Thursday, January 29, 2009

Humor Gone Bad

"After testing, I was diagnosed with a uterine parasite."

That's the status I put on my Facebook profile, and in turn, got lots of concerned responses. My odd humor always gets me in trouble. I'll say it in another way.

I am pregnant.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

A Few Quirks

I am a bit obsessive when it comes to organization and cleanliness.

- In my closet, my clothes are hung according to their color and season--like at Goodwill. As of this year, I switched all of my hangers backwards to hang from the inside instead of the outside. When I wear an item, I switch the hanger to the 'correct' side of the rod to show what was worn. After so many months, the idea is to clear out what I haven't used.

- When at other peoples' houses and using their restroom, I ALWAYS dry my hands with the backside of the hand towel, not the front. I feel like it's cleaner and less germy.

- I'm a hand sanitizer junkie.

- I have an OCD behavior that I'm trying to fix. When driving or watching TV, I'll subconsciously see a word or number and begin writing it with my right forefinger over and over. Minutes or miles will pass and I'll notice it and remember that McDonald's sign or 800 number that caused me to start writing. Weird, I know.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

And 20 Makes 29

Chris had a birthday today. He is 29 years old. We celebrated by hosting a Game Night/Banana Split Party--two of Chris's favorite things. 20 people came. I did a little decorating and found some photos of him as a youngster. A few of the fellas are still here playing Risk.






Wednesday, January 21, 2009

At Last

...Because it's now ingrained in my head after hearing it so many times and watching President Obama and the First Lady dance is so many times. What a gorgeous dress though, huh?

At last I am living my dream job. I would have never expected business to pick up so well and so quickly upon my return from vacation. Several opportunities were put in my lap with no marketing or referral--amazing! I've picked up a family for whom I cook for in their home during the week. They prefer to pay for the grocery bill and my time separately, which is not how I typically do my pricing, but it works really well for them and they are by far my favorite client. I get to work in a top-notch kitchen, buy amazing products to work with, sip vino with the Mrs. as she watches and talks to me, and feed and serve their whole family. Love it. I couldn't be happier. I never thought I would enjoy working as much as I do. What a blessing from the Lord.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

What I'm Up To Today

Baked a few dozen of these sugar cookies (not bagels).

Monday, January 19, 2009

Happy Birthday, Big Brother!

Andy is 28 today.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Updated

Check it out. Thank goodness for Java. (And my husband.)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Oh How I Love Thee

Honey Whole Wheat is where it's at.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Seasonally Confused?

Is it just me or is anyone else down here in Austin seasonally confused?? I mean, it was almost 90 degrees yesterday and it's not even mid-January. Come on! I miss the cold. Bring back sweater weather! I raked my front yard yesterday because our monterrey oaks decided to shed their leaves during our vacation and with the sun out now, our grass would die unless we got them up. I feel like it's already summer time but leaves are still falling and Christmas lights are still up in the neighborhood. Weird.

The Chronicles of Carey: January 9th

1995 (Hilarious!!!)
It will be Andy's birthday soon. He will be 14!!! Just think, in one year he'll be taking Driver's Ed. Oh my! Tomorrow I'm wearing a white turtle neck, my navy blue body suit, and blue jeans. For Valentine's Day I'm wearing Mom's red shoes, my red silk shirt, red socks, and I have red sweat pants but not so sure if it'll look okay with the silk shirt. Guess what, it's Girl Scout cookie time. I had one whole order form done in 3 days! I'm working on my second one already. I'm sorry but it's 9:35pm (and my bedtime on school nights is 8:30). I really have to get going. Thanks for listening!

2002
...This decision really showed that I have no integrity and shallow character. But despite all of the bad that has happened, I praise God for J's sweet spirit, her uplifting and forgiving spirit. She's helped me so much...oh how I will long for her to be near when she is gone. But I believe God crossed our paths for a reason and I am thankful for her.

2003
I am at the plasma donation center waiting to get in. Need the extra bucks. I have to pick up Aaron from his job and bring him to school. He's grounded from the car for a week because he got a speeding ticket.

