Just an old soul...

So I've always been a lot different than the majority of my friends. It's well known that I often opt for a quiet night in rather than a loud rowdy night with my girlfriends at the local hot spots. Well once again, it's been proven true. While most of my friends were out celebrating with cocktails, I took a different approach to my Saturday night.

Meet the Frisby's. Jonah (5), Fletch & Cash (4 months.) These kids weren't quite as excited as I was about this picture, not after it took Mandi a few attempts with my camera. Turns out the flash wasn't on...still isn't.

Usually, my friends are nursing quite the hangover on Sunday morning...that is if they have woken up at a time to still be considered morning. I, on the other hand, was up early and hard at work.

Mom walked by and just watched and laughed. She didn't offer much help, because she wanted to see how I could do in the event that twins don't skip generations and I'm blessed with multiples. I did pretty well I think, considering one likes rice cereal and the other prefers a bottle. What they didn't get on camera was later in the morning with Jonah sitting by my side on his Nintendo, me bouncing Cash in my lap to keep him from crying and Fletch in the bouncy seat on the floor being rocked by my foot, while Mae Mae and Mandi beautified themselves. What is all the fuss about how hard it is to be a mom? Just kidding!!!

Now, I know there are typical greasy meals that most of my friends indulge in around 1pm on a Sunday afternoon, and I wasn't too different in that sense. I did enjoy a greasy meal at 1, but at Planet Pizza. Wahoo!

There isn't any time or hands for napkins in these situations involving Cash, people. You've got to improvise. Mandi just looks on in amusement that it's me and she's finally getting a break!

Fletch apparently mistakes me for his burp cloth, but it's okay. Again, Mandi is pretty amused. ..and how did she stay so clean?


We love having the Frisby's at our house, even if Daddy Brad was forced to stay at home to fish (poor thing!) Mandi has always said she wanted her family to be just like the Stanga's. Well, she's almost there.

Happy Holidays!!

Last night Robyn and I hosted our first party since we've been in our house. We had a wine tasting party for our girlfriends and it was actually a nice little turnout. We shared delicious salty & sweet treats, great wine and frivolous laughs.

Thank you to all who came and celebrated the season with us. We loved having you and can't wait to do it again. Maybe this will be an annual event...but next year, I'll try to put my wine glass down before 2am.

Merry Christmas!

I Rocked The Half!

On Sunday, December 9th, I participated in my first White Rock 1/2 Marathon. After 3+ months of training and hard work, I knew I was prepared enough to do my best and cross the finish line.

It took a lot of preparation and organization leading up to the event, and it helps to have friends doing it with you. Saturday afternoon I headed to the Runner's Expo with Kacy, Janee, Tammi and Amie to pick up our runners' packets and to browse around at all the different gear on display.


After a picture or two, purchasing our energy goo, jelly beans and some new cold-weather gear, we were then ready for our long-awaited carb meal at Maggiano's. For 5 girls, the family-style servings was more than enough food, but we still were able to clear a few plates...and shots (of Vitamin C.)


After plenty of pasta and carbs, I headed home to get my stuff all ready to go and was in bed and asleep at 9:45. My alarm was set for 5:45 Sunday morning to get out of bed and start gearing up. I picked Chris up from his house at 7:15 and we headed down to the AAC to meet up with the rest of Team Chelada.



The weather forecast was not looking so good for us. 40 degrees and rain was in our running future, so we were a little worried about how our pace would be in conditions we hadn't trained for much. Lucky for us, it was chilly but just shy of miserable and the rain held off for the most part. There was a little drizzle, but nothing to keep us from reaching our own personal goals. For various reasons, my training schedule had slowed down at the end, and pair that with the unpleasant running conditions, I was nervous that I wouldn't keep a satisfying pace. I talked to some other runners who had previously done halves and full marathons, and they said not to worry about pace, just finish - that's all you have to do...just cross the finish line. Taking their advice into consideration, I set a very reasonable goal for myself of finishing the 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Turns out, only half of the challenge is your body strength and training, the other half is mental. With all the determination I had and the adrenaline rushing, I finished in 2 hours, 26 minutes and 2 seconds - which averages out to be just at 11 minutes a mile. I was extremely proud of myself, and knew I would have a pretty good time since my pace was gradually speeding up as I hit each mile marker. My pace as I crossed the line was at 9 minutes and 45 seconds. The last mile was brutal, and I don't know if I was just so anxious or if it was because I was running at such a fast pace, but it felt as if it were 3 miles. As I rounded the corner and saw the balloons, cheering crowds, cameras, and finish line, I knew I had made it. It was such a proud moment for me. I loved it and can't wait to do another one.

That Christmas Spirit

Robyn and I ran around all day yesterday buying things to decorate our house. We both just love the holidays and feel that that next to giving and spreading love, there isn't anything quite as cheerful as a warm, cozy, festive home. I'll just be really sad when it's time to take it all down....although I did present the idea to Robyn of keeping the tree up after Christmas and turning it into a Mardi Gras tree. I don't think she was sold on that, but we'll see.












