Category Archives: Friends

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Gift Giving

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Are you any good at giving gifts? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, part of me wanting to be nice and do things for other people. I bet everyone we know thinks we are terrible people that just spend money on ourselves, but here’s a reminder that’s just not true.

I haven’t bought anyone in my family a birthday present in like, maybe ever. The last time I tried to buy my mom a birthday gift I was in a car wreck that completely totaled me, the car, and the gifts. And the two new CDs I bought myself (who doesn’t buy themselves stuff when they’re out shopping for others?). The problem really is that I have no idea what on earth they would want. I know what I think they SHOULD want, but over the years I’ve learned just how adopted I probably am by sharing these ideas with others and being laughed at.

Anyway, recently I got a gift for a friend (that got me one first, that’s like then you HAVE to do something) and I think she liked it. Then, just recently, I found ANOTHER gift. For a friend. That WANTED this gift. But couldn’t get it. And I got it. And they’ll get it soon. It’s dorky, but man am I super excited. I’m hoping that my gift giving lameness is turning around!

Side note: I was so worried I already blogged about being a crappy gift giver that I searched for ‘gift’ on my blog and reread a bunch of old posts, and man am I hilarious. Seriously, though, while being paranoid and searching, I found this post. Number 5 is why this is funny.

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SXSW 2009 – Friday

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Friday KD dropped me off right on time to walk right in to a door with no line, where I could go inside and meet all the boys, get a wristband for all the beer I could drink for $2, and listen to more fantastic music. Yes, I went in. Yes, I got the wristband. Yes, Club Deville can sure throw a day party!

A few silly conversations and Tallboy PBR’s later, we saw a great lineup: The Obits, American Analog Set, The Thermals, and The Hold Steady.All good stuff. Other highlights of my day included seeing more old friends, watching the boys make everyone’s mouths drool by ordering a pizza, and switching from tallboys to normal size beers, but realizing that would mean a four-for-one plan would be set in place. I didn’t get a picture of the group, but I’ll find you one. We were the party, that’s my favorite!

Here’s the link to the Friday Day photo set.

I ran out to see my favorite band, pH10, on their way to setting up, and met up with LC, JA, etc at Side Bar and saw a band called Deer Tick. (Thanks, LC!) It was adorable. Look at the pictures. They are young. And fun.

Friday night KD and I met up with JC and finally remembered there are places to eat that don’t get busy, you just have to hunt for them. We ate at Saba, and super happily SA and JM ran over to say hello. We all ran in to the craziest bar party ever just to be able to have a drink and visit. It scared JC so much he went home- but it was exactly what I needed, a drink and loud music trying to get you excited. No one’s fault it wasn’t very good… SA and JM happened to be meeting up with a friend at the same place KD and I were headed – so I got to run into a friend from kickball – which you know is a long time ago since it was one of my first blog posts! We hung out for a bit and watched the few bands and WB also met up with us. Then it was time for Honeyclaws, a band I really enjoyed last year. It was fun to see how much they’ve improved and how they came together and adapted to better suit their individual styles.

WB gave in since it was late but KD and I made it all the way across town for the greatest performance from pH10. With a limited time to set up and rock out, they did just that. I couldn’t be happier to have such talented friends! We also caught i45. Fun stuff.

Here’s the link to the Friday Night photo set.

fri-night

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Cupcakes & Design

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Here at SomeGoSoftly you will find some of the most discerning readers on the internet – people that care about news and facts and creativity. HA! But you know I love you all dearly – especially lately – it is so busy here! Thanks!

So I want to do you all a favor and let you know about anther place you might like to check out.  I recently reconnected via Facebook with one of the super nicest girls I knew in High School. She’s started herself a website.

Run over there and say hi. Cupcakes & Design already has SomeGoSoftly beat – she knew how to design her own page. If you’re nice to her, she might even help me tinker around over here!

She blogs about design, multimedia, the web, and yummy food. A great combination, since I’m always eating while I’m sitting in front of the laptop! 🙂

awesome

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March Madness Again

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Every time that milestones like these come along I remember just how long I’ve been here at SomeGoSoftly. March Madness is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s the 5th year I’ve hosted a bracket group over on ESPN’s Tournament Challenge. Half the friends and family that join me are less interested in basketball than me (MK only signs up via force), but they make me feel extra special by playing along.

