Santa Baby....

To my friends and family with endless amounts of money that haven't shopped for me yet, here is my Christmas wish list to you. :)

A 1957 Chevy Bel Air.  Can you picture me with a scarf around my hair and some Jackie O sunglasses on?  No?? Oh.. well how about...



A Harley Davidson Fat Boy!  I will look awesome cruising down the open road on this beast.  What's that??  Oh, why yes I do happen to be a horrible driver.  You don't think its safe and I would be a hazard??  Ok, fine...

How about gifts that wouldn't involve me risking the lives of others.

Like an iPad 2!!  No bodily harm can possibly result from one of these. 

And to go along with my iPad I should probably get a new iPhone so I can stay in touch with all my peeps and tweeps :)

But if you have endless money and you truly love me you will get me this for Christmas...



*Sigh* Kenny Chesney......  (Santa hat optional)

Now, for some realistic gifts that are on my wish list this year.

 Who does want to wake up to a puppy under their Christmas tree!!  A Cocker Spaniel please, and I will name it Choby.

 Aren't these Old Gringo Elvis Boots simply delicious??  I would probably sleep in these things.

 And I would love a copy of Stephen King's new book 11/22/1963.  Actually, I love any book.  I think that a book is the best give you can give.

And when it doubt, I <3 RumChata.

All jokes aside, I hope that when you are scurrying to get Christmas presents in order, making food, preparing for family to arrive, please enjoy every minute of it, even the little disasters that happen.  Life is far to short to be stressed out over the holidays.  Take time to enjoy it with family, take lots of pictures, and enjoy the laughter.  And remember, the best gift that you can give to anyone is your love, and it doesn't cost a thing :)  Happy Holidays Everyone!!





Birthday Candles

Last year for my 25th birthday I went to Deadwood where I won a ton of money, did some great shopping, froze my rear end off, and did I mention I won a ton of money?

On our way to Deadwood we made a pit stop at my Aunt Kim and Uncle Bill's house in Chadron.  It is hard to find the words to describe my Aunt Kim.  She is funny, kind, smart, and she always knows the right thing to say. The best part part about her though is how she can do the littlest thing and that action can still mean the world to someone years later.

Last year at her house when I woke up on my birthday, I woke up to this.

Reason #143 why my Aunt Kim is the best:  She knows you are never to old to blow out candles on your birthday.

26

One week from today I will be turning 26 years old.  To say that I don't cope well with birthdays is a significant understatement.  It isn't so much the number that freaks me out, it is the haunting thoughts of "this isn't where I thought I would be in my life at this age."  This causes crying, whining, curling up in the fetal position, and a severe case of denial.

If you were to ask the 18 year old Quana where she would be at 26, she would have told you that she would be married with children and living back in my home town as a CPA.  For those of you that know the 25 year old Quana, this plan did not work out.

Every year I beat myself up thinking I am not where I am supposed to be in my life, and this year I finally realized that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in my life.  I have the most wonderful family anyone could ever ask for.  Their unwavering support for me means so much.  My friends are the best that anyone could have.  I have a car that is paid for, I have a wonderful job that I love going to every day, and I live in a country where I can go to sleep at night knowing I will be safe.

So why do I put myself down with thoughts of "everyone else is married" and "all of my friends are pregnant"?  Now, please don't get me wrong, I am so happy for all of my friends that are getting married and having children.  Most of the time I am simply jealous of you all.  But when I really sit down and think about it, I am in no way ready for any of that.  I will be someday, but not today.

This year for my birthday gift to myself, I am going to quit putting a timeline on my life and just go with the flow.  Things will happen when they happen, and in the mean time I am going to make sure I have as much fun as I can.

Happy birthday to me :)

My Favorite Fall Read

The leaves are changing and the weather is getting colder and before you know it the first snow storm will be here.  I know that many of you hate to think about the first time it will snow especially the kind that will stick to the ground and not leave until April, but for me it means it is time to find "To Kill A Mockingbird" and prepare to enjoy my favorite book. 

I usually read this book a few times a year, but I always like to read it when the weather gets cold because it makes my heart feel warm and full. 

If you haven't read this book you are simply missing out. 

So as it gets colder and colder and you find yourself cooped up inside and bored out of your mind, give me a call and I will lend you this book.  You can thank me later :)

No-Shave November

In my opinion, November is the best of all the months.  There is Thanksgiving to celebrate, football playoffs, my birthday is on the 20th, and of course deer season.  But the real reason that November is better than the other 11 months is because it is No-Shave November :)  No worries, I am not a follower of this tradition, but I sure enjoy seeing all of the men that do.  And in honor of this, here are a few of my favorite bearded guys.

There is Conan.  I adore him because he is funny and has red hair, but I really adore him when he has a beard. 

And then there is Billy Mays.  Gotta love a guy who can sell me hundreds of dollars of worthless crap because I am disctracted by his full beard. 

Hehehehe.  Hangover or not, the beard still looks good.

Ok, so I know that he cant grow a full beard, but it is Johnny Depp, he doesnt have to.  So if you are a guy that cant grow a full beard, just remember Johnny cant either.

And you have Honest Abe.  He freed the slaves and knew how to grow and amazing goat. 

