Archive for April, 2009

So, we lost yet another game of kickball last night (4-2, in case you’re actually keeping score). However, it was 80′s night on the kickball field! How totally awesome! I think the Bucky Ballers should definitely win for their overall team spirit! (click here for more 80′s photos)

My beloved Bucky Ballers rockin the 80's look!

I had a small issue trying to differentiate the 80′s from the 90′s. They blur together in my memory. So, I forced Andy to shop with me for a snazzy outfit by asking “Is this considered 80′s?” every 10 seconds. Poor guy gets all sorts of kudos points for putting up with it. We had a lot of fun reliving a past decade, but man am I glad I don’t have to wear shades of highlighter every day!

We actually stayed in town for the weekend, what a shock!! Last week was a long difficult one, so it was so nice to be able to stay at home. Plus, I got some chores done! We lost our kickball game 2-1 on Tuesday, but at the very least we’re actually putting up a fight! Who knows, maybe we’ll win another game this week!

Friday evening, we headed to Bob and Nancy’s gorgeously fancy new house for a last minute party. I think I’ve found my dream house, the entire thing was custom designed and so incredibly beautiful! Oh right, so the party was for Kareem and Leslie, who are moving to Washington DC this weekend. For some odd reason, we only ever get together with everybody for welcome homes and goodbyes. It was actually the first time I had met Leslie, and I found her incredibly sweet! Kareem, you’re a lucky man!

After a pleasant evening and a delicious dinner (you’ve never had cooking quite like Nancy’s!), we headed to Dave and Buster’s to celebrate our friend Chad’s birthday. I haven’t been to a arcade in a really long time. So, we played all the usual games: Whac-A-Mole, Skee ball, a car racing game, a shooting terrorists game, and air hockey. Alas, I was gamed out pretty early in the night. Those kind of arcade establishments are NOT cheap. I had no desire to load any more money on to my “game card” and spent the rest of the night sitting at a booth chatting with friends.

Donald and Adam saving the world from zombies, look at that determination!

Jessi, Ethan, and Andy playing the MOST lame and apparently addictive game at the arcade...

...the game where you drop coins into the machine to try and get more coins to fall of the ledge. I'm sure you've seen them before, they're at every casino and arcade.

Why would anyone play such a boring game? Well, Adam did it for the tickets of course! He could have traded all those tickets in for a neon flamingo lamp of his very own!

Adam, me, and Amber resting our weary feet and catching up on our busy weeks.

During the day on Saturday, we ran some errands that really needed to be done months ago. We spent some time with the animals, which I know they appreciated staying home for the weekend as well. For every time we go out of town, they have to leave home too.

Attila and Jabber enjoying some family time.

In the afternoon, we headed to the Gingerman in downtown Fort Worth to meet up with Griffin, Francis, and Andrew. The Gingerman is famous for its incredible beer selection. I dislike beer, can’t stand the taste. But I did have a nice light raspberry cider, yum! The weather was beautiful, though a smidge humid, but overall very nice. So, we sat outdoors and enjoyed the weather. I haven’t seen either Francis nor Andrew in months, so it was great to meet up!

Me and Francis being mellow on a pretty Saturday afternoon.

Andrew, Griffin, and Andy enjoying the weather too, but more so their beers.

Today has been spent being ridiculously lazy. It’s been fantastic and much too long in the coming. We did some light cleaning, walked the dog, went to the gym, and picked up some groceries for the week. This week promises to be hectic, work is crazy, Cathy’s driving back, our friend Michael’s birthday needs celebrating, and we’re moving Cathy to Austin by the end of the week. Sigh…bring on the storm! Check out more Spring 2009 pictures!

Wow, what a crazy busy life we have. Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed, but to tell you the truth, I’m not sure I would have it any other way. In the last week, we won our first kickball game (YAY!!), Cathy left for Kansas to pick up some of her stuff for the move to Austin, Andy and I worked like crazy during the week so we could have Friday off to drive to San Antonio for the weekend (will elaborate on the San Antonio fun in a moment), drove all the way home, and then I had jury duty today.

I’m going to start with the jury summons first, because it’s fresh on my mind. Based on my very recent experience, it is an extremely slow process. Yes, I understand it’s my civic duty. Yes, I understand that there are a lot of cases to go through. And yes, I understand it is my job to try and be an impartial third party. I was called with a group of 17 others to go through the selection process for a DWI case. The amount of explanations, details, and situations were painful! Worst of all was the enormous amounts of waiting. I had brought a new book to read (Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke), but was unable to get past chapter 3 due to the oddly timed activities in which I was required to participate. (i.e. filling out questionaires about myself, answering questions verbally about, again, myself…etc)

In the end, I was dismissed around 1:30 pm, after sitting in the courthouse for five hours. I feel a little mixed by the outcome. I’m glad I didn’t have the responsibility to decide the fate of another person, but at the same time, I wish I had something to show for the five hours I wasted. Oh that’s right, my $6 jury duty check that doesn’t even pay for parking!! Perhaps I’ll get it framed instead?

