New look and vacation soon!

Wanted a new look, hope you like it!

8 more days of school! I can't wait! I am so ready.

Lil S is getting ready to turn 3 (has it really been that long!!!)

Hawaii in 1 month! I can't wait!

Happy Anniversary Honey!

7/27/02

7/28/02

5-16-2008 (Sydney, Australia)

Happy 6th Anniversary! Love you!

What to do

I read cnn.com and I just want to cry. I hope the future is brighter than the present. I wonder what kind of world that we are making and leaving behind.

I hate the news, very very rarely any good and uplifting news.

I think it's easy to try to live in a bubble and ignore everything, but it's even harder to crawl out and see the suffering everywhere else. It almost feels useless to care because the world is just going to hell. I don't want it to, but what exactly can I actually change? Someone tell me and I'd do it. I can't end any wars, I can't make people understand. I can't get heads of state to do a damn thing.

Bill Clinton recently said the country is becoming more and more polarized. I find that to be so true. Despite what people say and do, you can see it in most every issue.

I am not an apathetic person. I try to do my own little bit. But it's never enough.

Turning off the lights at night, and conserving water won't end wars or genocide, or injustice, it will just stave off the eventuality that we need other options. It will happen. My generation is going to have to make the change toward new fuel options and actually do something about it, instead of just making talk. We don't live in an endless surplus and bounty. We can't guarantee that everyone in the world wants to share with us. We can't go hand in hat to the countries that sit on oil and hope they stay our friends. It's silly to even think that anymore. The signs where there in the mid and late seventies, and then were banished.. and now we're all boo-hooing about the cost of gas.

I really honestly wish that the world could get along. I honestly do wish that whenever I sleep. I wonder how it would be done. That's never very clear, but one day I hope that through education (the crux of having some degree of peace) is that my children and grandchildren will see that the world is not a scary place like it seems to be right now.

Feeling a tad patriotic

So I've had another birthday, and getting up there in age.. but it's still the new young. Or so I'm told. Most of us in my immediate family have summer birthdays.. ok well the cutest ones! ;)

Lots to be thankful for. Doing well in classes. Kiddo is such a joy.

Good times! What are you grateful for? I love how good life can be when it's good. And I still remember to be grateful. Here's a sweet pic of Lil S, and hope everyone has a good and safe 4th of July.

Also make sure you get registered to vote. This year it's especially important to vote (as it is in every election), but make sure to get your vote out there and get it counted! I've voted every year since I have been eligible and make sure to read up on all the issues and candidates you can. The information (and mis-information is out there). Read up, you have til November.

Happy 4th of July America.

Photos are my friends

Our friend took this picture of Lil S and I swimming at their pool a couple weeks back. I love how this camera (Nikon D60) makes the pictures look so amazing!!! We are going to invest into one of these cameras soon, and I can't wait to get better acquainted with photography. I really enjoy it. :)

First Carousel Ride

She had a blast, so did I!

Leftover wildflowers and a juice break

leftover wildflowers at a nearby park


Lil S having a juice break with Appupa after watering the plants

Arrived

Arrived in Texas on the 21st after 22 hours in airports and planes. Lil S slept a lot on the planes and I did not. She recovered from jet lag in 1 day. I did not.

Oh well. We're loving being here in Texas but we do miss Daddy, but we do see him every day on the cam. Lil S really only wants to see the kitty and the doggie.

Lil S is in heaven getting her every movement praised by Ammuma and Appupa and getting spoiled rotten! She tells me to go away and for Ammuma and Appupa to help her, but I secretly love it that she loves them so much. Even if it is to boss them around!

Ok, better try to shake off this jet lag! Will post more before summer school starts!

P.S. I AM SO HAPPY THAT DAVID COOK WON American IDOL! YEAH!!!! even though I was flying, I didn't care I missed the finale, but glad that an actually talented person won! So I will watch next year.

Good times!

Dennis, Lil S and, Me

We made it to Sydney safe and sound. Tomorrow's a shopping day, and we found a really good local joint to eat one night! Pictures to follow on Flickr, if I know you just email me and I'll add you to my Flickr account.

