Club Night

I took a great step on Friday night - socially and craftily. I went to a StampinUp Club Night!

I found a demonstrator - a different one than the one who stood me up - online and sent her an email. The email went just in time for their once-a-month Club meeting. The demonstrator was super nice - she even gave me a $10 catalog that I'm used to paying for. And the other ladies - three club-members - were also super sweet. One was even my age, though she has a son (thereby making real friendship most likely impossible).

And, best of all, we made three adorable cards! Seriously, one is so cute that I'm hesitant to give it away! I would post them here, but that seems to be a copyright infringement of someone else's original ideas. So, you'll just have to believe me when I say they're uber, uber cute! I also learned some spiffy new techniques - many of which require equipment I can't afford! - and felt quite the novice among these crafty ladies!

I'm really torn as to whether I should join the group. It costs $15 a month and then, on top of that, you must place a minimum $15 order every month. This seems a bit extreme to me. Or, there's a card buffet once a month, where you make five cards for $15. If I did all three, that's $45! I don't know if I should commit to spending that each month, especially when all my stamping supplies are still in East Texas, with the parents. Then again, I need a social life. Hm....

Suggestions?

7 Months

Seven months ago today, I met Mr. Higgins. Can you believe it? I sure can't! Those seven months have felt like a lifetime but not even the blink of an eye. So much has happened.....but not nearly enough has happened!

As a couple, we've come so far. The issues that plague other couples fell away within the first few months of our courtship. We were both, amazingly, equally committed from the start. I had been looking for someone who viewed relationships just as I do, and I found him!

It's been a wonderful journey and the best part is that we still have so far to go together!

Terror Babies

In case you don't watch Anderson Cooper or Jon Stewart, here's what you've missed: terror babies.

Brought to you in full by an East Texas - utterly ridiculous - congressman. The interview....I love it. Gohmert cannot answer any question, much less form complete, complex sentences. His goal seems to be to talk over Anderson for the entirety of the "interview."

Good interview, Gohmert. Way to represent....common idiocy. I'm embarrassed to be from East Texas.

The Piano Teacher

I just finished reading The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee. It had been sitting on my shelf for quite some time so it's good to get through it. Lee produced a historically sweeping novel that could have been gut-wrenching but was instead a bit flat.

The story is set in two times: war-torn Hong Kong of 1942-3 and a recovering, haunted Hong Kong of 1953. Will, a British ex-pat, comes to Hong Kong for work and is swept into the best social circles after falling for Trudy, a beautiful Eurasian. The war is barely a backdrop to these privileged people. Once Hong Kong is invaded, Will is shipped off to an internment camp and, though this should be the most intriguing part of the story, Lee instead focuses on Trudy, who struggles to survive in an occupied Hong Kong, forever mourning the loss of her glittery, upper-class dinner parties. With Will contained in the camps and Truly living on the "outside," their romance fizzles.

Ten years later, Claire arrives in Hong Kong with her husband, a British Water Works inspector. She starts teaching piano to a wealthy girl whose parents have a dark history during and after the war. Claire meets Will and they have an affair. Claire begins to find herself amidst the foreigners and foreign climate but she also starts to uncover secrets involving Will and Trudy.

I do not particularly enjoy reading about rich spoiled people, which is what all of these characters are, outside of Claire. Hong Kong seems fascinating but Lee barely scratches the surface to the secrets of this fascinating place. There are other authors who do a much better job at capturing the historical essence of a time and place.

Suspicious Activity

Last night, I was outside watering in the backyard. I had already done the front yard, locked the gate, and was diligently watering the back plants. Next to the house is an old, abandoned motel. During the day, teachers from the elementary school across the street park there. At night, it's a dark parking lot next to the house. This is the one thing about the house that makes me uneasy. During the day it's fine but at night....well, anyone can sit there and watch the house.

Around seven o'clock, I heard someone pull into the parking lot. I'd already watched all the teachers leave so I knew it was someone else. I heard someone step on the dry grass and leaves on the other side of the backyard fence. I stopped watering. Through the fence - a wooden fence with a few holes - I could see someone moving around. I waited until I heard no more steps and then I moved. I unlocked the gate and walked around the front of the house and over to look at the car in the parking lot. Someone was now inside the car. It was too far away for me to see the license plate - curse my horrible eyes! - so I ran around and back inside the house.

I looked through all the windows in the house - which look towards the lot - trying to see the license plate. As I looked, the car backed up and slowly exited the lot. I tried again - and failed - to read the license plate. Actually, I don't think there was one!

I thought for a moment, looked up the non-emergency number for the police, and called. A very nice lady said she would send out an order for more patrols in the area. She also said to not hesitate to call 911 if I ever feel uneasy.

Though there was a break-in next door, I've never felt physically uneasy in that house until last night. To hear someone walking around the brush on the other side of the fence was more unnerving than I can say. I was so close to calling 911 - and then the guy left. My superior vehicle identification skills even let me down - all I can say about the car is that it was a late '90s American-made silver 4-door.

At least the police know to keep an eye out. And there's a police station really close by. That's something. Right?

Back to Work

My few days of vacation are now over and it's back to work. I feel more rested after a trip to the country followed by quality time with Mr. Higgins. And I'll need to be rested for what's in store....

A crazy week is ahead followed by an inundation of students and the start of classes next week. Gone are the days of quiet hallways and empty faculty offices. I'm not sure I'm ready for all this!

And just to add another layer to all this... The heat has not abated at all! It's still too bloody hot!

I'm ready for fall!

A Short Summer Interlude 2

Yesterday was very productive on the craft front. I made quite a few cards which was surprising. Usually when I want to be creative, the creative juices refuse to flow. It was great to sit down and come up with card after card.... Success!

It's also been good to see Sookie the Cat. She's gained some weight since I last saw her but that's good as she's always been too skinny. None of the pets are happy in this heat but she was super cute and even stalked a rabbit!

There was also time to relax yesterday, which was nice. I even managed to be unproductive for a few minutes - or an hour!

A Short Summer Interlude 1

I made it to East Texas last night after a wonderful dinner with Mr. Higgins. It was our 30th Wednesday night in a row - our official Date Night. We went back to the restaurant we went for our third date - one that we haven't been to since. It was a real treat and a lot of fun. Just when I think we'll run out of things to talk about - and be one of those silent couples - we can't stop talking!

When I got to my parent's place, a herd of deer (do deer have herds?) welcomed me...by almost stampeding into my car. It was an awesome sight...once my heart started beating again!

I'm hoping to be super crafty today! Card-making is on the agenda! A knitting pattern search is also on tap. Hopefully, a good day!

Nerves

I'm exhausted. There's nothing left.

