Pearland Town Center

How sad is it that right now, I am really excited about the new shopping center opening up near us? Its grand opening starts tomorrow, which means we won't go there until at least next week but we drove through it last weekend and there will be a lot of places to go! It reminds me of a shopping center we went to in Kansas City. It is designed so the shops all look out onto pedestrian roads, and according to the map we got in the mail today part of it is even called 'downtown'. There are supposed to be places to live there eventually, but we'll just go down there to shop and eat. We've been seeing listings for the places coming in there, including: Macy’s, Dillard’s, Borders, BJ’s Brewhouse, Mimi's Cafe (went to one in KC, yummy!), and when we drove through it we saw that there will also be a Red Lobster, and I saw online that there will be a James Avery! There are a bunch of other places too, some I'll go to (Yankee Candle, for one) and others I couldn't care less about - Jared's, Aeropostale, etc.

I know I should be more concerned with whats going on in the world, but yep...right now its mostly excited about the new stores.

http://www.pearlandtowncenter.com

Batman, Birthday, and the Beach

This weekend was even better than I expected. On Friday we saw The Dark Knight with Laura. We bought the tickets to the 8:10 show before we went to eat (at Johnny Carino's), then got there just after 7:30 to get our seats. I'm glad we got our tickets (and our seats) early - the theatre was packed. The movie was great, and lived up to everything I'd heard about it before it came out and during the week that it was out before we saw it. Heath Ledger was scarily convincing as a loony Joker. It was about 2 1/2 hours long but kept my interest the entire time. Only gripe, sometimes I had a hard time hearing what the people were saying over the background music, especially at the end, but such a great movie!

On Saturday I had to go to get my procedure done at the dentist, and it went pretty well, it was quick at least. I'm still taking some pain medication and have to remember to chew on the other side of my mouth, but am glad I got it done and hope it heals quickly. I had "redundant" gum tissue removed from the back of my jaw where it was higher than it should be, allowing it to catch food and making it difficult to brush the back tooth as well as I need to. Kevin and I ran errands - got my prescription and went to the store, and I did laundry then we went to the other side of town to see Kaden for his birthday. The party started at the water park where we got to watch Kaden play in the pool, including one that is pool meets playground - slides and netting to climb, and a huge bucket that fills and dumps water all over everyone and everything. Kaden went down the slide lots of time - first time he's done it by himself! He and the other kids there are fun to watch, and Kevin took a bunch of pictures of him. Afterwards we went back to their house to eat, and to have cake and gifts. Kaden's reaction to his first gift, "its not Thomas (the train)" was funny, but after that he liked his gifts, even the clothes we gave him - and the model Hummer car that Kevin found for him. His last gift - a bicycle, didn't get as big a reaction as we thought it would, but I think he'll like it eventually. His favorite gift that day - I think was the bubble bazooka.... oh, and I got to hear him say Aunt Carol :) awwww so sweet.

Sunday we went to the beach. Unfortunately, none of the friends we invited could make it, but Kevin, Smokey, and I had a great time. The canopy that Kevin bought made the day - its 10'x10' once its up, and is really easy to put up! We had shade the whole time we were there, and would just move our chairs as the shade shifted with the movement of the sun. The shade plus the breeze at the beach made it really pleasant, and we spent the whole afternoon out there. We grilled hot dogs, and would go out in the water for a bit, then sit back under the canopy and relax. It was as relaxing as an all-out vacation, and a great way to do it on the cheap since we could just spend the day there, with the only real expense being the gas to get down there, and no hassle of hotels, etc. We did pack a lot of stuff for one day, some of it we didn't use - too windy for frisbee, but we were well-prepared. Here is a photo of our set-up.

The first thing Smokey did when he got out of the truck at the beach was roll around in the sand, it must feel good because he kept doing it and exploring all over the area, always keeping us in sight, and was a mess by the end of the day. We bathed him when we got home. I did get a little sunburned, but did much better than usual. We re-applied sunscreen, I think I just missed some spots - including the very tops of my legs. I must've still been wearing shorts when I put sunscreen on my legs, live and learn, but we are getting better - I'm not beet red on my face like I have been before.

Ready for the weekend...

