NEW BLOG!!!!

Since I haven't updated this in ages....and I have a new focus for a blog (rather than just rambling)... here's my new blog home:

http://triandfinish.blogspot.com/

Add it to your favorites, follow me... give me some lovin'

New Giveaway -

Yay for giveaways.... go to The Red Chair Blog and sign up for a super fun giveaway from CSN Stores!

Good Luck!

I swear I'm not dead...

So it appears that I am THE worst blogger ever. My whole 365 pictures in 365 days was a flop.

Not too much going on around here.... I'm thinking about putting my house on the market this summer. I've been there 5 years (crazy how time flies) and ready for something new, different and BIGGER! How a single girl living by herself can outgrow a house doesn't make much sense...but it's happened.

GW2010 was a few weeks ago and it was so fun! I love my girls! Here are some pics just for fun!

Happy Easter y'all :) What a wonderful time of year!

Kristin and Me!












Newbs, Cayla, Me and Ciearra

Amber came to visit on St. Patty's day!


















St. Patty's day!

Who loves a give away ? I DO I DO!!

My fellow blogger at JUST ADD WALTER is doing a super cool giveaway..... go check it out

Not Me Monday - P365 D4

MckMama has a Monday dealy where she does "Not Me Monday" - a time to confess what you DID NOT (sense sarcasm) over the last week...here it goes:

I did not sit around in my pajamas all day on Saturday not once showering (until 10:30pm) and NEVER put on a bra.

I did not leave the house wearing said pj's, sans bra, and houseshoes to try and catch Time Warner Cable office before it closed. Nope....I'm way more classy than that.  Where were my rollers?

I did not almost cry when I made it to the TWC office and they told me "sorry we are closed"..I'm not THAT emotional.

I did not make my darling roommate walk around Lowes looking for curtains and curtain rods... not me I know he's way more manly than that.

I did NOT just go into the bathroom at work and sit there for five minutes b/c it's the warmest place in the building and my office is freezing...WHO WOULD DO THAT? Gross!

I do not hope that this day is over...b/c it is glorious ...sense sarcasm here...

P365 Day 4 - I wish I was here today: Kona, Hawaii....

Project 365 day 2 and 3

I'm horrible about blogging on the weekends....

This weekend was great!  Friday I went to Ft. worth and saw Joey Green (check him out - he's an up and coming coutnry artist that is sooo good)...

Saturday I slept in and laid around the house all day and did some house projects....

Today I went to church for an AWESOME sermon...sometimes I swear I get out of bed and go to church and it is like I'm meant to be there.

So a great weekend all together :)

P365 D2...my sweatpants.... I laid in around these all day on Saturday...until 10pm when I decided to take a hot bubble bath and put on some clean pj pants....

P365 D3.... Bent Tree Bible Fellowship.... when I go on Sundays... which I'm trying to go more...this is where I go.....Love the minister Pete...

Project 365 day 1

I was reading through blogs today, yes I know I should be working...but it's Friday, I'm tired and maybe a little hungover....and found Project365.

The 365 project aims to collect photos documenting 1 year of your life. So you can build a picture of the little day to day things that make your life so special and unique. Everyone can take part and join in! All you need is a camera.

So I thought...what the hey.... why not right?

So today...my donut and Diet Coke...it's one of "Those" days...

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!

Comments...

Comments are back up and working....if you've tried to comment and haven't been able too..you can now!!

YIPPEE!!!

LA update coming soon......

Simple Pleasures...

Christy (click the link for her blog) blogged about her 10 simple pleasures..... I figured it would be a nice update.... (since I am rapidly becoming the world's worst blogger). I agree with Christy - friends/family aren't included b/c they are WAAAYYY more than simple pleasures...

1. Chocolate - it is smooth, sweet, and makes me feel better in ANY situation...even after I've gorged myself at a dinner such as Texas de Brazil.....

2. Reality TV - Typically watched with something chocolate in hand.... mindless entertainment after I've racked my brain all day at work fixing other peoples problems

3. My running shoes (or bike shoes)..... thankful every day to have two legs and two feet to be able to swim.bike.run and I know every time I put them on in just a few hours (and a few thousand calories later) I'm going to feel better and probably have forgotten about whatever was bothering me that day.

