Okay, as much as I appreciate y’all thinking that I am cool enough to have actually gotten to hang out with Kate Gosselin, I have to set the record straight because I’m afraid some people are under the impression that Kate is my new gal pal and we went out for a margarita last night.
Sadly, that is not the case.
However, I did get to see her from afar like 4000 other women at last night’s Girls Night Out event in Houston. It was fascinating to listen to her talk about the experience of having sextuplets and all that they have been through. She seemed to be a lovely person, but I have no inside scoop.
But thanks to Missy, I do have two pictures of her hair.
While I would never actually cut my hair to look like hers, I do admire someone with substantial hair courage. It’s a trait that I do not possess. I am the cowardly lion of hair.
Also, there a few other things I’d like to share in a handy list format.
1. I discovered on the drive home from Houston that I have a fear of toll roads. I’m always afraid I’m going to do something wrong or forget to throw in a dime or something and find myself surrounded by a SWAT team complete with a multitude of flashing sirens.
2. While I was getting ready to leave for Houston on Thursday, my hairdryer began to smoke and I saw a bright orange flame come out of it. It was extremely frightening considering my hair was only halfway dry.
Later I told P, “Oh my gosh, it was so scary. My hair could have caught on fire and burned completely up!”
To which he replied, “OR you could have been ELECTROCUTED.”
Yes. I guess that would be worse.
On the upside, I purchased a cute, new, hot pink hairdryer.
3. Check this out.
That is more than just a blurry picture; that is a speeding ticket. An undeserved ticket I might add.
I got it on my way home from Houston and the officer said I was going 80. HOWEVER, my cruise control was set on 70, a fact that I was quick to point out to him. Yet, I still received a ticket.
I’m totally going to fight city hall or whatever.
And now I’m off to watch “Friday Night Lights” and eat M&M’s. It really is the best way to spend a Friday night.
I had that happen once. The hair dryer thing, I mean. Although I did get pulled over for doing 120km/hr when I was only doing 95km/hr. Thank goodness the officer recognized me. And I’m not ashamed to say that I almost cried. I didn’t get a ticket. Next time, you should cry. It works!
I got that same ticket in Colorado! I was not aware that the cruise control wouldn’t slow you down to the set speed when you were going down a mountain. Live and learn.
I am SO excited that Friday Night Lights is back.
Regarding the speeding ticket? I would just ask the question that all good Texans probably ask themselves — What would Tim Riggins do? I’m just guessing that Texans would ask that question but, really, I have no idea since I’m from Ory-gone.
Oh, that STINKS!!! So sorry.
I used to be convinced that those Houston-Austin cops had a Wanted sign in their cars with my picture on it. Maybe they confused you for me.
What??? A speeding ticket? Girl..you better slow down. Per Sammy Hagar “I can’t drive 55!”
oh my what a day and night , the hair dryer that was too funny , well not really but i can see you freaking out oh my and you just were talking about katie and her hair lol , so how was she, was she stuck up, i like her and all but sometimes woosh she has moody sides to her, but 6 kids and a hubby to match , i heard they moved to north carolina ..no more pennsyvania sp i’m sure.. you enjoy thoes m&m girl friend…
Did you tell him that you were almost electrocuted just moments earlier in the day? I think you could use that one in court.
I hate toll roads too, I made a wrong turn coming home from Victoria’s gymnastics class a few weeks ago and about had a heart attack because it took me right onto one. I had to pull over on the shoulder to dig out my 4 quarters so I could avoid the $47.50 MINIMUM fine… the heart was a racing, but I found that 4th quarter! Stupid road should be better labeled – I think it was a trap!
I have only recently found your blog…I know, where have I been! You are so funny! I am still laughing at your post tonight! I am also terrified of toll roads precisely for the same reason! My hubby laughs at me to no end. Now I know I’m not alone in this unfounded fear! Thanks for the laugh during this VERY late night teething session with my daughter!
I have had the hair dryer thing happen to me.
It scared me so badly that I threw it while it was burning. Don’t do that. Worse things happen.
But hey! A pink hair dryer.