Thankfully I'm escaping to the country tonight to pet-sit for my parents for a few days. It'll be a few degrees cooler out there, beneath the pine trees. And the quiet of the country will likely help my very frayed nerves. (Ha - I sound like a character from a Jane Austen novel, what with my "nerves!")

So, tomorrow and Friday, I'll be writing from the country, where my agenda consists of crafty fun, working out, pancakes, and friends.

Reproduction

Liz's comment on yesterday's post brings up an interesting topic and one that I don't think I've discussed here: kids.

I know many women - and men - have a natural yearning to reproduce. They know exactly how many kids they want once they're able to understand where babies come from - or before. They may even have names picked out. They look at babies and just want to hold them. They see a pregnant woman and have to touch her belly.

I'm not one of these people. I've never felt the desire or the urge to have kids. Sure, some babies are cute but once they open their mouth - to scream, to spit up, to drool - I'm done. I have no patience and I know I would make a horrible parent. And, personally, I think it's very responsible to know that I don't want to be the kind of parent I would become. I'm not going to put a child through that - or myself. And, oh yes... I don't want to give birth. I don't think that I must give birth to be a real woman. That's not some sort of rite of passage I feel the need with which to torture myself. I'm good, just the way I am!

And no, I've not "grown out" of my thinking, nor will I ever.

(And, for the record, I know have the "Reproduction" song from GREASE 2 stuck in my head. Ugh!)

A Shower

My best friend, AL, is getting married. It's such an exciting time for her and for her family! Yesterday, her cousins threw her a bridal shower, to which I was invited.

Very few of my friends have married and none of my close friends have yet to tie the knot. AL is the first. As a result, I'm far removed from the bridal scene and all the traditions that accompany it. Frankly, I've never even paid attention to such things as I was always too afraid of getting my hopes up. Marriage was not something I was sure to be in my future.

And so the whole bridal shower is an interesting cultural phenomenon, in my mind. I like the idea of all your close female friends and relatives gathering around you to wish you every happiness. It's a lovely thing. And it was a lovely day.

Still, I couldn't help but think of my own situation. I have an extremely small family. And sometimes, when I see large, happy families, it makes me a bit sad. I've never had that. I have no idea what it's like to be known, since birth, by so many people. I'm lucky if my cousins remember my name! Ha!

But it made me happy to see AL's family so happy. She's lucky to have them - and vice versa!

Crafty Attempts

My stamping consultant has moved far, far away and, therefore, I've found myself in need of a new consultant, preferably one near my near abode. I contacted a lady not too far away and she seemed very enthusiastic about me "adopting" her for all my stamping needs. After talking to her a bit, we set up a time for me to swing by her house to pick up a new catalog.

The appointed time for our meeting was eminent yesterday so I called the consultant when I left my house, per her instructions. There was no answer. Five minutes later, I tried again: no answer. On the fifth call, when I was blocks away from her house, she picked up the phone.

"O goodness, I meant to call you sooner," she exclaimed. I slowed the car and made to turn around; I knew something was wrong.

It turns out her husband was away and she had to pick up the kids in a suburb. Instead of calling me, she apparently forgot how to read a clock. Now, back when I tried my hand at selling make-up, I never would have asked a customer to come to me. She did this and I excused it....she was on my way to Mr. Higgins' house, after all. But for her to blatantly forget an appointment is inexcusable, in my book.

She said she'd be home in forty-five minutes and asked if we could meet then. Of all the gall! I said no, I had other plans. Around seven she called back and left a message (I didn't want to answer the phone). She was only halfway apologetic, saying she'd had a crazy day. If that was the case, why didn't she call to reschedule?

I'm debating whether to give this woman my business, since she obviously needs to learn a few about doing business!

Modano

Instead of focusing on (or complaining about) the heat, why don't we talk about something cooler...like hockey!

Mike Modano was released from the Stars this summer and it was a very sad thing. He was a Star for his entire career and even helped to bring the Stanley Cup to Dallas. He was debating retirement.....

And now he's signed with the Detroit Red Wings. A more evil scenario could not have been imagined. Memories of Emmitt Smith and the Arizona Cardinals come to mind (though I still love Emmitt). Though I'm trying to see things from Modano's perspective (who probably relishes the idea of playing for a team so close to his childhood home - and just being able to play in general), it still makes me sad.

I wanted to think of him only as a Star.

Hot, Hot, Hot

You know it's hot when the weatherman says "and today our high will be a cool 102." And apparently there's no change on the horizon for the next 7-10 days. The air conditioner runs constantly, even when set in the low 80s. It's miserable....miserable, miserable, miserable.

I find myself unable to come up with anything more enlightening for today. The heat just sucks it out of me.

Gaylord Texan

A few weeks ago, Mr. Higgins and I went to explore the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. If you've ever flown into DFW Airport, you've probably seen - or flown over - this massive hotel. It's like a mini (Texas) version of the Opryland in Nashville. Inside the complex, there are lush gardens....and a replica of the Alamo!


Also inside is a mock Riverwalk. Much cooler and less crowded than the real one in San Antonio!


It was just so beautiful inside! I'd forgotten what the Opryland was like but this reminded me! The main thing I remember about Opryland is how small - but expensive - the rooms were. I wonder if the Gaylord is the same way? Hm.....

After a nice dinner here, Mr. Higgins and I returned to reality, i.e. the Texas heat!

Hello August

I've always hated this month. In Texas, the heat settles in and weighs on you for real. It's stifling and horribly uncomfortable. We reached 102 yesterday and no air conditioner can keep up.

And, at the root of it all is the fact that for 24 years, August meant it was time to go back to school. Nothing changed in graduate school and nothing has changed now that I work at a university. Now, the students descend upon us, flooding the hallways and parking lots. My quiet building turns into a cacophony of voices, footsteps, and doors opening and closing - an endless chorus that will last until May.

I would give anything to skip this month and move along into the welcoming months of fall. Sigh....

Burned

It's a common theme I've been hearing about lately... Good people getting burned or taken advantage of by those close to them. Several of my acquaintances have done status posts on Facebook on the subject, which surprised me. That's awfully personal information to put out there! But apparently there's a lot of hurt going around. And I often feel the same way.

I try to do the right thing and be a good person. I rarely stand up for myself and, as a result, have gotten hurt many times. Being an only child, I've always preferred and, to a certain extent, craved isolation. I don't have many friends nor do I want a large social circle. I let few people in but I trust those that I do. And though I'm a hardcore introvert, I crave social interaction at times, though the effort it costs me to be sociable often leaves me exhausted.

And so it doubly hurts when I get burned.

At least there's some comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one this happens to.

Life Is Crazy...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

TNP

One of my favorite bands, The New Pornographers, was in town on Saturday night. We were so excited, me and my friends bought tickets when they first became available.

