Chick's Retreat 2012

By sheer luck, we landed the best spot for pedis in the history of the retreats.
But the do-it-yourself manis while you wait became the hot controversy of the weekend.
She did get permission.  And I think that top coat proved it.

Natalie and Erica

 Deidre Mindi and Mom

 Then we met the Aunts and Uncle Gerald at Mattas.

 Then we headed back to the hotel where we got prepped for the next day's big event.  

Mom and Ere had been there the day before and had lots of wisdom to pass on.  

1. Clothing: Less is, well, less.

2. Beware of dikes (piles of dirt, people).  May cause face-plants.  Count them.

3. When jumping in the back of pick-ups, hang on. 

4. Expect delays.  The 3-hour kind.

 With all that in mind, we hit Sauce for lunch, then headed down to the main event....any guesses where??

COUNTRY THUNDER!!!!

 Mom made us these cool cowboy hats so we could rock out in style to Neal McCoy, Joe Nichols and Thompson Square.

 Ere did warn us that clothing was optional.

At least this guy was nicer than the self-proclaimed jack-rabbit that stood in front of me for a spell.

 Look at how effortlessly Dee is rockin that sticker!

 Funnel cakes ooh yeah!

Long before dark it became a sea of humans and folding chairs forming a crazy maze around the stage with no way in or out.   Throngs of well meaning, intoxicated  people looked to use us as an exit but we were determined to not be bombarded with the endless flow of human traffic blocking our view.  

This guy thinks he can work his magic and squeeze by Nat.  

Don't mess with a girl and her funnel cake.

Meanwhile, Spinder! Do I see you getting up to make way?!?!?!

So we adhered to the following:  

1. All chairs must be touching at all times.

2. (Scoot closer! Scoot closer!)

3. Police officers escorting ruffians out should be allowed to pass without question.

2.Throw out one-liners like Deidre's, "I just saw a police officer get out going that way,".

3. Your neighbors are your friends. 

and finally 

4. Backpack boobie-traps, although highly effective, should only be used as a last resort.

 Glow-stick antennae are absolute musts!

 Temps dropped that night but Spinder and I stayed toasty warm!

 Some of my favorite ladies and Mr. Blake Shelton in the background.

 After a rough night of paryting, mom woke up with this.

 So we spent the morning in the ER taking care of business.

The Dr. had no idea what it was.  

But he gave her drops for everything under the sun and sent us on our way.

And Day 2 of Country Thunder did not disappoint.

 We saw this little fellar busting some moves all by himself, 

and mom and I decided he should not be doing that alone.  

Then mom knocked the hat off this unsuspecting lady with her smooth moves.  Oops!

 And then this lady decided she wanted to cut in so we let her.

 And we showed em both how it's done.

 Rocking out with Phil Vassar.

 Then The Band Perry oooh they were sooo good!

The night ended with Alan Jackson.
We kinda listened to him growing up, so we had THE BEST time when he came out.  He was awesome.  

THANKS MOM AND DAD for treating us to such a fun weekend!!!

Loved all of it (except the pepper spray after party).  

Things we'll take with us:

52 states, birds and mammals, "where are my glasses?",  knowing "tents"should never be pronounced with a southern drawl, singing every word to every song (right Dee?), "look, there's a McDonalds",  getting ditched at the gas station, getting lost at 2am and all of my grumpiness that followed, bikinis, mom's face to face dance partner, the "I'm so glad you had a good time tonight" stranger, baby trash can protection, free give away bags (junk), all my new games, swinging my partners round and round, dance floor dance off, $7 pedi-cab rides, smoke, dirt and port-a-pottys galore, and getting permission from people who do not speak English.
Best of all, coming home to a spotlessly clean house and the best hugs and kisses ever!
Thanks Jer and kiddos, you're the best!

Chicks Retreat 2011

 Oh this year it was grand! Started off a little rocky though...

  That indeed would be a policeman in the rear window. We got pulled over just as we were talking about tickets and how my mom has never gotten OUT of one.  But there's a first time for everything! We were so happy, we could tell this was gonna be our lucky weekend! Cruise control set, Vegas here we come!

 First off, we hit the spa.  These ladies were headed for facials and massages. 

 Me and Deidre had serious issues with being touched by strangers and being unclothed in robes that weren't our own.  So we opted for pedi/manis.

 Our suite was so sweet, thanks Marv and Edna for hooking us up!
(That's Erica, my sis from Georgia and Deidre, my sis in Utah.)

 Erica Mom Me Mindi  Deidre and Natalie

                                            

 Anxiously awaiting Donny and Marie...

 Came within arms reach of Donny as he walked on top of the tables, that guy definitely knows how to work the crowd.  It was a fun show, completely exceeded my expectations.

 Day 2, shopping and Erica giving us her Angelina lips with some yellow Mac.

The girl can wear any color.

 Flowers at the Bellagio, my fave.

 The owner of this shop was not impressed with this display at his store front.

I thought they could of gone out and made a few bucks on the street with these moves.

Speaking of moves, what could possibly move Mindi to this?

 Sprinting like I've never seen Nat sprint before....

 Let me give you the answer in a word:

 We grew up listening to him.

We know every word by heart.

(just ask those sitting around us)

He got a standing O after every single song.

(except maybe that one song...barry please don't sing new songs we don't know)

He was FABULOUS. 

 Loved Loved Loved it!

 FACT: Now I know why I have a thing for shirts with puffy sleeves.

 Still groovin to Barry...

 Day 3, Craps. 

Nat Mind and Dee and that little man next to them had us rolling in the dough.

Oh how we shoulda walked!

 But by the time Mom got the dice, they were cold as ice.

 Ere and I walked away with just the smiles on our faces
(but my, those teeth are white!).

Had to walk through the botanical gardens at the chocolate factory to work off those samples.

 We were sitting saguaro.

 Nat and Mind, my Cali sisters.

 Blow that chocolate factory man a few kisses and you'll get a wave alright.

 Erica and Mindi taking a rest from their labors.

 Reliving a favorite childhood pastime.

 She likes to walk the store at least 50 laps before deciding on a purchase.

She reminds me of someone I know.

Good thing me and Dee like to sit and talk.

 After 6 hours at the outlets, our dogs were tired. So we fired up the hot tub in our room and squeezed all 6 of us in there.  And we spent the entire time trying to work in a good pic. 

Too many good times to remember them all. Like Erica bringing new meaning to the word chubby, skin sloughing pedi, baby masseuses, BINGO score cards gone wrong, 6 Bingo girls gone wild in that crowd, the TP incident coming out of the bathroom, Dee and Ere and the loop, chasms, the $3000 man, the dollar loan, cracks at the outlets, the young Asian surprise attack, the Barry stake out that was a bust, Nat jumping out to save us at CVS, youtube videos, sukurity, nixing the raised eyebrow pics, that winning white tooth smile, waiting patiently to eat our fries, easy seconds on the chocolate samples, and 18 solid pics.

Loved it and LOVE my mom and sisters.  

They have no idea.

Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

(love you too dad)

 Next year it's my pick...any suggestions out there?

(and no dad, we aren't going to the Australia exhibit at Balboa Park. Nice try tho!)