Sticks and Stones...

Normally said as an attempt to wash away the bad, this time I say it to usher in some good news. Our little house is underway. Mother Nature spared us from rain for a week+ allowing our contractors to get to work. The ground was leveled out and then raised (long story but they had to raise the house), the dirt was formed, foundation framed, electrical run under the house, and plumbing started. Behold the beauty of our little patch of dirt with things sticking out from it.

Apparently, all this has passed city inspection and the slab will be poured next week. We were hoping for a slab in January but hey, be grateful for what you get. There are people out there without a slab.

Enjoying a rainy, lazy Sunday.

I am so looking forward to enjoying today. First, both Shawn and I are home. Yes, same country, same state, same exact geographic location at the same time. It doesn't happen often. Neither of us have anything planned or prior commitments allowing us to spend the whole day together. It's raining -- While normally that would not be ideal, I love spending a rainy day at home. And lastly, I know next week is going to be a busy one so I am going to enjoy one last stress-free day.

I wish I had fun and exciting news to share but the last few weeks have been pretty typical. I returned home from Amsterdam safely. However, I brought a nasty case of the flu back with me. The flight home was long. And feeling sick made it a million time worse. The rest of the week I took it super easy and tried to recover.

The house is staring to show a bit of progress. It has been a slow start to the build. Mother Nature and all her rain caused the construction crew to hold for a few days. Which turned into weeks. Since last week was rain-free, the dirt was brought in, the house shape outlined in dirt, the foundation boarded, and marked off. Once the plumbers and electricians run all their respective cords and pipes the foundation will be poured. Behold progress...

This is from the street. Front of the house and yard.


This is from the yard, looking to the street.


And Shawn standing in the pool. (You need your creative thinking hat on for this pic.)


I'm hoping the progress continues and that we don't face many more delays.

That's it for now. More to come.

Hallo aan Amsterdam!

Greetings from Amsterdam!

Well, this post is coming from many miles away. Since I'm so many hours ahead of the U.S., it also is coming from the future.

Last week we got approval for our 2010 print creative and an internal sales video. With not much notice, we booked our shoot in Amsterdam.

I left last Sunday, February 14th for Amsterdam with a brief stop in London. Dallas to London direct is a bit of a haul so I'm grateful for business class. Here I am settling in for my long trip across the pond.


I left Dallas on Sunday at 6:00 PM and arrived Amsterdam Monday at 2:00 PM. Although I was tired, we had work to do starting that evening.

On our way to the hotel I snapped this pic of a mom and her daughter shuttling about town. Yes, EVERYONE does really ride a bike. I wish I could. I'd love living here.


We spent the last few days shooting around town so there hasn't been any time for being a tourist. I'm hoping to have that opportunity on Saturday. Until then, here are a few random pics from around the city. It really is a beautiful place and is so much more than you can imagine.

Busy. Busy. Busy

So much has been going on lately. I feel like I live my life according to colored time blocks on my iPhone. If it's not scheduled, it's just not going to get done. I've even had to start blocking out my schedule for personal things like working out and eating lunch. I don't know how or why life has gotten so busy but here's hoping it slows down soon.

Training is going well. The big training starts 20-weeks prior to the race. My 20-weeks out schedule started February 7. So far it's not bad but no more slacking. Time to get serious. It's hard to leave the house so early, come home 9:00 at night, eat, and get ready to do it all over again. And spending time with Shawn and friends is limited (like right now he's sleeping on the couch next to me but it's the only time we've been together today and he's not even awake for it). All the more reason to make sure we have time together and to make the most of those moments.

Last weekend was an adventure. For Christmas this year I offered my nephews a trip in lieu of gifts they don't really need. I thought a trip would be fun and the memories lasing a lifetime. They decided they wanted to go skiing. They have never been before so not only was this or first trip but it was also a skiing lesson. First off, I haven't been on skis in 15 years. Luckily, it's like riding a bike. In no time at all I was ready for the diamond runs. Both the kids picked it up quick and by the afternoon we were on the intermediate slopes. We did cut it short on Sunday and came home early. It was really cold, started to get windy, and we all had enough by that time.


