15: Read a Biography

I just went to Atlanta for the 2009 A4 training. To pass time on the flight, I brought Baby Proof, a book I have been casually trying to read for about a month. Well, I actually finished it, so I needed to have something to read on the way back.

I was in the airport and stopped in one of those little kiosks full of magazines and NY Times best-sellers. While I was perusing though the titles, I came across three possibilities, two of which I still plan on reading. I picked Born Standing Up not only because it looked interesting but because I knew it has been one of my goals to read a biography.

This biography is an honest and funny account of Steve Martin's rise to fame as one of the most well-know comics in recent history. He makes you realize that he is just a human, doing what he wanted to do. The most interesting part to me was his idea of the comedy that he set out to produce. He wanted to do what nobody before him did and to break all of the rules of what made something funny. He did it, and sometimes it worked and other times he failed. Ultimately, he won the game and then he walked away from it all.

38: Nike Human Race

I completed my first ever 10k in 1:18.00! It was really a tough course because the first 5k went straight up. Not too bad going back down. It was hot and humid, lots of hills but it felt good. It was good to be out there. I suffered next to 20k people and it was awesome. Just seeing the sea of red pace up the hills was awesome. Pizza dinner afterward was even better!

Junior Jumpsuit

Over a year ago I was at Once Upon a Child and I saw this jumpsuit. I immediatly picked it up knowing that one day Andrew would fit into it. It is especially dear to us because of the name patch, "Junior".

Ricks father always called him Junior. When Andy was still around, he told Rick that all he wanted was to see Rick's child and then he could die a happy man. He was so thrilled to see his son have a little boy, who we named Andrew after Andy (his nickname, he was actually Richard). Andy passed away about seven months after Andrew was born and it is so fitting that Andrew has a jumpsuit with the name patch, Junior.

Learning Photography

For Our Viewing Pleasure!

80: Health Insurance

I just reviewed my list and I realized that I now have fabulous health insurance! For the first time in my working life, I have amazing insurance. Of course, it is not through my company, cause the only time the health insurance around here will get any good is when lobsters fly. Moving forward, Rick has awesome benifits and we are certainly reaping the rewards. For too long have we put off going to the doctor because everything was out-of-pocket. Not to mention, I paid for two births in full! Those days are gone (high deductibles and births too) time to work on a healthy tomorrow.

38: Run a 10k

Today I signed up for the Nike Human Race. Nike is putting on a Global 10k, where runners in 30 cities world-wide will run a 10k. Austin is only one of five cities in the US taking part. I am in no way prepared for this event, but I really just want to be a part of it and see what I am capable of doing.

36: Follow Exercise Routine

After starting and completing my first bootcamp, I have become accustom to exercising in the morning. This morning my alarm didn't go off and I missed my class. Instead of going back to sleep for an hour of glorified rest, I still got up and went for a run. Not only did I run, but I did a mild ab workout as well. Yay for progress!

8: Emily's 529

We are officially saving for Emily's college education. We opened her account with Fidelity and hopefully it will grow at a good rate, even during the downturn!

529 plans are flexible, tax-advantaged accounts designed specifically for
college savings. They are offered by individual states, often in
partnership with the financial services companies who manage the plans.

40: Bootcamp!

I took the plunge and joined an early morning bootcamp. I started on Monday moring, 5:30 a.m., three days a week for five weeks. I am so out of shape and that was evident by the other campers wizzing past me. That is okay with me though, because I can only get better at this point. Also, I haven't been this sore in ages!

17. Taking an Informal Class

Today I start my first informal class at UT. I have enrolled in a Photography class in order to better use my DSLR Nikon D80. I haven't been in school in over six years, so the class room setting is pretty exciting. I think that I will even sit in the front row!

65. Watch a Movie at Alamo Drafthouse

To celebrate our Independence, we decided to go see Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Celebration at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz. The film was recorded in 1974, but not released until 1979 (the greatest year ever). Nothing like drinking a cold, frothy beer and watching Willie Nelson and friends celebrate our freedom.

