Walk on Marble

We're getting new white marble added to the floor in our guest bathroom.   The counter tops will be added later this week. We bought our 1980 house in 2008 (it was the newest house we could afford in our 'hood) and every year we have a project to update the house without disrespecting its roots.   We ripped out the dated 1990 tile, and we're adding 18-inch square marble tiles.  Marble makes the normal bathroom feel special.

Often times I wonder what it'd be like to purchase a new house with all new elements.  Would we save more money if we had a new house?  Each year, we spend several thousand dollars updating our house to make it current.

However, I love that we get to make it our own.

HVR! HVR!

1. My brother sent me this text message: "HVR! HVR!"
2. My husband said the following while eating hummus at a restaurant: "I taste mango.  I taste kiwi.  I'm getting a big hit of kiwi."

If you don't understand the comedy genius of these two lines, then you need to watch this!

Happy Halloween

We were lucky enough to be in Austin the Saturday before Halloween.  Dallas puts on a spectacular Halloween event in the gayborhood the Saturday before Halloween too, but Austin's event seems larger.  We were spectators at the costume bash.  We saw many Where's Waldos, Amy Winehouses, pirates, navy men, pilots, Reno 911 officers, and one Data from The Goonies.  Our favorite was the guy that went as the man from LMFAO's "I'm Sexy and I know it" music video.  This costume had all the elements that make a funny costume; it was timely, recognizable, and funny. Plus, anyone that can bar hop on a chilly fall night only wearing an Afro and Speedo deserves to win!

Heavy Packers

"Is this what a weekend looks like?"  Was the question our friend Dooley asked in an alarmed tone when she saw our two suitcases, one large ice chest, and a pile of hanging clothes in our car on Friday.  She was surprised by the amount of "stuff" we brought along on our weekend away.  We needed all that stuff for two nights.

I guess we're not really light packers.  We're heavy packers.  We like options.  This weekend we had meetings and events in Austin Texas.   As you know, Austin is the city of my heart.  It felt lovely to spend a beautiful weekend in that spot on the world.

Life

Death has a way of focusing you on life.

If we're lucky we'll get at least 80 years on this earth, and we've already burned through 31 years.  Which means if we're lucky we'll get 50 more years.  It's time to get living!  The clock is ticking.  My husband is thinking about getting his MBA.  We want children.  I want a more fulfilling career, but currently I'm unable to figure out my next move.  I want to spend as much time as possible with my husband. It's time to make things happen for ourselves.  Life is short.  Go, go, go!

Seeing my grandmother on her death bed put life into perspective.  When it's all said and done the only thing that matters in this world are the relationships we have with the people we love. 

My husband and I will spend the weekend mapping out our one, two, and five year plan.

My Hometown I Love You

My mom likes to quote the line, "In a small town, people know when you're born, they care when you die, and they talk about you in between."

My grandmother's death reaffirmed my appreciated for my small town rearing.  The day of my grandmother's death I got emails, text messages, and phone calls from my life long friends.  Also, the town made a showing at the visitation and funeral.  I felt the love and support of my hometown, which was comforting and helpful.

The people of my hometown make me want to trade in our Dallas life for a small town one.  My grandmother lived in my hometown her whole life with the exception of college and a few years afterward; she had a nice life. 

Hurts My Heart

My beloved grandmother lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday, October 18, 2011.  Her pain is gone, but mine remains. She was married to my grandfather two months shy of 62 years at the time of her death.  She taught 4th grade for 31 years before she retired in the mid-nineties.  She was an exceptional wife, mother (of three), grandmother (of five), and great-grandmother (of ten).

I thought I was prepared for her death, since she spent the last ten days of her life suffering in a hospital bed, but when she took her last breath of air I was overcome with sadness. She is gone for good.

I feel lucky that I had a grandmother for the first 31 years of my life, and I still have a grandfather!  My husband lost both sets of his grandparents by the time he was ten years old, and after our wedding he said he had grandparents again.  My grandmother loved and my grandfather loves my husband. Grandparents are good at loving.

Witty Neighbors

When did Halloween become such a big deal?  The people in our neighborhood decorate for Halloween like it's Christmas.  We have yards full of witches, spiders, ghost, monsters, and graveyards.  I like the decorations, because it makes it fun.  My favorite yard belongs to the house with a graveyard of everything that died in the past year.  Although I don't know their name, I know they are witty.  They usually include things like "RIP Steve's 30's," and "RIP Julie's infertility," and "RIP The Miller's backyard," etc. This year I laughed out loud when I read the "RIP Yes We Can." and "RIP Rain."

I told my husband that if we ever move to a new neighborhood we must implement this idea!  I encourage you to do the same thing.  It's funny.

