Voting Day!

Lauren and I voted last week. We got these stickers:

It's a bit snarky, isn't it? It may as well have been...

 

It's okay though. Get out there and vote today! :-)

xkcd

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Four Hours of Sleep

I was up until 2:00 this morning, spending hours working on a resume, letter of interest and paper application (PAPER?) for a cool job for which I'm actually qualified and have current experience. Then I got up at 6:00 to finish the process and get it into an envelope to mail. (Did I mention... PAPER application?)

You know I'm not going to get this position, right? It will be the one I spend five minutes tossing together at the last minute. Still. I had to put in the extraordinary effort, as there is an element of *cue trumpet fanfare* Event Planning to this job. I love event planning!! Remember my wedding, where I had individual printed event notes for each wedding party member? Fun, right? I know!

:)


I actually took time to read through a lengthy, angry political conversation this morning in the comments on a friend's Facebook photo. One guy (not a friend of mine), a very extreme Republican, was ranting on and on about "sanctimonious Independents" and how they are the reason this country is such a mess. He said Independents voted Obama in four years ago, and they need to take responsibility for their stupidity.

Oh brother.

Replying liberals and independents alike had this guy in a tizzy. I think some were just toying with him to see if he would implode. So funny. Sometimes people just need to take a pill.

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Aggies! Wurstfest!

Wurstfest! I've lived here for almost 23 years and had never been. So yesterday, we went with Scott 'n Julie. It is mostly a German food festival, really. Arrive hungry. Most everything we tried was great. There was a lot of musical entertainment, and we particularly enjoyed our lunch at a picnic table along the river. Beautiful setting. Gorgeous weather. There was a lot of beer, too, of course. Best of all, like Halloween (or any Tuesday night), it's a great excuse to wear a slutty dirndl.


The Aggies beat Mississippi State yesterday while we were in New Braunfels, receiving live updates from our child. WHOOP! (We also watched the whole thing on DVR when we got home.) A&M is currently #2 in the SEC West behind 'Bama. The Ags are getting some of the best sports press ever this season. Very, very exciting. Onward to Tuscaloosa!!


Patrick's Saturday Six: I

1. I is for ICEBOX: What’s your favorite food that’s in your refrigerator right now?
Slovacek sausage. My all-time favorite sausage is actually the sage version of Meyer's Elgin Sausage, but HEB stopped carrying it a few years ago and I haven't seen it around town. (Gotta get out to Elgin. It's seriously worth the trip.) The sausage is going into jambalaya this week, although I typically cook it with Salt Lick sauce and add mac-n-cheese and fresh fruit for a quick supper.

2. I is for INANE: Of the television shows you watch regularly, which would you call the dumbest?
The Bachelor

3. I is for INCOME: Do you think the wealthy should receive enough breaks to pay a lower tax rate than the middle class?
Absolutely not. A flat percentage is the fairest way to levy an income tax. Get rid of the bulk of the IRS and charge a 15% flat tax on all forms of income for everyone. The first X thousand dollars per person in a household are exempt from taxes. No deductions.

4. I is for INEDIBLE: What’s your least favorite vegetable?
squash

5. I is for INJURY: What’s the worst injury you’ve suffered in your life?
This is the first time I've realized that although I've had three life-threatening illnesses, I have never had a serious injury! Woo!! The worst was stepping on a nail sticking up through a construction 2x4 that I was walking on. I was five. It made a huge hole and almost went through the top of my foot.  At the time, I was profoundly afraid of needles, so the tetanus shot was almost worse for me than stepping on the nail.

6. I is for INK: Which color ink do you prefer to write with?
blue

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Saturday 9

Gig 'em Ags! BTHO Mississippi State!


Saturday 9: Key Largo

1) This song was inspired by the Bogart/Bacall movie of the same name. Do you have a favorite Humphrey Bogart film? Which one?
As wildly into film as I am, I have actually watched very few old, black and white movies. I think the only Bogart movie I've ever seen is Casablanca.

2) Where do you rent movies? (Netflix, Redbox, OnDemand, etc.)
Amazon, Redbox, OnDemand... whoever has what we want. Netflix never streams movies we want to see, so we cancelled it.

3) Have you ever been to the Florida Keys?
Yes! We were in Key West on a cruise in AUGUST. Never go to the Keys in August. There is no air conditioning in most buildings. It is heatstroke hot and 1000% humidity. We want to go back over Christmas some year, when it's cool and the houses are decorated.

4) According to government statistics, more than half the people who currently live in Florida were born in another state. Were you born in the state where you currently live?
Nope.

5) To be honest, Crazy Sam really hates this week's featured song. (Hear it here.) Do you like it? Loathe it? Or are you unfamiliar with it? 
I hate it.

6) Local authorities in a suburb of Sydney blasted Barry Manilow songs into a neighborhood park to keep "hooligans" away after dark. Is there an artist or song that would make you run in the other direction?
Norah Jones

7) Two of the most common fears are going to the dentist and speaking in public. Do either of those really get under your skin?
Going to the dentist isn't any big deal to me. Public speaking is fine, as long as I'm confident in what I'm talking about. If not, I get very nervous.

