Oh Wow....It's Monday....Again....

And a happy day to all of you, too!!!! How was everyone's weekend? Ours was hot, productive and went by too damn quick! Friday night, Paige had a belt test and she is now officially a Gold Belt. No more striped belts for this Kung Fu Fighter...she means business. I was so proud of her...she did a FANTASTIC job during her testing. She's such a little bad ass when she wants to be. She has a tournament in two weeks and I can't wait because this will be the first one I've gone to. She spent the night with Gammy and then I picked her up Saturday and took her to one of her classmates swim party. They were all so cute and had such a blast swimming Saturday evening. It was still hotter than a mofo at 5pm, but they all had a good time, so that's what counts. I got a lot of cleaning and evil laundry done over the weekend and Gary got a lot done at the Mild Bill's store. Yesterday was Zoe's birthday, so we went to Outback for dinner. Alas...another weekend with NO GUMBO!!! I won't be making any Gumbo this weekend, so maybe the weekend after while Gary is at the GPM will be my one and only chance!

I'm counting down the days until we leave for Gruene!!!! We're meeting my parents in West Friday morning and then we'll stop in Kyle at the HEB Plus to pick up snacks and beer. I can't wait to get down there....and I can't wait for CHARLIE Saturday night at Gruene Hall. HELL YEAH!!!! Hopefully the Comal won't be too crowded since school has started. I know that there are also a few spots on the Guadalupe that can be floated, too. I don't really care.....just give me a toob, a cooler and a river and I will be one happy camper!

My sister bought a new Jeep Liberty last week. It's very cool - leather interior, sunroof, Sirius/XM Radio and it has that delicious new car smell!!! The Dodge dealership in Ennis has some badass trucks. Gary needs a new truck so bad....I know he loves the new Dodge Dually....maybe after we get Mild Bill's opened he can get a new truck. His Ford is on it's last leg :(

I need a new pillow. Any recommendations? I wake up every morning with a headache and a sore, stiff neck. I'm at a loss over what kind of pillow I need. I sleep on my side and I like feather pillows but the don't seem to work. Gary has a Temper-pedic pillow and it just feels painful. I don't sleep worth a shit as it is and this is just making things worse. Add to it the Weeni that take over our bed, Gary's snoring and RLS and I'm kind of miserable by the time I get up in the morning. Help!!

OH!!! Gary just sent me an email - Jamey Johnson is playing at Billy Bob's October 15th. OH HELL YEAH!!!! Mmmmmm....I love, love, love him. What a busy couple of months I've got coming up....Charlie this Saturday, Hank the following two weekends and then Jamey Johnson. What more could a girl ask for?!?!?!?!?!?!? If you haven't listened to anything by Jamey Johnson, check him out. He's got the sexiest, most amazing deep voice. He wrote "Give it Away" for George Strait. I can't wait to see him in concert. He's playing at Billy Bobs. We love Ft Worth concerts. We get a hotel room, go to Joe T's....it's like a mini weekend getaway.

So, I've applied for my manufacturer's license and I've mailed my registration for the Better Process Control Class in College Station held in October. It's required if I want to continue canning the Jalapeno Relish...which...DUH...I do!!! I don't need the class for preserves or jellies, just low acid foods like relishes, salsas and pickled items. I'm going to continue making everything that Mild Bill's has been making, but I may add a few new preserves. I am a big fan of confits - especially with different cheeses and wine (again, DUH!!) and would like to introduce a few more. There are just so many opportunities and ideas out there and I have to just write them all down and take them one at a time. I'm just so damn excited about Mild Bill's.....this is going to be such a life changing experience for me. I'm actually going to WANT to go to work each day. I'm going to start ENJOYING what I do again. OMG...is it really happening?!?!?!?

I feel kind of like a loser for not having any recipes to share. Gary keeps screwing up my Gumbo weekends! Once the weather cools off, I'll be back in business, though. I finally broke down and splurged on a 5 qt Le Crueset Dutch Oven and I friggin love it. It's this gorgeous yellow color and it looks good with my red and turquoise ones. I love my Lodge Dutch Ovens, but I'm sort of a Le Crueset freak. I have a smaller red one; but I've wanted a larger one for awhile and I found this one on sale. The Williams Sonoma Outlet in San Marcos carries Le Crueset...but there's not much of a price difference. They also carry the Pizza Stones for your grill. I would love one of those. I always see recipes for homemade pizza and they look so delicious. I'd like to delve into pizza making, and bread making and hell, Gumbo making would be nice, too!!

I better go. I've got a Workers Comp Audit tomorrow and need to start printing out reports. I did walk two miles Saturday with my sister and this weather has got to let up. I found a treadmill and I think we're going to get it today. I miss running and walking every day. I actually enjoy it!!!

Keep it real folks....and pray for rain!!

Kelly