Lifegroup Camping

Here are a few pictures from the camping trip Toby and I went on over Easter weekend with some of the people in my lifegroup.  Group shot at the end of our trip (everyone gets a plate "award".  Mine was the "bring your dog to camp" award and Toby's was the "who needs water shoes?" award, if you were wondering).

We went to Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas (about 4.5 hours drive).  The weather was beautiful until Sunday morning, when it poured.  But overall, the trip was great.  There are some really nice hiking trails.  Toby absolutely loved being outside so much, especially when he didn't have to be on the leash.  He was very good about keeping track of where "mom" was, but he also wanted to be in the lead, so he got twice as much exercise as the rest of us going back and forth.  He was worn out by the end of our day hike on Saturday, but dog happy.
We had a few water crossings on our hike.  The water was cold too.  But we were prepared with water shoes, and it didn't seem to faze Toby any.
 A couple of pictures of my and my bud.  I took the second one when we were laying on a rock, which is why the angle is weird.

Chicago Bound

I see another month has gone by, so time for an update to the blog.  Earlier this month, I flew up to Chicago to visit my cousin Megan, who works at the Marriott downtown.

I had a really good time catching up with her and seeing some more of the sights in the Windy City.  We went to the zoo, the Chicago History Museum, and saw the broadway show Jersey Boys, which was really good.  We ate lots of delicious food, too, so it's good we did a lot of walking! 
Her cat loved my suitcase.  She was pretty much camped out there the whole weekend, unless it was time to eat.  Then she was camped out in front of her automatic feeder waiting for it to dispense some food.  Can you tell she likes to eat?  

Megan lives in a studio apartment (very small but she has done a great job organizing/decorating it) and this is a picture looking out her window at Lake Michigan. 


I've been to Chicago a few times before, but I had never made it to "the Bean".  It is a kidney bean-shaped, reflective statue (actually called Cloud Gate) in Millenium Park.  Of course it was raining the day we went there, so I was trying to snap pictures quick, and none turned out all that great.  It was also VERY cold most of the time I was there.  It even snowed one night.  I had fun, but I was happy to come back to the warmth of Dallas.

Top 3 Things I am Loving This Week!

1.  A digestive tract that is once again functioning properly.  It was not pretty people.

2. An immune system that works to fight off infection (see number one).

3. ER!  I know I am one of the few that has watched this show from beginning to soon to be end.  That's right I've seen every episode, folks.  This is the last year, and I have to say I think this season is really good.  And not just because they have managed to bring back almost all of the significant cast members from previous years.  I really do think the stories about the current cast are good this year too.  That being said, I have really enjoyed seeing how nicely they have weaved in the old cast members with the stories they were already telling.  Last night's episode with George Clooney, Juliana Margulies, Eriq la Salle and Noah Wyle was especially well done, in my opinion.  But the thing I am most loving about ER's final season is that so far they seem totally willing to give all their characters a happy ending!  Now they just need to get Ray and Neela back together and I'll be satisfied.  Oh, and I'll just say that I think a cool way to end the show would be if Carter took over as Chief of the ER since the show started with him there as a med student, but the writers can do what they want...

And what did Wyatt think of Elmo?!!

Sesame Street Live Part Two

For part one, click here.

Per my sister's subtle prompting, here are some more photos from the very exciting Sesame Street Live production we all went to a few weeks ago (it was actually pretty cute for kids and I enjoyed seeing Lila's reaction to it all).  Colette failed to mention one of the most exciting parts--Lila used the grown up potty in the bathroom before the show started!  Of course this WAS after about 15 minutes of Colette telling her "Elmo" wanted her to go so we could go start the show, but still, it was an accomplishment :)

Here is a photo of Lila clapping. 
Here is one of the Elmo balloons being sold during intermission.
One of the star himself, Elmo.
One to prove I was actually there.
One of Lila "smiling" for me before the show started (sorry blogger uploaded these in the wrong order and I'm too lazy to fix it).

Florida In February

Well, I guess enough time has passed that I can post something new.  If you follow facebook, many of you may know that I just returned from a quick trip to Amelia Island, Florida (outside Jacksonville) for a breast cancer symposium.  The conference was at the Ritz-Carlton, and here is the view from the balcony attached to my hotel room.  Nice, right?

I wish I could say I enjoyed it, but the truth is it's not much fun being there by yourself.  Sometimes being single just sucks.  And it was Valentine's Day.  Oh the irony.  That being said, the symposium was pretty interesting, and actually made me think of my good friends Keri and Bill.  Bill because he is training to be a radiation oncologist, and there were a number of those at the symposium.  It was multi-discplinary, so there were also pathologists, radiologists, general surgeons, plastic surgeons, and at least one pysch person there.  Being reminded again of all that radiation oncologists do, it just gave me a new appreciation for Bill.  And it made me think of Keri because there were a LOT of statistics.  Most of the lectures referenced recent studies on drugs, survivorship, etc.  So keep up the good work guys!  What you are doing really does make a difference.  (what the rest of you do also is important but not applicable to my story)
This is a picture I took when I went to the downtown area of Fernandina Beach the first night I was there.  Apparently the island was occupied at least once if not multiple times by pirates, and has been under the rule of 8 different flags in its history.
As you look at this picture, where are the sinks?  That was what I was wondering after I came out of the stall in the bathroom at the Jacksonville airport.  Was this some sort of Candid Camera moment? The 2 larger boxes on the mirror are automatic paper towel dispensers, and the smaller ones are automatic soap dispensers.  And the metallic rods that appear to be coming out of the mirror are the automatic water faucets.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but the countertop slopes downward to a little trough that runs along the wall (the sink).   I had never seen anything like it, so I snapped a picture when I was alone in the bathroom just so I could share it with all of you.  

Also I feel I should mention I rode with the Iowa State Women's softball team on my flight back to Dallas.  There was a tournament, and they won 5 out of their 6 games (I asked).  Way to go ISU!  Nothing like walking into the airport and seeing some red and gold to brighten your day.