Ironically enough, despite listening to this band for a very long time, I've never even seen a picture of them! So, it was great to put faces to all the voices I'd heard. I even liked Neko Case more than I thought, despite her recent solo success. (And yes, I broke down and downloaded her album the other day.)

TNP is very unique as they're so big! There are four lead singers that take turns and harmonize (two women and two men) and no one person is responsible for their sound. Instead, they have several songwriters in their group. As a result, their sound is something like I've never heard before and I've always liked it. They did not disappoint in person either!

Their two opening acts, however, left much to be desired. By the time TNP came along, my eardrums ached along with every inch of my body after having stood for three hours. I don't think I'm cut out for such concerts. I need the old people kind where you sit down! Ha!

E-Reading

E-books are now all the rage. And like everything else that is the rage, I'm ambivalent and even at times hostile towards this change.

Why? Well, I'm a bibliophile. I love and adore books. There is no greater pleasure for me than to sit down with a good book and spend hours with the characters therein. I love the smell of books, the weight of them, the feel of them.... At work, I handle books from the sixteenth century! So when it comes time for me to read an article or a long chapter of a draft on the computer screen, I much prefer to print it out to have it in my hands. I know this is not good for the environment but it feels real once I can touch it.

And so I have no idea how I'd feel about sitting down to read a book on an e-reader. Honestly, it probably wouldn't feel like a book to me. I'm sure I'd lose patience with it all, feeling as if I were staring at the computer screen. But I may be wrong. I admit to eying the Nook at Barnes & Noble. I like the looks of it. But I can't imagine spending so much money on something I'm unsure of. I hear people talk of their love of such e-readers - even my fellow academics - and I'm curious. The only time I could justify buying such a thing would be if I needed dozens of books at hand for a long trip. An e-reader would be much lighter than a dozen books!

But, like with everything else trendy, I'll hold out either until one falls into my lap or until I have a surplus of income (each scenario being extremely unlikely!). And, even then, I can't imagine not having a physical reminder on my shelf of a book I loved reading....

Dead in the Family

As predicted, Charlaine Harris' latest Sookie Stackhouse novel took me no time at all to read. Dead in the Family was, as usual, pure fun, despite some of the recent trauma in Sookie's life.

At the end of the previous novel, Sookie endured some pretty horrific torture by vengeful fairies. Her emotional and physical scars are seen throughout Dead in the Family. But, as the title suggests, she is surrounded by family, as is Eric, whose maker comes to town with a new boy toy in tow. Stress and havoc naturally ensue.

All our favorite characters have a place in this Sookie novel and it was refreshing to read about them again. Bill is enduring his own slow recuperation, which Sookie is intent upon facilitating. Alcide calls upon Sookie for help, yet again, and Sam has a new girlfriend. Even Jason is back and is amazingly likable and helpful, for once.

Sookie always entertains and the tenth novel does not disappoint.

Sookie #10

Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series is one of my favorite. Yes, it's the series that HBO's 'True Blood' is loosely based upon. The show is disgusting. The books are interesting, funny, and action-packed.

I pre-ordered the new book - #10 - and it arrived in May. I've had a busy few months and I wanted to wait to begin the book until things had settled down. I can, after all, sit down and read one of these books in one sitting! So, I started #10 this week but I'm going slow on it. I want to savor it. If I blow through it too quickly, I'll forget what happens. I want to remember it and enjoy it!

Hence, I'm about two-thirds of the way through Dead in the Family. It's a good book so far, like all in the series but it's also surprising - even with the title - that so much of it revolves around family.

I won't say anything more until I can give you a full report...but let's just say that I'm really enjoying Sookie's new adventure!

Mad Men

I am eagerly awaiting the Mad Men premier on Sunday. Yep, Mr. Higgins made me watch the first three seasons and I loved it! Recently, the New York times had an awesome article about the upcoming season which only heightened my anticipation.

So, you know where I'll be on Sunday night!

Labyrinth

I'd seen Kate Mosse's Labyrinth quite a bit before I finally picked it up. For some reason I was skeptical about it....secret societies and Holy Grail theories don't really interest me anymore. But then, after reading a synopsis, I was intrigued by the plot centered upon the fall of Carcassonne during the Albigensian Crusades. So, I read it.

Kate Mosse had a wonderful idea with this book - outside of the ridiculous grail stuff. She centered the story around Alice, a modern day professor working on an archeological dig in southern France, and Alais, a headstrong thirteenth-century woman of Carcassonne. Alice is on the run after stumbling upon a cave and two skeletons at the dig (and not many people are happy she found such things). She must unravel the secrets of that cave in order to survive. Alais must endure the siege of her hometown while preserving the books of a secret religion and society - one intent upon safeguarding the Holy Grail.

The re-telling of the siege is great. The transitions and connections between the two women are awkward and poorly done. Mosse's style is still being refined and the edges are still rough. She tries to balance too many points of view in this book and for the first half, it's hard to keep all the characters straight.

Mosse is definitely a writer to watch but her writing is still in it's formative stages.

Six Months

It's been six wonderful months with Mr. Higgins. He sent flowers to commemorate the day and they were absolutely beautiful (though the pic is sub-par). I never thought finding such a guy was possible.....but I'm so very glad to have been wrong!

A New Fiddler

More bishops being bad.....

Have you heard about the the Bruges bishop? He apparently molested his nephew for years and the Church spent twenty-five years attempting to keep his crimes under wraps. The Belgian police finally got wind of the crimes and raided the Church hierarchy. Our illustrious pope said nothing of the bishop; he only condemned the actions of the police.

Not surprisingly, Maureen Dowd is appalled. So am I. But why aren't more people?

Meeting People

I went to a new girl for a haircut earlier this week. She was super sweet. At some point in our conversation, we discovered we were the same age. She mentioned how few people her own age she sees or meets. We agreed that it's very hard to meet new friends.

And we posed the question, where do people go once they surpass the age of twenty-five? Do they get married and fall into the black hole of family/kids? Do they get too busy with work to ever go anywhere except home and work? Where are they?

I've never had any luck meeting friends, except when I joined a choir. Even then, there was no one in there remotely close to my age. I just don't understand it! Where do people go?

Shedding Light...

I spoke before about The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I've not read the other books in the series, but apparently some of them involve the crime of human trafficking.

The books take place in Sweden. It's not uncommon to hear of these crimes in other parts of the world. We forget that the United States also has a problem with the grotesque crime of trafficking. There is an interesting piece in the NYTimes on this subject.

The book was hard for me to get through...but there are some things we, as humans, need to be aware of. Crimes that other humans commit all too easily. If these books shed light on such crimes, then I'm glad they're on the bestseller lists.