2 thumbs up!
Kate and fam sometimes attend our church that my hubby works for. I have never met her, but am a fan of anyone who can keep up with all those kids!
My hair did catch on fire from a dying hair dryer one time…not pretty my friend, not pretty….
I got a speeding ticket on the way home yesterday, too! Mine was deserved because I was driving to fast through a residential area on a country road…oops!
It didn’t get me down because I had just received the BEST news and was still basking in God’s glory! He is SO good!
I just realized a spelling error and as a teacher it drives me crazy!
I was driving “too” fast…I know I’m crazy!
FYI- I was coming home from IAH one day via the toll roads. At the bridge (that costs 2 dollars) I dropped 4 quarters! I was too scared to hold up the lone and pick them up so I just threw in 4 more. Well, when I got to the next one- I realized I didn’t have any money! Crap!
Turns out, they give you an IOU of sorts and take your info. Then you have a week to mail in the money!
Have no fear! (or get an EZ Tag
)
*line
My blow dryer did that once too. Why do they have to die so dramatically?
And I think the best way to spend a Friday night is watching Numb3rs and eating potato chips.
Thank you for another chance. I like the baby memorial and the family tiles.
Loser! I left my prior comment on the wrong post. Please don’t disqualify me!
sorry about the ticket…fight it girl. be sure to make the judge aware that your knick name is BIG MAMA too.
“hair courage” love that…that is so what i need!
Hey, I had about the same reaction when my hair dryer did that. So, I bought two hair dryers so I had a back up! Yes, it would not have been good to be electrocuted but to have to leave the house with half dried hair to go to work, disaster!
Love the pink hair dryer, although having one’s hair almost catch on fire seems to warrant an awesome hot pink hair dryer!!!
Hair courage hysterical, that I have much to everyone who knows me chagrin.
I hate toll roads and eww on the ticket, yes fight it!!!
I just started reading the Gosselin’s book “Multiple Blessings” and would love to get to see her live. And while I love her hair in the front, it’s too “out there” for this country bumpkin in the back. Hair courage I also do not possess.
Oh and I agree with another poster…crying works to get you out of a ticket.
I feel the exact same way about those toll roads. That’s because in NC we don’t even have them. If we do, it’s on the mountain side! The first time I was ever on a toll road was driving with my husband {then boyfriend} up to Michigan to visit his family! Oh, I was amazed! haha. That the simplicity of the south I guess! But, the first time I had to drive through one, I was freaking out.
My hair dryer has started to smell like it is on fire when I use it. So, since my hubs is so great, he went out and got me another one. It’s not pink
but it does have a nifty little rubber comfort grip handle!
PS Glad your hair didn’t go up in smoke AND that you didn’t get electrocuted!!
I totally have that exact hair dryer, and I LOVE it! You won’t be sorry you got it – plus it’s pink! It doesn’t get much better than a pink hair dryer.
I so love that show! They sure didn’t make them like Riggins when I was in school.
I’m digging the pink hair dryer! Sorry about the speeding ticket….. fight it to the death, haha!!! You got to love them cops, huh??
We were in Houston in November for my brother-in-laws wedding. My husband was driving our rental car and we totally flew through a toll without even realizing we did it. He was worried the whole weekend that the cops were going to run down the wedding aisle demanding to know where he was.
The whole hair dryer-is-going-to-explode-and-ruin-my-hair thing has happened to me more than once! Funny, I never considered bodily harm…I was more worried about burning my hair. Men and their priorities!
Too bad you didn’t have Mr. March’s Milano cookies left. Maybe Mr. Officer would have been appeased by them. Or at least they would have been some solace to you.
Have the same hair dryer… my 2 girls love it… it’s a happy hair dryer!
I am also a cowardly lion when it comes to my hair. But you DID buy a pretty outrageous hair dryer. That should count for something.
Speeding tickets are never fun, so I won’t dwell on it. But go fight the man and all that. Good luck.
thanks for the clarification, I totally thought you and Kate were sharing some coffee at a little table together. I was so jealous… Now I am only mildly jealous!
