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.

I Love Holiday Week-ends

Its been a lovely holiday week-end so far.

Our Thanksgiving with Katie and Derek was excellent! Their house in Steiner Ranch is about twice the size of ours and absolutely gorgeous! This was Derek's first attempt at baking a turkey, and I have to say, he passed with flying colors - he brined it and everything. Very impressive. Good food and wine followed by wii games and Frangelico. Greg kicked my butt in everything, which irked me but I'll get over it. I was actually sore from the boxing match where I almost kicked his ass. How sad am I! But we ended up crashing at their place and then were treated to yummy breakfast before saying our goodbyes.

On the drive back home, our friends Karl and Terri called to say they were on the way. After spending Thanksgiving with Terri's fam in Houston, they made plans to spend Friday night in Austin to catch up. We met them and the dogs at our place before heading to Trudy's for dinner - no TexMex in Mississippi apparently (I'd die), where we met up with more friends - Mark & Brianna, Erin & Matthew, and Katie & Derek. After stuffing ourselves, we met up at ours again and gossiped into the wee hours. Good times.

So today in Austin the weather is completely conducive to a p.j. day and, as such, we haven't bothered to do anything but nap and watch James Bond. (Greg has learned to associate Bond marathons with holidays in America, and now that we don't have cable, he's making his own with the DVD collections we have.)

Its a good day to be fat and lazy. :)

Happy Birthday, Tricia!

I know my ex-roomie Tricia checks this blog from Italy every now and then so I thought I'd take a moment to sing.

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, dear Tricia!
Happy birthday to you!

I unearthed some old photos too. :)

Our first Mardi Gras in Austin

Tricia was very happy...

Finishing our first marathon in Feb 2004 -There was no way I would have ever finished without her!

Hope you're having a great birthday, Tricia!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Since our family is scattered to the wind and our usual Thanksgiving crew of foreign grad students and post docs has paired off with other families to entertain now or moved away (boo!), we're having a tamer sort of dinner this year. Its just us and our friends Katie and Derek in their new house for Thanksgiving. However, there has been talk of converting wii games into drinking games so maybe it won't be so tame after all. We'll see.

Its 3 p.m. and I haven't showered or even brushed my teeth yet. Gross! But its a holiday and the weather is finally feeling like fall! Its about damn time! Yesterday at this time, I was hot and sweaty. Now I'm in my fat pants (in early preparation) and a sweatshirt. Its time to change out of my p.j.'s, pretty myself up and start work on the green bean casserole, corn casserole and apple crumble.

I love this holiday...

As Promised...

a picture of our new couch and loveseat!


Since Greg got off work at noon today, he is downstairs performing very scientific studies as to their level of comfort while watching James Bond save the world.

As you can see, our coffee table looks tiny now. We also want to buy a new large rug for the area. But all in good time.

Our house is looking more and more grown up all the time!

Mmmmm, Coffee...

Grande non-fat peppermint white chocolate mocha...


Pretentious? Definitely.

Delicious? Whoa, mama!

Week-End Recovery

We had a great week-end of fun and relaxation. No "work" talk. I hardly got onto the computer - but that was mostly because Greg monopolized it with his soccer addiction. But I'm not complaining.

Early Saturday morning, our new couch and loveseat arrived! Finally! (I'll post pictures later.) They're absolutely massive. You'd think we would have learned our lesson by now because we did the exact same thing with our bedroom furniture too. Note to self: there is a significant difference between the scale of the store floor and that of our house. Nothing looks that big when its sitting in the middle of an open warehouse, but when they're hauling these pieces into our living room, our error in spatial perception becomes abundantly clear. Our living room has definitely filled out. And our coffee table is positively dwarfed. But they're beautiful and comfy and snugglicious. Plus, now I have an excuse to go shopping for a new coffee table - one that will be a bit more functional with an extra shelf below or drawers so I can hide my many, many magazines. Yay!

On Saturday night, we met some friends downtown to see Esther's Follies. If you haven't seen the show, you should definitely check it out. I had been once before over 5 years ago, but I had just moved into town. And since a lot of the content is specific to Austin and local politics, I'm afraid much of the wit was lost on me at the time. But it was hilarious! (By the way, do NOT sit in the aisle seat if you know what's good for you...)

After the show, we wandered up 6th street and into Maggie Mae's. I have to admit that its been a looooong time since I've been bar-hopping on 6th. (These days I'm more of a 4th-street girl, you see.) And I have to say, its highly entertaining in the way of people-watching, one of my favorite lazy-day activities of all time. But it also makes me feel slightly old and distinctly un-fun. Ah, the wild days of early twenty-something. *sigh* I miss them...

...sometimes. :)

Then on Sunday afternoon, we met up with some of our soccer team for practice. Um, please note that we just finished our first season as a team in the lowest co-ed bracket. Our record was 1-9. Yes, that means that we won one game and lost nine. And the game we won, well, that was because the other team never showed... So, yeah, we need the practice. But to be fair, most of our team, including me, had never played soccer before in their lives. So we're all learning the game as we go. And besides, everyone is having a ton of fun despite losing. Imagine the elation if we ever actually won a match! A girl can dream, right...

Our next season starts on the 29th. There are a few new members to the team so it may change the dynamics, but hopefully only for the better. Wish us luck!