NYResolutions Part 2

before i tell the tale of my Christmas in Jackson Hole and the shenanigans that i got myself into there, i'm going to finish up my resolutions for 2010 in what i like to call the "2009, Get the Frick Up Out My Life" post:

1. be clean, starting with the cube and hopefully expanding to include my room, i don't know. i don't know if we'll have enough time.

2. soooo...a little late in the game last year i decided to implement my 52 in 09 plan. the outcome was 50% successful because i chose some real long books and got a teensy bit distracted. BUT i am re-implementing this year's to be more attainable: The Big 5-0 in Twenty-Ten.

3. i've worked out more in the last 3 months than i have in the last 5 years combined. "LD, that is sad and pathetic. how are you not a contestant on the biggest loser by now?" well, i'll answer you: i've got skinny genes. (pun? yes.) i am also a monet: from far away i look alright but up close it's a bit disappointing. i'm not trying to be all self-depreciating, but there's a good type of thin and a no good type of thin (the kind that involves zero muscle mass and a cheesy ass - i'm sorry if that was graphic)...so now that i have a gym membership and my very own yoga mat and a workout buddy (CC - boss bff), i am kickin' it into high gear! never again will i move into a new place and be embarrassed that i can't lift heavy things!

4. number 4 is a list within a list. but it's something i've been working on for a few months now. it's my "30 before 30" - 30 things i want to accomplish before i turn 30. marriage and kiddos aren't things one can really count on or exercise a dominant influence over, so i'm not sweatin' it...i'm giving myself goals that i can control while i'm waiting on the universe to throw me a bone in the "fate" arena.

5. aaaand drum roll. not really, this will be anticlimactic: Here's to Better Men in 2010!


love/miss/namaste.

cubie love and NYResolution #1.

i'm a messy person, i just am. so to kick off my list of new years resolutions, i'm going to start with keeping my cubicle clean. if i surround myself in a less cluttered environment, i'm bound to experience less stress in my life. right?! if i clean my cube all my problems will be solved! LOL!

to do lists...my favorite thing. especially on tuesdays when i title it: Tue-Do List. aaaahhahaha!

"you are small and good" - you read that right.

crap. it's just everywhere. i think there's a fall 2010 eyewear collection in there somewhere...

i mean, everywhere.

i can't believe it's been 19 months since i started working here. the above photo represents 19 months of crap building up since i started. i am a hoarder. but not in 2010.
*please ignore the photos from that-time at the beginning of that post and focus on the fresh, clean cubie toward the end. i'm a masochist, MWAHAHA!

love/miss/namaste.

breedism.

i realize that my last post was pretty dramatic, so i need to follow up with a subject that i'm equally passionate about: my dog

if you know me even the slightest bit you know that i'm obsessed with my dog (see above, my work computer). i love her so much i cry sometimes and whisper to her, "i hope you live until i'm 97 and we die at the same time." i even talk to her in a strange voice i can't control. boston is more than my pet, she is part of my identity...and my life has never been the same since that blissful day in august that dani and i brought home our little brother & sister bundles. i've been bossie's mama for over 2 years now and i can honestly say that my life would suck without her (yes, i just watched the glee finale for the 3rd time).

but one thing i just want to get off my chest is that breedism hurts. if you have judged another person for the type of dog they own, you are a breedist. if you look at boston's and my family photos and immediately think, "ugh, that dog is rat" you are a breedist. and this offends me.

i'm mainly speaking to the people who think that if a dog isn't a lab or a golden retriever, or any other large hunting dog for that matter...it's not a real dog. you know, the dudes who act all smug about small "girly" dogs. well listen up, pal: i'm tired of feeling like i need to defend my choice of canine to you, because i don't. do you know how many times someone's asked me what kind of dog i have and upon saying, "chihuahua," this person (usually an arrogant know-it-all dude) goes, "oooooh. you're one of thooooose girls. ahahahaha!" excuse me. but since when does owning a chihuahua make girls ditzy hobags who run around in heels and mini skirts wearing matching rhinestone necklaces with their furry best friends who are probably named 'nikki' or some crap? paris hilton: she is to blame.

do i like big dogs? absolutely! do i hope to have a huge awesome dog someday and name him bogart after the famous humphrey? for shiz! am i mature enough to know that owning a dog that outweighs me and attempting to offer it a full and happy life in a small condo with no backyard is irresponsible, or dare i say, reckless? you betcha.

one last question: can you conveniently zip up your border collie in the front of your puffy vest and bring her shopping with you so you don't get lonely and stressed during the holiday rush at a busy mall? prob not, bra. not that you'd want to. you're too badass for that.

what i'm saying is, just because my dog has a semi-high-pitched bark and won't go dove hunting with you doesn't mean she's a waste of space. she is always there for me when i need her and she is the cutest freaking thing on this earth, not to mention, incredibly photogenic (LOL!). and she is not, i repeat NOT, a rat.

awesome emo pic of bos.

if you own a big (or popular) breed of dog, i think that is great! i'll probably want to come over to your house and play fetch with it and hug it like a person. i'm not accusing anyone of breedism (cough, cvh), i just want to put this message out into the great cyber universe and speak up for those who can't speak in a human language. and speak for myself 'cause i'm tired of this crap. every dog deserves to be loved and respected... i shouldn't have to say, "no, no, it's not like that...she's actually really cool!!" 5 minutes after i meet a new person and reveal my life story to them. you know?

and while i don't consider myself a cat person only because they make me sneeze my face off - they most definitely make lovely companions too. i think cats are mad-cool, furreals (pun intended!).

oh! and i just realized after writing this post that ivy is getting a little chi of her own - and i can't wait to meet little pepper ruths!

love/miss/namaste.

ps. i promise that my next post will neither involve my hopelessly pathetic obsession with song lyrics or be a rant about a made-up social issue derived by the rude comments i get from guys.

sorry, that last post was a doozy.

i can't play an instrument, but i can listen to music real good.

my parents met when they were both in the high school band. my mom played the flute and my dad played the trumpet. still, my dad is a very musical person. he is a self-taught pianist, and can pretty much pick up any horn and blow sweet sounds. me? no such blessing.

it's safe to say that i'm drawn to all things musical. i grew up listening to my dad bang on his keys most mornings as i got ready for school, and would often sing along with him other times he'd play. i'm pretty sure i got my quirky taste in music from my dad. i can't resist belting out a wild, "cause he's LO-VIN, TOUCHIN' ANOOOOTHERRRR, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN GIRL TO CRYYY, NANANANANANNA..." or the classic, "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis. i'm not the girl you come to for newness and i sure don't think i'm a music connoisseur. i just know what i like.