Sorry about your ticket… tough luck down there in Texas. I have gotten three written warnings in the last year – one from each type of officer in our area. I am guessing I will get a ticket if I get pulled over again… did you have a bunch of written warnings that you didn’t tell us about???
I had to check out Friday Night Lights last night, just to see… jury is still out.
have a great weekend.
I’m afraid of toll roads, too. But, not because of the swat team. I’m afraid of the rear-facing blades that will pop up and pierce my tires if my aim is off and one of my coins doesn’t make it into the basket.
About the ticket – if you really had cruise control set to 70, but he clocked you at 80, you might want to have your car checked out and recalibrated. If the mechanic finds that it’s out of whack, it will be worth the money to have it fixed and his invoice will get you out of the ticket. Happened to my dad!
I watched Revolutionary Road and ate M&M’s– still an acceptable way to spend a Friday night. I am still trying to decide if I liked the movie. (Not that you asked, but in case you wanted to.)It was good to see Leo and Kate together again on a movie screen, though the fact that Leo has aged was troubling.
I am going to have to get me one of those pink hair dryers! And thanks for the photos of Kate’s hair–
(Came over by way of the link at Lysa’s and was compelled to comment because of our remarkable M&M similarities.)
I love lists, so…
1. Try an EZPass (at least that’s what we have over here in WV for toll roads) it’s a nifty little machine you put in your car and you drive through and it automatically charges your credit card for the correct total)
.
2. Shared a similar hair dryer situation, had the same reaction, men just don’t understand it’s all about priorities!
3. That officer just had his pants on too tight…
4. Finally, m&m’s…I have a special basket with a lid that sits near my couch, it’s for M&Ms only
I have that exact same blow dryer. I love it and have had it over a year, so it’s good!
Hi New-Real-Life-Former-Blog friend!
Loved eating breakfast next to you. Your hair is amazing, even post-almost-catch-on-fire incident. Don’t get “courage” to cut it off. Love it, just the way it is.
I have pics of Kate’s hair too…but I had to take a picture of the SCREEN to get it big enough. We were sitting kind of far back. What do you want to bet, about 3768 women in the surrounding Houston area are at their salons today getting their hair done, Kate Style???
Oh the maddness of it all!
Have a great weekend!!!!
Sandy Cooper
God Speaks Today
Last time I got a speeding ticket, I was driving across the state of Kansas, on I-70, and I wasn’t doing 70 or even 80. I was doing 90, because really you can’t drive across the state of Kansas fast enough. Unfortunately the speed limit was still 55. Who knew that airplane circling above me had radar? Sheesh.
For once, Hollywood listened to the fans. I was thrilled they brought Friday Night Lights back!
Your blog makes me happy.
you are gonna love the new hair dryer, simply because of the WATTAGE. It make drying your hair soooo much faster! (And if it the same wattage as your old one, just ignore me, here.
)
About the speeding ticket… did you cry? My little sister recommends LOTS of crying and pleading; though admittedly, that’s hard to do if you want to strangle him bc you WEREN’T GOING 80.
I am really enjoying your blog… you make me laugh out loud with some of Caroline’s comments, and miss south Texas (where 2 of my 3 children were born, and we lived for 11 years.) I do NOT miss the heat and humidity, however my eldest daughter thinks it feels like “coming home”. Once a Texan, always a Texan.
)
Yeah for M&Ms and Friday Night Lights!
Yeah that your hair didn’t get catch on fire and more importantly you didn’t get electrocuted!
Yeah for Kate–she is so cool!
Booo for speeding tickets!
Booo for the cruise control not controlling your cruisin’!
Booo if they don’t bring FNL back after this season…
Hope you enjoyed it last night!
Ashley
Oh, toll roads make me hyperventilate. I don’t mind if I know they’re coming, but once in NY or CT or somewhere I came upon one in the rain, and there were about 6 openings. PANIC. I just kind of closed my eyes and followed a car. I’ve wiped the memory out of my mind, so I’m not sure what happened after that. I always feel that every other driver on the road is a 40ish-year-old impatient man with important things to do who is looking at my indecisiveness with disgust. I hate to think of what that says about me.