We finally got some rain this week. Yesterday I had to cut short my walk with Smokey because we were getting rained on, it was sprinkling off and on but was getting harder so we called it quits. Of course when we got home, he wanted to go back outside, so I got to towel him off again when he wanted back in. The rain is part of Hurricane Dolly which hit South Texas. I don't wish for anyone to have to deal with a hurricane, but was glad to get some rain. All told, we got about an inch and a half of rain. It was also a little cooler, but the stupid drivers freaking out for rain makes me frustrated and cranky when I get home.

Tonight we hope to go see The Dark Knight, I've heard great things and am looking forward to seeing it.

This weekend will be another busy one. I have to go to the dentist on Saturday morning to see their oral surgeon that comes once a month. I went for my cleaning this week and didn't have any cavities (yay!) but have extra tissue on my gums in the back that is annoying and that traps food, making a cavity back there more likely. So I'm going there to have it removed. We'll have to run errands on Saturday right after that so that in the afternoon we can go to celebrate Kaden's 3rd birthday (I really want to hear him call me Aunt Carol, but he gets shy around me). I can't wait to see him open his gifts from Keith and Julia, he'll be so surprised.

We plan to go to the beach on Sunday. Kevin went and got a canopy so we can have some shade, and we set it up on Tuesday night - it is easy to put it, just like the brand name - EZ UP - says. It should make for some nice shade when we're out there, especially good since the forecast calls for it to be about 100 degrees this weekend.

Dog Show and Rice Village

Saturday we went to the dog show, and had a great time. We watched the agility and frisbee demonstration, and also wandered a lot around the grooming area. It is ridiculous how much time and effort goes into getting the dogs ready to show, people with hair dryers and flat irons are working on the dogs’ fur to get them picture-perfect. I am sure they get more primping than I do, even on my wedding day....oh well, it makes the owners happy to do this and the dogs are pretty well cared for I'd assume. Now the puppy mills that operate to provide purebred dogs, thats another story for another post. We were about to leave the show and saw a sign for "flyball" so we went to check it out. The best description I can give is a relay race for dogs, complete with a referee and lights that remind me of drag racing. It looks like controlled chaos. The owners hold the dogs back then when they let them go they fly to the other end, jumping over small boards, grab a ball and come back, and the next dog goes into the jumps just as they cross the line, for a total of 4 dogs on each team. I saw one woman with a rope to entice her dog to run back to her and he'd grab it and she'd pick him up with it - so it worked as brakes too! We videotaped it, but need to see how it turned out. Some of the dogs even had little sweatbands around their wrists (I guess that’s what you’d call it – just above their front paws). We bought Smokey a green camouflage bandanna from one of the Lab Rescue groups – their booth was featuring “war dogs”, I had no idea that dogs had worked in each foreign war the US has been a part of – as tunnel dogs, bomb sniffing, mine sniffing, etc. But they are treated as equipment, or were at one time, so when the US pulled out, they left the dogs in Vietnam! So sad.

Later that night we went to meet Sharon at Two Rows. She was in town for the weekend from Colorado. She is a Cubs fan, so had tickets to the Sunday game against the Astros, but we watched the Saturday game at the restaurant. She and her brother were the only ones cheering when the Cubs did something good or the Astros did something bad. I really don’t care one way or the other, but feel like I should root for my hometown team. We had a great time visiting, and even stuck around to go to the Bronx Bar. Poor Kevin drank one drink then saw something in his drink, he had something in one of his ice cubes, eww! They replaced it but then charged us for the replacement drink, so when I called them on it they offered a free shot. I was driving so I couldn’t take it, and K wasn’t sure but then Sharon said she’d do one with him, so they each got a shot. It had been quite a while since we’d been to Rice Village, and was good to go back with friends.

Travel Preparation

We are getting ready for our trip to Nicaragua . Yesterday we went to the travel clinic to get immunizations. Kevin and I had consecutive appointments (10:30 and 11) and Laura had the one right before at 10, too funny since she made her appointment completely separately from ours. It took longer than I thought it would because we each spoke to the doctor about what to be aware of and what to look out for when we're on the trip (good information to have), and also consulted with him on what vaccines to get. Turns out we could've all had this consultation at the same time, who knew? When I made the appointments they gave us separate times, oh well.

