Last night over dinner and drinks, the topic of conversation turned to “the list.”  Everyone has “the list”.  I commonly refer to mine as ”My List of Future Husbands”.  Some people call it “My List of Freebies” or “My List of Guys I’d Love to be Trapped in a Room With After We’ve Miraculously Lost All Our Clothes and Eaten an Aphrodisiac-Laden Dinner.” Semantics can’t change the fact that said list is basically a collection of hot and sexy (famous) people the list-holder would love to sleep with.

So, here’s my list:

Johnny Depp

Pavel Datsyuk

David Boreanaz

Michael Weatherly

Sarah and I spent 3 hours at the Ryland Design Center today. We were both a bit overwhelmed by all the work that new home buyers have to go through. Today we had to choose all the kitchen options (countertops, floors, cabinetry, and appliances), bathroom options (floors, shower doors, cabinets, sinks, and fixtures), carpet, front door, fireplace options and electricity options.  We will return next week to finish by choosing paint colors, lighting fixtures, and a few other odds and ends.  I have to admit that by the time we left, Sarah and I were both a bit frazzled. I just hope that none of our decisions looking crappy when added to our house!

By the way, if you are interested in seeing the floorplan or taking a virtual tour of our new home click here.

Thursday Merrie and I were talking about her upcoming trip to Istanbul and the conversation got me excited (again) about the Mediterranean cruise I’m hoping to take this summer.  I browsed through my copy of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die to find out if all our scheduled stops make the list; they do! 

While I was flipping through the book, I realized I haven’t updated my original list.   Here are my additions thanks to the London/Paris trip:

9. Windsor Castle [Windsor, England]

10. The Cotswolds [Gloucestershire, England]

11. London, England

12. Oxford University [Oxfordshire, England]

13. Bath, England

14. Stratford-upon-Avon [Warwickshire, England]

15. Warwick Castle [Warwick, England]

16. Stonehenge [Wiltshire, England]

17. Paris, France

18. Chateau de Versailles [Versailles, France]

I know I just said good-bye to summer 2009 but my family is already looking forward to summer 2010.  Margie received information this week about a Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruise offered to McNeese State University alumni.  After a bit of discussion and research, we have decided we want to make this our 2010 family vacation.

The four of us (Margie, Mom, Sarah and myself) know that we have to lose weight and get in better shape before next summer.  The trip to London and Paris this summer was great fun but there were several days that ended in pain and discomfort due to extra weight and out-of-shape muscles. In an effort to jump start our weight loss the four of us signed the following pact:

I promise to lose 10 pounds and exercise 3 days per week (at least). Final weigh-in is set for October 8th.  All parties MUST fulfill agreement or cruise plans WILL be canceled.

Sarah and I hit the gym tomorrow afternoon.  Wish us luck!!

As tonight is the last night of summer break, I thought perhaps a recap of the summer of 2009 is in order.  Overall I rate this summer a strong 8

• Houston A+ Challenge externship with Volunteer Houston.  I spent 5 days working with the phenomal staff of Volunteer Houston and visiting several non-profit organizations in the Houston area. I left with great plans and ideas to introduce volunteerism to my students. 
• Family vacation to London and Paris. Mom, Margie, Sarah, Katie and I had a fabulous time on our 11-day trip.  We made hilarious memories that will  last a lifetime.  Highlights of our trip include Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge, Notre Dame, and Versailles.
• A couple of trips to Galveston to enjoy the sun and surf.   Thanks Lisa and Brad for making the trip and riding the waves with Sarah and me!
• An Astros game to celebrate Brad’s birthday. Our seats were in right field and we had a great time.  The ‘Stros actually managed to win the game
• Lots of time spent hanging out with good friends like Susan, BJ, Lisa and Mikey. Much beer was consumed, much laughter was shared, and perhaps even an ass was grabbed…whoo hoo!
• A few concerts (CrueFest and Poison/Def Leppard) and a Texans/Saints game.  Despite the horrible Houston heat and the outrageous concession prices, all of these events were fun especially since they were shared with friends and loved ones.

Farewell Summer….I hope the remainder of 2009 brings as much happiness. laughter, love and fun!

I finally started a new cross stitch project.  It has been almost 2 years since I’ve done any sort of craft; I am NOT a crafty person by nature but grew up watching every woman in my family cross stitch and it was a rite of passage I felt I had to complete as a teenager.  Anyway, from time to time I am struck by the urge to “create” something so I rummage through my stack of pattern books until I find a project that fits my mood.  This is the picture I’ve settled on:

Cajun Alphabet

Although I’ve heard rumors that teachers have the summer off, I have yet to experience such pleasure this year.  I spent my first week of summer vacation at Volunteer Houston as part of the Houston A+ Challenge externship program.  My fellow externs and I visited many different non-profit organization throughout the week.  Overall the experience was amazing and I am very excited to bring all that I learned about volunteering back to my students in August. 

The best day was when we spent Tuesday at the Houston Zoo; we were tag-alongs with the Shell Summer Intern Program.  We were allowed behind-the-scenes access to a few of the most popular exhibits (giraffes and elephants) and then set to work painting a huge construction fence.  I was able to talk to many different college students from across the country and I was amazed by their drive to be successful and their commitment to non-profit work.  My fellow externs and I left with a renewed sense of hope for the future of America.

This was one of the best weekends I’ve had in a looooooong time.  After months of “separation”, BJ and I have reestablished our friendship.  We have been casually communicating since early March, and I was secretly hoping that we would work our way back around to being close friends again.  My patience paid off.  Friday night I had the pleasure of hanging out with LH and MJ; BJ also showed up and we ended up closing down the bar despite the fact that L and M left at midnight.  Saturday evening B and I watched game 2 of Wings/Blue Jackets series (Go Wings!!) then went to his fave neighborhood bar.  We drank beer, made fun of the drunks singing karaoke, caught up with the key events in each other’s lives, and laughed until our sides hurt.  It was just like old times and I can’t put into words how happy I am to have on of my best friends back in my life

[To all of you wondering if I've lost my mind:  Rest assured there are no romantic feeling are involved on either side.  We both recognize we are much better off friends than lovers.  I may be a little slow at time but I'm not a complete idiot.  This is never going beyond friendship.]

S came home today eager to play a “new” game she had learned at school: MASH.  I’m sure you all remember the game that predicted every middle-school girl’s future.  Who will I marry? How many kids will we have? What kind of car will I drive? Where will we live?  Here are MY results:

I am married to Justin Timberlake but we have zero children and *only* live in a house.  I drive a Corvette and work as an astronaut.  My job pays me $0 a year.  I am having an affair with Chris Osgood and will eventually get a divorce.

Did you read that carefully?  I having an AFFAIR???  I’m getting a DIVORCE???  These 2 “Categories” were never part of the MASH game that I played in elementary and middle school.  What a sad commentary on today’s society that young girls see these 2 events are predictable outcomes in life

(By the way, S married Bozo the Clown…LOL!!)

I learned last week that I should be running at “retirement home.”  According to the knowledgeable people at PetCo (and my own suberb reading skills), my cats are SENIORS.  I had no clue!!  I had to purchase a new type of food for them which looks, smells, and thankfully costs exactly like their old food.  I wasn’t convinced I needed to make the upgrade but the professionals at PetCo assured it this was necessary for the health and happiness of my babies old farts.  I just hope dementia doesn’t set in any time soon

Activity Day at the old folks home is always fun

The exercise program here is very strenuous!