I usually come in dead last or very close. This might be due to my interest in nothing but the Big East and Big 12. Or because I just guess at my picks. Or because I’m thinking about SXSW more. Whatever the reason, I still enjoy putting together some crazy picks and checking the standings after each round of games.

If you’d like to join us, search for “SGS’s 5th Bracktacular” (Brackets+Spectacular…) and holler at me here/email for the password! All are welcome, I’d love to see the group get bigger every year!

I guess I blogged it two years ago, but not last year. I must have done horribly…

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Dumb And Dumber

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Was filmed in Park City, I understand. My own version of dumb and dumber is skiing beyond my ability, listening to the three that surpass me (BB, TB, MK) and throwing myself repeatedly down many black and double blue runs. I mean, I can do all that now, I know what I’m doing, I know the right way to ski. It clicked, finally. But I knew beforehand that the right way was the way that hurt most, even though it should be easier, because of my crappy knees. So don’t tell my insurance I have a blog, ok? I’m putting off the doctor visit, but I managed to dislocate my knee (dumb) and then SKI the rest of a great day (dumber) on it. There was no way I couldn’t. It was too fun.

So now I can’t feel most of a leg. But I kinda feel badass. Ski season is fast approaching its end and I need to go out with a bang. It might be a bang and a cast, but that’s better than regret. Maybe it’s the sunshine or the new vitamins or even that idea that I can really be happy here, but I am not going to be a quitter. A time-outer, yes. But not a quitter. I’m going to try and get in as many good days as I can this last month we’re here.

As always with our transitions and and adventures our time here has flown by. Thanks to the love and support of my unrelenting therapist TB, I’m well enough again to live large and enjoy the time we have left.

ski therapy

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Going Out With A Bang

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There was a lot of funniness crammed into three days with this group we just had. The pre-visit entry was supposed to give you some idea. Then they get here and it’s a whirlwind and they’re gone and I’m still recovering. There aren’t that many stories to relate that wouldn’t include you wondering why we were laughing so hard. Those you had to be there kinds. If I quip “It’s kind of like eating a banana with a spoon” or “She’s the kind of girl that would floss her teeth with her hair” laugh with me even though there’s no context…

SF showed up with Freebirds. As you heard. That blew my mind and was pretty freaking awesomely thoughtful. You know how much we miss our Texas food. Actually, maybe you don’t. Even she seemed surprised how excited we were.

Yum!

Yum!

Everyone else showed up with gifts too! We got a handle of Titos and some Cedar Door mexican martini mix. It was late Thursday when they all got in so we passed out after meeting. We got up relatively (5 girls remember) early, hit Starbucks and bombarded the rental place in a flurry of pigtails and ribbons and silly name tags. Oh and monkey stickers. They were so not prepared.

Time to ski!

Time to ski!

Neither was the mountain! SF KB and CP had all never skied before. My input was worthless but with the tireless help of MK, TB and JH they kinda got the concept, and quickly. We took them up to the greens where I kept up with CP and TB was with KB and MK apparently threw SF into a tree and knocked her out or something. Typing that confused me!

The Rookies

The Rookies

We headed up to Silver Lake Lodge at 1:30 and met up with JV and his father and friend Brian. I love love love big groups and felt so great up there with (almost – long story) everyone talking and laughing and having good times. Even the broken headed SF couldn’t quit and we made it all the way to the top and back down to end the day.

Almost Everyone, JV took the pic.

Almost Everyone, JV took the pic.

Getting to ski with JV was great and we all were happy after a long day to come home to beers and the hot tub. SF and I went to go get dinner fixings…and the power went out. Such is my life. We all drove to the super crowded Main Street and ate all our weights times two in pizza wings and fry sauce. We played Cranium by the light of the fire and the headlamps of B and JV, the resident pilots. The power came on just in time for bed.

Davanza's Rules!

Davanza's Rules!

The boys left early and we got back to the mountain. Much fun and aches were had by all.

Day Two

Day Two

All the girls

All the girls

We got a little silly and took CP down a blue, and I also skied through MK’s legs which I’m pretty proud of but decided the pictures don’t look like what they are supposed to reflect and are therefore confusing and inappropriate…

I cooked that dinner the power previously prevented and TB brought over the free entertainment, aka SB, to amuse us all. MK survived 7 girls in the house at once. SF KB and CP left Sunday morning. TB JH and I shopped and ate out Sunday and she left Monday morning. JH got me a great thank you hat gift.

