Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

I've never really believe that statement. How about you?

Our internet has been pretty spotty and AT&T can't seem to figure out what's up.

The story goes like this: They send a guy out. We explain the situation and tell him that no one else has been able to fix it. Thirty minutes later he comes back in, puffs out his chest and says that he has fixed the unsolvable problem. The euphoria in the room is palpable. He leaves our house feeling on top of the world and is now looking into solutions for world peace, hunger and why they just don't build houses like they used to.

Meanwhile, our internet goes down the next day. And repeat.

We keep saying that's it - we've had it - but...we're still with AT&T. We really like U-verse. Oh wait, now our DVR is not working. I forgot about that. You shouldn't get AT&T. Joey and I suffer from some sort of disorder.

~

There's not a lot to update you on as Joey and I are still mentally in December.

I wish I could say that my reasons are because I believe that Jesus shouldn't be celebrated just once per year which is true, but alas. I also wish I could tell you that my Christmas tree stand isn't right outside my front door. Or that the garland isn't wadded up in the dining room.

We may be a little behind, but next year around December 1st you'll be wishing you were us.

~

Things have been a little crazy around here. Joey tore his pectoral muscle about a month ago. He was doing a chest press and the muscle and tendon snapped from the bone of the bicep and curled up in his chest. Yipes, right?

While in the hospital, the only thing he would allow me to take a picture of were his hospital booties:

He had surgery a little over two weeks ago. He is currently bonding with a sling, who I believe should be given a name. Although I would never wish this to have happened to him, I will say I kind of like helping him with stuff. Usually it's the other way around - him lifting things for me. While that's nice too, there's something sweet about this time. I think he's ready for this season to be over. He's now prohibited me from singing Lean on Me.

~

In other news, did you watch the season finale of Downton Abbey? What did you think? My immersion in Downton Abbey has gotten so bad that I heard a friend of mine was sick and immediately my mind went to the friend that I had lost just last week from the Spanish Flu. This is similar to a problem I had while reading the Hunger Games. I kept thinking everything was caused from an uprising in one of the other districts. Sheesh. When I go there - I go there.

At the end of the finale they showed several interviews with the cast members. Here's what I have decided, we all should go back to wearing our hair and dressing like they did in the 1920's. The actresses were much more beautiful wearing the fashions then, than those now. I was not prepared to think this, but there it is. Granted, they have stylists, makeup artists, etc.

~

I am also excited to have started a Bible study with some of the ladies at my church. We're studying the fruit of the Spirit. The women that are in this group are fantastic and I have enjoyed getting to know each one of them. One of the reasons I love our church is that it's small enough that we're able to mix with people from all walks of life. I'm super excited to see what God has in store for us over the semester.

My sweet husband just got home from a movie, so I'm going to let you go. You know I love him, right? This is exactly why I'm only going to sing Lean On Me internally only.

The Flash

My husband is not as he says, "a flashy kind of shoes guy".

And yet...

There are his pair of frog shoes, as I call them:

His lime green could be used to signal in airplane on the runway shoes:

And his most recent pair, the Minimus in highlighter yellow and black:

Should we tell him?

Just keep saying it, I'm not a flashy shoes guy, I'm not a flashy shoes guy, I'm not a flashy shoes guy...

Of Germs & Thieves & Pinky Toes

Last night was the first night since last Friday that I have gotten a good night's sleep. This is about the time that I managed to get the first sinus infection that I've had a LONG time. I don't know if it was all the holiday travel or the fact that everyone at my office has been sick over the past month, but my normally strong immune system must have fallen pray to a germ sneak attack.

Anyway, all this to say, it's a good thing I was able to rest up because I was woken up super early to Joey telling me that someone had broken into La Fonda the Honda. In our driveway. In Cinco Ranch.

They stole his laptop. Which normally he doesn't leave in his car except that his routine was thrown off yesterday and instead of carrying his briefcase inside with him he brought in his gym bag in first because he went straight from work to the gym which also isn't normally the case. It's a a story of which's and because's and all adds up to something similar to the germ sneak attack.

So today kind of started out tough.

It did get better though! Because it is supposed to super cold tonight, I decided making a soup for dinner was a must. Anything better than chicken and rice soup on a cold night?

An aside: Today I was wearing my Never-Wear-to-the-Grocery-Store heels. Where did I find myself? The grocery store. Soup, remember? Painful trip. Good thing the shopping cart also double as a walker. They should make throw away flip flops similar to those at the salon for such occasions. Check your heels at the door.

Along with suggestions, pimentos should be next to the olives. They're actually IN olives. Peas are next to carrots. It's only logical that pimentos and olives be neighbors on the grocery aisle.That's all I have to say. I may have lost two pinky toes in my condition due to a quest for said pimentos.

In other news, I found out that Joey doesn't like "red things" in soup. He's had a hard day so I made soup sans red things and didn't mention the those pinky who made sacrifices for the other 'tos.

They say you don't need pinky toes anyway.

Moves Like Jogger

I love the episode of Friends where Phoebe exhibits her running moves. Maybe second to Ross and the leather pants episode as far as favorites go.

One thing I'm trying to work on in 2012 is exercising on a more regular basis. I like to think of original ideas when it comes to New Year's resolutions - you know, really think outside the box. Alright, so along with everyone and their dog I'm trying to get back to the gym. P.S. Please do not bring your dog to the gym - maybe just for a run around the block.

