Holiday Season

I find this time of year I tend to do a lot of reflecting and remembering how much I enjoyed the holidays when my grandparents and in-laws were around.  The holidays just haven't been the same since the passing of my grandparents and my mother and father in law.  They were the heads of the families and were the glue that kept each of the families together.  They have each been gone several years now and with each year that goes by, the holidays become less and less special.   

This year, we spent the first part of our day having lunch (I made Menudo), working on our puzzle, and just relaxing.  In the evening, we went over to friends house for Fajitas, decorating gingerbread cookies, and hanging out.  We always have fun when we hang out with our friends, but there was nothing "holidayish" about the evening.  It was just friends hanging out and having fun.

Sometimes I think we should do something that would bring the festiveness back to the holidays, but I have no idea what that something would be.  What do you do to make your holidays special?

Wetzel's Pretzels

Today I was on vacation, so hubby and I went geocaching and to the mall.  While at the mall we decided to try Wetzel's Pretzel Bitz as well as Auntie Anne's pretzel bites.  The two cost a penny different (Wetzel's was more), but there was no comparison on anything else.  The portion was much larger at Wetzel's and the flavor was fantastic.  They were light, fluffy, buttery, and had just the right amount of salt.  As much as I dislike going to the mall, I would make the trip back just for Wetzel's Pretzel Bitz.  

Amope Pedi Perfect

A couple of weeks ago, hubby picked up an Amope Pedi Perfect while he was out shopping.  I have terribly dry and rough feet.   I have tried various other methods, but nothing ever seems to work.  I read the instructions and it seems almost too simple, but I was willing to give it a try.  The first time I gave it a try, it actually worked.  Now both hubby and I use the Amope Pedi Perfect regularly.  We have finally found something that gets rid of the rough dry skin and this method actually takes very little effort.  It was well worth the money.

Disappearing Tripe

Have you ever been certain that you have a certain ingredient in your kitchen, only to find it is gone?   That happened to us today.  Hubby and I planned to make Menudo this weekend and knew we had the tripe in the freezer.  Tonight, hubby went to pull out the tripe to thaw.  We have no clue where it went.  We didn't cook it and we didn't toss it out.  Our final conclusion.....a tripe thief snuck into the house and took it.  

Thai Spoon

I had Thai food for the first time last night at a little place near our house called Thai Spoon.  Their food was beyond excellent.  I had the Pad Thai with the Potak soup.  Hubby's meal was excellent too.  He had the Pad Prik Pow.  

We will definitely be going back again. 

References and Letters of Recommendation

I am frequently asked to give references to people and I am someone who is kind of funny about references and letters of recommendation.  I have a hard time giving someone a reference or letter of recommendation unless I have complete confidence that they can do the job or task.  Thankfully, our company has a policy against employees providing references, so that gives me an easy out when it comes to a work reference.  When it comes to personal references; however, I never quite know what to say when someone asks and I am not comfortable giving one.

Sometimes I am completely honest and say that I am not comfortable doing that.  Unfortunately, that typically leads to more questions.  Sometimes, I go ahead and give the reference, but keep it extremely generic.

What would you do if someone asked you for a reference or letter of recommendation and you weren't comfortable giving it?

Time Flies

Wow, I can't believe it has been over two months since my last post.  Time has certainly been flying by lately.  Since my last post,  I have officially completed my Master's degree, gone through the graduation ceremony and have received my diploma.  I have also switched roles with my company.  Sadly there was no additional money for completing my degree, but this role should put me in a better position for promotions in the future.

We are moving forward with our home project for this year, new floors in the main living area and halls.  I am so excited to be getting rid of the carpet.  The new floors will be installed in three weeks.

I plan to get back to posting on a regular basis and hope to find some fun and interesting things to post about.

Graduate Journey Almost Done

In the month since I last posted, I have been steadily working on completing my requirements for my Master's degree.  I am happy to say that I am almost done.  I have 2 papers left to write, need to take my oral comprehensive exam before the graduate board, need to try on my gown/hood (the regalia arrived yesterday), and send out invitations. 

I can't remember the last time I read a book for pleasure or sat down and watched TV without that nagging little voice in my head telling me that I should be studying.  I am ready to go on a trip (business or pleasure) and not have to drag along school books/material.

It feels amazing to be this close - 23 days and counting!  I has been a great journey, but one that I am ready to complete.

