Single Blonde in the City

Goodbye 2011, and SBITC

2011-12-31T06:33:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that the time has come again to say goodbye to another year. It seriously feels like yesterday that I wrote my last goodbye. It had been a rough year, and I was thrilled to say goodbye, and hello to all the good things that were surely to come my way in 2011. And now here we are. I wanted to compile a list of all the memorable things from this past year, and it was such fun reading back over all the posts from this past year. In no particular order, these are some of the things that stood out the most to me from 2011:

Dating: The year began with somewhat of a love triangle, and my "unlucky in love" continued with countless less-than-memorable dates, a reality check with Oliver, and a change of heart with Corey. However, 2011 didn't let me down entirely. The story is just beginning with Hunk, and I'm hoping the ending is a good one. Ironically, I also penned my Relationship Manifesto in early 2011, and am happy to report that there isn't one thing I would change about it. I still feel like it holds to true to what I'm looking for, and I think the decisions that were made this year reflect that.

Work: I accepted a new job late 2010 and worked my tail off all of last year. The result? I reached my quota (along with the rest of my team- a first for the company) and we will all be headed off to Hawaii in just a couple of weeks. I'm taking my sister, and I can't freaking wait! This year also saw the loss of Steve Jobs, and for our company, it was heartbreaking to say the least.

Exercise: 2011 was my first full year back in triathlon, and it was a great one. I was determined to find validation in healthy ways, and I feel like I really succeeded. I completed 4 triathlons total, including my very first Olympic distance. I also ran the Diva Dash and the Cap 10K. Not one to function well without a goal, I signed up for a training group through work in November and am well on my way to running my first half-marathon the end of January.

Hobbies: I've volunteered at the animal shelter for almost 3 years now, but 2011 saw me bring home my very first foster dog. After 8 weeks of in-home social rehabilitation, Pippi ended up hitting the jackpot of homes and is living happily ever after with her new parents (they take her everywhere) and she is doing fantastic! I didn't get to travel as much as I would have liked, but I was able to fit in a girl's trip to Port Aransas, and TWO trips to my new favorite city, Denver. Perhaps my favorite hobby-related moment though happened just this past weekend. Finally, after 5 long years, I became my fantasy football league CHAMPION!!! After a heated, close final match-up against my brother, my team came out on top 121-114. It was pure awesomeness, and now I have a little extra money in the bank for Hawaii.

So there you have it, a pretty great year overall. But this also brings me to my next goodbye. Single Blonde in the City began as a project mostly centered around dating. I had been wounded countless times, and felt like I had stories to share with people who could likely relate. After 2+ years of writing and over 25,000 hits on my blog, I feel like it's time to say goodbye. While my most recent relationship is still very new, and there is no guarantee that it will work out, I just don't feel motivated to write about dating anymore. This blog has been such a tremendous outlet for me, but I just don't feel like the things that I'm writing about are really that relevant to life as a single girl, per se.

Which leads me to my next project, and still very much a work in progress. Starting January 1, I will be posting as Amy in Austin. Go to it, bookmark it, add it to your blog readers (and please note that the web address is not exactly as I would like it to be, as the one I wanted was already taken). I hope that you will continue to visit me. Just know that the content will be moving to a different angle. (Hence the "work in progress" part.) I want to continue with the great progress I feel that I made in 2011 as far as being a healthier person, and will likely write more about healthy choices in relation to food, exercise and relationships. I probably won't be writing as frequently, but I hope that the content is better that way. Meaningful, helpful, and still entertaining to read.

I hope that everyone has a brilliant New Year's Eve, and is able to reflect on their life this past year, but then quickly look forward to the possibilities in the year ahead. Thank you so much for making Single Blonde in the City so much fun for me!

New Favorite Blog

2011-12-29T08:12:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine with a fun sense of style has recently started a blog, and I am LOVING her posts so far. The link to the "25 ways to wear a scarf" is genius, and she has other great style and beauty tips. Go and check it out.

Because Shanna Said So

A Very Merry Christmas

2011-12-28T12:26:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas on the books. It was low key, relaxing, and nearly perfect. I think any single girl can relate to how it feels to spend holidays with family when you are the only one who is "single". I'm not necessarily single, but I was solo for the holidays as Hunk was back home with his family. Having only been together for a month, there was no expectation for spending the holiday together. But I think we both missed having the other around. We talked plenty of times though, and even had a FaceTime date or two, which was fun.

Santa was more than good to me, and my family got me some great things as well. My favorite gift was the nice watch that my parents got for me. It has been years since I've worn a watch, and this one is just beautiful. I also got some much needed clothes, shoes, cute jewelry and some useful house things. I really am so lucky! I think everyone else liked the presents that I got for them as well. But really, the best part of Christmas was getting to see my adorable niece and the look of sheer delight when she saw what Santa brought for her. She got a "Mommy and Me" set complete with high chair, crib and stroller for her new little baby doll. She kept herself entertained almost the whole time playing with those things. It was so stinking cute!!

I celebrated Christmas with Hunk yesterday. I was so excited about the gifts that I had gotten for him, and it was so fun watching his face as he opened them. Again- first Christmas together after not dating for very long can be tricky, but I think I hit the mark. I found meaningful things without spending too much money. He got a new knit hat from Krochet Kids International (a great company that helps to empower impoverished communities in Uganda), a neat wooden sign with hooks to hang his marathon medals, and a set of gorgeous (but still masculine) sushi dishes in his favorite colors- blue and brown. He did just as well for me- I got a mug and bag of coffee from where we had our first date, a book that we have talked about The Art of Racing in the Rain, a really cool poster for my office, and then my favorite, a personalized #9 Saints jersey that says "Ms. Breesy" on the back. I freaking love it!!! Now I just hope the Saints can keep it together through play-offs so that I can wear it for the Superbowl.

Needless to say, things with Hunk are spectacular. One last vomit inducing example of a text message he sent me (sorry mom), but this was such a sweet thing to read on Christmas morning:

We are very blessed to have each other. I think we both know how lucky we are to have found one another. Every step has been pretty amazing, and I can't wait to see where it leads us.

I think that sums up how things have been with him...amazing. It's hard to believe that it has only been one month. That's just crazy. But a great month it has been, and I'm equally excited to see where it leads us. It was a very Merry Christmas indeed.

Christmas Eve Gift

2011-12-24T07:51:00.000-08:00

It's tradition in my family to say "Christmas Eve Gift" on Christmas Eve. I remember my grandparents always calling to say it first thing in the morning....I miss hearing those sweet voices. Today I called my mom to say it to her, and now I am packing up my bag to spend a few days at their house.

After much drama over how my siblings would be spending the holiday with our family, I am happy that everything was all worked out, and we will be spending this evening and the first half of tomorrow together. More than anything, I just can't wait to see my niece with her Santa presents. At the ripe age of 2 and 2 months, she is totally into Christmas. She loves saying "Ho, ho, ho" and I know she's going to have so much fun.

We're going to the early evening Church service, to be followed by my favorite meal of the year- Christmas Eve Party Food! Tamales, picadillo, cheese ball, chips/dip, etc. Nothing fancy about it, but it's so good!! We each get new pajamas tonight, and will then sleep well until presents in the morning. It's cold, a little rainy, and absolutely perfect for some good family time.

Hunk is in Oklahoma with his family, and we had a little FaceTime date last night. His parents were in the background for part of it and they thanked me profusely for the box of treats that I sent to them. And then his dad started asking me questions as Hunk tried leave the room. It was really cute! Apparently his whole family knows about me, and he has been hounded by questions. I love it!! Miss him like crazy, but he'll be back in time for our own little Christmas together on Tuesday.

I hope that everyone has has a wonderful holiday, however you may be celebrating!

You say it's your birthday.....

2011-12-19T14:02:00.000-08:00

Well it's my birthday too! Yes, that's right. Today I turn (oh my gosh I can't believe I'm admitting it in public) 36 years old. It's funny, I also have two good friends who share the same birthday. Hurts a little that they're both younger than me, though. But it's alright. For 36, I don't think I'm too shabby. I just don't like knowing that 40 is rapidly approaching. I mean, these past 6 years have happened so fast. I'm afraid I'm going blink and open my eyes to see a bunch of "Over the Hill" balloons or something. Just can't even wrap my head around that.

In all, it has been a great birthday weekend. It started by sleeping in Saturday (I skipped my run) and meeting some girlfriends for breakfast. Then I got to celebrate with my family at dinner, Hunk got to meet my family at my parent's Christmas party last night (I think they like him), and my fantasy team is making it into the championship game (likely against my brother). I'll top it off tonight by getting together with friends for happy hour. Life is good, and I have much to be thankful for. Here's to another great year!

Runner's Knee

2011-12-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

It was bound to happen at some point. I knew I was pushing fate by taking on a lofty goal, but it seems that my knee pain has caught up with me again. I stopped running just after tri season because I had a lingering pain in my right knee. I thought taking some time off would help, and it did. Temporarily. But as my running distance increases, so is the pain.

Up until Thursday, I have been able to run through it with no real problems. In fact, it usually goes away after the first 10 minutes. Not so much on Thursday though. I did an easy 10 minute warm-up jog, suffered through drills, and then did mile 1 of 4 at an 8:00 pace. And then I quit. It just hurt too bad, and was totally affecting my form. I knew if I kept up, I would likely do way more damage.

So I chatted with my coach and decided to call it a day. He's no doctor, but seems to think that all signs point to Runner's Knee. He told me to prop it up, ice it, and take some ibuprofen. The good news is that I don't think it's all that serious. A little bit of time off, and likely a new pair of shoes, will probably do wonders for it. I'm also looking into a few weight training exercises I can do to strengthen my quads and hamstrings a little more. But I'm torn about whether or not I should do my 10 mile run in the morning. Mentally, I have already psyched myself up for it and I'm ready to get it done (even though there is a good chance it will be rainy AND cold in the morning.)

On the other (more realistic) side, I know it's probably best to give myself a whole week's rest. I'm in a really good place as far as distance, and I have plenty of time to get up to a 12-13 mile run before the actual big day. BUT.....I HATE not being able to stick to a schedule. And I really dislike not being able to do something I should be fully capable of doing. Much like getting sick, I don't take to being injured very well, either.

I'm headed home after work for another round of prop/ice/ibuprofen, lots of water, and a good night's sleep. And I'll make a game time decision at 5:30 am (oof) about whether I should attempt a run or not. I've got a late breakfast with some girlfriends planned for after my run, and it sure would be nice to enjoy some creme brulee french toast without any guilt!

The most wonderful time of the year

2011-12-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

Funny how much difference a year makes. I know I've visited this topic several times before, but it really is nice to marvel at how much better my life is compared to this time last year. A bad break-up, the death of my beloved grandmother, a traumatic job switch.... it all made for a very somber holiday season last year. I couldn't be happier to be moving into a new holiday season with my great friends, my crazy family (I love you guys, but seriously....let's get the holiday plan together), and my adorably hunky Hunk. Life is splendid!

This past weekend was full of fun activities- I ran 9 miles, volunteered, attended Hunk's work Christmas party, watched my fantasy football team make it into the playoffs, and wrapped it up by hosting the Cookbook Club get together and cookie exchange. (If you're looking for a great new holiday cookie, look no further than these White Chocolate Gingersnaps.) Phew.

Still on tap: a beer and cheese tasting, 7 mile run, family birthday dinner, parent's Christmas party (Hunk will be my date), holiday happy hour with friends (I'm refusing to publicly acknowledge my birthday as I begin the downward slide to 40, so I'm passing it off as a casual get together) and then Christmas with my family. Thank goodness that I get the whole week off after Christmas. I'm going to need it!

Things with Hunk are awesome. I like him more and more each time we're together. I just hope that this crazy connection that we're feeling is really what it's like when you've found "the one". Who knows? We're having a blast though, and I'm really looking forward to him meeting my family. He's told his family and friends all about me, and even shared a picture or two. We are definitely not seeing other people right now, and I couldn't be happier about it!

9 miles, Take 2

2011-12-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

Half marathon training is in full blown force, and I'm still feeling great about my progress. I've met several girls in my training group who all run about the same pace, but are willing to push it on the days that we can. Thursday was a great example. We did some speed work at a high school track. 3 sets of 4 400s, and each set we had to shave a few seconds off our time. It was hard, but it was also a lot of fun.

Tomorrow morning will hopefully be a much drier morning than the last two Saturdays. I got to drop back to 7 miles last weekend, but it was so so rainy. I go back up to 9 miles tomorrow, and then 10 the week after. I'm not scared anymore! I know I'll show up, do my warm-up, and hit the route with my new friend Pauline for 1.5 hours of running, talking and laughing. As sick as it sounds, I have so much fun out there! Not to mention the almost full hour of stretching that follows with the rest of the training group (including Hunk). It's a Saturday routine that I am really enjoying.

The time is going by so fast, and I know the race will be here before I know it. I'm feeling a little ahead of schedule as far as training goes, which is a very good thing. I've battled cold, I've battle rain, but thankfully not together. I'm sure that day is to come though, and I'll continue to work on the mental aspect of getting out there and doing it, no excuses!!

Sweet Little (Text) Nothings

2011-12-08T09:44:00.000-08:00

I have blogged several times before about the right (and the wrong) way to text someone. I still think that relying on texting as your primary source of communication is not the best route to follow. But to each their own. However, during the work day it's really nice to get a sweet text that lets me know that someone is thinking of me. Or even just funny banter when it's not really necessary to have a phone conversation, but you still want to share things with each other.

Exhibit A: Text from Hunk after visiting me for lunch

Exhibit B: A text from Hunk just being his usual funny self (I'm the blue text box)

You know what else I like? Knowing that the feelings I have for him are completely mutual. More often than not it's either me that feels too strongly and gets my heart broken, or vice versa. Of course, I realize that you can't have a mutual attraction with just anyone, otherwise monogamous relationships would be a thing of the past. But he's so good at letting me know how he feels about me, and I am so thankful that it's not all in my head how great things seem to be going so far.

Don't worry- I still hear your voice in the back of my head, mom! I know....slow down. But trust me. You'll get it when you meet him. I think anyone who gets to see the two of us together will likely get why it works. We're two of a kind, with just enough differences to keep it interesting. It's almost as if someone made the nearly perfect guy for me and dropped him on my doorstep. I was beginning to think that didn't really exist. Who know what will happen going forward, but this is the most fun I've had in awhile, and a really exciting place to be.

Date Night with Hunk

2011-12-04T20:02:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been on a date that almost left you breathless? Well, I did on Saturday night. Hunk came to pick me up, and I almost died when I opened the door. He looked so handsome in a button down, blazer and nice jeans. He immediately commented on how nice he thought I looked, and we both had these giddy smiles on our faces. We had been looking forward to Saturday all week, and it was finally here!

He took me to dinner at La Sombra. The atmosphere and service were great, but the food was just alright. I don't know that I would rush to go back. Our server quickly realized that we needed plenty of time to ourselves and didn't bug us that often. He ordered a bottle of wine and we just chatted about everything. No shortage of conversation, for sure. We had already talked during the week about what led to both of our divorces, and I was really glad we had already gotten that out of the way. I think it's important to know those things, but I like keeping an early date light in the conversation department. That doesn't mean just talking about trivial things, but I just don't think you should focus on stuff like that so early on.

After dinner we decided to walk next door to have a glass of wine at Apothecary. It wasn't very crowded which made it easier to continue talking. We talked a lot about our families, how we got to where we are in our careers, travel, music, running...all the interests that we have in common. And even though we were having such great conversation, all I could think about was kissing him. I both love and hate that anticipation, because there is nothing worse than anticipating and then being totally disappointed.

We both had been up since at least 5:30 that morning and were starting to get tired, so we called it a night and he drove me home. I invited him in for a bit and we listened to music and continued chatting some more. Just when I was about ready to send him home, he leaned in, grabbed the back of my head, and planted the best first kiss I've ever had. It was perfect. Sweet, not too short (but not too long) and it just fit. Serious, ridiculous sparks! I thought I loved his pretty eyes the most, but man...those lips! I'm really looking forward to the next time I see him.

Before he left he said that he did not want to wait another week to see me, so we made plans for a mid-week dinner. And when he got home, he sent a text that said "An absolute perfect evening. Thank you and I cannot wait to see you again." *Sigh* It was very hard to fall asleep last night with that ridiculously giddy grin on my face.

My parents came over for dinner tonight, and of course my mom was curious about my date. She knows me so well and picked up immediately on the giddy. And of course, her advice was to chill the freak out. I get that. It's in the back of my head every time I think about Hunk and smile. I realize that I have known him for barely 10 days, and there is so much more to know about him. While I don't doubt that he is equally excited about me, the whole deal with Oliver comes to mind and how quickly he changed his tune with me. I know things can change at any given moment. But it feels great right now, and I'm just going to enjoy it.

Date Night Excitement

2011-12-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

I cannot even explain how excited I am for date night tonight. I have exchanged emails/texts/phone calls with Hunk all week, and I think he's just as excited! I got to see him briefly after our run this morning. I did 7 miles and was able to stretch out with the group afterwards. Hunk? Well, he ran 22 miles and was finishing up just as I was walking out of the parking lot. A smile as big as Texas must have spread across my face, well, until I realized how lovely I probably looked after running in the rain. But it didn't matter. He came hopping over to me and we chatted for about 15 minutes. We were both soaked through (even his pretty long eyelashes) and completely freezing, but it was so fun getting to see him. He's just so freaking adorable, I can't even stand it.

He's picking me up at 6:41 (he picked the time) and I think we're stopping by the running Christmas party before heading to dinner. He made reservations at a restaurant that neither of us have been to, so that should be fun. I think I have the perfect outfit picked, but the darn weather is not cooperating. I'm not going to let a little rain dampen my spirits though.

First kiss? I can't stop thinking about that either. Sparks are flying all over the place, and I can't imagine that there won't be at least a little good night kiss tonight. I can't stop thinking about that, either. But don't worry. Even thought it may not sound like it, I still have my head on straight. I realize that we could go out tonight and have all that spark just fizzle. There's still so much to learn about him. But right now, I love this excited feeling and *hope* that it goes as well as I think it will. Wish me luck!

Drinking the Koolaid

2011-12-02T04:41:00.000-08:00

I've spent part of this week at the beautiful Hyatt Lost Pines out in Bastrop for our National Sales Meeting. Luckily the resort was spared from the devastating fires that hit the area this past fall. But what a difference a year makes! I remember vividly having just started my new job last year, and then only a week later showing up for this very same meeting. The education team from around the country (and even some parts around the world) were all in attendance. It was mind blowing! I could tell that I was a part of something big....but I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Even this year I still felt a little starstruck on day one.

This past year has been a huge, amazing, and challenging learning experience for me. I learned skills I never thought I was capable of and have opened my mind to all the possibilities that I can make for myself. Little old kindergarten teacher me! I still have to pinch myself sometimes. Some days it feels like I just started this job, and other days it feels like forever. Which is why having meetings like this is so good for me. While much of the content I could do without (usually because I keep thinking how quickly my emails and voicemails are piling up while I'm away), it serves as a great reminder that we really are trying to do great things by changing the face of education.

We have such a huge responsibility to prepare today's children for jobs that we don't even know exist! They're going to be the ones creating these new paths, and I often worry that we have in no way readied them for that task. Every day I talk to people who are still doing things the same way as they always have been, and that's just not going to cut it anymore. But I also get to see the success stories, and that's what keeps me going. So I'll drink the koolaid- even give me a second glass! Because I know I've got another big year ahead of me and the motivation is a good place to start.

Hunk

2011-11-28T19:52:00.000-08:00

You just never know when....

I mentioned that I was ripping off the bandaid and hopping back into the dating pool. Flotation device of choice? eHarmony. I said I was going to be patient, given my history with the site. I didn't know that patient would mean 1 day. I got my first round of matches. I won't say I was disappointed, but nothing really jumped out at me. And then the second day, one guy in particular stood out. His face looked vaguely familiar, but his profile piqued my interest more than anything. Tall, runner, positive attitude, and cute in his pictures. At first glance, I figured it was worth at least starting the first stage of communication. (Side note- at first I thought the bazillion stages were a little cheesy, but it's actually a good way to learn interesting information about someone instead of having to first craft a witty email all on your own.)

Much to my surprise, cute runner guy responded back within the hour. And so began our day long email exchange. We completed all levels of communication in record speed, and were soon sharing lengthier and lengthier emails. In true small world fashion- it turns out that he is a part of the running group that I recently joined. He was the cute guy I noticed during my first Saturday stretch session, and according to him, he noticed me too.

The emails continued over the next couple of days, and I finally just threw out the idea of grabbing coffee. I was starting to get a little irritated that he hadn't suggested it first, and I really didn't want to continue on much longer without knowing that the connection could carry over into real life. He jumped at the idea, and we planned to grab a quick cup at a local coffee shop. I said that I had plans at 12 and would need to leave, so I didn't think it would be too much of a commitment. I was certainly looking forward to meeting him though.

So yesterday, I walk into the coffee shop and immediately spot him against the wall. My first thought? If nothing else, I would be staring at a super hot face for the next hour. He was dressed as if he belonged in a Banana Republic window, and had a freshly shaven head (you know how much I love the baldys.) He stood up, shook my hand, and met my eyes with the nicest smile. Off to a good start.

We got in line to order coffee (his treat, even though I initiated the date) and went back to our table. Four and a half hours later (way after the height of interest), I figured one of us was going to have to pull the plug and end the date, otherwise we would be there until closing. Conversation was just that good! At first it started off as just basic things. We have quite a bit in common (running, music, food, etc.), but the conversation became more meaningful at one point, and I felt like I was really getting to know him as a person. We stayed away from anything too deep, but just shared stories and talked. It was awesome.

He's 36, divorced for 3 years, no kids, good job. He's got a self-deprecating sense of humor, but also a sensitive side. He's creative, ambitious....is this all too good to be true? And the best part? He planned a second date before we said goodbye. We're going to dinner on Saturday, followed by the Christmas party for our running group. He has been a part of it for several years, so it will be nice to go with someone who knows more people than I do.

I got a really nice text from him after the date, reiterating how much he enjoyed meeting me. And today we had a few email exchanges, with the last one asking if it was Saturday yet. He's adorable. But listen to me...I'm gushing like a 12 year old. The fact is, it felt good meeting someone who I had such an immediate connection with. Whether is pans out into anything remains to be seen. But it's a start, and proof that there are certainly guys to choose from. It just takes a little patience. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to our second date when the nerves are a little less.

So, why Hunk? I texted a friend about my date and she said = Hunk, and I couldn't agree more!

Moving On

2011-11-28T17:46:00.000-08:00

I had to laugh this morning as I was telling a story to a co-worker of mine. She said "you got to love a girl who gets right back on the horse." She knew the whole story of what had been going on with Corey, but it made me think that my blog readers didn't know the whole deal, and might be confused by exactly how quickly I'm moving on (especially when you read my next post.)

Yes, I am able to rebound pretty quickly. But the truth is, Corey knew about my blog. I'm not exactly sure how often he read it, but it certainly prevented me from writing about my real concerns regarding our relationship. It's very possible that he still reads this, so I probably won't write much more. The bottom line was this- the more I got to know him, the more I realized that he was not a long term match for me. That's not to say anything bad about him as a person. I just know what I need to make a relationship work.