and we all know my dating habits.

so when dani suggested that we make mixes for each other, i got pretty pumped. she and i have very different music tastes, but i love exploring new things and sharing my loves with others, so this idea was stellar to me. when she came, we both admitted to have made mixes on our computers, but we hadn't burned them so the exchange never came to fruition. it's alright, though, because i've decided just to post it here so that everyone can share it.

this is not a mix of favorite songs, although they have become favorites. this is a mix of songs that have been particularly speaking to me during this season i my life, for better or worse. you could probably even classify this playlist as just a collection of depressing songs - which in essence, it is - but they make me happy, and here's why i think they do:

you know that book, the 5 languages of love? well i took the test a couple weeks ago which revealed that my #1 love language is touch, and my close 2nd is words of affirmation. stick with me, cause this might get a little complicated:

the way i listen to music, music that i really connect with, is a physical experience. music is one of the reasons i probably won't answer the phone if you call while i'm driving. sometimes i feel like the music comes out of the speakers and envelops me, i breathe it in and it fills my lungs. it wraps around my head and goes into my ears and sinks into the wrinkles of my brain and i feel it's tight hold on my body from the inside to the outside. the melody swirls around in an unseen waterfall of colors and flowers and objects from my imagination - anything from faces to places to trinkets that hold special meaning to me...and i really do feel like i'm being touched. then, when the words take meaning in my head and i'm able to relate to them, i feel understood. lyrics give me the affirming words that i crave so much. in music, i am loved. dramatic much? prob.

all this to say, i'm no musician - but i appreciate music like it's my job. so here are 18 tracks who've been loving me for the last few months...it's getting pretty serious :)

1. Heartbreak Warfare by John Mayer (from Battle Studies)
B and I have joked that John Mayer interviewed us (separately) to gather material for this album. Sad but so, so true. "Disappointment has a name, it's Heartbreak."
2. Something's Missing by John Mayer (from Heavier Things)
"...how come everything i think i need always comes with batteries? what do think it means...?"
3. Where I Stood by Missy Higgins (from On a Clear Night)
"i don't know who i am without you, all i know is that i should. she will love you more than i could, she who dares to stand where i stood."
4. Wait it Out by Imogen Heap (from Ellipse)
ok, after every, i mean every line of this song, i want to say, "i know, right?!" it's so well written and encompasses so much of how one feels during a quarterlife crisis: "pain on pain on play repeating. with a backup makeshift life in waiting. everybody says time heals everything, but what of the wretched hollow? the endless in between...are we just going to wait it out? / all i want, only one street-level miracle. i'll be an out and out born-again from none more cynical."
5. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac (from the Dance)
because everybody knows that "thunder only happens when it's rainin' and players only love you when they're playin'." sing it, stevie!
6. I Feel it All by Feist (from the Reminder)
this is upbeat and awesome and liberating. "i'll be the one to break my heart / i know more than i knew before, now i know i'm gonna win the war." i dare you not to swing your hair to this little ditty.
7. Sentimental Heart by She & Him (from Volume One)
the lyrics prettttty much speak for themselves, but if you haven't listened to the haunting voice of Zooey Deschanel, you don't know what you're missing.
8. Tymps (the Sick in the Head Song) by Fiona Apple (from Extraordinary Machine)
ahahahaha: "i'm either so sick in the head, i need to be bled dry to quit...or i just really used to love him, i sure hope that's it."
9. Get Him Back by Fiona Apple (from Extraordinary Machine)
this is kinda vengeful....but it's great fun to sing along to...
10. Thieving by Lovedrug (from Everything Starts Where it Ends)
no words, just sounds to describe this: it involves me closing my eyes and sighing loudly.
11. Champagne High by Sister Hazel (from Fortress)
"where will i be when i stop wondering why?"
12. Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch (from Time Without Consequence)
this dude is awesome. become a fan.
I want to tattoo these lyrics on my person someday: "my salvation lies in your love."
13. Let it Be by the Beatles (from Let it Be)
needed to be here. it just did.
14. Free Fallin' cover by John Mayer (from Live in Los Angeles 2007)
i am a massive tom petty fan, totally dig him and those heartbreakers. but the first time i heard john's (yeah, we're on a first name basis) cover of free fallin' it was like i heard it for the first time, no lie. my eyes welled up with tears and i just kept repeating, "and the good girls go home with broken hearts. and the good girls go home with broken hearts. and the good girls go home with broken hearts..."
15. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room by John Mayer (from Continuum)
...
16. Cry On Demand by Ryan Adams (from Demolition)
i just close my eyes and think of you.
17. Mockingbirdsing by Ryan Adams (from Cold Roses)
this is one of my favorite ryguy songs. so lovely, "love her in the ways you want to be loved..."
18. Shadowlands by Ryan Adams (from Love is Hell)
this is one of those songs that gets physical, it lets me clear my mind completely. sit alone in your car or room, turn this up as loud as your eardrums will allow and just let the song happen to you. you really can't experience the instrumental last half of the song without being... affected.

love/miss/namaste.

sorry to disappoint.

but sparks did not fly. don't get me wrong, fun was had. there was a fantastic group dinner at chuy's, 80's night at lotus, mini golf, sister hazel...all great, wonderful things. but i just wasn't feeling the romance. and that's ok! i didn't get jumped, murdered, or anything awful like that. it was just a bit awkward. like, sofa king awkward.see? we totally had fun. i let him beat me in mini golf.

anyways, i think it's just that i'm not attracted to the european type. you know: thin, uber trendy, real serious about dance moves, mysterious accent, etc. honestly, show me a chubster who can't dress himself and wants to curl up on the couch and watch sportscenter with me...and i'm down for the count, swoon city. i wish i was kidding.

but i would have to say that this sister hazel concert was definitely the highlight of the weekend. they were phenomenal, i forget how much i love that band. they were rockin' it too. the lead guitar player was ridiculous. i loved how much fun those dudes looked like they were having up there too. they were genuinely having a blast, laughing and jammin' out. so sweet.

i also loved their opener, tyrone wells. he was cutie with some pipes and lovely lyrics. i have definitely become a fan...check out sea breeze...

sunday afternoon was spent on the terrace. bos and i laid outside on the couch and read for almost 3 hours before falling asleep. it was dark when i woke up...and it was awesome.

and so another week begins.

love/miss/namaste.

so...this is random...

after the week i've had, it will be nice to have a good fun weekend. i'm not going to sit here and type out my sob story about how i feel like a horse who's had a carrot dangled in front of it's face. but i'll tell you that i wish i could take a big bite out of that friggin' carrot, chew it up, and then spit it out right now. that's neither here nor there, i've got something loads more juicy:

me and the rooms in London

ho-k. so remember when i went to london? weeeeell, there is a little tidbit about that trip that i ever-so-slyly left out of the blog. i may or may not have met someone while i was there (gasp!). this person may or may not be an adorable australian. let me explain.

