There's a New Machine in My Life

Our relationship started a week ago...and we've been seeing each other daily.

Every day this week I've woken up a little earlier than usual, 

just so I could throw on my tennis shoes and workout clothes...

and go walk on it before I do anything else.

It's an interesting way to wake up!

But, I'm determined to keep it up.

My relationship with exercise has ups and downs...sometimes ups outnumber the downs.

Do you have a relationship with exercise?

4 Benefits to Little League Baseball Season

My 9 year old is in the home stretch of baseball season.

And, I thought I'd share how much I love baseball season.

4. The time spent outdoors.

I love spending time outside, 

and since I work inside and commute long hours, this is an excellent mandatory outdoor time.

You know, fresher air, vitamin D, all that jazz.

I love it.

3. Annie.

This dog needs her outside time too.

And kids flock to her during the games and during the long practices.

We take her on long walks around the field and let her fetch tennis balls.

She soaks up the sun, the attention and love her outside time at the ballpark.

2. Family Time on the bleachers.

I love that these baseball games are an opportunity for my whole family to get together and visit and support my son in his game.

We make jokes, we cheer on Remy, and we catch up and keep up with each other's life.

1. I get to see my 9 year old HAPPY!

This kid LOVES baseball.

He has a blast, plays well and concentrates on the game.

As a parent, there's no great joy than seeing your child do well and have a great time in the process!

What sports do your kids play?

What do you like about little league sports?

Lady GaGa like you've never heard her before

You haven't truly lived until you've heard a middle school band play Lady GaGa.




They rocked it.

How a Prius led me to believe in World Peace

I drive a big ole ghetto SUV

And yesterday morning, during my commute to work in the heavy metroplex traffic...

a Prius driver let me enter traffic in front of her.

This, my dear friends, gives me hope for Peace Among Everyone.

Do you believe in the possibility of world peace?
Have you seen any random acts of kindness lately?

Chinese Colloquialisms & Sweat-Shop Stories

I wrote a book review recently for the BlogHer Book Club. 

It was one of those books that puts life into perspective 

as you follow a young, immigrant girl’s introduction to America 

and the not-so-simple task of fitting in and pursuing her dreams.

Since joining the BlogHer Book Club, 

I’ve been receiving free books in the mail from Penguin, 

and I’m having a blast reading and reviewing them. 

It’s so much fun to read a book and discuss it with others. 

And, even cooler? 

Having the author chime in! 

Jean Kwok, the author of Girl in Translation is reading the reviews and leaving messages of her own.

I wish I’d read Jean Kwok’s Girl In Translation when I was 12!

Any Direction Your Choose

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

~Theodor Seuss Geisel

She doesn't understand personal space

and she's never appreciated a closed, bathroom door.

I've got a fever & the only prescription is...More Cowbell!

Last night my 14-yr-old had his acting debut through the middle school drama program
called Skits & Skittles in the cafetorium.

The advanced drama students directed their own skits,
and Donny's friend was a director who recruited him to try out.

Donny ended up in the part of Will Farrell from the SNL skit "More Cowbell."

With the price of submission, we received a program, a bag of skittles and voting tokens.

I had no idea my son could dance...well, you need to watch it. 

 It's five minutes long and not the best video quality...but it's funny.

And after the program, each set of actors from the skit ran around with a box trying to get votes.

Their box was a cow...with a bell.

apropos

Have you seen this skit before on SNL?

It's hilarious.

The boys did a good job with their version.

And my son...well, you'll have to see those dance moves for yourself.

The Homework Hand

One way I know my 14 yr old son has homework...

Famous People Who Journal; Why you should keep a journal

For as long as I can remember I have journaled.
I have a wooden trunk in storage full of diaries and journals.

Some of it I can barely stand to read, it's so silly and trivial.
I wish I could go back and have a talk with my pre-teen and teenage self...
but that's a story for another time.

Why should you keep a journal?


It becomes a keepsake as you age.

It reduces stress.

Great way to bust writer's block

It's a good way to make time for yourself.

It helps keep you organized.

It's a great place to set goals.

It's a safe place to get out frustrations or bookmark a special moment.

My favorite type of journal?
Colorful, exotic covers with blank pages and NO lines.


Throughout the ages, others have kept diaries and journals.
Here are some of the famous characters who've also chronicled their thoughts and feelings and daily events...

Lewis & Clark

Charles Darwin

Anne Frank

Tennessee Williams

Charlotte Bronte

Virginia Wolf

President George Washington

President John Quincy Adams

President Thomas Jefferson

President Harry S. Truman

Eva Braun

Have you read any great diaries or journals written by famous people?
Do you journal regularly?

Interview with a Texas Escapee

I've always lived in Texas (minus one month in a convent in Spain...)

My little sister, The Bug, currently lives in California. 

So, I thought it'd be fun to interview her on some of her Texas/California observations.

List 4 Things you miss most about Texas.

1. Breakfast tacos

2. Good iced tea

3. Warm summer nights

4. Sass Dressing

(can't help but notice that I mostly miss food) 

If you could fly in for one weekend, what Texas city would you visit?

Always Austin - if I could add in a side trip to the Hill Country, I would. 

Do Californians comment on your accent?

Not really. I am sometimes given a hard time for all my "y'alls"

 What's are some of the biggest differences between California and Texas?

California is packed full of beautiful places, opportunities, fresh produce, weekend getaways, crowded grocery stores and aggressive drivers.

Texas is delightfully slow-paced, rich on experience and the people are much warmer.

What are some of the biggest stereotypes Californians have about Texas and/or Texans?

Not sure. 

How often do you wear your cowboy boots in California?

A lot, actually. Living in California had made me extra proud of my Texas heritage and my rockin' cowboy boots. I created reasons to wear them. 

Are you worried about "The Big One" hitting?

Not really. Maybe I should. 

If you couldn't live in Texas or California, where else would you like to live?

Outside the U.S. .....Europe or New Zealand.

What about you?

Do you have any Texas or California sterotypes?

Where would you to choose to live if you could live anywhere?

Reason #23 Why I love being in BlogHer's Book Club

Thank you, BlogHer Book Club.

These books arrived in the mail this week.

I can't wait to read them!

By the way, my Caleb's Crossing book review is up on BlogHer's site now.