Breaking up was difficult because I know how much it hurts to be on the receiving end. I dragged my feet on doing it, and probably made it worse as a result. But I know that I made the right decision, and I feel really comfortable with it. and the next logical step is for me to put myself back out there. Why not? So for anyone questioning my speedy recovery, that's the deal.

You just never know when

2011-11-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

Look at me....I'm on a writing frenzy. It's called "I've had 5 days off and I feel like a rested, normal person again". Amazing what a little holiday can do for you!

A few days ago my mom called up and said "You're never going to believe this story!" She proceeded to tell me how our hairdresser, Nancy, had met a guy nearly half-way around the world. My mom planned a trip for Nancy and her daughter, cruising through the Mediterranean. On this trip, Nancy made eyes with an attractive man, but they never talked. She couldn't figure out who he was on the trip with. It wasn't until they were at the airport, boarding a plane home, that they actually began talking. As it would turn out, the man was from Austin too, and had been traveling with his extended family from San Antonio. He is divorced, and a father to 2 older daughters.

They chatted on their various plane legs, and then reconnected at baggage claim once back in Austin. Nancy's niece was picking them up, and she offered a ride to her new, handsome, man friend. In an even smaller world moment, it turns out that they live in the same part of town. In fact, their work places are literally half a mile from each other. Seriously- they meet on a boat in a totally different country, and live practically in the same neighborhood! How does that happen?

He's already called and they have been out once (possibly twice now). She's taking it in stride, but I can tell she's excited at the prospect of having met an attractive, personable, and successful (he's a surgeon) man. Good for her!!! It just goes to show that when you least expect it, something great can happen!

9 Miles

2011-11-27T15:29:00.000-08:00

Half-marathon training is trucking right along. I've really stuck to the Tue/Thur/Sat schedule, but still haven't completely stayed on track with the Monday and Friday work-outs. Mondays are supposed to be gym days, and Fridays are "easy run" days. I'm still trying not to overdo it, but I also don't want to lose the muscle tone that I've built up from my kettle bell class. I'm planning to go to the gym tomorrow for some weight training, but the rest of the week is going to be a busy one. We have our national sales meeting for work, so it's going to be tricky to fit in my run work-outs. After 3 solid weeks though, I'm feeling committed to my routine.

And that brings us to this past Saturday morning. My goal was to do an 8 mile run. I was a little nervous about it, but knew I could do it. I showed up to the annex to meet my coach, and there were two other ladies who would be running in my group. I was a little concerned about the pace, as they both looked like pretty experienced runners. And then I found out that they would be running 9 miles that morning. I knew there was no way I would knock out 8 miles by myself, so I decided to head out with them and suck it up for 9. Oh, and did I mention that it was raining? Well, it was. But I ended up finishing all 9 miles. I was tired, but felt like a champ! There was no way I could have done it by myself though, which is why I'm so thankful to be running with Gilbert's Gazelles. Let's just say I'm hooked!

We maintained a steady 10 minute mile pace, which felt comfortable, even on the hills. At the end, we spent about 45 minutes stretching, and I had fun talking to one of the other girls I had met. Even though it's an early morning, I am really enjoying this Saturday morning format! And of course, no long run is complete without a well deserved reward of coffee and breakfast tacos. Eggs and tortillas never tasted so good! My legs felt solid the rest of the day, and I slept like a baby last night. Next Saturday is a "recovery run", of which will only be 7 miles. It's funny how that is starting to sound like a shorter distance, knowing the longer miles I have ahead of me!

My "List"

2011-11-27T05:07:00.000-08:00

In January, I wrote a post attempting to define that things that I am (or am NOT) looking for in a partner. I've always felt that having a "list" is a dangerous thing to do, as it can limit the possible people that you meet. Well, I had dinner with a good friend the other night, and of course we talked about the ending of my relationship with Corey. She agreed that he was a nice, funny guy, but she also mentioned that she was never really sure about the two of us together. I explained about how I try to keep an open mind, because you just never know who you might meet. Her reply was basically saying that wouldn't there be a better possibility of that "spark" if there were at least some common or shared interests? She thinks it's ok to have a few other characteristics to look for that could potentially weed out the guys that I likely will not connect with. And after doing a lot of thinking about it, I have to say she's right.

So, the list is simple. But these are the few things (beyond the traditional values) that I think a potential partner needs to have. I'm going to try to stick to these when viewing possible dates, and see if I have a better success rate in doing so.

An active lifestyle. We don't have to always exercise together, but it would be nice to have that option. I need to be with someone who understands that on certain days, at certain times, I'm going to be doing some kind of physical activity.

Similar taste in music. This may sound silly, but I have recently learned how important it is. I really dig music, and am very opinionated on what constitutes good music. I love going to shows, and I love just sitting around listening to music. I want to be with someone who can talk about, and listen to, the same things that I like.

Comfortable in social settings. I wasn't always the outgoing, confident person that I am today. It was a long road getting here, but I do really enjoy meeting people in a variety of settings. I thought I was more open about this, but it turns out that I really do need someone who can navigate a social scene easily as well. I'm not talking about uppity, elitist events. Just average get togethers with a variety of people, where I don't feel like I'm having to play social referee.

Style. One could argue that I'm not the best at this myself. I'm ok with that. I know my limitations when it comes to dressing myself and decorating, so I enlist the help of people I trust. But I know what I do, and do not, like. And while I might not always follow my mom's rule about putting your best foot forward at all times, I would like to be with someone who at least tries.

Again, these are not characteristics that take the place of more important traits, like family values, honesty, integrity, etc. But more of a profile of someone I am likely to be more compatible with. With all that said, I'm taking a jump back into the dating pool. Match and OKCupid are officially off the list for me. Too many past boyfriends are on there, and not enough new inventory for me to consider. So....even though I've had an unsuccessful history with eharmony, I'm going to give it a try for one month. In the past, most of my matches have been short, not so cute, and have horrible names (see this post regarding names.) I am just going to be patient, and see what comes to my inbox each day. I know some days might be worse than others, but who knows....I might be pleasantly surprised.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

The clock is winding down at work, and I'm ready for 5 whole days away from the office. The pace has been brutal lately, and some time off will do me some good!

I have so much to be thankful for this year, and it's all really pretty simple. I have people in my life (family and friends) who support me, are always there for me, and never let me get too full of myself. I have my health, a job that more than pays the bills, and a cozy place to go home to at the end of the day.

Do I want more? Of course I do. I'd love someone to share it with. But I trust that will happen when it's time to happen, and I'll keep being thankful for what I have in the meantime.

I hope that everyone has a great rest of the week, no matter who you share it with. I'm looking forward to coming back next week and maybe getting back into the swing of blogging more. Who knows what stories I'll have to tell moving forward.

Happy Thanksgiving!

And then there was one.

2011-11-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

One. Single. Person. That's me. I hate to write this post. In fact, I almost wanted to just move right along and ignore this painful part of dating. But I can't, and I know some of you will have questions.

The very short story is this- I really like Corey. He's funny, smart, kind, genuine....basically all of the qualities that I want in a partner. But that intangible thing (chemistry?) wasn't there for me. I tried to give it some time, hoping that it would change and get better, but it didn't. Corey called me out for being distant and asked some very pointed questions. It wasn't fair to him to keep stringing him along if I didn't see a long-term possibility for our relationship. And so I had to say goodbye. A very painful goodbye.

Basically, I feel awful. I'm disappointed that things did not work out. I feel bad for hurting him. Break-ups are just never good. But it was the right thing to do, and I hope that we can both move on to find what it is that we want and deserve.

My Boyfriend Drinks Wine Coolers

2011-11-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

No relationship is perfect.
No person is perfect.
I. Am. Not. Perfect.

I learned a lesson in humility this weekend. It's easy for me to identify the traits that people might see as positive things about my personality. It's much, much harder to acknowledge the ugly. For example, the fact that I can be snobby, pretentious and judgmental. Especially when my boyfriend takes a 4-pack of Bartles and James wine coolers to my friend's birthday party. (Yes, they DO still make those. I was equally as shocked.)

This simple action sparked a ~~ridiculous~~ mild temper tantrum, and I'm not all that proud of it. Each time someone asked if they could grab him a drink, and he said yes (and named the horrible wine coolers) I cringed inside. Why was this so embarrassing to me? Yes, I am a wine and beer snob. Yes, he has been really good about trying wines when we go out to dinner. He really doesn't drink all that much, and when he does, he happens to prefer something ~~nasty~~ sweet. I realize it's not the worst thing that could happen.

My temper tantrum materialized as me basically ignoring him the rest of the night. Alright- you can add childish to my list of negative behavior traits. It just wasn't fair to him. Especially when the night before, he had planned a date night at one of my favorite restaurants. He even brought me flowers when he picked me up!

All of this (plus some recent moodiness) led to a rather serious discussion last night that basically revolved around whether or not we're a good match for each other. It was honest, frank, and very enlightening. I'm really not the best communicator, and it's great that he is able to help me be better at that. Lately I have been focusing on silly small things. Like the fact that his sense of humor is often too juvenile, his taste in music is horrendous (in my humble opinion) or that in certain social settings I find that he communicates too directly. Sometimes it makes me uncomfortable, even though I know he never intends it to be that way. He basically said to me that if I'm looking for Mr. Perfect in All Social Situations Guy, that he is definitely not it. I knew that already, so why is it bothering me so much now?!

It was not easy for me to blunt and tell someone what I think their negative personality traits are. I know how much I hate hearing when people do that to me. But he didn't take offense to it. In fact, he owned up to some, and acknowledged that there are areas that he can possibly grow in. Then I asked him what he thought we have in common. Of course he was able to name all the big, important things. Like that fact that we are both compassionate, value family time, and are adventurous. I want someone who isn't necessarily just like me (that would be so boring!) But I do want to be with someone who has similar values. It was a great conversation- one that led me to feel closer to him, and appreciate the really great things that he brings to the relationship.

Bottom line is this- we're close to 4 months in to this relationship, and there is still a lot to learn about each other. Some traits are better than others. I know all too well how important it is to stay true to who you are as a person, even if that means you have to sometimes own up to being snobby and pretentious. But if I said that dating someone who has better taste in alcoholic drinks is more important than someone who is kind, caring, and lots of fun? Well, that just doesn't bode well for who I want to be as a person.

Corey and I both have the same goals- to be in a fulfilling relationship, and to be in it for the long haul. I don't want to waste my time, and I don't want to waste his time either. So it was (and still is) important to always be thinking in the back of my head "is this something I can deal with for the long run?" I'm glad that we were able to find a constructive way to discuss some sensitive issues, and come out on top!

1/2 Marathon Training, Week 1

2011-11-14T07:09:00.000-08:00

Well, the good news is that I survived! In fact, I think I did really well considering I haven't done any running in nearly 2 months. I had tweaked my knee at some point and decided that I needed to give it a rest. Other than my twice weekly kettle bell class, I haven't been doing much of anything. And it's starting to show. :(

Whenever I'm feeling complacent in regards to exercise, I put something on my calendar. It's always more motivating when there is a goal in place. I've done a 5K and a 10K, so why not give a shot at a half-marathon? I got really lucky in that my place of work values our health. The wellness office teamed up with Gilbert's Gazelles, a well-known training group in Austin, to offer a 12 week training program leading up to the 3M Half-Marathon in January. We meet Tue/Thur mornings at 6:30 for circuit training, time trials and a variety of other work-outs. And then Saturday mornings we meet bright and early for a long run.

For the Tue/Thur work-outs this first week, it just felt good to get back into the groove of running. One thing I have never been very good at is spending a reasonable amount of time warming up or stretching. I will no longer be able to get away with that, and that's a good thing. On Tuesday, the coaches put us through about 15 minutes of warming up, and then had us run laps around a nearby pond, stopping halfway to do a variety of exercises. By the end of the hour, I was beat! And by Wednesday afternoon, my calves were killing me. It was a good kind-of hurt though. Makes you feel like you've really done something.

On Thursday we met at a nearby track. After a 10 minute warm-up jog and then our warm-up routine of exercises geared to improve form and hip flexibility, I was ready to hit the showers. But no....we were going to do a 2400 meter time trial to get a base time for the record books. I did mine in 13:17 (which translates to about a 9:45 pace for a 5K). Not too shabby! Thursday morning was cold though, so I high-tailed it to Academy to stock up on cold weather running gear. Leave it to Austin weather though, it had totally warmed up by the time Saturday morning rolled around.

I really wasn't sure what to expect on Saturday, or how hard to push myself. My knee was holding up so far, but I didn't want to over do it. I met up with some other ladies from the training group at 7am who had decided to do 5-6 miles on the trail. I hooked up with them and off we went. About 2.5 miles into it though, they were no longer behind me. (I found out later they had stopped to use a bathroom.) I stopped half way around for some water and to stretch a little, and went on to finish. At the last water fountain (mile 5) I waited around in case they came by. They did, and decided to do one last mile. I was feeling great, so I tagged along. When all was said and done, it took exactly 1 hour to do 6 miles. For not running that distance in quite awhile, I was more than happy with my time!

My favorite part about this training group is that everyone who is a part of Gilbert's Gazelles, meets at 8:30 for group stretching. It's a fun time to meet new people, and really stretch out the right way. By Saturday afternoon, I wasn't even feeling that sore. What a difference stretching can make!

I'm looking forward to this week's training. We have more circuit and speed work, and I'm shooting for a 7 mile long run on Saturday. It's going to be a busy week with a short work trip to Houston, but I'm glad that I'm making it happen. Jeans won't be tight for much longer!

New Digs for Austin's Homeless Animals

2011-11-10T18:50:00.000-08:00

I have been a volunteer at the city animal shelter for nearly two years, so last night was bittersweet for me. It was the very last night that Town Lake Animal Center was open, after nearly 60 years of serving homeless animals. I didn't really know what to expect, but when they made the final announcement at 7pm that the shelter was not only closed for the evening, but closed for good, I got a little choked up. They thanked the customers, the volunteers, and all the great animals who have come through and waited patiently for a new home. But the shelter is more than showing its age, and the new digs were getting final touches as it awaited the parade of animals.

In what could only have been controlled chaos, all dogs, cats and bunnies were transported the 5 miles to the shiny new Austin Animal Center on the east side of town. I had already taken a tour a few days ago, so I at least knew the lay of the land when I got over there this afternoon. I took off work early so that I could help with any volunteer tasks before walking the dogs and providing them a little extra TLC. As with any change, there will have to be adjustments made to how we typically do things, but I'm looking forward to continuing my work there and helping the dogs feel comfortable in their posh new space.

The dog runs are climate controlled on the inside, and 40 of the kennels are super spacious, complete with an astroturf covered "yard" for each. Fancy! Of course, now we have to teach them how to use a doggy door. Several had already figured it out by the time I got there, and it was so cute to see them relish in their new freedom. Check out this video from a local news station:

Song of the Day: Joy Formidable- Whirring

2011-11-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

It's Friday. The weather is absolutely gorgeous, and I get to leave work a little early for a road trip to Dallas. Soundtracks for road trips are super important, but unfortunately I ran out of time and wasn't able to put one together. If I had- this would have been the first song on it.

Denver, Take 2

2011-11-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

I went back to beautiful Denver to visit my friend Sarah for an extended weekend. After my last trip in April, I knew it was only a matter of time before I went back to visit. And seriously, if it weren't for my awesome job, family, and rather adorable boyfriend, I would be giving major consideration to moving there. It's just absolutely beautiful, and the vibe suits me perfectly.

I lucked out with the most gorgeous weather. After the past few weeks of low 90's in Austin, I was more than ready to pull out my coat and sweaters. I arrived on Friday morning to a clear, sunny, crisply cool day. We stopped at a neat little sidewalk cafe for paninis and enjoyed our lunch on the patio. After that, we braved Friday traffic to search for the perfect Halloween costumes for a party on Saturday. I took a black dress, anticipating that I could put together a fairly decent witch costume. Sarah (lucky girl) got her hands on the last Pokey costume, to go with Gumby who would be joining us for the party.

Friday was a fairly early night, as we grabbed dinner and drinks with friends and watched the painful ending of the World Series. It was so nice to sleep in, walk the dogs a little, and then head for breakfast on Saturday. We went to the cutest bakery and cereal place called The Shoppe. They have all kinds-of crazy cereal concoctions, not to mention a crazy selection of cupcakes (in mini sizes to boot!) I chose the Fruity Pants combo with Apple Jacks, Trix and fresh strawberry slices. It was delicious.

Fruity Pants

Saturday afternoon we took Sarah's dogs out to this gorgeous park in Evergreen. We had visited it last time, but I don't think the drive out there will ever get old. Seeing the view of the mountains is just beautiful. There was still a decent amount of snow on the ground, and the dogs had a great time running around.

Drive to Evergreen

Maddox and Maya

One chilly Texan

We made our way back to town, and then walked to a neat little area of her neighborhood with shops and a very cool wine store, Mondo Vino. They do wine tastings on the weekend, and the lady in charge that day was hilarious. We tasted a great Pinot Noir that we ended up grabbing a bottle of, and then stopped at the cheese shop next store to pick up a wedge of one of the cheeses that was served with the tasting. We cooked some party food, got dressed, and headed out for a great Halloween party at Mile High Station. I was amazed at all the great costumes that we saw. It was a super fun party, but we were smart enough to call it a night at a decent time.

Pokey and Witch

Super cute Bobsled Team

Sunday is football day, no matter the city I'm in. Luckily, Sarah is just as much a fan. We went to a great neighborhood pub, Highland Tap & Burger, full of TVs with every game on, and really good food (try the Tap Burger if you ever go there). We started with a bloody mary bar, and finished with a beer flight of local beers. My fantasy teams weren't doing so hot until the Eagles beat the tar out of Dallas (yay team!) Lucky for me, my yahoo team managed to pull off a win, even after the dismal Saints game, and I'm currently holding first place! Sunday night was chick flick night and a much needed early to bed.

Unfortunately, all good trips must come to an end. Luckily, it ended with an amazing brunch at Snooze. I've decided that no trip to Denver is complete without having breakfast there. You MUST try the pancake flight- best shared among friends- so that you can also taste one of their savory dishes. I had the Sandwich I Am, a warm pretzel bun with egg, cheese, bacon and a chipotle hollandaise sauce. I could barely walk afterwards, but somehow made my way through the airport. I can't wait to go back!

Outside Snooze

Sandwich I Am

Heaven on a plate

Weekend Recap

2011-10-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

Phew.....what a weekend! I really wanted to do a "Weekend Guide" post on Friday because there were so many fun activities going on, but work just got in the way. It was a typical weekend in Austin, full of festivals and beautiful weather. While the rest of the country is cooling off and enjoying fall, it was all sunshine and warmth in our neck of the woods.

First up was the Gypsy Picnic, a festival of all things trailer food. I really wanted to go to this last year, but the organizers didn't anticipate the crowd, which resulted in really long lines and running out of food. Friends who were already there warned me not to go to the trouble. So I patiently waited a year, and Corey and I made plans to head down there early, just in case. Luckily, the festival doubled in size, with nearly 40 trailers spread out along Auditorium Shores. Two stages for music and other random entertainment made for a few fun hours. We met up with friends and had a great time meandering around the park, stuffing ourselves silly with all the great food options. There were no new stand-outs for me (with the exception of the meatloaf sandwich from Rockin Rolls.) It's hard to beat my tried and true favorites like Peached Tortilla (you must try the bbq brisket taco) and Gourdoughs (Son of Peach, please!)

On Saturday night a good friend of mine (and phenomenal hostess) invited people over for a wine tasting party. She's a CPA by day, but is so creative at putting together beautiful presentations of food, and especially dessert! Not the best pictures, but I wanted to keep these for future party ideas. She had a green and white themed dessert table, complete with white chocolate Oreos with a green design on top, and white cake pops served on green sugar. I can't imagine how much work went into putting the table together.

I had to take a side shot as there were always people standing in front.

She also had a table set with wine, cheese, and other assorted food. My favorite were the manchego bites with quince paste, and the stuffed figs with goat cheese and bacon. Yum!! Again...kill me with the presentation. Corey and I had fun chatting with other people, and ignoring the fact that the Rangers got creamed that night.

Sunday rolled around too quickly, and it was off to the 2nd birthday party of my absolute most favorite (and cutest ever) niece. I just cannot believe that it has been two years since I held that sweet little thing in the hospital. And now she's this gorgeous little blonde spit fire. Running all over the place and talking up a storm. There is nothing that warms my heart more than when she calls me "Mamy" (especially when I get to see her sweet face when she says it.

Two years ago today, holding G just before passing her off to my sister.

Playing in the ball pit.

She had a ladybug themed party, with all kinds-of fun games outside. She had such a great time running back and forth from the ball pit to her jumpy castle. It was a big day indeed. She blew out her two candles, and then had even more fun opening her presents. The girl LOVES clothes, and every time she opened a present with a new outfit, she would ooohh and ahhh, and hold it up to show everyone. It was beyond cute! I especially loved her reaction when she opened the ladybug rainboots I gave her, to go with a matching rain coat my mom got her. She immediately put them on. They were followed with an all pink tutu get up, complete with wings, a wand and a tiara. When the party was over, I dressed her up in the outfit and had the best time watching her run around in it.

So there you have it...a busy busy (but really fun) weekend. So looking forward to my trip to Denver next weekend!

She's being silly here, but I thought it was the perfect "the end" to my post.

A Celebration of Life

2011-10-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, October 18th, Apple held a private memorial service so that all employees could celebrate the life of Steve Jobs together. The event was held on a beautiful sunny day at the Cupertino campus, but Apple stores around the world closed its stores for a few hours, and the Austin campus gathered in common areas, so that we could watch the event being video streamed. Obviously, it was a once in a lifetime experience.

Tim Cook spoke most of the time, and acknowledged Steve's wife Laurene, who was in attendance. Seeing her is what set off the tears in my eyes, as there is no doubt the love that was shared between those two. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to lose your life partner at such a young age.

Several speakers shared personal, funny, insightful and touching stories of their experiences with Steve. And we were surprised by 2 performers, Norah Jones (who sang a most beautiful version of Bob Dylan's Forever Young), and Coldplay, who set the waterworks off again when he sang Fix You. It was truly an amazing event to watch, and I felt so honored to work for a company who recognized the importance of sharing those moments together.

Every one has their own ideas of death, and life after death. I know only one thing- that I feel strongly about how my life is celebrated when I'm no longer here. Burial, organ music and ugly flowers? No thanks! Tears are always inevitable, but how great to be out under the sunshine, telling stories that bring happy tears to people's eyes, and taking comfort being with people. Cremate me and scatter my ashes in Town Lake, where I've logged countless, enjoyable miles running that beautiful trail. My death might not warrant a private performance by Coldplay, but laughter, sunflowers, and maybe some margaritas are just some of the things I would like to be included when my time has come. I'm sure Steve would have loved the festivities that took place on Wednesday!

Apple has created a memorial page for Steve, posting comments left from people around the world. It's quite possible that in this lifetime, we will never know someone else who has impacted such an astonishing amount of people, in so many different ways. What an honor to have been even a teeny, tiny part of the magic that is Apple!