26

26 Wednesdays. Half a year.

My first date with Mr. Higgins was on a Wednesday in January. We've seen each other every Wednesday since then; it's become our Date Night. Tonight will be the 26th such date. Next week will be our six month anniversary.

To say that it's gone by in a blur is an understatement. I remember that first night so clearly - the butterflies, the initial nerves, the conversation.... And then everything just sort of fell into place. It's been a miraculous journey and one that I never thought to experience. The unexpected, it seems, can and does happen.

Other, bigger plans are keeping our sixth-month anniversary celebration relatively low-key but that doesn't make it any less special. Six months with an incredible guy....priceless!

Dreams vs Reality

The last two nights have been disturbingly restless for me. Each night, I've awoken, wide awake, around 1:30am.....only to have to stay in bed for another four hours or so. It's been....tedious, to say the least.

Perhaps it's dreams that causes my restlessness....or the restlessness causes weird dreams. In any case, I've dreamed that my car was stolen at work and that a friend moved into my neighborhood to, in essence, spy on me. I know, it's weird.

If anything, my dreams tell me that I'm tired of being taken advantage of, I'm tired of having a mark on my back, I'm tired of being stabbed in the back, and I'm really tired of getting hurt. Since when did I become people's punching bag?

Lately, I cannot get from my car to the front-door without being confronted by the groundskeeper of the elementary school across from my house. He has a landscaping problem that he thinks should be my problem. I refuse to give in. I refuse to make his life easier, thereby making the neighborhood less green and lush. No more nice Doniamarie!

Get out of my way. I've spent my life worried about what people think of me. Well, no more!

Weight Management

It was with severe trepidation that I got on the scale this morning for my weekly weigh-in. I have not been eating well this past week and there has been some alcohol thrown in as well.

For women, it's common knowledge that dating can play havoc with any diet (or just a healthy eating routine). I've never met a man who knows or cares what is healthy or not. They all seem to eat whatever they want whenever they want. Mr. Higgins is a bit different but it's still a struggle to eat well at times.

So I was genuinely amazed that I hadn't gained anything over the course of last week and the weekend. I think it may be due to my metabolism which has probably been trained by four years of (healthy) snacking throughout the work day. Ha! It's a curse to be hungry every two hours but if, in the long run, that boosts my metabolism, then I'll be hungry!

Still, I went out and did forty minutes of yard-work yesterday evening when it was ninety-eight outside. Sweating away - theoretical - pounds made me feel better....and really, really hot.

The Ego That Is LeBron

Let's get this straight: LeBron James is not the king of anything.....except perhaps egos.

There was talk of wanting this guy to come to Dallas but I never jumped on that particular bandwagon. We need unselfish, team-oriented played, which clearly excludes James. It amazes me that this guy is only 25 years old; he looks about 35!

I listened to Cleveland residents cry and moan on NPR about the "king" who has "LOYALTY" tattooed on his chest. They do realize that this so-called "king" never brought a championship to their city, right? I may have to tune in the first time the Heat make the trek up to Cleveland...that'll be an interesting crowd.

It was news to me this morning that this so-called "class" of free agents was all orchestrated by the three big players involved: Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and James. They all negotiated their contracts to be free agents at the same time. Who would think that they would end up in different places after all that?

I'm done with this story. James doesn't deserve anyone's thoughts, much less their dislike. That would only further fuel his ego.

For a column on just how much of a debacle this all was, go here.

The Fall of Rome, Again

Rome is apparently falling apart, literally.

An article has detailed how archeological sites are crumbling. Pieces of the Colosseum and the Domus Area (Golden House of Nero) are falling, collapsing just as the empire fell in upon itself fifteen hundred years ago.

Romans are modernizing the Eternal City and the vast archeological sites are suffering. As the article says, the entire country is one big archeological site! You stumble upon ruins more readily than vineyards.

It really breaks my heart to see this. Nowhere is history more tangible than in Rome.

Unsafe

Last Friday I worked from home during the afternoon. It was the only day that week that I did so. Around two o'clock I went out to get something from my car and ran into my next door neighbor, whom I'd yet to meet. He said hello and then dropped a bombshell: someone broke in and robbed them that morning.

A crime alert had been circulated the prior weekend about a woman going around casing houses - looking in windows and not being at all shy about it. I had been on edge. The news of a break-in next door sent me over the edge. I've been scared ever since. Sleep is not something that comes easy and nightmares occur in the few hours of actual sleep I get.

Ironically enough, a new digital meter was installed by the electric company at the house last week that - annoyingly - screwed up the motion detector security light by the backdoor. Now, the light comes on too often.....which wakes me up.

I'm on my last nerve and am just plain exhausted. If you happen to encounter me, that's why I look terrible and why I'm in a bad mood. Just a warning and advance apology.

And no. I do not own a gun nor do I plan on getting one. I'm not that Texan! Ha!

Anxious Days

I'm sure this sounds completely uninteresting to most of you, but Thursday, Friday, and part of Saturday were anxious days for Mavs fans. Why? Dirk Nowitzki was, for that time, a free agent.

But no more. On Saturday he promised to return to Dallas, with a whole new contract and a no-trade clause. Only he and Kobe have such a clause and it will make Dirk a Mav for life! (Insert my sigh of relief here!)

The big German even signed a contract that was $16 million less than what he could have gotten, on the condition that Mark Cuban tries to recruit new talent to the Mavs line-up. That's why I love this guy! He's always willing to do what's best for the team. He's one of a kind and a breath of fresh air in a sport where players go to the highest bidder.

Now, hopefully, he can make something happen this coming season.

A Birthday

Happy Birthday to my BFF, SK!

We've been friends for ten years this summer and I'm lucky to have met her and had so many wonderful memories with her! We've laughed together, cried together, contemplated together, studied together, and had many tasty girlie drinks together! It's been a fabulous time and I can't wait for the next ten years!

I'm afraid that's all I've got today. This week has been off-kilter and I'll be glad to see it over and done with!

Alex

Hurricane Alex has brought some welcome rain to my part of the world. June was exceptionally hot with triple digits, but Alex has brought those temperatures down to the "cool" nineties along with the rain. It's a relief, to be sure!

I think the heat had been weighing on me. I haven't felt rested or refreshed for weeks. But having a relief from the temperatures is doing wonders.

So, though hurricanes are not the ideal way to get rain, I'll take what we can get! Nature has a way of balancing things out!

De-Sexualized

I read a very interesting article yesterday that I thought you might enjoy....

My circumstances for finding it were amusing - after returning from the doctor. It brings up something that I've always had issues with... Hollywood being obsessed with anorexic-thin women. As the article says, they're making women masculine - thin, muscled, with small or no breasts. The voluptuous beauties of our era are not white, they're African American or Hispanic. I've noted this for years but that hasn't stopped me from trying to tone up and lose weight. It's not that I want to be de-sexualized - quite the contrary, actually. I'm looking for balance.