Backing up to the weekend, we had the most marvelous San Antonio adventure! We drove down on Friday night to visit our good friend Erin. She took us to the tastiest dinner at La Hacienda de Los Barrios, famous for their puffy tacos. They have the most beautiful outdoor patio surrounded by trees, live music, and the cool night air. Thankfully, the weather was only uncooperative once we got back to Erin’s apartment. So, we spent the rest of the evening chatting and playing a rousing game of Quiddler.

By Saturday, the rain was all gone! The weather remained absolutely gorgeous for the rest of the weekend. First things first, we headed downtown for the Fiesta. What is Fiesta you ask? Fiesta is a celebration of the United States winning against Mexico in the Battle of the Flowers. Really, it’s just an opportunity for people to party and wear silly hats. We started our Fiesta experience by stopping by Mi Tierra for lunch in the center of El Mercado. Yum!

Andy and I eating at Mi Tierra under a giant portrait of Mr. Former President Bill Clinton, a little random, no?

After lunch, we wandered around the Fiesta mayhem. There were craft shops galore, bands, dance troops, and just so many things to soak in! Because it was the celebration of the Battle of the Flowers, the Fiesta dress code often includes a wreath of paper flowers. Somehow over time, streamers and ribbons also got added to the colorful wreath, which is just fine by me! In addition to wearing wreaths, it has also become very popular to decorate your front door with a giant festive Fiesta wreath. We searched high and low for the perfect giant wreath for Erin, and we found it!

Erin and me with her newly purchased GIANT Fiesta wreath! Isn't it gorgeous? Aren't you positively green with envy that you don't have an amazing wreath with pink sombrero's on it?

The last thing we did in El Mercado was stop by the henna stand. I enjoy henna. It’s a fun step into the tattoo world without the permanance. (it lasts for 3-5 weeks) The artist has been doing henna tattoos for over 30 years. So, I asked her to pick a traditional design for me. I really like it, but out of the corner of my eye sometimes I forget I have a henna tattoo and think I’ve gotten mustard all over myself!

My nifty henna design, like it?

Next up, we hit the Southwestern School of Art and Craft Fiesta Art Festival. We saw some amazing pieces of local art, we even purchased a few small items. Even more neat was the fact that the school was in an old convent. Everything seemed so serene and was beautifully built.

Andy and I in the courtyard of the old convent by a moss covered fountain.

In the evening, we had the pleasure of listening to one of Erin’s friend’s bands, Tejano Explosion. We had so much fun enjoying the weather and just relaxing to the pleasant sound of a peppy accordion and upbeat vocals. I loved watching some of the cute older couples dance and sashay their way around the dance floor. We left soon after dark though, I have this pesky fear of mosquito season creeping up on me. A lovely dinner at Chester’s and we happily spent another night playing Quiddler, it really is a terrific game!

On Sunday, Erin made us a delicious lunch of tortellini pasta salad, fruit salad, and bratwursts. Yum!! (We’ve eaten WAY too much this trip!!) We headed to the McNay Art Museum. I had a nice time wandering around the original house that once held and still holds all the pieces of Mrs. McNay’s collection…until the security guard told us about the ghost stories. After the news of hauntings, I escaped quickly into the sunlit outdoor sculpture garden. Blech, I’m not good with news of other wordly visits.

Mrs. Marion Koogler McNay's original estate built in 1927, see any dark shadows? strange orbs of light?

Andy and me in the brightly lit safety of the courtyard. Notice I am wearing the awesome Fiesta wreath that Erin bought me.

All too soon, it was time to hit the road. We had a nice dinner with the Trommer parents at Chuy’s in Austin. We got home really late and have been trying to catch up ever since. Tomorrow is yet another kickball game. I am much less optimistic about this game. Two of our best players are out due to injuries or being out of town. Oh right, and the working beforehand. Sigh. Be sure to check out all our spring 2009 photos!