Navajo Frybreads- All the Rage!

2011-10-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago the Trailer Friends Meetup group went to Fat Cactus Navajo Frybreads for dinner...and it was FANTASTIC! Hands down, one of my top 3 trailer food meals. Tucked away at the corner of South Congress and Gibson, Chris (the owner) fries up some of the most delicious bread I have ever tasted. I had never had frybread before, and will definitely be going back for more. We tried the OG (with both sauces on top) and the Foghorn. The pizza was a little salty for my taste, but the taco was just so good, I can't imagine getting anything else. Be sure to save room for dessert though. The Elvis, a beautiful concoction of banana, peanut butter, honey and cinnamon, is not to be missed!

Just when I was starting to crave that warm, salty, just crispy on the outside, but still soft on the inside bread- I read today's post on The Pioneer Woman Cooks blog. She gives clear cut instructions, with a beautiful tutorial, if you are up for making your own. But I say why mess up your kitchen when you can head to Fat Cactus to have it made for you? The owner is super nice and chatted up our whole group. I think we caught him a little off guard (there were about 15 of us), but he was more than accommodating and very grateful that we came to visit his trailer. He told us all about how he learned to make frybread, and is well on his way to mastering his craft. It's the only place I know of that serves this in Austin, so go check it out!

Bakerella Book Signing

2011-10-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

For those of you who love to bake, and happen to follow the adorable blog Bakerella, she will be doing a book signing in Austin the first of December. She is best known for her amazing cake pops, but she sounds like an overall really nice person. I'm putting it on my calendar and hoping that I get the chance to meet her.

Austin, TX
Thursday, December 1, 2011
7pm-8:30pm
Book People
603 N. Lamar
Austin, TX 78703

Back in Business

2011-10-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

There was "suspicious activity" surrounding my gmail account, and apparently that meant that my blog was temporarily taken down. Sorry about that, but it appears that all seems to be functioning normally again. Posts to come later today.

Frittata Muffins and Kale Chips

2011-10-17T18:49:00.000-07:00

Holy Superfoods of goodness...I made the most fantastic dinner tonight, just for myself! I first saw the idea for frittata muffins on Pinterest (seriously, have I told you how much I love that site?!) I've been kind of tired lately and didn't make my usual Sunday run to HEB, so I forced myself to go after work today so that I wouldn't stop to pick up something unhealthy. I wanted to make a quick and easy dinner, as well as something that would leave me with leftovers for the next couple of days. So the muffins sounded perfect. I needed something to go with it, and the kale chips sounded like the perfect fit. Eggs, broccoli, kale....lots of nutrients in this meal!

The muffins were a piece of cake. I decided to add the extra step of roasting my broccoli first, but it was totally worth it for the extra flavor it gives it. And the great thing about these is that you can add pretty much any ingredients you have on hand. I used my favorite frittata combination: broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese. But really you can throw any meat, cheese and/or veggie combination that you have in the fridge, and have these on the table in about 10-15 minutes.

Broccoli, Sun-dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Frittata Muffins
(makes 3 servings, about 200 calories per serving)

3 eggs
3 egg whites
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 ounce goat cheese
1 cup broccoli, chopped into small pieces (I roasted mine first with a dab of olive oil and garlic)
6 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped into tiny pieces
non-stick cooking spray (I used olive oil flavored)

Pre-heat oven to 350.
Spray 6 muffin cups in a tin with non-stick spray.
Mix eggs and milk in a medium bowl, and then pour evenly into the tins (about 3/4 full).
Sprinkle you mix of toppings into each cup.
Bake for about 8-10 minutes, until tops are just browned.
Carefully remove by sliding a knife around the edges and sliding onto a plate to cool.

Kale Chips
(makes 2-3 servings, unless you eat the whole pan like I did)

1 bunch of kale, washed and dried
1-2 Tbs olive oil
season salt

Pre-heat oven to 415.
Tear the kale from the stems into pieces (not too big, not too small)
Be sure to dry the kale pieces in paper towel, or use a salad spinner to remove moisture
Toss kale with olive oil (I got away with barely a tablespoon) and sprinkle with season salt. Don't go overboard- mine was way too salty.
Bake for 15-18 minutes, tossing once or twice with a pair or tongs.
Remove from oven to cool.

I know, I suck at food photography. It's just not my thing.

Back in the Kitchen

2011-10-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to make more of an effort recently to a) be a more active participant in cookbook club and b) cook healthy dinners that contain more than just scrambled eggs. I have been fairly successful, and have turned out a few decent meals lately.

A recent favorite was Lemon Pork Scaloppine from "The Pleasures of Cooking for One", served with roasted broccoli and bourbon mashed sweet potatoes (ok, so maybe the last part wasn't so healthy- but it was Corey's contribution to dinner.) This was pretty easy to throw together, as the potatoes had been made before hand and only had to be reheated. You can always cook regular mashed sweet potatoes on the weekend (minus the bourbon, cream and butter) and store them in a dish that is easily reheated.

The roasted broccoli was simply amazing. I cut up the florets fairly small, lined a rimmed backing sheet with foil, and then tossed the broccoli with barely a tablespoon of olive oil, kosher salt, pepper and thin slices of garlic (1-2 cloves depending on how much broccoli). I roasted it at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes (using tongs to turn half way through)- just long enough to caramelize the outside for a good little crisp. I remember Corey saying "Why don't restaurant vegetables taste this good?" Super easy and really healthy, this is a no-brainer side dish.

But the pork dish was the star of the show, and only required minimal ingredients. I bought one pork tenderloin, and it was enough for barely two more servings as leftovers. I adjusted the quantities and added the sherry on my own- I love how it can enhance a good sauce.

Ingredients

1 pork tenderloin, sliced into 3/4 in. rounds
salt and pepper
all-purpose flour for dredging (no more than 1 cup)
1 Tb olive oil
1 Tb butter
2 lemons, 1 thinly sliced and the other for juicing
1 fat shallot, thinly sliced
3-5 Tb chicken broth
1-2 Tb capers (I'm not a big fan, but they did make the dish taste great)
1-2 Tb dry sherry (this is optional, but I liked the tang that it added to the sauce)
fresh chopped parsley for garnish

1- Pound the pork slices so that they are thinner, and of even thickness
2- Salt and pepper the pork, and then dredge lightly in the flour (I shook mine to remove excess coating)
3- Heat oil and butter in skillet until sizzling
4- Lay pork slices, lemon and shallot in pan
5- Cook on medium high for about 1-2 minutes per side (depending on thickness of slices)
6- Remove from pan to a plate and cover loosely with foil
7- Squeeze juice of the lemon into the pan, add chicken broth and sherry, and boil down until lightly thickened
8- Toss capers into pan, and add chicken to heat through
9- Spoon onto plate and sprinkle parsley on top

Bon appétit

RIP, Steve

2011-10-05T19:20:00.001-07:00

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the ones who think differently. While some may see crazy, we see genius."

We'll miss you Steve. But in your absence, we will celebrate your life, and all the amazing things that you left us with. Thank you.

The Pleasures of Cooking for One, Plus One More

2011-10-05T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hello readers. I'm still alive, I promise! Life and work have been busy, busy and that has left me with not much time for blogging.

Some recent highlights....

Corey lost a football game bet, and therefore had to cook a "homemade" dinner for me last Friday. I was sure to remind him that picking something up at a restaurant, and then serving it on your own dishes, did not constitute homemade. He sure showed me! I was served deliciously moist grilled chicken and asparagus with bernaise sauce, along with the most decadent bourbon mashed sweet potatoes. He topped it all off with chocolate chip cookie dough cake in a cup. Am I a lucky girl, or what? Problem is, he set the bar awfully high so soon. We'll see how he is able to follow up with it.

Saturday night, my Trailer Friends Meetup group planned a rare Saturday night adventure. I love having that as one of my "friend's" activities, but I thought this was an appropriate opportunity to invite Corey to meet some of those friends. We ate dinner at Regal Ravioli, a new trailer on the East side, and followed it with bar hopping in the neighborhood. The squash ravioli with veloute sauce was outstanding, and so was the company. It was a fun group, and I think everyone enjoyed meeting Corey. Tonight I'll be hanging with them solo at Tenderland and I'm looking forward to hearing what they have to say.

On Sunday, we celebrated my dad's birthday with the most amazing Fried Chicken supper that is served family style at the new BC Tavern. For $18 a person, you get the most perfect fried chicken, biscuits, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. It's enough food for the entire day, and guarantees nap time afterwards. It was awesome, to say the least! Family time is always fun, especially when my little niece is involved. She was all dressed up looking adorable as ever, and I just love every minute I get to spend with her.

Yesterday I took a tripod (3-legged) dog from the shelter for a trail run in this awesome weather. It's like she has no idea that most dogs have 4 legs- she didn't miss a beat. It was so fun watching how happy she was running around the trail, meeting other dogs and playing in the water. Even better, we passed many other people running, all who were amazed that she was missing a back leg. Great reminder that life is what you make it. She's not letting that get in the way of having a good time! Inspirational, for sure.

All that leads me to last night's dinner. My cookbook club is currently cooking from "The Pleasures of Cooking for One", but I invited Corey to come over and eat with me. Why? I don't have a problem cooking and eating by myself, but I certainly enjoy it more when there is someone else to appreciate my work. It also doesn't hurt that he does the dishes, too. But sitting down together, talking about our day, and just enjoying each other's company made the meal all the more satisfying. It also happened to be really tasty, too! (I'll do a separate post for the food)

Obviously things are going really well with him. And he finds ways to remind me why I like him so much...like sending a text today saying "Happy Max's Wine Dive monthiversary". It's been 2 months since our very first date there, and they have been really great months. I came across the perfect article today written by my favorite dating guru Jess McCann about chasing butterflies vs. adult love. It couldn't have come at a more perfect time as I am really reflecting on all that is happening in this new relationship, and what it means. She makes a lot of good points, and many of them are mistakes that I have made in the past. The rush of new, or tumultuous relationships, is often what we mistake for "love". But she points out the long-term love really should fell happy, safe and (dare I say it) comfortable. I'm not saying that I'm "in love" right now. But he makes me happy, and I feel really comfortable with where we're at in the process of getting to know each other better. It's a good feeling, and very different from most of my past relationships.

So there you have it. I'm loving the weather change and happy to be getting back into running as I start the slow climb to 13.1 miles. I have a trip to Denver at the end of the month to see my friend Sarah. Football is alive and well every weekend. Now if only I could find a way to add a few more hours to the day, I just might be able to fit it all in. But life is good, and I couldn't be any happier about that.

Along Came Polyvore

2011-09-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

There are many things that I love to do, but wasting time putting together a virtual outfit is not really something I ever thought I would "love". But along came Polyvore, and now I'm hooked. You all know that I am slightly challenged when it comes to dressing myself. I often rely on my sister or mom when going shopping. Putting together outfits has never really been my thing. Give me a cute dress, or a simple top and jeans, and I'm good to go. So this whole "creating a super cute outfit with lots of pieces" is more than intimidating for me. But for crying out loud, I love it!

With my sudden obsession for Pinterest, I kept noticing all these really great ensembles that people were posting, and was curious where they were finding them. That's how I came across the Polyvore site. It's a little overwhelming in the beginning, but lots of fun. I'm starting simple, and sticking to the things I know. Simple, classic pieces that make for cute-casual outfits. Here is my first attempt- a "travel chic" outfit for my upcoming trip to Denver.

Trip to Denver by amyelise75 featuring knee boots

Abercrombie Fitch knit top
$88 - abercrombie.com

Dorothy Perkins double breasted coat
£69 - dorothyperkins.com

Tint jeans
$185 - net-a-porter.com

Stuart Weitzman knee boots
£243 - theoutnet.com

Yves Saint Laurent brown hobo handbag
$1,895 - shirise.com

Banana Republic tiered necklace
$60 - bananarepublic.gap.com

For some reason, I have always enjoyed looking nice when traveling. But comfort is almost equally important. Since I'm going somewhere where it will actually be cold, the idea of a bright, fun coat is really what inspired the outfit. And then I chose pieces for layering in case I got warm on the plane. I would most likely wear a light grey t-shirt under the sweater. I just like the combination and think that it looks very "me".

3M Half-Marathon, Here I Come!

2011-09-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

I just did it...I signed up for a running training program through work with the ever-popular Gilbert's Gazelles (something I have always wanted to do), and then registered for the 3M Half-Marathon in January (something I was never really sure I ever wanted to try.) The good news is that I will have a strong training program with a schedule that easily works with mine, and also- the race is mostly downhill. Nice!

I love a good fitness challenge, and since there aren't any more triathlons on my calendar, I thought this would be a reasonable new goal. Gilbert Tuhabonye is a truly inspirational person and I have always wanted to join one of his training groups. While I won't necessarily be working directly with him, I have heard nothing but good things about his training programs and I'm really excited about it.

Now, if you know anything about January weather in Austin, it can be one of two things. Sunny and delightful, or freakishly cold and icy. There is almost no inbetween. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's a relatively dry and comfortable winter. Otherwise, my 3 6am training runs aren't going to be as fun as I'm anticipating.

Sweet Words

2011-09-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

First, I'm just going to come out and say it- I have the cutest boyfriend ever. Not only is he adorably cute looking, but he does the sweetest little things for me, and I'm just eating it up. Example- he sent me an evite for dinner on Friday night. We made a bet a few weekends ago over who would win the UT/UCLA game. I won (Hook 'em!), and so he gets to cook dinner for me. I know it seems ridiculous, but I just thought it was a cute gesture, and it totally made my day. With that said, I am certainly in the giddy, early relationship phase and loving it. It's been awhile. But each time that we're together, I like him a little more. And he is just so, SO good to me. There are a lot of things that I have wanted in a relationship, but someone who can reciprocate their feelings for me in a way that makes me feel special (without over doing it), is something that I have been longing for. He's doing great so far!

So, when I came across a blog post on The Sweetest Occasion that referenced this sunny print, I couldn't help but be reminded of him. How cute is this?

The vendor is TenderBeasts, and they have all kinds-of neat prints and gift things on their etsy site. Go check it out!

New favorite thing: Pinterest

2011-09-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it took me this long to hop on the Pinterest bandwagon. Every time I open my page, I'm bombarded with ideas and inspiration, and it's so fun to see the things that my friends covet the most. It's like Facebook, but exclusively for girls (and maybe guys with really great taste.)

So far, I've had the most fun just labeling my boards. I decided to keep it simple and give them one-word labels like kitchen, closet, party and home. It's hard not to go overboard pinning every neat thing that I see. Practicing restraint is good for me though, so I have only added a few things that I really like. Something tells me that my kitchen board will fill up fast, as I'm always finding food ideas to make or bake. I might have to separate those out to sweet and savory.

Another great use for this could be a continually running wish list for family and (ahem) boyfriends/girlfriends who never quite know what to get someone. Maybe I'll pass along the hint to a certain cute redhead....

I'm already following just about every one of my Facebook friends. If I'm not following you, or you want to follow me, just send me a message and I'll add you. Happy pinning!!!

The Importance of Courting: A Good Old-Fashioned Date Night

2011-09-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

I know it sounds old fashioned, the word courting. But what is so wrong with that? You all know that when it comes to my preferences in dating, old-fashioned traditions often win me over. And on Friday night, Corey** did just that.

court
verb (used with an object)

1. to try to win the favor, preference, or good will of
2. to seek the affections of
3. to attempt to attract a mate by engaging in species-specific behaviors

It has been weeks since we have been on a traditional "date night", and he was really excited about making it happen. He planned it all, and kept me in the dark until he came to pick me up that evening, armed with a beautiful arrangement of sunflowers (my favorite). The only information he had given me was to get a good night's sleep beforehand (I'm notorious for turning into a pumpkin after 10), and to dress nice. Done.

We went to dinner at Paggi House, an iconic and historical restaurant that sits under the most beautiful Live Oak trees. Lucky for us, the temps were just cool enough to enjoy the nice patio and twinkle lights in the trees. Service was attentive, food was delicious, and the company was charming. It was a great meal.

Usually I'm really impatient with surprises, so I can't believe I made it all week without hounding him about what we were doing after dinner. He finally let me in on the second half, and I have to say I was skeptical at first. But....and this is most important when it comes to properly "courting" someone....he pays attention to the things that I like, and planned accordingly. In his search for finding something fun to do that evening, he came across a show called Acro Cats. It's a lady who rescues, fosters, and TRAINS cats who perform tricks on stage. Yes, I said train. She uses clicker trainer to teach them how to do tricks, and now she has a traveling show. I'm not even lying. The fact that he was even willing to go to a show like this says a lot about him. But he thought I would enjoy it, and I did. It was freaking hilarious.

Tuna, the star of the show, playing the cowbell

The "Rockcats". Yes, there are cats playing the guitar, drums and piano, along with a hen playing the tambourine and cymbal.

It was such a great evening, and further cemented the growing feelings that I have for him. Not every date needs to be like this, but I have to say I love and appreciate the effort he put forth. Courting works both ways though, so I repaid the favor by cooking a good meal for him. He rarely cooks, but loves a good meal. So Tex-Mex Meatloaf and Tomatillo Cheese Grits it was, and I think he loved it just as much.

From my new cookbook "The Homesick Texan"

We got to spend a decent amount of time together over the weekend, mostly date night, football and dinner, and I really enjoyed it. It's exciting and scary and all the wonderful other things that come along with a new relationship. Being able to let go of those fears was a big step for me, but I'm glad that I was able to do it. Who knows where this will go, but I'm enjoying the ride.

**I have decided to refer to him by his real name. I just could not think of a nickname that really suited him, and I like to think that maybe for once this is the real deal. We had a talk the other night and I let him know about my blog. (Not the title, just that it exists.) He was totally fine about it, and said that it made sense given how well he thought my online profile was written. He has no plans to search for it and read it, but I would rather him know than accidentally stumble upon it.

Life is Good

2011-09-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

I have reached a sweet spot right now, and I'm enjoying the ride. Things are going really well with CY. I'm looking forward to a date night with him on Friday, and getting to spend a little more time with him overall. I have been fighting the battle of how to work my schedule so that I have enough time to do everything that I want to do. I appreciate that he is totally understanding of my need to have enough "me" time, as well as all my other social activities. I'm also relishing this time when I'm not having to worry about our relationship status. I can just focus on getting to know him better, having fun, and letting him see the "real" me. Not the one who gives him the stiff arm.

Outside of that, I have made time to see some friends I haven't seen much lately. Catching up over a glass of wine, or movie nights at Alamo Drafthouse, are always fun ways to spend time with friends. I went to see The Help with some girlfriends from high school the other night, and it was so fun chit-chatting afterwards, catching up on what everyone else is up to. Oh, and what an incredible movie! If you haven't read the book, do that first because it's amazing. And then go see the movie. I was so impressed that they didn't completely mess up the story line. We were all in tears at multiple times during the movie, but there were plenty of laughs as well.

And then there is work. What a crazy year this has been. I've written before about the leap of faith I took in leaving a job that I loved for something that had a more regular schedule. It was scary going from a set salary to commission-based pay, but it has been totally worth it. I worked my tail off, hit my goal, and now I get to go to Hawaii for the sales club trip in January. There's nothing that motivates me more than money and travel, and I'm just so glad that it all paid off.

So there's the quick recap of my recent life. Rinse and repeat...I sure hope it doesn't change any time soon.
It's crazy busy, but I have found just enough of a balance to make it all work!

The "DTR" Talk

2011-09-12T14:55:00.000-07:00

The "defining the relationship" talk is always a scary thing. For me, I usually wait in anticipation for the guy I'm seeing to initiate it. There's nothing worse than jumping the gun and scaring a guy off. But rarely has it worked out the way that I wanted it to in recent years. For me, it's important that the guy be the one to go first. I guess it just says to me that it's important to them. And for once, I got what I wanted.

My first date with C#1 was on August 5th. I've written a few bits about some of our other dates, but for the most part, have stayed pretty quiet. The truth is, he scares me to death. In a good way. I like spending time with him, but have kept him a stiff arm's length away due to my issues with dating someone not too far out of a divorce (at least the ink is dry on this one!) I have unintentionally been playing hard to get, I guess. I only see him once (maybe twice) a week. I'm often not available when he calls. And apparently, I have been giving off the impression that I wasn't that interested. He had just about reached his limit and was thinking about cutting the strings on me.

All I have been able to think about since we started hanging out was that it's just not possible for him to be ready for a relationship. After getting burned pretty badly (twice), I think this was an acceptable opinion. While I enjoyed the things that we did together, I refused to think that it was actually going anywhere. He never gave me a reason to believe otherwise. In fact, he's about as sweet as they come. But this weekend, he finally called me out on my behavior and, as a good friend described it, he "put me in my place" so to speak.

Our schedules didn't mesh very well this weekend, so we were left with spending Saturday afternoon together. I needed to get some errands knocked out, so I asked if he was ok tagging along with me. We didn't do anything spectacular. There were stops at Petco, Loft and Central Market. But as the day was winding down, I was having a hard time ignoring how nice it was to do those regular things with someone. Not just someone. With him. We had about an hour to chill out at my place, and I decided that I would let my walls down a tiny bit. I told him how much I enjoyed spending that day with him, and that I appreciated him being patient with me. I acknowledged that I had been somewhat standoff-ish, and he used that as an opportunity to bring up "the talk."

Basically, he called me out for bringing more emotional baggage to our relationship than him. That my fears were interfering with things moving forward, and that he was getting concerned about investing more time in me when he didn't think it was going to go anywhere. He expressed how much he liked me, and that he had no fear whatsoever about the possibility of a relationship. He didn't mind taking things slow, but needed to know that the interest was being reciprocated. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated his direct, but understanding, approach. For as nice as he is, I have the utmost respect that he would not let me walk all over him.

As the talk continued, we decided that at this point, it is best for both of us to not see anyone else while we get to know each other better. We know there is no guarantee that it will work out, but this is what we are both most comfortable with. For me, it definitely eases the uncomfortable "what-ifs" that may be going on without me. It certainly increases my confidence in taking a small step forward. So where does that leave us? The term "boyfriend" sounds really strong. Not sure that I'm ready to go that far. But I am willing to make a little more time for him, and be more open to letting him get to know the real me better.

Relationships are always about risks, no matter what the past involved for either party. After almost 6 weeks, I'm deciding to take a risk with him and hope that it all works out. That's all you can do anyway, right? I don't know how much I will write about all that is going on. I would rather focus on fun things that I do and just enjoy the relationship as it develops. Of course I'll likely address certain issues that might come up. After all, this is still a blog about dating. Wish me the best with CY (his new nickname) and I hope that you'll keep coming back to visit. You never know what adventures might come.

Coffee Dates

2011-09-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

I met up with a girlfriend last week for our "once every 4 months" catch-up session. The Grove is a favorite place of ours, and we lucked out that the weather was just nice enough to enjoy some wine under the beautiful trees on the patio. Like most girly chats, talk centered around boys at least part of the conversation (she's married, so it was mostly my boy stories.) She didn't know much about my recent dating life (who can blame her with how often it changes) so I did my best to summarize the past few months. I also mentioned an upcoming coffee date that I had planned for Saturday morning. She surprised me with her response, questioning why I would choose to just have coffee with someone. She thought that might be kind-of lame.

