Been away...

So, I've been MIA for a while due to a 3-day trip the husband and I took, added with the excitement of being exceptionally busy at work. Fun times!

Our trip was to Corpus Christi. That city started as a mini-vacation spot for us one weekend this past February when my husband decided to "kidnap" me. At the last minute, he told I needed to pack a bag because we were going somewhere. He wouldn't tell me where we were going, what kind of scenario to pack for, nothing....just that I needed to pack. It ended up being a fantastic trip. He chose the best hotel possible, took me out for an excellent dinner, took me to the beach...it was truly a great experience. Since that weekend, we've been back to Corpus twice - it kinda feels like our spot now - a special place for us to get away.

Anyway, on this last trip, we stayed at the same fabulous hotel - even ended up getting a beach view room, that normally goes for $198 a night, for only $64.50 a night! We signed up for some special guest program and it rocks! We went to the beach - both North Padre and Mustang Island. We drove to numerous small towns around the area that neither of us had ever been to - Port Aransas, Rockport, Aransas Pass and Fulton. And we ate lots of yummy food :)

So, without further adieu...here are some pics from our mini-vacay.

Our hotel room - check out the view...




The 2 of us, at Mustang Island




We rode a car ferry to get from Port Aransas to Aransas Pass - saw a dolphin in the water too - it was pretty cool!



We got rained on a bit at the beach...glad the husband packs a rain jacket!




We even saw fireworks form our balcony - right outside the hotel. It was pretty spectacular...


Coming soon: pics from the State of Texas Aquarium - it rocked! We saw dolphins, sting rays, all kinds of sea life. I'll post them as soon as we get them downloaded :)

No more Tower Records

Tower Records in our city closed a few years ago. But yesterday, while listening to my talk radio station, I heard that within a short time, all Tower Records stores will be closed. It's sad. The companies explanation for the demise is basically technology...the prevalence of iPod's, purchasing over the internet, etc... And to me, it's not surprising at all. I've long been saying that technology will be the downfall of stores as we know them today. I could envision that within 10 years or so, we may have our big box retailers still reaping profits, but an ever larger majority of purchasing will be done online - effectively putting smaller, niche-type stores out of business.

I think it's a sad time when there are hardly any more true record stores around. The city we live in thrives on music, yet all but one or two of the local, eclectic record stores have shut their doors these last few years. In that respect, I loathe technology. It depresses me.

I heard a friend at work once make the comment that all she needed was her laptop and some food, and she could survive in her bedroom for probably weeks on end. Is that really the type world we want to live in? Not me. Definitely not me.

You know what I think is Insane?

This. I cannot even fathom how anyone would think the Harry Potter series could be detrimental to children. My husband and I have already purchased all the Harry Potter movies that are out on DVD (for both me & our future offspring :). Never even thought that it could "attempt to indoctrinate children in the Wicca religion". What? And trust me, I worry about a lot of things. A LOT. But this was never on my radar. And I don't think it ever would be.

I mean geezus, one of my favorite TV shows is Charmed....and I plan to let my future kiddos watch it too, if they so choose. Do not see the harm AT ALL. Wow.

Yay or Nay?

1. The new TV show Friday Night Lights. Yay for me. This was actually very good...done very well and even though it has similarities to the movie, it seems to be an entity of its own. Also, I find it kind of fascinating to think there were people watching this TV show last night, in states other than Texas, who probably do not realize that the show was depicting, very true to form, how life is like during football season in most small towns around here. Shops really do close down, men in their fifties really do go to their alma maters football games, even if they have no children enrolled at the school. Heck, my dad and his brother will be going back to their hometown of Italy, TX the weekend after next to go to the high school football game for homecoming weekend. Yes, it really does happen!

2. Seasonal Pumpkin Milk Shake from Jack-in-the-Box. Yay!! Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay! My gawd, this thing was good. An excellent surprise treat the husband brought home for me last night. If you like pumpkin pie at all, you'll probably like this thing.

3. Being busy at work. I could go both ways on this one. But, having deadlines always particularly stresses me out. So, even though having stuff to do makes the day go by quicker (in general), I think I have to say nay.

4. It being just barely cold enough to enjoy some chili that the husband is making tonight. Yay! I could still stand for it to drop a few degrees, but I'm always cold in the house anyway, so the chili will warm me up - make me all nice and toasty :)

TCU beat TX Tech

(warning...Non-Texas folk may not give a flip about this post)

Yes, although this did happen almost 2 weeks ago, I am posting about it...even if only out of shock still from the fact that TCU was able to surpass Tech - a team who was scoring 60 points on opponents last season - and TCU managed to hold 'em to 3 points! 3 Points People. That is a large feat for TCU. Plus, the husband got pics downloaded, so I wanted to share :)

Pic of the final scores...woo hoo!


Me & the Husband enjoying what we both have now deemed "the best football game we've ever been to"...and neither of us even went to TCU - that's just how good the game was!



Now, I will admit...our joy at TCU beating Tech was diminished just a smidge when TCU lost to BYU last night (how could that happen dammit?) - BUT, I am still proud of them for what they accomplished, something so many other teams have been unable to do.

I knew I was seeing a gorgeous part of the Country

Multnomah Falls, where I previously was last week, has been chosen as one of the top 10 spots to view some serious Fall Foliage. I knew my eyes weren't foolin' me with all the gorgeous sites they were beholdin'.

What's a girl to do?

Goodie Day at work today for our September birthday folk, pot-luck luncheon tomorrow for a co-worker who's leaving us....how am I supposed to stick to anything resembling a diet?

Not. Feasibly. Possible. I tell ya' - it's just not. Oh well, least I have a few somewhat legitimate excuses :)

Snippets from My Trip

1. We drove down this road:

and saw this:



2. We went here:

and saw this:



3. We followed these signs:

to view some big-ass Sturgeon fish


4. We saw many, many gorgeous flowers like these:



5. We sat in meetings, in rooms such as this:




6. We ate tons of yummy food like this:

at places such as this:

and this:



7. We went here:

since it was one of the few stores in walking distance opened past 10:00 p.m. (Plus, it's just a really cool book store).


8. We went to this bar numerous nights:


9. We (or actually, probably just me) took pictures like these:

in our hotel room each day, so our husbands and parents could see what we were wearing.


10. We (or again, maybe just me) were bored in our hotel rooms waiting for the next conference session to start, so we played around taking goofy pictures like this:



11.We saw awesome architecture such as this:

all throughout the city


12. We saw a gazillion geese such as these:

by the riverfront



We also did many, many more things such as ride the MAX lightrail system (very impressive), went to Bridgeport Brewery for a banquet, drank lots of scrumptious coffee....and basically, just had a fabulous time!