Come, Little Creatures

I seem to be attracting small creatures lately.

It started with me finding a baby opossum in the garage. I'd had some odd things happening, but it never occured to me that it might be an animal. Then, one night, late, I saw a tail and a little body. My first reaction was to jump and scream, thinking it was a rat or something. Then, I moved closer and saw it - looking as cute as a kitten - itty bitty with big, brown ears. But, what to do? I was at a loss. I knew I needed to get it out of my garage, but I wasn't going to hurt it. It took me a couple of days, a lot of cleaning, and a little trickery, but finally I peeked out and saw a little tail just on the other side of the garage door ... and before he could turn back, down went the door!

Then, I went home for my cousin/godchild's high school graduation. While there, my sister's friend dropped off their latest rescue - a little kitten they had found on the road in some random Texas city. When they were trying to pick up the poor thing, a car ran over it. Thankfully, I mean literally over it. It escaped unharmed. Anyway, it's probably not more than a month old, and while not traditionally "cute," it has the best and friendliest personality. She even climbed up on my shoulder when I was trying to take her picture. She wants lots and lots of human attention and loves to purr and play. You can't tell from this picture, but her eyes are bright blue. I suggested her name be Mocha.

Black and White Weekend

Nonstop busy as usual here!

First up was a party boat banquet that took us across Lake Austin from near Hula Hut to the 360 bridge. It was beautiful weather and so relaxing to spend time on the water, especially for a Crab like me!

The banquet was followed by the Third Annual Wear White Croquet Party, where the great weather held, to the delight of all of us bedecked in white.

Good times. Now I'm ready to sleep! : )

Mother's Day with the Family

I got to see a lot of my relatives this weekend when I went home for Mother's Day. Here is my new niece Alivia, who now is almost six months old. Isn't she the most adorable baby ever? She has my brother's beautiful, big blue eyes, and she's in the stage where she keeps trying to talk to everybody. Today she was in a cute little pink outfit I bought for her before she even was born!

It was so good to see everybody - aunts, uncles, grandma, grandpa, cousins, mom, dad, brother, sister, sister-in-law, niece, cats, dogs, horse. There's always lots of activity in the big C.S.!!

Party with the Best in Texas

Oftentimes I write for a music magazine called Best in Texas. The company that publishes the magazine is celebrating 30 years, and I just returned from their little celebratory shindig down in Houston.

It was so nice to meet the people I have been working with for a while now. And, isn't the Texas music scene so much fun? It's like a whole 'nother world - seriously. I really enjoyed meeting Jason Allen of the Jason Allen Band. Super nice guy.

For the latest issue of the magazine, my story is on Trent Summar and The New Row Mob. Through May, it can be read here. And, perhaps more permanently, it can be read here.

Texas Family - Firstborn Like Me?

Lots to mention in the latest issue of Texas Family Magazine.

The main feature story I wrote tackles birth order dynamics and how that affects children. It was interesting to research how this placement within the family can affect so many different personality traits. For example, firstborns often are achievers because they want the attention it brings, and they are often a little less relaxed than later kids. Being a firstborn myself, I'll have you know I vigorously pursue being laidback until I achieve it -- do I get a gold star? ;) It's a pretty interesting story - check out a copy.

I also wrote a story on helping kids create healthy friendships - emphasis healthy - and I wrote a small piece on cyber bullying, which takes bullying beyond the playground and school hallways to virtually everywhere.

Becker Vineyards

A good friend of mine was married this past weekend near Fredericksburg and held her wedding reception at Becker Vineyards. Every detail of both the wedding and the reception was absolutely lovely.

Here I am standing in front of the lavender fields that grace the Becker property.

I wish my friend and her new husband all the happiness and blessings a lifetime can hold.

Yet Another Reason

Yet another reason I love Texas. Where else could you get a picture like this?

Ain't Texas grand -- y'all? : )

Movies in the Park

The first Movies in the Park of the season was last night. I love Movies in the Park - it is one of my all time favorite things about Austin. I like just chilling out and relaxing (instead of go-go-go,) especially amidst the backdrop of a bustling, energetic downtown.