the international adventure crew (KH, holly, jill, me)

my roommate, travel buddy, and all around great friend KH was the most excited about going to london. me? i was ready for barcelona (and rightfully so...wowza). but see, in college, KH studied abroad in london for 3 months and while abroad, met some fabulous people. one in particular she developed a relationship with. i will not disclose the details of said relationship because it is no longer of the romantic persuasion and she has since moved on. however, the second evening we were in london, KH had set up a dinner with this old friend whom she hadn't laid eyes on in 2 years for a little catch up. jill, holly, and i had no agenda, so naturally we were all totally stoked to have dinner plans with a local. this local brought a friend.

oh don't you worry. we rocked barsa. clearly.

he was really cool and actually went out with us after dinner (by himself!). he showed us some london hot spots, we all did a little dancing, and it was also the night we discovered how frickin' bad awesome london cabs are! the back seats face each other like a limo! it's mind blowing, really. anywho, this adorable australian (who i will not refer to in this blog in abreevs because AA is not a fitting connotation) invited us to a party the next night as well. i'm not going to sit here and tell you that we fell in love...not like jill and scotty...but there was definitely flirtatious energy. he's a complete gentleman and i'd be lying if i said that i wished that we could've just skipped spain altogether and finished out the trip in the UK. but we didn't, i loved spain, and that's that. here's where it gets interesting:

we email. it's nothing scandalous. there's no mush. i basically have an international pen pal who i happen to have fond memories with from 2 london evenings. who also has an adorable accent and seems to be very intrigued by my boring life. i'd say we email about once a week. some weeks, it's every day, other times we'll go 2 weeks without contact. there is no drama or awkwardness, we're just there. we've talked on the phone a bunch of times and text a bit (lord knows what my bill looks like but mom and pop haven't said anything yet...ok yes, my parents still pay my phone bill. i keep telling them i can do it!! but i'm also an only child and single and whiny about it so they love feeling like they still take care of me, it's a win-win. don't judge). why is this all surfacing now, you ask? well prepare to change your skivies cause this one'll make you wet yourself: HE IS COMING HERE. TOMORROW.

yes, you read that right. my adorable australian from london is flying in tomorrow to spend the weekend with me. "can i just pop over for a visit?" he says. i'm all, "yeah right dude. sure, come on over!!" - that was me being sarcastic and disbelieving. welp, he done it. sent me his flight information last week and by george, he'll be here at 7PM tomorrow for no other reason than to visit me...and the other girls, of course, but i'm the only one he emails. how freaking nuts is that?

ok. so yeah, i am worried that it might be awkward. i don't really know him and i haven't seen him since may. we're just friends, but after talking to reeds-the-relationship-genius, i'm a schized out...neuroticism is in full force. do you think he's a serial killer and will murder me in my sleep?!? do you think he's brought a wad of cash that he's expecting to leave in an unmarked envelope on my dresser when he leaves?!? is he gay and thinks we're besties?! (ok...i'll tell you for a FACT that the last conclusion i jumped to is false. hey hey) - but from a guy's perspective (correction, reeds' perspective)...these are my options. i'm either dead meat or will be the bearer of bad news when he starts unpacking his massage oils.

or maybe he's just a really nice guy who's genuinely interested in visiting the US of A (for only the second time in his life) and is just happy that he now has a friend here? maybe i've tricked him into thinking that i'm a completely normal and sane person who is sometimes fun to hang out with? who knows. but the first thing we're doing when he lands is hittin' up chuy's. the only thing i have to offer in the form of culture is a good plate of tex-mex and a margarita. cheers mates!

i'm goint to definitely be tweeting this trysty experience, complete with twitpics for evidence that i'm not making it up. i have a feeling that the next 48 hours is going to be hil-ar-i-ous. all signs point to laura being a liiiittle less than stealth. wish me luck.

oh, and if you're wondering what became of jill and scotty (the dude she met at the party we went to in london)...they are now in a serious relationship. they rendezvoused in san fran for 2 weeks this summer and she'll be spending some time in australia with him later this month. fairy tale shivonne-style? yup.

love/miss/namaste.

watch this vid.

and be encouraged.

send it up.

when you get a moment, send up a prayer for the chandlers. matt is the pastor of my church here in Dallas (The Village) and he's undergoing brain surgery as i type this. pray for comfort, strength, and healing for him and his family (wife and 3 little ones)...as well as wisdom and precision for the doctors.

my heart is full...and i am thankful.

lmn.

a genda.

since the first weekend in december has big shoes to fill (cough, hanson), i'm going to set the bar at a mediocre height as to not be completely disappointed...although it's looking like it will be pretty legit.

tonight after yoga i'm going to see a screening of Up in the Air with bethany (who i've been begging to break into the blogworld...). i'm stoked because it looks like a really great flick and george cloony is fantastic...speaking of, he's also the voice of Fantastic Mr. Fox in a film of the same name. it is SO funny, i highly recommend it. especially if you grew up reading Roald Dahl books like me.

tomorrow night is our work christmas party and word on the street is, this hooptie is gonna be off the chain. there will be vino flowin' and perhaps even a designated dancing area. don't worry, i'm probably going to wear another onesie i've got tucked away for such occasions and who knows, maybe i'll add some sequined accessories. i don't know if i'll have time.

saturday will be a shopping day with 3 of my best friends, LC, lizzie and the aforementioned should-be-a-blogger bethany. (LC, if you're reading this, you need to be a blogger too. do it for ollie) of course, we'll be watching the big 12 championship but there is also another shindig going down....

