Go Cardinals!!

Since I am from Arizona I need to give a little shout out to the Cardinals. It's their first Superbowl ever. I don't really like football, but I have to root for my home team. If anyone feels like making a little jaunt over to Houston we are having a small Superbowl party. Steelers fans are univited. GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!

The First 5K of 2009

Well staying true to my getting in shape goal, I ran the first 5k of the year. I don't mind 5k's because they are only 3.2 miles. I hope to be up to a 10k (7 miles) by April. Today I didn't run the whole time. I had been trying to run every morning and then I had a few medical issues which put running on hold for 2 weeks. So Al and I jogged a few times this week to try and get ready. I figured since this is the first race I could be slow so I can improve on my time and then maybe feel good about running. I still don't really find it enjoyable, but each morning I try to jog just a little further then the day before and when I do it I feel pretty proud. So my time today was 45 minutes, which is pretty slow, but I'll improve on it. Since January 1st I have lost 8lbs. I know it's not too much, but it is a start. I think we may run a 5k next weekend, but we haven't decided for sure yet. I'll keep working at it though.

The New Year (A Little Late)

Well I guess I should start off by saying that we had a great holiday season. It was spent with family and friends. We had a really low key Christmas. My parents and sister came down and we spent the holidays together. I then said goodbye to Sarah and off she went to Taiwan. She will be teaching English there for at least six months. If you want to read the blog she struggles to update it is http://sarlil.blogspot.com. I've talked to her once and she seems to be enjoying her time there so far. New Year's was spent with our really good friends Jeff and Cindy. There were fireworks, drunk people (not me or Al), games, and resolutions. We had a great night and stayed up way past our bed time.
Not too much is happening here right now, so I thought I'd write my resolutions down. If I write them and people read them then maybe, just maybe I'll stick to them.
My first goal is to lose weight. I think this is my goal every year and hopefully I do it this year. Due to the situation at work and our very good saving skills we now have enough money to work on infertility stuff. I think I will have the best chance at it, if I lose weight. So far, I have been waking up at 5:30am and running. Even on Saturdays. I have only missed 2 days (not including Sundays) since Jan. 1. I am just about up to 2 miles. I know it's not a lot, but when I started I could hardly run at all. It's not a fast run, but I need to start somewhere. I think I would like to be able to run a 10k by the end of the year. That's only 7 miles, but I'm not setting out to be a big marathon runner or anything.
Next, I really want to work on getting out of debt. I have been reading Dave Ramsey's info and watching Suze Orman on Oprah. I hope that Al and I can make this our number one couple resolution.
Lastly, I would like to be pregnant or at least try everything we can to get there. I am currently working with 2 great doctors. We are hoping to start trying in the spring. I have some problems right now that have to be cleaned up, but soon as they are we will start. This is something Al and I want badly. I am trying to stay as positive as I can and have faith that it will happen for us.
Well those are my resolutions. Feel free to check in on me from time to time to keep me accountable.

It's SnOwInG

I can hardly believe it's SNOWING!!! Now I know that this isn't a big deal for most and even a few years ago it wouldn't have been for me, but now I live in Houston. Some parts of Texas get snow, but hardly does it ever happen here since we are on the coast. Today it was bitterly cold and there was a rumor of snow and then a little after 4pm soft flurries fell from the heavens. I of course alerted the whole office since I had a window view. The last hour of work we discussed the snow, so not too much was accomplished. I was convinced that it would soon melt away, but as the night has continued on the snow keeps on coming. We are now close to an inch. I made all my animals play in it and I even built my first Texas snowman. It's a great night I hope it doesn't melt away by Christmas even though I know it will and it will probably be 80 degrees, but I would love to have my first White Christmas.

Christmas...Here I Come

This year I am not getting into the spirit of receiving. I can't think of anything that I truly need. Why waste money on thinks you don't need? So Al and I aren't exchanging presents with each other, but we are going to go get a whole bunch of pet supplies and donate some money to a local pet shelter. I am really excited about Christmas this year. Even though I probably won't get too much. I guess it is true that it is better to give rather than receive.
Al and I finally got a fake tree. I am not excited about this because I love that real pine scent. Al's been begging for 5 years. We ended up buying a 9ft tree. It is huge. I've been listening to Chirstmas music for a few days now. Usually I am not even a fan of Chirstmas music. I can hardly wait for all the lights to go up around the neighborhood. I think this will be a great Christmas. This is just a short random blog, but I am really, really, excited this year.

71 Things

Out Of 100


I found this on Randee's page....


I didn't do too bad, 71 out of 100. All the things I’ve done are in orange. Copy this list on your own blog and come clean on everything you’ve done. Do it. You know you want to.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty-I've been there though.
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill: They were mental health days.....
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon- Just a short one, I'm working on a 1/2
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice-Do you know how expensive it is??? I tried to do it.
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted-Does a caricature count?
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud - Love the mud volleyball!!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie- a homemade one.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check...eeek I hate to admit that one
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt: doing one right now
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Visited Italy

Happy Birthday Baby

Well, my wonderful husband turned 30 this past week. Every year we say we will downsize on birthdays, but this year I had to go all out since he was turning the big 3-0! So I decided that he needed to have a surprise party. I started to plan this party in May. Keeping my mouth shut for months was so hard, so I told anyone who would listen to me about the party. I decided to call my mother-in-law and invite her and Al's sisters out for the party. They had never been to Houston before and I was so excited when they told me they were coming.

Al's birthday was on Tuesday and we went to Outback because that is his favorite restaurant. We had a few friends come with us. Then we went home and unwrapped presents. I sent Al on a little scavenger hunt to find his "big" present. He is really in need of new shoes so I got him a gift card for new shoes. It was funny because you could tell he was disappointed, since I had built up his birthday. I wanted so badly to tell him that it would be better this weekend.

Well Friday came and I had so much running around to do. I had to pick up the rental equipment (I didn't have enough matching plates for 15), pick up the most delicious cupcakes, wait for the house cleaner who was 2 hours late and nearly gave me a heart attack waiting for her. Pick up the family from the airport, take them to lunch, and then set up the party. Luckily, I had Marianne who was able to go across town and pick up the floral arrangements. I called Al's boss the week before and asked her to keep him at work until 7:30pm. All his work friends were in on it. I called Al at 5pm and pretended to be on my way home from work, he wasn't feeling well and he really wanted to come home. His boss ran out of work for him, so he got stuck in the warehouse, I felt really bad for him. He called me at 7:30pm on his way home and he was in a horrible mood. I was so excited I couldn't stand it. Well right before he got home we sent his family upstairs and everyone gathered in the dining room to shout SURPRISE when he got home. He was shocked, I showed him around the party, introduced him to the chef who made us an AMAZING dinner, and then sent him upstairs where his family surprised him. It was a great birthday for a great husband. Here's to 30 or more birthdays. I love you Baby!