2004
I understand now what it feels like to be refined. You brought me through that painful process, stripping away impurities from my life, so that I could look more like You. I want to know You more. You are all that matters.

2005
If all goes well, Chris and I should know by the end of the month where we will be moving. That is exciting! It's weird how willing I am to move to an unknown location. I feel comfortable with this life change. It will be fun to see what it will be like to live with CB. What a blessing the Lord has given me; to love my heart out on him all the days of my life.

2006
I had my first day of culinary school today. For some crazy reason, I still get nervous on the first day of school...I enjoyed getting up early actually...hot tea and a little something for the stomach and off I go.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Beginnings

I'm not usually one to write down New Year's resolutions, if I make any at all. But I have some that swim around in my head that I thought I'd put down on paper this time.

Monday, January 05, 2009

Time

1.5 years it took us to save up money from birthdays, Christmases, tips, etc. until we finally had enough to buy a video camera. Chris went out last night and bought it; Sony Handycam DCR-SR45. I haven't had a chance to play with it yet, but it will be fun. A year ago, prices were much steeper. The benefits of waiting is that prices have come down a lot. So much so that we were able to purchase a big birthday gift for Chris's birthday coming up--an xBox 360. He's a happy boy. And we did it all with gift cards and cash! Thanks to everyone who contributed.

2.5 years we receieved free cable. The cable company never turned it off after we moved in. I very much enjoyed HGTV, Food Network, the Discovery Channel, FX, and HBO movies at the click of a button. Last week our phone company came to bury an exposed phone line outside. It seems they may have severed the TV cable. For obvious reasons, we can't call and complain. So sad.

8 hours I've been cleaning the house. While listening to the Zac Brown Band, I took down Christmas decorations, vacuumed, and have been packing everything nice and tight until I open them up again in 11 months. I ventured out this morning and hit up Target and Hobby Lobby, thinking I would score some major after Christmas deals. To my dismay, there was hardly anything left. However, I did buy a fake tree that we will use in the future. It was 80% off and a great deal! After spending a total of $140 on two year's worth of real trees, we've decided to go artificial and I think it will save us big bucks in the future.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Happy 2009


We had a great time traveling up north, visiting many friends and family along the way. We had two weeks off from work, put more than 3,000 miles on the car and drove through six different states. We felt extremely blessed by all the people who arranged their holiday schedules in such a way so that we could see them, even if for a short amount of time. We shared many meals, drinks, laughs, competitive games, and conversations with those we hold dear to our hearts. All that being said, we also were very glad to come home to Austin, Texas and get out of the car. Marlow was a great traveler and brought smiles to lots of faces.

After working hard and fast on my last day of work, I drove home quickly, took a shower, and we packed up the car. We drove to Chris's parents' house in Colleyville, Texas and spent the night. That evening we had a short Christmas celebration, opening gifts, stockings, and eating cookies. Early the next morning we hit the road and drove to Evansville, Indiana, home of my big brother and sister-in-law, Andy and Amanda. They have an adorable home and hosted us for a night before we left early again the next day. After a 4-hour trip up to Anderson, Indiana, we arrived at my parents' house and where I grew up. Full of memories and cold weather, my week in Anderson was filled with visits with high school friends, cooking Christmas dinner, seeing "Marley and Me" in the theater, playing board games with family, eating mom's delicious pies, singing at the Christmas Eve service at my parents' church, and a fun annual date with my husband on Christmas Eve morning. It is our tradition to go out for coffee and donuts each year. Our week went by fast, but it also allowed us to slow down enough and enjoy our vacation.

