Update on Hamilton

As I mentioned previously my good friend since fifth grade, Hamilton Hartfield was electrocuted on Sunday. He works for Oncor and was working in Carrollton on a call. I spoke with his girlfriend today and she says the doctors tell her 38% of his body is burned - most of them third degree burns. He went in surgery this morning as they had to electric saw his left arm trying to save the nerves. The nerves could not be detected before the surgery and they want to save the hand. His arms are severely burned as well as his face and neck. One of his ears is pretty much gone. They do believe he has hearing as he was conscious upon arrival and was talking to them... They will have to wait to see if it affected his eyesight. As of right now he is heavily sedated and is on a ventilator to help him breathe. His girlfriend's brother says this could be one of seven to 23 surgeries. His face is very puffy and basically unrecognizable at this time, but the doctors are awaiting to see what the body does to heal itself. Any reconstructive surgery will come last on the face. His legs were not burned so this is where they will take the skin grafts.

Forgive me if I am not 100% on the details. I work where Hamilton lives so I spoke with his girlfriend this morning and I know Kyle has been relaying information to the guys so I have been getting some hearsay... The family says sometimes they are not quite sure of all the details as well. He is at Parkland in Dallas in critical condition at the burn unit. They say we are welcome to visit... I will go up there either later this week or next week... Maybe he will become more coherent as right now they are heavily sedating him as well. I will continue to pass on information.

Ennett, his girlfriend, asks that we pray as much as possible. Spread the word and just keep praying.

Labor Day Weekend

The holiday weekend is quickly coming to an end. It was so nice and actually too short.

Saturday we went to Shanna and John's wedding in McKinney. It was a very beautiful outdoor wedding. Nick's entire family was there so it was good to all hang out. Shanna had everything in pink decor. I fell in love with the wedding cake... I took a picture somewhere... hmmm... might need to find it.

Nick has a signature pose during football season so this is sort of a joke... Guns Up... because I get very angry when he ruins my posed pictures with this!!!




Sunday was the first Texas Tech game of the year! Since I am hosting the Red Raider Roadshow we went up to the Addison Alumni Watching party... We interviewed some crazy folks and got some really really good answers. I hope it all turns out well! Tech won... which I wasn't too worried, but Nick was about to flip his lid. He is very serious about football!!!

Today I spent the day entertaining myself by cleaning and getting ready for Fall. I got new patio furniture so I sat outside and chatted on the phone for a while. Nick's mom and I hit up some sales and came out with some good things. She is a true bargain hunter and I sure don't know how she does it! She can find the sale item in a heap of things!!!

Dad and Brenda are still on their two week roadtrip leaving Yellowstone tomorrow headed into Idaho and back down. They are truly enjoying it. I think they've about covered the entire US in their five year marriage!!! They sure do love to travel! We have barely gotten to talk due to cell phone reception so our daily chats might be three minutes!

I'm trying to smile, but one of my best friends might be going to Heaven. I thought about not mentioning it because it is easier to just "not" talk about it and I don't want to seem a gossip that "knows" everything... My friend, Hamilton went to school with me since Gifted and Talented Class in fourth grade... he now lives at one of the properties my company manages... He often comes up to the office and hangs out with me... Well, he was electrocuted on the job with Oncor and is in critical condition. His insides are burned and his face and body have third degree burns... He is having surgery tomorrow, but they are unsure he will pull through. He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met... my gosh... sickens me... I guess at this point all we can do is pray. I remember in high school Hamilton's dad passed away and I remember asking him about the funeral... I said, "So, how was it?" I didn't know what else to say... He taught me a life lesson right there when he gently laughed and told me there was no way it was... it was a funeral... I have a lot of good memories up to this day with him and I just pray for his entire family as they face this storm.

As the weekend comes to a close we get ready for that Fall weather to hit... I guess I'm in the mode already... Let it begin!

10 Years

10 Years ago...



My cousin, Jaclyn preffed KD and Tri Delt last night at Texas Tech... I have told her the entire time to keep an open mind and just go with her heart... She did choose KD tonight as number one and we shall see... but, hearing her accounts make me laugh knowing what we all know now about Rush... She was a bit worried that all she saw in the KD parking lot were BMWs and Lexus' and in Tri Delt she saw more down to earth cars... I laughed out loud and said, "Jaclyn, it's all a show! They aren't really like that once you get in!" I remember telling the girls with the best cars to park in the driveway... this for Jaclyn who is one of most beautiful down to earth girls in the world this is just overwhelming as she doesn't want to associate with people who think they are higher than everyone else! I just laugh to myself knowing that in Rush every sorority is trying so hard to outdo one another and get the best girls that you just put on the best show possible... I told her if she does go KD that she will find some of the most big hearted, sweet and good people and she will forget that during Rush she thought "we" were just beyond perfect.

On another note from all I have heard this past year or so KDs are growing and growing and are one of the best on campus. I always felt we were a young sorority being established on the campus later than most and we had to truly make an impact. Jaclyn said during Rush she saw this impact in all of their philanthropy work and she could see the Christian base. This warms my heart to know we were all a part of this. I told Melissa Perley Land that when she was Rush chair I felt there was a change. Instead of depending on rushing the most beautiful girls it became about getting not only beautiful, but well rounded leaders that could carry our chapter. After hearing about the chapter in the past year I know she started a trend that is in place today. These girls are just amazing. Wow... I have enjoyed diving back into the world through a young college girl's eyes... I know we all miss those days... I miss that excitement, but as I told her - I found some of my very best friends... and some can say you pay for your friends, but I'll tell you this - after the thousands I... errr... my Dad paid... we didn't pay ENOUGH for the gold I found in that big ole house on Greek Circle!!!

