Goals in a Million Years

Isn't it funny how after time has passed, one looks back and says, "if you would have told me X amount of time ago that'd be doing this Y, I would have slapped you silly! I wouldn't have believed it." Tonight I'm putting it in type that by the time I'm 30 (T minus 5 years, 1 month, 8 days) I want to be able to pull myself up on a surfboard and surf a wave. I don't know how I could afford to go to Hawaii or California to surf let alone build up enough upper body strength to push myself up on  a board. It's definitely one of those tasks that I don't ever see myself in my current state ever being able to do even though it is still physically possible.

It makes you wonder what great things you're going to achieve in your life and you just don't know it yet. :)

Detour

Plan A

Marshall finishes degree and gets job in or near Austin.

Sarah becomes a SAHM when applicable.

Pay as much of our house off as possible.

Move from Austin to somewhere with seasons (Idaho, Oregon, or Colorado) around 2019.

Plan B

Marshall finishes degree and gets job away from Austin in Texas.

Sell house and buy new house close to Marshall's job.

Sarah becomes a SAHM when applicable.

Marshall works for 4-5 years at job, then we move to somewhere with seasons (see options above) around 2020.

We've been talking more and more about what would be best for Marshall and our family once he graduates from Texas State University sometime in 2014. If he pursues the foundry industry, we don't foresee being able to stay in Austin due to the lack of employment opportunities. How would we feel about moving many years before we thought we would in Plan A? What are the drawbacks? What are the benefits? Do we really want to stay in Texas longer than necessary? By necessary I mean Marshall gets free college while in Texas, so we would not want to move out of state before he is through. I am yearning to get back to winter.

We feel that Marshall landing a job with perfect working conditions--minimal stress, constantly changing responsibilities, stimulating environment, etc--is extremely important to us. If we have to move in order to achieve this, we're not going to put up a fight. Would I love to hightail it to Idaho and build a permanent nest in the woods by Lake Coeur d'Alene? Of course! Is it worth Marshall getting valuable job experience and staying in Texas and delaying such a move? More than likely. These thoughts have been heavy on my heart lately, and I just wanted to share with you a possible detour that we may take.



Food, Flowers, Friends

 This is what our homemade vegetable pizza on Saturday looked like before it went into the oven. We have tomatoes, bell better, olives, zucchini and red onions.

 This is my southwest quiche with eggs, salsa, blackbeans, diced ham, bell peppers and cheddar cheese.

 Hubby brought me flowers and a new hairdrier last week. I love the autumn colors of the bouquet. He bought me a new hairdrier because I can't do my hair without it, and we thought our previous one had died. Odd enough the unit was fine, but the power to the sockets in the bathrooms somehow got disrupted and so the hairdrier wasn't turning on. He fixed it though so now we have a his and hers.

I came home from work the other day and found Misti and Santa Ana sharing my blankets. Apparently my side of the bed is hot real estate in the Cat World. I love how they are best friends!



Walking My Tushie Off

Last week 10/10 through 10/17 I walked 25 miles. I started going for a 3.5 mile walk each night with my neighbor across the street. I went every day but Saturday, but walked twice on Sunday. I had a great result on the scale on Saturday morning. I am going to keep this up. My new goal is to lose another 15 pounds by the end of the year. I'm currently at 42.6--hurray!

More Wishful Moments

4. To be at the celebration held upon the Great Pyramids' completion. Do you think the Pharoahs would have gone all out? Do you think it was written about but the scrolls lost? I wonder what that party would have been like.

5. I think it would have been fascinating to attend a Native American gathering of nations well before Columbus discovered the western hemisphere. All the dancing, music, jewelry, horses, paintings, spears and contests that would be there. Perhaps a young girl from one tribe becoming smitten with a young fellow from another and wondering if she'll ever see him again. Then coming back home to one's tribe and recounting all that had happened would have been pretty neat in my eyes.

Moments in Time

I want to write about 101 moments in time that I wish I could have experienced. They are in no particular order.

1. Standing on the sidelines while the first steam engine train was being prepped to make its maiden voyage across the country to the west coast. Hearing the engine start and seeing the giant plume of smoke burp from the vehicle's crown. Thoughts racing of how this will change the country, people's lives, the economy, life as it was known. Watching the wheels budge ever so slowly as it takes baby steps towards its ultimate purpose of reaching the Pacific Ocean. Catching out of the corner of your eye to look of bewilderment on a wagon driver's face as he thinks about how this mighty machine will impact his livelihood. Feeling the cheers, excitement, and exhuberance secrete from the audience as it pulls away from the depot. I wish I could have been there.

2. To be an unnoticed servant in the palace of Queen Elizabeth I of England, perhaps polishing silverware or laundrying day after day, and only see Her Majesty once. However, that one episode, leaving such an imprint of being privelidged enough to among the company of angels, was the shining jewel in your memory that never dulled as age stole your youthfulness and narled your hands so you could no longer work. To exerpience such a level of delight would be humbling.

3. To be the first sailor to spot the Spanish Armada on the southern horizon on her way to tackle the pescky English. Shouting below and alerting one's superior that the enemy has been idenified. Like a game of "Telephone," a lower class mate would frantically knock on the captain's personal cabin's door and stutter the news that the Spanish have been seen, not knowing the number of ships, only relaying what one was told. Cowering at the boom of the leader's voice as orders are cried out. The spotter in the crow's nest watching his mates scatter around like ants over a juicy pie crumb would know that he was the flame that sparked the first shot in the battle. Being a part of history that nobody would ever remember.

Ready for Halloween?

I'm almost there!! I'm hosting a Halloween party at the house on the 29th, and all my new friends from meetup are invited. I'm working on decorations here and there, but got a lot accomplished this long weekend. Here is what I've been able to complete so far. Let me know what you think!

 This is our new entertainment center.

I'm very proud of my bats.

A nice Halloween bouquet.

The witch shrine with candles lit.

Close up of the bling letters.

Door wreath!

Upclose.

I'm covering up all our picures with Halloween themed silhouettes.