At one point, I would have totally agreed with her. There's nothing very romantic about having coffee with a total stranger. It's a very casual activity- no way around that. But I explained to her that I'm a busy girl. My evenings are a mix of volunteering, getting together with friends, etc. My social calendar is usually pretty full. So why would I want to give up a coveted evening to go out for dinner/drinks with someone when there is no guarantee that I will like them even a tiny bit? There's nothing I hate more than coming home at the end of a date, wishing that I had been on my couch watching TV instead.

So coffee dates are safe. They aren't a huge investment of time, and there seems to be less pressure that way. And that is why I planned a coffee date with "J" for this past Saturday morning. Long story short: we exchanged a few emails, I got the impression that maybe he wasn't interested, but then he really was. After saying he was going to call, and then not calling two nights in a row, I sent him a snarky message. (A cocktail or two might have been had before this happened.) I basically said "Pet, meet Peeve. Flakiness drives me nuts. If you say you're going to call, then call." I really shouldn't have sent that, but what did I have to lose? (OK, maybe my dignity, but I digress.)

He texted, called, emailed all within a few minutes of receiving it. I didn't respond/answer because it was kind-of late. Turned out that he had left a message for the wrong number, and thought that I just didn't call him back. Whatever. So we planned our date, and I met up with him yesterday for a late breakfast. He was nice looking, smart, and interesting. But I just felt "meh" about it. Nothing about it really blew me away. He will be traveling for work the rest of the month, so I just didn't know what to think when we left. He ended up sending an email later that day, saying he enjoyed meeting me and would like to stay in touch while he's on the road. I just don't know that I'm up for playing pen pal, and someone else has piqued my interest more. Stay tuned tomorrow for an important update.....

Where Were You? 9/11

2011-09-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

We've all heard stories from our parents, talking about where they were the day that JFK was shot. It's hard to realize the emotional toll of an event like that, because we didn't experience it first hand. Unfortunately, in our lifetime, several events with a similar impact have already happened- when the Challenger exploded (I was in 4th grade), and the Oklahoma City bombing (I was in college). But I don't think that anything can compare to the gross magnitude of what happened on 9/11. Where were you that day?

I happened to be teaching at Allan Elementary in East Austin. It was only my second year in the classroom, and what a quick lesson in tragedy did I learn that day. I will never forget when I found out. It was our library day, and we usually went first thing in the morning. I took my kids to get settled in for story time, and noticed the librarian staring at her computer, crying. I went over to check on her, and saw video of a plane hitting the Twin Towers. I believe the second one had just hit, and that is when talk of a terrorist attack had begun. I immediately thought of my good friend Melissa and texted her to make sure she was ok.

My students were kindergartners. Some barely 5 years old. How do you even begin to explain an event like that to them? I was in tears at this point, just thinking about the sheer number of lives that most likely had been lost. I couldn't possibly tell my kids that someone had flown a plane into a building to intentionally kill people. They just couldn't comprehend that. As it turned out, many of them went home that evening and saw the footage on TV. Some even saw the people jumping out of the buildings. I remember one of my boys joking about it the next day. To them, it was almost like a cartoon or video game that they were so used to seeing.

I called my ex (husband at the time). I called my parents. I called all the people I cared about, just to tell them I loved them. Nothing else seemed to matter that day. And as I watch all the footage again, it's hard to imagine that ten years have gone by. It still feels like yesterday that I was standing in that library, hugging the librarian and figuring out how to explain to my students what had just happened. It's so cliche, but life can be over in an instant...for so many reasons. If there is anything that I've learned over those 10 years, it's to make each day count. My heart goes out to all the families who suffered a loss from the event, and to all the heroes who fight to honor them. We will never forget.

Surprises on my doorstep

2011-09-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like a good little surprise? I know I love them. So imagine how nice it was to come home not one, but two days in a row, to little things waiting on my doorstep!

Wednesday was a somewhat sad day, thinking about my grandmother and all. But leave it to one of my most thoughtful friends to put a smile on my face. When I got home, there was the most delicious smelling cinnamon wreath on my doorstep, with a very sweet card. I shed a few tears, but felt so, so loved!!!

And then yesterday, as I was unlocking my door, there was a little note folded in the crack of the door. I almost didn't see it. Thinking it was probably from my next door neighbor, I didn't immediately open it. After I put my things down and settled in, I read it. C#1 had been in my neighborhood for work and wanted me to know that he was thinking about me. How sweet is that?! A girl could used to that.

Remembering Nana

2011-09-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, I said my last goodbye to the best grandmother on the planet. After 4 days of a bedside vigil, she decided it was time to let go. I think the rest of us are still finding a way to do so.

I grew up with my grandparents living just blocks away. There was a hardly a summer that went by when we weren't splashing around their pool, or having sleepovers. My siblings and I played crazy games, ate junk food, and generally just had fun whenever we were at their place. How lucky were we?! Not everyone gets to experience their grandparents like that.

We had many, many good years with them. More than most people get. And some of the last memories I had (particularly with my grandmother) were my favorite. After all they had done for us, we finally got to give back to them just a little. It meant the world to me.

I miss them both, and would give anything to get a kiss and hug from either. I miss their smell, and the sound of their sweet voices. But Nana....she was really something special. She made a big impact on my life, and I feel so lucky to have been her granddaughter.

Things I think about when I think of you:

"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Magic Shell on Cookies and Cream (only Blue Bell, of course)

A pantry stocked with goodies, especially our favorite sweet cereals.

Morning cartoons while eating breakfast on metal trays.

Going to Toys R Us to pick out Hot Wheels (and pouting because Holly got the cool Care Bear seat.)

Your gold bird necklace (it was always my favorite)

Scotch and Soda

The way you would tell me "It's alright", when I would call crying about something, and always trusted you when you told me.

Laboring hard on Labor Day

2011-09-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning was the AVIA Austin Triathlon. Participating in the race brought back a lot of memories for me, mostly hard ones. It was the race that motivated me to get back into the sport, which was great. But it took place shortly after my break-up with Frans. And it was a day before my grandmother passed away last year. This year it will be known for coinciding with the Central Texas Fires and a much needed cool front that brought comfortable temperatures for race day, but not a drop of desperately needed rain.

I'll be totally honest- I didn't do jack to get ready for this race. I've been working out, but had no training plan specific to race day. I think I hit the pool once since my last race! I was originally supposed to do the Olympic distance, but knew it would not be smart (or the least bit enjoyable) to do that given the shape I was in. I was still looking forward to doing the Sprint distance (700m swim, 27km bike, 5km run), but had no expectations for doing well.

Imagine my surprise when I got my results yesterday. I placed 17th out of 43 in my age group, but most importantly, I ran an 8:35 mile pace!! That was shocking to me. I was 7th place for the run, and I couldn't be happier about that small accomplishment.

Race summary:

Started the morning off with toast, peanut butter, banana and coffee. Made it to transition area with 1 hr 45 min before start time. Walk in to transition area and run smack into P, the guy I date around Halloween last year, and who totally blew me off. We said hi, and I went on my way. He was set up just two bike racks away from me (this is important later).

I stretched, walked around, and watched all the Olympic distance athletes begin, wondering if I should have given it a shot after all. Nah...I was fine. My start time got pushed back 15 min due to the wind, but before I knew it, I was treading in the water and the horn blew.

The swim felt fine. I drafted behind another girl most of the way out, and was on my own coming back. I wasn't feeling particularly fast, but my breathing was steady and I didn't feel tired. Overall pace was 2:22, not my fastest, but not terrible. When I got to the transition area, I was P still getting ready for the bike. He started 4 minutes ahead of me, so I was surprised to still see him there. Ha!

I had a decent transition and was soon hitting the pavement. The bike felt like the hardest- the wind had really picked up and every downhill seemed to be accompanied by head wind. So I was also shocked to see that my overall pace was 16.7. Not bad at all! Again, when I went back to transition, there was P. He ran out just ahead of me, and that was all the motivation I needed.

I threw my hat on, sprayed my shoulders with sunscreen, and grabbed 3 Clif Shot bloks to eat on my way out. The weather couldn't have been any nicer, and I was ready to see how well my legs would hold up. I looked for C #1, who had said he would come out to support me, but didn't see him anywhere in the crowd. But then I saw CB who was out on the trail for a walk. He yelled out "slow and steady", and that was the best advice. I kept thinking that for the rest of the run. And then, just ahead, I saw P start walking. We weren't even 1/8 of a mile into the course yet. I kicked it up just a notch, and passed him by with a big smile on my face.

My legs never felt tired on the run, and I only walked long enough to drink fluids at two stops. I really didn't have any idea what my pace was until I saw the results last night. Good to know that my legs can handle it, but it also means I need to keep pushing myself. Overall race time was 1 hour, 51 minutes. I'll take it! It also happened to be 18 minutes faster than P. There's nothing I love more than beating a boy.

I finally saw C#1 at the finish line, but he never did see me on the course. I was disappointed, but glad that he came out to support me. I took him to brunch at a friend's house, and then spent the rest of the afternoon napping by my parent's pool. Overall, it was a great day!

Fantasy Football Mania

2011-09-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. In many parts of the US, the temps are starting to drop, leaves are changing colors, and Friday Night Lights are shining bright. While only one of those might ring true in Texas, it still means the same thing... Football season is here!!!

Taken right before our draft in Houston two years ago. The outfit was a joke for another member- I entered the bar cheering and doing high kicks. I'm sure it was highly amusing for anyone who witnessed.

Not only do I love football of any variety (and yes, that even includes hottie soccer players), I especially love Fantasy Football. It brings out my competitive nature and makes Sunday afternoons that much more fun. I have been playing in a league with my brother and friends for 5 year now. But this year, I decided to step it up a notch. I was invited to play in a work league and just couldn't refuse. My mom is now officially convinced I'm crazy. I was also entertaining the idea of a possible 3rd league, because cute guy from Trailer Friends was really wanting to get a local league going, but just wasn't able to bring it to fruition. I'm kind of glad because two might be all I can handle, though it would have been nice to see him more.

My first draft was Wednesday, and this was the first time in years that we weren't able to do a live draft. Well, a live draft that didn't include me. Everyone else got together in Houston, and I video chatted in. (Thank you, technology.) It was still fun, but I hope next year we can all get together again. That's one of my favorite parts. I drew the #9 pick, and rated my overall draft a B-. I did get Drew Brees though, so at least there was that.

Last night was the work draft, and it was all done online. Lucky for me, I drew the #1 spot and promptly snagged Adrian Peterson. I drafted an entirely different roster of players, so it will be fun to see how each team does. I think the first few weeks of the season will be interesting, given the lock out and all. Regardless, I am so excited for that first weekend to get here! I'll be situated on my couch, with dual screens working on my laptop. I've entertained the idea of purchasing an iPad for this very reason, but I still can't justify the cost entirely. We'll see.

Anyone else share my affinity for football season?

Pippi Finds a Home

2011-09-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

It is with great pleasure (ok, and some relief) that I can finally say that Pippi has gone to her furever home! I didn't want to jinx it until I felt 110% confident that she would not be returned back to me after chewing up the carpet the first time she was left alone. Instead....she has been a perfect angel and her new parents are so in love, they can't imagine life without her.

Last Saturday morning, Pippi made her TV debut as the Pet of the Week on KVUE. In true Pippi fashion, she was poised, adorable, and the picture of perfect behavior. You can check her out below.

During her clip, an older, semi-retired couple was watching the morning news and saw that sweet face. They had a boxer mix for years, but had put him down almost 5 years ago. They had already started thinking about a new one when they saw Pippi. They were waiting at the shelter when I got there with her to meet her fans, and it was instant attraction on both sides. Pippi is often shy when she first meets people, but she greeted them both with kisses and over-zealous tail wags. I loved it!!!

After filling them in on her behavior (both good and bad), they seemed ready to take her. I took her home to get all her stuff together, and to say my goodbyes while they finished up paperwork. And when they came to get her, it was more tail wags and excitement. I snapped a cute picture of the three of them, and off they went in the truck. Pippi was riding front and center, with a big smile on her face.

Later that evening I got my first email update from them- Pippi was doing great and was already cuddling with her new dad in his Lazy Boy, watching TV. I got another email update on Tuesday saying that Pippi survived her first hour and a half of being left alone, with nary a scratch or potty accident to be found. Her new parents are home all the time, and also take her with them on car trips. She has met the neighbors and will be meeting grandkids this weekend. Life has turned out perfectly for that sweet, deserving pup.

For all the ups and downs of being a foster mom, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. The feeling of joy that comes with finding the absolute perfect home far outweighs the emotional toll of when things weren't working out. I miss her like crazy, but she is living the good life and I couldn't be happier!!

Song of the day: Adele- Someone Like You

2011-08-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

I bought Adele's album "19" right when it came out, and I still haven't tired of listening to it. I don't know why I didn't jump so quickly on her newest one "21", even when my reliable music source said it was one of his most recent favorite albums. Shoot me. I finally jumped on the bandwagon, all because of her performance at the VMA's Sunday night.

I never really thought there would be a day when I said I was too old to watch MTV, but I think it's pretty darn close. I enjoyed many of the performances, but it's just so hard to get over the lip syncing and theatrics in place of real talent. And then there was Adele. Bless her heart. I think some random person on Twitter said it best: "Thank you to the person who smashed Adele's heart to pieces." Without her painful heartbreak, we might never have had the pleasure of listening to a true masterpiece of a record.

If you missed her performance at the VMA's, click on the link below (unfortunately the video has been removed from youtube), or watch a video from a similar performance in London. The song is amazingly beautiful, yet oh-so-sad. We've all been there, and her words ring really close to home.

"Someone Like You"

If that is too slow for your taste- check out this cool remix of "Set Fire to the Rain". It's currently playing during the monthly calendar segment at Alamo Drafthouse. (they always pick the coolest songs!)

Holy Mole

2011-08-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

I owe a big thank you to whoever the Facebook friend was who liked this page first- I am eternally grateful! On Sunday, I started seeing all these little posts about "liking" a new page called Crock Pot Girls. It piqued my interest, so I liked it too. I actually own two crock pots (one which was still in the box), but haven't used one in quite awhile. Lately, I've been boycotting my oven because a) it's too damn hot and b) I've just been lazy. So the idea of throwing food in a pot, turning it on in the morning, and then coming home to dinner being pretty much ready sounded like a fantastic idea to me.

I perused their Facebook page, but then went to their website where the recipes were easier to access. I looked at chicken first and found plenty of great recipes to try. But the Chicken Mole jumped out first. The list of ingredients was fairly short and inexpensive, but the combination of spices seemed unbeatable. In case you don't know, mole is a traditional Mexican sauce that is typically flavored with cocoa and spices, and should be thick, dark and rich. People either love it or hate it, but I think it's delicious.

I gathered all of my ingredients on Sunday evening and put everything in the pot except for the chicken (of which I only used 3 boneless chicken breast halves). The pot went in the fridge overnight, so all I had to do Monday morning was turn it on and add the chicken. I left it on low for just over 10 hours. When I got home, I pulled the chicken out to shred it, and it was literally fall-apart soft. Yum! I turned the heat up to high and added 1 tsp of cornstarch mixed with a little bit of water to thicken the sauce up. I added the chicken back to the sauce while I cooked some brown rice and steamed broccoli. Low cal, low fat, and absolutely amazing. Wish I had taken a picture, but I was too busy scarfing it down!

Go check out the site, and pull that crock pot out from the back of your pantry. Even if you're just cooking for one, it's easy to modify quantity, or you can just be creative with leftovers. I think it would be great in tacos, enchiladas, or even in a Mexican hash.

Chivalry is Not Dead

2011-08-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely experience yesterday that proved to me that chivalry isn't entirely dead. At least not in the 60+ year old crowd.

I was in the checkout line at HEB, with a 30 lb. container of cat litter underneath my cart. I was trying to be helpful to the clerk by picking up the litter so he could scan it under the tabletop thingy instead of having to walk around. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm perfectly capable of lifting 30 pounds, but the nice older man behind me would have no such thing. He swooped in to grab it from the bottom, and held it up for the (teenage) clerk, who was not being the least bit helpful back. And then the man placed it back under my cart for me. I thanked the man profusely (mainly because I was flattered at his gentlemanly gesture) and walked out of the store with a smile on my face.

And then, just as I had put the last bag of groceries in my car, another kind, older gentleman, walked out of his way to take my cart and walk it back into the store. Sure- he was already going that direction, but rarely does anyone do such an easy, yet thoughtful thing. Boy- those men sure did know how to make my day!

I wish that I wasn't so pleasantly surprised by occasions like this, but it happened another time last week and made an impression as well. Cute guy from my Trailer Friends group offered to walk me to my car after our dinner get together. I don't think he meant it as anything but a polite gesture, or maybe a safety precaution given the neighborhood and time at night. Regardless, it didn't go without notice and was much appreciated.

I grew up in a family were chivalry reigned supreme. It wasn't that the men thought we were incapable of doing anything for ourselves. They wouldn't dare suggest such a thing! But it was simple gestures that showed that they respected us, and mean more to me now than they probably did growing up. A few examples...when out to eat as a family (usually with my grandparents, too), the men would always pull out chairs for us, wait for all women to be seated before sitting themselves, and stand whenever we got up to go to the restroom. Yes, I grew up in traditional southern family, so those gestures always seemed like the norm. Opening doors, doing the dishes after any of us cooked..I know there are a dozen others that I probably took for granted, too. My grandfather, my dad, and especially my younger brother, all showed the same respect for the women in my family- and I know my brother's wife especially benefits from him learning that at a young age. He seems to be a rare breed these days.

Had it been a 30-something year old guy in line behind me, chances of him reaching out to help with that container would have been slim to none. He would likely have been pre-occupied with a cell phone, or just too clueless to think of such a gesture. Not all guys are that thick-headed, but I find less and less that I meet guys who even know what the word chivalry means. I don't ask for much, but nice manners and the occasional thoughtful gesture go a long way with me! Those are important traits on my fairly short list of non-negotiables in a partner. I just wish they weren't so hard to find!

Online Dating Woes: The Nastygram

2011-08-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

I get an average amount of emails from potential suitors on match.com, but unfortunately most of them are "not a match." The content ranges from a copy/paste of the exact same text from their profile, to cheesy pick up lines, to the occasional genuine compliment. I try to send a "thanks, but no thanks" to the ones I'm not interested in, just because I know I appreciate someone doing the same. No need to waste time waiting and wondering if they might be interested too. But sometimes I sit on a message, either because I'm too busy to send back a decent reply, or because I'm just on the fence.

Last week, I got an email from a younger guy and I guess I just never replied. Well, about 5 days later, he sent another message basically saying "Well, maybe I'll run into you sometime." I knew I wasn't interested, so I just politely replied back and said "Thanks for the email, but I have a lot on my plate right now. Best of luck to you." His mature response back? "Well, maybe you need to make some room on your plate, considering that you're 35 and all."

Hey! You leave my age out of it, jerk. I was ticked off by his nastygram for about 2.5 seconds, and then I just laughed. Because really, he doesn't know me at all and I'm not going to let some idiot make me upset. I just didn't want to make room for someone I had nothing in common with, and wasn't the least bit attracted to. But if that made his ego feel better to say something snarky, then go right ahead.

It all goes back to my post about the Death of Communication, and how easy it is to hide behind our words. This isn't the first email that I have gotten that would most likely never have been said to my face. It's actually pretty mild compared to others. I realize that it comes with the territory when you choose to try online dating, but that still doesn't make it right. Does anyone else get nasty, or inappropriate messages from people on dating sites? Would love to hear some of your better ones!

ps- In related news...I came across this post about First Message Don'ts and though it was pretty funny. I wonder if guys would be offended if I just posted this in the "About Me" section?

Scary Stalker Lady

2011-08-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

I have officially been stalked. I always kind-of looked forward to this day, but in my head I saw it play out very differently. Like maybe a cute guy from some random place had seen me and worked really hard to find out who I was. But as it happened today? Not so much.

Back in late April, I wrote about Cute Bike Guy from my office. Shortly after being officially introduced, we went on a few dates. Shortly after that, we stopped seeing each other. It was so insignificant that I don't think I actually wrote about when I told him I wasn't interested, but it was fine. We still see each other around the gym and office, and it's not a big deal.

And then there was today. I'm minding my own business in the cafeteria, trying to decide if I wanted the sweet onion or the cheddar cheese and sour cream Kettle chips (it's Friday- don't judge.) Just when I reached for my selection, I heard a husky voice say "Are you Amy?" I turned to see where it was coming from, and I was taken back by a somewhat rough looking, middle-aged redhead in a black tank top tucked into jeans. Yikes. I had no idea who this person was, or what she wanted.

Here is a brief recap of our conversation. In public. At work.

Scary Stalker Lady: "Are you dating (cute bike guy)?"
me: "Uh, no." (with an utter look of confusion on my face...where did this chick come from?!)

Scary Stalker Lady: "Well, he told me that y'all are."
me: "Hmmm. Nope. We went on a few dates awhile back, but that was it."

Scary Stalker Lady: "Well, from one woman to another, I'm going to tell you this. Apparently we were dating him at the same time. If I had known then what I know now, I wouldn't have been intimate with him."
me: crickets chirping, because really....what do you say to that?
me: "Well, have a great afternoon."

So I walk out of the cafeteria to meet up with my co-workers, and I really just wanted to bust out laughing. Did that REALLY just happen? This was over 3 months ago, and how in the WORLD did she know who I am? I can only assume that CBG, for whatever messed up reason, told her my name and she then looked me up in our work directory. My picture is listed with my info, but the fact that she recognized me out of hundreds of people was beyond creepy.

When I got back to my desk, I emailed CBG to let him know that I had been approached by scary stalker lady, and that surely he had the smarts to not give out my name. I just let him know that she really wasn't very happy, and the whole exchange was rather creepy. His response:

"I am so sorry about the redhead. She is turning into a complete nightmare!! Co-workers call her my stalker. I guess creepy works too."

My response? "Have fun with that."

Why me?

The End of an Era

2011-08-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

If you watch the news, or follow any kind-of social media at all, you know that Steve Jobs officially resigned yesterday. The news was met with different reactions, as people either love or hate him. But I don't think there is anyone who can deny that he will truly be a memorable figure for all that he has done for technology.

While his presence does not affect our daily activity here at the Austin campus, it still feels a little weird. I have seen Tim Cook in person, and have no doubt that he will continue to carve a path that only Apple can make, but I can't help but feel a little sad during the transition. Steve's departure only means one thing, and I dread the next big announcement when he truly is no longer with us. Cancer sucks!

There have been many interesting and entertaining tributes that have come out over the past 20 hours, and I'm sure it's only the beginning. This article gives a pretty detailed account of how he built up Apple, but I thought this little one, a tribute to his uniform, was short and sweet. And if you have never read his Stanford commencement speech, it's a must. You can find it here.

Thanks Steve
Photo Credit

Lake Date

2011-08-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

C#1 (I'm going to have to find a better nickname for him now) planned a really fun date for me on Sunday. He rented a wave runner and we hit the lake early to avoid the heat and the crowd. Turns out, crowds weren't a problem. Since Lake Travis is so low right now, and most public ramps are closed, there was hardly anyone else out there. It made it better though as we were able to zip around and not have to worry about traffic.

