take five

You know what’s nice about having your own blog? You can write whatever you feel like. And if I feel like doing the whole “what are the first 5 songs that play on your ipod” game, I can. And you can either read it or skip it. Or you could start your own blog and write about how much you hate this game.

1.Follow Through – Gavin DeGraw : This song makes me think of Amy and going to see Gavin DeGraw in concert at Carlos and Charlies. He autographed her tank top. (Amy, do you still have that?!?!) If I recall, this was right after she found out the guy she was dating was MARRIED and had never bothered to mention it. What a loser.

2.I Can’t Make You Want Me – Tim Brantley: I heard this song on the previews for that TV show “Chuck” – it includes the line “I can love you enough for the both of us.” That line stuck with me and I bought the song because it seems that in my history of relationships, there are points at which one person has to be the stronger one, the one that fights to make things succeed. The one that has to teach the other person that love isn’t always easy, but it’s worth the work. More often than not, I’ve been that person – maybe that is why this song struck a chord.

3.Wanna Be a Baller – Lil Troy: Wow. This song pretty much summarizes my last year of college. Somehow it became our theme song. Here we are singing it at karaoke during our staff Christmas party. (looks like we were probably at the "I hit the highway" part of the song)

Kristin (next to me with the really blonde hair) and I actually went to a Lil Troy concert when he came to Lubbock that year, but… how can I say this? We were so excited to be there (I want to say it was at Crystal’s nightclub?) but were not made to feel very welcome, so we left before the concert started. (*sidenote - I love that this party was in December and it was probably 30 degrees outside, yet my outfit was a backless, spaghetti strap top and a skirt that ended roughly 10 inches above my knees. Ahhhh - to have my 21 year old body again...)

4.Rollin – Limp Bizkit: This is the best workout song period. I can be dying on the treadmill, but if this song comes on, I can push through. I know I even bought this cd. Not sure how I got turned on to it.

5.Martyrs and Thieves – Jennifer Knapp: I love the “Kansas” cd. There are so many songs on it that just seemed to say exactly what I wanted to say but didn’t know how to say it. I know that in college I wanted to pray but didn’t feel like I remembered how – so I would sing along to this cd at the top of my lungs. It was released in 1998, but I would still recommend it for any girl (especially around ages 15-22).

the LBK

My last post got me thinking about places in my hometown that I should have photographs with.

1. The Texas Tech seal - don't know why I never posed in front of this. Maybe because I graduated in December and it was too cold? Not sure.

2. Buddy Holly statue - If I'm going to have a picture with Stevie Ray Vaughn, I need one with Buddy too.

3. Prairie dogs - you think I can lay on the ground and have my picture taken right when a prairie dog pops his head out of the ground? Is there a time of year that prairie dogs appear? When can they be found? Is there still a place at the museum?

4. The strip at nighttime with all the lights behind me - Now that Lubbock is a "wet" county, is the strip the same?

5. In a dust storm - normally I would stay inside, but I'm thinking a picture in the brown dark sky could be kind of cool.

That's all I can think of right now. I will be going to Lubbock in late June so maybe I'll remember something else then.

say cheese!

Somehow I recently subscribed to Austin Monthly magazine and love it. This month includes an "Austin User Manual" and basically gives a step-by-step guide to living in Austin. The best part of the article is that it gave me my mission for the remaining portion of 2010: 10 iconic settings to be photographed while in Austin.

1. Mount Bonnell - I've been meaning to go up Mount Bonnell for about 9 years now. Actually, I've been waiting for some sweet romantic gentleman to suggest taking a picnic lunch up there, but apparently I haven't hinted strongly enough.

2. Barton Springs - While I've been here, I don't normally approve of photographs while wearing a bathing suit. However, I suppose if I was IN the water it could work.

3. "Nightwings" - I have never heard of this. It is "Dale Whistler's rotating sculpture of a bat at South Congress and Barton Springs."

4. The Stuffed Bear at the Mohawk - I don't remember if I've ever been to the Mohawk or not. I'm guessing NOT because taking a picture with a stuffed bear is right up my alley.