4. Vodka/Rebull - delicious and needs no explanation (you can also throw in any kind of red wine here)

5. Girls Trips - plain and simple a necessity...

6. Deuce..... my loyal companion who is ALWAYS happy to see me, never talks back and loves me always :)

7. Reckless Kelly, Joey Green, or any tune really - I can bust out my AWESOME singing voice and jump around like a maniac ... secretly wishing that I had a AWESOME singing voice b/c I think I could be an awesome rocker

8. Hugs.... nothing like a good old fashion bear hug when you need one the most

9. Automatic windows....

10. Toilet paper....where would be without it

What are yours?

2010? When did 2010 get here?

So - I realized today that I get really frustrated when people don't update their blogs but I've become THE WORST BLOG UPDATER EVER!!!

It's been over a month!!!! (Not that I get that many hits anyway - but still)

December 2009 -

December 2 - surgery day on my shoulder. I was initially diagnosed with a torn labrum (see here) but when the dr. cut me open and took a look I ended up having a labral tear, a rotator cuff tear, decompression, and bone spurs. So needless to say more was going on in there than we thought.

The surgery lasted 2.5 hours and I was completely knocked out. It was arthroscopic which was great considering all the new stuff that was discovered. I was terrified that they would have to completely cut my arm open - but thank GOD that didn't happen!

I remember everything up to laying down on the OR table. I remember my anesthesiologist adjusting me on the table and putting on the mask - after that I woke up a few hours later with a huge dressing and sling, a nerve block (which was AWESOME) , and a scratchy throat from the tube they put down my throat.

My post-op nurse said that I was the calmest patient she's had waking up from anesthesia. Apparently people get real pissed off when they wake up - but I was calm and smiling (go figure).

So Mom was there to take me home and nurse me back to health. I was great surgery day. The nerve block stayed on for around 24 hours so I felt nothing until til Day 2 late afternoon!

I did get a little nauseous when I tried to stand up to fast at the surgery center but they gave me some nausea medicine and some pain medicine and I was good.

I took my pain pills through the first week. Monday of the following week was the last time I took any. (I was VERY proud of myself...maybe I have higher pain tolerance than I thought)

My post-op visit with the dr. on December 8 went well. I had my stitches removed and he told me to start some stretches in the shower. (That hurt like a bitch)

I went back on Dec. 29 for my three week follow up after my stitches were removed and I was able to get out of my sling completely! YAY!!!!! and start PT (YAY and OUCH!).

I started PT on Dec. 31. It wasn't as bad as I thought.....

I was back in the gym three weeks after my surgery day - to the date. No running because of the jarring (and I was still in the sling) but I did the EFX and the stair climber... plus some lunges. It felt so good to be back!!!

The 26th I was back on my bike(on my trainer of course, that I had gotten for Christmas)... I rode for a while but realized it was REALLY hard to keep my balance on my bike with a sling.. even stationary.

I've ridden a few times on my trainer but not too terribly hard, not pushing it because it still hurts to extend my shoulder to riding position. I can ride fine sitting up with my hands on my hips (if you can picture that) but that's not very intense.

I started running again last week. Man - have I lost endurance. A 5K about killed me... I remember the days last spring when that was a warm up :)

I started swimming yesterday - not easy and not freestyle. Definitely a 1/2 breaststroke. I say 1/2 because it is still hard to fully extend. I kinda looked like I was drowning I bet. People were probably laughing. Oh well.... I have scars so suck it.

After my swim I did cardio for an hour - I was at the gym 2 hours yesterday - man that felt good! It helps they opened a brand new gym that I LOVE!! all brand new equipment, mini screens on the cardio equipment, etc... it's just NICE - plus towel service which is a HUGE PLUS to me b/c I always forget towels...sigh

So I'm getting back in the swing of things... faster than I thought. At one point it was sixteen weeks before I could even THINK about swimming and now I'm doing it 5 weeks post op. YAY!!! Still no weight lifting... but that's ok - this gives me time to focus on my endurance and cardio.

December was busy trying to recoup and get back in the swing of the things. I took the week between Christmas an New Year's off (which was glorious!!). Sarah was here for that week and it was GREAT to spend time with her.

