I am on VACATION - technically! But today I am in the office. I only came to go out for lunch with Dee and pick up a few things - but while I am here I got roped into doing some website work, e-mail some information and I decided that I could let you know I am working again!

Acutallly - I have been working most of the day. I pulled weeds all morning in my flower beds and then I moved to the garden (which I am growing more weeds than food). The bugs are awful at my place though. I covered myself head to toe in 45% deet bug spray and still got eatedn alive. I could not bring myself to putting on long pants and a long sleeve shirt in this heat to continue - so I am going to do laundry now instead and try to weed the garden a little later tonight when I am able to put on more clothes!

I am leaving work now - so have a good day and THANK YOU to all of you who have to work in this kind of heat every day! I could not do it with out a mild case of heat stroke. You guys are AWSOME! ~ erin

Today Crawford interupted my Tea time at the Playhouse to fix some major website issue! I mean really - tea time at the playhouse is not to be interupted! Today we had raspberry tea with lemon and special mint leaves (which may have been poison ivy - I am kind of itchy now). Alayna was the tea master making tea for Megan & me. Brayden was cooking up some of his famous Sour Punch Soup for our main course.

The Playhouse is at Grandma Hopi’s and the kids play the same way we did when I was little enough to be in the playhouse. Everything is made from dirt, grass, rocks and sticks…but of course there are special rocks for soup, and others for tea and so on. I would have to say today’s menu was exceptional and the nap that I missed out on would have just been the icing on the cake - but not for me…back to work.

If you ever get the chance to stop at the Playhouse and Alayna & Brayden are cooking that day (they are from Texas so it is a real treat to have them in the kitchen) stop by because it will be the best dirt tea and rock soup you will ever pretend to eat!

I am technically supposed to be on vacation - but I am talking to Dee on the phone right now and Crawford is e-mailing me work to do. He is so going to owe me when I get back. Hope all is well and you are not cooking too much in this heat! I am at the photo studio working on my stuff there - in AC comfort thankfully! Tomorrow I will be tearing down some old sheds - I think it is supposed to be 95 degrees! I will be sun burnt! Talk to you all soon! ~ erin

It is my blog…so I can push my agenda - TABOR CZECH DAYS. I will be there this weekend - will you? Find out more about the Czech festival by going to the website - www.taborczechdays.com

And just so you know how cool it really is - here I am with the President of the Czech Republic in 2005 Vaclav Klaus

I got to meet the President all because of Czech Days! One more of me in my Czech Kroje (costume) after I won the national Miss Czech-Slovak USA title in 2004!

I don’t remember any of this being offered in those high priced Chicago restaraunts!

The concrete is not my thing…give me bugs and green fields anyday over that concrete jungle! However…the skyline is really something to see and I got to by taking a shoreline boat ride at sunset! Here are a few of my favorite pictures…

MORE PICTURES HERE

I would say the trip was a success AND I bet those that went along would agree! I am working on getting some pictures on the website…but I took over 900 pictures, so I have to spend some time narrowing them down!

Thanks to all who came along….and those that didn’t - find hour about other trips WNAX is taking so you can get on board with us!

P.S. I am going to New York and I know there are a few seats left on that one!

It happens to everyone - BAD DAYS! And vacation nightmares….but this is far from a nightmare - just a small set back. We will be gone in half an hour and will have a great story when we get back about how the WNAX Chicago trip started! Talk to you again on Tuesday! ~ erin

(I can’t get the picture to upload now…will see what I can do on the way~e)

Dee’s (my fellow Lip Sync Lady) Birthday is Sunday and I am going to be in Chicago so we celebrated today…but if you can help her celebrate and send her some wishes while I am away that would be great! Dee is my bestest friend in the whole world - besides you of course - and I feel bad for not being here for her birthday! Happy Day Dee!  ~ erin

Dee’s e-mail address: davis@wnax.com

I got her an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen in Tyndall, SD - it was delicious!

I know that many have told me about being in South Dakota Magazine…but I got my copy today and YES I am in the center of the magazine. If you want to see me - buy the May/June issue! - Had a question of how old this picture is…was taken last June at last year’s Czech Days! Why? Do I look that much older in my recent pictures?