This Is Why We Lock Our Kitties Out At Night

Well, maybe not the bat part...

Happy Holidays...

...from our family to yours!

Click here!

With love,

Greg, Larisa, Gomez and Lani

Bring on the Holiday Parties!

The next few weeks are jam-packed with festivities. Everything from an Aussie-style Christmas dinner party (complete with meat pies) to a Glogg & Aebleskiver party (its a Scandanavian thing). From Greg's company holiday party to a farewell kick-off for friends moving to Oxford. And let's not forget the holiday-themed book club meeting. And a white elephant gift exchange at our next poker game.

Right now I'm trying to forget about my holiday to-do list and focus on enjoying my time with friends and family. Who cares if they don't get their cards until the New Year? They'll still know I love them. If I can't find that perfect gift for Greg, will he even notice? Doubtful. I just need to relieve some of the pressure and enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy...

My new mantra.

Paying Dues

I am very begrudgingly finalizing the slides of my work that will justify my boss's attendance at some tropical island getaway in the middle of December under the guise of a scientific conference. Ok. Whateeeeeveeeeerr.

I've seen the pictures!

I know all you and your buddies do is spend a morning comparing notes and then its off to the beach. Or hiking a waterfall. Or tubing some river. Or sipping pina coladas from extravagant glasses with little paper umbrellas.

God, I'm jealous...

Accidental Overdose

Have you ever made it to 3 in the afternoon and suddenly realized the only thing you've consumed all day is coffee?

I guess that would explain the shaky hands and queasiness...

Post-Dinner Coma

My husband shortly after a dinner party...


After stuffing himself with chicken parmiagan, green beans with almonds, chili-rubbed sweet potato and a strawberry tart, the poor thing didn't stand a chance.

We'd been neglecting our friends Claus and Morgan for the last six months so I cooked us all a fabulous dinner, if I do say so myself, on Friday night. The chicken parm was demolished, and I spied Claus using his fingers to swipe the last crumbs from his tart plate at the end of the meal. Haha! :) Between the 3 drinkers (Morgan is 6 months preggo so she's off the sauce, poor thing), we polished off 3 bottles of wine. Yikes! That probably had a lot to do with Greg's state after they left.

The rest of the week-end was spent celebrating our friend Kyris's defense and meeting up with soccer peeps for practice. The work week started entirely too soon again. We miss our 4-day Thanksgiving week-ends...

Sneaky Years...

So I was helping administer some oral exams to undergrads yesterday. And as I was standing out in the hall, waiting for the exam room to be unlocked, one of the students who was sitting in a chair waiting her turn started looking around a bit nervously. My presence had obviously slightly perplexed her, but why? The next thing I know, she had stood up and sheepishly offered me her chair.

That kinda threw me for a second... First of all, I'm not used to the manners. Don't get me wrong - I am thankful for them. Really I am. But secondly, what the ***? This kind of question is usually reserved for the geriatric set on the bus.

My gut response was torn between appreciation and moderately hurt feelings. I know I may be a decade older than you, kid, but I'm not ready for the senior citizen treatment just yet, thank you kindly.

Seriously!

But then I realized, I really am a decade older than these freshmen and sophomores! Oh my God. When did that happen???

Intervention Time

Ok, I'm fed up. This holiday/grad student paunch is getting out of control.

Lately I've noticed all my clothes fitting uncomfortably tight. And my tummy, which has never ever been a problem area before, has started to poke out revealing very early-stage Buddha Belly.

Not cool!

I've chosen the Statesman Capitol 10,000 race on March 30th to help motivate me. However, just signing up is no guarantee that I'll get moving. (Recall the recent relay marathon?) No, I have to do better than that. I have to try for a new PR (personal record to those of you who haven't been obsessed with running at one point in your life) or else I'll just wing it, which totally defeats the purpose.

I've run the Cap 10K three times before. My fastest was 54:28, which equates to 8:45/minute, back in 2004. I'm going to beat that time this year! I've printed out my little schedule using Runner's World on-line SmartCoach program and have 18 weeks to get in shape for it.

Wish me luck!

Christmas Tree, oh, Christmas Tree

At my insistence, we dragged the Christmas tree out a little early this year. I could use a little holiday spirit these days.

I also wrapped a few presents to put under the tree. I'm proud of myself. I have almost all of the shopping done already, except of course, Greg's present. I always have a hard time with that one since he insists he needs nothing. Very helpful.

But we won't actually decorate the tree with ornaments until Ewa, my mother-in-law, arrives in a few weeks from London.

As we were setting it up, I commented that it seemed a lot easier putting the tree up this year. Then I remembered that's because I had done it all myself last year as a surprise for Greg. He came home from work one day to find this new 9-foot monster of a tree ready and waiting to be decorated. That sucker is heavy!

Also last year, the kitties were only about 4 months old. Several times we caught them halfway up the tree, rustling around in the branches. Now they're full-grown and fat. I can't help but worry about coming home one day to find the tree splattered on the ground. That would suck, but we'll see what happens.

Five Years and Going Strong

Today is our anniversary! Five years ago today Greg and I officially started dating and have been all but surgically attached at the hip ever since. Ah, mutual co-dependence. :)

To celebrate, we had a lovely dinner last night at Aquarelle, a cozy French restaurant that I've been wanting to visit for ages. It was sooo delicious. But let's not discuss the price tag.... Yikes! But how often do you have a 5-year dating anniversary, right.

I <3 my husband. :)



p.s. Does anyone else find it odd to go to fancy restaurants in Austin and see people dressed casually in jeans and polos? There just aren't enough opportunities to wear my swanky duds and heels so I'm taking them where I can find them. I don't care how over-dressed I might seem.