I was wondering if you were BFF with Kate now and was thinking, “Man, she gets to do everything!” I’ve parked the little green monster back in his habitat where he can yell and shout to come out but is under lock and key right now.
Have you thought about getting either an EZtag (Houston) or a TxTag (Austin) as they work in Houston, Austin, DFW area – just about everywhere in this GREAT state of TEXAS! They don’t cost anything except a small signup fee – they “reload” onto your CC when they drop below a certain level and best of all, the “per use toll” is much cheaper than stopping by the booths. AND you get to be in the “barely drop your speed zoom right through” lanes at the toll plazas. DEFINITELY worth it for you – especially as you’re always traveling!
No wisdom on the speeding ticket however. I’m curious – where was it issued? In Houston or on I-10 near Brookshire or Sealy?
My first time going through a toll I was in high school and apparently an idiot. Never seen one (grew up in small town AR) and didn’t know what to do. So I drove up and threw my change AT the machine and quickly drove off. I never got a bill or letter!
WOW! I’ve actually had the same experience with a hair dryer spitting flames at me too! But I never thought about ELECTROCUTION! I did go out and buy a new hair dryer but it’s definitely not like your hot pink one!
On another note, it’s the end of the month right? Meaning that cop was trying to make his QUOTA! and please don’t tell me that those quota’s are not true because they are! He had nothing else to do on his Friday night that he wanted to pull you over to make his quota! You gotta love it! Just pay the ticket and go to court~ When you win you’ll get money back! YAY
1. Next time you talk to your new BFF Kate will you tell her I said Hey!
I would love to hang out with her for an hour or two.
2. Had to re-read the whole hair dryer part. For some reason I read HAIRDRESSER! I was picturing this lady lighting up a cigarette and blowdrying your hair. Ha! Funny!
3. Have the same hair dryer and LOVE it! It works great, but you do have to love the pink.
4. Sorry about the ticket. But I promise you (as a police officer’s wife) there is NO QUOTA! At least not in these parts. Go ahead and fight it, but be sweet. You get a lot more with sugar than spice.
Oh my. Kate, Kate, Kate. That is not good hair. It wasn’t good when it was shorter and it’s still not good that it’s longer. I think she needs to get rid of the rooster tail and grow both sides out the same. She’s lovely, just the hair is not.
Don’t mind me I’m completely hair obsessed and have my own hair issues
Stinking Officer —Sir. You should have pulled out your Pink Blow Dryer and said “make my day”.
I LOVE PINK!!
Cute hair dryer!
Damn traffic cops!
And I bought my first scarf, wore it to the office and got several compliments. So thanks!
OH, I am totally with you about your hair being on fire. You do not need a hair cut like Kate’s. You have the BEST hair!!
Sorry about the ticket–boo!
Praying for you today, Melanie…may this day be an abundant blessing filled to the brim!
It was a pleasure meeting you in person!! You are too funny…I love the speeding ticket incident AND the hair drying incident. Stuff like that always happens to me
.
I had a stalker cop on the way home. I was driving 90 along with every other person on the highway going from Houston to DFW, and he pulled out behind ME from the median and proceeded to follow me for 20 minutes…never flashed his lights or anything. I pulled off to stop at a gas station, and he did too, then drove through the parking lot and left while I parked. CREEPY!
Have a blessed day!
Lindsey
Oh no! I hate that you got a ticket! Congrats on your new pink hairdryer. May it give you many days of good hair.
I came across your site from a Cafemom group i belong to. I am so happy to see the pictures you took of kate, and you may be surprised when you hear why!! The latest internet rumor going around was that Kate broke her leg this past week. By looking at your pictures, this doesn’t seem to be the case at all!! When she came on stage, was she limping or using crutches at all?
And I agree, crying does work when you get pulled over!! I got pulled over recently going 60 in a 40 (OOPS), and couldn’t help but crying at the thought of getting a criminal speeding ticket!! The cop checked my driving record (near perfect luckily), and NO TICKET!!!!
