trails at Big Bend National Park and Mtn Davis State Park

road

268 miles in 5 days!!

playing with the moon

I have a Canon Powershot. It's has more options than a 'point and shot' camera but a step under a 'big, fancy' camera. Usually I treat my camera as a 'point and shot' but after some of my pictures from Asia didn't turn out as well as I hoped I decided it's time to get to know my camera. Tonight I am in Davis Mtn State Park, it has a wonderful outlook on top of a hill to watch the sunset and sunrise. Perfect time and place to play with the shutter speed.

Marathon, Texas

I am on a southwestern Texas adventure!
More pictures next week.

road trips

via brown dress with white dots

I love road trips: the open road, the scenery, listening to an audiobook from the library or sometimes scanning around to find something on the radio, dog sitting on my lap, the speed, the freedom. I'm usually by myself when I go on a long roadtrips. This weekend I drove 5 & half hours (338 miles) to Midland to see the guy. Fourth of July weekend, I'm driving almost 9 hours (506 miles) to Kansas City, Missouri to be with family.

Cowboy Stadium

little things cause big changes

bike, walk dog, read, travel ~ my manifesto

Lately I have been waiting/wishing for something major it happen- ex. new job, move to different state.... But sometimes it's all the little things added up that makes a big change. I need to start remembering that. August 28th, I biked 100 miles; September 4th, ran my fastest time (PR) 6 miles in 48.42 miles, I usually run 10min miles; I got a dog (Alison) and a cat(Pretty); hung pictures on my wall, first time in two years; I have more friends here than I had in Minnesota. None of it is major but those little things added up has caused a major change in me, I am the healthiest I have ever been and my apartment feels like home. First time in 7 years, since I have moved out of my childhood/parent's home, I am calling my apartment home.......I do not know how do end this posting.

Hotter Than Hell

on the road to Wichita Falls. Kathy and I are going to the Hotter Than Hell bike ride.

Saturday morning at the start line, I'm a little nervous!

FINISHED!!! 8 and half hours to bike 100 miles in over 100 degrees

The next day, we ran a 10k!

October 1st, I cannot believe it. Soon Halloween, Thanksgiving then Christmas. This time of year always goes so quickly. I feel like I blink and a week has passed.

New Apartment

Moved into my new apartment last weekend!! Pictures soon. My brother Shawn and I have been living together the last year. He has decided to move back to MN at the end of September. Still in the some apartment complex, just different building. I like the apartment! The two-bedroom was too big and I never hung my pictures. This apartment is 600-and-some sq ft. Next week some friends are coming over for dinner and helping my hang pictures. Going to Art & Frame Expo tonight to get two pictures framed. Michael's does an ok job framing but I want better than that. One of the pictures I getting framed is a picture my mom painted and other is a picture of a church in Prague. I heard good things about Art & Frame Expo, crossing my fingers.

Less than a year left in Texas!!

almost two months...

since the last time I blogged. Time just got away from me. June 28th thru July4th- two aunts, four cousins and my sister came to visit Shawn and I! June 11th, 11 co-workers and I floated down the Guadalupe River near Austin. Very fun!!! The weekend after that, I went to a Twins vs Rangers game with some MN coworkers who came down to TX too.The Twins won!!!My weekend have been packed! July 24th thru 26th, Jennifer and I went down to Austin with some of her family. We went boating on Saturday afternoon then to the bars later that night!

Kathy and my Birthday Celebration on February 21st

Vegan cupcakes from Spiral Diner at Kathy's apartment before going out.

First we went dinner at La Parrillada Mexican Restaurant across the street from the apartment complex!! People kept coming and we just kept adding tables.

Then we went to the Goat afterward, right next door to La Parrillada Mexican Restaurant. There was a band playing. We closed the bar down! After that, about ten of us went back to my place until 3am.

It took me all day Sunday to recover. Sara and I finally went out at 630pm. We went to Hollywood Theatre. $1.50 tickets!! We saw Twilight!

Sara and I at the theatre. She decided to stay longer than just Monday. Staying until Thursday!!

Sara is in Town for the Weekend!!!!

Wednesday February 18

Erin and I went to the Granada on Greenville Ave last night to see Lykke Li.

Sarah Jaffe was the opening act. She had a Damien Rice feel to her. Really good!!! Actually thinking about buying her CD.

Then Lykke Li came on for about an hour. Interesting.... I do not know how to describe her music. A couple of her songs were very dance clubish.

Austin, TX February 13th thru 16th

Amanda, Stacy, Susan, Kathy and I left Dallas on Friday evening for a weekend in Hill Country. We stayed at Amanda's grandparent's house in Llano, about an hour north of Austin. Friday night we got there around 11pm and pretty much went right to bed. The next day Amanda, Kathy and I went for an easy 2 mile run.

Driving to Austin on February 14th in the afternoon.

We were driving around looking for somewhere to eat. We decided to have dessert first. Soy ice cream at Toy Joy . Kathy and I had Chai Curious smoothies.

Susan, Amanda and Kathy had soy ice cream in a cone. Amanda asked the people at Toy Joy some suggests on where to eat lunch. They said Daily Juice.

Daily Juice is a raw vegan restaurant. Delicious!!! I got the Texicali Tacos.

Susan got a Texicali Taco and Ginger Miso Soup.

Amanda got the Avocado Caesar sandwich and Avocado Sandwich.

Kathy got an Enchilada.

Stacy got the Southwestern Salad. It all was amazing!!!

Then we went to the expo to look around and got our packets.

We were at Whole Foods for about an hour getting groceries for the weekend. Kathy, Amanda, Erin and Susan goofying off in the kitchen while we made Valentines dinner on Saturday.

MMMMM...dinner was good!!!

I am wearing a gray long-sleeve shirt behind the girl in the green shirt. Susan and Stacy were between mile 6 and 7 to cheer Kathy, Amanda, Erin and I on while we ran the Austin half marathon. I ran it in 2hrs 14mins!!! It turned out to be a perfect day. A little chilly and windy in the morning then as soon as we were done with run, the sun came out!

Erin, Amanda, Kathy and I showing off our medals. Kathy has an ice pack on her knee.

We went back to Llano after the run to shower and get ready. We went to Becker Vineyards to sample some wines.

Then we had dinner at Auslander Biergarten & Restaurant, a german restaurant, in Fredericksburg. MMMM...veg burger and side salad. After dinner we started watching Princess Bride, I went to bed about 20mins into the movie. I was so tired.

We went to Enchanted Rock on Monday afternoon.

Walking on the hill.

It was really pretty on top of the mountain. There are hills in Texas, its not all flat.

While driving back to Dallas Monday night we saw, sheep, goats, cows, horses and donkeys.