TOOT-TOOT

Anne here, for another installment of
Sweet Queen Sister doing the blog!

Hey, can you hear that?
TOOT-TOOT!
There it was again!
Oh, wait that's just me tooting my own horn
about my sister! Is she not just the best?!
I love her dearly and was thinking about her
this morning while it's zero here and she is in
Playa enjoying the 80+ degrees. I was thinking,
can you all help me surprise her please?
She is still unable to get online so when she
gets home she will have to read all that I have done
on her blog in her absence.
So, lets cram up her comment box here on Blogger
with a fun memory of her, or kind word to make her day!
Whatever you want to say would be great! THANKS!

I'll start it out here by saying how
I LOVE the way you are with my kids.
They love you so much!
Thanks for being an awesome aunt and the
BEST Sweet Queen Sister in the world!

WAY to many memories to pick just one!
Cookies, Mexico, hair, kittens, 12:34.
See this fold in my shirt?.....

Oh, BTW...
Susan wanted me to say that she and Gary
found Nedi down in Playa. They had not
seen him yet when I talked with her last
but, had his number and knew where he was working.

Enjoy your weekend!
Peace.

Scuba Sue and Boo!

It's Anne again.
Susan is fully certified as a scuba diver!
She called tonight and was so excited!
She wanted me to say that Scott at Sea Ya Diving
did a great job teaching her, she used everything
that he taught her. Pete, my husband, was
instrumental in getting her into scuba diving
and is very proud of her. Good job Sue! Way to go!
We all love you BUCKETS!


Here is Pete, Susan and Benji in Cabo last March.

On to the Boo news.
Today is his birthday!
Happy 1st Birthday Boo Boy!

Peace.

Computer trouble, or maybe just user error

Hello to all of Susan's faithful followers.
This is Anne, Susan's Sweet Queen Sister.
For some strange reason things are not
working the way she would like with her computer
and/or her internet access so I have stepped in
to inform you all that Susan and Gary are safe
and sound in Playa. Loving every minute.
At 2 o'clock today Sue is doing her 1st of 4
check out dives to complete her scuba certification.

I hope everyone here in Minnesota is able to enjoy
the 40 plus degrees today!

Peace.

Playa, Playa, Playa, Playa....

Well, the time has come.
Gary and I head off to Mexico this morning.
We will be in Mexico by 2:00 today!
I will more than likely be uploading
some mobile images from my phone as well as
from my camera so feel free to check in
periodically each day for up to the minute
updates! This is going to be a good one!

Dean and Lois, we'll call you in a few days.

Abbey, thank you for staying with our boy, Boo.
This is such a wonderful thing to know that
you are there with him. He needs to play, a LOT!
Jacquie, can you remind Abbey that I am
expecting a package from whcc today, as well,
so it doesn't sit on my front step too long.
Gracias, Jacquie.

Will, if you happen to join you sister at
our home and help out, let me know by
commenting on my blog and Gary and I will be
certain to bring you home a little 'somthin'
somthin' too! :D

Peace.

MILK.

Gary and I saw the movie Milk last night. WOW!
True stories always seem to be favorites for me.
I will pray that Sean Penn receives the Oscar
for Best Actor! Amazing talent! We will be watching
the Oscars in Playa tomorrow night.

But first we have to clear all this snow
we got last night! What happened to 1-2
inches? Looks more like 5 to me. Sven...
At least it looks clean and, dare I say,
pretty outside again.

Brenda and Jorge are coming to pick us up
at the airport tomorrow! I can't wait to
see them, Vaughn, Judy, Alejandro and the
whole wild Mayan bunch!
When you are in Playa del Carmen, please
stop in and visit these wonderful folks at
their restaurant on 4th...1/2 block west of
the famous "5th Avenue". And bring your
dancin' shoes! They provide live music every
night at AJUA (pronounced ah-Hoo'-ah!)
Jorge will salsa the night away with you in
the street and their staff will entertain
you like no other restaurant in town!




My sister is coming over this morning and
we are going to hit the gym together!
I think she just wants to come and see Boo!

About Face(book).

This will be the last time I talk about Facebook.
Having been in the news a lot, recently, regarding
their "privacy policies" just seemed to tip the scale
for me. That said, I made the decision, on Wednseday night,
to yank my account for the last time. I mean, really,
I can get across everything I need to right here on my blog,
you know, the old fashioned way! ;) So, freedom once more!
If you need to know what projects I'm up to or planning,
just c'mon back here to my blog as I will attempt to
make a move in the direction of keeping this more about
my work than my life. With the wedding season just around
the corner, that should be easy!

