all is calm.

Ahh.  The Day After Christmas. 

Time for a Post

Warning: long post.

Well I guess it's about time I posted something, huh?

Let's back up to the first week in November.  We flew to Vegas for the SEMA convention.  Dan has wanted to go to this show for EVER.  

Since we were going to be gone over election day, we had to vote early.  Can you believe this line?  It took us just over 30 minutes to vote.  And it wasn't even election day yet.

For those of you who aren't really "into" car stuff, it's basically a huge (and I mean ENORMOUS) car trade show.  Think:  11 miles of exhibits.  Yeah.  H.U.G.E.  And that doesn't even include the outdoor exhibit area.  Crazy. Pretty much any aftermarket product you can think of is represented there.  It's not open to the public, so it took some maneuvering to get passes.  It was stressful (the first option fell thru at the last minute), but we did manage to acquire them. Here are a few photos from the many hours we spent on our feet.  

By far, my favorite exhibits included Smart Cars.  

The best part about Vegas?  I got carded.  Seriously. :)

So we got back from Vegas just in time for me to go to Houston again.  It's a long story, but we're having a small problem actually getting Dan transferred down there, so we've been splitting our time between Dallas and Houston. 

During the week of Thanksgiving, Dan's parents and sister came and helped us move (thanks, guys!).  Most of our stuff was in a storage POD, which made things a little easier.  We found a really cute home on the west side of Houston.  The dogs appreciate the big backyard, Dan loves having a garage again, and I am just happy to start "settling." Not that we are (settled) yet.  But we're getting closer. :)

While we were here this week, Bella & Bentley got a much needed haircut.  Don't they look cute with their holiday bandanas?  (Disclaimer:  these photos were taken with Dan's iPhone so they aren't very good quality, plus the puppies were not very cooperative!)

Speaking of haircuts, I got one this week, too.  How do you like it?

This past week we both came back to Dallas, but I am leaving again tomorrow while Dan has to stay here.  Lucky me, I get to keep the dogs. :)

Merry December

I just can't believe that it's DECEMBER already!!! My, how time flies.

Well, it was once again for a design change on the 'ol blog. Lots of things happening in the blog world these days, and just no time to stop for all of them!

I hope you are all doing well! More to come soon. I promise.

Craziness

Well, things have been crazy around here lately. We have been strengthening our search for a home in Houston, hit some major roadblocks, left for some R&R in Las Vegas (much needed!!), hit the ground running when we got back, and here we are.

Be patient, photos will come. :)

As for now, I came across this little piece of wisdom the other day:

* You cannot help the poor, by destroying the rich.
* You cannot strengthen the weak, by weakening the strong.
* You cannot bring about prosperity, by discouraging thrift.
* You cannot lift the wage earner up, by pulling the wage payer down.
* You cannot further the brotherhood of man, by inciting class hatred.
* You cannot build character and courage, by taking away people's initiative and independence.
* You cannot help people permanently, by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
-William J. H. Boetcker

Stay tuned, my friends.

An American Creed

With all of the election nonsense, some days I find it hard to remember what being an American is all about.  I heard this read on the radio this afternoon, and I just love it.  This is what America used to be all about.  And it still is what America is all about... somewhere underneath all that craziness.

I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange

______________

*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922.

Random Post

Well, as you can see, I have been playing around with my blog clothes.  What do you think?  I'm not 100% loving it yet. But it's a work in progress. :)

Last week (or maybe it was 2 weeks ago now?), I had an unexpected chance to meet my Great Aunt Ima Joyce, and her granddaughter and granddaughter-in-law, Emily and Shelley.  I think that makes us 2nd cousins.  We had a delicious lunch at Panera.  I had a great time, and I hope we can get together more often now that I know they are here in Texas, too!  

Congratulations to the Gifford family, on their new addition!

As long as this post is pretty random already, I have been getting some good chuckles at this blog.  Check it out!

And why not throw a scrapbook page in here while I'm at it?  This is one of my new favorites.

no longer MIA

It's been a while.

I'm not sure why, but time seems go be spinning faster and faster out of control. Maybe I should look up Stephen Hawking and find out why.

I've been home for the past 3 weeks, an unknown blessing of Hurricane Ike. But this past weekend Dan and I drove to Houston to check out the wreckage (not as bad as I had thought), and Monday morning he flew back home, and I stayed for the week.

Whenever I am traveling I tend to watch more news channels than usual. I love watching them talk politics. Even though I've pretty made up my mind about who I am going to vote for, I find it entertaining to watch the politics. But if you haven't made up your mind yet, here's a little help:

Click here.

Good luck & REMEMBER TO VOTE!