I am totally the cowardly lion of hair too. I live in abject fear of ruining it. I took scissors to it once as a 4-year-old and never got over the trauma of the self-inflicted cut.
The thing I hate about the toll roads in Houston is that they have those elctronic arm things that rise up after you pay the money. I’m always afraid it’s going to come crashing down on my car, so I have to drive through each toll with my head ducked down with my arm raised up over the top of my head looking like a total hick from the farm, which I am…
I just wandered…with all the rumors I’ve heard out there. Did they take a ‘love offering’ after she spoke? And was she signing photos that were priced really high? Just things I’ve heard and have wandered about. Personally I have no problems with her, to each there own and she’s taking care of her kids which is top priority.
I am sorry about your hair dryer. I actually have the same pink one and I love it! I hope you do, too. Have a great weekend!
Those cops between San Antonio and Houston and Austin and Houston are always ON THE BALL! Back in ye olde days of college my roommate – without fail – would get a ticket every time she drove home to Houston from Austin.
She was so glad when they finally moved to Knoxville.
Um, if you need someone in the Houston area to get you out of jail, gimme a call!
or bail you out or such.
I would love to have been at the girls night out, but couldn’t. however, my friend who has six month old quintuplets here got to go, so I’ll get the scoop from her!
take care, and slow down girl.
Suzanne
Sorry ’bout the ticket….and cute hair dryer!
I think Kate’s hair is weird. My sister had the exact same haircut in 1986. It was super hip in ’86. Not so much in ’09. Hair should never go retro.
LOVE the hot pink hair dryer!
Oh what a day/night! I have the same fear of toll roads. I’ve lived in Houston six years and haven’t gotten an EZ tag yet. Not sure why? I have however, gotten a speeding ticket in Houston and let me tell you, I shed quite a bit of tears to that officer. Explaining that I was on my way to the doctor, where I was meeting my husband to help me with the kids, (I had a very high fever), a 2 week old in the back screaming, an 8 yr. old, and my older son had a seizure right before we had gotten in the car….SURELY he would not still give me one? Oh but yes he did! I ended up fighting it and not having to pay.
I like Kate’s hair, just not that long piece hanging in front. I think it would bother me?
M&M’s and Friday Night Lights-good choice!
Did you get the speeding ticket on I 10? My husband got a ticket about a year ago on I 10 coming back from Houston, somewhere between Buccees and Sequin (Can’t remember exactly where) Anyway, the cop gave him the ticket and when we got home they had on there that he was going 86 miles an hour and there was no way he was going that fast. It was at night and he was probably going about 70, which was speeding but not excessively so like 86 would be. Makes me wonder if it is a speed trap? He took defensive driving but still had to pay over $100 for the court cost!
Lovin’ the hair posts…Boo Mama has opened up a hair forum. Or asked for comments on who our hair heroines are. Hey, maybe we should call them our “hairoines”.
Hair is very important to me. I take it seriously. Mine is thin. Straight. BLahhhhh…..
Yet, for some reason, I go through blowdryers. They literally “blow”. Don’t get it. But lovin’ your pink one.
Fight the ticket…
I went to Girls Night Out too and have a very similar zoomed in picture of Kate and her cuteness. Did you see the line for the book signing?!
I totally was at Girls Night Out too in Houston!!!! Did you like it? I LOVED the first speaker from Proverbs 31. Such a great story!
Sidenote – I’ve been following your blog for about 2 months and this is my first time to post. Thanks for sharing your story!
Kellianne
Ok, so when is Girls Nite Out coming to MARYLAND….us northerners need some fun too!!!
Wow, Kate….very cool, bet she is a hoot to listen to! And bummer about the ticket…..fight girl fight! And I TOOOOTALLY love Friday Night Lights and thought I was the only one who watched it!!! They are bringing back to a main tv channel in my neck of the woods this next season so YAY!!! 
What a fun event you got to attend! I cannot imagine having 6 kiddos at one time. I am so glad she got a night out! I know she must need it. She must be exhausted. But them she does have great hair and that is something! Thanks for sharing and sorry about the ticket. Bummer.
