Tall Shoes Cause Pain...

I went to the National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana state convention this weekend. I always love these convention because I get a chance to spend time and learn from some pretty spectacular people. So this is about how my weekend went...

First off, I don't have any pictures of the first couple of days because my camera broke. Surprise! Surprise! Deja broke another piece of technology. None-the-less, my husband bought me a new HOT PINK camera for my birthday! So on my birthday, (yep it was my birthday and yes presents are still being accepted) is when I started snapping pics.

This is my first pick on my HOT new camera...

We are still working on posing abilities.

 My mom and sister sent me an awesome package with cute clothes, shoes and jewelry (hello, they know me well) and a "Birthday Babe" tiara and pink ribbon...which I totally wore!

Natalia, Dianne and I spent quite a bit of time selling t-shirts. T-shirt saler is now added to my resume...

Pretty cute shirt wouldn't you say!?! My boss based the design off of the whole Chick-fil-A concept...

Because we're dorks, we decided to each take our picture with the Chick-fil-A cow...

Don't get me wrong, I love conventions but when I start getting a little sleepy, what's better and more exciting than posing with a cow!?! Absolutely nothing.

Even though I was in meetings all day for my birthday, my hubber-wubber decided to join me on my b-day because he loves me and because he likes meetings (he's so strange). It was nice having him around...

See, we still like each other and it's been over a month!

Besides the camera, he also bought me a shiny new cane...

It's like a new car for me but waaaay cheaper!

The night of my b-day we all got dressed up all fancy for the annual banquet....

...and no, I'm not ashamed of the tiara.

GQ is a good purse holder. But I think he likes it way to much, it' kind of freaks me out.

As Natalia demos, the food was good...

and the company wasn't too bad either...

At the banquet, awards are given. This woman, Tammy Green, was a huge mentor to me when I first came to Ruston to attend the Louisiana Center for the Blind. She was ALWAYS kind and helpful and was a great example to me. She won a major award on banquet night and I couldn't be happier for her.

This year I also got to be part of the scholarship committee. It was a lot of fun giving away money to some well-deserving college students! Almost as fun as getting it, almost!

We had a great scholarship class this year...

Miss Amber won our top scholarship this year, very deserving. She is getting ready to go to Baltimore for college to study journalism and is currently earning her personal trainer license. Her arm muscles are rid-i-culous! She would so be hired as my body guard if I needed one. And we spent the whole scholarship breakfast talking about shoes, you know, the important stuff!

We also heard a great speech by our national president, Dr. Mark Maurer, at the banquet.

The last day of the conference I spent a lot of time holding this little cutie...

This is Joshua and his mommy...

Josh's dad gave a great closing day speech...

One of the highlights of the convention for me was meeting a little girl named Marissa and her family. They were at their first convention. Marissa and I have a lot in common. She and I have similar eye conditions, both love pink, fashion, purses, shoes and accessories. Needless to say we are match made in heaven! She is a sweet little girl with WONDERFUL parents. She is using a cane at school, and loves it, and it also reading Braille like crazy! I had so much fun with her and her little brother...

Oh, I forgot to mention that at the very beginning of the convention I had a little incident with a TV that did not turn out well for me. I produced a large jumbo size Braille "A" on my head after a high-speed collision.

Luckily (I guess) it was under my hair so you couldn't see it. But it was like I gave myself a permanent Bumpit, you know the little hair things you see on TV..."From Flat to Fabulous in Seconds"

I certainly Bump'dit!