Visit to the Motherland

Some may boast of prowess bold
of the school they think so grand.
But there's a Spirit can ne'er be told.
It's the Spirit of Aggieland!

(I think I take this exact same picture every time I go to an Aggie football game. Here is 2008's.)

Last weekend, Brad drove half the night to pick me up at Houston Hobby around 12:40 AM Saturday, then on to College Station where we got in around 2:45 AM. It was nuts. He is so awesome! We stayed with our gracious friends, the Buckners, whose hospitality is unmatched, especially since they let us have their house while they were out of town. Thank you Jen!

Our crazy Friday night/Saturday morning was made possible by our friend Hurricane Ike, whose gifts just keep coming. While our situation was not nearly so desperate as many in the Houston area, Ike put the Marriott where I had a Friday reservation out of commission until November. Too bad I didn't find that out until Wednesday, which explains our crazy nocturnal journey. Oh well!


The sun was out in full force at the top of the Zone.
My legs are still stinging today.

It was Military Appreciation Day at Kyle Field. It was only appropriate since
both Army and A&M have such deep military tradition. On the field is the flag
they displayed while the Singing Cadets sang 'God Bless America.'

And here are some of my wonderful friends where we met up after the game!
Amber, Mikalah, Rachel, and me

Texas on My Mind

I'm sitting here in my hotel room getting ready to fly home to Texas tomorrow night. I have to be honest--I'm missing a tall, dark, and handsome fella. No place is quite as much fun without him. But of course, I still had a little fun!

Tonight's adventure took us to Ghirardelli Square, as in the chocolate maker. YUM. After walking around this area a bit, seeing where the trolley cars begin their route (that will be saved for another trip west with my man), and checking out the beautiful view around the bay, we ate at McCormick & Kuleto's, part of the McCormick & Schmick's group. Wow. The main dining room had floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bay where I observed the most beautiful sunset and watched the city lights spring to life. It was a fine evening.

I found the most odd/interesting fact about San Francisco printed along the bottom of my menu this evening. Apparently, the city has passed its own universal health care plan for uninsured residents (I looked it up--it started in '06), and they fund it by adding an additional 3.5% tax onto your bill. I have my own opinions about universal health care, but I like to keep it light and fluffy on the blog, so my comment is this--it speaks volumes about the political climate and mindset of this city, doesn't it?

Onto the good stuff. Here is the bonus for being the Gentry in Texas--an 'I Missed You' souvenir! I channelled my missing Bradley into shopping for him. I hope chocolate does the trick.

Sittin' by the Dock of the Bay

I am loving San Francisco. The weather--perfect. My hair--behaving in a way that I enjoy. The only negative is that I think they import their Diet Coke from Mexico because it tastes like Coca Cola Light. That es no bueno.

Last night we went to dinner and then came back to the hotel, but tonight, we ventured into the city. Part of our exploration led us to the sea lions. I was talking to Brad on the phone while we were walking past there, and he asked what the deal was with the dogs barking. It was the sea lions being incredibly loud.


We also made a quick run through Chinatown. Proof that I'm not grabbing these pics off of Flickr.



Here's a shot of Alcatraz. It is one of the sites I will visit someday when I come back with my man, so for now, that is as close as I'm getting. We dined at a place called The Fog something or other not far from where I snapped this shot. It was pretty good and had a beautiful view of the bay.

Golden Gate City

If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
--Scott McKenzie

This evening we went out for dinner over the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito at The Spinnaker, over the water in San Francisco Bay. These pics were taken with my iphone as we went over the bridge.

With the Band

Saturday night, Brad and I ventured north to Denton to hear the band my brother is playing in, Kimbrell, in their first gig. We clearly were at the top end of the age group there listening, but we had a great time. I wish I had better recording equipment! Drew is on the far right in this very dark video footage I took. Please pardon the guy in front of me who obviously had spent more time on his hair than I had on mine. You can see the light reflecting off of the white bass guitar, and with the occasional camera flash, you can see he's wearing a blue shirt. Lead vocals are Ryan, lead guitar is Hunter, and Matt is on drums.

Good times in Denton.

Dinner for 6 & Bowling

Friday night, we met up with our Bible Fellowship class for dinner for 6 & bowling. Before the entire class met for bowling at Main Event, we met as smaller groups for dinner. Here's our group, ready for some bowling action!

The Randels, The Gentrys, & The Guesses

Fall into 2009

It's been rather quiet on the homefront this week. Hurricane Ike brought cooler weather, and that cooler weather has reminded me that fall is going to be busy.

Next month we're doing the high school reunion tour. We both have our 10 year class reunions on different weekends (thankfully, I guess?), so that should be entertaining at the very least. My friends who've gone to their 10 years have said they were glad they went, so I am looking forward to it. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Then in November, we'll be going to New Orleans for Amanda's wedding! The week after the wedding starts the family/holiday travel. And then that will be that for 2008. Where did the year go?

The Starlight Ball

Last night Brad and I joined others from our church in attending the Starlight Ball to benefit the Fort Worth Pregnancy Center. The Center exists to minister to young pregnant women, helping them to make an informed decision to honor the life of their unborn baby. Many women come to know Christ through this organization. It was an absolute joy to participate in this event. There was dinner and dancing, and the event was emceed by Jody Dean of the 98.7 KLUV morning show (I KLUV my oldies, so that was really cool to me!) The entertainment for the evening was Christian comedian Ken Davis.

Here some fun pics, most courtesy of Ashley because my camera is on strike. Or broken.

Look! It's my long lost husband! I'm so thankful he's home!


We went with the Smiths.


Ladies mingling before dinner is served.


