So close

{I have a feeling today will be a multiple post day as I have lots on my mind and lots of time - gotta take advantage!}
The Duran2 show was sold out and even though we had seats, the aisle was jammed pack with people trying to get closer and people dancing. We happened to be partying next to Diane Lokey-Farb, an H-town socialite. D recognized her, and after a few cocktails, I summoned the courage to ask for a photo:D took a photo with her friend, Joyce EcholsThey both attended the after-party with the band which was hosted by another H-town socialite, Becca Thrash. We should have been nicer!

New actions!

I generously received Photoshop CS3 as a birthday gift from my parents this year (luckily Dad can buy an educational version which is a bit less costly) and have been addicted ever since. Some much can be done with photoshop but it takes a lot to learn. Which is how I have gotten addicted to "actions" that other people have already made to manipulate my photos and make them look even cooler than they already are (ha!).

Many actions cost money, but one blog I go to (ThePioneerWoman.com - trying to make a link is too difficult for me) has made 2 free sets. I have used her first set endlessly and the new one is totally fab! Here are the examples!

Straight out of camera (SOOC)Seventies actionColorizedHeartlandSepia ToneWarmer toneCooler toneI love them - so many possibilities! (Like I don't have enough things to waste my time on...)

Great weekend

Even though most of yesterday was spent feeling a bit tired and hung over from Friday night's concert this was a great weekend (with the exception that my hubs left early Saturday morning to see his grandparents in Phoenix!).
Some highlights:
seeing John Taylor up close and personallearning a new craft - needle felting - with my sis!seeing a tree go from this:to this!Having a photo shoot for 2 of my favorite peeps in the worldgetting my hair cut (I'm hoping David and Luis get a real sign up soon)having a casual dinner with my boys at Collina's (alas, no photos, the day caught up with me last night!)
getting a 9 mile run and yoga in
enjoying some of thiscatching up with GG and Christmas journal

I think now it's almost time for bed. Glad tomorrow is another full day off. I may actually try to get some Christmas shopping done. Wish me luck!

The best show ever???

I'm not sure if I am ready to commit to that statement, but I will say that Duran Duran's show last night was truly amazing. We had fabulous seats - 3rd row from stage left, in front of John Taylor. Simon sounded great. They played a mix of new and old songs, but could have played for probably 2 more hours and still not run out of music. But I think what made it so amazing was the venue. Verizon is a fairly small place - it probably only hold a couple thousand people at most. Compared to a place like Minute Maid park, a show there is SO mush more personal. And given that Duran2 is not the most popular band of the moment, most concert go-ers are rapid fans like yours truly. Add a couple Fire Island Teas, and you have yourself a par-tay!I am still paying for the fun currently, at 7 pm the next night, but they were so worth it!

I love the weekends

Still having trouble with desktop internet connection.
Doesn't matter, in a great mood.
Let the weekend begin!

I hate spam

Having trouble blogging and with computer.
Using laptop right now,
Don't know when it will be fixed!
So boring post - no photos
No journal today either - boo!
But Duran Duran tonight - yeah!
And off for 3 days - double yeah!

It's a mental sport

Running not only requires physical fitness but mental fitness as well. Some days you are raring to go, others not so much. Today was one of those other days for me. My plan was to run 6 miles, but I just wasn't feeling it today. So I stopped after 3 and barely felt guilty about it! I wasn't really that tired, but I just couldn't make myself run anymore. Maybe it was the cold - the temperature fell from 76 to 46 degrees last night. Only here in H-town!

Other news - the hubs has been feeling sick lately. He went to the doctor yesterday but all she gave him was allergy medication. And he isn't feeling much better. So I didn't get a good photo this morning.

I have been good keeping up with my Christmas journal. Keeping it simple has helped. I plan on adding my December photos to the back of the layout.

Our computer has been acting up - I got some spam on Facebook and I think it's infecting our hardware - boo. So right now having difficutly adding photos on blogger. Will post photos later...

Quickie

I took the morning off from running and spent it scrapping instead! Got my Christmas journal done for the day:about my favorite Christmas tradition - the cards!And got a cool-ish shot of the neighborhood from our porchUnfortunately the humidity has returned today - boo! But another cold front is supposed to be coming in tonight - yeah!

