Tim Tam Slim Slam Jim Jam Wham Bam Kin Can Flim Flam Blog Lunch

Oh my goodness, Oh my gadness! Today was just the best day ever!!!!!.

For any of you in the dark, I am still in Utah and one of the biggest reasons for my staying so long was to attend the fantabulous blog lunch with the famous Crash Test Dummy.

It was the most bestest Tim Tam Slim Slam Jim Jam Wham Bam Kin Can Flim Flam Event ever.

First for any of you who were not able to attend, I am so sorry for your loss, but nani nani boo boo to you. It was way too much fun. I am not sure that Olive Garden will ever let us back because we were partying like it is 2009, because it is, silly.

So far I have only met about 10 blog friends, but I can say in every case, bloggers in real life are better than they seem in cyber space. They are funnier, prettier, wittier, and way sillier.

There is something so unique about meeting people for the first time, who already know you. The real you, well, at least the one you have carefully crafted on your blog.

The only downside was that I was so busy visiting and taking pictures and giving autographs that I didn't even have time to eat. Next time we should go somewhere that I don't really like the food.

Driving there I felt giddy with anticipation and nervousness. Kind like when you are a teenager and you are driving to a stake dance and wondering will I meet someone tonight, perhaps the love of my life? Well, something like that anyway.

And I relied on my memory from when I used to live here, because why wouldn't I know exactly where to go after 20 years? Mapquest, schmapquest. I don't need no stinking map. I only drove around aimlessly for an extra 10 minutes, all the while worrying that I would miss some of the fun.

Finally I arrived. Julie from Youngblood was sitting in the car next to me, but I wasn't quite sure it was her. Barb from Barbaloot Suit walked in next, wearing her snazzy red shoes and looking as cute as can be. Next Debbie from Cranberry Fries came through the door.

Finally the belle of the ball, Crash aka Debbie showed up. She was sporting her cute new hair doo and snappy red purse. Hugs were exchanged all around. And jumping up and down was definitely required. To meet in person, people who comment on your thoughts and validate you as a person is something incredible and definitely worthy of jubilation.

I know that without my blog friends I would not have survived this past year. NO way, NO how. And so to actually get to squeeze these people and feel of their love in person, it was so wonderful.

Next we saw Kristina P getting out of her car and Crash made us all hide by the bathroom and jump out and yell "Suprise". So much fun.

Kristina P showed up with Britany and Jillybean. Did you know that Kristina P got Brittany a baby? Well she did and a whole hearted congratulations to Brittany. Apparently Kristina's hair dresser's roommate has an unplanned pregnancy and plans to place with Brittany in October. I know it will be beyond wonderful. Good job Kristina!

I think Shelle was next to arrive. It is kind of a blur. She was looking cute and chic as ever in her black high heels.

At this point the hostess was anxious to clear the waiting area of this estrogenfest and herded us back to our table.

I have to admit to strategically placing myself next to Crash. No way was I going to sit at the other end of the table from her.

The conversation at the table was at warp speed. It made my head spin at times. What else would you expect when so many bloggers get together. So many words, so little time. Dang.

A little bit later Funny Farmer, The Crazy Lady, and Val of the South arrived. More hugging. More talking. Way more laughing and giggling. Val had baked a loaf of bread complete with homemade jam. So thoughtful of her. The Crazy Lady had her adorable 6 week old baby. She was perfectly behaved and slept through the whole lunch. The baby, not crazy lady.

There was an amazing sisterhood that is hard to put into words. Kind of like drinking fizzy lifting drinks in Willy Wonka.

And then of course the cameras came out and the picture taking began. It was a bit out of control. And several different times, our documentation got in the way of the waiters trying to earn a living serving people their food while it was still hot. Jeez Louise people, where are your priorities?

Here are Crash and Kristina modeling the lovely snuggy and look at the cute Crash Test embellishment that Jill made.

Next Shelle had a turn with the snuggy. Check out the waiter in the background, do you think he is wondering what kind of lunatics we are? Blogging ones, of course. Stupid question.

And I even got a turn with the snuggy. And of course I needed to make the screaming face.

Here are Shelle, Crash, and I. Check out Crash's camera, serious stuff.

Here every one is trying out the Nutty Hamster Chick screaming face. I really should invest in a trademark for that, it might be worth something. From left to right, Shelle, Crash, Funny Farmer, Me, and Barb.

We spent about 10 minutes screaming trying to get the perfect shot. So funny.

Here we are with Val of the South strutting our stuff. Sorry about the bunny ears, Val.

And here is a shot of me giving my first autograph ever. Crash's brother wanted every one's autograph. So strange. I can't for the life of me imagine why. He said that some day these autographs would be worth a fortune. Um, I don't think so, but why not humor the little people. And just so you know, famous bloggers put their pants on one leg at a time. They just might stop in the middle to check their comments.