We watched "Talladega Nights" (I love the baby Jesus!) on a 40-foot inflatable screen in great weather. It's a very funny movie. Being so fond of cats, I particularly liked Karen, the Cougar. And, the Crystal Gayle t-shirt is priceless. ;)

Campus Horror

What a terrible tragedy we face today after the mass murders at Virginia Tech. It's hard to comprehend how so many young, fresh lives can be ended so quickly and so senselessly. Imagine how those parents must feel - they send their kids off to college, they think they are safe, and then they are faced with an unbelievable horror. Imagine hoping your child is one of the safe ones, and then finding out the worst. Imagine that agony.
My city endured a similar tragedy in 1966, when an individual, from the observation deck of the University of Texas Bell Tower, began sniping individuals walking on campus. Ultimately, he killed 15. The scars from UT's tragedy remain even today.
My heart goes out to those whose own hearts ache.

Lots of Action

Finally, I'm getting to add another post, right?
This past week and next week I had and have a lot of deadlines for different publications, including a new section that I am in charge of for Texas Family Magazine. In addition to my regular stories, I'll also be in charge of the Talking Points section, where we talk about three or four issues or questions parents may have.
In addition to work, I also volunteered myself to teach a four-session writing workshop over a period of four weeks to a group of kids I normally tutor. I had to create my curriculum from scratch for the first session, which was this week. I think it will be fun to work with the kids over a period of time so that I can see the changes in their writing skills. I'm looking forward to it.
Also, for two months I have agreed to take over someone's dance classes. This means I am directing a middle school dance team (and yes, we have several performances) and am teaching to four classes a salsa routine and a hip hop routine, both of which I will choreograph. That's a lot of work, but of the fun variety. All this is in addition to "regular" work, of course, so that is why my posts have been so sporadic. Plus, all this has kept me from philosophizing too much. ;)

Happy Easter!

Have a hop, hop, hoppy Easter!

Contemplating the Curvy Path

The other day, I went walking with someone along a trail I like. There are different paths and directions on this trail, and I like and always take the curvy paths. The person I went with thanked me later for showing the curved path. That offhanded comment really got me thinking.

Do I like to take the curvy paths in life? Do I prefer the wiggle jiggle of life more than the straight and narrow? I have always thought of myself as a straight and narrow kind of person, but maybe all along I have been more of a curvy person. Or, maybe I’m straight and narrow on the outside but curvy on the inside. Or, even vice versa. Perhaps the way I picture myself is not at all how the world sees me. But, then, which one would be right and real?

It was a simple comment: “Thanks for showing me the curvy path!” But, it sure has gotten me thinking. It reminds me of what I for years had as my computer screen saver: “Sometimes you have to go in a circle to get back where you belong.”

I guess it's not so much about taking the path less traveled as it is about creating the path that is uniquely ours and following it until we are where we are meant to be.

My Box of Dark Chocolates

Tonight Forrest Gump was on TV. I resisted watching it, but I'm glad I did. Sometimes it's good to be reminded of and feel reconnected with certain things - that at times blind idealism is best, that there may be really good things in front of us we're not recognizing and appreciating, and what I think is the most poignant message - that we all simply should do the best with what we are given.

Show Me Your Feathers

This weekend I went to the Salt Lick, an awesome barbecue restaurant outside of Austin. It's one of those casual, down home barbecue joints that shows how barbecue should be done. People come from all over to have their barbecue and to listen to live music at this huge compound out in the country.

We've started an interesting tradition when we visit. On the way back, we always stop at Barsana Dham, an Indian temple, to walk off some of our meal. During the summer, I always visit for the pick your own peaches, but this time of year, it's nice to just walk the grounds and see the ponds and peacocks. The male peacocks were out in full force this weekend, but the females kept running away from them! This particular peacock was quite vocal, but he never spread his feathers for us. Someone commented how it was interesting that in peacock-world, it's the males who do the primping for the ladies.

Internet Safety - Texas Family Magazine

* The Child Sex Crimes Detective I interviewed just read the article and told me that my treatment of kids and Internet safety is the best he has seen. I am pleased. I try very hard to get the right kind of information to parents.
The new issue of Texas Family Magazine is on newsstands now. In this one, I tackle Internet Safety and Kids. There have been many, many stories published on Internet Safety, but I felt none of them had delved deeply enough in to the topic and, instead, had just managed to scare parents out of their wits. Parents freaking out and not letting kids use the Internet is not the answer so I tried to bring some common sense to the frenzy.
My main focus is on parent interaction - this is the key. I also talk about MMORPGs - massively multiplayer online roleplaying games. When you're talking about Internet predators, most parents think MySpace, but this seems to be the next evolution. From chat to MySpace to MMORPGs ...
Special thanks to MDK, gamer extraordinaire, for assisting me with technical issues!