20: Snorkling

While we were in Playa, we caught a ferry over to Cozumel and went snorkling. It was about a 30 minute boat ride to the south side of the island. The water was so beautiful. A combination of sparkling jade, crystal blue and dark blue. The fish were amazing, barracuda, parrot fish, angel fish, sting rays, star fish and even two sea turtles!

21: Vacation

We just got back from our trip to Playa del Carmen. It was awesome! We took the new non-stop flight from Austin to Cancun, hitched a ride (with a couple from Austin) down to Playa and we were on the beach by 2 p.m. We stayed at the #1 rated botique hotel in town, Hotel La Tortuga and we couldn't have asked for anything more. No kids, dogs or work, just sunny Playa!

73: Photograhpy & Lightroom

I have been taking photos. Lots of photos. Now that I have so many, I need to render them. I just downloaded Adobe Lightroom and have started playing around, trying to get a grip on it. These are some of my favorites: favorite subjects and styles!

71: Bye Bye Junk Mail!

Tuesday is trash day. This Tuesday when I went to check the mail, it reached in the old mailbox and pulled out junk, and more junk. Not a single piece of real mail. Some pizza coupons, furniture advertising, local supermarket specials, credit card offers . . . Oh, and how could I forget the Value Pak sealed envelope of direct marketing mail? I immediately put it in the recycle bin. That is when I realized I need to be pro-active about getting rid of junk mail, putting a stop to it. Permanently.

Today I took my name of off mass-marketing mailing lists and I opted-out of pre-screened credit offers. There are two different websites you can visit to do this. To reduce the junk mail, got to www.dmachoice.org and click, "Remove my name from those lists." Also, to opt-out of those pesky credit card offers, go to www.optoutprescreen.com. It is so easy, I already feel liberated.

Working Out

So, I am officially a member of Pure Austin now. I have been several times but nothing quite on a regular basis. So, while I cannot cross anything off my list, I am certainly working on working out! I really want to be in Bikini shape by the time we go to Playa, only two months!

Picture Challenge

20 Questions:

1. Go to photobucket.com
2. Type in your answer for each question into the PhotoBucket search bar.
3. Only use the first two pages. Choose your favorite photo to represent your answer.
4. Copy the html and paste it here.
5. You can only answer in picture form

1. First Name

2. Birthday


3. Dream Car


4.Where did you go to school?


5.Favorite Season


6.Favorite Shoe


7.My status


8. Favorite Movie


9. Favorite Song

Bohemian Rhapsody!

10. Favorite Disney Character
Don't have one, sorry.

11. Favorite Clothing Line


12. Favorite Vacation Destination


13.Favorite Desert


14. Favorite Letter


15. What are you most afraid of?


16. Favorite TV Show


17. Most annoying


18. My Job


19. Favorite Animal


20. My Age

Photography

While I still haven't mastered my Nikon D80 SLR, I am becomming more comfortable with in and taking some photos I really like. I am so proud and happy that I am able to document my family in an artistic and beautiful nature. These are some of my recent favorites.

21 & 22: iPod & iTunes

Happy Valentines Day to me! In addition to the two-dozen roses he gave me, I also got an iPod! I think I am the last person on Earth to get one, but, now I have officially joined the masses. I also started an iTunes account but I am trying to work through some technical issues with it, boo! I really, really want to get the Grace Potter & The Nocturnals on my iPod . ..

Going to Playa!

I have officially booked our beach vacation for two. We took advantage of the $9.99 flight direct from Austin to Cancun. We are going the first week of May and will be staying at Playa del Carmen's #1 ranked boutique hotel: Hotel la Tortuga! Now, time to get working on the beach body!

#67: Nestie GTG

After four years of posting on The Nest I finally made it to a get-together. While sitting at the end of the table at Iron Cactus, I met several very nice ladies. Next time, I hope to work the table a little bit better!

#30&31: Closet Cleaning

I cleaned out my closet and I sorted my clothes. I have a bag full of no-longer worn apparel that I am going to take to Goodwill. Now, I have two more closets on my list. Babysteps . . .

first step toward photography

In my quest to take up photography, we just got our new camera. A semi-starter SLR: Nikon D80. I am excited to get to know the camera and capture some great shots. One of my favorite photos from our first hour of ownership!

1001 Day Project

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.