He picked me up and we headed out around 10:30. After checking in, signing our lives away, and packing up the wave runner (he is diabetic and had to carry a water proof bag of his stuff just in case), we were on our way. It was hard to talk, but it was fun hanging on to him and the water felt great. We stopped a couple of times to float and to talk, and then I took a turn at driving. But I have to admit, he did way better than me- he made lots of circles and would hit the waves just right, and I was just a little too chicken. But I think we both enjoyed it. Oh, and I thought it was funny when he said he was surprised at how little I was- that he could wrap his arms around me with plenty leftover. Far cry from the "supple" comment, and so much more appreciated.

Afterwards, we went next door to Carlos n Charlie's to grab lunch. I was worried about it being too hot, but it actually felt nice sitting in the shade with the breeze coming off the water. We shared fajitas, had margaritas, and just enjoyed chatting with each other. I really like talking with him, and he always makes me laugh. He's a little goofy sometimes, but his charming smile and thoughtfulness make up for it.

We came back to my place and hung out for a bit, talking a little more. I also got a pretty decent kiss. OK, it was more than pretty decent. But I feel like my guard is up more than normal (thanks to Oliver) and I'm just trying to take my time getting to know him better before making any decisions. He seems to be just fine with that, and I appreciate it.

I have gotten emails from a few other potential dates, but I can't say I'm super excited about any of them. I know you can't really know until you meet someone in person. But I don't want to go on a date for the sake of going, when I would rather be sitting at home chilling with Pippi and the TV. We'll see...you never know when something new might pop up.

Pippi's Longstocking Story

2011-08-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

I first wrote about Pippi, my foster dog, in this post. It's so hard to believe that it has been over a month now since I brought her home. She still makes her sad face on occasion, but boy has she come a long way! She has put on a fair amount of weight, has made a ton of friends, and has so much more confidence. It has been quite the roller-coaster ride though and I think it will be some time before I am able to foster again. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, and I couldn't have lucked out with a better dog, but it sure does take it's toll on everyone.

I would almost equate this experience to buying a house. You can look and look, but until the contract is signed and keys are in hand, you just can't get your hopes up. I feel that way about potential adopters. Just when you think you have found the perfect one, something falls through. But with fostering, even when the papers are signed and the hand-off is done, it still doesn't ensure that it's official.

To make a long story short, I created a video to promote Pippi, posted it everywhere (thanks to the help of friends and family), and immediately got a response from an acquaintance of a friend. She was so excited to meet Pippi, so she came over on Friday night. I gave her the whole spiel, my recommendations for a successful transition, etc. Pippi spent the weekend with the girl, pulled up the corner of her carpet when she was first left, and was then returned on Sunday evening. Basically, the girl's anxiety level at the thought of caring for a dog was just too high, and she was scared to death to leave her. I kept saying that the first few days I had Pippi were rough too, but after she settled in, it's been smooth sailing ever since.

At this point, with 2 failed adoptions in my care, I'm starting to question my judgement. Am I missing something? Am I not asking the right questions? How is it that I keep failing this sweet dog who just deserves a great home and some love and attention? On Monday, a couple came over to meet Pippi and also fell in love with her. (Seriously, who doesn't? She's awesome.) They decided they wanted to adopt, and we came up with a 4-day plan for transitioning her into a new home. I was totally honest with them about what to expect the first few days, and they were up for putting in the work up front in order to be rewarded on the flip side. Well, I got an email from the girl this afternoon saying their apartment has weight restrictions for pets. How could they not have known this? They were trying to fight it, but I'm betting it's not going to happen.

Have no fear though, I got yet another email from another couple who happens to live on my street. They had been scouring the shelter over the past few weeks, but had yet to find the perfect dog. The girl had also been looking online and happened to come across Pippi's profile and snazzy new video. She fell in love. They came over to visit tonight and just loved Pippi. And lucky for Pippi, she works close to home, but the guy would also be able to take Pippi to work a few days a week. She's such a people person, and I know she would just love being a helper!

So, at press time, I have no idea where she is going to end up. I'm hoping to hear by tomorrow what the deal is with the first couple, but I might just go ahead and decide to let the second couple take her. But again, there is still no guarantee that they will end up keeping her, even though they know that the first few days of transition are hard. The constant up and down of emotions has been rough, but we will continue to plug through. I committed to finding her a great home, and I refuse to fail her.

The C boys divided

2011-08-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the 4 pillars of developing a healthy relationship, and was all prepared to start dating again with a new outlook. I really have stayed busy with other things, and I have taken a very casual approach to my first two rounds of dates with the C boys. The focus is on getting to know them, and discovering chemistry, compatibility, and dealing with challenges. The article that I read stated that you don't necessarily discover those things overnight, or even in 3 months, and that's partly why you shouldn't be quick to jump into a relationship.

I am being very cautious about jumping into things too soon, but after 3 dates with C#2, I think I'm ready to jump ship. Surely that's ok, right? Date #1 was alright- I thought he was cute, but there were a few things I was iffy about. Date #2 was a walk around Town Lake, not entirely exciting, but not the worst date ever. He made some weird comment about my arms being "supple", and it left a weird feeling that I decided was just me being sensitive.

I ignored it, and we made plans for date #3 last night- a movie date. I offered to get the movie tickets, assuming that he would get dinner/drinks (we went to Alamo Drafthouse). When we got to our seats though, and I asked if maybe he wanted to share a pizza or something, he said he had already eaten. It was 7 o'clock! The waiter came by and I ordered a sangria, which was met by C with a raised eye and a statement of "but what about all your training?!" I'm sorry, but who died and made you the alcohol police? If I want to have a drink at the end of a tough day, so be it. It gets worse though. He decided to order a slice of cheesecake for dessert. When it came, he offered me a bite or two. And then he said "I'm going to go ahead and finish this, it will be better for you that way." Alright buddy, you do that. I used to be sensitive about my weight, but not so much these days. Normally I would think he was joking, but it really didn't come off that way. And combined with the other things he has said, I quickly became over the whole thing. After 3 dates, I was feeling 0 chemistry. Peace out.

And then there is C#1. I wasn't so sure after the first date. He seemed nervous, and came across as a little goofy. But he was fun enough to give it a second shot. He didn't disappoint, and even charmed Pippi by bringing her a rawhide to chew on. He calls or email every few days, and always seems to make me laugh. He has already planned date #3, and I have to say I'm really looking forward to it. He rented a jet ski for Sunday, so we're making it a "fun in the sun" date. There is definitely some chemistry and compatibility, for sure. Again, not looking to rush into anything, but I think he's a prime candidate for spending more time getting to know each other better.

My funnel is still wide open though, and I'm keeping my eye out for other prospects to fill it with. I feel like I'm going out a decent amount, but not necessarily meeting new groups of people. It's alright though. There are some fun things on tap for this weekend, including a bike ride, a baby shower (not so fun, but there will be alcohol I'm told), babysitting my niece, a date, and another fun meetup with my Trailer Friends group. Life is good.

One year ago today

2011-08-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, at around 3 in the afternoon, I got a phone call from Frans ending our relationship. I was out in the middle of BFE after a whirlwind trip in East Texas for work. We had gone from a high in our relationship (me meeting his children) to a new low for us (when he ignored me for a few days). The end was not unexpected, but it hurt nonetheless. I dubbed the experience "The Breakover" and vowed to be over it in days. I wish it had been that easy, but it just wasn't. I was heartbroken. It forced me to take a hard look in the mirror though and see what I could learn from that relationship. That phone call seemed to be the first of a series of sad events that took place over the next few months, and I couldn't have been happier when 2010 was over.

But here I am, one year later, and I *think* that I'm smarter, stronger, and happier than ever. At least I feel that way, and it's a good place to be. I have no idea what is in store for me, but I'm enjoying the ride. I have a great job, I'm in the best shape/health of my life, my family and friends are awesome, my social life is robust....there's really nothing to complain about. Sure, I would love to have someone special to share it all with, but I have to trust that will work itself out someway, somehow, sometime.

Girl's Trip 2011

2011-08-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Our annual girl's trip to Port Aransas first began all the way back in 2004. I was barely a year divorced, and the first summer or two got a little crazy. At least two other single girls were always along for the ride, and we have created some really great memories over the years. This year, my sister decided to make the trip even bigger by inviting our core group of friends- a group who hasn't all been together in about two years. I was so excited that all but one was able to make it, resulting in 9 total.

Four of us in Austin packed up a Suburban and headed to San Marcos to pick up two others. I thought there was not a chance that all 6 of us would be able to fit in one Suburban with the amount of stuff we had to take. And to make matters more complicated, we would have to pick up 2 more girls flying in from Dallas at the airport in Corpus for the short 25 minute drive to Port A. Somehow, thanks to our stellar car-packing skills, we pulled it off.

6 girls, 3 days worth of stuff

We finally arrived at the condo, unpacked all our stuff, and immediately poured some cocktails before catching up a little more. My sister had sent out an itinerary prior to the trip, complete with pictures of past trips, ideas for dinner, and food assignments for breakfast and lunch. We were nothing if not organized, and it actually made the trip a lot easier with that many girls to wrangle.

Drinkin' with my bitches banner, courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Dinner plans for Thursday included a fabulous meal at La Playa. It's small, often crowded, and they only take cash. But I highly recommend it if you're in town- the fish tacos and crab enchiladas are to die for. Not to mention the margaritas. We called it an early night, though some girls stayed up waaayy later than others. But I knew I didn't have it in me to do 3 party nights in a row. I must have been asleep by 10:30. Lame, I know.

Cheers at La Playa

On Friday morning, after a great run on the beach, we popped open the champagne for mimosas and breakfast. We got an assembly line going to make sandwiches and to pack up the cooler with drinks and snacks, and then made our way down to the beach. After 8 years, we have perfected the art of setting up on the beach. I think we made record time getting our set-up in place.

I did my best to stay in the shade most of the day (my skin can only handle so much of the brutal Texas sun), but I did join the girls in the water for a bit, if anything to put my "On the Prowl" bathing suit to the test. Sadly, there were no decent guys for me to pounce on.

Yes, the name of the print is really "On the Prowl"

After a long day of sand, sun, beer, and the arrival of the 9th girl, we made our way inside to get ready for our first big night out. We started off with dinner at the Port Aransas Brewing Company. Their hamburger made it onto Texas Monthly's Top 50 Burgers list. I was the only one who tried it, and have to say it's pretty tasty, especially the homemade bun. Oddly enough though, they are really known for their sauce-less pizza, and it was fantastic.

After dinner, and a rather embarrassing Happy 21st Birthday serenade to one of the girls (practical joke), we made our way down the street to Bernie's Beach House for drinks and dancing. It used to be that Sharky's was the place to go, and I have to say I kind-of miss it. Bernie's is just so small. But we go where the party is, so Bernie's it was. After a round of shots, we found a little corner spot to make as home base, and the dancing began. Actually, just as we staked claim to a table, two guys came walking by. My sister and another friend dubbed one of them cute enough to be my cub. I made eye contact, smiled, and he came walking right over. And then he opened his mouth. My first thought was the guy was seriously wasted. I talked to him for a bit, we danced, and I was over it- he was way too sloppy. Later we found out he was on X. Nice. My wingwomen were fired at that point.

Saturday morning was drink, eat, and repeat. But before we made our way down to the beach, we completed our annual tradition of watching the movie Shag. If you haven't seen it, and you're a girl, you must. It's the bees knees! We then went on a search for those tacky t-shirts that are painted with buxom bodies and barely there bikinis. Someone had the brilliant idea that we would all get one and wear it out that night. Sadly enough, there was not a single one to be found on the island. Not one tacky gift shop had them. We gave up our search and hit the beach for another afternoon and sand, sun and fun.

Saturday night was dinner at the condo (fajitas, yum!) and then to the Salty Dog for drinks and terrible karaoke. That is, until one of our girls got up and busted out Baby Got Back with two back up dancers. She knew the words by heart and worked the stage unlike anything I've ever seen. The whole bar was on their feet, and it was awesome!!! We left on a high note and went back to Bernie's for more dancing. I think we had all reached our limit by that point, and were just over being out in the crowds. Nothing too exciting happened that night, so we headed home early enough to miss the last-call craziness.

Sunday morning we had much cleaning up and packing to do, but enjoyed the morning hanging out the last little bit that we could. 2 girls headed off to the airport in a shuttle, and the other 7 drove to Corpus for lunch by the water. After one more drop off at the airport, we started to make our way home. The next drop off was just outside of San Antonio, and long story short- we had a tire problem that required road side assistance and an additional hour added to the trip. It was nearly 8pm by the time I got home, and I was beat. It was so much fun though, and I hope that we can all do it again next year.

We'll be back!

Beach Trip recap is coming....

2011-08-15T19:34:00.001-07:00

I promise! Waiting to get some pictures, and trying to catch up on sleep. Don't get your hopes up though- it was mostly girly fun and a little crazy dancing. Stay tuned....

Life's a Beach

2011-08-12T12:37:00.001-07:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Short and Sweet

2011-08-11T08:38:00.001-07:00

Right now I'm sitting in a comfy chair, warm neck wrap on, getting my toes pampered in preparation for our annual girl's trip to Port Aransas. Usually there are only 4-5 of us. This year, there are 9, and it's sure to be epic. Stories to come, for sure.

I thought I would do just a quick recap of my round 2 of dates with the C boys. On Tuesday, I met up with C#2 for a stroll around Town Lake with Pippi. One would think that would be a fun, casual way to spend a little time with someone. But honestly, conversation was not that easy. He might be nice to look at, but I'm just not sure there's much of a connection. I think I'm willing to give it one more shot, but expectations are low.

Last night, Pippi and I met up with C#1 at Hotel San Jose (his pick- great choice!) He even brought her a new rawhide to chew on. I thought that was really sweet. He was so nice to her and gave her plenty of attention, too. I have to admit, C#1 is growing on me. He's really funny, and very easy to talk to. There is still much to learn about him, but I had a really good time last night. He walked me to my car and I got a quick peck goodnight. It was just right.

I'm officially signing off until I return to town on Sunday. It was an insanely busy week at work and I'm really looking forward to some rest, relaxation, and letting my hair down just a little. We can't go to Port Aransas without an evening at Sharky's, and that pretty much guarantees a few great stories.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

One Weekend, Two Dates, and a Prospect

2011-08-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to report that both first dates went well, and have actually resulted in second dates. Trying to balance work, working out, downtime AND a dog while planning dates is certainly proving to be a challenge. Throw in the fact that I'm leaving town on Thursday, and that both guys would like to see me before then, and you've got one packed week!

Date #1, with C#1: He got there early and made sure that we had a nice table in a quieter section of the restaurant. He was tall and dressed nicely, so off to a good start. I'll spare you lengthy details, so here's the quick recap:

nice
goofy
funny
reasonably cute
hasn't dated much since divorce
maybe a little nervous, resulting in trying too hard
paid for everything
picked a great location (and had a second destination planned, too)

He had impeccable manners and really wanted to make sure that I was having a good time. I would rather have that than someone who doesn't care, but hopefully he'll relax a little more in the future. At the end of the date, he walked me to my car, gave me a hug, and said that he would really like to see me again. I said sure, and meant it. He called yesterday and we talked for a bit, then planned date #2. Apparently he had already been scoping online looking for something fun to do (I think it's funny that he admitted it.) Since my week is pretty crazy, I gave him one option to see me- Wednesday night, WITH Pippi. I just can't leave her all day, then go for a hair appointment after work, and then go out to dinner. So we're a package deal that night, and he seems to be ok with it.

Date #2, with C#2: I actually arrived early for once (yay me) and got our name on the list. We had decided on brunch, and I picked Blue Star Cafeteria. I had only been once before, loved it, and thought it would be a cool, casual place to meet. Quick recap:

very handsome
fit (I could see some nice arms lurking under his shirt)
easy to talk to, but a little on the serious side
asked great questions
interesting hobbies that don't match the serious exterior (like playing guitar)
looking for something serious
split the tab
walked me to my car and said that he wanted to see me again (tentatively planned a walk around Town Lake on Tuesday evening)

I really enjoyed talking with him. He asked a few serious questions, but it never felt like he was interrogating or judging me. I think he is looking for something serious, and would rather not waste anyone's time if there are immediate deal breakers. He is very nice to look at, and I did enjoy sharing a meal with him.

I feel like I should address the whole "who pays for what" thing. It's my opinion that if a guy asks you out, he should be the one who pays. Whenever the check comes at the end of the first date, I always make the courtesy reach for my wallet, but very rarely does the guy ever accept. If I did not enjoy the date and know that I will not be seeing him again, I usually insist. So I guess I was a little taken back by his acceptance in letting me help pay. He ended up paying for more than half (because he had cash) and didn't make a big deal out of it. But I guess it made me think that maybe he wasn't that interested in me after all. It is not a deal breaker by any means, it's just not something that usually happens to me. I have no problem contributing to dates- I'm just a little funny about the way it works on a first date.

Prospect:
I went to the Trailer Friends meetup group last night (looking like ass, I might add), and there happened to be a really cute new face. I could just hear my mom's voice in my head saying "always look your best". I know mom, I know. I think I finally learned that lesson. Turns out the guy is really new to Austin and is wanting to make some friends. He's in to fantasy football and is wanting to start a local league. A few of us were interested, so he sent out an email with details this morning. This could be a great way to casually get to know him and see what potential there might be. He's really cute and has the sexiest smile I have seen in a long time. Plus, he was just a very friendly guy and got along well with everyone there.

So there you have it. A fun, busy weekend with lots of potential. I'm trying not to let the fact that there were no major sparks with the C boys prevent me from getting to know better. I'm just going to enjoy the ride.

The slower you go, the faster you get there

2011-08-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

That is the title of a recent post on Let's Talk Dating. While I don't think there is any one person with all the right answers, I do think it's nice to hear a guy's perspective once in awhile. It also doesn't hurt when it comes from Christian Anderson, the cutest dating coach ever. (Too bad he's taken.)

One of the things that stands out the most on his insightful website are essentially his 4 pillars of developing a healthy relationship in your life:

Self care
Attracting
Dating
Committing

You certainly can't get to #4 by skipping 1-3. If you are dating, I highly encourage you to read through each of these. I just did it, and learned a lot! I think I've worked really hard on self-care, and now I'm working on attracting and dating- where I'm meeting people, and how I attract them into my life. I have a lot of work to do. The article that I mentioned pretty much hits the nail on the head for one of my biggest problems- pacing things.

Like many girls, I want the happy ending. Being patient and hoping that it happens for me isn't the most fun ever. So when I meet someone who at first (or second) date seems like a really awesome person, I immediately start thinking way too far ahead. The part of this article that stood out the most to me was this paragraph:

If we take our time in dating, we create the space to truly know someone and discover the three C’s of a successful relationship: chemistry, compatibility, and dealing with challenges. The C’s are not discovered overnight, nor in three months. You might have three amazing dates with someone, but that is no reason to take yourself off the market or start planning the future. Take your time, enjoy the moment, and enjoy the process of getting to know someone.

I am only hurting myself by not taking my time to really DATE. I recognize my problem, and now it's up to me to do something about it. I'm all about new beginnings, and I never think it's too late to start over again. So this weekend (tonight, actually) I'm starting over. I'm going to give it my best effort to just enjoy the moment (as long as the date isn't a total train wreck) and pace myself through the process. Here's to a fresh start!!

What has 5 letters, and starts with a C?

2011-08-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

All of the prospects in my funnel, apparently. I decided to put myself out there again, and now I have two dates lined up for this weekend. Both of them are with guys whose names have 5 letters and start with a C. Since I don't know their last names, they are both listed as C---- Match in my phone. Talk about confusing! I have to stop and think which one it is when one of them calls or texts.

I have exchanged emails with them both, and within the first few exchanges, they both proposed the idea of getting together. Well done, boys. We're off to a good start. I really won't go into too many details right now. I'll see how each of the first dates go and then provide more information if necessary.

Last night I did get a sneak peek of C #2. Both of us had planned to go to Blues on the Green with friends. He threw out the idea of meeting up to say hi. I took Pippi with me and the whole experience was a little much for her unfortunately. When we got to the park, we ended up sitting way in the back so that we could cool off a little in the shade, and let her get acclimated to all that was going on around us.

Once the sun had gone down enough, we started to make our way towards the front where my friends were. C #2 had sent a text telling me where he was sitting (conveniently not far from my friends) and I told him to be on the lookout for me. He saw us walk by and came over to say hi. But there were so many people and so many dogs around, I was feeling a little stressed out. Not to mention the ridiculous heat that caused a less than flattering sweaty forehead. Not my best first impression. But C #2 was very friendly, and cute in person (always a relief). He walked over with me to say a quick hi to friends, and then Pippi and I headed home. I have to say I was really proud of her for how she behaved while we were out. She walked nicely on the leash and there were no altercations with any other dogs. But I don't want to set her up for failure in a situation that is just more than she can handle just yet.

I got a message from him today working out the details for a Sunday get together so at least he wasn't totally turned off by my sweatiness. And tomorrow night is my date with C #1. I wouldn't typically plan a first date for a Friday night, but he called on Monday, and it was the first available night that we both had. He doesn't really drink a lot of wine, but he knows I enjoy it and wants to learn a little more, so he picked a wine bar downtown and I'll meet him there. I'm looking forward to it.

Going into both of these, I'm trying to look at each one as "just a first date". If I have fun and am interested in getting to know them more (and the feeling is mutual), then I can look forward to a second date. But I am not going to let myself start thinking any further ahead than that. Taking it slow, and having fun. That's my new motto!

Guidelines for Online Dating: Part 3- Messaging

2011-08-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I updated the Guidelines for Online Dating series. If you're so inclined, you can go back and read Part 1 and Part 2 before continuing. I wish I had been more organized when I started it, but that's not really my style.

Since I have officially put myself back out there again, I will try to address issues as they come up. A current one has to do with sending messages. I'm going to throw out my situation, give you my perspective, and then ask for your feedback. It's always nice to hear other's opinions.

Exhibit A- Message Confusion

I broke one of my cardinal rules and sent a message to "B". He replied back in a timely manner, but I didn't get the feeling that he was terribly interested. I replied back again, making sure to engage him with a question or two. He replied back a second time, still no questions on his end. At that point I was done. If you're not going to set me up with any way to respond, I really don't see the point.

I had mentioned in my second response that I had a race on Sunday (it was part of a brief discussion about biking and running.) When I got home afterwards, I had a message from him that said "Let me know how the race went." I was surprised, but replied back briefly and said overall it went better than expected. I then asked him a question about a trip that he mentioned earlier.

His response included a "Great job" "Blah blah, info about my vacation, blah blah" and ended with "It's going to be a hot one this week....." Yes, there was a dot, dot, dot in there. Am I wrong to think that he's just being polite and is not the least bit interested? Why even bother asking about the race if he really isn't interested in asking anything else about me?

So what's the take-away?

Guys, don't be so confusing. I try not to read too much into things, and I think this situation is pretty cut and dry. NOT interested. So why muddy it up? Why bother responding in the first place? Don't pacify me by "being nice". I'm a big girl and don't need it. I'd rather just move along and not wonder about it.