Chilly willy

I can always tell when the temperature is cold outside because our house feels cold, even with the heat on. We ran at the park in 43-degree weather..brrr! It kind of feels like Christmas, but still looks just like fall.Last night we enjoyed some turkey with jalepeno bread, cranberry sauce and green beans, topped off with some more pumpkin pie, my favorite!(Unfortunately we ate the pie before I could snap a photo!)Thanks for thinking of us Mom - the turkey was delish and I heated it up in the oven, not the microwave!

And I have been crafty already this morning - finished my journal for today - all about the weather.

600!

I can't believe I have post 600 times...who knew I actually had that much to say?

After a rather hectic work-filled weekend (the first Thanksgiving weekend I think I have EVER worked - blah!), I have been able to relax and enjoy my Monday off.

I always like to start off the day with a good work out - ran 4 miles and practiced yoga. The morning was rather chilly so I was able to wear my boots to yoga. I love these boots - I got them 3-4 years ago at Old Navy for 8 bucks!After yoga, I picked up some leftover turkey from Tingaling - Mom was sweet to pack us some homemade food since we didn't have turkey this year!

The rest of the afternoon was spent editing and uploading photos and working on my Christmas journal. Here in H-town we don't get much winter weather, but it does feel a bit like fall with the cooler weather and leaves on the ground!













We also received our Christmas cards in the mail today - they turned out really cute and I can't wait to get them mailed out.

Grateful

...for a day off from work to spend with my honey and have some yummy Peking duck!...for running a PR in the 10K on duckie day morning...for watching some excellent movies over the weekend with friends and at home (Milk, Lars and the Real Girl, Lords of Dogtown, and the ever-classic Say Anything - Joe didn't fall asleep for any other them!)...for discovering old music on the computer and uploading them to my itunes (Stone Roses, Singles soundtrack, Sugar - gotta love the 90s!)
...for talking to mom and sis over the weekend and knowing they were well
...for the start of Christmas season and a journalMy goal for December will be to blog at least a photo everyday. I don't know where this year went but I want to savor every last bit of it!

Too fast

I can't believe it's already Tuesday! Where did the weekend go?

I rather enjoyed not having to go into the office at all this weekend. Practiced some yoga on Sat morning, followed by a relaxing afternoon. Marc and D threw C a birthday party in honor of her visiting.T-Bone made a guest celebrity appearance with a new Chanel bag!Joe channeled his inner fashionista with a new vest...unfortunately he was not the only boy with that same idea!We ended the night at Etro.The only problem with staying up late is that it messes my workout schedule for the next day! So I overslept and missed yoga on Sunday morning, but managed to catch up with Tinger and Boom for breakfast. I ordered a pancake and ate the WHOLE THING. Then after a quick jaunt to the hardware store (with the largest collection of Crocs ever,Ting and I spent the afternoon scrapping our hearts away.I even got some cute shots of Miss Ruby!
Yesterday I practiced yoga, did 2 loads of laundry and went grocery shopping. I also checked out Hobby Lobby to see if they had The Slice (out of stock - boo!) and scrapped some more (I got inspired by our marathon session on Sunday!). We ended the evening with a birthday dinner for Miss C (yesterday was her actual bday) at Cyclone Anaya'sand drinks at The Foundation Room, the private club attached to the House of Blues.Apparently you have to be a member to enter the club, but C got us in because of her connection to LiveNation. Drinks were on the house as well, but unfortunately Monday nights are hard to get motivated to party. Usher performed at HOB last night and was supposed to be at the club later but we are old and had to go home!

I hoping that today won't be too busy - wish me luck!

Brrr...

It was chilly and windy this morning during our run. Which I don't mind because that means the day will probably be nice, but it makes it hard to get motivated to get out of our nice warm bed!

We are short-staffed at work this week (one tech out because she just had a baby and one out because of a staph infection!) so it's been rather stressful. I just want to make it through today and relax all weekend long! Our good friend Cindy is in town to visit and celebrate her birthday and then craft Sunday with Tingaling...haven't seen her in what feels like forever!

Missing

...the 'rents. And hoping they are doing ok.

Where did the weekend go?

Well, one day + one hour was spent working - blah!One night was spent celebrating Peg's belated birthday and her and Coupon's return from India.Another day was spent in anticipation of a concertAnd that night we saw her Madgesty live(our actual vantage point)(photo taken from the chronicle)And the rest of the time spent recovering, catching up on TV, and the usual weekend stuff.