And finally one with me and Crash. She is just as sweet, cute, clever, and witty as she seems in her posts.

Thanks Crash for planning this wondrous fiesta. It was a total blast. I need to drive up more often for such opportunities.

Seriously Crash, you are da bomb. And so are the rest of you. See ya round the blogosphere.

A Funny Thing Happened on my Way to Women's Conference

Oh my goodness, oh my helk, oh my gadness even. I have so much to write about like how I saved $185 dollars at Albertson's last Friday, or how Jared went on the trek, or my shopping trip to help Diana buy a new bathing suit, but all of that will have to wait for another day because yesterday I met up with some of my favorite blogging friends in real life. Yes and all of them were even nice women, no dirty old men looking to kidnap me or anything scary like that. No axe murders. Just wonderfully friendly and funny bloggers.

It came to be, because I finally decided that I should attend women's conference. I know this is usually one of the highlights of my life and I haven't missed for the past four years, but my oldest son who never sang one word of any primary presentation his whole 9 years of primary is performing in the high school musical THIS WEEK, of course. Because why would it be another week, when I didn't need to go to Provo and stalk my favorite leaders of the church.

And so I have debated with myself back and forth about whether or not I could just attend the dress rehearsal and be OK with just that. And then just last week I found out that the play will be performed next week also. This was very happifying because I could leave and not miss out on all the fun.

And then to seal the deal I read on April's blog that she, and Shelle, and T were getting together for lunch and so I would be driving right by where they would be eating and why wouldn't I stop and meet up with them. And of course I invited myself right along.

There was a bit of stress getting my stuff in the car and leaving by 9:00. I did the dishes, shredded a pork roast from the crock pot and put barbecue sauce on it for sandwiches while I was gone, ran around and threw various miscellaneous items into my suitcase, in case I needed them, cooked 3 fried eggs and waffles for Jared for breakfast, dropped Diana off at school, wrote a note for Trent so he doesn't go over the allowed absences and loose credit and not graduate, stopped by the pharmacy, filled up with gas, and dropped off a copy of Norton Anti-virus to a friend whose lap top had frozen.

After all that craziness it was if someone opened the door to my hamster cage and let me off the wheel. Well not quite yet, because I was 20 mins later leaving than I wanted to be and so I sped as much as I dared between Vegas and St George.

But no worries I didn't even get a ticket and I was the first to arrive. After a stop in the bathroom, there was another woman speaking with the hostess. We eyed each other and finally she said "Are you Pat" and I said "Are you Tonya". After she said yes, I opened my mouth and made my signature screaming face, and then of course she recognized me right away.

We decided to go ahead and be seated and then of course needed to get the bottomless chips. We started right in visiting and soon April called me on my phone to ask where I was. I replied that she needed to get right over there and get some chips while the getting was good.

Here is the group shot we made the waitress take. And of course she had to take it with four different cameras. If you look at the edge of the table you can see some of them waiting for their turn. April is sitting next to me and Tonya is right across, and then Shelle next to Tonya.

Shelle snapped a shot of me and April.

And here I am teaching April of my screaming ways, she is a quick learner, don't ya think?

And Tonya took one of Shelle, April, and me. I think she did that on purpose because she doesn't really like to be in pictures.

I know they say imitation is the best form of flattery, but I am not so sure in this case. What do you think? I think they each carried off the crazed look in the eyes that totally makes the look. Good job girls.

We laughed and talked and seriously I don't know why people keep saying that they met someone they didn't' know when they meet blog friends. When you read some one's blog you KNOW them. And I totally agree with what Heidi said on her blog, meeting blog friends is so much better than you think it will be. As funny, smart, clever and witty as people are in writing well magnify that by 100 and that is how fun it is to be around others you have so much in common with.

It got me thinking that as fun as lunch is, it would be so much better to go on a blogging cruise. Crash will you get on that and get it organized. You can play the part of Richard Simmons on our cruise, or may be that part should go to Kristina P. Look to it.

And as if it wasn't my best day ever, I continued up to my sister's in Spanish Fork and of course stopped at the cheese factory in Beaver. I departed from my usual plain Jane vanilla and instead got lemon custard. It was sooooo yummy, I almost went back for seconds even if I was 10 miles down the freeway.

And besides the ice cream, the scrumptious ever delightful cheese curds. Here I am trying to show off the big bag I bought, but it still didn't show.

So now I am in Spanish Fork until Sunday with my 3 sisters. For the next two days I will be at BYU eating up as much knowledge and mint brownies as possible. I will be on the look out for blogging fodder. Not sure if I will harass John Bytheway this year, been there done that. But we shall see.