Liz introduced me and some other friends to 2birds1blog "the sardonic voice of 20-somethings everywhere". it is literally the funniest collection of writings i have ever read. sometimes when i'm reading it by myself i will bust out laughing and thank God for these people. if you've never read it before start with the fan favorites, they are hysterical. one of my personal favs is this. and you're welcome. anywho, the blog is based out of DC and meg, the main writer, has planned a "Jager Ball" for this saturday for all her readers to come out, mingle, and meet her and the other bloggers. since going to DC for just a blog party is not a feasible option or responsible decision, reeds has decided to head up a satellite party - that's right. dallas 2birds readers will be able to have their own Jager Ball and do a little mingling of our own. srroooooo....if you're in the area and love that blog OR if you haven't read it but like to have fun OR if you just started reading it 45 seconds ago and are now hooked and live in dallas, come to Quarter Bar this saturday at 8PM. also, reeds and meg may or may not have a tryst going on since the inception of this planned gathering...

sorry, no more encounters with CN...he's makin' himself pretty scarce around these parts. or maybe he's just busy. or maybe the awkwardness is all in my head. probably. but maybe not...

love/miss/namaste.

oh. hey, december.

well it's december first. and i lay my head down tonight knowing i tried my best, but i did not do my best. see, i had another encounter with CN.

after work i went to 24hour like a good little yogi (wannabe), so i got home around 7:28. it was dark. the rain fell steadily as i threaded the needle of my jeep in reverse into my parking spot at the condo. [sidenote - i suck at driving, but i guarantee i can park a car better than you]. i was chatting with my mom on the phone, when all of the sudden, i spotted him under a large umbrella watching his dog defecate 20 feet from me in my impeccably parked car: cute neighbor.

me: "mom i gotta go...cute neighbor."
mom: "say no more" click.

i quickly and carefully removed my (thank goodness, only 2) bags and closed the door. CN walked over to me and asked if i'd like some umbrella. this dude is seriously chivalrous, i'm swooning right now...he always seems to be helping me with something or other... anyway, i pop underneath his umbrella and decide that i'm going to be cool, calm, collective Laura and charm the living daylights out of him.

me: "thanks, you are so nice. how have you been, i haven't seen you around in a while?"
CN: "oh i was in iowa for the holidays, i just got back last night."
me: "are you originally from there?"
CN: "no, but my parents live there now. ellie loved it, she got to play with her cousins." (ellie is his black lab, i was petting her)
me: "oh cool. so.... did you drive...or..."
CN: [smiles] "oh yea."
[crickets]

pause. OF COURSE HE DROVE YOU SORRY EXCUSE FOR A COHERENT HUMAN BEING. action!

me: pretending that the last 20 seconds didn't happen..."thank you so much for your umbrella services." [he walked me all the way to my door! swoon and a half]
CN: "no problem at all" (quick smile, complete with sparkle teeth noise at the end of orbit commercials)
me: "i seem to be having bad luck with the rain lately. i keep forgetting to bring my umbrella with me when i leave my house. it's just hanging on my door handle and i never remember to bring it...
...and i just got this new patio furniture and i don't want it to get all soggy so my room is completely filled with all the cushions and stuff...so..."

oh lord. i've done it again.

CN: "yeah...ha...well, have a good night, Laura." walks away, probably confused. i kid you not, this is exactly what went down.

i'm not sure what i was trying to accomplish by sharing that information with him. it made sense in my mind, but when it came out there was an obvious disconnect that left me clumsily rambling. maybe it was my way of trying to lengthen our conversation? or maybe i just wanted him to be aware of my new sexy patio set (see previous post and be jeal, suckas). maybe i was so in shock by his repeatedly chivalrous encounters with me that i had to keep talking so i don't just stare. either way, i went inside and palm-slapped my forehead in disgust. i might as well have told him that i learned how to do the bug pose in yoga today. that may have turned things around...

irony - do you know what word i spelled correctly to win my 6th grade class spelling bee? answer: Awkward. i wish i was joking. lots of people forget the first 'w', but me and that word...we tight. obvi.

love/miss/namaste.

goodbye, old friend.

as readers of this blog (all 4 of you), you are aware of how much i looked forward to the month of november. now that today marks the end of this blessed month, i'd like to pay homage to it, November, for being so good to me.

i mean, it started off with hanson...i love them so much i will fight you over it.

THEN, my bestie came in town for the weekend to help me celebrate my 24th birthday. this is her cutting the pineapple for our special pinas (we soaked them in coconut rum for 2 days. delish!)
see below...me excited for KH's and my party. yes i wore a onesie and yes i kept walking around saying, "do you think i look like a stripper?" to which the poor cornered person replied, "oh no of course not..." yeah, thanks.
uh...need i say more?
well i will anyway. new moon blew my mind. i was squealing like a piglet right along with all the other tweenie boppers every time taylor OR rob was in a scene. hell, a middle aged crazy woman even stopped me in the bathroom and said, "THAT IS A COOL F*CKING SHIRT." oh how i love getting passionate compliments.


of course, the lovely new mother and bestie-o-mine, dani came for a visit...bringing that precious little bundle, ava :) we all had a fabulous friendsgiving! here's us at cafe brazil, ava's first restaurant experience! don't worry, i tweeted it.

one detail that i have yet to mention/reveal is my birthday gift from my parents....ta-da!

check out that patio set-up! it's so comfortable and there's even enough room to have a camp-out slumber party if i want to! i spent a few (3+) hours reading by candlelight with a glass of red on saturday evening and then got up to do it again in the morning with a cup of chai tea. is this the life, or is this the life? i predict many good times out here with people i love. and check out the fantastic wall-hanging that lizzie gave me - it completes the patio perfectly, i say.

(joshulyn took one look at this photo and says, "girl, that is SEXY." - you are right, my friend).

don't think i forgot about imogen, no no. check out this snippet i caught at the show...



Mm, whatcha say? That you only meant well?
of course you did.
Mm, whatcha say? That it's all for the best?
of course it is.
Mm, whatcha say? That this is just what we need?
you decided this.
Mm, whatcha say? What did you say?

oh heaven on earth, i looooove imogen. she is speaking to me lately. i'll have to throw another track's lyrics up here pretty soon because literally after ever line, i go, "i know, RIGHT?!?" genius.

aaaand Hello, December. I hope you know what you're up against.

love/miss/namaste.

post-thanksgiving report

man oh man, i love thanksgiving. i could go on and tell you all the sentimental reasons why it really is the best holiday...family, love, giving thanks, etc. but that's what you expect from me. well i'm not gonna do it because if you know me well enough, you know that i am a sentimental, emotional person in my heart so put away your tissues, this won't be a sappy post.

i think thanksgiving is a great holiday because you don't have to give people presents or cards. there's no uncomfortable...'well...she gave me a card last year and i don't want to not give something errr, i don't know, frick, i'll just give everyone a pair of sunglasses!!' TG isn't about that, no. the awkwardness is left back at your last card-giving event. you can get by with making a sentimental speech or saying an especially heartfelt prayer at dinner or even afterward while you're all laying around in a glutenous stupor. oh how i love it so.

this year, the dudney family celebrated this blessed holiday with 4 people and 4 canines. that's right, a dog for every person. grandma brought TJ over (her shit-zoo) and since the addition of penny to our family, there's a dog for every human who wants one on their lap.

how cute is my mama with her penny girl? so regal.
at any given time, you will find these two fused together in this very position...whether my mom is cooking, sitting, riding in the car, or even on a "walk".