It took me a long time to embrace my femininity - I was a tomboy, after all - but now that I have, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It would be nice if society would embrace the natural curves of a women...instead of trying to make her into a 12-year-old boy.

A Bit of the Bard

On Friday night, SK and I checked out a local production of Much Ado About Nothing. It was really cute. The acting was great, the storyline light, and the theater small.

I often forget about this play....instead remembering Shakespeare's great tragedies (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet...). Never having read the play, I only vaguely remembered a film version I saw in college. So, the production held quite a few surprises for me.

Beforehand, we got dinner and a margarita....which meant I was a bit sleepy afterward. But it was great to have a girl's night out!

Ballband Dishcloth #2

Finally, some knitting to report!

Pattern: Ballband Dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting by Gardner and Shayne
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale Multi (pink, 9991) and Lily Sugar n' Cream Solid (pink)
Needle: US 7
Made for: my mom
Time to completion: about four months, give or take

SK and I got together for our second Knit Night last night, which was awesome. Once I picked up the dishcloth, I realized that it was possible for me to actually finish a project over the course of the evening. So away I knitted! Outside of about a half-hour of crochet work (to give my hands and eyes a break), I knitted the entirety of the evening....about three hours. It was wonderful to finally finish something!

This dishcloth was started for my mother, to go with her pink kitchen. She'll get it when I next see her over July 4th weekend. It was originally going to be a small part of her birthday present....four months ago! Ha! Better late than never, I suppose!

Exhaustion

I'm looking forward to this weekend more than any other in recent memory. The funny thing is that there's not much going on this weekend. But that's why it's so great! I need to sleep and rest.... I'm exhausted.

My dental hygienist blamed the heat for her exhaustion and perhaps that has something to do with it. Four weeks of around one-hundred-degree days... It's hard on the body and so very oppressive. Given the humidity, I feel as if I'm trying to run through a swimming pool at times!

But the weekend will help. Surely.

iPhone

While other Americans go crazy for the newest iPhone, I'm ambivalent. I can understand why people want it: it sounds pretty awesome. As a Mac user, I'm keen to see all that Apple can come up with. But I do not and will not own an iPhone - at least not any time soon.

And it's not just my knee-jerk reaction to rebel against anything this popular... It's more of an organizational thing. I like my phone that can call or text or take a few low-quality pictures. I like my ancient iPod that I can take on a trip or plug into my car stereo. I do not want the two merged. Those are two separate things in my mind, and I want them to stay that way. Furthermore, I have absolutely no need for a phone that can record video. That's just crazy!

The cost alone is also enough to keep me away, even if I admitted that I liked the idea of having an iPhone. The plans are just outrageous, in my opinion.

So while others scurry to get the latest and greatest, I'm content with my ancient pink phone. It does exactly what I need to it to do (with better reception in the country than the iPhone)......and that is, to make phone calls.

Road Rage

It is possible to have road rage during an eight minute commute. One word: lights. Lights that do not change after you sit at them for five minutes.

Enough said.

Parental Visit

My parents came into town for Father's Day, which meant my dad saw my new abode for the first time. Of course, he commented on the weeds in the front yard....he is ever critical.

But it was a good day. We went to brunch and ate way too much. Then we ran a few fun errands, including a stop at Mr. Higgins' house. Dad was, again, ever critical.

It was good to see the parents but I'm glad I have my own place now. My father and I always seem to rub the wrong way. He's a great dad but our expectations of my life differ a lot. And I can't live my life in a way that will make him happy and me miserable. I have to live my life the way that I want to. That's always where we butt heads.

I know he has good intentions. He's a wonderful dad who only wants to see me succeed. And I hope he had a wonderful Father's Day.

Mad Men

Mr. Higgins suggested I watch the previous seasons of MAD MEN so that I can watch the upcoming season, which starts in July, with him. I'd always been intrigued by what I'd heard about the show and was willing to watch it. Given the crazy Texas heat, we've had plenty of opportunities to stay inside, in the air conditioning, and watch MAD MEN the past few weeks. We're halfway through season two, I think.

I've never so thoroughly enjoyed watching a show that revolves around so many despicable people. I can't name one character that I like or sympathize with, but it's still so much fun watching them screw up their lives and tamper with the happiness of others.

The time itself freaks me out - the 1960s. In my mind, the time of the housewife, misogyny, smoking....basically, my worst nightmare. I hate the way women are treated and my inner feminist is perpetually appalled both by the men who so casually commit adultery and the women who tolerate such disgusting men. And the worst of all evils...the blonde trophy wife....Betty Draper. Is there an original thought in her head? Ugh!

Still, the storylines hook me in, every episode, without fail. And that's what great TV is, methinks!

Six Years Ago

Six years ago my girlfriends and I were just getting back from our grand trip to Europe, post college graduation. I'm in shock thinking about those six years and where they've gone.

On one hand, I can still remember the sights and sounds of the places we visited so clearly....and the emotions they evoked. But sometimes I feel like a completely different girl than the one who guided her friends around Italy.

Time is a funny thing, isn't it?

Infestation!

I've had a continual headache ever since my move and I'm really beginning to lose all patience for it. About a week after my move, I found fleas on Doug the Cat. As soon as possible, I bought Frontline for both cats. Syb had been on this before and I never saw a flea on her.

Over the weekend, I found a live flea on my bed. Yesterday I found a live flea on Doug and then one in my sock (on my person!). I wake up and can't go back to sleep, fearing fleas crawling all over me (though there are never any in the bed), and I go around itching constantly, paranoid that there are fleas on me (not that there are). It's awful.

I have no idea what to do. It's not like there's an infestation in the house; I've only seen a few! But I know they're outside where about six stray cats loiter. I have tons of mosquito and flea bits on my legs and I find new ones after every venture outside to do yard-work.

So, even if I bombed (flea bomb!) the house (which would be virtually impossible with two cats and exposed dishes), the fleas are still going to be outside which means I can still bring them in.

Right now, all I know to do is call the vet and see if they have suggestions for Doug since Frontline didn't do the job. I welcome any and all suggestions. Please help!

Knit Night

SK and I finally began our own Knit Night last night. I took the only knitting that moved with me: my knitting bag of current projects, not really knowing what was inside.

I found the crochet scarf we started in class and worked on that for quite a while. Thankfully, my little bit of crochet knowledge had not deserted me! I like that there's very little thinking involved in that one. It made conversation easy!

Next I took out my Ballband Dishcloth and that was another story. I hadn't worked on it in a while and the pattern looked completely foreign - even more so after half a glass of wine. I got through eight or so rows but there were a few times when I had to backtrack and redo stitches. Counting to five, after all, is difficult. Ha!

