MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS!!!!!

I can ALWAYS count on Christmas to be an interesting time of year with my fam...and this year did not disappoint me in the least bit. The bomb that got dropped on me this year, was the fact that my daddy is engaged to be married. Now I could see if the proposal was actually on Christmas day...BUT come to find out, he and Michelle (his fiance') actually have been engaged for some time now. They just decided to break the news to my brother, aunt, and myself on Christmas because you can ALWAYS count on us to tell you exactly how we feel when the three of us are together. After I got over the initial shock (because anyone who knows me, knows that I am THE biggest daddy's girl EVER), I was ok, because I realized I'll have a real live little sister for the first time ever. And she's 15, so she's old enough to actually do stuff without getting on my freaking nerves. My dad also bought all of these heart necklaces for the four of us (me, my aunt, his fiance', and her daughter), because he said we were all a part of his heart.

Other than that, Christmas was wonderful. I got to see ALL of my fam...and I ate like I was a starving child. I went to the movies with my dad's people, and I hustled them for 25 bucks playing cards. On top of my other cash winnings (aka Christmas gifts) I think I did pretty well this year. I've also gotten to spend time with my kid baby sis whom I love to death. Just sitting at home chilling with her makes me remember why I love being in home in Texas around my friends...plus her mom has been cooking us bomb ass meals in which she insists that I leave looking like a butterball every night.


***me and my sissy (yes I'm older BUT smaller)

Oh yeah...my Christmas wish will be here on New Year's Eve (better late than never). I really have no plans for when he's here other than to sit and look at each other, but I guess my daddy will really get to see how it feels to have another man share a piece of my heart. Ha!

Thank GOD I'm home...

In the past four months, I can't remember a time where I have been as happy as I am. I've been in hog heaven since I made it back to Texas. From the 75degree weather to being in the company of my wonderful family and friends, I have had a constant smile pasted on my face for the past 7 days. However with all this amazing-ness that has been my life for the past week, I totally feel like something is missing...ok I don't feel, I KNOW! It's HIM...my boo...my love...I miss him so much and if I could have anything for Christmas this year...it would be to have him in my presence (plus I'd love for him to meet the fam). I miss him so much and I never thought I'd get like this..but I am and I can't help it...

Anywho...back to the wonderfulness that I call TEXAS. I think I've slept more in the past week than I have in the last month. I sleep in EVERYDAY, and then take a 2hour nap like clockwork. I've hung out with all of my best friends except Kim (who is coming in town TODAY...woohoo!!!). We've done happy hour and dinner. I've have my Mexican food craving satisfied (b/c Massachusetts Mexican food is dry rice w/NO seasoning). I've worn shorts outside...walked around with no jacket. AND there is sun so if I choose to tan and get some color back in my life I have every opportunity to do so. I have a date with my daddy for the first time in months...and I'm so excited! Right now my life is wonderful...I finished all my school work, took my level one certification class, and have eaten some wonderful southern food...all that's missing is him (and hopefully Santa will make my Christmas wish come true :-D)

it's been a whirlwind...

I'm in the last stretch of my first semester of grad school...and the last few weeks have been mad crazy. I've gotten in the habit of not sleeping at all OR sleeping way too much. So let's recap since I came back from the big apple.

Thanksgiving was great!!! I was able to spend it with the boo...and a few friends in my grad program. That week was also the beginning of mad crazy birthday time (Toy - Nov 26; my boo - Nov 30; Britt - Dec 1; Kim - Dec 2; Des - Dec 16). I've pretty much come to the realization that if you are not a Sagittarius, you will truly never be one of my best friends lol. I was so proud of myself that I've done well in picking out gifts this year. I'm really bad at shopping for people other than myself...but so far so good.


**Thanksgiving dinner


***me and my love <3

I've had a butt load of work to do...and I've totally become the BIGGEST procrastinator in the world. But it'll all get done in time. All I have left is a presentation on cybersport and body (super cool topic if anyone wants to chat about it), 3 papers, a DVD project, 10 lesson plans, and 3 weeks worth of workouts to write for my team...all of this must be done by Friday, Dec 12...which btw, is the day I'M COMING BACK TO HOUSTON...woohoo!!!!!!

I am now officially christened a NCAA track and field coach. We had our first meet this past Saturday. Switching from Division I to Division III will be the biggest adjustment. I can't really give an overall reflection of the meet because my thoughts are all over the place. There were some highs...and some things we definitely need to work on. I guess I'll leave it at that.