Of course we had to add our own special touch. We both don't really care much for trees with random ornaments, but we did need something that was each our own personal flavor. Robyn's room is done in that vintage red Moulin Rouge theme and mine is just simple green. When looking at decorations, we found this red satin dress ornament and figured it was Robyn's perfect touch. Then I had to find one that was well-fitting for me, and it didn't even take long to find that sparkly green alligator. Needless to say, these two objects didn't get any prime visibile location, but we know they're there.


I wish all of you and your families a delightful holiday season.

LSU Boogaloo with Loup Garou II

Early Wednesday morning, we headed to southern Louisiana for our second Thanksgiving in the swamp. The Martini Tour board members and families (a group of dad's old high school/college buddies still get together and have formed the Semi-Annual Martini Tour)gathered to spend 3 days in Henderson Swamp off of Cypress Cove.

For those who haven't heard of this adventurous holiday vacation before, a tugboat pulls 4 houseboats 2 miles into the swamp, ties their front porches all together and then ties each boat to a cypress stump, so we don't float off. The only way to get back to the dock or to even leave the houseboat at all is by a small 6 ft. bateau or the party barge.

We had quite the group attending and knew it would be a fabulous time. Mom, Dad, Mae Mae, Mark, Curt, Scott & Abby, Bratton & me all stayed on the Hospitality Ship Colinda. Hanemann and his son Spencer teamed up with Cottontop, Sharon and lil Jack across the way. Newfield, Gail, John Paul and Sydney resided beside us, and finally the Dobson and Wanda had their own boat.

Please don't be fooled when you see land around us, it's not stable land, it's just marshy, gator-infested land. We were also amongst many Loup Garou's, which are equally dangerous. All you non-coonasses might need a little insider's secret to the Loup Garou...he is the swamp ware wolf.

By late Wednesday night, all parties were accounted for and it was time for the festivities to begin. Okay, well actually they had begun when we first arrived - we didn't even think twice about waiting for the brothers before starting the cocktails. We all gathered on our porches and offered up our best bullshit stories and were laughing until we couldn't laugh anymore. We also were privileged enough to feed on Dobson's wonderful Seafood Gumbo, Bratton's amazing Hog's Head Cheese & Cracklin.


After many many frosty beverages, taking countless boat rides in the freezing rain and staying up after my bedtime, one would think it would be tough to get up early the following morning. Quite contraire my friends! It is very hard to sleep in on a houseboat when you hear constant cross fire between duck hunters, and not to mention the occasional banging and shaking of an alligator trapped under the boats. So up and at 'em we were as Mae Mae and I headed for a nice 5 mile run on the levee. Man, was it cold!!!

Lucky for us, breakfast was ready to be served by the time we made it back to the houseboats. MMMMM, was it delicious!!! We ate 'Swamp Omelettes' which is basically Shrimp, Crab, Trilogy (sauteed onions, celery & bell peppers) Eggs, Crawfish Grits, Smoked Boudin (pronounced boo-DAHN,) and French Bread Toast. I was in HEAVEN!


After a short nap, cleaning up, and a few more cocktails, it was time to start preparing our feast.

Hanemann, Newf & Cottontop peeling shrimp

Dobbs starting to make dat 'Eggplant Gawd-Damn!'

Daddy and me making Doc's infamous Oyster Dressing.

Dad making sure that Turducken is dead. And I mean all of them.

So Newfield took a little break from cooking to show off his beloved LSU bowling shoes.

Abby and me making her ever-popular Pumpkin Crunch Cake.

Bratton carving up the turducken. That means it's almost time to eat!

This is what a carved turducken looks like. Originally was a turkey stuffed with a duck that was stuffed with a chicken that was stuffed with jambalaya.

Now, every Thanksgiving meal has its staples and we did have some of the traditional dishes, but those were few and far between the fine cajun cuisine we were blessed with this holiday. We had turducken, cajun fried turkey, rolls, crabmeat au gratin, au gratin potatoes, oyster dressing, snapped green beans, corn mache choux, crawfish pie, shrimp remoulaude, sweet potatoes, 'Eggplant Gawd-Damn' with crab and also 'Eggplant Gawd-Damn' with oysters. Don't forget the traditional pumpkin, pecan and apple pies.




We had consumed so much food and plenty of wine and drinks, it didn't take us too long to hit the sack, but not before the traditional game of Bouree. Mae Mae was my trusted advisor. I think I even walked away from the bank with $1.25!

Friday morning we were up again, this time with excitement for the LSU/Arkansas game ... and of course the tailgating. It proved to be a very sad day for us Tiger fans, but we still had fun none the less.





After a long and devastating day, we headed back to the swamp. Saturday morning we woke up early to clear off the boats and head home. Although I was ready to get home and rest, it was sad to leave this place my family loves so much. Most people think we're crazy when we tell them we spend Thanksgiving on the swamp, but really, it's so nice.