We really miss being in a big city, so it's pretty nice. It sooooo noisy and everywhere we go (walking) Lil S covers up her ears.. but the plus side is that she likes publc transportation. Loves planes, trains, and buses!

Heard around our house today

(Lil S at Glen Helen in the Northern Territory of Australia)

D : It [scale] says that the kid weighs 26 pounds [~13kg] .

Me : Last time when we went to the vet I thought she weighed more.

D : Next time we go to vet we'll have to weigh her again.

{we look at each other giggling, and then I run over here to post}

Emo Guy

I just finished watching the time delayed American Idol over here, and I really hope Emo Guy wins.

Oh you don't know who I'm talking about? David Cook! Me LOVES his music!

I thought of the girls Syesha Mercado was good too, the others either fell flat or were just like the other pop crap out there. David Archuleta was good, but he was forgettable like Clay Aiken...

Not that I am simon cowell or anything, but I just have to say that for a person (like me) that hates most every reality tv show, for me to tune in and give a crap is pretty rare.

I love David Cook's singing style, he is versatile, and he's from the same town as the 2 most wonderful people I know outside of my immediate family (Aunt Helen and Uncle John).

*** GO ST. LOUIS***

Hopefully he will win, and I may have faith to watch American Idol next year.

5 things you may not know about me

I've been tagged by Susan, aka Stella, author of The Vegan Tree House.
1. I have to tell you 5 things about myself that you may not know.

2. I have to tag 5 other bloggers. Let's get those bloggers out of the way first:

Stephanie at My Crafty Life
Preethi at Island Hiccups
RMR at My Way
E-lo at Squirrel Stories
and
Booyah, aka Alida, at Pantsless in Seattle

Fives things you may not know about me:

1. Until I was about 12, I wanted to be an lawyer to the point I was obsessed. At 15 or so that changed to want to be a forensic pathologist (also an obsession), after entering college, and getting a degree in elementary education, I eventually learned that I would be best suited to the field of nursing, where I am still attempting to get a degree.

2. I really have a burning desire to be creative. I want to be an artist, a writer, a poet, a knitter/crocheter, but every time I have tried I just think it ("it" being my attempts at said activities) sucks. So maybe one day I will have something come out that’s brilliant, but with my luck it will be posthumous (like all the greats).

3. When I was little, I watched 1950 and 60s television programs almost exclusively (well minus the Jetsons and Flintstones), and my favorites were I Love Lucy, My Three Sons, The Donna Reed Show, and The Monkees. (Stella, this is sick that we had almost the same tv-watching schedule as kids, but I bet you also watched Dallas!)

4. I have sometimes thought I was of Portuguese descent since India was invaded/converted way back when near the area my family is from, in Kerala. Probably not, but I probably will never know since the records I know of are just back to the time of my great great grandfather and all were, as far as I know, 100% Indian.

5. Probably my favorite thing to do in the world is read and watch movies (almost anything and everything). I think that a great book and a great movie (which is pretty rare) was Gone with the Wind.

Bluebell Lorena

(pic of Bluebell when she was at the RSPCA)

Introducing Bluebell Lorena.... she was adopted from our local RSPCA. We are now a complete pet family! The dog has not been formally intrduced except through the door. We anticipate a few days of hissing and spitting and then they should hopefully get along.

Lil S is in love with her, and still calls her "kitty".. but is slowly getting used to her new name.. if you click on her name you will see the inspiration for it... Lorena was picked by D, not me, but it sounded good with Bluebell. Now Lil S says "adowable" (adorable) every time the kitten meows or just is sitting there.

So Scarlett Tex has a lil 11 week old kitten sister name Bluebell Lorena.

Getting cooler

It's already been a few weeks since work has been over, and it's been pretty nice. We are getting some fun house projects completed, and the lil one is also having lots of fun with both of us home when D has his days off.

We go to the park and run around every evening. The weather has turned crisp in the evening, and we even get to wear a light jacket. It's seriously exciting to have to do that after celebrating Christmas with 105 plus degrees Fahrenheit weather.