8) We're having burgers. What do you want on yours?
mayo, grilled onions, sautéed mushrooms

9) Here's your chance to do a shameless plug -- What charity or cause do you wish got more support?
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

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Early Voting Ends Today

I sure hope Mickey Mouse is ready to step up as President in January, with as many write-in votes as I've heard he is getting. Pretty good, considering a campaign budget of zero and his undeniably extreme stance on election reform.

I have discovered via social media this year that there are far more closet Republicans than closet Democrats. At some point, Republicans started appearing from out of the woodwork. The few I knew about had vowed to leave their politics outside Facebook and Twitter... until they got fed up with the partisan bickering and/or the voices of the loud Dems, and started posting their own daily articles/statuses/cartoons/jokes. So there ya' go. Who knew? Now it makes more sense that the race is running neck and neck, while it always seemed to me like Obama had it in the bag.

Early voting ends today. Voting Day is next Tuesday. Even if you decide to abstain from the presidential vote, remember there are many local items on your ballot. Vote vote vote!

(Austonians--- vote NO on Prop 1.)

LOL xkcd

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Post-Halloween Wrap Up

We didn't go to any parties or anything last night, but at the last minute, I decided I might be able to pull off a Lady Gaga costume to greet trick-or-treaters at the door. I have a cool lilac wig, big sunglasses and red lipstick. If that isn't the beginning of a Lady Gaga outfit, I don't know what is.

I told Cathy I wished I had a meat dress. I did have a skirt steak, so all I really needed was a shirt.

Heh.

Man, I should have taken pictures of the outfits I tried on with my wig, glasses and lipstick- every imaginable combination from a cocktail dress and high heels, to an all-black ensemble, to a throw-in-the-towel (OH! just a towel- that would have been awesome) pajamas with big fuzzy slippers and a cigarette hanging out of my mouth (for the "Gaga at home" look).

Nothing wowed me though, so I answered the door as me... with red lipstick, because I only own that color in the 24-hour long-wearing version.

Only 100 kids showed up, instead of the normal 150. Did someone set up traffic cones at the entrance to the street or something? And what am I left with? A bag and a half of Airheads. I had never tried one before, but I got curious when the kids were so excited to get them.

They are nasty. Just. Eww.

How am I supposed to pawn those off on the guys at Jeff's office?

I had two favorite trick-or-treaters this year:

1) a toddler who tried to come into my house when I opened the door. It reminded me of Lauren's first Halloween with her friend Niki. Those two tiny girlies tried to go into every house, too. When you knock and someone opens the door, you walk in. I get it!
2) a two-year-old boy dressed as a pumpkin who, instead of saying "trick or treat" when I opened the door, said "CANDYYYYYY!!!" (to the horror of his embarrassed tween brother- priceless)

Related side note-- Lauren and I watched American Horror Story late last night. This week's episode was scary as all get-out! Holy crapcakes. I was actually screaming at one point.

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Happy Halloween, Y'all!

In Zumba news... Sí, I can menea menea with the best of 'em on the Activate Zumba DVD. It's the 45-minute beginners' workout, so I probably won't be as cocky with the next DVD. I'm just relieved I can keep up with this one for now. Dancing is a lot more fun than step aerobics. I still love cardio kickboxing, but I'll stick with this for a while.


Friday Five: Exertion

1. What was the cause of your last working up a sweat?
Zumba!

2. What routine part of your life seems to take more mental effort for you than for most others?
Planning the weekly menu. I even have a faboo program that allows me to choose recipes from my own cookbook and pop them into an aisle-organized grocery shopping list. Still, it is hard with my picky eaters.

3. What’s something many others consider laborious but you consider rather easy?
Cleaning out attics, closets, cupboards, etc., with "keep, trash, give away" piles and reorganizing what remains.

4. What’s something you’re going to have to do really soon but have been putting off just because it’s going to be a lot of work?
Actually, I've just completed two things that I had been putting off. 1) creating a single meticulously detailed list that documents every single job and volunteer position I've had since working at college- addresses, phone numbers, references, salaries, duties, everything 2) winterizing the hot tub

5. Where’s the steepest hill in your neighborhood?
If you go around our loop clockwise, it's a mistake, because the steepest hill goes up the left side of the circle. Experienced walkers/runners/riders go counter-clockwise. The very steepest hill in the entire neighborhood is the grassy hiking trail off the main road.

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Parade of Homes 2012

Jeff and I went to the Austin Parade of Homes on Saturday. We were very disappointed that one of the six houses wasn't open yet. If we would have known that, we would never have gone this weekend! This year's gorgeous homes in Oak Hill have picturesque hill country views, but most have odd floor plans. Not sure how they happen to be odd as a group, but this year, they have what we feel are somewhat illogical layouts.