umm....this is awesome.

can you believe that it's christmastime already? i sure can't. you know how i know that the seasons are a-turnin'? the billboard right outside the turn-in to our condo was changed from the scared-looking powerade dude to santa. coke santa, that is. ho ho ho!

i also wanted to share this tidbit with you. i call it, "the running of the hounds and father". preeetty much every time i visit my folks, my dad says, "shall we run the dogs?" to which we all agree and walk to a small field nearby and let them all off the leash while my dad runs around with barking, frantic dogs nipping at his heels. it's hysterical really. one of my favorite dudney family traditions. you're welcome.


love/miss/namaste.

friendsgiving

the first annual Friendsgiving was this past Sunday. my dear friend liz invented this lovely occasion so that we could share this special holiday with those who are near to our hearts. she did an amazing job planning the whole event, made place settings and even cooked the TURKEY. i just adore her, she's the kind of person that will always be one of your bestest friends. (thanks for a fabulous evening, lizzie!)

we had a crazy-delicious spread. SO. MUCH. FOOD. the lovely LC hosted the gathering for our party of 7 plus 2 baby girls. dani was able to make the trip all the way from new braunfels...ava's first vacation! i had the pleasure of having these two at my condo for a few days. we played house :) and it was lovely.

LC and her precious Liv

mamas and bff babies

love them. how beautiful are these two?

they are besties already, Liv and Ava grabbed each others' hand and held on tight!
no, it wasn't staged.
jk.

me and Liz, the Friendsgiving guru and all-around wonderful lady.

i'm so excited about having 2 Thanksgivings. i'll be going to arlington tonight to spend the day with my parents and grandma tomorrow. we always have a really small Thanksgiving with just the 4 of us. it's not a Thanksgiving like those crazy holiday movies with tons of people and food and noise, but it's ours. the ratio of people to dogs is 1:1 and that's how we like it. i'll be sitting in a big green recliner with dogs piled on me, listening to battle studies (and other mellowness) and reading a book (i went to half price books yesterday and went a bit nuts, i used a giftcard that ivy gave me for my bday. she knows going there is like therapy). my dad and grandma will be on the couch watching the golf channel. mom will be in the other green recliner with other dogs. it's home.

love/miss/namaste.
and thank you.

irrational post.

the only thing i hate more than regret is hindsight.
because sometimes, the two go hand in hand. think about it.

now, i know that everything happens for a reason. i know that God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. i know that i can't control anything, especially the past.

but i like talking about hindsight about as much as i like talking about my last gyno appointment. pesky little frick.

i guess you just have to wait for the HS to kick in and hope it throws you a bone.

LMN.

yep...

i'm that corny/excited to see the midnight showing.
team edward.
jacob is hottt though.

love/miss/namaste.

today is my 24th birthday

i forgot that today is when my driver's license expires too. i really wanted to retake my photo when i got my new one - since i've had this one for the last 6 years. then i started thinking about how sucky going to the DMV is and i decided to just renew it online. sure, i'm 18 year-old kidlaura and wearing my HS hoodie, smiling like i've got the world figured out - but hey, i really really hate going to the DMV.
i also got to thinking about where i was in life during the time my last license was issued. fall of my senior year in high school (cue Vitamin C's Graduation song). i no doubt went to lunch with Andrew (my DBF*) and it was probably to chicken express where i got a kid's meal. we had likely blasted jessica simpson's "with you" and sang at the top of our lungs around 2.5 times by the end of the day (i can let my hair down, i can say anything CRAZY!!)...he always drove my pimped out explorer (sub woofer, what what) because i suck at driving. we also have the same great taste in cheesy pop songs to this day. every time we hear that little party in the USA jingle, we get each other on the horn. anyhow, after school volleyball practice probably made me hella tired (because even though i fake-ran, it was still hard work). i probably had a conversation with Elizabeth (my other best friend) about how scared i was that i wasn't going to get into UT and it was the only college i wanted to go to and wah wah wah...calculus blows...wah wah wah (this signifies tears)..ooo he's got his shirt off...blah blah. she'd always tell me that things would be ok and then we'd eat watermelon laffy taffy (the kind with the seeds that were pretty much just black chunks of sugar*) together in her mustang with the sunroof open watching football practice. then we'd gossip about boys (those being her bf at the time and this dude i had met at church camp that i had a monster giddy-school-girl crush on*). those were the days,

you know, the days before husbands and babies and "real" jobs and rent checks. back when those things were hopes and dreams that were distant enough not to terrify you or leave you crying yourself to sleep in the fetal position on a bed with no sheets while a psycho-chihuahua licks your face raw (i know you know what i'm talkin' about...no? maybe it's just me). i digress. but i guess what i mean is, even then i didn't know how great i had it. the tears i cried then were about stupid crushes that i wanted to be more than they were...and making sure i went to the right university so i could become an adult someday. i had it easy.

but then, aren't the tears that i cry now over the same things? a broken heart and fear of heading in the wrong direction? yup. which should really piss me off right? cause it's like GREAT, i'm still a drama queen who stresses over the same things with slightly different variables. but it also just makes me laugh at myself. i treat "finding the one" like i'm a leprechaun trying to find a coveted pot-o-gold and my future like some sort of cosmic crap-chute. i acknowledge that God is in control but i secretly resent that truth because i think if i could just get that ONE thing that i want...

but one day i'll have the things that i wanted in the previous paragraph just like how now i have the things that i needed the paragraph before (notice, i got what i needed, not exactly what i wanted). there will always be something else to cry about, cause we all know i'll do it. it's just nice to know that even when i do have bad days filled with worries and fears that i'm always surrounded by such happiness. singing in the car with andy, munching on laffy taffy with liz, happy houring with KH, cracking jokes in my cube with CC, watching my best friend walk down the aisle and stand next to her while she says her vows...it's the things that make up your everydays that get you through your life stages gracefully (although sometimes not so much graceful as it is clumsy).

so even though i'm not at all where i thought i'd be or who i thought i'd be by the age of 24, i can still say that i am happy and i love my everydays.

love/miss/namaste.
ps - sorry for the heavy post. might be a quarterlife crisis. or just a stirring in my soul. who knows.