Figuratively, I fell of the treadmill back in October when Joey and I were one weekend of traveling away from being included in the Nomadic people group.

[An aside: In all seriousness though I do know someone who fell off a treadmill and sustained pretty bad injuries. Ouch. This is in fact why I will only run on solid ground and stick to the elliptical at the gym. Treadmill softly my friends. You've been warned.]

I really want to start running, but I have never been a runner. Can't stand it in fact. Before boredom sets in at about minute 6, I'll be doing good thinking - I got this, I can be one of those people - a Runner.

You know, Runners say things like "Oh, I've gotta go get my run in today. Hoping to shave five minutes off my time. Gotta get ready for The Boston coming up in May. Scheduled a few half-marathons in the meantime to keep me on my toes."

OK, I will NEVER be one of those people. Let's be honest. Those people blister and sacrifice toe nails to run. There are a handful of things in this world in which I would sacrifice a toe nail. If being a Runner obligates flesh wounds - I'm out.

Here's the kind of runner I want to be:

1. Finds running refreshing and clears my mind.
2. 3 days a week
3. 5K wouldn't leave me home bound for the rest of the week
4. Wears cute running gear. (so important)
5. A toned one

For inspiration I bought this pair of running shoes for Christmas:

Cute, huh? It's amazing what a new pair of shoes can do for one's mental state. They don't know how much inspirational weight they need to bring to the table. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. Or would I?

Things I've learned so far:

1. Don't overdress. Particularly fleece.
2. iPod must be ready and loaded or boredom quickly ensues
3. One should not run around the neighborhood during dinner time. You just end up hungry. Tacos across the street, Indian at the corner, steak the next block over, etc. On second thought, if I always end at the house with the curry, my appetite will probably be suppressed. Note to self.

If you have any tips to help me get them moves like Jogger, please share!

Sock Monkeying Around

This is my friend, Lara. We celebrated her birthday on Saturday night at the Cheesecake Factory where I was forced to eat a Southwestern egg roll, bread, garlic noodles, some of my friend's entree, and Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake - all washed down with a cafe latte. The sacrifices we make for our friends - what can I say?

You want to know a very important fact about Lara? She does not like sock monkeys. They creep her out. Now, I've never had bad feelings toward sock monkeys; however, after Lara brought this to my attention I am reconsidering the sock monkey.

I did a little research and have found that there are no moderates when it comes to the sock monkey. It seems like folks either love'em or hate'em. Some people have sock monkey-themed nurseries.

And then there's the whole group on Facebook that is devoted to hating sock monkeys. Lara's not alone.

So what is it about sock monkeys that is so creepy?

Are their limbs too long? Mouths to wedge-of-orange wide? Or is it their coal black lifeless eyes that follow you around everywhere you go? Shudder... How did I not see this before?

Next year for Lara's birthday I know exactly what to get her:

Which sock monkey camp are you in: friend or foe?

P.S. Don't even get me started on clowns...or Teddy Ruxpin...

Return of the Blog

Maybe. One can never tell. I hate to be the bearer of bad excuses, so I'm not going to give you any. I'll just jump right into catching you up on the most important things that have happened over the last few months:

I bought a pair of skinny jeans. This is a real shocker because I swore that I would never buy skinny jeans as I've never found them particularly flattering.

I bought a second pair of skinny jeans. I know. I'm one tightly clad step away from buying pajama jeans.

I went to Vegas for the first time. For work.

I decided that Vegas isn't really my thing. Too many folks hooked on machines that are hooked to breathing machines because they're hooked on cigarettes.

I think I developed asthma in Vegas.

I read the Hunger Games and absolutely love the series. Can't wait for the movies! Now I'm trying to convince everyone to read the Hunger Games. Hey, you should read the Hunger Games. No, really. You should.

I was talked into getting shellac put on my nails. You have to understand, I don't get my nails done. I have emeraphobia - that's a fear of emery boards for the layperson. I went in support of my friend who was getting her nails done in preparation for a potential engagement (P.S. happened the next week! Whew!). Being a newbie, I said "I'll have what she's having. But just as long as it's something that comes off easily and doesn't require maintenance". Result? They coated my nails in Teflon. Nail polish remover does not work. It's been two months. I'm doing the classy thing and letting it chip off. The patterns that are left right now would be suitable for a Rorschach Test. I knew I should have taken Vietnamese instead of Spanish in high school.

After seeing the Emmy nominations, I started watching and have become addicted to Dowton Abbey. Love it. I don't know what to tell you if you missed the first season. It's on PBS and they've just finished re-airing the first season. Season 2 starts this weekend. As far as I can tell it's not on Hulu or Blockbuster/Netflix. It is sooo good. It's Jane Austen meets The Help which then meets Titanic and then they all meet Dallas for tea and drama. Joey is hooked too.

That pretty much sums it up. You know, the important stuff. OK, maybe it's just the small stuff that floated to the top. Skimming the surface will have to do for today.

Happy 2012, everyone!

With love from me to you

My husband is so precious to me. He's a notes kind of guy. He surprises me with them often. A note on my mirror. Sometimes a note on my windshield. And even the occasional note in the refrigerator in front of the yogurt. Or like the one on my bag this morning.
It made my day. Little Love Notes are the best, no? The sweet husbands that write them are even better.
Check yes or no.