MS150: Part 4

Click on the pic for larger image.

Iceland.

I think this picture of the volcanic ash over Iceland is incredible.  Now I understand why there were shutting down the airports...

From the Archives.

My mom's first job straight out of college was as an engineer for Gulf Oil.  She worked for them for a few years before they were acquired by Chevron and used to carpool with her boss and two other men who lived in the Oak Forest area.  Her boss (now about 85) sent her a scanned copy of an old Gulf Oil brochure the other day and told her to look on page 8.

It's kind of funny that this photo ended up on the diversity page.  I'm sure a photo like this in an oil and gas company in 1980 was hard to come by.  My mom is probably 22 or 23 in this photo.  I feel like she still looks older than I did when I was 22.

Morning Sunshine!

On Lauren's birthday funday a few weeks ago, we stopped at The Mad Potter to paint some pottery.  I finally got to pick up my coffee travel mug today and I am so excited with the way it turned out. :)

Those are suns rising out of the bottom.

Comes with a travel lid!

Yes, I went there. :)

Going Home.

Every week I board the Continental jet at gate B4 and every week its the same crowd.  There is probably not a plane anywhere that takes home as high a percentage of tired consultants as my flight does on Thursday evenings.  The plane is quiet the whole way home.  It's like coming home on the bus after a late-night football game in high school.  We all know each other.  We all worked long hours this week.  We are all tired of this weekly commute to Arkansas.  We all just want to sit in silence with an hour to ourselves and just be glad we are going home.

Down by the Bay!

Some photos from Kevin and I's California weekend on Valentine's Day:

The view from Highway 1 just south of Carmel.

Mmmm hmmm.

How lucky there is a bench here.

My favorite view.

Kevin got a new camera so we can finally take pictures of ourselves!

Lunch at Portabella's in Carmel.

Pebble Beach in Carmel

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Jellyfish!

Driving down Lombard Street.

Sea Lions!

Fisherman's Wharf

Pier 39 on Valentine's Day.

2010 Statistics (so far).

So far in 2010...

Total Days = 47
Total Days Out of Town = 41
Total Days I have seen Kevin = 7
Total Hours Actual Flight Time = 56
Total Flight Miles = 27,036

Flights Left Before Project End = 31
Weeks Left Before Project End = 15

Sick.  I just want to go home.

02.14.10

Won't you be my Valentine?

The Golden Gate is Red,

The Bay, like Earl Grey Tea,

Kevin surprised me on Wednesday,

and told me he was flying out to see me!

What a great Valentine's Day surprise. :)

Picture TristanTom.com.

The Saints Came Marchin' In...

Photo courtesy of www.1010wins.com.

I know this is a little late coming, but cut me some slack.  It's been a while since I've posted.  I've had a rough couple of weeks flying from coast to coast and never posted my Argentina pics.  Those are still on the way.  I just had to post something on the Saints.  I have never been so excited on a Super Bowl Sunday until this past one.  I love these guys, and this city, and what can I say.  They deserve it.

El Fin Del Mundo.

El Fin Del Mundo.  The End of the World.  I have been back from Argentina for a week now and I am already fantasizing of when I will be able to go back to the end of the world in the Tierra del Fuego, or Land of Fire.  The landscape is only what you would expect to see at the end of the world where explorers wrecked their ships for centuries among the islands, ice, and strong winds.  I have so many beautiful pictures of the Andes mountains, craggy islands, blue channels, surreal wildlife (penguins!), but I thought I would just share one this morning.  This is a view of the famous lighthouse in the Beagle Channel with Chile on your left and Argentina on your right.  Behind the camera is the gateway to Antarctica.

I am editing my photos now and getting them ready to show to some friends and family on Saturday night.  I will be sure to put them up after that, and think I might do some more detailed posts about what we did in each city.  I hope the next time I see this lighthouse I am on the way to the last continent on my list!

Who Dat?