*DBF = dude best friend, we were basically inseparable. we made shirts with our faces on them and everything, we were that cool.
*I had 7 cavities that year. I wish i was kidding.
*I am pretty sure most of our "relationship" was made up in my head, which explains why I'm so neurotic today. I will think twice before letting my kids to go church camp...
jk. sort of.
also, just another example of how USUALLY, the dudes that I LIKE either a) don't live within a 100 mile radius of me, b) don't really give a crap about me, or c) all of the above at the same time. burn.

birthday "week"

it is common among young women (myself included) to engage in week-long birthday activities. i am aware that it only took my mom A day to birth me, but sometimes it takes a birthday lunch, birthday happy hour, birthday dinner, and an all-out shindig for you to feel like you've gotten all that celebrating out of your system.

now being a valentine's baby has its perks and it's drawbacks. it's great because it's right before the holidays and fall is such a lovely time. i also get to share it with lots of people, so there's a ton of action. my roomie's birthday is nov 9 (it was yesterday) and mine is the 12th (thursday) and our big throw-down is this saturday, so we are literally celebrating for a week straight. not to mention a few other friends with b-days (real sad i'm missing whit's MJ party...) and we're pretty much in business. it is kind of sad though, because things get hectic and as soon as you're birthday's here...it's gone again and someone else is blowin' out candles and you're chopped liver.

but hey! no worries, because me and kh's superawesomeparty is happening this saturday and all 3 of you who read this blog are invited! i won't talk it up too much, but i will say that it will involve some stellar dips from costco and pineapples that will blow your mind.

on a completely unrelated note, i had a moment of extreme discomfort, confusion, and even a little anger today at yoga. CC was feeling a little under the weather and KH was down for the count after her b-day happy hour the night before, so i got my namaste on solo after work. i was pretty excited for the class to start, sitting there all "meditating" about it, but then when we start the warm up...the yoga instructor turns on a song that she says is one of her favorites: the celine dion titanic ballad. are you kidding me?? i'm supposed to be clearing my mind of all the crumudgens (direct quote from yoga instructor), and i have to listen to NEAR, FAR, WHEREVER YOU ARE....and picture leo sinking into the cold, dark ocean while winslet lays on a door freezing alive and completely alone?? where is ENYA?!? does she REALIZE my current state? i sure went to crumudgen city after the first verse.

i was proud, though. i pushed through and actually went through an entire class forbidding myself to cut corners (i had to focus like never before) and i really did notice a difference in my body. after over a month of yoga/lifting classes, i am stronger. i am more flexible and i do enjoy it. i am engaging in a steady regaining of my mojo.

love/miss/namaste.

dudes are (and should) be running away from me.

don't get me wrong, i know i'm not smelly or mean or totally skanked out... i am just too neurotic at this time in my life (trust me, i just looked up the definition. #2 is me for sure). let me give you an example:

we just moved into a new condo, it's really swanky and has been compared to melrose place on numerous occasions. there's a guy who lives near us who is undeniably attractive and friendly and has a black lab. he's said hi to me and kristy and her bf a few times and once, he even helped me carry in a large area rug. of course, after he offered, i nervously replied, "oh no, i got it. thanks!" and then awkwardly attempted to lug a 9x12 chunk of carpet in addition to the giant handbag and iphone i always seem to have glued to my right hand. being the adorably attentive neighbor that he is, he just came over and picked up the dragging rug and said, "really...you look like you're having some trouble..." fail, laura...why must you always refuse help from cute strangers? why why. anyhow, that was encounter #1. kristy and luke think i should hook it up...but i'm not so sure. he seems a bit preppy (as in, he wears nice polos tucked into slacks. so he definitely has a good job, knows about the stock market, and probably eats lunch at places i've never heard of). or that's the story i've made up in my head.

the other night, after a grueling workout class, i had to swing by the centennial (nearby liquor store) to pick up a bottle of wine for our boss' "wine of the month" christmas gift. as i was walking in, cute neighbor was walking out with a couple of cases of michelob ultra. i say a quick "hey", and he strikes up the conversation by asking me to remind him of my roommate's and her bf's names (he remembered MINE...does that mean something? is he going to ask me out for coffee...for as long as we both shall live...?). i remind him of their names, he says, "oh yeah, that's right. i saw him after he had just played a soccer game, they seem cool." uh..."yeah, haha they are haha" (what the frick kind of response is that laura? get on your game and stop making yourself look like a stupid teenager who has an inappropriate crush on her dreamy science teacher). but that was it. we turn and walk our separate ways.

when i get home from the centennial, guess who's conveniently taking their black lab out for an evening potty break? none other than CN. i think to myself, "self, he TOTALLY knew you were going to be a few minutes behind him at the store. is it possible that he came out to walk his dog because he knew he'd catch you on your way into the condo? that is a definite possibility. or his dog just had to pee...but i'm gonna go with the former!" so i open my door and begin unloading my bags (for some reason, i had 3 or 4 at the time). black lab comes over to sniff me...was that totally staged? perhaps...and i pet her, then continue loading tote after tote onto my shoulders. CN says, "so are y'all about settled in?" ...."ALMOST!" i semi-shout as i'm facing the inside of my car, reaching for the bottle of christmas gift wine. by the time i turn around, he's already started to walk up the stairs to his place. probably because he got the feeling i didn't want to chat, but in reality, i was merely scrambling to load up so fast so that i could catch him! curses.

i walk in the door and tell KH my sad tale of awkwardness and disappointment.

KH: me and luke think you should TOTALLY date him!
me: i don't know, he seems kind of sophisticated. i'm not sure i can handle that.
KH: come on, Laura, you won't know until you get to know him. invite him to our b-day party next week!
me: great idea! but wait. i think it might be a lost cause. when i saw him at the centennial he was carrying 2 cases of michelob ultra, which could only mean 2 things: he is either a super health nut who works out all the time (in which case relating to a corner-cutter such as myself would be like someone trying to tell me that Hanson isn't that awesome...and we all know that doesn't end well). OR, he has a girlfriend and they drink it together and work out all the time and have perfect lives already. see? i lose again.
KH: wow.

so, in the duration of 30 minutes, i have speculated that 1. this guy is super smart, sophisticated and therefore way out of my league. 2. already thinks i'm one of those people who doesn't want help and is an awkward teenie bopper giggler 3. he has a girlfriend already and she is probably perfect and why would he even give 2 craps about a neurotic girl with a equally neurotic chihuahua?

all i can say is, NO WONDER.

love/miss/namaste.

cut them corners

i recently got a membership to 24 hour fitness. this is a huge step/commitment/undertaking for me because 1. i haven't worked out on a regular basis since i was in high school and in the best shape of my life, 2. when i start something, i rarely see it out to the end...i usually get SUPER into it at first, buy a ton of accessories (crap) to accompany my new obsession, and drop it once i realize that i'm just mediocre at it. and 3. i'm always complaining how busy i am, so fitting in a workout routine into my melodramatic life seems like trying to fit another necklace on my adorable fabric-covered cork board (shameless DiY plug).

