OK, so I've been really busy lately...

Clint's been gone a little over three weeks now - he's been working in Africa.  So I've been trying to keep myself busy while he's gone.  It just makes time go faster!  I've been so busy I just haven't gotten the chance to blog.  


First of all, I'm happy to report that my good friend Amber, her husband Jack and their son Max haved finally moved here to Houston from Manchester, UK.  Yay!  So glad to have you back, Amber.  Me and Amber got to have some girl time a couple of weeks ago over sushi - good times!


I also got to go to the Tour de Pink "Thank you" party.  The Tour de Pink bike ride raised over $400,000 for Pink Ribbons Project.  I raised $5300 individually and just under $10,000 for Team Bella Rachel.  Thanks to all of you who supported me.  I will be sending out thank you cards soon.  Look for them in the mail.   Those of you who forgot to donate...you will have other opportunities with Suites of Hope! ;)


Speaking of Suites of Hope, we have had 2 board meetings and have accomplished a few things.  Dr. Namieta Janssen has a condo ready for us to look at to purchase.  Maybe we can have a condo by the first of the year?  Just waiting to hear back from the IRS.


I also got to go to Chicago for 5 days for the American College of Rheumatology Conference.  I got to hang out with my UCB peeps and some Rheumatologists from the Houston area.  This was the first time I've been to Chicago (other than the Chicago Airport Marriott with Wyeth years ago).  It's a great city, but the cab drivers are really crabby and rude!!  They are way worse than New York.  Here's some pics.


Me, Dr. Martha Aguilar, Kurt Schoppe, Dr. Joan Appleyard

Me, Dr. Prashanth Sunkureddi, and Tiffany Moake at Dr. Sunkureddi's poster

Me, Tiffany Moake, Kierstin Cleary, and Shawn Dauber at a Chicago Pizza Place (I forgot the name)

Christin Croll Carlson and Dr. Sunkureddi before the REF 5k that started at Soldier field and made its way down to the Navy Pier and back along Lake Michigan.  Such a fun 5k!!!  Dr. Sunk left me and Christin in the dust.

Me and Christin Croll Carlson at dinner (had to put an awesome pic of Christin in to make up for the 5k pic sans makeup)

By the way, Christin rode 60 miles with me last year in the Tour de Pink if some of you think that she looks familiar.  Christin, you are so awesome!!!!

When I got back, my cousin Kay had tickets for us to go to the Nutcracker Market Preview Party.  Four hours of shopping...I was really exhausted but it was all worth it.  I got some really cool Christmas decorations for the tree this year.  Look out for an animal print decorated tree! :)  Thanks for the tickets, Kay.  I know I was cranky and hard to deal with, but I really appreciate you inviting me!

Doesn't Kay look fabulous?  Everyone was commenting on her beautiful blouse.  WOW!

Finally, I got to have a girls night out and host a slumber party at my house.  Amy Poland Preyer was back in town from Denver and we just had to all get together for dinner and drinks.  

By the way, I wasn't wearing the fedora to be fashionable - I had a photo facial (IPL) and had dramatic results.  Basically my whole face turned red and all my sunspots and sun damage really came to the surface so I had to hide all of the mess on my face that I could.  No worries, all the dark brown sun spots are now flaking off and the redness has gone away.  I thought the fedora looked pretty good regardless!

Sadly when we got back to my house I immediately feel asleep on the couch like an old geezer while the others sat around and had a good time catching up.  The same thing happened the last time I had girls night/slumber party.  I think I'm a 39 year old girl trapped in the body of a 70 year old!

I'm so ready for Clint to be home - he's supposed to be home in two days.  It's been a hard 3 weeks without him, but I'm surviving.  

I'll be back in a couple of days to let you guys know that he got back safely and to talk about some other stuff going on with me.