Apparently we ARE in Kansas, Toto...

I love my brother sometimes in only for his ability to keep me thoroughly entertained.

I got a call from my mom earlier this week informing me that she had bought a boat. A freakin' BOAT! We've been in the market for a new jet ski. Currently only 1 out of 4 actually run, which shouldn't be surprising since they are getting up there in age (15+ years). Well, apparently Jay has been looking for a boat, too, and found a really great deal. It's a Hurricane Deck Boat of some sort and will put our 200 hp motor to good use that currently resides on our Bayliner (that is also not running?).

Said boat is in Missouri. Jay drove to Lufkin and got the money to pay for the boat, then drove to Ft. Worth where he purchased a new boat trailor, and then set out for Rocky Mount, Missouri. While I was getting ready for work this morning I get a phone call from Jay. He needs help because he is lost. Somehow, Jay managed to drive to KANSAS on his way to Missouri. I'm not sure how he did it, and I'm not sure we will ever know... but this is not the first time this has happened.

School had just let out my Junior year of high school and a few of my choir buddies were going to come to Austin to compete in the State Solo/Ensemble Contest. I'm not sure why, or how, but Jay, Luke and myself ended up also going on this trip. We piled in to Rachel Villenueva's mini-van along with our friend Michael and off to Austin we went... I have no idea why my parents let us go off over-night, but they did. I get into the backseat of the mini-van because I'm going to take a nap, and Jay says "Remember 103 East when we are coming back." Yes, when we are coming back from Austin we will be on 103 East, so this is right. I doze off and about 45 minutes later I awaken to Rachel yelling out "7 miles from the Louisiana State Border?!?!?!?".... apparently they had taken 103 East. This is just one of many times that Jay has had to take a detour on a road trip. He is seriously directionally challenged, and it baffles me because it's not like he hasn't spent his entire life traveling!

And speaking of directionally challenged, I got to spend my lunch hour on the phone with Jay staring at a map of the middle-of-nowhere Missouri directing him to the place to pick up the boat. I anticipate several phone calls this afternoon/evening as he tries to return to Texas, hopefully not by way of Montana.

World Cup Mania

The World Cup has started, so my mornings and afternoons at work are spent with a soccer game playing in the background. Carolyn is a HUGE soccer fan. Like she'd be in South Africa right now if it wasn't so freakin' dangerous there, soccer fan. She even brought her tv from home since it's much bigger than our (not very small) flat screen in the office.

We also all did brackets for the World Cup. I'm not sure how well I'll fare in it, since I have very little knowledge of national soccer teams of the world (minus what I've been told since I started working here). I picked Spain to win it all, but after their poor showing against Switerzland this morning, that might have been a very bad choice. My top four teams are Spain, England, Brazil and Argentina. We shall see how this all shakes down come July.

My carpets are being cleaned this morning as a thank you for renewing my lease. I had to lock the poor kitties up in the laundry room, we shall see what kind of a mess I come home to in there. I can't believe we are already half-way through June... I don't know where the summer is going!

Committment Issues.

Since moving to Austin, I've had some serious committment issues. And no, I'm not talking about relationships (though I'm sure there's a case to be made for that, given my perpetual single status), I'm talking about my need to move every year. In the 5 1/2 years that I've lived in Austin, I've moved every single year. One year I moved THREE times!

Of course, I can't take full credit for my need to move. It hasn't all been my fault. Most of you know, I'm quite the good luck charm when it comes to engagements. This all started with my roommate Ashley. We lived together for probably 2 1/2 years total. We got cats together. Obviously, we were very committed to one another until she met Cody. And not even four months later, they were engaged! Ashley cracks me up because she holds the title for shortest time until engagement and longest engagement, since they still haven't gotten hitched! She is in the middle of completing PA school, so the relationship has been long distance for the last year or so.

After Ashley moved out, I was going to live by myself since I couldn't find a roommate. In walks Candace, a fellow SFAer looking to make a move to Austin to work in the political arena. A mutual friend introduced us, and I helped her find her first job. It was great timing since I needed a new roomie! She moves in, and low and behold, meets a guy (or I should say, becomes romantically interested in a fellow she has been friends with for a while), gets engaged, and is now married... all happening in less than a year (and no, there are no babies involved)!

