Revolutionary Road

Must read the book in enough time before the movie is released in December

CANNOT WAIT..but I don't think it will be ANYTHING like Titanic...

Miscellaneous catch up post but also a Happy Birthday shoutout!

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.don't steal the pics on my site please)

We're still around...had power knocked out again 2 days ago, but only for a few hours..and yes we had another storm.. It's been cloudy and WONDERFUL (that means in the 70s here)... so needless to say we have been outside and playing while it's good. Soon it will be so HOT.

SO been keeping busy taking pictures and trying to settle into a routine.. we all had coughs/colds for the last week and a half... Also I will be doing NanoWrimo (www.nanowrimo.org) during the month of November. Hopefully will reach 50K! It will be fun. I have posted a counter to keep me somewhat accountable! Keep checking and give me good ideas! hehe

ALSO A Happy belated birthday to our nephew/cousin Andy in NY! We are sending something.. might take a few days! We miss ya! Hope your birthday was wonderful!

Chaos

There has been much chaos in the last week. We landed safely in the middle of a Category 1 Cyclone (that's the rumor anyway) and then came home to find that a tree had fallen onto the top of the carport ripping out the power line. We then had no power for 3 days.

It was crazy. We are all well (other than allergies). Photos from all vacations (especially Hawai'i) are up on flickr. If you need to have me add you to see the family/friend pics just email me.

A view from our place in Hawaii

Treasured Moments!

My friend Sru took this picture when we met up earlier in August. We had a great time.

My child is captured so beautifully! Thanks!

Flashback

Very fun and addicting site! Please post a message with the link to your picture if you decide to do this, this is even better if you get a pic of your significant other and do THEIR picture! I will post Lil S's pics and D's pictures later on...

Also as a note for any new reader, I am not THIS old! but it's amazing how much I COULD actually look like this!

Sigh...

Bittersweet! Won't see family for a year, but we are so excited to travel. In about 1 month will be back down under. I am looking forward to less traffic and a more traveling in and around Oz, but will miss everyone back here, HOME.

Happy 3rd Birthday my sweet pumpkin face!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Olympics watching!

8-8-08!

Is time getting faster, or is it just me?

7 years ago yesterday D and I were engaged, we had a great engagement party, and were about 3.5 months away from graduating from UT Austin. I can't believe it's been that long. Time is flying.. I know that's so cliche to say.

This weekend is Lil S's 3rd birthday, and we're doing a small get together. She is excited but worried that everyone will eat her cake and she won't get any. She is also up late going over a checklist and making sure that I have hats.

I can't believe how much we looked forward to coming to the States for the summer and pretty soon we will be back down under in Australia. It seems like this last year and a half (almost) has really been moving quick. I guess when you have things always coming up (moving, travelling, school, birthday, anniversaries, etc) that it all just seems quick.

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}