FanZOOstic Weekend

Another weekend for the record books...and boy was it needed. We spent a lot of time checking things off our list, relaxing, continuing our hiking endeavors, spending time with friends, growing together in our faith, and refalling in love again and again.




Despite Ryan's never ending sickness :( we were able to enjoy the long weekend. Neither one of us worked (well I did about 2 hours worth of work this evening while he made dinner). We sort of flew by the seat of our pants in terms of solidified plans. Most importantly, we had a bonding 3 days which was, in my opinion, critical.




LA Zoo I am a little Meerkat (haha)



Friday was kicked off with a casual dinner and snuggling on the couch while watching the NBA play-offs. Saturday consisted of sleep, the LA Zoo, Sunset Boulevard cruising to see the homes of the stars, Chipotle (our fave!), and an amazing movie Invictus.










Two things to note here:



1. we are investing in the map of the stars business as the dang thing costs $5 to get.


2. to be truly inspired by one man who changed a country, watch Invictus.



Casa de Katy Perry

Casa de Brangelina




Moving onto Sunday...we enjoyed a late start with breakfast then church. Next we stopped off for a sweet treat at Starbuck's and headed to the beach. So refreshing to just spend time with our toes in the sand, bikini on, reading the latest news and gossip, and listening to the ocean waves crash against the rocks. We finished up the evening with a bbq at Timmy & Autumn's. I am going to take a moment to note that the girls WON catch phrase. 2 games to 0. Boom!


And today, after a minor hiccup, we were very productive in preparing ourselves for the week and taking a mini-hike to give thanks for God's beautiful creation.



I am almost certain that this weekend saved my sanity...

What If...

...just for one day you could do or have anything that you wanted?

A morning run on the slopes in my Mammoth home

Followed by throwing on my teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini

And laying out on my amazing deck overlooking Lake Geneva

(in Geneva, Switzerland of course)

With a McD's Mocha Frappe in hand

As well as a slice of delicious cake

Before I slip on my lovely white dress

And head to the Lawn in London for some evening tennis

Then enjoy some night time dancing

Plus several adult beverages

Maybe a little sweet treat before heading home

To snuggle up to my Baby Beau

Getting tucked in by my doves

(and hope to have sweet dreams)

What would you do?

Grand Slam Time

The time has come for summer. This means a lot of sun, blue skies, tan bodies, and sporting events. Particularly of interest to me would be the TENNIS events.

The French Open kicks off the Grand Slam season. I love all things French so I love this tournament. The red clay has always been a favorite of mine. Sliding around the court, the dust sweeping up onto my shoes. Ohhhh j'aime le tennis!

In the 2010 French Open, my good friend Jesse Witten was able to qualify and play the first round. He was defeated by Marcos Baghdatis (one of my faves), but to play in a Grand Slam period is an honor. Heck, to play in the quals is an honor in my book.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to watch any of the Open (although I do occasionally peek on the scoreboard via my computer at work). I am hoping this 3 day weekend brings relaxation, wine, and tennis!

Lord knows I need a vacation...wink, wink to my little loves dove!

(wo)Man's Best Friend

Hard to believe that I've had this little guy for 3 years. I had no idea what a blessing he would be when I picked him up in 2007, but he has truly been my best friend through so many difficult times. I love coming home to him each night. And I have a feeling he is the only thing that I will be coming home to for quite sometime...


Take a look at how Beaumont has grown!

A few months old in Chicago

Holiday Pet Parade with his gf Kahlua

2nd Birthday party in san Diego

Cruisin' the Pacific

Counter top at Sammy's house

1st Birthday in Chi-town

Lounging in Culver City

Uncle Benny's house in Chi

I love my mommy!

Pooch to Smooch :)

Puppy Happy Hour in downtown SD

As black as the night

I love sitting on my mom's purse

Santa Claus

Could be one of my favorite pics ever

Ocean Beach for our annual Christmas card

3rd place in the Halloween costume contest

Chillin'

Amgen Tour of California

I must admit that I always found bike riding to be a douche-like sport (sorry love). I think this stemmed from the fact that my mother made me wear a helmet as a young kid which I detested (helmets do NOT look flattering on me; hats barely do now). The neighbors could generally find me pedaling past the roundabout and chucking my helmet into their front yard. I would, of course, retrieve it upon my arrival home tricking my mother (ha!).

I also have nightmares about riding bikes ever since my "great wreck" in 1993. You know the wreck where my so-called friend let me ride the rusty old bike with no brakes in sandals down a steep, steep hill as a car was coming. Trying to avoid the head on collision with a car, I did what any other 10 year old would do and ran myself right into a wooden fence and metal grill. My arm looked like something out of a pre-med case study. Diagnosis: severly broken. Awesome.

So needless to say, when I was re-introduced to the cycling life by my adorable boyfriend, I was less than thrilled (although I must say he did look quite cute in his Lance Armstrong get up). As we made our list of stuff to accompish for the year, Amgen Tour of California made the list. I signed us up to volunteer and the rest is history.

The tour is an 8 stage race from the Northern part of CA down to the Southern part. Stage 7 in downtown Los Angeles was what they call a time trial. A 20.9 mile loop, with riders going off every minute, through the streets of downtown passing all the highlights of the city. We were assigned as Course Marshalls meaning that we basically had crowd control around "the climb".

