California recap: Thursday—Pasadena-bound!

How delightful to wake up in LA to a gorgeous morning! While our family and friends back home were out of school because of ice and frigid temps, we had nothing but sunshine.

Dana and Kelley's backyard is one of my favorite places to be. It's beautiful, its aromas are out-of-this-world, and every time I'm there, I know I'm among good friends that I only get to see on special occasions.
So it's no surprise that after waking up and getting dressed, I found myself wandering around the backyard, taking in the sights and smells.



After a quick breakfast, we gave Dana (long A, to distinguish her from Dana with a short A, our hostess) a ride to the train station. Then we stopped by Ralph's to pick up some tailgating supplies.
We were drawn to the orange cupcakes and Texas balloons!

Back at K&D's house, we packed the picnic basket and got ready for the drive out to the game.

Here's our rental car. Fortunately, the seven of us didn't have to take it out to Pasadena!

Oh, no. We had a PARTY VAN, complete with horns on top!

We made one quick stop to buy some chairs,

and then we did a little sightseeing along the way. We drove past CBS Television City,

and we saw the Bronson Gate at Paramount Studios.

After some fancy driving, we made it to Pasadena. We saw the trademark bungalows in town and all the viewing stands from last week's parade.

We knew we were close when we saw this old friend!

We were really and truly back at the Rose Bowl!

California recap: Wednesday night.

After work I headed straight to the airport to meet Dede and board our flight to LA. Unlike four years ago, when United Airlines' computer problems delayed my arrival, this time we made it to our hosts' home in time for their BCS Eve party.

Some sights from the party:

Texas cookies and Bama crimson cupcakes
(complete with houndstooth wrappers)

A couple of our tailgating friends were there

LOVE the orange roses

Salt Lick BBQ—mmm, mmm, MMM!

Memories from 2006

It was only a matter of time before T sprouted horns!

At one point T started giving party guests a balance test.

He has a balance wristband, so he had people try balancing with and without the band.

Of course, the whole exercise made us laugh!


The food was excellent, but the best part of the party was getting to spend time with good friends. Greg and his wife live in New Jersey, and it had been about two years since we'd seen them. And our host Kelley makes it to Austin only about once a year.

Hostess Dana and Greg's wife Dana (with an LA friend): It was so good to spend time with them!

This wasn't my first time to stay with our hosts, but every time I'm there, I'm in awe of their home.

Safari room

Living room

And the wine cellar:

Months after holding our breaths as we reserved our plane tickets, it was so exciting to finally be in California!

Who is my favorite team forever and ever?

I usually don't post these on the rare occasions when the Horns lose, but this one took a little more effort than others. Just wish we could've "rolled the Tide"!

Moaning about moaning about moaning.

I must have no Horn fan Facebook friends in common with some people. I've seen none of the "moaning" people are moaning about! All I've seen are fans who are upset that a phenomenal person suffered this bitter disappointment and didn't get to finish the biggest game of his life. Are we supposed to celebrate the way Colt's UT career ended? Give us Horn fans a break! We're sad for Colt, sad for our team, sad that we'll never know what could've been.

BTW, we're a little touchier than usual because we've now watched our baseball, volleyball and football teams all finish second in the NATION! That's a bummer, but what other school can say that? Holy moley, it's GOOD to be a Longhorn!!!

Hook 'em!

Sent from my iPhone

Longhorn pride.

Much longer posts are forthcoming, but tonight, as we drive from Pasadena back to LA, I just have to say that I'm one proud Horn fan. I'm proud that my team showed so much heart when all seemed lost, and I'm proud that I never have to question my coach's integrity. And Colt? I'm so proud that he's a fellow believer.

http://tinyurl.com/yfe8r2n

Hook 'em!

Now the long off-season begins...

Sent from my iPhone

Happy New Year!

(Another catch-up post!)

One of our favorite family traditions is the New Year's Day lunch at Nana and Papa's.

Nana always cooks up an amazing feast that includes the requisite black-eyed peas.

It was delish! It was also special because the whole family (except for Cara and Jeff) could be together. Erumi was even able to join us!


After watching plenty of football, we pulled out Taboo and played a couple of rounds. Too much fun! We're so thankful to live so close to our family!

Ringing in 2010.

(Playing catch-up tonight!)

