I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!

It's been almost a year and a half since I've been back to Texas.  Today, I booked my flight for March.  May I be welcomed back with open arms. :)

I'm so excited, and I just hide it, I'm about to loose control and I think I like it.

T is for Thankfulness

And T is for Texas.  I spent a wonderful week in Texas for Thanksgiving this year.  I could  have never imagined five years ago, that I would be happy, even excited to return to Texas...but that's another blog post.  

I arrived in Texas early Saturday morning (almost a week before Thanksgiving).  A few of my former students were up in Dallas celebrating a birthday, and offered to pick me up.  It was such a blast to hang out with them all day! 

Gretchen, Allison, and Kalie...the three musketeers.  Their friendship began last year on staff and I was not only excited to see them, but to experience their craziness again! LOVE them!

We had a wonderful time in Dallas, until a few of us got sick from lunch.  It was less than pleasant.  That night I met up with more Baylor friends at the football game.  Unfortunatetly, I am beginning to think I'm the bad luck charm.  Baylor football began winning when I left, and UGA football began loosing when I came.  :/

Anyway, it was a great time to catch up with some of my Baylor peeps. 

Lisa, Ryn, and me

Sunday was church with Lisa, and then Cafe Cappuccino with Sarah and Tiffanie.  I LOVE the two of them, and LOVE Cafe Cap!  My favorite, banana pecan pancake, yumm.

Sunday, was fairly low key and spent time hanging out with friends, watching movies, and just being in the presence of people who really, really know me.  What a wonderful thing for my spirit!

On Monday and Tuesday (day) I spent time at my favorite coffee shop, visiting with friends over Common Grounds coffee. :)

Monday & Tuesday (night) I went to the Baylor Basketball games (men & women).

 Sarah and me at the women's game.

Shelton and me at the men's game.

I spent Thanksgiving day with my favorite Ecklund family!  I have missed this family and their friendship, tremendously!

Selah (above) enjoyed her frosting covered cookie!  And as an early Christmas gift, Gianna and Selah got pink, glitter, Toms from their grandparents.

They are growing up so fast, but it was such a delight to spend Thanksgiving with this wonderful family!

Friday morning, Ryn and I decided to tackle black Friday (again).  We arrived five minutes before Target opened (similiar to last year), however, this time the line wrapped around the building and snaked back and forth.  It was almost twice as long, and Target opened an hour earlier this year.  We hit a few other stores after Target, then breakfast, then nap time.  It was fun to share this memory with Ryn again!

Ryn and I braving the cold.  When I arrived in Waco it was almost 80 degrees.  Then Thursday, a cold front came in...just in time for Thanksgiving.  It actually made it feel a bit more like a true November.

Friday night I was on the plane headed back to Georgia.  Although there was part of me that was ready to leave (simply ready to be sleeping in my own bed), all of me was thankful for the amazing time I got to spend with such dear friends!

Waco Water Park

Waco has a water park, that's right folks. It's not much to write home about.

2 slides (1 good one, 1 dud)

lazy river

toilet bowl

spray things

lap pool

It was, however, something on my bucket list for Waco. So last Saturday, Meg and I headed to the park for a fun-filled afternoon. It was fun, in part because of the one good slide, in part because I LOVE water, and mostly because I got to spend an afternoon with Meg.

Gut Paks & Gorillas

At 12:29pm there was a knock at my door. The day had come. It was time to go. After locking my door and situating myself in the vehicle, we were off.

Crazy.

The car ride wasn't as long as I had anticipated. The conversation was good. We talked about life, anticipation, friends...and before I knew it, we had arrived at our destination.

Vitek's.

Yes, that's right, today...for the first time ever in my life, I ate...a...gut pak.

After having made my bucket list of things to do before I leave Texas, the Smart's offered to help me cross a few things off my list. Originally, the plan was to help me document some of the uniqueness of this city (the catfish truck, the gorilla). But on Thursday, I received a disturbing email from Beth stating that the catfish truck was no more. Apparently, it got tired of sitting on land in a giant ugly truck and found it's way back home into the Brazos....Okay, I really have no idea where it is now, but doesn't that make for a much happier story?! Ps the catfish is a fake catfish so it really can't find it's way back anywhere.

Wow. Detour.