I've also decided to give mobile me a go. It's totally
awesome! I've kind of been lurking around it for a year
or so but decided, Wednesday, to take it for a spin.
This will simplify everything for me as it magically
connects my laptop, my iPhone and my desktop computers
without docking my phone!
I enter a meeting in my phone and it goes to both of
my other computers and vise~versa. TOtally cool!
I mean, I rarely pulled up my iCal on my laptop because
it wouldn't be current...problem solved.
This is really a no brainer, I'll be signing up in 60 days.
Thanks Apple!

WPPI 2009.

Stands for Wedding & Portrait Photographers
International. It's the biggest trade show/party
in the industry and perhaps even on the planet!
Unfortunately, it seems to always comes on either the
heels or the toes of our annual vacation so I always
miss it. Sounds like everyone is there (according to my
facebook page), it's always tauted as the "who's who"
of my industry. There are always a TON of awesome speakers,
classes, location shoots, product releases and deals not to
mention the late night "networking"! ;)
Megan Bearder and I were talking last night and we think
it's high time she and I go...so NEXT year.
(btw, Sawer (aka "the Bear") was finally located and returned!)

The count down is at 4 today so that means that I'd better
find a suit SOON! Guys have it so easy...shorts, done, duh!



This is Nedi's home where we spent a couple of
long afternoons in front of the spanish/english-
english/spanish dictionaries and downed a LOT
of beer! Love these people...this is Nedi's new home.
WE bought them a new oscillating fan as a house
warming present (um yeah, we had to explain that
American tradition to them!)



This,of course, is Hotel Mimi del Mar!
Our room will be one of the two front end
rooms with the big balcony. LOVE it there!
SUPER laid back...if you stay there, please
tell them that Susan and Gary Austin sent you!



If you need a winter warm up, be sure to visit the
PLAYA BEACH CAM to the right under "check these out"!

I've been invited to join in on a wedding shoot on the
28th down in Playa, VERY honored and excited. I guess that
means I have to bring more equipment! oops, sorry Gary!
Here's a few from 2 years ago...





Oh, and my dives are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday!

Peace.

Always Pack A Camera.

Now, you might consider that it was a lofty
goal for me to even think that I wouldn't bring
my camera along on our trip~and you'd be right!
I am actually starting to feel beads of sweat
building up just thinking about it.
Therefore, I'm going to at least bring the 10D.
That then leads to packing the laptop as well!
Gary always says, "can we unplug on this trip?"
my response this year is, "only if we sit in the
shade and don't drink any beer!" :D
I think it sounds like a good compromise!

This is a shot that Anne took when we were in
Mexico a couple of years ago. The hotel lied
about having internet connections for guests.
Well, more like stretched the truth.
The day the girls got their braids, I found a
computer and they charged about a buck a minute!!



There's WiFi at the Mimi so it pains me not
to bring the laptop. And AT&T told me that
as long as there's WiFi I can get on my iPhone
and so I may even mobile upload shots to my
Facebook account! Trust me, this is how I relax.
Gary likes to read and float, I like to write!
However, I just write in the morning, he'll read
all afternoon. hmmmm
Thank goodness we both like the beach and buckets
of beer! :D

Again...me, relaxing!


...and Gary relaxing.



...me relaxing.



Gary relaxing.





Woops...here's Jimbo relaxing!



Gary's best friend, Jimbo, likes to
join us from time to time when we hit
Playa del Carmen...I'm certain this year
will be no different!

Good times. Noodle salad.

SCUBA Update.

Well, it's official!
I passed my written test and spent a few
hours in a pool yesterday brushing up on
my skills to prepare me for my 4 check out
dives in Playa! Ben, my nephew and I went
together and had a blast.
I am so ready for my open water testing!
Even whipped off my mask (under water),
put it back on and cleared it with no problemas!

Carpet's going in as I type and I'm anxious
for this whole mess to get "squared away", as
my dad would always say!

I have to say that the pregnancy shots I took
on Saturday are awesome, I just haven't been
able to work on them much...perhaps later today
when the carpet installer is gone.

Reggie.

On a very, very, sad note, our good friends
Ron & Cindy had to put Reggie down yesterday.
He was only 7. Typical for the Doberman breed
but so so sad. We toasted Reggie, Hobie, Katie
and Lucius with Champagne last night and just
sobbed! Pray for Ron & Cindy that they find
peace.