We each got two shots - hepatitis A and tetanus (which I really needed to get a booster of anyway). We also got a pill regimen for typhoid fever (we have to take each of 4 pills every other day) and several prescriptions - one for anti-malaria medicine (take weekly starting a week starting the week before we go, 6 pills total), and preventive and if it happens diarrhea medicine. I definitely want to avoid getting that if I can! I also plan to bring over-the-counter medicine with me, those go pretty much everywhere we go. I'm glad we realized it now, it was really sort of out of the blue that I thought of it when we were at friend's house talking about our upcoming trip and I thought, shots? do we need shots? We might be ok, but I'm pretty cautious so would rather just know that I'm covered.

I've started reading a guidebook on Nicaragua too, Lonely Planet from the library. I haven't gotten very far since I try to read it at bed time (bad idea), but I'll sit down and read it, maybe this weekend. This weekend shouldn't be as busy as last weekend, though we do plan to check out the dog show! Reading about where we're going, and hearing about the planning thats gone into their wedding is getting me excited about the trip!

Last night we went to eat with my parents at the Indian place we like in Pearland, Moksha. mmm, love it! My parents actually re-arranged what day they were coming (originally Monday) so that the place would be open - they are closed on Mondays, and between about 3 and 5 most days of the week . We've forgotten that and gotten there hungry and excited to eat only to see that we came during the time they were closed, but not this time. It was very good.

I am so frustrated with the dentist right now. In May, I was supposed to have my 6- month cleaning appointment, as scheduled the previous time I’d been there (back in December). I called them a few days before my appointment to see if I could adjust the time and they said they had no record of an appointment for me in May so I had to make another appointment – in July! I will be the first to admit I don’t have the greatest teeth and need ot have my regular cleanings to keep them in good shape. My appointment is on July 22, I have it in my calendar.

Yesterday, I get an email from K that I need to call the dentist, they were calling to confirm my appointment for this week – what?! I have it as next week. I called them in the early afternoon and left a message, and never heard from them. I called back at the end of the day and again got their answering machine. I made a point to call them this morning (they open at 7), and still I got the answering machine. I can’t drop everything and go over there but I also worry about when I’ll be able to go if they don’t have this, my second appointment, on their calendar the same time I do. ugh, frustrating.

I just realized, Kevin’s receipt has my future appointment on it, and it has what I have in my calendar, next week. I’m going to bring this one AND the one that says I had an appointment in May when I go next week.

If they’re each in there, I don’t know what is causing the confusion, but really do want go get this sorted out!

In more fun news, I get to go have lunch with Gwendolyn today, yay! She called me one day last week asking if I’d want to make plans. Definitely! It’ll be good to catch up and to take a break from the office, though with all my doctor appointments recently it seems like I’m never there!

Jason's birthday

On Sunday, we drove up to Montgomery to go to Jason’s birthday party. I was especially looking forward to it because it is our first time to see their house. We spent the afternoon there and had a great time hanging out with Jason, Patty, their kids and their friends. Their house is great, and they’ve spent a lot of time to make it truly theirs – with paint themes for the kids’ rooms and even a baseball theme for Jason’s study/sports room.

Jason spent much of the afternoon grilling – chicken wings, sausage, corn - and we had chips and dips and side dishes too. I ate way too much, but that didn’t stop me from having the cookie cake with a big 31 made of blueberries (yum!). We had a great time hanging out, having good food and drinks, and even got to play guitar hero Aerosmith edition.

For his gift, we brought a bottle of absinthe that is supposed to be the authentic drink, and had fun making those drinks. I don’t like the smell of it (licorice) but do enjoy making it - you pour water over a sugar cube to dilute and sweeten the absinthe. It is very much a social drink to make and drink. It is rumored to make people hallucinate from when it was popular in the 19th century, but I don’t think anyone saw any green fairies - I know Kevin didn't.

Emily and Daniel's wedding

We had a very busy weekend, so it'll be in two posts.

Saturday we attended Emily & Daniel’s wedding. I worked with Emily at UST and also had several grad school classes with her. We’ve known each other since before we met each of our husbands, so it has been fun to see her relationship blossom and to hear about her wedding planning since I’ve heard about Daniel ever since they had their first date. It was a beautiful wedding and reception. The ceremony was at St. Anne’s, and it is where her parents and grandparents were married. Her three nieces were the flower girls and they all looked so cute. His nephew was the ring bearer, he walked up the aisle really quickly and then started walking back down the aisle, the flower girls actually had to raise their arms (since they were holding hands) to let him pass back by. Emily made such a beautiful bride, she was glowing as she walked down the aisle and during the entire ceremony. Their priest did a great service, and even got a couple of laughs, especially when he said that since E&D planned everything, if it went wrong we were to blame them...nothing went wrong, but Emily had to halt real quick when her train was caught on her sister's shoe.