January so far has been all about catching up on work.... taking a week off at the holidays I thought wouldn't be so bad but clearly people still work (not as much..but still). I had emails piling up and my to do list was up to nearly 100 items. I've worked it down to 45 in 4 days. Not too shabby :)

Other than that things are same 'ole same 'ole.....

I'm ready for Girls weekend in march.... but then again I'm always ready for vacation!!!!!!!

My new year's resolution -

update my blog more...but that would mean I would have to have an exciting life so I have something to write about....so

NYR #2 - get a life :)

Oh little bloggy - what has happened??

I've forgotten about you!

This is the big week - surgery week.

I'm nervous, scared and anxious.... I've been reading a lot on line about my surgery and it looks like it could take up to 12 months to fully regain 100% strength in my shoulder. But each case I've read, each patient has said totally worth it.

I'm nervous about the anesthesia (more so about vomiting after) and also that for some reason it won't work on me and I'll feel everything.

I'm scared because well...it's surgery

And I'm anxious to get it over with and be back to normal life with no pain. It's been killing me lately but that's probably because I unloaded all my Christmas decorations from the attic by myself and moved a 500 pound piano by myself. I also moved a bed and an inversion table.... maybe I should have asked for help.... oh well too late now.

I'm not looking forward to being out of commission for a few days. From reading it looks like pain meds are going to be a definite for the first 3-4 days. Pain meds make me soo sleepy so I'll probably just be lazy through the weekend. I'm hoping to get back up and working on Monday, at least from home if nothing else, and be driving the following week.

PT should start a few weeks post op....

Come by and see me... I'm sure I'll be in my Rx la-la-land but always enjoy the company!

Have a Happy Monday!

Pic of the week....

I'm sure you are all wondering why I have a picture of a shoulder with an area that's highlighted in yellow.... that yellow part on my shoulder is completely torn from front to back (or from 3 o'clock position to the 9 o'clock position in medical terms)

I also have a frayed rotator cuff....

All of which will have to be repaired on December 2 when I have surgery.

I have NEVER had surgery in my life; minus my wisdom teeth being taken out which doesn't really count.

It will be arthroscopic, a 2 hour procedure.... my Ortho will repair the torn labrum and rotator cuff and I'll be on my way.

Over the last few weeks my shoulder has been really bothering me... I was swimming in the pool at the gym about 2 weeks ago and heard a loud pop... it hurt but I kept on swimming. I called our family ortho the next day and scheduled an appt for last week. He sent me to have an MRI last week which showed all the tears and frays... awesome.

This is the same shoulder I hurt in 6th grade when I dislocated it rolling down a hill at the Dallas convention center during a church trip. Apparently if you have a dislocation before the age of 16 you have a 90% higher chance of having a second dislocation later in life. So I've pretty much had a "loose shoulder" since then. But it has been exacerbated over the last year since I've been swimming so much.

Apparently this injury is most common in baseball pitchers...

Anyway - say a few prayers for me in two weeks when I go under the knife...

Happy Thursday!

November 18, 1999

November 18 holds a very sad place in many Aggies hearts.

It was on this day that Bonfire fell at 2:42am and 12 Aggies lost their lives.

I was not on campus on 11.18.99 nor was I in College Station - I was at home in Lewisville; folding laundry at nearly 3:00am when I saw the news come on that Bonfire had fallen. I was a freshman at UNT - only a few months prior I had forgone my acceptance to A&M to stay home because I was not ready to leave home just yet.

Many of my now best friends were on campus that day and have recounted their stories to me many of times. From hearing the sirens in the dorms to running out on the polo fields and attending the candlelight vigil.

I remember distinctly trying to get ahold of a boy I had dated in high school. He was in the Corps at A&M and I knew there was a possibility of him being on stack that night. I wasn't sure when his outfit was going to be out there but I remember thinking "Oh my God he could be there."

I never saw a Bonfire burn but I know the special place it holds in my heart as an Aggie tradition and a legacy of the 'Ole Army Days.

I love Texas A&M and today I think about all the history, tradition, and wonderful times I had there. I also remember the 12 that lost their lives on stack that day and say a prayer for each and everyone of them and their families.

We Will Never Forget....

I heart Ellen...

This will make your Monday... sorry I missed the pic of the week last week...this should make up for it!