So, Peter, Beth, AJ, and I ate at Vitek's for lunch (another item on my bucket list). It was...actually really good. Beth and I split a small order while Peter and AJ tackled the normal sized order. :)

What's in a Gut Pak? I know you're asking yourself this...well, here's the sign. Classy. :)

Peter and AJ with their Gut Pak.
And Beth and me with our small order to split. :)
Aside from the fact that I wasn't able to get AJ's cutie face in the picture...I did pretty good.

After getting our fill, we headed to Austin Ave in order to take pictures with the gorilla. For those of you who don't know, this giant gorilla lives in someone's yard and is repainted every so often. Today, the gorilla was outfitted in some blue pants a white and red button up with a I (heart) MOM tattoo on its shoulder.

Yay for checking another item off the Texas bucket list...but even more importantly, I had a good time with the time with the Smart's! I thoroughly enjoy their family and it was neat to share these memories with them!

Baylor Memories...

Bucket List...of sorts

Awhile ago I began thinking about what all I wanted to do, or things I hand't done before I left Texas. A couple weeks ago during a candidate dinner, a few of us were chatting about the list. They began deeming the list...the bucket list. Someone kindly reminded them I wasn't dying, but rather leaving Texas. I suppose some die hard Texans would equate those two. Anyway, here is a list things I want to do before I leave this grand state.

Take pictures in the blue bonnets (check)

Take pictures around Baylor (I really want to create the word remember from pictures of things around Baylor that will remind me of these last 5 years...if you've ever seen these done, they're pretty neat)

Tortilla tossing

Visit Independence, Texas

Eat in Brooks College Dinning Hall (I haven't done that this entire year)

Visit Mozarts...again

Picture with the random gorilla on Austin Ave

Picture with the catfish truck on MLK

Eat at Viteks, although I don't know that I can do a gut pack...eeeewww

Kayak the brazos

Paint a coffee mug at practically pikaso

But I'm also taking suggestions...anything else I should add to my list?

Blue Bonnets

Blue bonnets are Texas State flower and every spring they pop up in patches. They can be found on the side of the highway, in front yards, almost anywhere there is grass. These flowers are so prized that if they grown in your front yard, you have to mow around them. They are beautiful flowers, but frankly, I think they are a bit over dramatized.

However, taking pictures in blue bonnets is the thing to do. And so, after living in Texas for almost five whole years, I finally took some pictures in these lovely flower beds. It was a bit awkward, especially as a grown adult, but fortunately, I made my friend Megan Baldree go too. Okay...truth...we stumbled upon them going to the lake and I coerced her into stopping to take pictures :)

This patch was right near the lake entrance. Strangely enough, this couple pulled off to the side of the road to ask if we wanted a picture together (picture above). It was nice. I do enjoy the hospitality of the south, especially in small towns. I also enjoy self portrait pictures and have become fairly good at taking them (below).

As we were getting ready to enter the freeway to head home, we found another large patch of blue bonnets and couldn't resist taking yet another self portrait. In this bunch were also Indian paintbrushes...I know, not culturally sensitive, but that's what they're called.

Black Friday

Last year I experienced my first black Friday and to tell you the truth, I was a little disappointed. There were no crazy lines (practically no lines at all). No rushing, pushing, or anything of the sort. Realizing the economy probably played a large part in last years' uneventful Black Friday, I didn't have much hope of seeing any craziness this year. Lisa, Ryn, and I left Baylor at 4:30am in hopes of seeing some of Waco's crazies (those who got in line at 2am or earlier for some prized item). Well...when we arrived at Target 10 minutes before the doors opened at 5am, my dreams became reality. There was a line from one door, down the side, around the corner, and back to the door. Crazy. I got out of the car to take a picture then back to the car to wait until the doors opened.

Target was a zoo. After searching for a variety of Christmas gifts, we headed to the line. Getting into the line that fed into the lanes we waited patiently for our turn. Only an hour later, we found we were standing in line for isle 17. Yep, other people decided to form their own lines, but us rule followers stayed in the intended line (don't worry, I'm not bitter) :).

From there we hit a couple other stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohls (with a stop for Panera breakfast in between). It was a fun experience with some great company (I'm not interested in doing black Friday without fun friends to withstand the lines with!) and I was definitely able to see some crazies! :)

Water Skiing

It's been a couple weeks since I've updated my blog. Here are some of the highlights from the last few weeks.

Labor Day Weekend!

