ARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

I can't believe that I did this!

I WASHED MY FRICKEN SHOE WITH MY WHITES!!!!

My comfortable black pumps.

I washed one.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a comfortable 4 inch pump?!

IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT!

And I washed one.

Not only did I wash it...but I washed it with a load of WHITES!

So I have a new, cute, white tank top that now has back marks all over it.

So how in the hell do I get those out?

And how in the world did I wash a pump?

It boggles the mind.

Rock Climbing

Oh I am so getting out of my comfort zone.

I went out with friends Monday night, Tuesday night, and Wednesday night.

And tonight?

Tonight I went to a rock climbing gym.

http://www.texasrockgym.com/

I climbed up a rock wall.

Really. Me.

Up. A. Wall.

Of course, least I forget there is something even more amazing going on here.

Me.  Out on a school night.

FOUR TIMES IN ONE WEEK?!

Geez - can you believe it?!

I think I'm getting younger and more adventurous.

Or it could be I'm finally recovering from living overseas for so long.

Anyway.

The wall.

It was quite interesting - I learned how to climb, how to belay, and how to get down off the wall.

Which, by the way, is the most important thing to know.

I went with the group Bayou City Outdoors:  http://www.bayoucityoutdoors.com/

I think there were only four people there from the group and the person I was matched with had never tried rock climbing either.

So there we were, with a little girl about half our age telling us how to use the equipment, while a group of kids (yes kids they ranged in age from about 10 - 16 years old) were climbing like monkeys all around us.

Little bastards.

It was like when I went skiing and my "friends" showed me one of the runs that they said was my level (beginner) and it was actually a black diamond.

Asses.

They thought it was funny to see me fall and slide down the mountain on my back because it was so steep I couldn't stop.

Then when I finally was able to stop myself this little kid - about 7 or so - skied up to me with my poles and one of my skis.

Like it was nothing.

"Here you go m'am" he said.

Little shit.

Don't get me wrong I appreciated the fact that he collected everything for me so I wouldn't have to...but really?!

Anyway, back to the rock climbing...

When I was up there on the wall I had an epiphany.

Oh, wait.

I had an EPIPHANY.

I realized that it is really no fun to do something like that with people you don't know.

I mean, how do you make fun of yourself, hanging in the air, with someone you don't know.

How do you make fun of the person you don't know without them getting offended and huffy?

Well, you don't.

Not unless you are a complete ass.

Which I am not (really I'm not).

So I left early.

But I'll go back...I'm just going to drag one of my friends with me...

With a camera.

Because really...I need photo documentation when I do something like climb a rock wall.

My Little Pony

She was fixed yesterday and we picked her up today.

And she STANK!

Yes I said it, SHE STANK!

I don't know what the hell they did to her at the vet but she seriously stinks.

I wiped her down with a wash cloth and she smells better - but I'm scared to give her a proper bath because of her incision.

So when I take her to Doggie Day Care tomorrow I'll let them bathe her.  After all they are vets and should be familiar with giving a dog who just has surgery a bath.

I'm going to give Brittmore a call tomorrow to find out what the hell they did.

BLAH!

It's the week of Love

Monday was Valentines Day and my husband's birthday.

Yep, he was robbed.

Not as bad as it would be if he had been born on or near Christmas, but still.

Robbed.

Anyway I have that Michael Buble song in my head you know this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AJmKkU5POA

Be aware - there is a short commercial in front of the video.

Anyway...

Love, love, love, love!

I love my life in America.

I love my friends - just spent a lovely night out with some old ones.

I love, love, LOVE my husband.

Life is good people.

Really good.

AMERICA!

Sad Tidings

My best friend's father passed away on January 26, 2011.

He was a wonderful man who lived a full life.  His funeral was in Louisiana and it was beautiful.

It's the first religious funeral that I've been to conducted in one of the main stream Christian faiths.  This funeral was much different than the Hindu one I attended about 5 years ago.

Mr Hay was Catholic, as is my best friend, and the service was conducted by the most wonderful Catholic Priest.  He was an elderly gentleman who himself had beaten cancer, but had lost part of his jaw and I think maybe some of his mouth due to the treatment.

As a result he sounded a bit like the Priest on the Princess' Bride.

Listen here...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbqv3MwwVd8

It brought a bit of levity to the ceremony which was so moving.  The Priest was really good - he knew Mr. Hay and so he was able to really personalize the service and when he would talk about Mr. Hay he would touch the casket to bring him into the service.

It was really touching.

And moving.

After the service we drove out to the Hay family plot.  Mr Hay had been in the Air Force during the Vietnam war so he was given Military Honors at the grave site.

I cannot tell you how affected I was when the bugler played taps while the two other soldiers folded the flag.

It was inspiring.

And when they gave the flag to Mrs. Hay, it was gut wrenching.

I don't think there was a single person who wasn't moved or crying.  I could hardly contain myself at this point.

There is something about a military person saying the words:

"On behalf of the President of the United States, the Department of the Air Force, and a grateful nation, we offer this flag for the faithful and dedicated service of your loved one."

while handing over the flag that had rested on the casket, it's almost surreal.

Especially during a time of war, knowing that the person being laid to rest had also been to a war.

The whole funeral was an incredibly beautiful send off for a man who touched so many. I heard so many wonderful stories about Mr. Hay that made me laugh. Stories that made me sad that I wasn't able to get to know him as well as I could have.

But I am glad I was able to meet him. And I am so glad that I was able to be there for his send off.

Seattle is Nice

I'm in Seattle.

I've never stayed overnight here before - I've always just flown through.

It's pretty nice - I had dinner at Anthony's on the sound last night.  http://www.anthonys.com/home.html

The food was o.k. - but I've had better.

The thing that I loved about the night was...it was a "school" night and I went out.

I didn't stay in.

I made a point to see the pier and have dinner at a locally recommended restaurant.

Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!

I'm trying to break out of the "it's a week night, I don't want to stay out late (aka 9pm!)" mode.

Baby steps!

Team Building Texas Style!

I started a new job - a fact which I'm sure all my non-existent readers are aware.

And during the second week of this job there was a conference, a kick off meeting for the new year.

And I was invited, I stayed at the Houstonian - which by the way is NOT as nice a its reputation would lead you to believe - I've stayed at nicer hotels in Switzerland, Spain, Austria etc...

But it was nice to be included and able to stay with everyone else so I could "bond" with the team.

Anyway, during this conference there were team building activities that we could participate in, and I picked Golf with a Gun.

Only in Texas would shooting be considered an acceptable activity to bring co-workers closer together, fostering better work relationships.

Here I am working on my working relationship with my co-workers...

We shot 50 rounds, I'd never shot a shotgun before so I was quite surprised at the kick when I pulled the trigger.  I ended up with a bruise on my shoulder from the kick.  Who knew shooting was such an active sport.

Anyway, out of 50 shots I hit 7.  Well, that's what the rifle range guy and the others on my team said.  I think they fudged the numbers.  I think I only actually hit 5.  But I'll take it, it meant that I was 3rd from bottom - 18 out of 20.

Even if I only hit 5 then I wouldn't have been last - I would have been19th out of 20.  Not bad for my first time shooting.

Go Team Building!!!