My Christmas List

Hey y'all!
I don't usually solicit gifts, but you know how shameless I can be when it comes to promoting a good cause. I've had a number of you get in touch w/me recently asking about what I want for Christmas. Since you asked, I have a gift registry set up at Heifer.org. (Heifer is a charity working to end world hunger & care for the environment by helping the world's poorest people become more self-sufficient. There's alot of really cool info about their programs on the website.)

My gift registry is at http://www.heifer.org/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.488975/site/apps/ka/ec/store.asp?StoreId=3323 . More than anything for myself, I would be very appreciative & grateful for any of the items on this list. They start at $10, it's tax deductible & you can give anonymously if you choose.

Lots of love & hugs for the holiday season--thank goodness it's almost over!!
--Layla

ROAD TRIP!!! Pat Green in Fort Worth

Howdy y'all!

If you read my blog at all you know for the past year i've been having a shameless love affair w/the music of Pat Green. Well, last weekend I drove down to Ft. Worth for the annual Pat Green Dancehall Fan Club party. I met up w/3 girlfriends for the weekend, & it was such a blast!! First I got to meet Pat, tell him how much I love his music, & have him autograph my CD. See the proof photo below(still waiting on the good copy, but I couldn't wait to show it off)! It's not very often you get to meet your favorite rock star!

After that I had a few hours to mingle at the party before the band played a set. I figured I would indulge & have just ONE drink. Probably because of my Coastie years, i've always stuck to real drinks, e.g. whiskey, Cuervo, bourbon w/a splash. Manly drinks, two ingredients tops. God forbid the boat pulls into port & you order something w/an umbrella in it. But, this time it had been awhile, so I asked the bartender to make me something sweet & fruity. She made me a Malibu, & WOW was it good!! Hmmm, I don't have to drive so I can have one more! A blue Hawaiian followed. Hmmm, I only have to walk across the block back to the hotel, so maybe ONE more. Cue a Cherry Lifesaver. Well, several fruity cocktails later, I was feeling pretty damn happy. This is me w/Deanna, the friend who organized the trip:

"Why yeth, occifer, i've hath a few!!!"

You can't see it, but i'm proudly wearing my Wade Bowen tshirt. Luckily I was cognizant enough to enjoy the band playing at the party. Later that night they dazzled me playing to a sold-out crowd of 60,000 people at Billy Bob's, the world's largest honky-tonk. The show was an unbelievable mix of energy and excitement. I've never seen anything quite like it! Pat capped it off by coming out & doing the encore in a giant snowman suit. I laughed my ass off!

So, turns out nothing spices up a boring December like a ROAD TRIP!!! After waking up the next day w/a bit of a headache, I enjoyed a beautiful 200 mile drive from Cowtown back to OKC. It was strangely warm & sunny, & I got to drive back w/the windows rolled down & the wind in my hair. I turned the radio turned up REALLY loud , which was a special treat since Alan hates my taste in music & I don't play it at home. Big thanks & hugs go out to Deanna, Courtney, Angela & of course PAT!

The First Gray Hare

I had a hilarious conversation w/my husband the other night. I've been watching the top of my head for a couple years now, dreading the day when the first real gray hair showed up. Up until now they've just been ash blonde, but it finally happened! It took a couple years w/kids, but the first indisputably gray hair has popped up. I couldn't believe it. It's like knowing you're standing in a busline, but still being surprised when one finally hits you.

I stumbled into the bedroom in shock & sat down next to Alan. "You're not going to believe this! I finally have my FIRST gray hair!" I was already starting to wail about being way, WAY too young when I noticed him looking puzzled.

"No way," he said.

"Really?" I said, feeling hopeful. Maybe it was just another hair that was really, REALLY ash blonde.

"No, you have more than one."

This was like getting hit by a MAC truck when still down from the bus.

"You have gray hair sprinkled all across the top of your head. You have for a couple years."

The wailing got louder from there, & i'll spare you the details--but he made it sound like an army of gray ants were marching across the top of my head. Anyway, one very expensive trip to the stylist (Kelly assured me that I DID only have a few gray hairs, & the rest were just really, REALLY ash blonde--now there's a smart man) later, my vanity is feeling better. But speaking on behalf of the women of the world, this is NOT the response we want to hear when we're distraught about having ONE gray hair. Actually, let's call it a HARE. I like gray hares!
--LOL, Layla

PS. I think this story is hilarious, but I can't keep telling it, or Alan will DIVORCE me--honey, I promise this is the last time!!!