Hung out in Austin

Watched Baylor win the first football game of the season

Visited with a friend from OR

Hanging out with the Ecklund's

BJs tradition

LEAD retreat

and last but definitely not least...

Water Skiing!

Yes, that's right! I tried/learned how to water ski! It was a blast. I'm hooked. I love, love, love the water and am so excited to try it again!

One of the chaplains and his wife bought a boat and I tagged along on Labor Day. Megan video tapped a few of my attempts. The first time, I mostly got up. Second time, disaster. Third, got up for a bit, only I went to the right and Megan's camera went the other direction. This is my first attempt below.

Really, I cannot wait to try this again...I LOVED it and would LOVE to get good! The chaplain wake boarded and did all sorts of tricks...sign me up for that!

And here's my battle scar from skiing. ;) When I got back in the boat, I noticed my knee was stinging and when I looked down I notice I was bleeding. It just means I'm 'that' hardcore, ha.

Although lots of other things have been happening, I felt the need to catch up a little with my blogging. Last weekend Kristel came into Austin for our friend Britney's wedding. I'll post on that and other adventures later!

Not so typical weekend in Waco!

Last week some friends came into town to play (who will from here on out be referred to as 'the group') . Although none of them were here explicitly to visit me (they were actually all here to visit each other), I was able to join along in much of the fun.

Friday night Sarah and I joined the group at a deep dish pizza place in Hewitt. Yummm. It's definitely a place I will visit again, and, on Thursday nights they have live music. :) From there, we went out to my favorite hide away, Woodway Park. We sat on picnic tables and watched the sunset. Unfortunately for them, it wasn't the best. And actually, it was the most disappointing I had ever seen while at the Lake.

Although the sunset was disappointing, the clouds were in rare form. :)

From there, they humored me on a short walk through the nature trail looking for fireflies. Unfortunately, again, it was quite hot out, and the fireflies were rarely to be seen.

But the night was nice and the company was great!

Saturday afternoon, I went out to the Lake with Megan...again. We stood in the water and memorized words...again. This time, however, we planned ahead and brought our suits! After a few hours of working on words, we headed for a swim. Joking the night before about swimming out to the buoy, I convinced Megan to swim out to the buoy with me. It was a nice little swim...and the water felt fabulous.

Can you see the buoy? I wish I knew how far the swim was exactly. :)

Did I mention when we first got in, we saw a snake in the water?! Yay for adventures!

Saturday night the group had a wedding and I met up with them after. Many, many laughs were shared and some fun memories were made!

Sunday morning was church and in the afternoon I headed to the theatre to see the 3-D movie UP with the group (plus Megan & Sarah)! Although I had heard stories about it being sad, I couldn't believe in the first 5 minutes my eyes began to well up. Don't worry, no tears were actually shed ;). Overall, it was a cute movie and the 3-D adventure was fun. It was my first 3-D movie, and probably not my last ;)

Sunday evening a large group of us celebrated Tiffani's birthday. Tiff is currently pursuing her PhD in Higher Ed at UCLA and has been a great resource and source of encouragement as I've sought to begin this journey into a PhD. After dinner, the group (and Sarah & I) ended up back at the Lake for the sunset and a swim. The second time out to the buoy was a lot easier as the water was calmer than when Megan and I swam out on Saturday afternoon.

Late Sunday night, Sarah and I said our goodbyes to the group as they were heading back to their respective homes the next day.

It was a wonderful weekend full of fun and friends. When people ask me what I'll miss about Waco when I leave, the list isn't that long, but the people are definitely at the top of it!

Starbucks is calling...no not literally!

It's Monday night, approximately 10 minutes til 8pm and I'm heading off to Starbucks to study for what will hopefully be my last night of studying for the GRE.

I've worn out my friends with words, and I am not sure my brain can hold much more information pertaining to this test.

But I'm off for one last time to visit my friends Nick, Matt, and blondie (I don't know her name and they don't wear name tags) who work at Starbucks. I'm just going to refresh my mind of these words I've spent so long memorizing.

For now I'll leave you with this, it was my fortune cookie from lunch today with my math tutor (a former CL who is getting her PhD is statistics).

So I'm going to begin visualizing a perfect score, after all, nothing is impossible with God...or according to this fortune cookie. ;)

On a side note, this weekend was great! I had a wonderful time visiting with friends from afar, playing in the lake, and many more oddities which I will gladly post about later this week.

