Do You Read Your Junk Mail?

You hate junk mail, you know you do. It seems like the only mail Mark and I get is junk mail or bills. Well, you can have them both; I want nothing to do with either.
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Fine. I'll take the bills (probably give them to Mark) but the junk mail? I don't want it.

Go to www.donotmail.org if you would like to see it disappear forever. It's a petition for the House and Senate.

I agree that there are more important battles to fight BUT I really, really hate junk mail.

He's Still Working on Me...

to make me what I oughta be!

I was reminded of this children's song today while I was driving home from the gym. I'm not sure what sparked the thought maybe the fact that my life has changed so much over the past few years. It may go without saying, but I think it's not so much my life that has changed but myself.

I could write you a timeline of the last five years but I think I will spare you the agony. In short, I have gone from being a college student to a career woman living on her own in a new city to a wife and career woman. This all happened pretty quickly and there have been some difficult transitions but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger! Every role I have taken has implications. (Example: Being married means having to make a decision with heavy regard to another person's perception, which by the way, may not be the same as your own. Things like shopping and decorating your home can become a major decision rather than a personal whim. HaHa!)

I kid! But seriously, life isn't always easy. I guess the easiest way to get through the tough parts is to remember that we are learning as we go. Nobody (no human) has the answer. God does and maybe he's teaching us as we go. Naturally, it can be a bit frustrating but I trust Him. Every new experience changes us and I don't think it's what is happening to us that is difficult but the act of learning from it!

So who am I? I'm not sure who I will be but for now...let's just call me a hippie lovin' country girl! I love my hippie, Mark! And, I'm enjoying the learning curve...LIFE!

Just Like the Energizer...

Mark says I'm like the Energizer Bunny that keeps going and going and (you know the rest). I mentioned in my last blog that I have been feeling much better since I began working out and eating well.

I'll give you a taste of what Mark had to deal with today.

1. I woke up around 9 a.m. which is unusual for me on a Saturday.
2. I woke Mark up and went on a run. It was probably only a mile or so but I ran pretty hard today.
3. Upon getting back from my run, I changed into my hiking shoes so Mark, the dogs and I could go on a hike. We went to McKinney State Park for a 3 mile hike. We arrived at the park before noon. (This picture is the McKinney Homestead, built in the 1800s by slaves that cut rocks from the nearby creek. It burnt down in the early 1900s and this is what is left.)
4. When we returned home, I let Mark take a shower and we went to the grocery store. We cooked kabobs and potato salad! MMMMMMMM!
5. I am finally letting Mark get some rest. He's on the couch watching 'Fievel Goes West'. You know he's tired if he is watching cartoons...poor Mark.

I leave you with more pictures of our hike and a picture of the practical joke that was played on our neighbors!Mark and Clyde on the trail. Clyde is taking a break.

The dogs and I (not sure you can see Clyde).

Clyde is on another break...he was one tired puppy.

The practical joke that was played on our neighbors...too funny!

Getting Girly on You!

Ok. This is random but that shouldn't surprise anyone that knows me.

1. Did you know that Amarillo was the 'pick city of the day' on the Today Show this morning? That's right and for those of you that don't know, the only reason I care is because I was born and raised in Amarillo. Good people.
2. I'm on a health kick. I've been eating fresh fruit (thanks Mark, for being the prep man in the kitchen), chicken wraps and home cooked meals. I've also been drinking a ton of water and taking my vitamins. I picked up running again (I tend to abandon it quite a bit). This has been going on for about a week - no big deal - but I feel so much better. I laugh more, have more energy and in general get more done. I'm balanced.
3. It is SUPER HOT in Austin. We are on a 17 day heat wave and have been setting temperature records here. Today was the first day in June that it was under 100 degrees and it was 99 degrees...BIG FAT HAIRY DEAL! It's Hotttttt!!!!!!

So that's pretty much it. Hope you are all having a good week!

LAX Weekend

For those of you that do not know, LAX is lacrosse. Did you know that lacrosse is the oldest, true American sport? A lot of people think that it's European. WRONG! Native Americans were playing the sport long before the Europeans even found the Americas. The Native Americans' played lacrosse for things like preparing for war and healing their sick. I've heard that their games sometimes lasted for days...I'm glad to say that is not the case today.

We spent the weekend at Zilker Park where the lacrosse league that Mark plays for was having their championship tournament. I spent Saturday and Sunday watching the games and am proud to say that Mark's team won the tournament and are the official champions this season.

Needless to say, Mark and I are both pretty burnt from being outside so much. Here is a pic of Meat, Rose, Glass and Mark at bar after the game. All of these guys played lacrosse at Tech. Wreck 'em.