Girls, don't string a guy along either if you aren't interested. As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing wrong with hitting the "Thanks, but no thanks" button that is pretty much available on any dating site. Give a guy that same courtesy that you expect as well. Feel free to sound off if you have anything to add.

Race Day Recap: Jack's Generic Tri

2011-07-31T18:09:00.000-07:00

I woke up bright and early this morning for the sprint-distance Jack's Generic Tri down at the Texas Ski Ranch. I haven't followed a specific training plan since my last triathlon, so my expectations were minimal. Since I train the distances in the race as a minimum (500m swim, 13.8 mile bike, 3 mile run), I wasn't too worried about being able to finish. But I also didn't want to leave the race feeling like I had done crappy. My ego didn't need that. A good friend said "you can do anything for 1.5 hours" and I tried to keep that in my head throughout the race.

Once the horn blew, I fell into a good rhythm for the swim portion, and ended up finishing with pretty much my fastest pace to date- 2:14. I had a really quick first transition and then found myself peddling a decent clip on the bike. That was, until I hit the first of many hills. They were short hills, and nothing I couldn't handle after lengthier mornings spent on the bike. But they were hills nonetheless. I was really focused on trying to keep up the pace, knowing that it would only take me around 45ish minutes to finish the bike portion, but also didn't want to burn out my legs for the run. It ended up taking 53 minutes at a 15.6 pace. Not quite as fast as other sprints I have done, but faster than the last tri I did. At least there was some improvement.

Another short transition (1:15- a record for me!) and then I was downing a Gu and hitting the pavement for the run. At 9:30 am, the sun was already out in full force and it was pretty darn hot. The run was an out and back on a paved road, and it was pretty much all uphill headed out and downhill coming back. I found a steady pace and kept telling myself "just 28 minutes to go". It ended up being 28:25, but I was really happy with the 9:28 pace. It's not my fastest, but I'll take it.

Overall time was 1 hour and 37 minutes. I was shooting for an even 1:30, but again- not too shabby. There were 48 women in my age group and I placed 14th. The worst part of the day was getting steamrolled by several 40+ women. Those chicks were insanely fast!!! I can only hope that I am in half their shape when I reach that age. But I left the race feeling like I had done a good job, and that was all that mattered to me.

This was my first time to do this particular race, and I will for sure be going back. The course was decent, the race was well organized (as all High Five Events are), and the after party was stellar. Beer, burgers and ice cream cones, plus plenty of freebies from some decent vendors. And of course, plenty of eye candy. After all, that's half the reason I keep going back for more!

There are 5 weeks until my next tri, another Olympic distance. I have got to get my stuff together and get myself ready for it. I'm feeling ok about the bike, but I need to put together a new training schedule to make sure that I feel comfortable for the swim and run. There's no relief in sight for the heat, so it looks like a few early runs in the morning, and some swims in the afternoon. I'm struggling with feeling the need to be home for Pippi, but also to get the exercise in that I'm accustomed to doing. I'm sure I'll find a way to make it happen, I just need to get myself organized.

Don't Give Up

2011-07-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

I couldn't have said this any better myself. The article not only applies to me, but many of my single girlfriends who are going through the same things too. Go read the below article and Don't. Give. Up.

Online Dating 101: Online dating is just.....dating

Another one bites the dust....

2011-07-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

Always trust your gut! Mine was telling me this week that something just wasn't right with Oliver. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I just felt it. My off feelings were right when I got a text last night that said "Can you talk tonight?" I had not heard from him since I saw him on Saturday, and knew immediately it would not be the talk I wanted to hear.

I was out with my new Trailer Friends when I got the text. Part of me wanted to stay longer and enjoy the great night we were having. And another part of me just wanted to get it over with. Two of my girlfriends gave me hugs and sent me on my way. Oliver called, didn't really know where to start, and the conversation was pretty brief. The last thing he said was that he couldn't imagine not talking to me. I told him that I really wasn't interested in just "being friends". I wanted more, and since it's clear that he doesn't, it just seems pointless to me to stay in touch.

The short story- yes, he really liked me when we first met. For whatever reason though, those feelings weakened as the weeks went by. End of story. It just plain sucks. I have been in his position plenty of times though. You meet someone and things seem awesome at the beginning. And then you get to know them more and it doesn't seem to be as great a fit as you first envisioned. It's never fun having to relay that message to the other person. And it's certainly not fun being on the receiving end either.

Not going to lie, I'm totally bummed. There were many, many things that I liked about him, and I really hoped that over time we would have the chance to pursue a relationship. That's obviously not going to happen. I cried last night, and I have teared up a little bit today, but I need to just move on. Funny timing with the post I wrote yesterday, huh?

If it weren't for my awesome family, friends and extracurricular hobbies, I would be in worse shape. But I work hard at making sure my life is great without someone in it, and I know I will be fine. I'm not giving up hope that one day I will meet the person who just fits. Wish it wasn't so much work to find him, but I know he's out there.

Filling My Funnel, take 8,639

2011-07-28T16:27:00.000-07:00

I first wrote about Filling Your Funnel here, and I'm doing my best right now to go back and read my own advice. Another girlfriend has recently re-entered the dating world and was joking about going back and reading all my posts with advice for online dating. I think I need to be doing the same. I know that the situation with Oliver is causal at best (this particular week it feels non-existent). What that means is that I need to stop putting all my effort into this one thing, and keep other options open. I've said that was what I was going to do, but I haven't been doing it. Really, I've just been hiding behind other activities. And that's ok.

For whatever reason, this particular week I'm feeling down over the lack of communication on Oliver's end (and by lack of, I mean zero), and I need to take control of the situation and not let that happen. I know that right now he needs to be spending his time doing things for himself and his daughter, and that I am a very small factor is his equation. I actually read a sweet story the other day about a couple who "dated" for about 7 months before actually becoming exclusive, only to get engaged a year after, and now are almost married. I would like to think that that could be my happy ending, but I know better than to count on it. That is an exception, not a rule.

So, I'll put myself back out there (in the real and the online world) and just be patient and see what happens. No more letting it bring me down. If I'm not being proactive, then I only have myself to blame. Pity party is over.

Roller-Coaster Weekend

2011-07-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Life as a foster (dog) mom is so rewarding, but I learned a lesson this weekend that it can also be very difficult. I lucked out in that I got one of the sweetest dogs on earth. She has been such a great houseguest and I really love having her around. She has her issues though, and that is going to be the challenge in finding just the right home for her.

In my home, she is very low energy (she sleeps A LOT), is about 98% house-trained (as long as she gets enough potty breaks), and leaves my cats alone. Given her size, she makes a really great fit for me. Her main problem is the fact that she has had no exposure to socializing with other dogs. You can't fault her for that, but she needs someone knowledgable and patient enough to work on this with her. I'm willing to start, and am hoping that I can put together a plan that will make her more adopter-friendly.

I thought I had found the perfect family for her on Saturday. The couple drove in to meet her, and decided a few hours later that they wanted to take her. They have another dog at home and were slightly concerned about introducing the two, but they seemed committed to making it work. We discussed the best way to handle it and I really thought we were on the same page. I was teary-eyed when I said goodbye, but I just knew it was going to be a great fit.

Later that evening I got a text from them saying that the initial meetings weren't going to so well. I reminded them that it takes time (sometimes weeks, but certainly more than a few hours.) I asked them to keep me posted. I won't go into all the details, but they basically said they just didn't think it was a good fit, and wanted to bring her back to me. I cried. I was just so sad for this sweet dog who has really had some crappy luck these past couple of months. She just doesn't deserve it. But when he dropped her off and her tail was wagging, I knew it was my job to make her feel better.

We had some quiet snuggle time, with Pippi next to me and my cat on my lap. Plenty of treats, several walks, and even a trip to Petco. It ended up being a great afternoon for all of us. Fingers are crossed that this week goes well with her extended unsupervised days. I had to abandon crating her- it was extremely stressful for her and the only time that I have seen her be destructive. So she has free roam of my bedroom and living area. I am lucky to have some friends helping out this week with potty visits and housesitting (I'm housesitting for my parents for two nights.) I'm just going to have to take it all one day at a time. I committed to helping this dog and I'm not going to stop until I find a great place for her to be.

Even though I'm spending a lot of time with Pippi, I have found time for social activities. I took her with me to get a beer with some friends on Friday night, and it was so fun having her. She does well around other people and is generally well behaved when out in public. She's also a bit of a dude-magnet! Will definitely have to plan some more outings.

On Saturday night I went with Oliver to one of the funnest adult birthday parties I have ever attended. It was a 30th birthday, and the birthday girl's husband went all out. Slip & Slide, bouncy castle, snow cone machine with adult-flavors, karaoke, pinatas...it was awesome! My friends really liked Oliver and he was an easy guest to have along- no babysitting required. Things are still going really well with him and I am handling the "taking it slow" so much better. We talk a few times a week and see each other once (maybe twice). He has had his daughter quite a bit lately, and I'm pretty sure that he is not seeing anyone else. But I think he's getting the time he needs for himself, and hopefully that will lead to eventually wanting more time with me.

Meanwhile though, life is good and I can't complain. I think puppy love looks good on me.

Pippi and I at the shelter

Trailer Friends

2011-07-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

The trailer food scene is Austin is something ridiculous. It seems like each week a new trailer pops up somewhere, complete with a catchy name and delicious food. I have been wanting to try so many of them, but for whatever reason, it never makes my to-do list. Well, last week my friend Erin sent along an invitation to join a Meetup group at the East 6th Trailer Park & Eatery. With trailers such as Pig Vicious, Bits and Druthers and Love Balls, how could I say no?

Turns out that the name of the Meetup group is Trailer Friends, and pretty much each week they get together to try out a new trailer. Awesome idea, right? I first wrote about Meetup here, but have mainly used it for triathlon training. It's been great, and I've met some nice people, but I really like the idea of it being more social as well.

Some of the upcoming meetups include locations like Three Little Pigs and Along Came a Slider and I can't wait to join. The group of people at the last meetup were really nice and a lot of fun. I always look forward to having something different to do. No matter what town you're in, check out the Meetup site. Do something, Learn something, Share something, Change something.

Pippi

2011-07-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

I have been a volunteer at the Town Lake Animal Center for 2 1/2 years. Some days it's hard to believe that it has been that long, and it's even harder to believe that I have lasted this long without bringing a dog home. Up until last November, I knew it would be impossible to do so given how often I traveled for work. Once I changed jobs though, I knew it increased the likelihood of adding another pet to my home.

Well, I seem to have fallen in love with one special pup at the shelter. She honestly is the first one that I have given serious consideration to adopting. Given the size of my apartment, plus two cats and about 10 hours away from home each day (just for work), I know that it's not the best situation to bring a dog into. But...just look at this face.

It doesn't get much sweeter than that. Meet Pippi- one very special dog. She's had a rough life, from what we can gather so far. She came to the shelter as a stray, shy, timid dog who would drop to her belly if you tried to leash and walk her. Through the work of some really dedicated volunteers, she has made leaps and bounds during her 70+ stay there. She is not perfect though. She is heartworm positive and currently on treatment, which means her exercise must be severely limited until she gets a clean bill of health. She also needs someone with a great deal of patience to help her come out of her shell and to get her true personality to shine. But there is something about her that just draws me in. I'm smitten.

Pippi has stayed at my house for several nights now, and I am currently listed as the "last resort" contact should she be pulled for euthanization. I refuse to let that happen to this sweet dog. I am trying my hardest to find a good home for her. Please help by passing along the word to anyone you think may be interested. It's probably best that she goes to a home that does not have cats, though so far she has gotten along with mine.

Please feel free to contact me if you need any more information.

Salad Toppers: Pickled Red Onions

2011-07-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

I typically make salads every day for lunch. It's easy because I portion out the greens (usually spinach or mixed field greens) into tupperware containers on Sunday so that I can just grab in the morning and go. The problem is that week after week of eating a lettuce/tomato/bell pepper salad gets really old.

Our office has a nice cafe, and the cafe has a really fabulous salad bar. For just $4, you can get about 8 ounces of ingredients to mix in with your lettuce and dressing of choice. I realize this is a bargain, but even that adds up after awhile. So instead, I'm using that salad bar as an inspiration to make one extra "salad topper" a week to liven up my own salads. It's also a good way to mix up the veggies that I eat each day/week.

There was a left-over red onion that needed to be used, so I decided to start with Pickled Red Onions. Talk about easy- I had these knocked out in about 20 minutes, with ingredients I had on hand, and they turned out delicious.

Pickled Red Onions

1 red onion
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
water

Halve the onion, peel it, and slice thin. I used my mandolin for this.

Blanch the onions in a saucepan of boiling water for one minute. Drain in a colander.

Return the onions to the now empty saucepan. Pour in cider, salt and just enough water to barely cover the onions. I also added a pinch of sugar and some ground celery seed for taste. Bring to a boil for one minute.

Pour contents into a glass container and store in refrigerator for a few weeks. Bonus- they look really pretty in the fridge, too!

Holy Bacon Pralines

2011-07-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon I had my much anticipated cookbook club get together. Summers are always hard as most of us seem to have a lot going on, so we don't get together as often as usual. We had already postponed the meeting once, but I was really, really looking forward to the meal. I didn't have a chance to cook anything from it until this weekend, but I just knew it was going to be phenomenal. My girls did not disappoint.

Our book for this go around was Screened Doors and Sweet Tea, a good 'ole southern cookbook. We always try to pick something different from previous selections. After 2+ years, I'm still surprised that we can find interesting books. This cookbook is really pretty, and I really didn't have anything like it in my collection, so I was happy to buy it. I spent Friday afternoon perusing recipes and decided that I would make several things to contribute. The majority of the menu had already been planned:

Blackberry Limeade
Chile Lime Skirt Steak
Green Chile Cheese Rice
Lemon Icebox Pie

I thought long and hard about how to fill in the blanks and decided on 3 Day Slaw (a vinegar based, and really delicious cole slaw), Pecan Blue Cheese Bread, and........Buttermilk Bacon Pralines. Seriously. The second I read the name, I knew I had to make them. The cookbook touts them as "a true amuse-bouche." Who am I to argue with that?

Unfortunately for me, I didn't really follow the instructions exactly (something you should always do when making any type of candy.) Everything was going just fine, and when I added butter, orange zest and bacon to the candy mixture, I wanted to die. The smell was unlike anything I have ever experienced. Words simply cannot do it justice. Just go out, buy the ingredients, and experience it for yourself. You won't be sorry. It wasn't until I started pouring out the little praline drops that I realized there might be a problem. And after 45 minutes, when none of them had firmed, I knew I had a praline FAIL. Not a total fail though, because licking off those little rounds was still a little bit of heaven. Overall it was just a stellar meal. If you're looking for a fun, slightly traditional cookbook, I highly recommend this one! It's the perfect excuse for inviting people over.

Buttermilk Bacon Pralines

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 T light corn syrup
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp kosher salt
4 T (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1.2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 tsp grated orange zest
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled (use good quality bacon)

In a heavy-bottomed, deep saucepan, combine both sugars, buttermilk, corn syrup, baking soda and salt.
Cook slowly over medium heat for about 20 minutes, until the mixture reaches 235 degrees F on a candy thermometer. (Seriously- she means cook it for 20+ minutes, even if you hit that temp sooner.)

Remove from the heat and add the butter, vanilla, pecans, orange zest and bacon. Being mindful of exposed skin as the mixture is very hot, beat like the dickens with a wooden spoon until smooth and creamy. (Yes, the book really says "like the dickens". Told you it was southern.)

Drop by teaspoonful (not any bigger), onto parchment or Silpat lined cooking sheets. Let stand for 30 minutes, or until cool and firm. Store in an airtight container.

Meeting the Friends

2011-07-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

Oliver invited me to watch the World Cup game with him on Sunday. Since I had to be up north later that afternoon, it made sense for us to go somewhere in his neighborhood. He picked The Park at The Domain. The owner is a client and I guess he hangs out there every now and then. At first I was skeptical because the girls I were seeing in the parking lot were all kinds of skanked out for a Sunday. The singles crowd in North Austin is known to have a certain reputation, and these girls were the epitome of it. But once we got inside, I loved it. No doubt there was some stellar people watching. But there were also a ton of hot guys. If I had been there with some girlfriends, we would have been all over it.

I guess The Park is known for its Sunday brunch with 5-flavor mimosas and a build your own bloody mary bar. The place was packed, and I don't think I've ever seen so many bottles of champagne being opened. Lucky for us, two of his friends snagged a space at the bar with an extra seat, so I was able to sit with Oliver standing just next to me. Throughout the game, he would put his hand on my shoulder or back, or play with the ends of my hair. It was cute and affectionate without being too much. I loved it. I'd like to think that it's a good sign that he introduced me to his friends. Two were guys who he gets together to watch sports with, and a few others he plays volleyball with from his church. It was loud and kind-of hard to talk so it wasn't like I got to spend too much time with them, but still.

Unfortunately I had to leave before the game ended (not that it was a good outcome to see). I got a little kiss and a "let's get together soon" before taking off. I know he was feeling down since he son left that morning, but I was glad that he had planned ahead to see me. Hopefully I was able to cheer him up some. Not sure what out next date will be, but I'm looking forward to it.

Song of the Day: U2- All I Want is You

2011-07-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

Way back in January I wrote a post about Love Songs. I was short on inspiration, and did my best to put together a list of my top 5 "love songs". Thanks to my David Gray Pandora channel today (perfect selection of low-key songs), I would like to amend it and add one more. Or if I can't add one more, I would swap this for Patience.Seriously, I don't know how I missed this one. Great song.

Life's Better Outside

2011-07-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I woke up way too early to join the Bicycle Sport Shop Tres Burrito Ride. I chose the "Go the distance" option because I have been wanting to up my mileage. 50-ish miles is the longest ride I have done until now. For the first part of the ride, I was behind a cute couple in matching jerseys with the words "Life's Better Outside" on the back. They were probably in their mid 40's and just seemed so happy to be out riding together. At one point, the wife reached over and patted him on the butt. It was ridiculously cute. That phrase "Life's Better Outside", and seeing that cute couple, prompted a lot of thinking. When you ride your bike for 4+ hours, that leaves you with plenty of time to think about a lot of different things!

First, it was a gorgeous morning. Austin got just the tiniest bit of early morning rain, and it lowered the temperature a little and provided much needed cloud coverage to protect my fair skin. It almost felt like early fall for a good majority of the ride. How lucky for us to get to spend the morning enjoying the weather on pretty scenic roads just outside of town. It was invigorating, for sure.

Second, it obviously led to me thinking about Oliver, but also the things that I want out of a relationship as well. I would love to be able to spend a Saturday morning alongside my partner (but not in matching jerseys), talking or just enjoying each other's company while getting in a bit of exercise. It could have been a run, a hike, a whatever. But to be out in the fresh air always makes me feel good. Thinking through all that is going on right now also affirmed that I think I'm approaching things the right way. Thankfully it's getting easier to keep a casual mindset about the whole situation. At least I had a good friend with me on the ride (we had our own good conversation), as well as a few other people I have ridden with before. That companionship was just as nice to have as someone in a matching jersey.

Third, it renewed my desire to keep up with my training. The heat has really done a number on me this summer and it has been very hard to keep up the level of exercise I was doing leading up to my last race. It has been discouraging, to say the least. I was nervous about being able to do a ride this long, but my body had no problem with it (other than just being ridiculously tired afterwards). It definitely provided a boost to my confidence- one of the reasons I keep coming back for more! I don't know that I can keep up with running like I was, but I really enjoy the peaceful feeling that comes along with a good bike ride. I wonder if there are duathlons just for swimming and biking? If not.....I'm on it!

So- get outside. Do something active. Breathe in some fresh air and get your body moving. If you're ever feeling down at all, I promise this will help. Life's Better Outside.

GNO

2011-07-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

I have a group of friends who started planning GNO (Girl's Night Out) a few months ago, and it has been so much fun! We do our best to plan an event one night a month. I haven't gotten to make all of them, but I really look forward to it. Last night we got together at Embellish, a super cute nail salon, for a little pampering. If you live in Austin and haven't been yet, you must check it out. This was my first visit and I loved it. At just $35 (plus a generous tip) for a pedicure, I will definitely be going back.

The sweet lady who was brave enough to touch my feet (they were in bad shape) called me by name and did such a meticulous job polishing my toes. They look fantastic! They seat you in a comfortable arm chair, drape you with a warm neck wrap, offer a drink (including wine) and play girly movies on a flat screen. The salon is all decked out in chandeliers and pink, without being too obnoxious. They also have a great selection of purses, jewelry, shoes and trinkets that make for great gifts. Whether you are by yourself or with some friends, I highly recommend it.

Afterwards, we walked over to Sago for dinner, another place I had not been to before. The menu is awesome, but the happy hour is what will take me back there. They had $5.50 Mexican Martinis last night, and a great selection of appetizers ranging from $4-7. I ordered the brisket tacos and they were delicious. Even at full price, it was still a good deal. Nice atmosphere, terrific service...another big recommendation if you are ever in The Triangle area.

Patience is a Virtue

2011-07-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

I think I'm making a little bit of progress in this "taking things slow" thing with Oliver. PMS caused a minor set-back when I freaked out over not hearing from him for 2 1/2 days, but I'm much better now. I don't know a single girl who doesn't struggle with wanting to know where you stand with a guy (particularly one you are very interested in), so I'm trying hard not to beat myself over this too much. Patience, patience, patience.

I knew that I would not be hearing from him much at all this week, but he did send a short "hope you're having a good week" text yesterday, and he actually called at lunchtime today just to say hi. It has been a rough week for him, and I appreciate him reaching out to me. His son leaves on Sunday, so I'm not expecting to see him until early next week.

The breakthrough for me was when I realized that this whole situation is making me feel vulnerable, and because of that, I am acting insecure. I have worked too damn hard these past 8 or so years to be acting that way, so I'm nipping it in the bud right now. I'm going to stay busy and occupied with other things, and keep reminding myself that it takes time to get to know someone before making quick decisions about relationships. At any given time, either myself or Oliver can decide that something about the other just isn't going to work. So I'm not letting a strong attraction to him override the "getting to know you" stage.

He did say some things in a recent conversation that I really respected though. He confirmed that he likes me, thinks I'm a lot of fun to be around, and is obviously very attracted to me (his words, not mine.) He said what is most important right now though is that he is with me for the right reasons, not just because I make him feel good during this rough time. He said that he has a history of rushing into relationships and wants to get it right the next time. I think it's a good thing that he is acknowledging that and being honest about it. We're making baby steps, and I like that we can communicate so easily with each other, without it getting too serious.

So- I've got a few fun things on tap for this weekend, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Oliver again soon. Until then, I will be volunteering (and fostering a dog at night- a sweet boxer mix named Pippi), going on a 70 mile ride with some new friends, seeing my adorable niece, and getting together with some girlfriends for what will surely be a fabulous southern meal thanks to our latest Cookbook Club selection, Screen Doors and Sweet Tea.

I'll leave you with another quote I saw recently. I think it sums up perfectly why I'm willing to keep putting myself out there. I truly believe that one day, something good will come my way.