Starbucks, here I come. :)

Sailing

The Waco Sailing Club and Providence Hospice came together last weekend to hold the 10th annual sailing day for the Waco community in order to raise money for the Providence Hospice.

Meredith saw information for this event on the local news channel. So last Sunday we packed up and headed to the lake for a day of sailing.

After waiting in the hot sun for an hour or more, we finally received our life jackets and were headed to a sail boat. We were greeted by a fabulous couple who live between Waco and Austin and sail every weekend they possibly can. They were hilarious and taught us all sorts of randomness about sailing. It was amazing how cool it was sailing on the water (felt 15 degrees cooler when the wind was blowing toward us). Here are a couple pictures from the trip. I was a bit nervous to try and take too many pictures. I can swim, but my camera cannot. ;)

(From left to right: Megan, Meredith, Jennifer, me)

Jennifer and Megan liked to to hang their feet off the front of the boat (bow). During our little excursion, the boat would heel (tip on its side), which they said was completely normal. However, a bit disconcerting because it felt as though we might tip all the way. At which point, I'm not sure if my life preserver would have been a help or hinderance. :)

(From left to right: Meg's friend Lacey, me, Jennifer) We had a great time sailing, but I was happy to be on land, hydrated, and heading home to have dinner. :)

Spring 2009

I have lived in Waco for almost four complete years now and I cannot remember a spring like this one. It is June 4th and we have yet to see a day over the low 90's. I know they are coming. But I am choosing to live in denial.

Stay spring...please.

Waco's Best

Although there are many things I miss about California and the west coast, I have come to appreciate my Waco home. Some call this the Waco 'suck' factor. When you first arrive in Waco, it sucks! But then, it kind of sucks you in. I never, ever, in a million years, thought I would be staying in Waco for a 5th year. I mean, there is no ocean, no mountains, no big city, no true theatre, and frankly, not much to do after 8pm.

So what is great about Waco?!

1. No traffic/smog

2. Great people!

3. Cameron Park (2nd largest in city park in the nation, Central Park being 1st)

4. Altos de Jalisco (favorite Mexican food place in the area)

5. Diamondbacks (great desserts/happy hour)

6. Fireflies!

7. Lake Waco

8. Suspension Bridge (1st suspension bridge west of the Mississippi)

9. Close to Dallas & Austin

10. Woodway Park (newest favorite!)

Although these things are all great, many of them aren't things to 'do' or at least not things you can't do frequently. However, Woodway Park challenges this idea. It's a park located right off Lake Waco and offers a couple trails for hiking/walking/biking and probably the best place in Waco to watch the sunset.

One advantage of not having mountains is the fabulous sky scenes we get in Texas. Last night, I went to Woodway Park to journal and watch the sunset. Just as the sun was setting, I was joined by Meredith. Here are some pictures of the sunset we enjoyed!

After watching the sunset, we headed to the trail to find some fireflies. As we walked, Meredith inhaled a bug. Literally, she was walking and began coughing. I was laughing so hard. Mostly because this same thing had happened to Meredith the day before when she was walking the bear trail. Two bugs, in two days.

In her honor, I began singing this little jingle (modified from the musical RENT)

Goodbye bug, goodbye bug

Just came to say goodbye bug goodbye

Just came to say goodbye bug, goodbye bug

hello... disease

I'm sure if you eat too many bugs, you'd catch something.

Anyway. As we were walking, we saw a little cotton tailed rabbit. So being the late twenties young women we are, we followed the bunny. As we followed it down a trail, I began to laugh again. It wasn't long ago that we were watching Alice in Wonderland/Alice and the Looking Glass and commenting if we would be stupid enough to follow a rabbit down a hole. And look at us, what we were doing?! Meredith and I got a good laugh out of it as we joked about the Jabberwoky coming for us :)

As we approached a bridge on the trail we stopped to take in the beauty. There were hundreds of fireflies lighting up around us, about 30 every second. It was unreal. I got out my camera to take a video. After many attempts, I got the video below. Although it does not do justice to the scene, I thought I'd post it for a glimpse of what we experienced. You can only see about 7 in this video. I'm not sure how to get a video that does these fireflies justice, and maybe, again, this is just one of the things in life we are meant to experience once (or twice, or as many times as I decide to visit Woodway Park) :)