It was a fun night and I can't wait to do it again. Who knows? Maybe I'll have some Christmas presents done by Christmas! Er....that means I should probably start on them tomorrow.

A Saturday Night

Every relationship has its hurdles, obstacles, and milestones. Some, you are conscious of and some, you are not. Mr. Higgins and I have jumped through and glided through most of these thus far and Saturday night was no different...though I think we were both nervous.

We finally met, in a group setting, all of our close friends. I finally met Mr. Higgins' two best friends and he finally met SK and was re-acquainted with AL. We met at a Mexican food place that's a kind of institution in the area and let the margaritas flow. What I thought would last a few hours, lasted four. The guys talked about guy stuff and the girls talked about girl stuff...and the guys...and we all seemed to have a good time, given the circumstances. We were all on our best behavior, I'm sure, but it was still good.

The restaurant asked us to change tables at one point and Mr. Higgins and I ended up opposite each other at a large, round table. It was cool to watch him interact with my friends and his, all the while glancing at me every now and then, or winking when he caught my eye.

I only hope I made a good impression with his friends. I'm not the most sociable of people, you know! Ha!

Kitties!

Dougie the Cat

Meet Doug.


He's Dr. S's cat and is currently in residence at the house where I'm staying. (For the record, that's a potted avocado in the pic.) He's such a sweetie....always wanting to be in my lap or head-butting my hand.... We're getting along quite well, despite the poor guy's propensity for hairballs. He and Sybella.....

Well, they're still working things out. For the time being, Syb resides mostly in the bedroom. They have supervised visits. Ha!

Key Lime

I did some baking over the weekend for Mr. Higgins' birthday. Though I got him a "real" gift, I wanted to shower him with sweets leading up to his big day.

After making him some chocolate cookies, I tried my hand at one of his favorites: Key Lime Pie. The recipe is from Cooking Light but it didn't taste low-fat to me, which is awesome. I managed to find key limes and actually squeezed almost two bags of them to make a half cup of juice. Whew! And Mr. Higgins liked it!

The baking was good for several reasons, not the least of which was getting more comfortable in my new kitchen. I'm learning the oven and everything's place...and how to control the cats while cooking/baking.... It's all a grand adventure! And also a tasty one!

A Deep Breath

It's been a busy few weeks....a busy month! The last big thing on my calendar with Mr. Higgins was his parents' visit and now that has passed. Hopefully, we can settle into a nice rhythm since we're now living in the same town!

His parents' visit was a bit stressful but I think it went really well - from my perspective. I got to spend some lovely time with them and hopefully I made a good impression! There's already been talk of me and Mr. Higgins making a trip to his home to visit the rest of the family. Gulp! No, I'd really like to do such a trip. Right now, though, I need to recuperate from the past month.

I've been stressed for several reasons lately (moving was just the beginning) and the end result is an exhausted Doniamarie. I need a week of vacation! Or two!

Now that things have - hopefully - settled down, look for some pics on here. My life is full of kitties and I'd like to introduce you to my newest furry friend.... Hopefully tomorrow! I've also counted six (or so) stray cats around the house.... It's like a jungle....in the middle of a metropolitan area....eek! Ha!

Blogger Woes

Blogger has been down for most of the day (scattered regional problems). I'm so annoyed that I'll keep mum and post tomorrow. Sorry for the delay!

In the News

It's a bit surreal to hear my mother's hospital mentioned in the news. I read about yesterday and this morning I heard about it on NPR.

Her hospital is suing the federal government over a small rider in the new health care package which limits the growth of physician-owned hospitals. Someone - lobbyists, I suppose - had it out for this small minority of hospitals that they see only as "for profit hospitals." My mother's hospital is directly affected as they were about to start a large expansion project. Now, under the new federal guidelines, they are not allowed to add any more beds to their facility.

What people don't seem to understand about these "evil" hospitals who seek only money (ridiculous!) is that these they, statistically, provide better care and have a lower infection rate than public hospitals. They also have to pay taxes - of every kind - unlike public hospitals, which makes a serious dent in that so-called "profit."

In the town where my mother's hospital is located, there are two huge "public" hospitals, both of which have expanded to the degree of being monstrous institutions. They set up clinics hundreds of miles away from their hospital base and expand their main hospitals to include a dozen city blocks. My mother's hospital provides extraordinary care in one small niche of medicine and they occupy one city block. They are not a huge company, bringing in millions of dollars each year.....like the other two "public" hospitals.

Under the current health care guidelines, those huge hospitals would only get bigger, would build more parking garages where you must pay to park, add one more bed to that two-bed room, and hire more ER doctors who operate on six hours of sleep every thirty-six hours. Why stomp out the little man? Why not let these small hospitals provide excellent care?

I'll tell you one thing.... If I have an emergency, I'm going to a private hospital where there will be no lines, no worn out physicians, and one patient per room.

Wild Weather

Last night, something very akin to a miracle occurred.... It rained!

We've gone over two weeks without rain and parts of East Texas have been without rain for a month. With temperatures flirting with the 100-degree mark, it's been a miserable week. But last night the skies opened and it rained for several hours. Temperatures dropped and we had a nice respite from our early summer scorching highs.

I'll try to remember this when the above-100-temperatures that they've been predicting become a reality this weekend. Ugh.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I'm not sure why I decided to read this book, except that I'd seen it everywhere, including on bestseller lists. Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was not at all what I was expecting.

The over-arching mystery in this novel is one about a missing girl who disappeared forty years ago. Her uncle, still devastated by the disappearance after all these years, hires a disgraced journalist to dig through the clues in search of any new ideas as to what happened to his niece. The journalist, Blomkvist, is aided by a punk hacker, Lisbeth Salander. What they uncover is a family history filled with dark secrets and sexual crimes.

I can handle gruesome crimes. I can handle blood and vampires. It is very difficult for me to handle a rape scene as graphic as what was in this book. Call me prudish or innocent or unworldly, but I do not need to know that such perverts exist.

There were several such perverts in this novel. Really, why is this necessary? I can enjoy a good mystery but must we read about the details? I kept reading this novel because I wanted to know the outcome, that's all. I'm unsure whether or not I'll read the rest of Larsson's trilogy.

I had to laugh out loud at one point when, in the middle of the book, Larsson's played with the idea of religion as a motivating factor for these crimes. Suddenly, he sounded like Dan Brown, searching for those hidden Apocryphal texts... Uh, pick up a Catholic Bible and you'll find such "secret" books! Thankfully, that little interlude did not last long.

Just be forewarned if you decide to pick up this novel: there are gruesome things to come.

Parental Meeting

Mr. Higgins' parents and my parents have met. The big parental meeting is now over and done with and it was a big success.