"Love comes to those who still hope after disappointment,

who still believe after betrayal,

and who still love after they've been hurt. "

Pookie Bear

2011-07-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happened last night. I met up with a few girlfriends to grab a drink or two, and I recognized someone from match.com at the bar we were at. This is not the first time it has happened, but I think it's the first time I actually said something to the person. I have pretty decent facial recognition, so I was fairly confident that I was right. Also, this guy happened to have a really funny screen name that made him stand out among the rest. We had exchanged an email or two several months ago, but nothing ever came of it. I pulled up this guy's profile to have my friends confirm if they thought it was him, and they all agreed. They also thought he was really cute, and that at least one of us should go talk to him.

Not being one to be shy, I walked right up to him and said "This is going to sound like the worst line ever, but are you by chance Pookie Bear?" He smiled and said yes. Could not have been more relieved to have been right on that one. Can you imagine if it was not him? I still can't believe I uttered the words Pookie Bear in public. I sat next to him and we chatted for a bit, and thankfully he explained why he chose that as his screen name (dumb story about a college nickname). But as we were talking, all that came to mind was the following conversation from the movie Clueless:

Tai : Do you think she's pretty?
Cher : No, she's a full-on Monet.
Tai : What's a monet?
Cher : It's like a painting, see? From far away, it's OK, but up close, it's a big old mess. Let's ask a guy. Christian, what do you think of Amber?
Christian : Hagsville.
Cher : See?

I wouldn't go so far to say that he was hagsville, but up close he just wasn't that impressive. His teeth were all jacked up, and his personality was kind-of goofy (and not in the endearing way). I finally said "It was nice meeting you" and went along my way. It was hard to tell my friends about the exchange because my seat was facing him, and he was only about 20 feet away. He finally left (I got a slight nod from him on his way out, but that was it) and I filled them in. Obviously there was no interest from either side, but I'm proud of myself for at least going up to say hi. (That was for you, mom.)

An Adventure of a Lifetime

2011-07-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, this post isn't about MY adventure. It's about that of my friend Sarah. She decided several months ago to do something big. Big, like go to work for a non-profit in Amman, Jordan where women can go to learn English and basic job skills. She is living with a host family, and her adventures so far have been addicting. I wake up every morning hoping for a new blog post. She includes pictures and really great detail about a day in the life of Jordanians. If you are at all interested in knowing what it's like to be immersed in a most foreign culture, then you should really check out her blog. When she gets back, I will totally be going to visit so that she can cook me an authentic meal!

A Date on the Lake

2011-07-10T11:44:00.000-07:00

After my bike mishap on Saturday morning, I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to paddle myself around for a few hours. Not wanting to cancel though, I sucked it up and ended up having a great time. Oliver came to pick me up around 1:00 and we headed out to Steiner Ranch for our SUP ATX adventure on Lake Austin. There are multiple places in town where you can do this, but I really liked the location he chose.

Since we're both so pale, we doused ourselves in sunscreen in preparation for 3 hours on the water (with hardly any shade in sight). The guy gave us a 2 second lesson on how to do it, and we were on our way. We started off just sitting or kneeling, getting a feel for the board and balancing while paddling. Once we got out of the heavy boat traffic, we both took a stab at standing, and we both quickly fell down. With boats zipping around you, it's hard to avoid the waves. They got the best of us a few times. But once we got the hang of it, it was so much fun!!! Being in the water with a little breeze made it bearable to be outside this time of year.

I would paddle board every week if it would make me look like this.

We made our way upstream and mainly just talked. It was nice. Most of it was silly/casual conversation, but we also talked a little about the things that are going on in his life right now. His son leaves next weekend, so I know it's going to be a rough week for him. Overall, it was just a fun, relaxing time. By the end of 3 hours though, we were starving. I threw out the idea of hamburgers, and he thought of Ski Shores. It's a cute little hamburger place right on the lake. Neither one of us had been in years, and had no idea that it was under new ownership, and a lot nicer. Still had great atmosphere, and awesome burgers. We chatted more and had fun people watching. As the burgers and beer settled in, we both started getting pretty tired. He dropped me off and hung out for a bit, but left around 8:30 to meet his son for some X-box gaming. (boys!)

This was such a fun date though, and one of my favorite parts about it was that we were both doing something new together. It was a memorable afternoon, and I'm looking forward to whatever our next adventure is. I came across this quote yesterday and think it pretty much sums up what my attitude needs to be regarding whatever is going on with Oliver:

"Don't cry over the past, it's gone. Don't stress about the future, it hasn't arrived. Live in the present and make it beautiful."

Road Rash

2011-07-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

I have been riding a bike for about 5 1/2 years now, with no serious accidents to speak of. (knock on wood) Yesterday, however, I acquired my very first road rash, all by my own stupid fault. I was trying to knock out a 35-40 mile ride, in anticipation of a 70 mile ride I'm signed up to do next weekend. I got up early to beat the heat, and was feeling good. Not quite half way through my ride, it felt like my back tire had gone flat. I turned around to look, and sure enough- it was flat. As I turned back forward, I over corrected and my front tire nailed the curb, causing me to go sailing into a combo of rocks and dirt. I took the brunt of the fall on my right should and butt cheek. Ouch. Luckily, I wasn't that hurt, and no one saw (thank goodness).

I was a little bit shaken up, but was able to hobble a mile to my parent's house to fix up my tire and regroup. After I aired back up, I was getting back on my bike and promptly fell on my left side. I had left my chain in a big gear and just didn't put enough power on the pedal for the short incline. I hate the freak-out feeling you get when you know you aren't going to be able to clip out in time. I felt like such an idiot. But I went on my way, only to flat again a few miles down the road. I gave up, and called my dad for a ride home. It was just not my day to be on the bike.

After cleaning off my shoulder and changing clothes, I decided I wasn't going to let the morning be a total waste. So I sunscreened up again and took off from my apartment for a long run. I made it for 4 miles, and walked the rest of the way back. The heat is just too much, and now I'm starting to question if I'm going to be able to survive another Olympic tri in September. I'm trying so hard to keep up with training, but my body can only do so much in the heat.

Sleeping last night wasn't fun as I kept rolling over onto my right side. I woke up this morning and it's pretty bruised and a little swollen. At least it didn't affect my range of motion all that much though. Eh- at least I feel like a true cyclist now.

Fun Weekend on Tap

2011-07-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but this 4 day week was the slowest. week. ever. It's dead at work as most of my districts are on vacation, and that never helps. But hey- it's Friday!!! I'm volunteering right after work, and then meeting up with a girlfriend who I haven't seen in far too long! Last time I saw her she was pregnant and on bed rest in the hospital. Tonight, we will celebrate friendship over a few margaritas at one of our favorite places, Trudy's. I have an early morning bike ride (need to do at least 30 miles), so I won't feel too guilty about doing some carb loading via a basket of chips and salsa.

Continuing on with my weekend of fun, I will be going SUP boarding with Oliver on Saturday afternoon. We had already made plans to do dinner, but he sent a text on Wednesday asking how much of my time pre-dinner he could have. I didn't know what he was up to, but I said I was available after 12. I was thrilled when he texted back what we would be doing. A Living Social deal had gone out that morning, and I was still contemplating getting it because it was something I had been wanting to try since the craze hit Austin. Big points to him for beating me to it. As he said "It just had our name written all over it." Agreed.

After that, I think we might be hitting up the Circle Brewing Epic Open House for the release of their 4th brew. The Peached Tortilla will be there serving food (yum), and it should be a good time. I imagine we'll be exhausted after all that, but it should be a fun day.

No idea what Sunday will bring, just know that I need to get in a run and a swim. My next tri is quickly approaching (July 31st). It's just a sprint, but I still want to be in good shape for it. Anyone else doing something fun this weekend?

My First Love

2011-07-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

It's hard to forget your first love. Mine came a little early in life, second grade to be exact. Scotty was his name. He was my very first friend at a brand new school and I thought he was absolutely perfect. We played on the playground every day, and even had our own "horsy" game where he would get on all fours and I would ride around on his back. Oh, those were the days. Unfortunately, we went to separate schools for 3rd and 4th grade. We still talked on the phone and even went on two "dates" during that time- an afternoon at TCBY, and then another day at Mr. Gattis, followed by a walk around my neighborhood.

As luck would have it, we were reunited at the same school in 5th grade, and we quickly became an official couple when he asked me to "go with him". It was love. But sadly, Scotty soon became distracted by all of the other cute girls at my school, and within a few weeks, I was tragically cast aside. I'll never forget his new girlfriend coming up to me, telling me that it was over. I spent the evening crying in the bathtub.

Our relationship was never the same, though we remained friendly through high school. I have seen Scotty off and on since. He is into triathlon and I'll occasionally run by him on the trail. He is as handsome as ever. He's married though, and has two adorable kids, of course.

Well, Tuesday morning I decided to run from my apartment instead of driving to the trail. I crossed over the highway and ran into the neighborhood that I grew up in. It's always fun taking a trip down memory lane. I love thinking about my old neighbors, and all the boys that my sister and I had crushes on. Since it was pretty early, I literally rolled out of bed, threw my hair into a ponytail, and hit the pavement. Cute, I was not.

So imagine my horror as I'm running down the street and see the outline of what looks to be a fit, young guy headed my way. And that horror quickly turned to panic when I realized it was none other than Scotty himself. There was nowhere to hide. I had to suck it up, smile and say hi. I can't believe he recognized me, but he said hi back and called me by name. My heart melted, even though I wanted to die a little on the inside. I think I will forever have a crush on that guy.

Who was your first love/crush? Do you ever think about him/her and wonder what could have been?

A Great 4th of July Weekend That Ended With A Crash

2011-07-06T05:07:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend. Mine was a little different from last year's, but overall still a lot of fun. No fireworks this year (at least not of the pyrotechnic kind) due to the drought, so it really didn't feel a lot like the 4th. Hopefully next year will be different. I already wrote about my date, but other than that, there were plenty of other activities on my schedule:

exercise
hair appointment
shopping with my mom (found some super cute things at Ann Taylor Loft)
housewarming party with some amazing food and great people
hot dogs/hamburgers/mojitos by the pool
volunteering
more exercise
a few naps

And then, to top of such a fun weekend, my dad backed into my car. Crunch. I ran over to their house to help move a TV for my dad to return. He was preoccupied when pulling out of the garage and never even saw it. Bummer. Both brand new cars (his only a few weeks old) suffered reasonable damage, and he felt absolutely horrible about it. Like my mom said, it's nothing a little scotch tape can't fix. It's just a car, and that's why we have insurance. Just kind-of a pain having to take it in to get fixed.

Yes, that is tape holding my bumper up.

My Surprise Date Night

2011-07-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

So after having a talk with Oliver earlier in the week, he asked about my schedule for the weekend and when we might be able to get together. With his mother in town, he didn't want to leave her too much, but wanted to see me. I told him I was free on Friday night, and he asked if he could surprise me. Uh, yes please. I have often been the one who takes charge of planning dates, so it's really nice to have someone else make the effort for a change. Not that I mind planning, but it makes me feel special that he enjoys thinking of things that I would enjoy doing. So far, he's 2 for 2.

I resisted the urge to ask questions all week, and really enjoyed the anticipation of date night. It took forever for Friday to roll around. He needed to eat dinner with his family, which was perfect because it allowed me to meet a few girlfriends for happy hour after work. I picked the place the my cute neighbor owns (hey, it's a cool restaurant!) After a couple of drinks and their delicious meat and cheese-filled bread, we went on to our respective plans. I just happened to run into cute neighbor on my way out. Love that he remembers my name.

Anyway, I got home with enough time to freshen up and change into a really cute dress that I found at Nordstrom Rack for $20. Yes, 20 freaking dollars. It's a beautiful turquoise blue with a fun ruffle at the top. Not too dressy, and really comfortable for warm weather. Since I wasn't sure what we were doing, I thought it would be appropriate for most occasions. He arrived promptly at 9 and we headed downtown. I'll admit that I peeked at the music calendar online just to see if anything stood out. I figured since we were getting a late start, that we would most likely be going to hear a band. One show seemed a likely choice, and indeed- that is the one he picked. The Scabs were playing at Antone's (they are one of Bob Schneider's bands) and I always love hearing them. It's a fun (and crazy) show, and I thought it was a nice contrast to the more romantic drive-in movie date the week before.

We had plenty of time to kill before the show, so we went to a bar across the street for a drink and conversation. He filled me in on his mom's visit so far and we talked about our weeks in general as we really didn't talk/text much during the week. The night before our date, he had sent a text asking if it was Friday yet. I loved that he was looking forward to it, too. I think we both had a little of the nervous/giddy feeling you have when you're with someone new and excited to be there. By the time we made it back across the street for the show, I was definitely feeling more relaxed and comfortable just being with him. He held my hand as we crossed the street, and a little longer while we waited in line. Hand-holding is often underrated, in my opinion. I think it's a really sweet gesture and I like that he enjoys doing it.

The show did not disappoint. Bob was in usual form- glassy eyed and seemingly grumpy about life in general. He played some of the usual songs, but a few that I hadn't heard as much before. Oliver enjoyed the show, singing and dancing along, and overall it was just a lot of fun. Listening to music with someone new can often be a strange experience. I've been to shows with people before who come across as really uptight. It can often ruin the whole night. Add another check in the pro column for Oliver- likes live music.

I had not eaten much before our date, so on the way home we stopped at a food trailer that I have really been wanting to try, The Peached Tortilla. It consistently gets raves reviews, but it moves around some and I can just never seem to get over there. We tried two different sliders (bahn mi and brisket) and some pimiento cheese fries. After dancing and a few beers, it totally hit the spot.

It was super late by the time we got back to my place. He said it felt weird with his mom being back home and not wanting to get back too late, even though he's a grown-up, and it's his house. She grilled him pretty good before he left (she knew he was going on a date, and was really excited for him) but did the usual motherly thing and told him to be careful. We had another great goodnight kiss, and he was on his way. He followed up with a text the next day saying how much fun he had with me, and that I had been on his mind all day. I know the feeling.

One date at a time, though. I have got to keep thinking like that! His mom is in town through mid-week, and then he's gone for a couple of days for a business trip. We haven't made plans for our next date, but I'm sure I will probably see him next weekend. There is just something about this guy and the way that I feel when I'm with him. It's hard not to think about him a lot. But, I'll stay busy this week with a few get togethers with friends and more tri training. I let him take the lead with contacting me, and he always does. One date at a time.

I Heart Surprises

2011-07-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

I have always loved being surprised. The hard part is being able to pull one off without me knowing about it. The second I get even a hint that something is being planned behind my back, I am usually relentless in trying to find out the details. My sister and best friend planned a surprise party for me on my 30th birthday and I think they were ready to cancel the whole thing because I bugged them so much just trying to figure out the plan.

So, lucky me in that I have a "surprise" date tonight. I think I deserve a huge pat on the back for not trying to find out what we're doing. I figured I might as well just enjoy someone taking the initiative to plan it, and not pester them about it. Who is the date with? Oliver, of course. This is probably surprising after my rant the other day about how boys are stupid. I still stand by that. But what I haven't had a chance to write about is the talk I had with him that night. Partial thanks to my friend Erin for the comment she left about Oliver being a totally different person from Frans. There's no doubt about that. I haven't seen even a hint of selfishness in his personality, and I think that was the root of all evil in my relationship with Frans.

We had a fairly candid talk that night (as candid as you can be for only going on a few dates with a person). I expressed my concern over whether or not he was truly ready to start dating. I'll spare you all the details, but basically he said yes, he's totally ready to start dating. The end of his marriage is not a factor in being able to move on, because it has basically been over for years. What he was not expecting was the decision that his son has made. That has hurt more than anything. He said he did not want to be going on dates that centered around such heavy conversations- that just wasn't what he envisioned when he thought about putting himself out there. I get that. But you can't help that life happens, and it's not always pretty.

He said that he had really enjoyed getting to know me thus far, and wants to continue spending time with me. His words are followed up by his actions, and he continually does some really sweet and thoughtful things. (Small gestures can go so far.) He is definitely wanting to take thing slowly though. I'm ok with that. What it really means though is that I need to take control of the situation. Appropriately enough, I was reading a chapter last night in You Lost Him at Hello about cutting to the close. Basically, she says that girls too often try to define a relationship way earlier than we should. The first few months should be all about taking the time to get to know someone before you decide that you even want to date them. I think that's a reasonable mindset for this situation.

This is what I know (and like) about him so far, and what motivates me to want to learn more:
*he seems to have a strong character, and has made some decisions regarding his family that prove it
*he's thoughtful- I appreciate that he likes to plan fun things for us to do, or says sweet things that make me feel good
*he's active- runs, plays volleyball and generally just enjoys staying fit
*overall he's well-rounded and has a good balance of working hard and still enjoying life
*he's adorable- red-headed and freckled (not a look for everyone, but I like it)

With all that said, I'm willing to spend time getting to know him, while doing my best to stay active in other areas. I absolutely cannot obsess over where the relationship is headed right now, or I will go nuts. So, I'll be open to meeting other people, keep scheduling things with friends, ramp up my tri training again, and hope that the cards fall where they should. The potential for being a great catch is just too much to say "not right now." I'd rather go slow and than give up the chance at something good.

Q3, Done and Dusted

2011-06-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that I've been at my current job for almost 8 months. It's also hard to believe that I survived the past 3 months, and then came out on top. I was warned that Q3 would be absolute craziness. It's the time of year when most school districts do their purchasing for the next school year, just before close of their fiscal year. Every day felt a little bit like a circus- there was just always so much going on. I thrive on being busy though, and the fast pace made the days go by quickly. The (second) best part of it all? When 5 o'clock rolled around, I clocked out and still had time to enjoy my evening. A luxury I still haven't quite gotten accustomed to after spending so much time on the road with my last job.

So what was the best part? I'm not going to lie- it was my last commission check (and the one coming in July). Dangle a carrot in front of me and I'll work my tail of for it. It's oh-so-hard to put at least half aside, but I'm really trying my best. I do have a trip planned for this fall and am setting aside spending money for that. Otherwise, no big plans just yet. If the year goes well, I think I'm going to buy a new bike at the end of the year when good deals are easier to come by.

I'm currently on track to hit my goal. If that happens, I'll get the best reward of all- a trip to Hawaii. I've never been, and I hear that the company "club" trip is so much fun. When I accepted this position, I didn't know a whole lot about sales, and the thought of quotas, etc. scared the beejezus out of me. But I love a good challenge, and worked really hard to use my education background to gain credibility with my new clients. It doesn't hurt that the people I work with are phenomenal, and we just make a good team together.

The next few weeks will be a little slower as many schools go to skeleton crew for the month. But I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out for the next three months. I'm still so thankful for this opportunity, and the courage I had to take the challenge. It wasn't easy leaving behind stability, people I cared about, and a job that I enjoyed. Things have worked out better than I could have imagined though. Just goes to show that going out on a limb isn't such a bad thing after all.

Why Boys are (Still) Stupid

2011-06-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

This is a follow-up to my last post about my bad luck with timing. The truth is, I'm not only sad, but I'm a little bit pissed off too. I have been feeling so down all day about the crappy timing with Oliver. I know without a doubt that I do not need to put myself in that situation, regardless of what a great catch he seems like. And I have accepted that I need to walk away. But I've been teary all day and just really bummed about it. When I couldn't take it anymore, I stepped outside for some fresh air and to call my mom. Crying. She knew immediately that something was up and offered some helpful words.

Her thought was why is this guy putting himself out there when clearly he is not looking for anything serious right now? The majority of the girls who go on a dating site are looking for a potential relationship. It's not right for these jerk-offs to use it as a way to get a few dates and get their mind off their troubles. Yes, that is a generalization that can probably apply to some girls, too. But it pisses me off nonetheless. And I don't really mean that Oliver is a jerk-off, but I just don't think it's fair.

I realize that Oliver did not ask for (and definitely does not deserve) all of the heartache that has come his way recently. But the last thing he needs to be doing is trolling a dating site, giving some poor girl hope that there might actually be the chance of meeting a cool person. He needs to be focused on his kids, and on himself, before putting himself out there again.

This whole thing just brings up those dreaded feelings about why it's so hard to meet "the one". My mom corrected me earlier when I said it's hard to meet people. She's right. It's not hard to meet people, it's just hard to meet quality people, and harder yet, someone that I actually have chemistry with. I hate that hopeless feeling, but that's just what I'm going through today. This is an honest blog about dating, and while I try to stay positive about the whole process, there are times that I just don't.

So what am I going to do about it? As soon as I sign off, I'm changing my clothes and heading to the animal shelter for a little canine therapy. After that, I'm going for a run around town lake to clear my head. Hopefully by the time I make it home, I'll feel a little better.

Song of the Day: Griffin House- When the Time is Right

2011-06-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Warning: sappy love song straight ahead. There's a specific reason I chose this though, besides just liking the song. The main line of the song is "When the time is right, don't hold back." Timing is everything, and unfortunately, it has chosen to not be on my side. Again. This time it's with Oliver. There hasn't been anything in particular that he has said or done, but I just think given all of the circumstances, it's best for me to keep my distance right now. I don't think it's necessary to go into details, but the short story is that his "son" has decided to move away and live with his biological dad. Oliver is understandably crushed.

My personality type is the kind that wants to fix things, or provide love and attention that is just not appropriate for the amount of time that I have known him. He has a lot on his plate right now, and I don't want him to fall for me because I'm a warm body in a time of a lot of heartache. I still think he has a great attitude and a good head on his shoulders, but I need to stay an arms-length from all of this. I keep telling myself, "friends first, see where the road takes it."

I let him know last night that given the newness of all this, I am more comfortable letting him contact me when he feels like it. I'm happy to be there should he need/want me, but I don't want to be the one initiating any contact. I'm beyond bummed because I really like this guy. A lot. If it's meant to be though, things will find a way of working out. I guess we'll see what happens...

Birthday Cake Pops

2011-06-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to my friends LT and Erin. All inappropriate ball references are just for you!

It has been a standing tradition that I typically bake birthday treats for family members. Sometimes my "creations" turn out better than others. I always have a grand idea in my head, but execution rarely works the way I imagine it. Thankfully I was able to avoid a near cake pop FAIL, and ended with a finished product that looked almost like I had envisioned. This particular "cake" was for my sister-in-law, and I thought it would be fun to try something different. We were all sick and tired of cupcakes and I wanted to do something creative for her. I had not tackled cake balls/pops before now, and wow- how many lessons I learned.

Here are a few key steps that I wish I had known before I started. Of course, if I had thoroughly read the basic cake ball instructions by Bakerella, all of the headaches could have been avoided. Key steps for making cake balls/pops:

1. Only use 3/4 a container of icing to the crumbled cake. If you make your own icing, start sparingly and add as needed.
2. Use a dough scoop for uniform balls, and don't make them too big. No one likes big (cake) balls.
3. Freeze your balls. This will solve a bazillion things that could go wrong in the dipping process.

Here is the picture tale of how I made my cake pop birthday cake. I somehow skipped taking pictures of the cake all crumbled, but that is where you actually start.

After you mix icing with the crumbled cake, roll them into balls and place on a cookie sheet.

Insert lollipop sticks, and then place in the freezer for at least 15-20 minutes.

Heat candy melts in a double broiler or the microwave. You can get these in different colors at Michaels.

