IDIOT MOMENTS

Recently, I have found a love for leashless dog parks. While I do not have children of my own, I relate my experiences with my dog-babies to that of children. This was no exception. I hear mother's stories like this: "It was lunch time. So, we decided to load the kids up in the car, take them to McDonald's to eat and play on the play scape. You know, get them good and worn out so they will come home and just pass out from playing so hard."

[I knew we were having company over last night, and I wanted to wear my babies out - so, after work, the plan is: work out, go home, load up the dogs and off we will go. Simple! My new Boston Terrier friends will meet us at the dog park and play, play, play. ] WRONG. And...enter my version.

I leave work and go workout. Check that off the list - what a great workout. (and one more pound down!) On my way home, my dear friend Lauren calls me. We talk and gab as gals do. I get home, throw a sweater around my waist, grab a fig newton cookie (or two) in a paper towel, grab the harnesses for the dogs and let the dogs inside. Remembering the small child playing outside of my house, I let only Millie girl outside to load her in the car. That was easy. Now, Brodie... and if any of you have seen this little terror load up in a car, you know that this is the point where I SHOULD hang up my phone to have the ability to use both hands, but nooooo. I have to do it all. I go in the house, grab Brodie, juggle my phone in my ear, my water jug, the harnesses, and keys. Brodie BOLTS OUT of the house, nearly pummeling the child next door - foaming at mouth because I have separated Millie in the car and Brodie out of the car. The door opens to the car, he jumps in and all is well.
So, we pull out of the driveway and away we go - only to realize that I am eating a fig newton (which also means I am swatting Brodie away from my hands. He seemed to think that my snacks are really his snacks), talking to Lauren still, trying to manage not to spill my water jug, oh yeah, and drive a stick shift. FINALLY, we get to the dog park. Brodie and Millie now sitting on top of each other shaking with excitement - thinking JUST OPEN THE DOOR. And.... I do. They go in two very different directions (neither of which is near the entrance of the dog park). It is only then that it hits me. GET OFF THE PHONE STUPID! So, I shut the car door with my water jug, phone and harnesses in my hand and get the dogs into the park to play.

You would think it is all peaches and cherries from here - but no. This is where the good story begins. I get into the dog park, I go through the checklist: dogs-check, harnesses - check, phone - check, keys...where are my keys? WHERE ARE MY KEYS??

IN MY CAR WHICH IS STILL RUNNING.

What an idiot. I have done this before. I am NOTORIOUS for locking my keys in my car. STUPID STUPID STUPID! So, I call Cullen with the "emergency code" (a pattern of rings that lets us know this is a real emergency - nifty huh?). He calls back, confirms I am a big dummy and comes to my rescue. All in all, the car ran for about 45 minutes, just idling.

Morals of the story:

• Don't try to do more than you can handle. God gave us two hands for a reason.
• Leashes and harnesses were not made to hold in your hand. They were made to go on pets to manage in situations just like this one.
• Don't eat, drink, transport roaming animals, talk on the phone and drive. That is what causes accidents.
• Get a spare key (or five) to put on the outside of your car.
• and the most important: Never underestimate the power of a Mom. I now have a new found respect for mothers who can "just put their kids in the car, and go!"

Sunday, November 2nd

Sunday, November 2nd - 8:00 a.m. Where will you be? In Bed? Up and Moving? RACING FOR THE CURE??? (walking for the cure????)

You will find me and my glorious family at our 3rd Annual Susan Komen Race(walk) for the Cure!

IT'S NOT TO LATE TO SIGN UP! Click to go to the Race for the Cure website!

For Adoption

My cousin Lauren found this adorable puppy recently. She lives in an apartment and can not keep him. But, darn isn't he cute! Lauren lives in Dallas - so, if you are in the Austin area or DFW area, this puppy can be yours relatively simple. Here is an excerpt from Lauren's email about the puppy! Please contact me if you are interested!

"I have gotten him his first round of shots and am trying to find him a good home. He is about 2-3 months old and currently weighs about 15 lbs. He's a mutt, and the vet said that he shouldn't get more than about 50 lbs, but it's hard to say for sure since we don't know what he is! He is SUCH a sweetheart - and so good! He catches on so quickly and loves everyone he meets. He would be great with another dog...he keeps finding playmates in the park and is so sad when they have to leave."

8 days...

GO VOTE!

GO VOTE!

GO VOTE!

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The White House is illuminated in pink for breast cancer awareness, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, in Washington, D.C.. The White House is one of over 200 landmarks worldwide lit up in pink this month as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

God Bless America!

I have decided, in order to support of America and Voting, I will wear Red, White and Blue everyday through the election.

Remember America is FREEDOM; Freedom of choice, freedom to VOTE, freedom to DECIDE.

Don't let November 4th slip past you; Choose, Decide, VOTE!

If you are unclear where you can vote, visit VOTExas' webiste: http://www.votexas.org/

Whizzie -

My parents - who are lovely, wonderful, kind spirited people adopted a Hurricane Ike dog. Her name is Whizzie. She is (from what we can best figure out) part small black lab, part setter of some kind. She comes up to my knees and weighs probably... 50 pounds. She is timid, shy but warmed up to me quickly. It appears as though she may have some abuse in her past as she takes a while to warm up to males...although she warms up.

