Born to Run Day 1

As many of you might know, I am a volunteer with the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) organization and I have been "matched" with a little sister for 2 years. The experience has had its share of ups and downs but overall I have really enjoyed getting to know this little girl and her family. Unfortunately, Crishauna has had a pretty rough year in school and with her family. In an attempt to help her gain a little confidence I have convinced her to join a running program that BBBS in partnership with the local running supply store, RunTex, is initiating. For the next six weeks we will meet every Saturday morning at 8:30 with a trainer from the RunTex to prepare for a 5K on September. The really great thing about the program is the promotion of physical activity but the bribe to get the kids out there is a FREE pair of running shoes. During this six week training session she will be given a free pair of brand new running shoes that she can take home after the race, provided she attends all the training sessions! Great deal, huh! I thought so but it took a lot of coaxing and finally another bribe to get her to agree to do it!

However, I do have to admit that I do have my own selfish reasons for convincing her to join the program. Nothing is truly altrusitic is it. I really want the opportunity to get some free training from those running instructors and the obligation to run twice a week. Running is not my favorite exercise but the results are fantastic and if I ever find myself chased by bad guys I won't be limping along with a horrible stitch in my side. Yes, that has been a worry of mine! Anyway, today's training session wasn't exactly a huge hit with Crishauna. She complained the whole time we stretched and walked the first lap. But she is a competitive girl and by the second lap she was showing a little more energy and interest. During the walk back to the store from the park she was animated and chatting away. It was Larry, the instructor, who noted this visible change in energy and called her on it! Now I wouldn't say she was enthusiastic about the program when we left but she at least agreed to continue going and we are going to go walking tomorrow as part of our training. I plan to write after each training session and kind of document how this all turns out. I will be so proud of us if we finish the training and run in the race!!

Florida Pictures

Due to some ridiculous technical difficulties that I will not bore all of you with, I have not been able to download my Florida pictures from my camera until now. Finally, the moment you have all been waiting for my silly vacation photos. Actually, I didn't really take that many pictures because most of the time we were in the ocean. The best photo opportunity was when we were at the historical city of St Augustine and in the St Augustine fort. St. Augustine is the oldest settlement in North America and if I remember correctly was settled by the Spanish and fought over by the French and the English a lot! Anyway, it is a charming little tourist trap that I insisted my poor hosts take me to. They were good sports in indulging my inner-tourist.

Birthday Weekend

This weekend is officialy dedicated to eating a lot of fancy food, drinking a lot, hanging out with friends, and doing NO cleaning! OK it isn't really that different from most weekends but Friday was my birthday and Sunday is Mike's so we have a good excuse for all that sloth and debauchery. Well I consider eating chocolate cake three times a day debauchery and that is what I am doing:)! Yesterday, was a great day more for what I got done than for what I didn't do. I got up early, worked out, got things done at work, had a nice lunch with a friend and found a GREAT sale at JC Penney. Yes, I am so pathetic, the sale made my day. After my shopping spree we went to a nice dinner with friends and drank a ton of champagne. Champagne is so yummy and I think I am going to have champagne every birthday. It is a good birthday drink. One of my friends bought me a bouquet of purple gladiolas. They are a long stem, kind of heavy flower and holding them I felt like I won a beauty pageant or Nascar race!
Tonight, we are having drinks with friends and I am looking forward to just a relaxing evening of chatting and enjoy this unusually, comfortable weather. Have a wonderful weekend everyone and I will try to write more soon.

Family in Texas

Quick Post

Hi everyone,
This is just a quick post to put up some photos and attempt to keep the momentum of my blogging going. Knowing that I just returned from a quick trip to visit friends in Florida for the fourth, you would think I would have pictures of Florida to post. Well so did I but unfortunately my digital camera batteries refuse to emit enough power to get the pictures from the camera to the computer. So they're trapped on the camera and destined to disappear as soon as I remove the batteries. Fortunately, I do have pictures from my family's visit to Austin in early May to share with all of you.
By the way, the trip to Florida was very nice. Mike and I spent every day cavorting on the beach and the evenings bbqing and hanging out with our friends. For the fourth of July, my friend's Mom prepared us an amazing Lebanese feast which was SUCH a treat. It isn't very often I get homemade grape-leaves and apparently it isn't very often her Mom makes them. So I felt very lucky and I certainly tried to eat enough to show my appreciation. Afterwards, a large crane was brought in to lift me away from the table and take me to the beach where we watched the fireworks display from a beautiful high-rise condo. The reflection of the fireworks on the Ocean was breathtaking and I am sure has spoiled me for all future fourth of July's.
Well, I hope you all had a great fourth and I can't wait to hear from all of you soon.
Angie

On the blog-wagon

Well I have done it, I have succumbed to another fad. First a two month yoga membership,an addiction to fancy coffee and now a blog! Well who am I to judge right? I have found myself obsessed with a couple of my friends blog and I thought what a great way to keep in touch with everyone in one place. So, all of you, my friends and family spread around the country, please come here and see what is going on in my world and take a peak at the pictures I plan to post.