Last week we also closed on the house. The house on the property will be torn down within in the next week or two. It's already been gutted, utilities disconnected, and the necessary trees toppled. Behold our "new house." The inside is just nasty. It was a rental property for years and looked it.


Shawn and I just locked the exterior elevation this evening. The materials that will be used on the exterior are still TBD but it will be a combination of stucco, wood, and white/light tan-ish color bricks stacked with no grout lines. I'm really excited and like where we've ended up.


Not sure when we can pour the slab. Mother Nature has not been kind so we need to wait for the rain, snow, sleet, and ice to stop long enough for us to pour a slab and start construction.

Lastly, and I'm excited about this, I pack up and head off to Amsterdam this Sunday. The 2010 creative for one of my accounts requires us to shoot on location in Amsterdam. It's going to be super-busy week shooting day and night but hopefully we'll have some down time. I'd like to see the Van Gogh museum and swing by the Ann Frank house. I'll take lots of pics and post them as soon as I can. I was hoping Shawn could get off work and meet me there for a few days but he can't get any time off. I'm sad but will have to have enough fun for both of us.

That's it for now. More to come.

Saying goodby to my best buddy

Today was a hard day. After a lot of great years, we had to put Luke to sleep. He became sick a few months ago but was holding his own and doing well. Unfortunately, he got much worse this weekend and went downhill fast. This morning I knew it was time, when Shawn got home he agreed. We were able to stay with him until the end and for a few minutes after. My heart has a hole but it was the right thing to do.

Week One

This is a big week and it's not really over yet. It's the official start of Ironman training. It really hasn't been long hours of training or anything but to go from zero activity to having workouts everyday (sometimes two a day), is a lot. A funny thing happens to me when I kick-start my body with exercise. I get hungry. Ravenously hungry. My hunger kicked in on Wednesday evening. I think I've been eating ever since. Remember as a kid when Fred and Wilma Flintstone go to the drive-in restaurant and they order the HUGE rack of ribs that tips over their car... I could eat that. And I really don't like ribs (don't get me started on the whole bone-in-meat thing).



I've realized that the next few months are going to be a long, hard road but the end-goal is worth it so I'll suffer in silence (unless of course I vent here, which I will do) and know that I will get through it unscathed. And hopefully with the addition of an ab or two.

Not much else. More to come later. Until then, I'll be planning my next meal.

Welcome to the Twenty Ten.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Christmas was awesome. We spent Christmas in Arkansas and had a blast. And I got an awesome new cookbook which will yield some wonderful meals and I'm sure a few kitchen disasters. As they happen, you will hear. Trust me. I've been known to set off the smoke detectors.

I can't believe it's already January 2010. I'm really not a sentimental person or have emotional attachments to the passage of time but I'm really looking forward to 2010.

Let's just say that 2009 was filled with ups and downs. The ups were awesome. The downs really sucked. And climbing out of life's emotional holes takes a toll on ya. But I'm 'super-Pollyanna' optimistic of what 2010 has in store. Here's what you all will be hearing lots about over the next several months.

IRONMAN!!!

It's hard to believe that Ironman Coeur d' Alene is just 5 months and 25 days away. I remember signing up a year ago. I was sitting on the couch completing the online entry form. Sweating. Sweating so bad my palms were wet. When I hit submit and received the confirmation I thought I was going to have a panic attack. I'm still really nervous. And excited. And anxious. And overwhelmed with what completing that race will require. But I also look forward to crossing the finish line. It's a moment I look forward to and the moment that will get me through all the upcoming early mornings, late nights, long weekend workouts, cold, wind, rain, and persevering for 13, 14+ hours on race day. More to come on that. I promise. Training officially starts January 4. Enjoying the last two days of laziness.

An End to Homelessness
My living situation has been less than ideal this year. But Shawn and I are on our way to building our home. At this point we are waiting on the final financing paperwork and we close in a few weeks. Then the build commences. I promise lots of posts on the house. There will be a zillion things to pick out and I will need thoughts and opinions. Here is the latest concept. There will be some tweaks to the design but nothing major.


I have a few other things to look forward to but I'm keeping them to myself since they are more personal and just things I need to do to become a better friend, companion, and passenger on life's journey.

That's all for now. Happy New Year.