Good Dog

I have a daily dog calender on my desk (Yes, I'm that guy) and on Friday the daily dog looked very similar to my daughter Dooley.  It made me smile. It's always nice to smile.

Boomerang Box

We ordered our new chandelier; it arrived a few weeks later; it was delivered by UPS; we unpacked it, and discovered it was broken.  We called Restoration Hardware; they sent us a new chandelier; it arrived a few weeks later, it was delivered by another company who also picked up the broken chandelier. We hung the second chandelier and it is beautiful. A few weeks later we received a knock on the door and it was UPS redelivering the broken chandelier to us.  So we've called Restoration Hardware.  They're sending another company to come pick it up.  Again.

How do they make any money?

Dooley and Dooley

Let the countdown begin!  On Friday, for the first time ever, our daughter the canine Sarah Dooley will meet our friend the Homo sapien Sarah Dooley!  Although, gifts have been exchanged and pictures have been shared, this will be the first time Dooley gets to meet her namesake.  I'm sure it'll be epic.

Thank You Paxten

This weekend we spent a couple of hours with my grandmother who's in the hospital.  She is suffering as cancer is destroying her body.  In our society we're not used to seeing people suffer; it's extremely difficult to see my grandmother bedridden and in pain.  However, I like to think it brightens her day to see my husband and me for a few hours.  Plus, it's nice to have a chance to let her know she is loved, valued, and appreciated.

My emotions were tattered as we left the hospital.  However, when we arrived back at my parents' house it was time to wake Paxten up from her nap.  My mother gave me the chance to wake up Paxten, since she's so cuddly and loving after her nap.  It brightens my soul to wake up my niece, and hold her, and rock her, and love her.  It was very emotionally restorative.  Thank you Paxten.

Out Numbered

This weekend my parents were keeping my brother's daughters, Presley and Paxten, and my husband and I spent Saturday with the crew.  It's a treat to hang out with my parents and our nieces.  We hung out at the house, and then we went to the pumpkin patch!  They rode a hay ride, bounced in the bounce house, and petted lots of animals.  Even though we had four adults and only one 3.5 year old, and only one 1.5 year old in our crew, at times I felt outnumbered.  The level of chaos that two children bring into the room is both wonderful and unfamiliar to me.

Joseph Kinnebrew

Last weekend we visited The Director's Gallery on Bainbridge Island, and we were both mesmerized by this painting by Joseph Kinnebrew.  It's called "Forever Floral" and it is such a captivating piece of art.  This photograph of the painting does not capture its grand scale or depth of color.  The painting is large at 72 x 60 inches and the color is spectacular.  I was hypnotized.  We're saving our cash for a baby right now, which means we cannot bring this inspired work home; however, if you have the ability, then go buy this painting and invite us over to visit.

A new approach

My buddy Jordan and his wife gave birth to their son last week.  (Isn't he beautiful?)  I was visiting the little guy in the hospital, when I noticed two teen parents.  These kids looked 14 or 15 years old and they're now parents- Yikes!  I wanted to walk up to the teen mom and ask her, "do you want to keep your kid?"  Jordan says that no one is going to give their baby to a creeper hanging out in the hospital, but I don't know that I agree...

Maybe I'm going to start hanging out at the hospital with our "life book" in hand...and I could offer free concert tickets and iPads to anyone that'll let us adopt their baby.  It could work.  Maybe.

Beautiful

Our friend Del is staying with us, and his first comment after my husband and I finished hanging our new chandelier, "it's nice and subtle."  I love it! 

Last night my husband and I were hanging out in our dinning room because it's now a magical place to be.

I could live there

I must now add Seattle to my list of cities I'd enjoying living in: Austin, New York City, Denver, and now Seattle.  The city has good energy.  It was beautiful, vibrant, and interesting.  We walked all over downtown, we visited the Seattle Aquarium, toured the city on Segways, visited Bainbridge Island, we went on the Seattle underground tour,  and we ate delicious food all weekend long.  Friday night we had a sushi night to remember at Japonessa Sushi Cocina.  Saturday morning we ate handmade cake donuts dipped in chocolate and covered in sprinkles.  Seattle knows how to feed its visitors.

Four Seasons Bathroom

We had the best weekend in Seattle!  I'll post more later this week, but I had to first post pictures of the hotel's bathroom.  The tub and shower were incredible.  If I ever get a chance to build a house, then I want my bathroom to look like this! 

Melissa McCarthy

When was the last time you laughed out loud while watching SNL?  Yesterday we were waiting for our plane at the airport and I couldn't stop laughing while we were watching Melissa McCarthy's "Taste Test" SNL skit.  You must watch this.

Melissa McCarthy has an unbelievable ability to completely commit to her comedy roles.  She's "all in" when she's performing, which reminds me of the great Chris Farley.