most of them. It's a good thing that's not embarrassing........
----Carms

Jenn (Vincent's cousin) and her husband Shaun and their beagle, Dixie, with Lilly and I

Vincent holding Lilly with Jenn and Shaun and Dixie cut off at the bottom

Go Speed Racer Go

A couple of weeks ago my brother, sister-in-law, sister, and Vincent and I all went to Speed Zone in Dallas. My brother works at Raytheon and they do activities and get great discounts at whatever event it is. So for Speed Zone we paid $10 each and had unlimited car racing, arcade playing, and putt-putt golfing. We had a blast. There are so many arcade games that I never play because they normally cost money but I became addicted to quite a few including the one where you use the foot pedal to hide yourself and then let go to shoot people (I can't remember the name). That one was so much fun and I got really good at it. If I could play it at home I totally would. But I'm pretty sure it's not possible.....
We also have some video from when we raced the Dragsters. Those were awesome!! If you haven't ever ridden those and you have some extra cash you should give it a try. They are a rush because you're going 0-70 in like 3 seconds. Pretty cool.
-----Carms

Vincent getting ready to ride the Dragster

Me, giving what appears to be a symbol for the West Side

The video of the race of the Dragsters!!

My sister, Naomi, being the hippy that she is, on a bumper car

Me and Vincent riding the race cars where you time yourself with each race and wear stupid goggles

Couples race with Vincent driving.....he gets into it!