Red Raider Roadshow - DFW Student Sendoff

This is the Red Raider Roadshow's first webisode. It was an insane day as I didn't have a red dress in time so I just went stylish and the colors are totally off!!! Mitchell Patton is amazing as an editor, producer, photographer and director of the first episode. He makes me look good! This first one is only a preview as the season will get better and better with the excitement of football! We are focusing on alumni relations!!! We already have a few sponsors and can only give thanks to God for more!!! It was fun to be holding a microphone again, but I was a bit rusty... It will be like riding a bicycle by our next show at the SMU Dallas Alumni Watching Party!!!

Never a Dull Moment

They say summer is gone, but I beg to differ. The air outside is thick and hot. I love it like this, but I am getting a bit tired of it. When even Julie Adams cannot lay in the sunshine due to miserable heat then it just might be too hot!

Let me tell you about my insane weekend. Friday night was the best in the world. I met Jana, Jordan and Stacy at Uncle Julios for a girls night. We had such a good time talking and laughing. We then went to Stacy’s new apartment and just hung out for a while. It is so important to have strong girlfriends. We may be married, single or dating – no matter what – we need girl time. We took a few great pictures, but the only one Jordan gave me was this crazy one below where we are being funny. I think I was attempting a strange face, but it looks like I am just gritting my teeth. Love them.



Saturday I am getting ready to lay out with the girls when my phone rings. Mitchell, my old photographer and now new director for Red Raider Roadshow says he is on his way. I am like, cool, we are shooting a promo tomorrow… he is like, Julie, are you ready? Our story is at 2…. I totally forgot. This was the first story for our show… OH DEAR. I went like a tornado to get ready. So when I release the story on the web you will need to understand why I have on a cute green dress instead of a red one… no time!!! We went to the DFW Alumni Sendoff and interviewed a bunch of kids and parents… so fun!!! It was so great to hear their stories. I felt so old and just wanted to turn back time and be going to college!!! This time TEN YEARS AGO I was going through Rush!!! Oh my gosh!!! Mitchell is going to edit the story and put it in the Tech websites this week so I will be sharing it… who knows what it turned out like… I felt a bit rusty!!!

Nick and I got me a new big screen and mounted it on my wall yesterday. I was so proud of it (We sold mine for $200 and the man sold this new 37 inch wall mounted one to me for $275 – so $75 out of my pocket!)… until my phone bit the dust and I had to throw out another $100 for a new phone… thank goodness I was able to sign another contract and get that discounted price… but, I don’t have hundreds to just be throwing at technology!!! Maybe I should have been easier on the phone before… but, God knows I am so clumsy and either run into walls or ram my technology into the ground! It’s very annoying!!! I’ve been in this mode of updating things as I can and just getting things here and there. My dad taught me that you cannot buy things all at once. You have to get things as you go. When he and Mom first got married they were right out of college and lived in an apartment. There was no way at that time to buy your entire furniture set! I’d love to be able to buy everything new for my room at one time, but I just wait and get things as time rolls and I am able to do so. It’s just a process of growing up and changing things as you go. I will never rid of my Mom’s chair. It reminds me of her and I enjoy to sit in it at times. So there are some things no matter what you just do not rid of… Another thing – this HUGE teddy bear of Mom’s… he is ragged and sad, but he sits in my closet! Some things are just plain meaningful!!!

Summer summer summer… don’t leave me yet…

Summer Social Times

It's very hot outside, but I love it. Last week I spent my day off with my old friend I reported with, Mechelle in McKinney. We took the kids to the pool and relaxed for hours. We didn't even notice the heat as we just enjoyed one another's company. It's so nice to talk to someone who understands the world of media and understands why we both got out! We both miss it so much (and Mechelle should be on CNN!)... but, we also talked about our twelve hour workdays where we were so burned out we could barely breathe. It was so great to talk!

Yesterday we all got to meet Baby Gavin! Kacie invited the girls out to her home in Flower Mound for a home cooked "girly" meal. She made salmon, salad, Bananas Foster and rice. Yummy. After watching her with Gavin all night while her husband was at the movies I was just in awe. I know nothing about babies. What makes me happy for far in the future is that she seems to be learning as well. She says she might not know the answer, but tries to do the best and hope it is the right answer!!! We had such a good time sitting around talking. We have have all known one another since college! Such nice times and good girl time talking about men!!! I still love summer!!!

Red Raider Roadshow

I am not into football feeling yet... but, I want to share my news so I can get the ball rolling before it is thrown. I have agreed to host a show called Red Raider Roadshow. My good friend and former photographer, Mitchell has been shooting it for a year. I have helped him when he comes to Dallas, but he decided it's too hard to do himself. Basically all I would do is interview people at fun events like tailgates and Tech dinners/ sendoffs, etc and just be the happy host... and he edits it all together. It is a web show so it will be on Tech's three main blogs and wherever else he can get it. It isn't anything too fancy or crazy, but oh, how I love to do these things!!! We already have planned to go to a Richardson send off, Denton dinner for Tech, SMU kickoff dinner, Tech vs. UT... YAY!!! He has been meeting with some potential sponsors, but I don't care if only the web viewers see it because I just like to be on the screen!!! I have that sort of bug... or obsession? It makes me miss news... but, then I remember these are the fun types of stories I love doing!!!