One realtor noted that separate living space (in that particular home- a full-on casita with its own garage) is considered a design of the future, intended for parents or children to move in. A few of the houses had it. Unlike the typical "mother-in-law" room in a far corner of the house for visitors, these are almost mini-apartments, physically separated from the main house.

We gave our People's Choice vote to Pillar Custom Homes. There are so many stunning individual elements in every house, but we felt the overall room flow was best in the Pillar model. Particularly nice- the shower as you walk in from the pool. Enertech (with my favorite media room and master bedroom!) came in second for us.


Patrick's Saturday Six: H

1. H is for HABIT: Which habit would you most like to break?
Leaving my shoes by the back door. I think I've been saying that for years.

2. H is for HAIR: How long have you maintained your current hairstyle?
Far too long. I've changed the length between shoulder-length to very long, but it's really the same bangs & hair combo I've had since I cut it short about 13 years ago. The short hair was a total mistake. Oh wait! I switched my side part to the other side about three years ago. Boo-yah.

3. H is for HAND: Are you right-handed or left-handed?
right

4. H is for HEAT: During winter, to what temperature do you normally set your thermostat?
68 during the day, 66 at night

5. H is for HIGHWAY: When the speed limit is 55, how fast do you generally drive?
I drive the speed everyone else is going, unless they are going under the speed limit for no good reason. The majority of people are driving about 59 in a 55.

6. H is for HYPOCHONDRIA: Which illness do you most fear?
Meningitis. That stuff can kill you in 24 hours.

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Good Day for the Job Search

Aggies WIN! Whoop! The boys looked amazing last night. Just... YAY! So proud.


Guess what! A job has opened up in my field of academic study, in Austin, where there are perhaps five positions altogether in the biz. I'm trying not to get too excited about it, since it's been a while *cough* since I graduated. Plus, for all I know, it's one of those jobs they have to post, even though they already have someone lined up to take it. Still.

It was quite serendipitous that I even saw it at all. I had searched only a few times for jobs in my degree field, knowing I wouldn't find anything local, especially something that didn't require twenty years of experience, and I hadn't. Yesterday, I did one of my daily searches for my old job keywords and this completely unrelated opening popped up. It was practically jumping off the screen. Turns out, it just happened to have both the keywords within its job description. Thank you, imperfect job search engine, for always giving me off-the-wall jobs I never ask for. Finally something great showed up!

I've applied online already and now I'm calling all my old school buddies to see if they happen to know anyone there I could talk to in person. The position is almost entry-level, which is where I would need to get in. My grad school hours will cover part of the limited experience requirement.

Cross your fingers and toes, folks. I'll very gratefully accept your prayers, positive vibes, lucky shamrocks, whatever you're into. Thanks!


Saturday 9: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

1) Do you ever fantasize about flying, beyond the rainbow or anywhere else?
The only fantasies I have that involve flying, I can't discuss here.

2) Do you think you have seen The Wizard of Oz more than 10 times?
No

3) Which Wizard of Oz character would you most like to dress as for Halloween?
Glinda the Good Witch. She's very sparkly.

4) What will Trick or Treaters get when they come to your front door?
Airheads this year. I have tired of persistent teenagers making return visits for good chocolate.

5) Did you ever TP a neighbor's house or indulge in other acts of Halloween vandalism as a kid? (Don't worry, that statute of limitations is up.)
We were too busy trick-or-treating and overindulging on Halloween candy when I was a kid to take the time to trick anyone.

6) Who annoys you more -- people who never respond to your texts/emails, or those who never look up because they're always checking their texts/emails?
people who are always checking them

7) Who was the last person you hugged?
Jeff

8) What two colors do you like to wear together?
dark blue and bright red

9) Did your alarm clock wake you up this fine Saturday morning? 
Nope, it was a casual Saturday this weekend. No early waking necessary.

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John Taylor Book Tour- Austin

Oh. My. Gosh. LOVED the original JT's book signing last night!

There were somewhere between 300-400 people. The great Margaret Moser did about an hour-and-a-half interview, with audience Q&A and John reading some excerpts from the book. Then everyone lined up in very orderly fashion in single file down the center aisle of the Scottish Rite Theater... ahaha well somewhat orderly. Tracy and I hung out and chatted in our seats instead.

Then came the moment of the signing- literally a moment, because there were a lot of people and neither we nor he wanted to be there all night. I don't care how long its been since you screamed your lungs out for one of your teen idols (okay- 2011 for me but you know what I mean), your heart is still going to skip a beat when he says, "Hello Kathy! Thanks for coming out tonight."

Ahhhhhhhhhhh... no prob. I was just... in the neighborhood.

Eeeeeeeee!!!

At one point in the Q&A, he responded to a question by an audience member if he thought any music of today will stand the test of time twenty years from now. He said, "I don't care how old you are, the best music of your life is going to be the stuff you listened to when you were 17/18 years old." For him it was Roxy Music. For us it was Duran Duran. For kids today, it could be Arcade Fire. So true.

Best photo of the night, because I FORGOT MY REAL CAMERA. Gah.

Cue the screaming!

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