Some things that leave me feeling great September 28, 2007

1. Balancing my checkbook.
2. Cooking something that turns out great and other people enjoy.
3. Waking up before the alarm and laying in bed for a little while.
4. Laughing with friends (or at friends). 🙂
5. Getting my eyes of off myself and my circumstances and back on God.
6. A great dress at a great price. Even if someone else wears it on the same day!
7. Pajamas!
8. Cute shoes.
9. Hearing about God at work in other people’s lives. I have talked with so many people this week who have encouraged me just by talking about their relationship with Jesus, what He is teaching them and how they see Him at work.
10. Talking to my family.
11. Warm sunshine and a cool breeze.
12. Singing at the top of my lungs in the car.
13. Finishing housework – not starting it, but finishing it.
14. My comfy striped chair by the window.
15. Hugs.
16. Checking off the last thing on a to do list.

A few funny things from this week

1. “I like your clothes. You always have problems with them.” From a friend who apparently enjoys being entertained by my wardrobe malfunctions.
2. “It’s not like a compulsive need to be liked, like my need to be praised.” From Michael on The Office.
3. Ok, this one is not really funny and not really from this week, but I realized I have not blogged about it yet. Last Saturday night we had a staff Wii party. Oh my, that was fun! I won’t say who, but I knocked out all 3 of my boxing opponents. Who am I kidding? It was Cliff, Kim and Jarrod. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Random things I have learned from TiVo September 26, 2007

• Beverly Hills 90210 is not as good as it used to be.
• Designing Women is!
• Until the Fall Season starts there really is no good TV – at any time or any hour.  It’s sad when there isn’t anything good even on your TiVo.
• Commercial-free watching is quite nice.
• Don’t worry if you miss a show on MTV orVH1.  There will be  re-runs!  Like every night for 5 weeks.

Strong Men September 18, 2007

I just gained a new appreciation for those guys who go around doing the “Strong Men” shows.  You know, where they life heavy things, blow up hot water bottles and rip phone books.  I just tried to tear a stack of paper into small pieces (I habit I have when throwing away things) and that was much harder than I thought.  It was a bunch of paper.  Then again, maybe I just need to actually work out.

I know…I should know better

To anyone who is thinking about getting a pedicure from Wal-Mart, don’t!  No, common sense is not one of my strong suits.  So, on Saturday I had tons to do and only 2 hours to get a pedicure, groceries and get ready for a wedding.  I tried my fav pedicure place and it was crowded.  No time to wait.  So, I decided to head to Wal-Mart and forgo the pedicure.  When I got there, I saw the new nail place they had put in.  You know, right next to the “bank in a box” and other such handy things they have in Wal-Mart now.  I have said to myself many times, I am never going to that nail place.  But, the fact that I really needed a pedicure since I was going to wear my black kitten heel sandals (same pair Amy has by the way!) and it was only $15, I thought, what the heck.  Well, heck is right.  Not only was the girl who did my pedicure about 16 and on her cell phone half the time, I had to wear a band-aid yesterday to cover the wound I got.  Needless to say, I will never again get a pedicure at a place where I can see the produce section from my massage chair! 

A few things I have been learning… September 11, 2007

• Wanting something even after you have asked God for it and He said no or wait does not mean you are not trusting Him with that thing.
• My purpose is not to prove myself excellent, but to proclaim His excellencies (1 Peter 2:9).
• I have to have fun and rest if I am going to be who God wants me to be.
• I lose my passion when I stop having a high view of God and His grace.
• God’s good and perfect plan always wins out over life’s pain and difficulties.  Always.
• What Jesus did on the cross- making a way between us and God for now and eternity – is a precious thing.  Its worth is why I can do whatever He asks me to do.
• It is not my efforts that make me more like Jesus, but His. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

It was a yummy trip September 8, 2007

Here are the promised pics from my wonderful dining experiences here in Austin.  I love Texas food!

First is Monday night’s dinner.  What you see here is 2 kinds of beef ribs, beef sausage and chicken, all grilled.  Yum!  As long as I remember we have always had 2-3 meats at family events.  My mom’s dinnertime mantra growing up was, “At least eat your meat!”.  This cornicopia of meat choices is referred to by my brother-in-law as the meat salad.  Let me say again, yum!

  

This was lunch on Tuesday with my mom and grandmom.  Top Notch is an old-fashioned drive in with the best onion rings ever.  I had a chicken fried steak sandwich, too.  Oh, I have missed those! 

 

Lunch on Wednesday was at an Austin classic – Hula Hut.  I don’t get there often, but since we were meeting Moe and Jamie downtown at the UT campus, it was an easy choice.  Right on Lake Austin (now Lady Bird Lake), it is a great setting and great food.  Tex-Mex, of course!  Notice the fresh handmade tortillas?

Another lunch of oh so delicious Tex-Mex.  What makes it Tex-Mex?  A few things – yellow cheese (the best!), guacamole that is fresh (not from a mix!) and meat seasoned just right, not stewed or boiled.  These are 2 chalupas from La Margarita in Round Rock, one of my dad’s favs.

Lammes Candies is another Austin institution.  They have the yummiest chocolate covered strawberries ever.  They also only sell them a few times a year for 3 days at a time.  The end of this week happened to be chocolate covered strawberry time!  Here’s my little bag of the delicousness and a cup they sell with a message I could not resist!

Tonight was at home with my family and included trying out my newphew’s new Wii.  What a blast that was!  I think I pulled my hamstring playing baseball, though.  How sad is that?  Anyway, dinner was Mr. Gatti’s, “the best pizza in town, for real!”  At least that used to be their slogan.  Here’s my fav – the sampler. 

Good News, Bad News September 5, 2007

This was my nephew’s response when I asked about his first day of preschool:

• Good news: No one stepped on my foot.
• Bad news: The boy in the blue bit the girl in the pink on the finger and she cried and cried.

I love it!  Apparently foot injuries are a worry that Will has.  A day without a foot injury is a good day for him. 

Other fun stuff that I’ve heard this trip already:

• “Some of these clothes are so old.  They make you look 125.” From my 87 year old grandmother while we were shopping today.  It is not hard to tell where get my sense of style and love of shoppping from!
• “If my nose was full of money, I’d blow it all on you.” A line from my dad’s new favorite song.  He always finds the weirdest song lyrics.  A few others include: “I’ll never forget ol what’s her name.”  and “I wouldn’t take her to a dog fight, even if she had a chance to win.” 

Still having a great time.  I went shopping, picked up my nephews from school and had Nate’s birthday dinner tonight.  Tomorrow is friend day – I’ll get to see Moe and Jamie Bomer and have dinner with a friend from college.  Some pictures of my dining adventures are coming!  By the way, it was homemade enchiladas and tacos tonight – with yellow cheese!!!!!

Travel Adventures September 4, 2007

Well, I made it to Texas!  I changed planes at Houston International and let me just say, you might not want to do that if you don’t have to.  The “shuttle” picks you up from an old airline gate and drives along the same path as the airplanes.  It’s pretty crazy to look out the bus window and see a jet taking off less than 100 yards away.  That was crazy.  After a 1/2 hour delay then 2 more hours on the runway, the 30 minute flight to Austin was underway.  Whew, it is good to be here!  Dinner alone had many adventures – pictures of the “meat salad” and quotes from my nephews will be coming soon! 🙂