5. "Hi, How Are You" Mural - I've always meant to do this as well, just haven't yet. Maybe I'll do it while school is out for the summer and the drag isn't as crowded.

6. The Capitol - I actually haven't been to the Capitol since I've become an Austin resident. I went in high school, but I suppose it could be kind of cool to go back. It really is a pretty building.

7. Driskill Grill - Can't wait to get all prettied up and go to a fancy happy hour with MWG for this one.

8. "Greetings from Austin" - ever since Amanda and Wyatt made their "Save the Date" magnet in front of this mural I've wanted to copy her.

9. Under the Zilker Tree - I could have sworn that we took a picture under the tree last year but I can't find it so we'll have to do it again.

10. Stevie Ray Vaughan's sculpture - they are nice enough to tell you that the 20th anniversary of his death is August 27, so I probably won't go that day. I love that MWG used to ride his bike over to Stevie and Jimmie's house and listen to them play guitars in their garage. Maybe instead of the sculpture we will drive up to Dallas and take a picture in front of his old house.

I'm actually really excited about this. I think I am also going to add going to Ginny's Little Longhorn for chicken sh*t bingo. Anywhere else you think I should put on my list?

lurch

Do you name your rental cars? I do. You may not remember, but last summer MWG and I had the car we lovingly referred to as the "Gold Nugget." (see August 2009 for a photo, I'm too lazy to go get the pictures off the other computer.)

Well - Lindsey, Lana and I returned to the O.C. this year. (shout out to Amy in Okinawa.) Last year, we did it hardcore and rented a convertible. Since we already went that route, we just went with a regular car this year. Recommendation #1: Go with hotwire.com. I got a car for 3 days for $88. Recommendation #2: Put your game face on when you go to pick up the car. Talk about UPSELLING.

Hertz lady: Would you like to upgrade to a luxury vehicle?
Me: No, thank you.
Hertz lady: For only $8 more a day, we can put you in a Toyota Camry.
Me: No, thank you. (Really? Maybe you could suggest a car that hasn't been in the news.)
Hertz lady: Would you like X,Y, and Z? (as she points them out on the colored flyer.)
Me: No, thank you.
Hertz lady: What about insurance X,Y and Z?
Me: (thinking that since all of us are insured, we'll be fine) No, thank you.
Hertz lady: Okay, well you will need to inspect the car for any damage and indicate on this form anything you see.
Me: Um, doesn't a Hertz representative need to do that?
Hertz lady: No, you declined coverage, so you are responsible.
Me: Okay, I'll take the liablilty insurance for $15/day.

Longest check out ever. But, I finally get the keys and we go to the car. A white Nissan Altima Hybrid. Push-start. And hypothetically, we may or may not have had to go get the nice attendant to show us how to turn on the car. (Apparently these push-start hybrids are really really really quiet and even when you turn them on it doesn't really even sound like it is on.)

(Lana trying to get the car started)

That could be embarrassing, but the attendant may or may not have just laughed at us because we were "pretty girls." So hypothetically, Jose helped us get the car started and we went on our way.

Have you ever driven a hybrid? I don't really know how they work. Apparently they are somewhat electric or something? I don't know. But this car was ridiculous. A.) You couldn't tell when it was turned on. B.) At stop lights, it felt like it was dying. C.) When you try to accelerate, it lurches and feels like you are just barely learning to drive a standard. D.) All these random lights blink on and off at random times. I don't know if you can tell in the picture below, but you should be able to see a green, yellow and orange "EV MODE" light on. Occasionally, a random blue picture would light up. And don't make me mention the "Check Engine Soon" that showed up on day 2 of the trip.
To make a long story short, we named the car "Lurch." The valet guys didn't really "get" us, but that's okay. Lurch did a good job. She even gave me enough courage to drive on the 405.
Yes, that is like 6 lanes. Maybe more. I don't know. But I drove on it 3 times. The last time I even made it past 70mph. Holla!