plus, i'm a corner cutter when it comes to working out, which has resulted in an abnormally weak core (people are always talking about "strengthening your core"...psh), shotty joints (because i rest on them when i get tired...all. the. time.), and a body that is basically made up of bones with a layer of skin over them and a butt that looks like it's filled to the brim with a substance that can only be described as "fluid". i'm telling you, in HS, i perfected the fake run...which is basically a walking march with flailing shoulders. i once tried to workout with FBF* when he was doing this "belly-off" thing and i barely made it through the warm-up. not endearing. i also have a bad back, which i excuse for my poor form in exercises targeting glutes and quads...but then i think to myself, is my bad back a result of said poor form? chicken or the egg?! i don't know.

so anyway, CC and i have been hitting up the classes at 24 hour. we like the yoga at preston center on tuesdays, the instructor is legit. she has a really calming voice and uses phrases like "heart space" and "push away the negative energy," so we know we're getting our money's worth. on wednesdays we do the 24Lift class at royal, which is a total body "lean muscle building" workout where you use a barbell, dumbells, a step and a mat...purty intense, my friends. this is a tough class for me, which i make visibly obvious throughout the duration of the hour by my strained facial expressions and whispering the syllable "shiiii" after each set (according to CC)...which usually causes both of us to crack up and get a simultaneous ab workout. the step class at the location right by work is out of the question...we spent 30 minutes hopping around like a couple of apes trying to keep up with all the MILFs in bebe workout gear and then gave up.

i'm hoping that by at least sticking with these 2 classes, i'll cut corners less and less. although it will take me longer than the average 23*-year old to get back in shape, i'll get there...sacrificing my lower back and joints in the process. c'est la vie.


you may be asking, "hey, what happened to lyric week?"
well...i'll tell you: posting hanson lyrics, i realize now, makes me look like i'm either trying super hard to show my artistic-ness or that i'm trying to get a boyfriend (because i'm obviously single if i'm posting that nonesense). especially because my next 2 picks were if only and fire on the mountain. i'll let you check those out for yourself...but you probably won't. i just like 'em, especially the former...

love/miss/namaste.

*FBF - former boyfriend.
*i'm going to be 24 in a WEEK, boomshackalacka.

why are people stupid?

i like to read us weekly, i just do. i also love to hate liking it, for reasons like this:

Taylor & Taylor: A SECRET ROMANCE

referring to Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautneywautney (you know, the hottie werewolf who was undateable a mere 4 years ago, but i'd still hit that). my question is, if said relationship is a "secret romance", then why is it on the cover of a GD* magazine? i'm just sayin'.

*gosh darn, or whatever.

what i dressed up as for halloween:

WWIIILLLLMMMAAAAAi was Wilma Flintstone...homemade

heather was a butterfly/ballerina...adorable

penny was a witch :)
also - her surgery went well. we found out that she was actually pregnant...which, in her state was life threatening. she probably got jumped when she was living on the streets (that makes me tear up...poor thing, she's still a puppy!). the vet said that while obviously the puppy (there was only 1) would be half chihuahua, it looked really large and would definitely kill her if we went through with the pregnancy. plus, it was probably all sorts of unhealthy, since when we got penny, she had a tapeworm AND ringworm... it was a very sad situation. my dad picked her up from the vet today and she's doing really well. we're all kind of sad about the whole thing...but we're really glad she's ok now.

bos was my little pumpkin

HANSON
aka. best night ever.

at one point in the night...
Liz: "Zach is HOOOTTTTT"
Zach: "Thanks"
Liz: "he talked to me. did you hear that?"


love/miss/namaste.

I Will Come to You, from Middle of Nowhere (1997)

when you have no light to guide you, and no one to walk beside you
i will come to you, oh i will come to you
when the night is dark and stormy, you won't have to reach out for me
cause i will come to you, oh i will come to you

sometimes when all your dreams may have seen better days
and you don't know how or why, but you've lost your way
have no fear when your tears are falling, i will hear your spirit calling
and i swear that i'll be there, come what may

i'll reach out and take your hand
i will come to you.

(shout out to my homies)...that part's not in the song.

snippets of Get Up and Go, from Underneath (2004)

what could i give when you've got all you need?
and she looks at me and all i want's a little free
every time i look at you it makes me see that it's alright, it's alright
we'll get away, be in love, we can make it better
all we need's a little time for us to get together
happiness is just a step away and it's alright, it's alright

just a girl like you, and maybe just a guy like me
maybe we can take a walk on the wild side
take a look and see, get up and go

seems like love has always found a way
but there's only so many hours in a day
all that i know is that you're here with me and it's alright, it's alright
won't you tell me that you need me so bad
you are everything i've never had, oh
every time i look at you it hurts so bad
and it's alright, it's alright.


(dear God, please send me a boy who says nice things like this to me. thanksiloveyou.)

in the spirit for lyric week.

hi there.
my last post / recent events have given me a great idea: lyric week.

i don't consider myself a connoisseur of anything, but i know what i like and what inspires me. my personal choices may not be your cup of tea, but you may also read and think, "hey, i dig that too. we have something in common." and then we can exchange inspiration sources (which is something i love to do). also, i just went to see my favorite band last night: Hanson. now i will go on a rant, please excuse me.

do i understand that they are a boy band of the 90's who had their biggest (by that i mean, most widely known) hit single before 2 out of 3 of them hit puberty? yes. were they in their awkward phase when they got the most media attention and MTV air time? yes (but lets be honest with each other here, it was the 90's. we all looked like dunces). do they write all their own music? yes. have they come out with albums consistently over the last decade that keep getting better and better, yet all songs remain timeless? yes. do they spend a great deal of their time and energy serving the underprivileged and forgotten children in Africa? yes. are they stand-up dudes who have wives and children and could care less about being famous, only wanting to contribute positivity and hopefulness to the world through their art? yes. are they smoking hot? absolutely.

so i'm sorry if when someone says, HANSON, what are you, 11? or, HANSON, are they STILL around? and i fire back using 4-letter words. if Hanson is not your music taste, that is completely fine and understandable, music is subjective and i get that. but if you have all sorts of "hilarious opinions" of them when the only song you've heard was MMBOP and the last time you listened to it you were wearing ginkos and sitting in the back of a suburban while your mom drove you to the mall, then you are ignorant. just sayin'. i'll get off my high horse now, sorry folks. i have a lot of "Hanson-is-a-really-legit-band-and-i'll-prove-it-to-you" CD compilations to burn this week, so that has me all worked up. the funny thing is that chances are, if you're reading this, you're not one of those people (because you're my friend). i just had to get it off my chest, you know?

that being said, it's laura's lyric week! first up: hanson favorites, of course.

love/miss/namaste.

lovin' this.

