The Season for Announcements

There is something about the holiday season that lends itself very well to Big News, and I've definitely been on the receiving end this year. First, one of my very favorite people in this world got engaged over Thanksgiving to a guy that I very much approve of. The only down side to that news is my guess that wedding plans could postpone their already overdue visit to see me. You get a pass for now guys, but I'll drag you here eventually!

The second bit of news went down something like this: A picture is placed in my hands. My mom asks if I know what I'm looking at. Well, I'm too highly educated (and I've watched wayyyy too many chick flicks) to not recognize a sonogram when I see one. I may not know the difference between a sonogram of, say a watermelon, and a human baby, but I know what black and white fuzzy pictures mean, thank you very much. Well, this sonogram had Kelly's name on it. We'd been talking about the many stupid things Nathan and I accomplished as children, so I assumed we were looking at a sonogram of Kelly as a baby. But.... this sonogram said 2008... and that definitely appeared to be two babies in there. Kelly is not a twin... Wow! I am going to be an aunt! Times two! I get to buy all that cute baby stuff, and my brother may never sleep again. Best - News - Ever! Congratulations guys! I can't wait to spoil your children.

Wow...

...crazy weatherman was right.

I swear it was warm this morning

When I got ready for work this morning, I was thinking we must be in a warming trend. It felt like low 70's, and I happily set out in jeans and a T-shirt. I went for a walk around 3:30pm. It was crazy windy (that should have been the clue) but still pretty nice out. When I left work to go home just before 6:00pm, it was no longer entertaining to be outside without a coat. It's now a quarter til 10:00pm and I just finished taking these pictures:

For the record, that's ice, not snow. The weather guy on the radio said we're expecting snow after midnight, but that's got to be crazy talk. However, if it ices up enough, maybe the city will do its wonderful "we're not equipped for this" thing and shut down. Then I'll get out of that conference call I'm dreading tomorrow. A girl can hope.

They'll take your ass out

So I've been able to determine that Twilight is a good movie, finally! Even more importantly, I love, love, LOVE the Alamo Drafthouse. Good to be back in town.

Heading North

Well, to North Carolina anyway. We took a trip to Asheville, NC to see relatives and test my ability to deal with temperatures below 70F.

First things first, we roadtripped it to Houston so my Dad could babysit the pups. (Ha ha, sucker!)

Cora took the time to chill...

while Luna took in the sights.
After a night at Hotel Mom and Dad, we picked up Nathan and Kelly and flew away from flat old Houston, to a place where the topography looks more like this.
Have I mentioned that my Aunt has never been someone you'd call a "city girl"? Welcome to her front yard.
Spending some time with family was the best part of this trip. We don't get together nearly as often as we should since we're generally at least a few states apart.

This is my super awesome grandma.

I've always known my Aunt to have a plethora of animals - Horses, dogs, and cats always. I kind of miss the chickens whose eggs I'd help collect when I was a kid on visit, but I hear she's thinking of getting goats, which cheers me immensely since Rob still won't let me put one in our backyard. The real mainstay, though, are the Great Danes. She has 5 currently. They're all giants, and they're all big sweethearts.

Maverick isn't always big on the picture taking.

Me and Maverick hanging out. Yes, his head is at least as big as mine.

Bella (or maybe Fancy, they look a lot alike), Maverick, and Hanauma.

Me and Hanauma, who I'd like to rename "Snuggle Pig". I'm sure she won't mind since it turns out her Hawaiian name means something like "Stinky".
Nathan wades through dogs.
Meanwhile, Kelly gets the mellow version.

Rob is too cool for dog accompaniment.

Mom, Kelly, Nathan, and Rob out for a walk on the property.

The tobacco barn. Apparently, this was once used to smoke tobacco leaves. Now it leads a much less controversial life by storing hay and feeding horses.

Free car with purchase of property!

No horseback riding on this trip, but that doesn't mean I can't go make some friends.
Baby stretch.
It's hard to tell from the picture, but I was actually showing Rob the ginormous sticker burr that I pulled out of the horse's mane with, wait for it, knit gloves. My brilliance is astounding sometimes.
Sunset from the back deck. Thanks to my Uncle Ted for snagging my camera and reminding me that, duh, sunsets are pretty.

After leaving North Carolina, we headed to Houston for Turkey day and more of the good life that comes from staying at my parents' house and doing a lot of nothing in particular. 

My one remarkable adventure in Houston was going to see "Twilight" with Kelly. Wow, was that horrible. I don't mean the movie. I can't accurately tell whether that was any good. I can tell you that if someone had offered to tie my tubes as I walked out of the theatre, my response would have been something like "Oh please yes!". There were many many many many teenage girls at the movie. I saw that coming, but I failed to recall just how awful teenage girls can be. The first time the audience screamed and yelled "He's so hot!" as Edward walked onscreen was kind of cute. The eighteenth time was a lot less so. I told some girls next to us to shut the F up. Yes, I'm going to hell. It was an effective strategy, but only worked on the small number of girls I'd managed to traumatize. The rest of the crowd continued in obnoxiousness. Anyway, going to see "Twilight" at the drafthouse this weekend. 18 and over. Sounds perfect.