Let's Play Ball on Opening Day!

Last Monday, I went to the Texas Rangers opening day game - right here in Arlington! It was my very first Rangers game and I had a great time. The weather was sunny and about 55 degrees for the 1pm opening game and it was perfect sweatshirt weather and the Rangers won (beat the Indians) with lots of homeruns.

George W. Bush threw the first pitch (but we missed that because parking was a nightmare and we didn't get in our seats until the middle of the first inning.

Here's the outfield...there are a couple games a year that you can bring your dog to and that big grassy area in the outfield is where they get to play! I think Maggie would love a Rangers game.

You know you're in Texas when you see "If the Rangers score this inning...free tacos!"

The Rangers dugout......

I love that this great ballpark is right near me in Arlington - about 10 minutes away!

We had great seats on the 1st base line!

Here's the mascot and some cowgirl-type cheerleader people during a break in the game...

It was a great afternoon off!

Craziness in Canton, TX

Last Saturday, I went on a roadtrip of sorts to the town of Canton, Texas with some new girlfriends. The reason for the trip was called "First Monday Trade Days" and it is basically a MASSIVE flea market that is held once a month - the weekend before the first Monday of the month. Five of us headed out there in the morning and shopped until we dropped (or until it closed down for the day)!! And man, did we ever see some ODD things! Oh - and I got to hold an 11-week-old wiener dog puppy who seemed to love me and wanted to cuddle....and when I gave this sweet tiny baby back to its owner, I realized that he had peed on my shirt! But it was worth it!!
Here's a birdseye view of part of the flea market - from the bbq restaurant where we had lunch:

They had big buildings of vendors, and also these shops 'on the mountain' (in a big hilly area) as they call it:

Did Maggie become an entrepreneur without my knowledge???

And holy crap - what happened to this woman's hair and make-up?! She is definitely giving Texas women a bad name!

And I'm TOTALLY not lying - this sign was in the road on the hill with all of these shops. There was some sort of gunfight every hour on the hour or some schedule like that. When we were eating lunch, we heard the shots being fired! WHAT?!

And to go along with the gunfights, the street names up on the hill were 'interesting' to say the least! A little redneck, wouldn't you say???

I honestly don't know what to say about this one..............I wonder who their landscaper is???

At this point, I had hit my redneck quota! REALLY?! "You Buy, We Fry"???

And to top it off, on the drive home to Dallas, we saw a male donkey 'mounting' a lucky female donkey! ha! We had a HUGE laugh over that one. It was such a fun day with these girls!

North Stars/Dallas Stars

Last week, I went to a Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball game with my friend Colleen. It was really fun and the Mavs won (it was super close until the very end - very exciting!). Anyway, that's another post......

When we went into one of the merchandise stores (they sell both Mavericks stuff and Stars stuff since basketball and hockey are played in the American Airlines Center) and I found this old-school Minnesota North Stars t-shirt and I just had to get it!! I am becoming a big Dallas Stars fan, and I think that part of the reason I like them is because it's a tie to home since the North Stars became the Dallas Stars (and Mike Modano still plays for the team!).

Casualty on the Roof

Recently, my co-worker discovered a feathered carcass on the roof of the building I work in....right out my window! I don't know how long it has been there, but I never noticed this creature until he walked over to my desk and said "Oh look, there's a dead bird out there! Gross!". Ever since that day, I can't stop looking at this icky bird...and there's really nothing I can do about it.

It honestly looks like some corn-on-the-cob that was roasted on the grill in the husk. NASTY!

It's so distracting since I can see it right from my desk! How did I not notice it before?? And why did he have to point it out??

And because of the way the building is built, I highly doubt that the maintenance department will ever just be up on that awning/roof to check for dead animals and remove them! Am I forced to watch this thing bake in the sun all summer until it disinegrates?! EWWW!!!

Guest Room Makeover

The latest product of my painting frenzy at my house is: the guest room! I decided on a blue color for this room and I really like how it turned out!

Here is the 'BEFORE' picture from when I first moved in:

And here are the 'AFTER' pics:

And my next room is the guest bathroom...it's actually done, but I'm not going to post the final pics until I get a new shower curtain and rugs to match the new color.....but here's a preview of the room when it was half-done (it's going to be a lighter version of the guest room blue):

Next up: The office in yellow!!

Who OWNS you??

The other day, I saw a quote on a friend's Facebook status that really struck me.....here it is:

"Control your time. If you are working off the inbox that is fed you, you are probably working on the priority of others." ~Donald Rumsfield

I personally think it's very important to prioritize your life and figure out what is the most important....and then KEEP that important. A lot of times, the little stuff creeps in and we make it more important than it should be. I know that I struggle with keeping the MOST important things a priority...I tend to get bogged down in the details and keeping a consistent routine and the organization of it. I tend to be a task-oriented person, and I need to be concentrating more on relationships and the things that really are meaningful and fulfilling in my life. I SHOULD be concentrating on how things make me feel, how they improve or detract from my life and what makes me truly happy. Does anyone have this 'figured out' or are we all just a work-in-progess??