And of course you have everyone's favorite bearded guy, Jesus.

Happy No-Shave November everyone!  I hope you are all enjoying it as much as I am.

Untitled

I don't have a title for this post because I honestly don't know what to say right now.  I was never going to use this blog for anything serious, but that just isn't how life works.  You don't get to live life just having fun all the time.  You have to take the good with the bad.

I will not be posting of my adventures for Oklahoma because I am not going anymore.  And I am not going because my friend Sue needs me here.

Saturday Sue lost her brother Michael by the selfish hands of someone else.  Here is the link for the news story.

http://www.knopnews2.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2954%3Aman-arrested-in-michael-fernau-death

I am simply asking that if you are reading this to please pray to whatever God you believe in to bring her and her family peace at this time. 

Life is to short to leave things unsaid and undone.  So go do the things you have been wanting to do, and say the things you have been wanting to say.  Death is certain, life is not. 

Oh The Places You'll Go

I have the travel bug.  This is a terrible illness that requires money, passports, planning, hotel rooms, planes, and much more.  There is really only one cure, and that is to go.

So I find myself thinking of all the places I have never been before.  I blame this on my recent single status.  I am wanting to do all sorts of things that I have never done before, and at the top of that list is travel.  Its not like I have never traveled, I am lucky to have been to all sorts of places like NYC, Vegas, Canada, LA, San Diego, and a little trip to Tijuana that is burnt into my memory forever.

But now I am wanting to go to Washington D.C.

Or perhaps Boston...

Maybe Uluru...

*sigh* Uluru...

Anyone live near Uluru that needs a visitor??  Anyone??

Oh well, I will just head to Oklahoma in a week.  I hear they have red dirt there too, oh, and one of my favorite people.  See you soon Jess!



2001....

So all day today at work I had the hardest time writing 2011.  Instead, I kept writing 2001.  And this got me thinking of what I would be doing if it was 2001 instead of 2011.

Right now in 2011 I am working full time, being an adult, paying bills, paying off that stupid credit card debt, and all the other things that go along with being 25 years old.

But at this time in 2001 I was a sophomore in high school.  And after school I would be driving around with friends and listening to songs like....

Hanging by a Moment by Life House

And being gansta to.....

I'm Real by Jennifer Lopez ft. Ja Rule

And crying to....

One More Day by Diamond Rio

Well, time to go update my iPod and "take a main" for old times sake, and reminisce about when life was easy and my biggest worry was who I lent my newest burnt cd to.

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain
And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain.
Oklahoma, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk
Makin' lazy circles in the sky.

In case you didn't recognize the lyrics, they are from Rogers & Hammerstein's musical Oklahoma!

I have had this little tune in my head since I have made plans to go and see my friend Jessica, who happens to live in Norman, Oklahoma.  Which is located here...

Rumor has it that I have to go through a toll booth to get to her.  I have never been through a toll booth before and the mere thought of it gives me heart burn.  But I absolutely adore my dear friend, and if getting to see her means going through a toll booth, I will. 

Since I have never been through a toll booth, that means I have never seen one.  So I googled pictures of toll booths so that I can prepare mentally for the journey before me.  This is what I found.

That picture makes me want to curl up in the fetal position and cry.  I just hope no one honks, yells, or flips me the bird.  I am too sensitive for road rage.

But then I come across this picture.  And this picture makes me remember that scary toll booths are totally worth going through for this trip.







This was the last time that Jess and I saw each other.  And I must say we both look beautifully bronze for March.  It was St. Pats and of course we both knew everyone that was in the bar, which doesn't make it easy to have a conversation.  We really only had enough time to take a quick picture and catch up on a few things.  Which when you have as much history as her and I a few minutes in the middle of drunken debauchery is just not enough time.

So Halloween weekend I will actually get to truly catch up with my dear friend in Oklahoma.

We are going out as "Barrels of Fun".  :)  Counting down the days....

I think I need some cattle

So this outfit really started it all for me.  This was taken by my dear friend Kelly after a few two many beers.  I actually thought this was a good plan.  I know, I look like I am going to milk some cows.  But acceptance is the first step, and I accept that I am officially back living in a small town, where someday I will probably be helping my husband and kids with chores wearing boots just like these.

This must have stuck with me because a few weekends later I found myself helping my dad at our land out in Inman, Nebraska.  And he let me run a skid loader.  Those of you that know me probably dont believe it, but it is true, I have photo evidence.

So after wearing some rubber boots, running a skid loader, working the land, and having an angry bull stare at me for a few hours, I am pretty sure I need to buy some cattle and become a rancher.  Pretty much so I can own my own pair of rubber boots and my own skid loader :)

I am my father's daughter....

I was once upon a time... tan

Once upon a time,  over a year ago I was tan, and I had black hair. 

And then St. Pats came... still tan

And then this summer came, and for some reason I became pale.  But its fine becaue I was with the boys at Angel's.  And nothing matters when you are with the boys at Angel's.

But now it is time to tan again, because I was asked to be in the wedding of this lovely lady.

Hey, I live in a small town and sometimes the only form of entertainment is worrying about how tan you are :)