How Things Change

I guess I was a little naïve when I thought I would get to do nothing but write at the end of last week. In between then and now:

1.) Two 21-year-old spring breakers crashed my house for three nights. An example of how this went: I came home one night to three of them (yes, they multiply) lying on my bed watching Borat. When it was over, at 2 a.m., they all went out - for food. I heard the last door shut at 6 a.m. That kind of stuff seems like a decade ago. Oh, wait ...
2.) Although I’d planned to skip the festival, I went to several SXSW concerts. They were fun, but at a night one, I fell down an uncovered utility hole while walking across the Palmer Events Center grounds. (I called the City.) I was extremely lucky not to break my foot or leg. As it is, I have horrible looking scrapes on my ankle bone and a lovely blue and purple bruise spreading over the top and side of my foot. It’s gruesome looking and doesn’t feel too good, either. I have to go get a tetanus shot. Ew.
3.) St. Patrick’s Day! I hope you all had an awesome St. Patrick's Day! I wore my "Everyone Loves an Irish Girl" shirt, of course. My dad, adding an accent, told me an awesome Irish saying: “May you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead!” I love it!

(Rest assured, I did get some writing done this past week - it just wasn't the write-a-thon I envisioned.)

Couple Days Off

I think I'm going to take a couple of days off from blogging. Just a couple. I want to focus on my novel while I have a few days freed up to devote to it.
You might enjoy catching up on some of the comments on my posts, particularly Oh, Single Is Me! which has gotten quite interesting. I'll still be checking in, and I'm always curious to hear what my readers have to say!

Austin Under 40 Awards - 2007

The Austin Under 40 Awards were held last night at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. I was a finalist in the Arts and Entertainment category.

It was such a great night, and I still find it hard to believe they honored me with inclusion in such a stellar group. I mean that - really.

Being included gives me motivation to work even harder toward all I want to accomplish; I'd like to prove that their choice to include me - twice now - has been the right one.

After the dinner and ceremony, Au40 hosted an after party downtown, where I got to DANCE! (You know how I love to dance!!) I had a great time! Let's just say I woke up this morning singing, "My Girl Wants to Party All the Time, Party All the Time, Party All the Time!!!"

Seriously! : )

(Pardon the "fan effects" in the first picture.)

Oh, Single Is Me!

Today in the Austin American-Statesman’s XLent section, writer Andrea Lorenz examines “what it's like to be single and successful in Austin,” by interviewing some of the non-married Austin Under 40 Awards finalists, including me. The title is "Single, Successful and Under 40 - Achievers find time to give back."
While she comments on our lack of pretentiousness, she does manage to ensnare me enough to say I wouldn’t date someone who plays video games all the time. "I do want someone who is ambitious, and who is smart, and who I feel is my equal," I said. "Does that limit the dating pool?"
In real life, I go on to answer my own question, but in the story, she answers it for me:
“Um, yes. But I don't want any of my jadedness to rub off on such positive folks, so let's move on. When you're single and so successful that you're among the Top 50 in Austin, you learn that Austin doesn't care if you're single or married — no matter the propaganda newly engaged friends spread.”
And then it goes on …
Originally, we were going to get in to the differences between successful men and successful women in the dating world. The premise was that the more successful a man is, the easier it is for him to date, and the more successful a woman is, the harder it is for her to date. After thinking about it, I agreed. Where women might be attracted to a successful man, I think a lot of men are intimidated by a successful woman. This turned in to quite a discussion, at which point the writer opted to devote an article entirely to the topic at a later date. Now, won’t THAT be interesting?

Sunny Sweeney - Best in Texas Music Magazine

For this month's Best in Texas Music Magazine, I wrote a story on East Texas native Sunny Sweeney, who, while fairly new to the music scene, is making quite an impression. She is somewhat known for her Texas twang, although it comes out stronger when she sings than when she talks. (Or maybe I'm just pretty used to hearing accents.)
People never really have commented much about me having an accent, but I kind of like the thought of having a little bit of one. I imagine when I go beyond Texas, subconsciously I let it out a little more - just in case people might forget I'm a Texas girl!
The article can be read here, through March 2007 only.