What better way to ring in a new year than playing, laughing and even singing with friends! While the kids spent the night with their friends, having a blast, we were having our own blast, grown-up style.

After a game of The Game of Things (during which, thankfully, no photos were taken), out came the karaoke machine. We divided into even and odd teams (according to birth date), and as luck would have it, the evens got nothing but easy songs. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"? Really?!

The evens proved that volume covers up a lot of mistakes! (Not that I'm bitter.)

While bummed about our lame songs, we odds were quite entertained by the other team's efforts.


Too funny! As I said on Facebook, you know it was a good New Year's Eve when you're still giggling the next morning!

And Brett? He didn't sing much,
but he did get in some quality time with Baxter!

Many thanks to our hosts who provided the delicious meal and the perfect venue for New Year's Eve. That night was just what we needed at just the right time.

It's Groundhog Day again!

I know we're about a month away from Feb. 2, but I'm talking about my personal Groundhog Day.


It's hard to believe it's been four years since that incredible night when Vince Young and the Horns stunned USC to win the BSC national championship.

It's even harder to believe that in 48 hours, we should be back in California! This time around, I don't have nearly the confidence that I felt in '06. But no matter what happens with the game, I know we'll have a great time with our LA friends. We get to see them so rarely; when we do get to hang out with them, it's such a treat!

And one thing I know about football: You never know! If the Horns play up to their potential (and lay off the sideline passes JUST A BIT!), we may finally get to add another year after that comma:Previous Groundhog Day posts:
2007
2008
2009

Down, down, down.

So three of our four Christmas trees are down. The nutcrackers and Granny decorations are down. Our (ridiculously) simple front-door lighted garland is down.

And I am down.

There are people who love their homes' clean look once the Christmas stuff is gone. I am not one of those people. This year, because we're still so new to our house, the cleared-out look just makes our home seem empty. And my need to paint? More evident than ever!

So yeah, I'm a little on the melancholy side tonight. Surely that has nothing to do with going back to work in the morning, right?

(sigh)

An attitude adjustment is in order! After all, I'm only working three days this week, and then I'm off to LA for the big game! Tomorrow and Tuesday I'll be packing for the trip that we booked back in October. Yep, it's time to count my blessings, and although they're innumerable, I'll start by counting to three. Three days. I can handle THREE DAYS!

Back-blogging again.

You know I'm off work when I manage to make TEN posts in one day! Call me crazy, but I really wanted to get caught up before returning to work Monday. (Call me a procrastinator, too, because I really should've been finishing up some church stuff this afternoon! Oh, well. As Kenny Rogers would say, "We've got tonight.")

Brett misses new posts when I back-date them (and they show up below posts that have been up for a while), so here's the run-down:

Dec. 21: No business like dough business
Dec. 23: Decked halls
Dec. 23: Another pet?
Dec. 24: A different kind of Christmas Eve
Dec. 25: Christmas 2009
Dec. 25: White Christmas
Dec. 25: A walk in the park
Dec. 28: A day of celebration
Dec. 29: T&D&S
Dec. 30: Wii wish you a merry Christmas

Whew! Glad that's taken care of. Now I have just two more posts until I'm caught up...

Happy 2010.

As we begin this new year, I'm lacking my usual sense of revitalization and renewal. I'm also not feeling up to my typical "year-in-review" reminiscences.

It's hard to see past last week to assess the year as a whole. It's also difficult to muster up optimism when we're still so, so sad about losing our friend.

Instead of trying to force that "fresh start" feeling, I'm going to give myself a break. I'm going to be satisfied with clinging to my Father. I don't have a clue where this year will take us, but I'm praying for confidence, to know that my God will carry us through. I'm praying that I can trust in the "blessed assurance" that Tim so loved to sing about.

For too long I've had my hands tightly gripping the wheel, trying to drive my life to work out "just so." It's time for me to breathe, to give up the wheel, to have faith.

Paul Simon's song (that gives this blog its title this season) is a depressing lyric about missing the mark. But I'm seeing the whole "slip slidin'" concept more as an analogy for life. The sooner I realize I'm not in control, the better off I'll be. And with God's help, we'll skate through these dark days--and bright ones, too--and find ourselves closer to Him and closer to each other.

May God bless you this year and every year.

Sent from my iPhone