So glad that you didn’t get hurt with your hair dryer. I had it happen that the cord had a crack in it, right where it connects to the handle. Anyway, there I was, with my head flipped upside down, just drying away, when ZAP! I was shocked, and it zapped all the way up my arm! Not only did it scare me half to death, but… it HURT. Be thankful you escaped your incident unscathed.
As for the speeding ticket; I feel your pain on that one too. I was actually in ‘traffic court’ as recently as a month ago. Unfortunately, I still had to pay for the ticket, but I did get them to change the charge to something that didn’t involve any points on my license – bonus! Good luck!
Laura, in Michigan
Did you even realize what a hair heroine you are? have you seen BooMama’s blog? (I mean, of course you have!) but apparently quite a few people admire your hair as well . . . so be proud of your hair!
haha
I am a big fan of Kate Gosselin, so I still think it’s pretty cool that you saw her, even if it was with 4000 other people.
And I am SOOO sorry about the speeding ticket! That just, well…sucks!
And the toll roads scare me to death too! We just went to Disney World, and had to drive some new toll roads, and OH MY WORD it was scary! I missed one exit because I was so freaked out about which lane to be in…ARRGGHH. Anyway, just thought I’d let you know you aren’t alone!
Okay, so I realize I’m like the 10th person to point out they have the same hairdryer, but I just had to say it anyway
i hate to be one of a million but i had to laugh because we just drove through the wrong lane of the toll road today–the one for people with the ez pass–which we do NOT have. miraculously, nobody hunted us down or anything!
i love dark chocolate peanut m&ms. DE-licious.
u r one cool mama!
Oooooh, the hair dryer thing is scary. It was bad enough when you pulled out your eyelashes waybackwhen, a burned out bald spot would have been over the top!
As for the ticket-thing… grrrrrrrr. Now that’s the sort of thing that makes me steam. Fight that thing!
Thanks so much for posting the pics! I know that Kate does do speaking engagements and always wondered on the specifics of what she talks about….I know her kids,but WHAT exactly????? I noticed on the J&K+8 they have verses posted on the cabinets in the kitchen…did anyone else notice that??? Thanks! God Bless,
Jennifer
so glad you were able to post a pix of Kate’s great hair day “) I think she is awesome!
If you’re certain your CC was set to 70 mph, you were on flat ground, and you don’t have over sized tires on your vehicle, you should ask the judge for recent proof of calibration on the radar equipment.
By the way, my wife has gotten me hooked on your blog… geez.
I’m coming out of lurker-ville for this. I’ve been following your blog for a couple of months and I really enjoy it. I like the posts about your little girl going hunting. Secretly my husband wants to turn my daughter into a little hunter like that too. So anyway, I was at the Girls Night Out too and Susan said something about a shout out to Big Mama and I wondered if she meant you. Then I saw that you went so I figured it was time to say Hello. So HELLO! Keep up the blogging, you are funny and inspirational and I love reading it every morning when I get to work.
GIRL… You have GOT to tell me where you got that hot pink hair dryer at? I just HAVE to know so I can run out and get me one. I mean, I just can’t blow dry my hot pink hair with a crummy old white one… I must have the hot pink one to go with my hot pink hair.
Email me or comment on my blog please, because I just don’t have the stamina to read through 78 other comments to see if this question was already asked and answered… I have a toddler to keep up with.
THANKS,
Groovewoman
Hey Girl!
My post about GNO is finally up and there are a few pics of you. Just FYI…
Love ya!
Sandy
I just found your website via Marla’s. I enjoy reading your blog and found it quite funny that you managed to get a ticket even though cruise control was set. I guess i should think twice about setting my cruise control eh? I’m sure you didn’t find it amusing. Good luck fighting the city on it!
Houston,1986 (really, there’s no way I’d let my kids be driving on a road trip at 16). I’m stopped by a “police officer” aka cop and he asks me “do you know what you were doing wrong?” So I pipe up (I love questions that I know the answer to), “I changed lanes without signaling!” He answers, “You were doing that and speeding” I’m sure that little coup made his day.