Just staying busy and running aroud the house and reading tons of books. That's the one indulgence during naptime and night time... I really should sleep, but reading is so awesome! :)

Hopefully with this wonderful weather the hubs will grill out this 4 day break :)

Hap-Sad

Tomorrow will be the last day at work (where I get paid in dollars, not sticky lollipops)

I am hap-sad.

Quite happy that I am able to have the days off when D is off, and also looking forward to traveling. Also not having to get up pre-dawn and get dressed up.

I am sad because I really enjoyed my co-workers and they lovely tradition of "morning teas and afternoon teas". It made me feel throughly Australian and maybe a bit English ;)

I also loved talking to all the vendors and all the other offices all over Australia. Even though I have only travelled a little bit, I got to hear about the other cities and I felt really excited to help out when possible. It was pretty fun and exciting.

I'll still see a lot of my co-workers around town, and even made a couple good friends. I am excited about going home (to Texas- that will always be home even though I don't currently live there) and seeing my family and my friends. I hope we get to see everyone we miss so much!!! I can't wait!

And since I love posting insanely cute pictures of my offspring everywhere here I thought I would, enjoy! If you click on the picture it should take you to her OWN blog.

No Vani-ty here!

So cute I couldn't resist.

Lil S: "I gorgeous, Mama!"

Mama: "Are you gorgeous now?"

Lil S: "No, I am Vani." (Vani is her self prescribed nickname).

I love how the mind of a 2.5 year old works!

Just Because

They love me!

This is what I got to look at all day at work! It was so unexpected and very sweet!

Thanks Lil S and D!

Texas my Texas

I received a comment on my Christmas post that said to update... yes AGAIN it's been a while. I agree. Since Christmas we celebrated New Year's. Then we decided to go on vacation. We had already planned the time off and then decided that we didn't want to drive for 2 days, so we decided to fly to Cairns/Port Douglas, and we did. In this vacation we got to see the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest in that area. It is amazing. I wish we lived there, but then as D keeps telling me, if we lived there it would cease to be a vacation, and I would again want to escape and go somewhere else.


I admit I do have the wanderlust, but I think if we ever move back to Texas (preferably Austin) I never want to MOVE again. I will travel, but never again move. I know part of it was the nostalgia of those wonderful college days, but i love the way I feel alive in Austin. It's just a place on earth that I feel myself. It's hard to describe. I miss it everyday. My friend who lives there has captured how I feel. She understood and she moved back too. I hope that we can get back there as well and I know D feels the same way I do.


Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful for the travels we have done and the exciting places we get to visit and live in, but when I was 4 or so and my parents moved from PA to TX. I was hooked. I thought we were moving to another country (and in it's own way it almost is)... I never wanted to leave. But leaving really gave me a great understanding and appreciation for the state.


And to people who just dont' get it please don't assume that JUST because I am from Texas that I fall into all the sterotypes etc. I don't.

As God as my witness we will live in Texas again. I don't know when or how, but it will happen!

Merry Christmas!

Long awaited (procrastinated) update

Hello dear blog,
It's been a long while since i have updated, and i am so sorry. I didn't have much to say.. well i did, but not to have said here in such a public forum. Life is good. Weather is hot as hell, but that's to be expected. We are quickly approaching our first Christmas so incredibly far from home, and YES we are homesick. But it's not so horrible as we keep in touch, talk to home often, and know that there will be one day when we move home.
Lil S is doing wonderful. She is really enjoying being able to play outside all year long. We didn't get that back in Colorado. (We do miss the cooler weather this time of year though. It's disconcerting to put up your Christmas tree when it's 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside)
Work, Lil S, and D keep me busy and running around here. Around end of (American) spring, (Australian fall) Lil S and I will head back to the states for the (American) summer. I am excited. D will join us at the end of summer and we will go and see relatives, and then on the way back to Australia do some island hopping. Definitely looking forward to that.
Again if I don't update as often, it's because there isn't much to update. Things may change and I may update more. But til then go and check flickr. I can add you if I know you. Just email me and let me know who you are and I will send an invite so you can see all the family pictures.