Their reception was at La Colombe d'Or, right near UST. We had drinks and hors d'ouvres while waiting for the newlyweds to arrive, and then moved into the reception in the Grande Salon. It is a restored French ballroom, with oak panels carved in 1715! We had a good time at the reception. I was able to introduce Kevin to some of the people I worked with at UST, and enjoyed good food and good company. Emily and Daniel were very busy making the rounds and seeing everyone and both looked so happy :) When they first arrived they did the first dance and were out on the dance floor quite a bit – they are quite the dancers! The groom’s cake was so cute, it was decorated to look like a dart board – they met when he was playing darts at the bar where she goes for her dart league. Here is a photo of me with the happy couple.

4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Kevin and I both have the day off. We planned to smoke a brisket and then go watch fireworks later tonight. Yesterday his company let him off work at 2pm (lucky guy I worked til 5), and he went to buy the brisket. All of them were so large, that he decided to smoke it last night so that he had enough time. He smoked it all afternoon and evening, while I went to my book club (first time to attend –it was fun, and great to talk about a book we’d all read recently. I’ll attend again), and then to a surprise birthday party for a friend of mine. I got home and it was still smoking…we finally took it off the smoker at 11:30 and then put it in the oven to finish cooking.

Since the meat was already cooked, we had time today to try geocaching again. We picked out some other ones near us and went on our way. The first one we couldn’t get to because we couldn’t go the way our GPS told us – we’d be going down the street the wrong way, brilliant GPS! At the second one we tried, in Tom Bass park, we learned how to work our GPS better to give us a better read of where we are in relation to the coordinates, and we know we were right there but were still unsuccessful in finding it. We decided to try a third one, at a small cemetery off of the Beltway. We see the most interesting places doing this. We pulled off and looked around for it, and also looked at the gravestones, many of them were for unknown people, and others were from the late 1800s, but there are recent ones too…one from 2003. I was about ready to give up, but Kevin was still looking, so I walked toward him and kept looking, and I FOUND IT! I won’t say where in case someone else wants to hunt it, but we were so pleased that we found one, and without any hints. This one was smaller than the last, just a film canister with a log inside. We didn’t get to write our names down since we didn’t bring a pen (doh!)

Later we’ll go watch the Houston fireworks, hailed as the “largest land-based fireworks display in the country”. Does it really matter that its land-based vs water-based?? I guess they just want to brag about something. I love fireworks, and am looking forward to seeing them, and Kevin plans to take pictures with his camera and his new shutter release.

MacGyver moment

We had a great anniversary. After sushi at Miyako, we wanted to get a drink so we tried to go to Absinthe, but its closed on Monday. So then we tried to check out Salud, a nearby wine bar, but it is also closed on Monday. Why are so many places closed on Monday? I know they have to give their employees time off, but Monday seems like a prime time for people to want to go out, since they just started a new work week. Kevin jokingly said we picked a bad day to have an anniversary. Since we were 0 for 2 we decided to just go to Cecil’s, we knew it would be open. It was open, so we had a round of drinks and enjoyed being in the smoke-free bar (I love the smoking ban) and then headed home. We'll have to check out the wine bar another day, and try to remember that those places aren't open on Monday. That happens to us a lot - showing up somewhere we want to go only to find out we didn't remember the hours very well...oh well.

Kevin wanted to get a shutter release (think remote control, but wired, to make your camera take a photo) for taking photos of the fireworks on Friday, and he’d read that you could make one from a cellphone hands-free headset, which is $10 rather than the $20-30 that the shutter release costs and its a challenge. So, at home I see him get a knife and a hammer and go to work on it. Cutting wires and looking very MacGyver…all he needed was a piece of gum. After a few minutes of working on it, he decided to try it and it worked! You can hold the wire, push the button and voila, the camera takes a picture!

In unrelated, but good news – I had a voicemail from the dermatologist that the mole I had removed last week is benign :)