Alone For the Week

Hubby has been away all week on vacation visiting his Aunt in North Carolina.  It seems lately all we do is drive each other crazy, so I was kind of excited at the idea of having the house to myself for a whole week.  On Saturday, I dropped him off at the airport and headed home to have a fun relaxing day.  Well, the house was quiet, so I turned on the television and started doing a little tidying around the house.  On Sunday, I was still excited about having the house to myself and did more cleaning and some shopping.  Monday, the excitement had started to dwindle.  The dogs weren't great at conversation.  In fact, all they wanted to do was bark at every noise leaving me feeling like a recording from telling them to calm down. 

By Tuesday, I was over being alone.  The dogs had started to look for their daddy and wanted to go outside every 2 seconds convinced that he would be out in the yard.  One of the dogs started sitting in the door to his computer room just waiting for him.  I had no one to talk to and was in general just missing my husband.  On Wednesday, I distracted myself by going shopping for a friend and visiting with her for a while, but that only lasted a short while.  By Wednesday evening, I was tired of distracting myself with cleaning (I mean seriously, how bored do you have to be to resort to cleaning the oven). 

Today, I am starting to get excited again because he is coming home tomorrow.  I suppose I should just face it; we have been together for 26, almost 27 years, so being apart for extended periods of time really stinks. 

I am really glad he had this chance to visit his Aunt.  She is 98 and realistically he probably won't have the chance again.  But, I will be happy to have my partner back home - even if we do drive each other crazy when we are together.

SYTYCD and Justin Bieber

This season So You Think You Can Dance has Justin Bieber doing a segment on each show.  I absolutely love SYTYCD, but am not a fan of Justin Bieber at all.  To me, Bieber is the male version of Miley Cyrus; and that is not a good thing.  

I hope they stop the Bieber segments soon.  

Merrell Shoes

I have a pair of Merrell slides that I loved wearing.  They are 3-4 years old, but still in really great shape.  I put them on one day last week and headed to work.  As I was getting out of the car to meet hubby at lunch, my right foot started to feel cooler than usual.  I looked down to see that the whole side of the shoe had come unsewn.  

I had to go quickly buy another pair of shoes and was about to throw the pair of Merrell's away when I decided to wait and see if there was any kind of warranty.  I am so glad I waited because the shoes do have a lifetime warranty!   

I reached out to Merrell and spoke to a really nice lady named Heather and now I am going to send them back for free replacement.  All I have to do is pay the shipping.  It will be well worth it to have them replaced.  

Orange Crush

My Orange Crush Daylily has begun to bloom.  My plant has over 50 buds on it right now.  

Memorial Day Thanks

Thank you to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may maintain our freedoms.  Also thank you to the families who have lost loved ones.  We are forever grateful for all that you and your family have given.  We will forever be in your debt.  

I Wanna Marry Harry

I watched the show "I Wanna Marry Harry" tonight.  The person truly does look remarkably like Prince Harry and seeing the way these ladies behaved really cracked me up.  Sadly, I like the person he sent home this week.  She seemed down to earth and wasn't focused on the fact that it could be Harry.  

Funny Sayings

Here are a few sayings from a t-shirt catalog that I thought were funny.

"You should not hold a fart in; it travels up your spine and in to your brain.  That's where crappy ideas come from."

"Be the kind of woman that when you put your feet on the floor, the devil says 'oh crap, she's up!'"

"If guns kill people, then pencils misspell words, cars make people drive drunk, and spoons make people fat."

We get this catalog every month or so and it always has funny sayings.  

Cafe Monte

Tonight I tried bouillabaisse for the first time.  I was at the Cafe Monte in Charlotte.  It was excellent.  

Traveling Again

I am traveling for business again this week.  When I first started traveling, I really dreaded it. I wasn't comfortable with the airport routine, I was nervous about missing a connection, and in general just felt very anxious.  This is the first trip where I didn't feel the anxiety.  Perhaps I am finally getting used to the travel.  

I know I will travel at least 3 more times this year and maybe more depending on the projects I am assigned.  

First Bloom

This is my first bloom of the season.

Texas Bluebonnets

The Bluebonnets are in full bloom now.  You can look out and see large patches of deep blue flowers.  It looks like someone spread a blue blanket across the field.  I get really saddened when I see people taking pictures of their kids in the bluebonnets.  Some people, not everyone, have no respect for the flower.  They sit or lay in them and end up crushing the flowers; leaving behind nothing to see for those of us who want to look at the beauty of the plants.  So, if you are one who insists on taking pictures in the bluebonnets, please be curteous and don't trample the flowers. 