This weekend has been a weird mix of chores, to-do’s, and errands. First on the list, a long grooming session for Attila. We tried our hardest, but there was absolutely no way to rid her of the tangles in her fur. She was just a giant knot of a cat! So, on Friday I took the poor kitty to Dog De Salon for a shave. They were extremely professional, helpful, and did a good job. I think Attila has a different opinion on the matter…

A poor fur-less Attila trying to hide her nakedness with her fluffy tail.

Truth be told, she seems a lot happier and friendlier now that her tangles are gone. It was just the initial shock that kept her hidden under the sofa for a few hours.  Plus, since her appointment she is extra soft and so very cuddly! Now, she roams the house with Jabber by her side (well, on her tail is more like it)

Cathy and Attila enjoying some quality petting time.

On Saturday, we took a nice trip to Ennis, Texas to see the bluebonnets. I read that Ennis is the Bluebonnet Capital and have been wanting to visit ever since. It’s not a horrible drive, about a half hour south of Dallas. However, to my disappointment, most of the prettier fields are on private property. Turns out, the “bluebonnet trails” that the website boasts of are really just small roads winding around people’s farmyards.

At the risk of being shot, we decided just to admire from afar and continue down the road in hopes of finding a patch of flowers in a public area. The good thing about bluebonnets is that you can find some of the loveliest blooms right on the side of the road. So, I was able to take the pictures I searched all of Ennis for.

Carrie, me, and Cathy admiring the Texas state flower.

Andy and I in a field of bluebonnets, how lovely!

I really like the contrast of the deep violet bluebonnets against the orange indian paintbrushes.

I’m not a very good photographer, but I tried my best to capture the landscape. Be sure to click here for more pictures, if you’re interested. I think I can successfully check Ennis off my Texas to do list. We were able to escape just before the rain began, which continued through to today.

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter, even if you’re bogged down with rain and potential thunderstorms like we are!

Kickball. I joined a kickball team. The words still sound so odd to me. Me? Playing a sport voluntarily and being excited for games? Yikes! I believe hell is close to freezing over. Which means they are also suffering from the climate change with the rest of us.

Anyhow, we are doing much better as a team, but so far no wins. Last week SHOULD have been ours, but let’s not get into that. It was a BAD game, cheating was involved (not on our end), and it makes me depressed to think about it. But if it’s any consolation, we are losing by fewer and fewer points. Who knows, maybe by the end of the season, we’ll actually win a game. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

As for me, I think I’m actually getting worse by the minute. I try very hard to keep up, and though I understand the rules much better, there are a few personality quirks I seem unable to change…

1. I flail when I run. I didn’t even know I flailed until Andy pointed it out. Apparently when I panic, I can only control one set of limbs. I choose to move my legs and therefore my arms do their own thing.

2. I scream non-sensical things when running from base to base. For instance, I seem to like “NO NO NO NO NO!” and “DON’T HIT ME, DON’T HIT ME!!” It’s completely involuntary. Again, I blame the panic factor.

3. After kicking the ball, I have a tendency to stop and stare at my handiwork before running for first base. I’ve been told to run regardless of where the ball goes. However, it seems like such a waste of energy to run so far if I’ve just kicked a foul.

4. Though I can catch the ball fairly easily during practice, I can’t seem to get anywhere near it during the game. No matter what people tell me about cradling the ball like a baby, that poor baby just bounces right off my hands!

No matter, we’re having fun and apparently that’s all that counts. I have to tell you though, winning would sure be nice. You can track the Bucky Baller’s progress here. We’re solidly in last place, where we want to be…so we tell ourselves. Last week was a beach themed game, so I managed to take a few silly pictures. Enjoy!

Andy and Rick getting ready for the game, silly hats, floatie devices, and all!

Rick, Brittany, and Ira in the heat of the game.

Andy keeping score. He thinks his silly camping hat = beach wear. I disagree, but who am I to complain if he looks ridiculous along with the rest of us.

Amber showing off the best way to wear a bikini top, over one's kickball t-shirt!

Ira with his snorkel gear (which he didn't bring on the field because it fogged up too easily), Brittany, and Syndi enjoying a kickball afternoon.

Adam and I looking silly, but at least we look silly together!

Let me know if you have any tips regarding my involuntary sports related problems! Here’s to hoping our massive losing streak ends soon!!

Andy and I have been talking about getting Jabber a furry companion recently. We love our dog and play with her every chance we get, but sometimes I wonder if she gets lonely during the day when we’re at work. Having Cathy here has been a treat for the Jabberwocky. She loves the extra attention while we’re gone. Plus she greatly enjoys all the afternoon walks that Cathy’s presence provides. However, Cathy’s moving to Austin soon, and Jabber will no longer have a daytime buddy.