After that, I decided I was tired of having to find a new roommate AND move every single year... so I decided to get a place by myself. It's in the same complex that Candace and I lived in, so it wasn't much of a hassle to move.

Well, I am happy to report, that I signed my lease renewal on Sunday and for the first time since I have moved to Austin, I AM NOT MOVING! I was annoyed because they upped my rent a little, but it's within my budget so we're good to go. Tanya, who actually worked at the last complex Ashley and I lived in as well, offered me a better apartment for basically the same rent I will start paying in August, but I just really, really, really don't want to move.

I feel more settled and grown-up not having to send out an updated adress to all of my family, friends, and various organizations I belong to for the first time in forever. It's such a hassle! Now that I've worked through my obvious living committment issues, maybe we can move onto my relationship issues, ha ha.

Me time.

This weekend I did as little as possible, and it was every bit as wonderful as I could have imagined it to be! This was the first weekend since FEBRUARY that I haven't traveled or had some sort of social obligation. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed celebrating every aspect of the 7 weddings, family birthdays, holidays, and attending conferences... but it all gets exhausting after awhile!

One of my co-workers didn't believe me when I told him way back when of how busy I was going to be the next few months. We were in Padre in early May for work and he made the comment about how he thought I had been exaggerating about my schedule, but he realized that I wasn't! He also said that my social life needs to be tapped for a new reality series, though I doubt my life would be interesting for anyone else to watch... there's definitely a lack of drama! Another friend just asked as a joke one day in an e-mail what wedding I had to attend that weekend... and of course, I responded with the friend and venue, not realizing she was kidding.

I was actually able to go to boot camp all this weekend... Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning. Sunday for sure kicked my booty, it was so humid out that I was completely drenched by the time the hour was up. Guess I can't complain too much (though I did tell Sam at boot camp that I didn't like to do anything that I can't complain about), because it's just what I need to get back into gear. Friday night I introduced Andrea to the awesomeness that is Empire Records. I worked for a few hours at BBW on Saturday afternoon and then watched tv movies the rest of the evening. Sunday I made a trip to the laundromat since Smokey (yes, I'm talkin' 'bout cats) was apparently sick of my traveling as well and peed on my bed this week. My new comforter is too big for the machines at my apartment complex.

With all of this down time, I did some thinking and decided that this is going to be the summer of ME. You might be confused as to how someone who is single and lives by themselves could possibly need ME time, but I do. So that's what this summer is for. I'm going to keep the travel to the minimum and just try to enjoy some leisurely time in Austin. So, if you're looking for me this summer, you know where to find me!

Happy (belated) Birthday, Eric!

My main man Eric (Air-wic, as I like to say), turned 3 yesterday! I can't believe how fast all of the kiddos are growing up. I have really loved watching him grow and come out of his shell over the last year, it just completely amazes me. For the longest time, he wanted nothing to do with me. Not too shocking, seeing as he is a BOY, after all. He would just kind of stand back and watch as Ella and I played, rarely participating.

That is not the case any more. I am now greeted at the door as he says "I chase you!" and we start our running around the house. He loves to play and play and play. He's such a boy's boy... able to turn anything into a weapon or tool. He's also fearless. We were playing on the swingset at the lake last weekend and he wasn't afraid to jump at the monkey bars, which scared his Mama a LOT.

I love his precious smile and laugh. I love that he's so protective of his big sister, Ella. I love that I can actually get a hug and a kiss goodbye from him these days. I can't wait for our belated birthday dinner date the next time I'm in town!

Happy Birthday, Eric!

On a somewhat sad note, we lost my Great Uncle Ralph on Tuesday. He was 81. He had been in the hospital/hospice for the last few months, and had really been going downhill over the last year in general. With his passing, only Great Uncle Reginald remains of Ganny's siblings (she was one of six). It somewhat seems appropriate, since Reginald always wanted to be an only child...
Here's a picture of Uncle Ralph and Mady at the lake her first Thanksgiving.