imogen heap, that is.

first train home
bodies disengage, our mouths are fleshing over
as hiss and echo gain, irises retreat into ovals of white
the urge to feel your face, in blood, rushing to paint my handprint
and frisbee one by one; your vinyl on laminate, i'm desperate for some kind of contact

first train home, i've got to get on it
(to catch, to catch, to catch-catch)
first train home

temporal dead zone where clocks are barely breathing
yet no one cares to notice for all their yamming on, i clam up to hold it together
i want to play-do waveforms in the hideaway
i want to get on with getting on with things
i want to run in fields, paint the kitchen, love someone
but i can't do any of that here, can i?

first train home, i've got to get on it

so what? you've had one to many
so what? i'm not that much fun to be with
so what? you've got a silly hat on
so what? i didn't want to come here anyway

what matters to you, doesn't matter to me
what matters to me, doesn't matter to you
what matters to you, doesn't matter to them
what matters to them, doesn't change anything

got to get on it
first train home

(i have this on repeat)
and i'm real excited for nov 17 (!!!)

hump day

this weekend was nice and laid back. i went to paul's gallery and saw his stellar photos from the trips he's taken to the Sudan and DC (i need to get some photog lessons, stat). after that, i was feeling sort of down so i went to my parents' house to hang out...which always makes me feel better. [also, a sweet email from shiv really lifted my spirits too :)]. the next day, i woke up to my dad walking into my room in full vader-gear, breathing like james earl jones...my mom holding a chihuahua, giggling behind him. that's why i come home.

they also went to their own halloween party last weekend. they are legit. the dog never leaves this spot.
puppylove...
i also had the pleasure of puppysitting my friend joshulyn's chihuahua, flip. he is so precious and got along well with bos. they pretty much napped on their respective couches all weekend. i felt like i lived on a chihuahua farm or paris hilton's closet.

i am also doing a lot better. i have really great friends who are always there for me and i'm so lucky to have such wonderful people surrounding me from all over the world. i've decided that i'm not going to be sad and weepy anymore, because that's not good. and i don't even know why i'm even that upset anyways. the more i think about it, the clearer things become. maybe that's because i've moved into anger...which is also more funny. now i'm able to laugh at myself and realize that i have to be somewhat of a decent person if the people who call me their friend are those i esteem so highly... i mean, i must be pretty great if my friends are absolutely INCREDIBLE, right? thanks friends, you're lovely.

November is going to be the best month ever. i'm SO ready for it to GET HERE.

- Hanson with Hellogoodbye on Nov 1 with reeds and some bestfriends.
- My 24th Birthday! Plus other birthdays too...
roomie and I are going to have our birthday shindig as our new condo debut party :) it's almost finished. and IVY is coming to visit me!!
- Imogen Heap at the Granada on Nov 17. yes.
- New Moon releases on Nov 19, you better believe i'm going to the midnight showing...and a pre-party with my twilight girls before
- FRIENDSGIVING...dani and ava are coming up from NB for a visit! we're all going to LC's place for a feast with friends and babies :) so excited
- Thanksgiving :)

I'm sure there are lots of other funsies that will happen in the great month of November, but those are just some highlights. october, get out of my life! i'm done with you. you're not even the 8th month, poser.

love/miss/namaste.

i needed this.

so i've had these plain black flats for a while now. i've never worn them since they were purchased from forever21 for 14 bucks. see below, sad and boring.

so i decided that instead of trying to sell them to buffalo exchange never having worn them, i'd modify them to be wearable (for me, anyways). a trip to hobby lobby, a tube of super glue and some acrylic gems later, i was able to create my own version of jeweled flats.
VOILA!! and there you have it. my friday afternoon get-me-through-the-day activity. now i'm looking for other things to bedazzle. next up: a little notebook i keep in my handbag. i write everything from to-do lists to bible verses...or anything i want to remember. obviously i had to make it sparkly.i still have some jewels left over. what next....

happy weekend. let's try to make it a good one, eh?
love/miss/namaste.

photos being worth many words, part 2

goings-on in october...last weekend i was able to get a little R&R at my folks' house. they were in portland for a wedding (one of my childhood friends, i was sad i didn't get to go...but i think a wedding would have sent me over the edge). it was really nice to lay around with my puppies and do nothing. i needed it bigtime. the past few weeks, i've been suffering from a bit of stess cardiomyopathy. if you don't know what that is, google it. maybe i'm being dramatic...but i really can't help it. if you've seen me in the last week, you know i'm not joking.

the newest addition to the dudney family: Penny Lane

Penny Lane and Boston, the chihuahuas of the family

a couple weeks ago, my mom and i took an innocent trip to petsmart to pick up some dog food. upon entering and reading the sign "pet adoptions today"...we knew we were in for some trouble. especially because my dad was out of town.
we saw this little precious and immediately fell in love.
she had been picked up about 2 weeks prior to this adoption day and was found in the woods. this baby had been living on her own in the wild...can you imagine? she was all skin and bones and fur, totally emaciated. it wasn't a hard decision for us, she was unloved...and we had just enough to go around. she's doing great now, on some medications and getting along well with our other dogs :) we love her very much.

AVA JAMES DIAS!
i was so excited when i got to make a little visit to see this niece of mine when i was in austin for ACL. she is a bundle of love and i'm crazy about her. dani is a beautiful mother and i absolutely can't wait to see them again.

dani and daugther love.

ACL. day 3.

ACL. day 2. rainfest.

ACL. day 2...one soggy mess.
i could go into detail about the ACL aspect of the weekend, but it will turn into a rant that would leave you to believe that i was miserable. i was, but i wasn't ungrateful for the experience. i got to see whitney AND ivy, which are rare occurrences. ivy and troy were in town for her brother's 21st birthday. on saturday we all stayed in a hotel suite together...have you ever slept in a king sized bed with your best friend and her husband? i have.

festive house key.
our new condo is FANTASTIC. we seriously love it.
hopefully we'll have it up-and-running in the next week or two.

so that's pretty much it for my life recently.

not pictured noteworthy tidbits: gym membership at 24hour fitness. going strong...worked out 3 days/week for the last 2 weeks. i've done yoga (in love with it), a step class (not so in love with that) and a lifting class (which burned me from the inside, in a good way). CC and i have been working out together, which is so nice. having a partner makes it easier and more motivating. i'm trying out cycling on saturday so we'll see how that goes. i've also cut out chocolate and alcohol from my diet. i'm going to get my life together. mark my words. oh, and my friends are the best. so completely wonderful... i'd still be curled up on my bed-with-no-sheets lying in a pool of my own snot and tears if it weren't for them. so, thanks friendlies.

love/miss/namaste.