Author Archives: Cat

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Zilker Kite Festival

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I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this highly anticipated yearly event to you non-Austinites, but Sunday is the Zilker Park Kite Festival (man, everything has it’s own website these days…). I’m pretty sure that I have been every year since I moved to Austin. The park is packed with people, the air full of kites. (It’s also fun to go down the next weekend and count how many kites were abandoned as part of the “tree stronger than string phenomenon”). It’s adorable. If you live in Austin and haven’t been, I highly suggest it! We don’t even have the near-mandatory pack of kids and dogs and still have a blast…

34_zilker_kite_fest_05.jpg

Every year we head out in a big group and throw down a blanket and stare at the sky. Last year we made it in time to see a stupid co-worker an acquaintance in a bikini (?) and the contest for smallest fly-able kite. There are stunt kites and power kites and colored kites, maybe even monkey kites.

However, we’ve never participated! Shocking, I know. This year we made a special trip to Whole Earth Provision Co., one of my favorite store since my NZ trip, and got the “Super Dragon” kite. It defies explanation, I’ll just have to get you some pictures after this weekend.

Unknown's avatar

The Domain

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Here’s the latest:

Austin-American Statesman Domain Map

Finally! Some fantastic higher lever retail in Austin! Everyone can clear out of Saks at the Arboretum slowly…easy…that’s good…

A good amount of this opens next week, so if you don’t want to get crazy in the crowds, stay away from Mopac and Burnet!!

olsen twin shopping
www.brightonhenweekends.com

Unknown's avatar

February Tally

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No longer appropriately titled the “Calendar of Depression”, I’ve made it to the gym a dozen times this month, we’ll say half and half, and very little drinking, so:
Final count on the Calendar of (Insert Positive Word Here) :

  1. The letter W (for weights) appeared a total of 5 times.
  2. The letter C (for cardio) appeared a total of 7 times.
  3. The letter D (for drinking) appeared a total of 2 times.

Like I said, that doesn’t seem like a lot, but whatever I’m doing is working, maybe the last few months of pushing it is starting to show? I expect things to just keep getting better!

Unknown's avatar

Oops I Did It Again

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No, this isn’t about Britney…rather, the little bout of gym at the crack of dawn going on.

CRACK is the right expression here…I’m a little ADDICTED to this whole getting up early. I went to bed early and woke up on time and even hummed a little while I got ready. What is up with that??? I am awake. The past four days, I have accomplished more than since I quit my job. Running errands, WORKING on my book…

Today was Body Pump, and man am I sore. This workout kicks my butt. Each muscle group associates with a song, and you go for the length of the song. It’s a innovative way to lift weight, no matter how used to free weights I get Body Pump always throws me a little.

pump So, my everything is pretty sore…we’ll see if I keep up the good work. I haven’t done the Calendar update since November (slacker!), but I’ll have one tomorrow for February. The funny thing is it’s not all that full, but sure enough, together with the UBER healthy eating, I’ve seen the most dramatic results yet. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep it up…

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Joe Rogan vs. Carlos Mencia (Ned Holness)

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Well, this is ALL OVER the internet already, but for those readers of mine that might not have seen this, it’s a clip of Joe Rogan and Carlos Mencia. Screaming.

Watch:

Let me tell you, I LOVE Joe Rogan. Seriously. We saw him here in Austin at Cap City Comedy Club, and he was incredible. The stuff you might know him from is on the side for him – hosting Fear Factor and UFC, the show NewsRadio, and all that crap…but that’s not all he’s good at. (here’s his wikipedia page for more info)

He is certainly one of the best stand up comedians I’ve ever seen. He transfers his jokes effortlessly, his timing is flawless, and he brings his shows full circle, stuff I think is key to being a great comedian. We have never laughed so hard. He was taking shots, egging on the crowd, having a good time, making people think, and telling great jokes.

Well, so he sometimes has called people out on their “joke stealing”. I understand he’s made claims about Dennis Leary, Dane Cook, and others, so this isn’t his first attempt. He’s not just out to get Mencia. The way I see it, Mencia just makes it too easy.

Mike has been on my case since the guy got the TV show Mind of Mencia. It was on after Chapelle Show so we’d watch it occasionally. Mike HATED it. For many reasons. (Mencia’s wikipedia is currently locked from editing and under dispute…) Everyone talks not only about the joke ripping but that he doesn’t speak Spanish or isn’t from Latin America (Germany or something?), uses the name to trick people, etc, etc.

So it’s a big dispute receiving a lot of publicity lately, as The Comedy Store, Pauly Shore’s mom’s place, kicked Rogan out after this in favor of Mencia, AND Rogan’s agent, also Mencia’s, dropped him. All of which is discussed on Rogan’s site (click here if you haven’t checked it already).