Here are some precious pictures if Whizzie:

Here is the tricky part. My family cannot keep her. Two very serious reasons... Okay, one serious reason, one not so serious reason. Serious reason: she hates my brother. She HATES my brother. For some reason she just is uncomfortable around him, and is not warming up at all. So, like a good family, we must put him first. Not so serious reason, my sweet little Harley dog, does not like sharing her domain with a new dog. She also does not like sharing my dad. And if any of you have met Harley and my dad, you know they are good friends. So, here is my plea - please look at Whizzie. If you want her, if you can take her or if you know anyone who can have her, and give her a good home, please contact me. She is a super sweet dog. She loves sitting in your lap. She is potty trained. She knows to "go lay down". She has been through so much, and deserves a great forever home!

The Age of Turbulence

After much thought, I've finally decided to jump onto the blogspot and give it a try (this is Cullen for those of you who are wondering). I'm not sure who all reads our blog or if you will find what I have to say interesting. However, I have decided to use this blog as an outlet to some of my daily thoughts. So here goes nothing.......

As many of you know, I have never been much of a reader. In fact, at Alan's birthday dinner the other night, I realized the last fiction novel I had read from front to cover was A Wrinkle In Time. If you're unfamiliar, that was given to my 6th grade TAG class. Don't get me wrong though. I have recently read a few non-fictional books amongst several periodicals. For some reason, novels don't grab my attention. A book that has recently gripped my mind though, albeit a non-fictional one, is Alan Greenspan's The Age of Turbulence. (Yes, I am secretly an ecnomics/gov't nerd). As I was reading the introduction the other day, a passage was etched in my mind and I have not been able to shake it since. This passage is referring to immediate aftermath of September 11, 2001 and the debate of what the government's response should be to fend off a sustained economic recession.


"But beyond that, I paid less attention to most of these debates, because I was intent on getting the larger picture - which still wasn't clear to me. I was convinced that the answer would not lie in big, hasty, expensive gestures. It's typical that in times of great national urgency, every congressman feels he has to put out a bill; presidents feel the pressure to act too. Under those conditions you can get shortsighted, ineffective, often counterproductive policies, like the gasoline rationing that President Nixon imposed during the first OPEC oil shock in 1973. (That policy caused gas lines in some parts of the country that fall.) But with fourteen years under my belt as Fed Chairman, I'd seen the economy pull through a lot of crises - including the largest one day crash in the history of the stock market, which happened five weeks after I took the job. We'd survived the real-estate boom and bust of the 1980's, the savings and loan crisis, and the Asian financial upheavals, not to mention the recession of 1990. We'd enjoyed the longest stock market boom in history and then weathered the ensuing dot-com crash. I was gradually coming to believe that the U.S. economy 's greatest strength was its resiliency - its ability to absorb disruptions and recover, often in ways and at a pace you'd never be able to predict, much less dictate."

I could not help to think about what Alan Greenspan was saying and how it relates to our current financial catastrophe. As gloomy as the past several weeks have been, the last sentence is a ray of hope. It reminded me that we live in the greatest nation on earth and no matter what scenario is thrown our way, we as a nation will find a way to solve the crisis. You often hear business owners or top corporate officers tell their employees the companies biggest asset is them, the employees. Without the employee, the company and the day to day operations cannot function properly. The same is true for our nation, who's citizens make this country and economy work. There is no doubt in my mind that our countries greatest asset is us, the people. Know that our capitalist society is the best, most efficient economic structure in the world and we as a nation will find a way through this. Just pray that those in a position to make a difference make the right decisions and do not overstep their boundaries and infringe on our individual rights.

Birthdays...

I have three very special birthdays today. Two of my dear friends, Sarah Gardner-Cox and Trudy Holladay both turn the big TWO-FIVE today. Happy birthday to you both!

Happy birthday to my sorority. Kappa Kappa Gamma. Today, KKG turns 138!

A picture really is worth 1000 words...

I was cleaning off the refridgerator the other day with Cullen. Our fridge has very little decoration. However, in the center of the fridge, sits this picture. It is one of my MOST favorite pictures I have ever taken. This picture embodies the heart, soul and our way of life. While an outsider sees two daughter's kissing their mother, I see the heartbeat of a family with two direct branches. This picture was taken in 2006; when life seemed on top of the world. Little did I know, within 12 months our life would experience literally the toughest of times and the best moments.

These are my girls, my beautiful sister Courtney on the left; my incredible mother in the middle. Cheers to being on top of the world! I love you!

"Lucky" By: Jason Mraz

So, I hear this song on my new CD - made me think of Cullen. I know, a little mushy, but good enough to share. Enjoy!

Do you hear me, I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky oh my, baby I'm trying

Yeah I hear you in my dreams
I hear your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

Chorus:
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like thisEvery time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I wait for you I promise you, I will
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home againI
'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday...

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music, fell the air
I put a flower in your hair
And though the breeze is through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
Let the world keep spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Tastes of Georgetown

My wonderful friend Terra invited Cullen and I to Taste of Georgetown; a sampling of Georgetown restaurants held at the Courthouse. What a great time. Themed, Denim and Diamonds (Goodness knows, I LOVE THEMES!!), it was great to see locals support local business. It is the essence of small-town America!

Bark Bark Bark!

Today, Brodie-Man, Millie-Girl and I met with Aunt Terra and Cousin Clifford to go on a date to Bark Park. Brodie and Millie were able to play with quite a few other Boston Terriers while we were there. Today was the Round Rock Boston Terrier Meet Up play date at Bark Park - of course, Brodie and Millie wanted very little to do with the other Boston's. They wanted to play with the big dogs at the park. (see the pictures below.) We had such a great time. We love that our Cousin Clifford came with us!!