FIESTA Time!

Mayce and I bought flights recently for a little trip down to San Antonio (I know, it's only a 4-hour drive, but we can get there by plane in less than an hour and get home quickly too....and the entire flight including fees was only $147!) for Fiesta. It's an annual celebration in San Antonio that happens at the end of April each year.

Since I have never been to it, I am relying on what I have heard from other people....and they say it's really fun! Mayce's brother is in a performance on Thurs., April 23rd, so we're flying in that morning so we can see it.

About Fiesta® San Antonio

*11 days
*107 events
*100 local nonprofit member organizations
*Up to 3.5 million attending
*$284 million economic impact
*A real Texas-sized festival!

So in preparation for our trip (April 23-26), I did a little homework on Fiesta:

History of Fiesta

By 1890, San Antonio, Texas, was a thriving trade center with population of 38,000. In 1891 a group of citizens decided to honor the heroes of the Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto with a Battle of Flowers.

The first parade had horse-drawn carriages, bicycles decorated with fresh flowers and floats carrying children dressed as flowers. The Belknap Rifles represented the military. The participants pelted each other with blossoms.

The Battle of Flowers Parade is the only one in the country to be planned and directed completely by women. Today it’s the largest parade in Fiesta. It’s second in size nationally only to the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Fiesta becomes a San Antonio tradition

The Battle of Flowers was an immediate success. Within a few years, more events were taking place on or near April 21—a carnival, balls and coronations of “royalty.” The Fiesta tradition had been born. Other early events included street dancing, children’s fetes, a Trades Display Parade and an orphans party. Fiesta has taken place every year except for 1918 during World War I and 1942 through 1945.

Meaning in Annoyances?

The ' L I T T L E ' Things

As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work, but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone...all the little things that annoy me...I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong - the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light - don't get mad or frustrated. It may be just that God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things...and may you remember their possible purpose.

One For Iris......Penguins Holding Hands!

Iris, this one's for you - you probably thought I couldn't top the "otters holding hands" video. Well, HA! Here are the penguins!!!

Timing Is Everything

Do you ever just feel like the timing of some life events or life changes are just OFF? I have been feeling that a lot lately as I get bolder with my home improvement endeavors. My entire childhood until I left for college at 18 years old, I spent with a man who knew EVERYTHING about ANYTHING home improvement-wise. My Dad could build, fix, modify and create anything you wanted or needed......but did I care at the time? NOPE. Did I take interest in what he was working on out in the garage? NOPE. Did I watch him fix things so that I could do the same one day? NOPE. And what crappy timing - he dies several years before I make the biggest purchase of my life - my first home! I remember in college when all of us were renting out crappy, run-down houses in the 'student housing' areas of town......when my parents helped me move, my Dad was checking out the house's structure, cracks in the walls, wiring, etc. I remember saying "Dad! Who cares?! It's a 1-year rental in crappy college housing! It doesn't matter!" But he was just that guy that notices EVERYTHING and ALL potential problems down the road. WHERE IS HE NOW??? I need him!

Anyway, I was really thinking of this subject when my friends Beth and Stacie were in town. They are both single women in their early 30's like me - and they both bought their own homes several years ago. They are such an inspiration to me because they are doing what I'm doing: trying to figure out home ownership on their own and SUCCEEDING! They were the ones that gave me the motivation and confidence to tackle painting every room in my house......and now I'm starting room #3 and I realize that I can do more than I give myself credit for! I think my Dad would be very proud of me....I just wish he were here to see it (and give me advice, of course).

When Beth & Stacie were here a couple weeks ago, the timing thing came to my mind because the whole 4 years that I was in Toledo, I was renting. Beth, Stacie, Holly, Katie - they all were doing the home ownership stuff and discussing ideas, do's/don'ts, what works, what doesn't, tips, etc. and I didn't really care or pay too much attention because I was renting and it didn't affect me (same concept as not paying attention to Dad's mad home-improvement skills growing up). Now that I'm in the midst of all of these projects, I wish they were here discussing all of it and they are across the country! Ugh.

Do you ever feel like the timing is just 'off' sometimes???

Zero Gravity In My Own Backyard

Last week, I was checking out the ads in my mailbox and I saw a very cool patio chair in the Big Lots ad....a Zero Gravity Chair! It seemed way too good to be true, but I was just curious enough to go check it out (and it is next door to Home Depot where I was getting paint, so how could I NOT go see it??).

I took one of the chairs off the rack and sprawled out in it - in the middle of the Big Lots aisle. It was fabulously comfortable! I didn't want to get out of it! I'm pretty sure that the only reason I did was because I would start getting some weird stares if I sat there any longer.

So in the name of companionship, I decided to buy 2 of these patio wonders for my backyard! They were on sale for only $40 each.....and they are HEAVY. I hope they are worth it - just sitting in them for 5 minutes in the store made me feel like I was suspended in mid-air!