Do I really want to blog about everything that's happened since finals week???..... no..... not really....... Let's face it. Nobody really cares. And the people who do care already know. :)
Suffice it to say, I've been in Texas since the 16th visiting Rach and her family in Austin.
The vacation has been very nice, very relaxing after that crazy crazy couple weeks before and during finals, and it has been sooo good to spend time with family. :)
Instead of writing about the past three weeks chronologically, I'll just mention the highlights for me and maybe you can relate. =0)
-SHOPPING (of course) There is NO better feeling than being able to cross off more than one thing off your I've-been-wanting-that-and-searching-for-it-FOREVER list. We all have 'em. Admit it. And to top it off, nothing better than knowing you have the sexiest boots within a 20-mile radius. ;) The only thing that comes close to this is falling in love--that's almost as good.
-Spending time playing with my nieces
-Seeing the house my sister and brother-in-law made an offer on and are really hoping to get
-Hearing one of my best friends describe the man she's in love with. I really do like hearing good things about good people and knowing it could go somewhere . . . good. :)
-Walking through a bunch of model homes. Yes. I know. A highlight, Em? Really? Yeah, actually! I have always LOVED looking at houses and I've been thinking about the advantages of going to medical school in Texas, if possible, and I've come to the conclusion that, yes, I wouldn't mind living in Texas one little bit. In fact I'd really like it. I like the people, the schools, the houses, the scenery, etc.
-Top Gear. Anyone who has seen this on cable's BBC America knows exactly why this would be a highlight. ;) Those Brits are simply delightful.
-Taking Beth and Izzy to see Santa
-The fact that everyone loved my gifts to them for Christmas
-Getting to talk to Trev Christmas Day and then talking to his dad afterward for longer than I talked to him, haha.
-Making yummies with my mom (who joined us on the 24th) and my sister
-Watching The Nativity on Christmas Eve. Very well done.
-The FOOD in Texas is AMAZING!! Chuy's Mexican restaurant is always sooooo goooood and then we went to the famous Salt Lick and had brisket and sausage and ribs. Ooooo heaven.... And don't forget the deep dish pizza with crust out of this world. . . !!
-Reading New Moon. Hahaha I read Twilight the very first time I came to Austin (over 2.5 years ago) and I like the books--they're fun... but I think I'm good for another two and a half years again hahaha. Seeing New Moon with my mom and sister was fun too. Nothing like a girls' date.
-P90X hahahahaha. It makes you feeeeeeeeel good! It wears you OUT and Tony, the instructor, is so quirky/weird/cocky, but you can't help but fall in like with him after only like 3 sessions. =0)
-Fires in the fireplace.
-Twirling around with my niece underneath the most enormous Christmas tree in Zilker Park and getting insanely dizzy after only one rotation because the lights are arranged in a certain way.... hahaha.
-Having Precious, the goat next door, bash the fence trying to get me.... she apparently HATES women. All women. She thinks she's married to her owner. Go figure.
-Popcorn Crunch. Carmelized pretzel-y, popcorn-ish, Chex-y goodness.
-Handheld Yatzi in every bathroom, baby. Going pee is no longer an annoyance; instead we all look forward to going to the bathroom now!
-Hiking (more like walking) up to the highest point in Austin, Mount Bonnell. I LOVE overlooks and you can see quite a ways from up there. And right below you is the dammed part of Lake Austin with its .... lakeside estates. Very pretty!
And those are the highlights of my trip to Austin!
Happy New Year!!