We thought about adopting another dog. But let’s face it, dogs can be a lot of work. We always forget how extremely lucky we got with Jabber. She was housebroken, has no major bad habits, is non-agressive, and easily trained. With a new dog, who knows what issues we would face? I still have no idea how to potty train a dog, I’ve never had to! So, with all this information in mind, we decided to consider a nice kitty cat.

I know many of you out there are not cat people, and to tell you the truth, neither were we. But it was an avenue we were willing to explore. Cats are fairly self sufficient and therefore easy to take care of. The problem was finding the right cat! Just for fun, I started searching the local animal shelters on Petfinder. Yes, we are huge advocates of shelter adoptions and always will be. There are so many animals that need a good home, and you can find just about any breed, age, or personality at a shelter or rescue group. I stumbled upon the cutest little cat at the City of Watauga Animal Services named Neveah (“heaven” spelled backwards). She has been declawed, spayed, and housebroken. Cathy and I liked her picture so much, we decided to go visit her.

When we got to the kitty room at the shelter, every single cat got right up to their cage doors and started pawing and meowing for attention. All of them except Neveah, who was happily taking a nap. She opened her big green eyes, looked at us, and went right back to sleep. Right then and there, I knew that she was the mellow kitty our family needed. By Friday (04/03/2009), we had signed the paperwork, purchased the proper kitty supplies, and was taking home our new feline addition. First things first, the name had to go. We decided upon Attila the Hun, Scourge of the Cods. We have a terrifying Jabberwocky with “jaws that bite and claws that catch”, why not a ferocious ruler of the Hun Empire? I realize that Attila was a man, and our kitty is a girl, but the name seemed so fitting!

Introducing Attila Trommer, the fluffiest cat you ever will see!

True to my first impression, Attila is as mellow as a cat can be. She really doesn’t meow, hiss, growl, or make much sound at all. And she doesn’t really care what you do to her, pull her tail, ruffle her fur, pick her up, or even baths…

Poor wet Attila in the bathtub ridding herself of the shelter grime.

Now I know most of you are probably wondering how Jabber is taking all this kitty nonsense. Actually, the first meeting went very well last night. They both calmly sat across from each other and touched noses. Neither one was upset or ran away, they just stared and sniffed. I think it will be awhile before they’re best buddies, but it’s an optimistic start to a beautiful relationship. Our family has expanded, and I think we will make a lovely family of four. Thanks to everyone for your congratulations and happy thoughts!

So very busy! I keep meaning to post about our trip to Austin last weekend. Alas, much of this week has flown by and the rest of the week promises to move just as quickly. Therefore, I’m going to post our trip to Austin in pictures…

Arrived in Austin proper Friday night and met up with friends at Fado the Irish Pub with the 80s cover band, interesting no?

After a nice Saturday lunch with the Trommer Parents at Threadgills, we stopped by Austin Java for the most delectable espresso shakes. Yum!

Our eyes also got a little too big for our stomachs, for we HAD to order a delicious bowl of hummus.

We spent the afternoon wandering around the UT Natural History Museum, where Cathy learned about the inner workings of viruses...

...and I marveled at evolution and what I would look like as a chimpanzee.

At dusk, we waited patiently for the bats to emerge from their slumber. We did everything we could to wake the bats. Whistle, chant, and sing the Batman theme song...to no avail. We'll get you next time batty bat bats!

There was a long wait at South Congress Cafe, our chosen restaurant for the night, so Ethan and Andy decided to share a cupcake at the Hey Cupcake stand. Apparently, whipped cream stuffed cupcakes are the way to go.

We ended the night at the Madison for some dancing!

After sleeping until check out time, we headed to do some light shopping at Waterloo Records and Book People. Followed by the tastiest breakfast tacos known to man at Juan in a Millions.

After our tasty tacos, we headed home to our comfortable beds and a loving Jabber. It was much too short of a trip and I don’t feel like we accomplished as much as I’d hoped to, but I’m glad we went. I try not to post in pictures alone very often, but since time is limited this week and sleep is not optional, this will have to do!

In case you’d like to visit any of the places I’ve mentioned, I’ll include a list of links below. Sorry, the captions won’t allow me to insert links.

Fado Irish Pub, Threadgills, Austin Java, UT Natural History Museum, Austin’s Congress Bridge Bats, Hey Cupcake, South Congress Cafe, the Gingerman (which isn’t in the post mainly because I didn’t take any pictures, but we did visit Saturday evening), the Madison, Waterloo Records, Book People, Juan in a Million, and pictures from Spring 2009.