Our company is all over and I’m a little sad. I am just so thankful to all my friends that visited my mountains (LOL) and kept me happy and busy. Thank you ALL for coming. You are the greatest friends a girl could have!

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Holy Pigtails And Pillowfights

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For serious. You might not know this, I myself wasn’t even sure of this until verification tonight. But it just so happens there are FOUR girls (three of which I have not met) showing up at my house tomorrow night. I’m thinking of sending MK to BB’s and bringing TB over here for the Cosmos. He might go readily – that’s a whole lot of estrogen. Furthermore, the sump pump in the house broke or something (I just went to the mall) so the basement is under reconstruction. We’re only down one room for one night, but it just seems easier that we all sleep in sleeping bags in front of the fire and give each other makeovers.

Okay, not really. We’ll make do. And have fun. I’m so excited to meet the friends SF is bringing and laugh about how they all fall short of my awesomeness. Just kidding… 😉

We’re going to ski. Some of us for the first time. We’ll be back at Deer Valley. ACES! We’ll have drinks. And late night junk food. And probably at least one heated discussion and if the last month is my indicator, some totally unnecessary tears. You know you’re jealous. If I’m really lucky, my old friend JV might even make an appearance, as he flies himself around the country before the start of his new job. He might be bringing a single male.

Cat fight! Contest! Drama!

Yeah right.

I promise not to stir the pot anymore than this epic blog post, and I promise most of this is in jest anyway. But this is our last company! We have to go out with a bang!

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Free Limo Anyone?

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TheRSVPing has begun. I’m just all up on the internet looking up last years parties (totally the first time this blog has been a resource for anyone) and trying to find the new ones. The free ones. The best ones. SXSW’s a little ways a way but sneaks up on us fast so I’m going for a head start so we’re not pulling a last year (Sparks at the house for hours of “where do we go from here?” debates). Actually that was funny but you know what I mean…

This year the intensity of my excitement is making me nervous. It’s honestly been a crappy couple weeks (months?). Don’t get me wrong- I love skiing and being here but as you know it’s been a little heartbreaking and sad. Getting back to Austin with some of the greatest people I know has me so happy. I hope SXSW can live up to these high expectations. I want to see pH10! I want that place packed! I want to get free drinks, not wait in lines! See the bands everyone is dying to see.

So imagine my chagrin when I see so many great line ups so far away from my foot-coverable ground. We couldn’t even find cabs to get us to the East side last year, it was a zoo. The buses were slow. So we need some help.  I’m going to go ahead and put out there that I need a limo. You put it out there you get it right? (We learned all about that JC and KD). No cab for me. We’re going all out. I want someone to volunteer to drive my friends and I around. Let’s all focus our energies or whatever (I didn’t read the book, what do you call it…) and it’ll come true. Right?

A girl can dream…

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Break Time

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Well, ASH and NH are gone, and we’ve got a whopping 4 day vacation until our next set of guests come. Remember, I keep telling you how much I love the company. That part is true. All my friends clean up after themselves and make such a little fuss they make for probably better company than I do when I travel. They treat me to super nice dinners and totally inappropriately extravagant gifts (NH) and help me pass time and move on from thinking about sad stuff.

I’m just sooo tired! I feel like I never caught up on good sleep. I’m up to two cups of coffee a morning, sucked on my afternoon skiing w/my hubby yesterday, and am kinda having the strangest dreams ever, that end up waking me up and making me very unhappy. MK has been very understanding and we spent the day in the basement playing LEGO Star Wars (dorks). I just want to get going again. Our next guests, SH and JM, are known for their buckets of energy. I’m hoping they can afford to lend me one.

In other news, the end of our lease is fast approaching and as you know the million dollar question is where to next. At this point I’d be happy to hear your non sucky suggestions. It’s getting a little frustrating. I’m all for back to San Diego but there aren’t any places we’ve looked at that blow us away. With MK changing his mind daily from Tampa to the US Virgin Islands (Do phones work there? Do they have grocery stores!??!) I am a little worried he’s going to be making this next move on his own. 😉

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