Valentine's Day 2009.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Today I get the very distinct pleasure
of photographing a couple that just over
a year ago experienced a horrific loss.
It was a NILMDTS session where their daughter,
Alliah went home to be with the Lord.

Today, I will be shooting a pregnancy
session for Kelly & Jeff (and their dog!).
They are expecting a boy very soon!

Later, a movie with my sweetie and for
dinner, an early hamburger with Gary and
his Mom! Her treat for V-Day! :)

Enjoy your day!

Carpet.

Our carpet came today!
However, the edge that is nearest the bar
requires some sort of puttsy process that we didn't
know about so we have to postpone the installation
to next week! waaaaaaaa! It's so close to being
completed that the setback is so very frustrating.
The lovely gents decided to go ahead and unload the
pad & carpet anyway, and why wouldn't you, right?
So I can at least stare at it and envision it complete!

Nonetheless, Nicki is venturing over to re-plaster
the bar (that's for YOU Sandi!) to remove some of
the gold shimmer. I decided that I liked it without.
Ordinarily, I'm not so HM but anytime I can get
re-plastered in a bar...right? Okay, I'm kidding ;)

I'm taking my SCUBA exam on Sunday and heading to
a pool for a review so that I can finish up my
certification in Playa...I am soooo pumped and I
NEVER use the word "pumped" so you know I'm excited!
You see, you have to finish with "Open Water" dives
which, in Minnesota in the winter, isn't possible.
So, I'll be diving in Mexico! Hi, how you doin'?! :)

We are into the "10 day" weather outlook on the web
and it's looking good. Not that we can do anything
about it but it's just fun to see.."85, feels like 92"

I think I haven't mentioned yet that we have recently
learned that Nedi is no longer working at the hotel that
we always stay at. Therefore, we have to ask around
and find out where he is so we can get together.
It just won't be the same without going to his home and
seeing his family. I miss them so much and it will just
be so different without that experience. :(

Woops, I just discovered that Gary ripped out my external
TB hard drive when he was measuring flooring last night.
CRAP! I gotta go...that's where ALL of my photo are!
More later.

Drizzly Tuesday.

If it rains in Minnesota in February,
it just means is warm...and I'll take it!

Back from the gym, Boo at my feet, a fresh
Vienna roast press and lots to blog about.

I'll start with Reese's birthday brunch that
took place on Sunday. She turned 1 on Wednesday.
She is so darn cute and at the tender age of
1 she is already fascinated with opening and
discovering gifts.
Owen helped a ton and I have to say that it
was remarkable how Owen didn't get the least
bit jealous...most kids do...he just helped!
Good job Owen!












Today is my sister and Pete's wedding
anniversary! 13 years?...wow! Congratulations!

Do you Clip?

I recently told Gary that I wanted to try
something different. I told him it had been
years since I had done it but I remember the
sensation and satisfaction being pretty
terrific. I also remember that it took a bit
of planning, preparation and on occasion, timing.
PEOPLE! Get your heads out of the gutter, I'm
talking about clipping COUPONS here!!!
(btw...do you say "Koo'-pon" or "Kyoo'-pon"?)

I guess after years of just running out and
picking up what we need all "willy nilly",
I thought that perhaps taking a stab at
saving some cash might be fun, addicting or
just plain smart, right?
Anyway, so I get up this morning, pour my
coffee, grab my "cheater/readers", a scissor
and I sit down to the kitchen counter.

I start with the ads to see where the stuff we
need is on sale then move to the coupons to see if
I can save anymore money. This proves to be
a total bust. If you don't eat cereal, drink
ensure, use disposable batteries, need diapers,
consume canned fruits-meats or veggies....
you simply can't save money. I laughed out loud.
Gary thinks that I'm crazy. I knew that already!

So after studying this weekends ads & coupons
today for about 45 minutes, I have come to the
conclusion that I am already in the red. :\

Happy Birthday to Stacey Thon! *<):-D

Two/Seven

February 7th...
One week down. That feels good.
Not to mention the warmer temps here in MN!
41 was the official high yesterday and with the high,
thin clouds I wonder what it could have been
without them! ;)

Had a great time at the Gopher Bar yesterday.
Gary and I were joined by Mike & John H., Mike O
and Tom R. This was Mike H. and Tom's first
trip to the GB and I learned that first-timers pay
(apparently unless you have breasts!).