The intensity, skill level, and training that goes into these races is astounding. I definitely did not have a clear understanding of this concept, but I have a large appreciation for it now. And I think I might have a Lance-wanna be on my hands!


Check out the pics below!

Complicated Order

I had orignally planned to blog about our amazing weekend volunteering at the Amgen Tour of California bike race in downtown LA and checking a few more things off the ole to do list, but I am feeling overwhelmed and uncreative (if that is even a term).

I actually just want to vomit a bunch of words and thoughts onto the screen via my keyboard because I can't seem to pull together one, simple, complete thought.

They say that the devil lives and acts in many forms, and I think he is living in my brain. I am having a hell of a time overcoming some pretty troubling thoughts. A complicated mind is something that I definitely have, and it is the one thing that I would like to be uncomplicated at this point. I have to state that I have had this intricate mind for my 27 years with no sign of it getting any simpler. I have about 17 scenarios rummaging around in this head of mine...none of which I particularly care for.

Let me give you an example of how this little brain of mine operates...

I begin to think about the complications of a few things in my life right now which leads me to visualize the DVD cover for the movie It's Complicated (where Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin are lying under the covers in their bed) and to have the audio of sweet Bon Qui Qui belting "I've got a complicated order" (see the video below for a good laugh). My stream of consciousness then floats to the phrase taken from the Bible (1 Corinthians 10:12), "this too shall pass" in hopes of trying to maintain my sanity in that I will get through these growing pains. This automatically makes me think of the great 80's TV sitcom: Growing Pains in which Carol's real life actress developed an eating disorder (I feel it important to note that although I often look like skeletor, I in fact do NOT have a problem eating too little). I immediately have flashbacks to where I was a short 2 1/2 years ago struggling to piece together my life and how I spent a great deal of time listening to the T.I. song "Life Your Life" for relief and inspiration. And as I am going over all of this in my head, I feel much like Drew Barrymore's character in He's Just Not That Into You when she rants about the various mediums of technology that she must goes through to be rejected. Much like she said in the movie, it is downright exhausting.

I would like for just one day to have a single thought. Period. End of story. Like "the sun is shining outside today" and have it stop right then and there. I am not quite sure how to make this happen or if this is even possible. If it is not possible, then I would love to use this little burden as a means to perhaps make myself rich or cure homelessness or do something for the betterment of the world...or at the very least not ruin what is considered to be the best thing to ever happen to me.

MAD tv - Bon Qui Qui at King Burger

Fairytale Friday

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who loved to lay on the beach, drink wine, talk to her princess friends, and dream of a handsome prince rescuing her one day. The princess spent a lot of days and nights worrying about various toads who seemed to hop into her life uninvited. She shed many tears and became very discouraged...wondering if that handsome prince would ever come. Eventually, she began to believe that he had gotten lost somewhere along the way.

Then on a sunny summer day, her handsome prince appeared oh so subtly. He didn't make a grand entrance. He didn't create a scene. He just appeared and made her at peace. He was everything that the princess dreamed he would be and more.

Soon after, the prince realized that the princess was the most amazing blessing to happen to him. She cared for him, challenged him, and loved him more than anything or anyone in the whole world. The prince decided to sweep the princess off her feet and elope in a far away island.

Today the prince and princess now reign as king and queen with two little princes and two little princesses. And they continue to live happily ever after.

The End.

Is It Time to Retire Yet?

I am officially ready to retire. I think that 27 yeras of hard work and dedication to working is long enough...uhh I guess technically it is only about 10 years since I have been working, and even less if you count the hiatus I took from having a J-O-B. But nonetheless, I am all in favor of calling it a day.

My patience is on the thinnest of ice right now in terms of work...which will eventually leak to other aspects of my life. I hate when that happens. Really I do.

My phone rings off the hook. My email gets slammed. I have the ability to accumulate 10 to 15 voicemails in a 3 minute period. I average over 200 emails daily, on a slow day.

And I love when someone comes with the sarcastic comment of "oh so glad I finally got a voice, I have been calling all day." Well yes ma'am when there are 35,000 members and only one of me it makes it quite difficult at times.

Can someone please sign me up for a tropical island home in the Pacific on the beach with a cocktail in one hand, a book in the other, a fabulous tan, a pair of smashingly-fashionable sunglasses, a teeny weeny bikini, and the love of my life applying my tanning oil on my shoulders?

Family Photos

A few photos from the weekend...



Baby Bishop playing with the tennis ball



Love my newphew



Mrs. Thompson, Kara, & I




Daddy-O & my sweets

Brother-in-laws to be (wink,wink)

Sissys and sister-in-law to be

Bourbon Tasting at the Chapeze House

Love him so much

Some fine gentlemen

Lee Women + Me

The gorgeous Lee Sisters

The beautiful, blushing bride

Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Cobb

The Happy Couple

Shane & the cake

loved these champagne glasses

The Godparents (hehe)

Precious Baby Bishop

Sissys

Amanda, Kendahl, Taylor, & I

Collins' Gals

Eric, Peter, Father Nick, Bishop, Kendahl, & I

My Godson & I

Collins' Clan