Now That's a Cool Feeling

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That just happened.

Let in the love

I have a homeless friend who sits on the median at the first intersection on my way home from work.  There are two turn lanes so I'm not always right next to him and he's not always there.  The first time I gave him a hope bag, he cried.  So did I.

Its been a few months since I've said hi to him, to yesterday when I pulled up to the stop light I rolled down my window.  I was on the phone waiting to leave a voice-mail and he looked hesitant to walk over to my car.  He is slightly disabled and has a hard time moving around.   I put my phone down and pulled some cash out of my wallet and handed it to him.  He's told me it was his birthday and pointed to a sign lying on the ground that read "Happy Birthday Terryell."  I smiled and wished him a happy birthday.  Then he told me that earlier in the day he had walked to La Madeline, which is the closest restaurant to his corner and asked for a cup of water.  The manager refused him.  I understand that there has to be some sort of protocol when in the restaurant business regarding homeless people.  I guess.  I don't know.  But then Terryell told me that he used to go there regularly and buy food.  He told me he would never go there and spend money again. 

My heart broke yesterday.  I know it sounds terrible, but I don't guess I had ever given thought to the homeless having birthdays.  Or being refused a service that we take for granted. 

The light turned green and I drove away.  A car in the lane next to me pulled up and gave me a very stern, almost angry look.  I don't know what he was trying to communicate.  But I don't think it was encouraging. 

Happy Birthday Terryell!

The Holidays: Fat Tuesday Edition!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Enjoy the day and go get ASHED tomorrow ! 

The Holidays: Happy Valentine's Day Edition

Happy Valentine's Day!!

So since this Valentine's Day included a trip to the park to run and then to run errands and nothing really "valentinsie" here are my creations from last year.  I wrote saint quotes about love on them and individually packaged them and we handed them out to random people on campus.  It was awesome.

MY FAVORITE LITTLE GUY!!

Now pretend that someone randomly gave you a delicious valentine's cake pop with a saint quote attached.  

Don't you feel better?

Glad I could help!

Color Me: Date night with Dad edition!

Last night Dad and I went to Sam Houston Race Track to see the horses race, but actually to go to see the WIENER DOG RACING!  Our neighbor's son had a dog they were entering so we decided this was an opportunity we couldn't pass up!  I haven't been to the race track in years, I'm pretty sure the last time I went was for a Blake Shelton concert in middle school... way before little miss Miranda Lambert and The Voice made him mainstream.  

We walked in the gates and saw the horses who were getting ready for the next race.  Based solely on looks I decided to bet on #4 to win and #8 to come in third place (which I learned in racing terms is to show...second place is to...well... place).  So we went in and placed our bets then headed out to the track to watch!   

First they bring out the starting gate...

then you stare at the board in anticipation of the race and check the clock...

then some horses parade by and look beautiful...

then I get really excited...

 then ITS TIME !!

 AND THEY'RE OFF!

and they are very fast... blurry even !

Its very exciting...and I was jumping... and screaming...

AND MISS SHAKIRA PULLED THIRD!!!! I knew she could do it !!

and I was victorious!!!

 at this point I was officially up 4 dollars and 20 cents... big money!

Then it was time for the first round of wiener dog races...

and they were everywhere...

they even had their own starting gate...

our neighbor helping her dog down the track!

IT WAS AWESOME.  Daisy, our neighbor's dog came in second in her heat.  If you win first you move in to the final round and the winner won about $200 dollars.  Some of the dogs were amazing and would shoot out of the gate straight for their owners at the other end.  Other dogs were less...uh... trained for the job.  They would sit down, run to the fence, run in circles... two even attempted to ...erm... mate.  Overall it was the funniest thing I think you could do on a Saturday night.  

Then there was another horse race so we decided to best on Speedy Judy (number 7) to Win, Place or Show in honor of my mom. So we would win if she came in first, second or third.  

The race began and she was in the top three, then drastically dropped.  It appeared all hope was lost.  Then in a surprise move in the final stretch Speedy Judy came back to pass up 3 horses and pull it in tight for a PHOTO FINISH for third!!!!!

I jumped.
I screamed.
I bit my nails in anticipation.... then it was final...

JUDY CAME IN THIRD!!!

 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 It was wonderful!

Then we went inside and I collected my $3.40, thank you very much !

So we left on a good note !

We were in need of dinner so we headed to a tapas bar in the Vintage that dad had been to called, 1252 and it was awesome! We had this cheese thing drizzled in honey and walnuts that made my eyes water with pure joy and splendor ! Then some tuna that tasted like glory and victory ... there was more but that's really the take home message from the meal. I could go there everyday. You should go tomorrow.  Or today.  Or now. 

I had such a fun night with my dad- it was so fun to go do something new and different and have an adventurous night in Houston!! I'm so lucky to have such a great dad that I love spending time with! 

p.s.  there's apparently going to be camel and ostrich racing next month at Sam Houston.  I'll be out of town but everyone should go.  Seriously... Camel racing. 

Color Me : KRISTEN EDITION!

Kirsten came to visit for the night on her way to College Station from big girl nursing school.  Uhm, She can start giving real people, like real people shots like now.  That makes me nervous.  Not nervous in a "im-nervous-kristen-is-shootin-people-up" kind of way.  More of a "I'm-nervous-that-I'm-old-enough-to-have-friends-who-can-do-that-kind-of-stuff" kind of way.  Get it? Great.

So in celebration of Kristen growing up and well on her way to be a real person, I made her this.

 I figured its all her favorite colors, has sparkles and flowers and really says "grown-up" !!!