Also...we had our first OFFICIAL DAY OF SNOW. I thought I'd make it back to Texas before it would really snow...however, the weather had different plans. It wasn't too major, but I was super freaked out driving in the snow for the first time. I did survive...but I know it will only be downhill from here for the next 4 months (boo!).


***they do an amazing job of keeping the roads clear...


That's the brief version of what has happened the last few weeks. I can't wait to go home in 4 days...pray for my sanity until then :-P

New York...New York

I had THE most fabulous weekend ever! I didn't realize how much I missed my girls until I made it back to Mass with the hugest smile on my face. I surprised the heck out of Toy (which was my overall objective)...got to spend 2 nights being an honorary roommate with Shardizzle [and Beth]...and was able to enjoy a REAL night life for the first time since I moved out here. It was almost as if nothing had changed from our partying days back in the "H."

I just wanted to send a shout out to my 'lovelies' and thank them for giving me a bit of happiness so that I can survive the next 3 weeks before I go back home for Christmas break (where we will in fact party it up all over again). The last week was by far the worst week I've had in forever. I can't remember the last time I cried so much...and initially I had no idea why I was even crying. I later figured it was merely homesickness, but seeing my girls brought great joy to my life...even if it was only for a mere 2 days.

Oh yeah...big ups to my lil bro who is doing it big in the Ailey program. If anyone wants to fund another trip to NYC in early December that would be great so that I can finally see him perform live in New York. (hint hint)

flying V

When I was a kid, one of my favorite movies was Mighty Ducks. I loved the whole concept of the "flying V" attack when they were about to score a goal...and for the first time in my life I saw a REAL FLYING V!!!!! I kept hearing these loud annoying birds when we were at the track and then they flew over us and were so massive. I knew they were regular crows or black birds that we have in Texas so I asked the head coach and she said they were geese. I started jumping up and down and was so excited. It was AMAZING! They were moving to fast so I couldn't get a picture...but I guess it's true that geese really do fly south for the winter. Now my question is, where exactly do they go...because I've never actually seen geese in Texas, so I'm assuming they don't fly that far south.

T-E-A-M

Yesterday I worked the swim meet - yeah, I know...I'm a track coach. However, I'm a struggling grad student...and I gotta make ends meet some way some how. So anywho...this was the 1st swim meet I've ever attended and while I'm not a fan of being so close to the pool and getting splashed every time someone jumped in, I had a really good time.

The one thing that stood out to me above all was that Smith women competed as a TEAM in what many people would consider an individual sport. Everyone cheered for each other, even if the last place person was a cool 4 laps behind the second to last place person. No matter what place you came in, the coach provided words of wisdom and made each woman feel like she had won the race. For me this was huge because coming from track (which is also considered an individual sport), this type of treatment is not always observed. Back at Rice, it was not a requirement to attend the entire meet. In fact it was somewhat discouraged in that you only needed to show up 1 1/2 hours before your event. For me this always meant I got to see the whole meet because long jump is almost always the first field event. But the majority of my teammates never once saw me compete. I wonder how much better might I have been had I had someone cheering for me on the sidelines. I don't think people realize how you can receive a sudden burst of energy when you hear someone scream your name....or just simply show they care by making themselves visible.

I truly value the idea of a TEAM, and I wish I could instill that into every athlete I know. I was really moved to see a girl who might not be up to standard to compete at the collegiate level, get out of the pool with a smile on her face because she knew that as long as she gave it her best...she had 100% of her TEAM behind her. I can only hope that one day my team will have that same support system.

random ramblings...

Have you ever been so excited about something and wanted to relay your experience and then once you find someone that you hope would share in your sentiment, you immediately feel shot down? Yeah...that's pretty much how I feel right now. It was a quite simple idea that I wanted to share, but it was clear to me that the other person didn't quite have the same feelings as I did. It really kinda hurt my heart...more so that I think it should, especially because it is not a personal experience but simply something that I witnessed and was moved by.

This makes me wonder if I should just keep my thoughts to myself...but then that would be defeating the purpose of enhancing my communication skills. However in the same right, if I'm going to feel like what I might say may not matter to anyone else, then just why should I say it?

How I feel right now is a feeling that I know I often give to others. Sometimes I'm so disinterested, that I have the most indifferent attitude about things...which I know makes people wonder why they even come talk to me about stuff. So I guess before I get all upset about my feelings, I should consider how I make others feel when I'm really just not that interested in what they have to say.

***This post just turned into a total ramble...but sometimes when I don't have anyone to talk to, I have to write to get things off of my mind. At least on here I don't have to worry about the computer showing emotion to what I have to say. (lol)