There's really nothing else to say. We enjoyed our holiday out in the country. There was good food, good people, and good conversation. Sookie provided plenty of entertainment and laughter.

All is good. Except that it's back to work today. Hmph!

Long Weekend Fun

Mr. Higgins had the pleasure (ahem!) of meeting my parents months ago. Now, it's my time. His parents in town for a week and there's lots of quality time slated for the four of us.

The fun began with dinner last night, followed by a movie. It was fun and very cool meeting the two people I'd heard so much about. What struck me the most, however, was watching the parent/grown child dynamic between the three of them. I remember Mr. Higgins commenting on this after meeting my parent sand I can only imagine what it must be to watch the three of us. I know that I slip too easily back into the role of child, but half of that is the way I'm treated by my father.

Anyways, the real fun happens tomorrow when we all head out to East Texas. Yep, the parents are meeting Mr. Higgins' parents. For those of you wishing for more dating news, that should tell you a lot!

An Excommunication

The Church has done it again. This time, in a case having to do with an abortion, a nun, and a hospital. Sister Margaret McBride, administrator of a hospital in Phoenix, allowed an abortion to be performed on a pregnant (11 weeks) mother of four, whose life was in danger due to a complication, pulmonary hypertension. The only way to save this woman's life was to end the fetus'.

Sister Margaret McBride was excommunicated by the bishop of Phoenix for her choice to save a woman's life, and forced to resign her position.

I would think it to be rare that the Hippocratic Oath and the dogma of Catholic faith would disagree, but apparently here, they do. An 11-month-old fetus cannot (I would think) live without it's mother. The only way to save the mother - caretaker and supporter of four other children - is to abandon the pregnancy. To me, and I would think to a doctor, this case would be an easy, though painful, decision to make. I've always been taught that abortion was permissible within the Church in cases of rape, incest, or endangerment to the mother. Dogma, however, states that no harm should ever come to a fetus upon creation - no matter what, even to the detriment of the mother. Nature, not science, should determine who lives.

All that aside, the Church excommunicated a woman who dedicated her life to helping others. A bishop, who spent his life learning dogma in a library, excommunicated a woman who practiced what he only read about: a Christian life, a selfless life. Pedophile priests are transferred, defrocked, but rarely excommunicated. Where, exactly, is the Church's priorities - in saving the lives of mothers or sheltering male criminals? Go here for an editorial.

The Church needs to regroup. I'm trying to stand behind it but I can see this case in too many ways, and very few of those ways revolve around dogma written by Augustine in the fourth century. Much like this author, I'm pro-life at heart but pro-choice mentally. Reconciling the two is not something I can do as a woman.

I see no way to save the Church from a collapse from within - especially with Benedict at the helm - but I can say this: excommunicating nuns who do the hands-on work that priests never see, is not the answer.

Settling In

I'm slowly getting settled into my new place. I've unpacked, except for a few odds n' ends, and I'm gradually finding a new routine to fit my new responsibilities.

The biggest thing has been the cats... my cat and Dr. S's existing cat who lives at the house. His name is Doug and he's a sweetheart. He and Sybella are slowly getting introduced to each other but Syb is getting restless while confined to the bedroom. Her nighttime antics are keeping me up and, at times, I'm at my wit's end with her.

But it's good to be back to the place I've called home since grad school. And it's great to be near my friends and Mr. Higgins. Things will settle down soon; I just need to have patience.

Unfortunately, I'm not so big on patience. Ha!

Religious Tolerance

In light of my work and religious interests, I give you the following editorial on the similarities of religions. Gyatso says that we cannot "let the violent acts of a few individuals define an entire religion." After all, Christians have been very violent on occasion.

Mahler's 2nd

This weekend was an exciting one for several reasons, not the least of which being my first full weekend back in the big city! About two months ago, Mr. Higgins and I bought tickets to see one of my favorite symphonies, Mahler's 2nd "Resurrection" symphony, on Saturday. The date fell very close to our four month anniversary so we used this outing to celebrate.

Mahler's 2nd means a lot to me. It was the first piece I sang with a "real" chorus back in college and it was the first time I sang with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at the spectacular Bass Hall. For five years, I've been dying to see it performed again! I would have preferred seeing it with the FWSO at Bass, but I settled for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Meyerson.

The performance was, without a doubt, breathtakingly superb. I've never seen such attention to detail by a conductor. Jaap van Zweden was meticulous in handling this huge orchestra. The chorus sang without sheet music and were very good. Not perfect, but definitely above average.

But I missed Miguel and the FWSO. Jaap van Zweden lacked the warmth and charisma that Miguel infuses Bass Hall with in every performance. I've sung under the baton of Miguel Harth-Bedoya and he's truly a pleasure to work with and for. Jaap conveys....pompousness. Indeed, the performance by the DSO was one of gloating. The DSO knows it's good, Jaap knows he's good, and they seemed intent on proving it. Even the chorus showed pomp when they made an unnecessary dramatic entrance. (Someone should tell them that their consonants were weak throughout. I've sung this piece and had to strain to understand them. German or no, diction is necessary.)

I'll concede that it made for a wonderful concert...but I'll stick with the FWSO. I grew up in the suburbs of Dallas but this is one area where I can see just how much the cities differ.

Backyard Garden

Dr. S, whose house I'm staying in while she's globetrotting, has quite the backyard garden, full of fruits and vegetables. I've been doing a lot of watering lately and it's good to see that the plants are happy and healthy....and productive! Above are the blackberries that are ripening.


These are the grape tomatoes.....


And these flowering vines will eventually produce beans, I think. How cool is all that?!

Crazy Cat!

My cat, Sybella, has moved with me, though she now has a roommate. She doesn't know she has a roommate, though, as she's been confined to the bedroom this past week. She's itching - and clawing - to get out but I have no idea how she's going to react to Dougie. She's a bit of a spitfire - though really sweet - and Dougie is just plain sweet.

Having to sleep in the bedroom where the cat is confined - with food, litter box, and toys - is not always easy. Last night, around eleven, Syb decided to start playing with the blinds. I was having none of it. Don't mess with me after a week of restless, interrupted sleep! I squirted her with water and she bolted.

I was finally able to sleep last night, after that. Sure, I woke up at 4:30 - again - but I went back to sleep until the alarm went off. Yay! Sleep is awesome.

Personal vs. Work

There are now cruise pictures on my desk..... Pictures of Mr. Higgins and me. At work.

I'm always hesitant to display too many personal items at work. Work is work. Two prints of the Vatican and the Pantheon, sketched in the sixteenth century, sit on my bookcase and a calendar, given to me by my boss, hangs on the hall. That's about as personal as I get, unless you count my coffeemaker as personal!

The cruise pictures have already caused quite a few questions. I've had to explain the cruise, Mr. Higgins, our relationship.... Geez! People are so nosy!

