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.

Aloha.

I'm happy to report that our trip to Hawaii was absolutely incredible and we made it there and home safely. I'm sorry to report that we had to come home. :(

We left last Monday for Maui, a much deserved and long-overdue vacation. We packed our bags, dropped Luke off at the puppy palace (let me tell you boarding a dog is 'spensive!) and hauled our cookies to DFW, where we were met with a nice surprise -- upgrade cleared. Thank goodness. I wasn't looking forward to 8+hours in row 11.

Here we are getting settled in for the long flight.



When we finally arrived, we were greeting with a trade wind, mountain and ocean views and a rainbow.



There was a lot to do and we made the most of every day. The first day we hiked to the top of the volcano to watch the sun rise. Magical. And cold. It was 23 degrees at the top. Once the sun was up we hoped in bikes and rode down. Fun times.




We also drove the Hana Highway. Everything you heard about it is true. It's breathtakingly beautiful but a gnarly road. On the side of cliffs, no guardrails, one lane in many directions, you have to hug the side of the road when oncoming traffic needs to pass. But it was worth it. I think being the driver helped. Shawn said being a passenger was a bit scary. One of our stops along the way. Behold the beauty of Mother Nature.



We spent one day at our hotel beach lounging around, trying all the drinks on the menu, and snorkeling. The surf was rough so the visibility wasn't the best but the water was crystal clear, we did see lots of fish, and even swam with a few giant sea turtles. I wish I had an underwater camera.

If you ever go to Maui I have to recommend Mama's Fish House. The best seafood meal I've ever eaten and one of the best meals I've had. Lick your plate good!



Although I am glad to be home, it was hard to leave. It was a perfect week. I now know why so many people go to Hawaii annually. I plan to get back there as frequently as possible.

I have tons more pics on facebook. Check em out.

Aloha y'all.

The Holiday's Are Officially Here!

I love this time of year. There is just something about the Holiday's that makes me excited.

Since Shawn is working this week we couldn't travel to our family for Thanksgiving so we hosted dinner at our place. It was just a few friends and us but we had a really nice time together. I cooked. And I've never cooked this type of food before. I went online found a few recipes (that were all labeled easy and had good reviews), did my shopping, and then dashed to the kitchen to create my masterpieces.

First off, a raw turkey is gross. It had this liquid stuff in the bag, its insides were all crammed up in its cavity, its neck was shoved up its butt, and I had to pull all that nastiness out. Then it got a bath and was off to the roasting pan. The recipe was pretty simple. The turkey turned out really good. This recipe is a keeper and I think would also work nice with a chicken. Chicken is more my style anyway.

While I was busy in and out of the kitchen all day the rest of the peeps in the house were busy noshing and drinking. When the night was over and I was cleaning up I had four empty bottles of wine and one half-bottle left. There were only six of us. HHHHmmmmm, some people slept well last night.

I didn't take any pictures yesterday. Should have and regret not thinking of it.

While Shawn was working today I decided that it's time to start celebrating Christmas. The house is now ready.




I know the top of the tree is crooked. I'll fix it. There are lots of things I'm noticing that I'll mess with over the weekend.

Speaking of this weekend... big plans! We are doing all our pre-vacation shopping. Picking up all the last minute things that we need to bring like sun block, shampoo, that kind of stuff. Then it's off to Hawaii. I'm so excited and looking forward to a week away from it all. I'm just not looking forward to the flight. 8+hours and I don't travel well.

I hope everyone had an incredible Thanksgiving and your Christmas is starting to be merry.