Leigh and I at dinner!

Home Sweet Home

BWG has been out of town on business for almost two weeks. It's been a challenging few days, but I feel like I've done a million things while he was gone to pass the time more quickly. I have missed him and can't wait to pick him up at the airport this evening!


It is no secret to anyone that knows me that I'm a big chicken and can't stand to stay by myself. I hear every noise in the house like I never have before. I had made up my mind to be a big girl and stay alone the whole time, but I quickly persuaded myself otherwise. By 10:15 the first night, I chickened out and called Alisia. Almost every night she came and stayed in my guest room. If that's not a wonderful friend, then I don't know what one looks like. And it was so much fun to see her almost everyday! Thank you, girl! I owe you big time!

Saturday after the Ladies' Brunch, I went home and visited my parents. That also means I saw my grandparents (since they live right across the pasture), and for lunch on Sunday, one set of aunts, uncles, and cousins were there. I can't tell you how much I love Sunday lunch at my grandparents.

Of course, I have had little Penny Lane with me the entire time. Taking care of a puppy alone is some hard work! I think ours might be what is considered a "strong-willed" dog. Also, I can't be certain, but I think she thinks her name is "NO" or "STOP IT". I see obedience training in her future. But she has been a great little companion, especially when she is tired and will lay in my lap. (This occurs only about 5 minutes a day, but it is really cute nonetheless.)

Drew drove down Monday to babysit me while the installer put in my window stuff, and then we went to dinner. Thanks Drewdy! So many others have called and checked on me, and I have appreciated it so much. I am blessed with a great group of friends and family and friends that are like family. Love that!

Other than working, I've been busy shopping, meeting up for dinner or sewing, shopping (Amanda, I have my bridesmaid shoes!), doing church stuff, and shopping.

But my honey comes home today! Yay!

Before & After

Back in May, I ordered window treatments and a window seat cushion for our dining area. All of it was finally installed this week. It definitely made over that part of the house, and I'm so pleased with how they turned out!

So bring your good times, and your laughter too.

We're gonna celebrate and party with you.

The Women's Ministry at our church put on a Ladies' Brunch this morning, and the theme was celebrate! The idea was to celebrate all the events in our lives, to pull out the china on a "normal" day, and live life to the fullest.

All of the tables were decorated by different ladies in our church with different celebration themes, and I got to help out and decorate one of them. Some of the themes were holidays, like Christmas, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, and some were life events like First Birthday, 50th Wedding Anniversary, and Menopause. That one was pretty funny. Mine was just a good excuse to throw a party--a pink garden party!


I used my Spode Tower Pink dishes on the table. They are my absolute favorites. My formal china is pretty, but these plates make me happy just looking at them.

For my table dressing, my friend Leigh sewed me up a wide table runner to go with my pink garden theme. Thank you Leigh! We layered another pink table runner over it, which happened to have been made for my wedding cake table. I ♥ my pink table runner. When I had it made, I expected that I would get to use it for all sorts of events, and I have. It's also been broken out for baby girl showers and another fun brunch.



I had several people come by and ask me if I made the cupcakes. Wouldn't that have been a disaster if I had!? No, I definitely bought them at Central Market. They are my go-to bakery. My centerpiece came from there as well.

Here are some of my lovely friends who were assigned to my table!

A Sweet Lady we just met today, Alisia, and Bethany
Leigh, me, and Kylene

And we had a big door prize winner at our table. Kylene won a free ticket to the Ladies' Retreat in the spring!

This Ain't NorthPark, Y'all

It's not Southlake. It's not even Knox-Henderson.

It's University Park Village in Cowtown, home of the largest Apple store in Texas, according to the Apple Genius who was helping me yesterday. And of course he said it with a bit of pride in his voice.

It is quite palatial. To be quite honest, it makes NorthPark's Apple look like a closet. And you know I love me some NorthPark.

I am considering taking on a part time job so at least I will make some money being there. I can't get enough.

Now we need Anthropologie in that shopping center, and 5--nay, SIX of my favorites will be in one place.

Baptists, Children, and the Arky

I must pause for a moment to address a concern circulated to me via e-mail regarding an earlier blog post about Baptist children and gratuitous dancing and gyrating.

When I found that video on YouTube, I noticed that they were almost--to borrow a phrase from back when Pluto was a planet--"gettin' jiggy with it"--however I assure you, Readers, in my Baptist church the "motions" (not dancing) were very watered down from this. My own mother simply would not have had it any other way.

Any foreign Baptist missionaries disturbed by the state of Baptist children in Texas in the 80s should rest assured there was no baptecostal movement among kids in the Lone Star State.

I do feel the need to inform my readers though, that some of the great kiddie songs you know like the "Arky, Arky" song, Seek Ye First, In His Time, etc. were made popular by the Psalty musicals. Embrace the Singing Songbook, folks.

And to clarify, the "Arky, Arky" song was not written about Arkansas.

Four Day Weekend

I had a lovely not two, not three, but four day weekend. It was so nice. We purposely made no plans except for dinner with friends on Friday night, so otherwise we slept in, shopped, ate, cleaned the house, and played with the dog. (Thankfully, she has stopped honking.)

Today we celebrated Labor Day by taking in some sales at Southlake Town Square (re-named Women's Town Square by Brad, who says there are no men's stores there. And that might be true, for even J. Crew has taken their men's section out and has only women's clothing.)

But Brad was excited to see that a Five Guys Hamburgers and Fries had opened up there. I had eaten there before in DC, and of course he wanted to try it out. It did not disappoint!

Someone's gonna wish they had smiled for this pic.


Have a great week!