Everyone seems to agree, though, that we make a good-looking couple. I like that.

A Good Cry

Yesterday was rough. A combination of multiple sleepless nights, the stress of the move, and the stress of a deadline at work spelled disaster for my day.

The rough days have been few and far between while working mainly from home. Now that I'm back in the office, the potential for such days has risen. Maybe I thought I'd get a grace period or something. Instead, I was hit with one thing after another, before I even stepped outside the house.

Everyone has these days but this is the kind that comes along rarely, at least for me. And, after the stress that had built up for two weeks prior to the move, I was already on the verge of an emotional collapse. Yesterday was the catalyst. Afterward, I went home, watered the plants and then turned into a puddle myself. I had a good, long cry. Ok, several good long cries over the course of the evening. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Conversations and events played over and over in my head and would not stop. There was no one to talk to - no parents or friends - only the cats and few suitable distractions. I'm pretty sure I scared my new roommate - Dougie the Cat - to death!

Did I feel better afterward? No, just drained. But a good cry like that only comes around once in a blue moon. It's like a natural emotional progression. Today promises to be better, though. And now that I can finally settle into my new home, my stress level will decrease exponentially. Thank goodness!

Around the Corner

I had a lovely first evening back in the big city with Mr. Higgins on Saturday. After I finished shopping and doing a bit of unpacking, Mr. Higgins arrived and we walked to dinner.

Let me see if you read that correctly... We walked to dinner.

I've never walked to dinner before! Well, on vacation, sure, but not from my home! It was amazing and cool and utterly addicting. There are numerous restaurants within walking distance and I can't wait to go again!

It turned out to be a really good thing as I had the strongest margarita of my life that night. Yep, one little margarita and I could barely walk home! It was a bit scary.....and addicting. It's rare that you get your money's worth with margaritas but that $6 was worth three run-of-the-mill margaritas! Awesome!

So, in case you haven't picked up on it, I'm enjoying my new abode. More on the cats later!

Settling

A short post for this Monday....

I'm settling into my new home in the big city. It's a slow process but it's going as well as can be expected. It's definitely exciting to be back in the place I've considered to be home for four years now. And it's super nice to be close to Mr. Higgins.

More tomorrow as I'm unpacking and settling in today!

Storm Damage

While I was in the Caribbean a few weeks ago, there was quite a storm in East Texas. Trees, limbs, and signs were all blown down and around. My parents were without power for over twenty-four hours. Some say it was a tornado.... I have no idea but for the first time we had real damage.....


A section of our fence at the front of the property was brought down - crumpled, really - by a tree. My parents found it blocking the driveway and had to chop it up before they could leave the house!


I didn't notice until several days later that this tree - already dead - did not fall down at the base. Instead, this part broke off from halfway up the tree! So half the tree is still standing.

The tree is now gone - hauled away, in part, by yours truly - and the gate is also gone and soon to be replaced. I love trees but they're quite a pain in the butt when they topple over.

In lieu of....

I have a few pics to show you but I'm having issues getting those pics off my camera. Sigh.

Instead, I give you this editorial on the crisis in the Church. It's a few weeks old, but still pertinent. And yes, I'm still attempting to come to grips with all this. It's not an easy process.

Moving Day!

I've waited a very long time for this day....the day I get to move back to the big city.

Starting on Friday, the craziness of moving will begin, though, truth be told, I've been stressed out about the upcoming move for a week. My schedule has been crazy, work has been crazy... When will it end?!

If all goes according to plan, it will end on Tuesday when I will wake up in the big city and go to work like a normal person. My commute will be ten minutes. I can't wait!

The Poisonwood Bible

It took me a while, but I finally finished Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible last week. It was an epic tale and a brilliant story.

It begins when a family from the southern United States moves to the Congo. The preacher father has decided to become a missionary to the peoples of Africa. From the start, I knew I wouldn't like this guy and I didn't....but, then, I'm not meant to like him. His four daughters and wife must completely change their way of life when they move across the world....but in end, Africa changes them. The trials they encounter and unlike any they have known - starvation, poverty, wild weather, death, malaria, polygamy....

Kingsolver tells her story mainly through the varying eyes of the four daughters - each one altogether different but all impacted by their childhood experiences in the Congo. In the end, two will stay in Africa indefinitely while two will drift away...and back.

I'd never read much fiction about Africa but this was a great place to start. Here I was avoiding Oprah's Book Club picks, but she did well with this one. It was a captivating read and the end left me truly speechless. I highly recommend it!

The Castillo

After a week on the cruise ship, we were back in San Juan. We had the day to spend there before we could even check in to our hotel, so went to see some forts. The first was Castillo de San Cristobal.


This fort was massive and the views were incredible.


San Juan, and the capital building, were on display for us.


I don't know what these round look-out towers are called but they were awesome. A great place from which to shoot arrows....or guns.


We tried but were unable to make our way to the other fort. Having three cruise ships in port really makes for a busy, congested city. Public transportation was maxed out.


The water, even as close as Puerto Rico, was some of the most beautiful I'd ever seen. I can't wait to go back. My sunburn is still peeling and I'm ready to plan the next cruise. Ha!

St. John, Part Two

Of all the beaches and bays St. John had to offer, Maho Bay was my favorite. It was the most secluded, the most private, and the loveliest.


Here it is from an overlook - just gorgeous!


I'd never seen trees so close to the water but the effect was incredible - and picturesque. The sand and water were perfect - there was nothing marring their natural beauty.


After swimming at Maho, we headed to the Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins. These were really neat, especially for someone like myself who likes old stuff!


There were some awesome views here but I was also fascinated by the trees and flowers....


Talk about a perfect flower! I wish we had these at home!


We continued our drive around the island and our next stop was an overlook above Coral Bay.


And another view of Coral Bay and the other US Virgin Islands. This was truly a magical place! I've rarely seen such beauty!

St. John, Part One

On the morning after our second Sea Day, we docked at St. Thomas. Instead of exploring that island, Mr. Higgins and I hopped on a ferry to St. John. This jewel of an island took my breath away. The ferry docked in Cruz Bay (above) and I immediately fell in love with St. John.


Unlike St. Thomas, St. John is completely undeveloped. Cruz Bay's downtown was tiny and quaint - picturesque and perfect.


Our first stop on our tour of the island was Hawksnest Bay.


We jumped out of the car to take pictures here but not much else. Better beaches awaited us!


Next up was the popular beach, Trunk Bay. We only took pictures here.


The day began with scattered showers but my spirits refused to be dimmed. The scenery was just amazing!


We stopped at the more secluded Cinnamon Bay and had a lovely swim. Mansions dotted the hills surrounding this bay. What I wouldn't give for one of those! To wake up to this every morning would be heaven!