Dip cake pops in melted candy and place in a styrofoam piece to dry.

I mixed extra melted candy with my colors of choice, and put it in squeeze bottles for easier decorating.

Ta-da. Decorated cake pops were placed in a silver spray-painted styrofoam cone for presentation. I apologize for the crappy picture, but I was too annoyed to try and stage it right.

Close up of the decorated balls.

Transporting this thing wasn't easy. Luckily my sister drove us to the restaurant. We had an impromptu change of restaurants as the first one was too crowded, so then I had to walk 4 blocks holding this thing. It wasn't light! Of course, it's also freaking hot in Austin, and my (cake) balls were sweating by the time we got to our final destination. You definitely want to keep them in a cool place. They tasted delicious though and I think my sis-in-law enjoyed the surprise. It will be awhile before I attempt making these things again because it was so much freaking work, but at least I know what to do to make the process easier.

Star light, Star bright

2011-06-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Star light, star bright, what an awesome date last night. That's my adult version on the childhood rhyme I used to always say. You know that one, right? "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." Warning, this is most likely going to be a cheesy post. I can't help it.

See? Totally cheesy.

There was a point during the date last night that the rhyme ran through my head. It was a perfectly clear night, we had a gorgeous view of the sky, and I was having such a great time. There may have been one or two things I had in mind as far as wishes go.

Once again I was impressed by Oliver and the things I continue to learn about him. Strong character? Check. Positive attitude? Check. Well rounded lifestyle that involves family, friends and fun? Check. Check. Check. This was just a second date though, and I would advise any friend in the same boat to not let it go to her head. Those words are running through mine right now. Trust me. But it's hard not to get excited about someone who stirs up those feelings. Someone who you just feel a crazy chemistry with. It hasn't happened in quite some time.

Blue Starlight Drive-In

He took the lead in planning the date and I loved that he came up with such a fun idea. We went to the Blue Starlight Drive-In, dubbed a "mini urban boutique drive-in theatre". It had classic Austin written all over it. Quirky, no frills fun. And mini was right. It only holds about 10 cars max. You can also pay less to walk in and sit in a designated area. We went in his car and parked so that we would be able to sit in the "trunk" and have room to move around. (Side note- he drives the same car that I do, which I thought was funny.) He brought drinks and I packed food, and we got there early enough to eat and chat before the movie started at 9. We talked a little more about his kids and his current situation. I feel like he is making really positive steps in moving on, but there is still the part of me that knows I need to be smart. He comes across as the kind-of guy who really enjoys being in a relationship, and I just don't want him to get attached to me for that reason, instead of for who I am as a person. I'm afraid I might be a really fun rebound girl, but I'm definitely not interested in going down that path again.

The movie that was playing was Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle. I had never seen it before, and it was actually pretty funny. But neither of us were really there for the movie. It was more about the company and the experience. We talked some during the movie, and yes- there was definitely some kissing too. He is very affectionate, and I loved that he would occasionally put his hand on mine, or touch my back or arm. But again- this is a guy who has not had much (if any) physical affection in years. I'm not going to be the immediate source of certain parts of that. I don't get the idea that that's what he is looking for, but just something I'm being cautious about.

We hung out a little longer after the movie, and then finally headed back to my place. And yes, there was more kissing. He's a really great kisser, I couldn't help it. But he was also totally respectful and kept it appropriate for a second date. We chatted a little bit longer about our weekend plans (he's moving back into his house, and then his mom is coming to visit). He'll be busy for a little bit, but the good news is that his mom will be able to babysit some for him. He's had the kids about 80% of the time lately, so I know it will be nice to have a little bit of help.

I went to bed with a silly smile on my face, and after hitting snooze about 5 times this morning, I smiled again when I thought about how much fun I had. It wasn't that we did anything spectacular. It's just that I enjoyed his company. A lot. Before I got out of bed I looked through the pictures I had taken on my camera. There is an adorable one of the two of us sitting in one of the little cars. We are both fair skinned and freckled and I think we look really cute together. Out of respect for him, I won't post it on here. Maybe some day.

There really are no expectations for what might come from this. Given the circumstances, I just think that's the smart way to go. If I happen to be pleasantly surprised by things, that would be great. More important, it's just nice to have met someone who I truly find interesting and attractive, someone who I get excited to see and hear from. Someone who gives me butterflies, for sure. *Sigh*. The joys of dating.

I have a family birthday-filled weekend ahead, so you might not hear much from me. I'm in charge of some birthday sweets though, which means there could be another cake-wreck in my near future. Have a great weekend!

Sushi A-No-No

2011-06-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

There is a sushi trailer in Austin called Sushi A-Go-Go, and the name has always made me laugh. I've never actually eaten there, but it was the first thing I thought of when trying to find a clever name for this blog post. I'll keep it short and sweet, because that basically describes last night's date.

Jury duty was extended because we had a very difficult time coming to an agreement on the verdict (more on that later). I felt bad that I had to keep pushing back the start time of what was supposed to have been a happy hour get together, but luckily he was fine with it. I met him at the bar at Maiko, a place I had only been to once before. I had a great memory from that night that is now forever tarnished. Ok, that's exaggerating a little, but this particular evening did not live up to my first experience there. My date showed up just after me and he looked exactly as I remembered him from 5 years ago. We ordered drinks, decided on some sushi, and the small talk began.

To sum it up, he had a sense of humor that I just didn't get. It was "smart funny" and, I hate to admit, sometimes over my head. He has traveled a lot, and made some cultural references that I just didn't get. It was annoying. And then he started with the "juvenile funny" and made some social references that I just didn't get, nor think were funny. Double annoying. Basically, there was absolutely, positively, ZERO chemistry between the two of us. After Friday night's fantastic date, it was painfully obvious just how little chemistry we had. But that's ok. If chemistry was highly prevalent between men and women, monogamy would cease to exist.

The date ended as he walked me to my car and offered a casual hug. I was honestly surprised when I received a text from him 20 minutes later asking if I had made it home ok, and thanking me for putting up with his bad Michael Jackson jokes. I said thanks again, and that was it. Not expecting to hear from him again.

The good news is that I am seeing Oliver again tomorrow night. He has texted or called just about every day, and took initiative to plan our date tomorrow (you know how much I love that!) We are going to a drive-in movie, and I couldn't be more excited about it.

Reading the Buying Signs

2011-06-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

A newly-single girlfriend of mine recently came across my blog and pretty much read it from start to finish. I love that people actually find it interesting enough to invest that kind-of time. She said that a lot of my stories were helpful as she adjusts to her new status. We went out a few weeks ago and ended up talking about the book You Lost Him At Hello by Jess McCann. I've referenced it on more than one occasion, and still swear to the advice dished out in it. It cracked me up when she started throwing out some of the terms from the book, like Filling Your Funnel. It also made me pick up my copy and revisit it again. Never hurts to have a little refresher.

Just a few nights ago I was on the chapter titled "Reading the Buying Signs". It basically talks about gauging a guys interest based on his actions, NOT on how you WANT him to feel about you. I just happened to have a great example. There is a guy on match.com who I actually met through mutual friends almost 5 years ago. We saw each other online and exchanged a few emails. I felt like he was taking his time responding back, and not really making an effort to engage me in any real kind-of conversation. Basically, his "buying signs" were moderate to low. So I just stopped responding back. We had already exchanged numbers, so when he didn't act on it, I just decided to back off. Well guess what? He called me on Sunday, and we're meeting for a post-work drink on Tuesday.

We could have continued playing the pen pal game, but honestly, I'm looking for someone who is interested in making a real effort at getting to know me. Pulling back created more interest on his end, and I guess was the catalyst he needed to make that phone call. I'm not saying it's going to work on every guy. There are always going to be some who just aren't interested. But I think it's important to keep in mind that it's better to back off more than it is to come on too strong. 10 out of 10 times, you're going to lose that way.

Still not sure that the buying signs are all that high on either side, but there's only one way to find out. Lucky me was picked for jury duty this morning, so I'll be at the courthouse all day for the trial and will probably be very ready for that drink!

PS- If you're single, and you don't own a copy of this book, just go out and buy it. I promise it will be the best $14 you've spent in awhile. (And no- I don't get anything for telling you to do this. I just like passing on good advice.)

Every great date has its thorn

2011-06-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

My apologies to Axl Rose for the lame blog post title reference- but I just couldn't resist. It's entirely appropriate, as you'll soon find out. This is a continuation from my previous post, in case you have not had a chance to read it. You might want to start there first.

The plan was to meet "Oliver" at 6:30 at Takoba, a somewhat new restaurant/bar in East Austin. I had heard good things, so I was excited to go there. I had gone to work that morning not planning on going anywhere afterwards, so I was dressed like a Casual Friday Catastrophe. Lucky for me, I had just enough time to go home and attempt to make myself look cute. On the drive home though, my car registered 107 degrees. 107 DEGREES people. That is ridiculously hot. At that point, I abandoned cute, and focused more on picking out something that wouldn't show me sweating. I wasn't sure if we would be sitting inside or out, and wanted to be prepared. I went with a recent standard. I have a feeling it's going to be my go-to outfit for outside events. Not the most flattering, but it's cool and comfortable.

I got there a little bit early and didn't have any trouble finding parking. Oliver had beat me though, and luckily had grabbed a bar table inside. I liked him already. First impression- tall, cute, really friendly smile. He stood up to shake my hand and I just had a feeling that it was going to be a nice date. We ordered drinks and some chips/guacamole and did the usual polite chit chat. He was really easy to talk to, and was pretty funny as well. Conversation was fun once we got past the initial awkwardness. When the sun had gone down, we decided to brave the outdoors as the patio looked really cool. There was an area called the sandbox, complete with adirondack chairs. We snagged a good spot, got another round of drinks, and settled into more conversation.

At this point I was really enjoying myself, and I got the feeling that he was too. It was comfortable being around him, but still very exciting. Add to the already promising list for this guy- smart, ambitious and interesting. It was all starting to feel a little to perfect. And that's when he hit me with the big guns. I really don't like conversations to get too serious on a first date, but there were some questions I had and figured it best to get it over with before wasting too much of either our time.

I knew from our few emails that he was somewhat recently divorced, and so I asked him about it. Well, turns out it's more really recently, but there's a twist. His wife confessed to him several months ago that she is gay. Wow. Didn't see that one coming. But then it made sense. In his profile, he mentioned something about life throwing curveballs. Can you even imagine that one? It gets worse though. His dad passed away from brain cancer the same week. I never would have known from talking to this guy that all of this had just happened to him. He came across as one of the most positive people I have met recently.

He explained that when they decided to get married 10 years ago, he had some hesitations. But she brought a 5 year old son into the relationship, and Oliver had been the only real father figure in the boy's life. It was a major factor in going through with the wedding, and it was a major factor in not ending the relationship earlier. They also have an 8 year old daughter. He said the past three years has been more of a friendship/partnership in raising the children, and that there has been no intimate relationship in quite some time. When she came out to him, he said it was more of a relief than anything else. He finally had some answers and said that it all made sense at that point. Still very unfortunate, for everyone involved.

I tried to move the conversation away from the really serious stuff. We talked about travel, music, and exercise. He's an avid runner and enjoys traveling to different races around the country. Despite the sticky situation, I continued to be impressed. At one point, he rested his hand on mine on the arm of the chair. It was really sweet, and felt totally appropriate in that moment. It was getting late though, so we called it a night. He walked me to my car, gave me a hug and a quick peck, and then texted me once he was home. Said he had really enjoyed meeting me and hoped that we could it again soon.

So where does this leave me? We all know what happened with Frans, and my feelings about getting involved with someone so soon after a relationship ending. But there was a line in his profile that stood out to me, and has kept me thinking. I'm looking for someone who wants to be friends first, and see where the road takes it. This guy is a catch. He looks good on paper, but blew me away in person. I told my mom earlier that he is the most normal person I've met recently. If taking things (really) slow, and exploring a friendly relationship first allows me to learn more about him, I might be willing to go that route. Who knows. It was just a first date. I may never hear from him again. I'm hoping that's not the case though.

My take-away from the evening is this- there ARE nice guys (who I find interesting and attractive) that still exist. Whether things work out with this one is beside the point. He can't help that he was handed a crappy situation. How he is handling it speaks volumes about his character. Kids and work are obviously very important to him, but so is exploring his own personal happiness too. I get it. So we'll see what happens, and I'll be sure to keep you posted. I know I'll get plenty of advice/input from my mom, but I'm curious to hear what anyone else thinks of the situation.

Quiet and mysterious

2011-06-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

I love my mom for many different reasons, but mainly because of how much she cares about me, and how she shows it. Yesterday I was exchanging emails with her about upcoming holidays. She invited me to spend the night at their house on Saturday since my brother and sister-in-law would be in town. I politely declined because I had made plans to go to a happy hour with a friend, and wasn't sure what would transpire from there. Her response?

"Inquiring minds want to know your plans for Saturday night. You have been very quiet and mysterious lately. Are you seeing anyone?! Hopefully no rendezvous with next door neighbor!"

I had to laugh, because I have definitely been quiet lately, but it certainly wasn't for anything like a rendezvous with my neighbor. (Though I'm not sure which one she was implying, since there is the one I wrote about here, and also a cute guy who lives right next door.) Regardless, if there had been any steamy rendezvous, you would have heard about it by now.

However, not an hour or so later, something interesting (and very unexpected) transpired. Unfortunately for me, this means that I have to confess that out of sheer boredom, I have been lurking around on not one, but two different dating sites. One friend sent the name of a guy she deemed perfect for me, and two other girlfriends convinced me that it was worth giving it another shot given their recent success. I succumbed to peer pressure. Shoot me.

I had vowed to slow things down a bit this week, and I stayed true to my word. But that meant that I had a lot of down time on my couch, with my trusty new computer. And you know where that lead..... I spent a few evenings searching around, only to find pretty much the same familiar/boring/pathetic faces as the last time I took a stab at online dating. But then I saw a profile that I hadn't seen before. 35, tall, and not that bad looking. His tag line read "Live every day as if it were your first, not your last." I was intrigued, so I clicked to read more. And this is what I saw:

I'm a glass half full kinda guy who keeps a smile even when life gives you a curveball. Inspired, a bit idealistic, passionate, caring, funny, playful, social, respectful, creative, opportunistic, and hard working.

Adopted Texan, Architect and Father who believes God doesn't give you more than you can handle.

Loves laughter, beauty, long runs, good books, connecting life's dots, football season, traveling/new places, full seasons on netflix, road trips, surprises, art, inspiring people, a good vodka and club soda, cool weather in the fall, creating memories, and a good plan.

I've lived in Austin for over 10 years and have 2 wonderful kids who inspire me and make me laugh. I started my own company 3 years ago and love running my own business. Finding a balance between life, work and play is difficult to achieve and hard to maintain, but putting your heart in the right place and treating yourself and others honestly is a good start.

Looking for someone who loves to be playful, who is independent and knows what she wants, who can talk about nearly anything, has a great sense of humor, doesn't mind having the door opened for her, likes working out, being outside, taking a chance or two, hanging out with friends, and watching a good show or game. Someone who wants to be friends first then see where the road takes it.

It came across as thoughtful, well-written, and genuinely sincere. And if you know me at all, he sounds very much like someone I would get along with. I decided to take a chance and sent him a little message. He responded a few hours later and began a two-day correspondence that led to yesterday's unexpected adventure. After several fun email exchanges, he asked if I would be interested in grabbing a drink sometime so that we could trade stories in person. If there is one thing that drives me nuts about online dating, it's the guy who emails back and forth, but never actually asks to meet. I was so thankful that he just put it out there.

Oliver (his new nickname) said he knew that it was probably too late to try and plan something, but asked if I was available at all over the weekend. Other than an afternoon softball game for his daughter, he was free until Sunday morning. My only real plan last night was to watch The King's Speech on my couch. I hated admitting it, but said I could meet up after work for a drink or two. He threw out a few great suggestions, and I picked the one that I had been wanting to try for awhile. With the time and place set, the first date jitters began.

To be continued......

Garbanzo Bean Salad

2011-06-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

With the craziness of the past few weeks, I have been less than stellar at eating well. With the end of our quarter at work next week, temptation will be around every corner as breakfast/lunch/snacks are brought in on an almost daily basis (and none of it will be healthy). I knew it would be important to try to get back on track this week.

I've lamented the pain of cooking for one before. It's not terrible, but it often means that I'm eating the same foods all week so as not to waste any. For the past three nights, I have eaten a sun-dried tomato, basil and goat cheese frittata, with a side of whole wheat Naan and veggies (either broccoli or zucchini). While it was super tasty the first night, it got really old by the third. I will say that I found a Peppadew goat cheese at HEB that was absolutely delicious. At only 40ish calories for 1/2 an ounce, it's a great addition to salads too.

I had some zucchini left over and wanted to find a way to eat for lunch today that didn't involve pan-sauteeing (gets too soggy once refrigerated). I consulted my trusty Whole Foods app, typed in zucchini as the ingredient I had on hand, and ended up finding the recipe for this easy salad. Lucky for me, I had the ingredients on hand, with just a few tiny modifications. I haven't tasted it yet, but it looks really pretty! I went ahead and dressed it up with olive oil and lemon juice (not the balsamic vinaigrette the recipe suggests), but I could have left it plain and just mixed it on top of my salad instead. I have a yummy blueberry balsamic dressing that probably would have tasted great.

Mediterranean Garbanzo Salad
(makes 2-3 servings)

10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1-2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
8 pitted olives, halved
15-ounce can Garbanzo beans
2 T roughly chopped parsley
1 T balsamic vinaigrette or Italian dressing
1 T lemon juice
group pepper to taste

Toss ingredients together. Line a plate with lettuce leaves (if desired) and top with bean salad.

So the modifications I made were these:

no olives (yuck!)
only used olive oil and lemon juice, with a splash of cider vinegar
basil instead of parsley

My Cute Neighbor

2011-06-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

I can't remember if I ever wrote about this in a post. It would have been around February if I did, but I'm too lazy to go back and check. I attended a work-related function at one of my most favorite Italian restaurants on South Congress a few months ago. The whole restaurant was reserved for us, and I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners that night. We chatted for a bit and found out that we both live in the same apartment complex. He was Italian, and adorable. A few weeks ago I went back there for dinner with friends. I saw him, but never got the chance to say hi.

Fast forward to last week. I was walking out of my apartment when he passed by the walkway right in front of my door. He was out walking his dog. We did a double take, and I asked if the was the guy. He said yes. He then squinted his eyes for a second, and then said ? I could not believe that he remembered my name.

We chatted for a bit, but I was on my way out for a run, and he was having to head to work. Well, on Saturday night, as I'm standing in the parking lot in my sexy black dress waiting for the cab to pick me up, guess who walks by? Cute Italian Guy! It's too bad that I didn't have my hair done yet, but he said "Wow, you look fantastic. Where you headed in a dress like that?" We talked for a little bit more, but that was it.

He is really cute, and has the sweetest smile. And I am totally interested in hanging out with him. I have no idea if he is in a relationship or not, but I'm going to assume that he isn't. I just don't know what to do about it. I don't want to be the stalker girl who shows up at his restaurant. That is just too obvious (though he does know that I like to eat there.) I almost think that the next time that I run into him, I should just throw out the idea of hanging out together sometime. If he doesn't bite, then I'll just leave it alone. Guess I better start following my mom's advice, and not leave the house looking anything less than put together.

Girls Gone Wild

2011-06-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

I survived the Bachelorette party on Saturday. Barely. There was once a day when I could have handled the night with no problem at all. Clearly, I'm getting old. I had a great time though and so did the bride to be, and that's all that matters.

The day started for me with a 50 mile ride, followed by a 2 1/2 hour nap. Heaven. When I woke up, it was time to get my rear in gear to meet up with the group of girls for some pool time at the W Austin. Unfortunately, a freak window pane accident the night before meant that the pool area had shut down. No fear, a back-up plan was in action and we headed out to the Barton Creek Resort & Spa instead. We were short on time, but at least got in an hour or so of sun. Not that I needed any....my shoulders were plenty freckled from riding earlier. People watching was great though- it's too bad we didn't make it out there earlier in the afternoon.

Sun bathing beauties

Time went by quickly, and we had to head back to town to get ready for our appointments at blo Austin. This was almost my favorite part of the night. While I don't think there is anything wrong with my hair, it's just long, straight and boring. The concept behind blo is wash, blo, go. You choose from seven styles, and a "hair cadet" gets you ready for a night out in about 30-40 minutes. The salon was cute, they were playing great music, and they let you bring in your own drinks and snacks. We pretty much took over the place, and it was fun getting to watch everyone get glammed up. I chose the Holly Would style, and was really happy with how it turned out. Lots of body that ended up lasting all night. There are a few other styles I would love to try, and for $33- I'm totally willing to do this again for a big night out.

From there, we headed to the private room at CRU Wine Bar where an amazing spread was waiting for us. The girl who planned the evening really outdid herself- it was fantastic. A champagne toast, great food, and even better company. Who says a bachelorette party can't be a little bit sophisticated?

Dinner table at CRU

As if the night hadn't been great so far, the bride to be had scored an incredible upgrade at the hotel earlier in the day. Instead of opening lingerie gifts at the restaurant, we headed back to the amazing suite at the W for gifts, drinks, and plain old girlie fun (i.e. Katy Perry Pandora channel and plenty of dancing around.) She got some great lingerie for the honeymoon, and we all had some good laughs.

We moved the party along to Malverde for more drinks and dancing. Probably the most entertaining part of the evening was here. There was an older man (late 70's) with a date (presumably someone he paid for the evening), and he was bumping and grinding her like I had never seen. I don't know where he got his moves from, but it was hilarious to watch.

We eventually got tired of dancing and decided to head back to the hotel bar. Some of the married and/or pregnant girls were ready to turn in, but the bar there is known for great people watching. Those of us not ready to turn in yet could find plenty of fun, for sure. It was here that I was told not once, but TWICE that I looked like the responsible one of the group, and could probably use a drink. I hate hearing that!!! I'm really not sure how to take it, but it doesn't sound good. I probably could have done without either of the drinks that they bought me, but the second one ended up leading to an even more interesting night.

Apparently there were a few guys sitting behind me who I never noticed. All of the sudden, one of them walked up to me and placed a drink on the table. He said I was adorable, and looked like I could use a drink. I kind-of blew him off, but ended up talking to him a little later. Turns out that he (and the other two) both work for the band Rush, and were in town for the big concert on Sunday night. Two of them came back up to the suite with our group and it was there that they offered to get us in to the show. To be real honest, I could care less about seeing Rush, and I could have cared even less about that guy, Anson. He looked like he was 12 and I wasn't the least bit interested. He was super nice though, and was more than happy to hook us up with tickets. Luckily one of the other girls got his number, because I snuck out and took a cab home before he even knew what happened.

I woke up the next morning feeling like crap (more tired than anything) and was totally worthless the rest of the day. In a way I guess it was good because I needed a day of doing nothing. But it's never fun feeling like that for most of the day. 4 couples ended up going to the Rush show last night, and I happily stayed home watching the Mavs game. I'm sure one day I'll regret not taking advantage of going to the concert, but I was absolutely done. This girl only has so much wild left.....