crossword bliss

Have I mentioned that my folks know how to keep me happy (and occupied) when I visit home? This picture is worth a thousand words. (Hahaha. I'm so punny... er... funny!)

I would have taken a pic of our Scrabble boards, but I want my dad to continue speaking to me.

Morphing...

I'll post more updates later, but for now I just had to share this picture from the 2009 Dallas Turkey Trot. Doesn't my dad look so happy?

Each year, my dad and I grow more and more alike. Doing the Turkey Trot is expected now. Doing heaps of crossword puzzles and pouring over games of Scrabble while watching football is what we do for fun. This year, by the time I left Dallas, my dad had a new gym routine in his pocket and was drinking his cereal with blueberries and soy milk. I love it!

I am so blessed to have amazing parents. My mom made sure that I didn't have to do anything Thanksgiving day but lounge around in my pajamas. She spent hours helping me research products and make decisions so I could cross some major headache items off my to-do list.

Our immediate family is small (just three of us) but I wouldn't trade them for the world. If we end up morphing into our parents, I'm glad that I get to morph into mine.

Lucky me!

As I was running around campus this morning, I was pondering what makes me blog (versus the times I don't update this for days or weeks.)

Well, most of the time it's just because I want to put something in writing and then get it out of my head. Today, however, it's just because I am feeling blessed and want to share.

I am thankful that I have friends and family who will listen to me and talk me off the ledge and make me laugh and push me and carry me and just hug the life out of me.

I'm also thankful that I get to play with this little rascal every day. :)

Guess it's fitting that I'm feeling so blessed the week of Thanksgiving. But in all honesty, I feel like this every day. Lucky, lucky me.

Favorites from E.A.S.T.

I have a few favorite weekends in Austin. In no particular order, these are:
1) Art City Austin
2) AIA Homes Tour
3) E.A.S.T.

Coming from an East-side livin' + art lovin' Austinite - I'm thinking that E.A.S.T. might win out this year. E.A.S.T. (aka East Side Studio Tour) is just freaking awesome. Artists all over the East Side open up their homes/studios/galleries to share not only their artwork, but the space where the creation happens. So. Freaking. Awesome.

Mike, my art festival partner in crime, accompanied me on Sunday to 10 stops on the tour. Here are some highlights:

Chris Levack
I had *just* drivin by these sculptures at Mueller, curious as to what they represented, and low & behold, not but 1 hour later, I found myself in deep conversation with the artist himself! It's one thing to appreciate a piece of art... but a whole new thing to speak first hand with the artist and understand his vision for the work longterm.

Robbie Ortiz
I don't think Robbie gives himself enough credit. His art was fantastic, and I have to say his pricing was *WAY* off. For anyone looking to own some badass cubist art, check him out. He's a really nice guy, too, which for me makes the art even better.

Judy Paul
I first noticed Judy's art at the Blue Genie Christmas Bizarre last year, so I was really excited to see her new stuff. She painted one of my favorite pieces from the tour, called "Moving On," and dammit I wish Mike would have bought it. She has lots of bird & house themes. (Anyone who has seen my walls would know I like birds and houses.) By visiting Judy, we got to tour Flatbed Press as well, and see a printmaking demonstration. Very cool!


David Bjurstrom
I snuck a peek in David's space early Sunday morning... knowing that if I could show off just one place, this might be the one. I have never seen someone as talented with a pencil as this man, and I was in awe of nearly all of his pieces. In fact, if I was able to buy from any artist this year, it would have been him. I'll let his drawing speak for itself. Yes, I said DRAWING. Wow.

Okay, to end my psuedo tour of E.A.S.T.... here is where I turn a little bit nuts. When I looked at the tour map, I noticed that there was an artist right across the street from Joe's house. As in, I could see it from the front window. When I looked at the name, I freaked out. I've been following this artist for YEARS.... and I've been looking at his house for months not knowing that genius lived there!!! Of course I darted over to his studio as soon as I could. (No, I didn't admit my obsession with his work. I can remain calm when necessary, honest!)

Nate Jensen
Yeah. He's pretty much amazing. In addition to his crazy cool art, he illustrates children's books. You may have seen his Armadillo book all over Austin... Um, I'm just not even sure what to say about him and how awestruck I was that he lived next door.
And... It turns out I live next to greatness too!!! I mean, I look into this artist's studio/house from my yard! I had no idea what was inside!

Denise Prince
I saw Denise's photos during a show at Women & Their Work. I thought they were really interesting - the kind of photos that stick with you for a long, long time. I merely wanted to introduce myself to my neighbor, but when I walked inside her house and saw her photos, I was nearly gushing like a preteen at a Miley Cyrus concert. She. Rocks. (And she lives next door!!! Wheeeeee!!!)
So, there you have it. A few of my favorites from E.A.S.T. 2009. It still goes on next weekend, so check it out if you can! I'll leave you with my last favorite piece from the tour (photographed beautiful by Mike) - a metal willow tree. One last time... SO. FREAKING. COOL!!!!!!

Two New Things I Love

Sam & Blue! That about sums it up. Yes, I'm crazy enough to put a tiny golden retriever puppy atop a 2.5 foot robot. She... uh... loved it! :)

Tripods!

I think I'd be more upset than John if this really happened!

It's not news, but gosh I love the library. Just sayin'. Granted... lately I've been immersed in books from my childhood. Ones that I didn't even have to check out, thanks to Dionn. (I arrived at my hotel room in CdA to a super thoughtful gift of the book series we both loved as kids.) Anyway, I now have about 150 pages left of The Tripods Trilogy. It is so awesome. Better than I remembered, even.

Yeah, I'm reading "young adult" fiction. I'm not embarrassed. I love it!

Running

It's no secret that I have issues with running.

But lately, I *really* have issues with running.

As in, I will do anything to avoid running. And I don't even HAVE to run.

The thing about running is that it's a necessary evil of triathlon. And, more specifically, that little triathlon called Ironman that I signed up to do next year. I've walked that thing, and I'm not doing it again damn it. Which means I still have to train to run.

And I don't want to.

Ugh. Here's to hoping it's just another phase.