Gary and I later ran up to PUNCH PIZZA for our
"buy one-get one" and it was about a THOUSAND
degrees in there! Hadn't been in awhile and the
pizza was still just as awesome!

Watched Gran Torino. I sobbed.
I don't know why exactly, but I sobbed.

Well, off to the gym so I can eat at Reese's birthday
brunch later this morning! ;P

Warm Up!

Today's high will be about 41 or so.
Remarkable because it's February and we
Minnesotan's don't see (or feel) those temps
until sometime in March or even April! :\
The other night when the meteorologists
showed the horribly low temps in northern
Minnesota, Gary said... "My God, why do
people live there?" and of course all I could
think of to say was..."That's what people
say about US, hon." It's all relative, right?

It's Friday and I was told that I would get
another opportunity to go to St. Paul to the
Gopher Bar with the boys for a Coney Dog!
What could I say...I love it there!
But I asked Gary if George would kick me out
for not drinking cuz I'm sorta on the wagon
for a bit.



Enjoy the warm weather today!

T minus 16 days.

Tic Toc!

Each year I seem to remark at how quickly the
time passes. Winter doesn't even seem to last
as long, it's already February!
I always say that I look forward to the time
when all the months that end in 'ber' and 'ary'
have passed us by! Being full into the first
week in February I can't help but cheer a little
inside about our pending vacation!



Talisman, Jose Maria, Indiana (Nedi & Verana's kids)



I'm having trouble reaching Rene' at the Mimi
so I'm concerned that he may not be managing it
anymore which would, of course, be a HUGE bummer!



18 days and counting!

TCPPA Board Member Spotlight.

To my surprise, the editors elected to
place me in this month's newsletter as
a spotlight...cool!
Gary informed me right away that "lei"
should be spelled "lay"...men.

It just wasn't in the Cards.

The Arizona Cardinals, while a valiant effort
was made, lost to the Pittsburg Steelers in
the 43rd Super Bowl 27 to 23.

I was amazed at the play, the amount of penalties,
the unsportsmanlike conduct and the officiating
on both sides. All the while, I watched the entire
game (a rarity for me). I even watched the 1/2 time
show with Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band.
Altho' I wasn't as impressed with his show as I
was with Prince a couple of years ago, I felt
he redeemed himself with his last song selection.
I simply don't appreciate it when all I can here
is the crowd singing and I HATE it when an artist
holds the microphone out over the audience to sing
for them! Now, I know I'm pissing off some "Boss" fans
here but it's not my fault... The NFL tries to put
a 4 hour concert on in 12 minutes and frankly I think
a marching band might serve the time frame better!

OMG, moving on!!!


Today, picking out tile and carpet with Gary for the
basement, clearing out all the junk and getting
things looking near completion is our goal. I'll
keep you posted.

I have a ton of photos and video from our trip to
Arizona, I'll share when I get the chance.

Back to the cold today....YUCK!
20 days and counting! :D

Home again, home again, jiggity jig...

Can't even believe that we are back home
already! Why, we just left, right?
Vacations are always so short but I must
say that Gary and I always seem to come
home wanting more and I guess that means
that they have all been successes!
We just simply plan for the next one!

Our next one just happens to be in 3 weeks
which gives me exactly 21 days to lose
20 pounds! Hmmm, think I'll try the "Duct
Tape Diet"...the one where I drive over
to Home Depot, pick up some Duct Tape and
place it over my mouth!

Thank you Dean & Lois for such a wonderful
time! I know it was a short visit this
go around but it was great to see you none-
theless. Our trip back home was uneventful
and our reunion with Boo was over the top!~
You must come up this summer when things
get to hot down there! You are always welcome.

Today is a catch up day, laundry day and
well, must I say...Super Bowl Sunday?

I managed to get my hands on a really great
red, long sleeved Arizona Cardinals shirt.
I just love it! My sister thinks I'm a traitor
but I just figured...when in Rome, right?
I mean, it's not like th Vikings are playing
today so I thought, what the heck!

Gary and I plan to sit home and watch the game.
Quite honestly, I'm not sure I'll watch it all.
But what I do know for sure, whether I watch
or not, I would like for the Cardinals to win!

I want to mention that a good friend and
colleague of mine, Krish Kiefer, lost her father
to cancer this past Wednesday. I would love it
if you would pray for her and her family as
they grieve his loss.

Go Cards!