Our next stint was to West Lafayette, Indiana, where we visited Purdue's campus for the afternoon. Marlow left a present on the lawn of the memorial mall, we walked all around our old tromping grounds, and visited the Liechtys, Tennenhouses, and enjoyed a lunch of 4 different crepes from Greyhouse Coffee & Supply. After a short stop for coffee at the location of our first date, we hit the road once again and made our way up to Western Springs, Illinois, home of Aunt Marcia. She fed us well, lended us her pass for the Chicago Art Institute, and Marlow had a fun time playing with her cocker spaniel, Libby. We took a train into the city one day and walked all around downtown, mostly on the Magnificent Mile. We found a wonderful, little Italian coffee/pastry shop next to the John Hancock building and stopped in for refreshment. Bundling ourselves up as best as we could, we ventured onward and battled the cold. It truly is the Windy City for good reason. We spent another evening dowtown with cousins and enjoyed dinner, talking about life, careers, and oohing and ahhing over our newest second cousin, Grant Oliver.

From Western Springs, we drove just 45 minutes southwest to Aunt Di's house in Naperville, Illinois. We really enjoyed our time with the Murphys and were reminded of what life is like around teenagers. Buddy, their Beagle-mix became friends with Marlow, too. We left Marlow at their house one day and visited Chris's grandpa and grandma. We played 3 hours worth of Rummy with them and an ate out-of-the-can meal at a nursing home. We took the train again into the city and spent New Year's Eve downtown, eating authentic deep dish pizza at Gino's East. We convinced each other to spend the money on a cab back to Union Station. It was a blistery cold night. We felt old going home so early, but were glad to have feeling in our toes again. On the way back, we picked up a bottle of wine and ingredients to make flourless chocolate cake. We had lots of fun playing cards with Paul and Di, drinking champagne, watching the ball drop, and giving/receiving our New Year's kisses. It was a great way to begin the year.

Sleeping in the next day and being couch potatoes, we finally found the energy to pack ourselves into the car once again and drive to Kankakee, Illinois. Upon arrival Grandma Allison prepared and served us a feast, including that oh-so-yummy sweet corn from the Midwest to which none can compare. Apple pie, too. Our bellies were full and happy. Chris did a few fix-it jobs for her and I was of no help since I started getting a cold about this time. She sent us off with apples, ginger cookies, and Kleenex for me. We drove a few hours east and stopped by Purdue once again to see the Burkholders for lunch and a short visit. How their kids have grown! They are beautiful children and fun to be around. We treasure our friendship with Todd and Lacy.

Onto Louisville, Kentucky! Us and 7 other Campus House 'Has Beens' spent the night at Cori's house. She recently got engaged, so it was a fun night spending quality time with her and her fiancé, Matt. They are getting married April 11th! Matt and Cori cooked us dinner and provided us with board game entertainment that night. Chris and I played 'Ticket to Ride' for the first time and he dominated, of course. That guy is unnaturally lucky! The evening ended on a very encouraging note as we all went around and answered the questions of what our highs and lows were, reflecting on the year of 2008. This really helped squeeze out as much depth and quality time in the short hours we had together. Scattered all over the country, it was so great to reconnect and see college friends again.

Yesterday we rose at 5:30am, dropped by Norm's Bakery in Louisville for caffeine and sugar, and hit the road back to Texas. It was a long and horrible drive, especially since my not feeling well from my cold was multiplied with my everlasting battle of car sickness. Chris and I took turns climbing into the backseat and cuddling with Marlow for naptimes. We set the cruise control to an efficient speed and pressed on until we arrive back in Colleyville, Texas, home of Chris's parents. Walking inside, I felt like I had been beaten and run over more than just riding in the car, so to say the least, we were glad to have a break from the road. They had dinner waiting for us; amaazing smoked brisket, fingerling potatoes with Gruyere, sage, and bacon, salad, and alas..more Christmas cookies. Josh and Laura, my sister-in-law and her husband, drove out from Dallas to eat with us. We enjoyed everyone's company even though we were fatigued from our journey.

Today we slept in, ate breakfast, and took our time getting ready before packing up once again and reluctantly getting back into the car. A 3-hour drive never felt so long. We almost felt like crying out of joy when we finally parked in our garage.

It is good to be home. Pictures of our adventures can be seen here.