Dallas Heart Walk

This weekend I'm participating in the Start! Heart Walk sponsored by the American Heart Association to raise money and awareness for heart disease and stroke, the #1 and #3 killers in America. As some of you know, this disease has affected my family with the passing of my Grandpa a few years ago. My personal goal is to raise $375 for the cause. By making a donation, you can help increase funds for research and education to stop heart disease.

Please visit my webpage to make a donation and learn more about heart disease.


Click Here to Donate

Thanks for your support!!

Picture Update

My life in pictures from the past few weeks. Enjoy!

I know everyone has been hearing the buzz about the new Cowboys Stadium. I can speak from experience and say that it should be added to the Great Wonders of the World ;-) Okay, so maybe its not THAT great, but its pretty darn close. At least its a million times better than the old stadium. We went a month ago to take the tour but didn't realize the Gold Cup was going on (soccer tournament) and they weren't having tours, so we bought soccer tickets instead and took our own tour. Two weekends after that we made it to the official tour. It was amazing; we got to go to all the behind the scenes places like the media rooms, suites, field level suites, AND the locker room :-) That was my favorite part ;-) And last weekend, we went to the 3rd pre-season game against the 49ers. It was AH-Mazing. I don't even care about the fact that we lost; its preseason and all the starters went out after the half...whatever. Don't care. The atmosphere was electric. You HAVE to go. One word of advice though: get nachos BEFORE halftime; otherwise they run out. :-( Other than that, it was a wonderful experience.


1. the stadium....kinda looks like a spaceship

2. security guard with an automatic rifle

3. the boys running out

4. ROMO

5. me under the massive steal arches

6. me and Lou at the game

As most of you know, I practiced Taekwondo while I was at A&M and was able to travel and compete in quite a few tournaments. Officially, I only reached Blue belt level, which is 2 belts away from Black. Since graduating, I have had a very strong desire to get back into it so that I can eventually earn my Black belt, but finding the time, money and the right school has deterred me. Three and a half years later, I finally stopped making excuses and have joined a school in Richardson. Though impressed with my previous background, the instructors at this new school firmly felt that I should start at White belt level.....all over again.....at the beginning..... Yay. I was not happy about it at first but now I'm glad I did because I'm getting to perfect my technique, plus learn the basics in other types of martial arts such as Japanese jujitsu (self defense) and arnis (stick fighting). So even though I'm back on the bottom rung, I am progressing really well and the instructors challenge me each class. As a compromise, they are allowing me to test more frequently than other students. So that's good. After being there for about a month, I tested for my next belt last Tuesday, graduating from White to what they call "High White", or White with a Yellow stripe.

1. warming up with some American splits

2. punching in horse stance


3. front kick...or maybe end of axe kick, not sure

4. receiving my yellow stripe :-)


About a month ago, Luis got "boat fever" and has been wanting to buy a boat really bad. He finally did a few weeks ago. It's not new and it needs a little cosmetic work, but it runs great. We took it out on the water for the first time this past weekend. Didger loved it! I am not "allowed" to post pictures of the boat until it is "finished", but here's a sneak peak ;-)

1. fun in the sun

2. for Didger too!

3. the boat from far away ;-)

Rant

Would someone please tell Brett Favre to SIT DOWN. Seriously, how many times is this guy going to retire? I can understand having second thoughts about it, but just once. Save face and move on with your life. No one wants to watch you prance around in your purple tights and try to prove that you're as good as you were a few years ago. Because you're not. And the fact that you're wearing purple just makes it all the more painful for the Sunday audience. I mean we already have to deal with Michael Vick, and we'd much rather not. And yeah, maybe you're better than Rosenfels and Jackson, but at least they don't look like neurotic idots. I'm thinking I'll boycot all Vikings and Eagles games this season. :-)

GO COWBOYS!

The Fitness Spot

Just wanted to let you know that I started a fitness blog. You should totally check it out for lots of up to date info on health and fitness. There are some great links on the blog roll as well, including sites for muscle building, nutrition, and women's health. I intend to post pretty regularly so be sure to stop by and get some fitness in your life!

The Fitness Spot

Best Wedding Entrance

I must be living under a rock because I had no idea about this, but a wonderful friend forwarded it to me and it made my day. I promise it will bring a smile to your face...and maybe a joyful tear or two to your eyes. :-)

JK Wedding Entrance

A New Direction

I have some exciting news!!!!

I received my acceptance letter in the mail today for the graduate program at Texas Woman's University!! Yay for me! I am going to be working towards my Masters of Health Systems Management, which is basically like an MBA with health care management as the focus. I will continue to work full time and go to school part time; just 2 (or 3) classes a semester. For this program, it will take me about 2 years to complete, which isn't too bad. Especially considering that if I pass my classes, my company will reimburse me for my tuition. How could I not pass that up?!

Needless to say, I am very excited about this and really looking forward to being back in the classroom. I can already feel a new sense of direction, structure, and purpose. I know it will be challenging, but I am definitely up for it and ready for whatever they throw at me.

So that's the update! Thanks for sharing in my excitement!

GO PIONEERS! ;-)

King of Pop

"Lift your head up high

And scream out to the world
I know I am someone
And let the truth unfurl
No one can hurt you now
Because you know what's true
Yes, I believe in me
So you believe in you
Help me sing it..."

Best Michael Jackson song ever. In my opinion.

So the guy was a whack job. There are enough people out there talking about all the terrible things he did. I don't have to repeat them here. As a person, he was a sicko.

But as an artist, he was a genius.

No one can deny the profound impact he had on the music industry. He broke barriers and paved the way for pop music as we know it today, and for that we should salute him as one of the greatest artists and entertainers of all time.

Sorry to see him go.

"If you don't like what I'm sayin', then won't you slap my face..."