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

The Texas fields are covered
With a blanket of deep blue.
But for a little Indian girl,
This would not be true.

Texas land was buried and dry.
Rains just would not come.
Indians danced and prayed for rain,
And beat upon their drums.

The Chief made a proclamation.
He appealed to one and all.
A prized possession must be sacrificed
Before the rains would fall.

The Indian camp was silent,
While each person searched his heart.
But when it came to sacrifice,
With possessions they would not part.

Suddenly a little girl stepped forth,
Holding her blue-clad doll.
She placed it in the roaring fire
and raindrops began to fall.

The rain brought forth the grass,
Among its blades, flowers of blue.
To be a sign for all the time
Of a love so pure and true.

Author Unknown

San Juan

I was able to spend a whole week in San Juan, Puerto Rico recently and it was really nice.  I was there for work, but did have a few hours each day free to explore.  I went on an excursion to the El Yunque rain forest and then did a historical visit to Old San Juan.  Once I sort through all of my pictures, I will post some for everyone to see.

South by Southwest

South by Southwest is in town now.  When those events are going on, Austin is crazy busy.  This year it coincides with Spring Break as well, so that is adding to the chaos.  I plan to stay clear of downtown until the craziness passes.  

Beau's in Hutto

We have a new specialty meat place and deli in Hutto.  It is called Beau's.  They serve sandwiches and then have stuffed pork chops, stuffed chicken, sausages, and other meats they prep and make in house.  They have only been open for a couple of weeks, but hubby and I have been multiple times.  If you are driving through Hutto, you should stop by and have a sandwich at Beau's. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.  

Happy Hounds Grooming

We have a new dog grooming place in Hutto called Happy Hounds Grooming.  It is run by a mother and daughter team who are super nice.   I took my yorkie, Nash, in today and they did a fantastic job.  I have taken him to other places and they never quite cut it right (I like a really short puppy cut).  When I got him home, even hubby commented on what a great job they did.  I will definitely be going back and referring anyone I know to their shop.  

Tissue Anyone?

I saw a tissue holder like this at my ENT's office and then had to buy one of my own.  It has become the talk of my office.  

Super Bowl Commercials

Every year I watch the Super Bowl to see what new and creative commercials are being revealed.  This year the commercials were very disappointing.  They were not funny, creative, or interesting.  

View From My Office

I have moved to a new office building and my new office now has a window view.  I see a busy intersection and the back/side of a 7-11.  Today is my first full day in the new office and right away I saw something interesting right away.  There was a lady going for a morning jog and she was at the crosswalk waiting for the light to change.  To entertain herself during the wait, she was dancing around and then doing handstands.  I kept watching her thinking "if she falls, she is going to get run over".  Luckily, that did not happen, and she jogged on her way when the light changed.  I am curious to see what other interesting things my new view brings.

Hydroponic Lettuce

I have recently discovered hydroponic lettuce.  I really like the taste better than any other lettuce we have tried.  My favorite is the hydroponic trio.  

Have any of you tried this lettuce?

Not Quite Snow

This is what I saw when I woke up this morning.  Everyone was calling it snow, but it is really just accumulated sleet.  

Hachi

The movie Hachi was playing during the holidays, so I recorded it to watch later.  I read about it on IMDB and it brought me to tears.  The movie is about a professor who finds a lost puppy at a train station and the connection they have. 

Since I know how it ends, I couldn't watch it all at once.  I watched half of it so far and will watch the rest soon.  Animal stories always get to me.  

Rat Terrier's Allowed at Westminster

The Rat Terrier is finally being acknowledged as a breed at the Westminster show.  It is about time.  I think the Rat Terrier's are incredibly smart and have beautiful lines.  They can prance with the best of them, be rough and tumble, or be loving little lap dogs.  They are so versatile.  Yes, I am a bit biased because I have one in my household (and previously had another), but I hope that others finally see the fantastic traits of this breed.

Fitbit

Hubby bought me a Fitbit Flex several days ago.  I had been looking in to them for a while, but held off because of the cost.  I absolutely love my Fitbit.  It was super easy to set up and is very comfortable to wear.  I downloaded the app for my phone and  I find myself checking it regularly to make sure how close I am hitting my daily goal.  

I also have my weight loss goal listed and that constant reminder helps me to make better food choices.