What do YOU think???

joe
www.cdn-channels.netscape.com

Unknown's avatar

It Wrote Itself

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Midnight. This is when I’m at my best. I’ll be at home, readying myself for bed time, when something will come to me. Something brilliant. Then I think some more, and some more. Then I realize I need a pen. Then I scribble furiously, which I’ve been told is unreadable to anyone but me (clearly a secret plan so no one can get famous but me). Then I rest. Inevitably, more comes. This is followed by getting up to write, back down to bed, for as long as it takes, amidst cursing and lights flipping on and off.

It’s all worth it. I’m able to admit that my prose was slightly (baby steps here) droning and worthless in my poor little dream of a novel. Today? WHOLE NEW FIRST CHAPTER. Whole new concept. Fresh ideas. Invigorated spirit, which until now, thought about symbolically printing and burning the entire book (very dramatic, no?). Well, anyway, there you have it. It might not be the worst thing ever any more. No fires.

Who knows? Maybe this gym and eating good and being good and going to church life is pointing me in the write right (writer’s humor for you) direction.

If you’re anything like Mr. MK, you’re thinking, it’s about time. I’ll take that. But come on, I just needed to be INSPIRED.

🙂

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My Apologies

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There have been reports of a variety of illnesses. Sore throats, temperatures, road rage, insomnia, blacking out, binge drinking, ingrown toenails, and other issues arising out of otherwise normally healthy friends.

I hate to admit this, but the Earth apparently has titled off it’s axis slightly, in a direct answer to the dilemma it was trying to resolve, The “SGS getting up early (while it’s still dark out) to work out plague”. As a result, many have been stricken with a wide variety of issues. I completely understand what a silly idea that was. My sincerest apologies, I had no idea that getting up at 4:30 would ruin so many lives. In order to stop the insanity, I will be returning to my normal schedule tomorrow, of staying up late and sleeping until my husband calls me lazy and asks for lunch.

Everything should return to normal. Until then, keep your masks on.

fancy sars mask

Unknown's avatar

Body Combat, Phase Two

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Listen, folks, Body Combat is the most popular search on the site for, well, eternity, and I feel I owe you a little more.

Not only for that reason, but most likely because I have demonic, crazy friends, I went to Body Combat. This morning.

At 5:30.

morning person
www.csulb.edu

That requires getting up at 4:30 and getting dressed and putting in the pigtails and eating and getting water and getting in the car and driving and it’s still dark out.

I’m pretty sure Body Combat is that much more intense, there is a direct correlation between the workout and how ridiculously early you get sucked into doing it. It was a great class because, well, for obvious reasons (it’s still dark out) it’s pretty empty, which really helps, as opposed to the after 5pm class where you’re trying not to roundhouse any lady in front of you. The only little problem that I encountered was that where I’d had the tooth pulled is still a little achy, exacerbated by the jumping. So I had to tone it down a little. But, I think I still get extra points for the early workout.

My treat was some tea at Starbucks, the only thing that wouldn’t negate the workout (no calories…) but it was funny that my friend knew everyone in a tri-county area so we had to be all cheery and awake when I just wanted to whine about her waking me up so early. Therefore, it appears that since I handled the morning so well, I’ll be at Body Pump tomorrow, at 5:45.

Dare me to survive the day without a nap???

Unknown's avatar

Suggestions For Success

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An old friend gave me this, thought I’d share:

  1. Marry the right person. This will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
  2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.
  3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
  4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
  5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
  6. Be generous.
  7. Have a grateful heart.
  8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
  9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
  10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
  11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
  12. Commit yourself to quality.
  13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people that you love and respect.
  14. Be loyal.
  15. Be honest.
  16. Be a self starter.
  17. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.
  18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
  19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
  20. Take good care of those you love.
  21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.

from H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Unknown's avatar

Oh What A Night

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Friends, let me tell you, I never win anything. Not the lottery, not random awards, not contests, not at all. Last night, at the

Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake(you can still donate…)

my team

(mentioned here) Nabowlian Dynamite

not only had a blast, hung out with old and new friends, but we also screamed and cheered for every granny bowl and gutter ball out there, even more so than the people next to us cheered for each and every strike that they all got over and over…(I’m not bitter…) 🙂

WE WON A TROPHY FOR MOST TEAM SPIRIT.

This is not just any trophy friends. It is a bowling ball bobble head trophy. It was the most hilarious thing ever. We went a little crazy with happiness. I hate to say it, especially since I know how it feels to be the loser, but man, winning is fun. Made the whole thing worthwhile. Never mind all the money we raised and fun we had, we achieved greatness. In shouting. I’ll take it!

I mean, really, I understand that you had to be there, but there really was an energy from everyone, for doing something good and having fun doing it!