Go Watch...

THIS VIDEO

and...


THIS VIDEO

leave comments....send the links to friends... win my friends some $

Pic of the week...and some super excitement

Pic of the week:

My dear friend, a partner in crime, Karen - laid out in her kitchen with trash all over her. By far the funniest, and most entertaining part of my Halloween evening....

Just thought you may need a good laugh on this Thursday - LOVE YOU KAREN!!!

Super excitement today because Sarah is coming into town!! YAY!!! She gets here in just about one hour!!!

Can I tell you how much I LOVE November...

Almost as much as I love DECEMBER!!!

I seriously love this time of year - the weather, the food, the holidays, EVERYTHING!! My goodness I get so excited!!!

This weekend is my 10 year reunion, the following weekend is C's bday weekend, then the Baylor/A&M Game with the Castleberry/Bland Clan, THEN THANKSGIVING!!!

This month is going to FLY by!!!! Before you know it will be my most favorite time.... decorating for Christmas :) whoo-hooooooo

I'm thinking about changing my Christmas theme this year - my tree is traditionally gold and white.... very sleek and pretty (and I only get REAL trees)

I'm thinking something different this year - I LOVE my grandmother's santa clause collection I have so I'm thinking about doing a red/green tree with Santa influence... but I also LOVE LOVE LOVE a peppermint tree.... Garden Ridge - watch out HERE I COME!!!

Halloween Weekend...

What a weekend... So FUN!!!

Friday night I kept my precious Shelby while Nick coached and Paige attended the Garland H.S. homecoming. Shelby and I had so much fun playing and reading and eating and just spending time together!

Sweet girl fell asleep in my lap while reading her Pumpkin Halloween book.... I wasn't going to see her on Saturday so I put her costume on her Friday so I could take pictures... she is just about THE cutest kitty-kat you ever did see...don't you think???

*Don't mind her crazy hair - we had been playing hard!*

Her cute little black tutu and tail :)

Precious is the one word I can use to describe her.... Love her to pieces!!!

Saturday was packed with errands and cooking - and then C&K Halloween Fantasy Factory... so fun! Everyone was dressed up and we had a blast....

.... I was Tina Turner for 1/2 the night and Ciearra for the other 1/2... my costume wasn't very comfortable after a few beers (I mean red bull and vodkas) and one too many pizza rolls.... Ciearra's drawers were WAY to accessible so I helped myself to sweat pants and a hoodie...Thanks C!!!!

Coop Spiderman came over to Karen's to trick or treat....

Mario and Julie were the men and womens bathroom signs... HILARIOUS!!!

Octomom and Bob Lumberg - a.k.a. - Pat and Zoe

Roomie pic - me (Tina Turner), Tommy (old civil war guy) and Deuce...

Balloon Boy Karen and Me.... I mean Tina

We had so much fun.... hint for Thursday - pic of the week - involves Karen, the Kitchen and a possible dog pile..... Munch on that for a while.... :)

Pic of the week....

At the Challenge last weekend they had all these boxes of chalk for kids and spectators to write things on the concrete with at the finish lines and through the course of the race. They were giving the chalk away also to take home... and since my new home project was chalk board/magnetic section of a wall in my kitchen I took some... but not before leaving my mark on LS'09...

I love you Jess - and miss you every single day.

Livestrong Challenge Picture Overload...

I thought I should dedicate a post solely to the pictures we took over the weekend... you can read the recap HERE


Before the Race - so early it was still dark :)

In front of the capitol

Our whole group...

Dave and Della

Newbs and Zeke

Cay and Newbie

Cayla....

After the 5K - Cayla, Newbie and Me

Newbie and Me after the 5K

Holding our posters of our bf we share....

He loves me more :) j/k

Zeke, Papa and Mama Newbie, and Newbie

The 5Ker's... (minus Ciearra's momma)

Just us girls :) Ciearra, Della, Newbie, Cayla and Me

Newbie and Zeke

Cayla, Newbs and Zeke after finishing

Before the race in the staging area


We look so serious...

Headed out for the ride

Lance Armstrong finishing the 90 miler

Me, Newbie, Ciearra, and Cayla after the ride

Me finishing the ride

Newbie crossing the finish line

Ciearra after just finishing

My Favorites....