Having Lurch was an experience. However, it was an experience that I will request again.... we drove up and down the Pacific Coast Highway for 3 days and when I went to refill the gas that we used before heading to the airport????? Less than $7. Um, yeah. I'm sold.

everyone needs a powerberry

So, yeah. This is the third time I've gone on vacation and made it a key point to visit Trader Joe's.
That is how I know I'm old. But - the good news: we discovered that Trader Joe's is actually a health food store. You need proof? I've got proof:
These Mini Cafe Twists are non-dairy, no butter, no eggs, no yeast, low sodium and vegan. If that isn't healthy, I don't know what is.
Vanilla Meringues = Fat free, all natural. I rest my case.

These assorted fruit jellies have like 100% of your Vitamin C. Who needs vitamins?
And for some reason I can't get the picture of these Powerberries to rotate, but they are basically little nuggets of health.

We can't forget about the dark chocolate covered almonds... everyone knows that almonds are good for you. Oh! And red wine.... it is good for the heart.

I have no excuse for these:
Stories about "lurch" the car and grown-up s'mores to come.

new jeans

I'm pretty sure that my mom wore the same pair of jeans for about 20 years. Like the entire time she was raising me and my 4 siblings. I mean, they might not have been the EXACT same pair, but my point is that I don't ever remember her buying anything for herself. I bet there were times when she would have liked some new things...but she continued to wear those jeans so that we could have new things instead. That's just the kind of person she is.

So, on Mother's Day, I'm wishing thoughts of new jeans for you.

Thanks for wearing your old stuff so that we could have new stuff.

Thanks for creating a home that I still love coming back to - no matter where it is.

Thanks for being a constant reminder of what is important in life.

Thanks for no doubt sacrificing some of your own dreams so that you could help us reach ours.

Thanks for being the type of woman that I strive to be.

(photo courtesy of postsecret)

punk'd

MWG could beat your boy at a triathlon. Just sayin.'

He loves the bike:

He loves the swim:

He tolerates the run:

It's been a little while since his last race, so he was ready to get back into the pool. We've been going to the gym at 6:00am on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that he can swim while there are no classes going on. Well, this past Thursday, there were some issues. He told me tonight that he thought he was being "punk'd" at the pool.

Now, not being a racer myself, I don't know proper swim lane etiquette. But apparently there is some. You don't each get a lane, you do a mini lap in a lane. As MWG explained - "What - do you think that UT only has 6 people on their swim team? No, you can have like 12 people in a lane at a time!" Huh. Who knew? If you want to pass somebody, you simply tap them on the leg, and when you get to the end, they let you in front of them.

So anyway, he was getting ready to jump into his lane, and a little lady said, "Um, I need to swim in this lane. I just had surgery." He is thinking to himself, "I will swim circles around you, but whatever." But he just told her "I'm not going to be using my legs today, so it will be fine." (I guess if you are an expert swimmer, you can pick and choose whether you use your arms or legs when swimming? Whatever.) So she jumped in and then he followed after her. And you'll have to ask him to explain it to you, because it is hilarious in real life. Apparently she flailed around like she was drowning, but was actually swimming. When he would go around her, she would "club him in the head" with her arms and legs and was so ridiculous that he thought he was being punk'd. I literally laughed out loud.... I don't even know if it is funny to anyone else, but it was to me. It was enough to get me out of my blog funk, so that 's saying something. =]

cheers to 21

21 hours of grad school done (almost...as soon as I finish this paper that isn't going to write itself)

12 to go.

(And I highly recommend the Texas Red Martini at Opal Divine...$2 off during happy hour.)

But until this paper is done, I have no creative juices for the blog.

all growed up

The Spice Girl reunion was a success. It appears that while we still have an affinity for large amounts of alcohol when we get together, we have definitely grown up a teeny bit.

1. Did not get thrown out of any bars
2. No throwing up
3. No dislocated kneecaps
4. No jagerbombs
5. Still drank captain and diet like they were dr. pepper shootouts
6. No making out with any guys
7. No passing out on 6th street
8. No passing out in the front yard

And while I'm not 100% today, it was worth it to see my girls. I'm blessed to have such good, long-lasting friendships. Now to finish homework...