My whole family was invited to go to the Saints and Cowboys game on Saturday evening and what a game it was.  Some friends of ours have a suite for the season and so we got to watch the whole thing in style (and a few doors down from Kim Kardashian in Reggie Bush's suite).  I was really excited going to the game as Saints games are unlike any other sporting event.  The people of New Orleans love to party, and what better way than a football game with their beloved team?  If you don't follow football (I know I don't), the Saints have been undefeated (13-0) and we were hoping to keep that streak going into the playoffs.  Also, I really hate the Dallas Cowboys so I really wanted to see them lose.  The first half was pretty sad, we didn't score a thing.  In the second half, in true Saint style, we came back and in the last few minutes only needed a touchdown to tie it up.  Unfortunately, it just didn't happen for us.  The game itself was a blast though.  Whenever the Saints score a touchdown, they played "Oh When the Saints Go Marchin In" and then played some hip hop song that is the Saints theme song.  I didn't know what was going on, but everyone stands up and dances for a good minute before the game continues -- so much fun!  The worst part of the evening was trying to get out of the Superdome.  I hadn't seen this many stumbling drunks since Mardi Gras.

The rest of the weekend we shopped, ate lots of good food, and visited my parent's old neighbors, Dick and Ruby.  Such a precious couple!

Here are some pics from the weekend:

Some guy just jumped in the picture...classic Bourbon St.

"SAINT-A"

Breakfast at the Ritz

Mmm...giant gingerbread house. :)

Hola Pinguino.

I will be on my way to meet this little guy in just 9 days. :)

E.J. Peiker

Ohhh Crazy Bruce.

HAHA!  I just saw this on Jay Leno's worst commercial segment and was cracking up.  Alone.  In my hotel room.

O Tannenbaum!

After our little snowstorm on Friday, I was officially in the Christmas spirit, so Kevin and I went down to Houston Garden Center to get a Christmas tree!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

How lovely are your branches!

In beauty green will always grow

Through summer sun and winter snow.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

How lovely are your branches!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

You are the tree most loved!

How often you give us delight

In brightly shining Christmas light!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

You are the tree most loved!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

Your beauty green will teach me

That hope and love will ever be

The way to joy and peace for me.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,

Your beauty green will teach me.

What's wrong with this picture?

Divine Indeed!

I'm not currently in the market for one of these, but I stumbled across this gorgeous Vera Wang wedding gown after getting distracted from work this evening.  Naturally, while working on a presentation for tomorrow, my mind wandered to wedding dresses and I thought I would have a peek at Vera's site.  It had been a while.  I was completely wowed by this dress.  I'm thinking Italy.  In a magnificent old cathedral.  Really, wearing it anywhere else would be a shame.

Chocolate Marshmallow Meltaways.

Lauren and I made these last year for our 2nd annual Christmas day and I decided to make them again for Thanksgiving this year.  They were a huge hit with the family and several were asking for the recipe, so I thought I would include it here in case you want to make them over the holidays!

1/2 c butter-flavored shortening

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup baking cocoa

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

18 large mashmallows, halved

FROSTING:

3 Tablespoons butter, softened

3 cups confectioners' sugar

3 Tablespoons baking cocoa

1/8 teaspoon salt

4 to 6 tablespoons milk

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the egg, milk and vanilla.  Combine the four, cocoa, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
• Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.  Press a marshmallow half, cut side down, onto each cookie; bake 2 minutes longer.  Remove to wire racks to cool.
• In a small bowl, beat the butter, confectioners' sugar, cocoa and salt until smooth.  Add enough milk to achieve a spreading consistency.  Frost cookies.  Yield: 3 dozen.

Our clothes gotta cooooordinate

The girls on Thanksgiving.  We like to coordinate clothes. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I  made these delicious pumpkin pancakes this morning and had the family over for breakfast.  I partly wanted to try this recipe, and partly wanted to schedule something at my house to force me to clean it.  I spent the whole evening last night scrubbing the house down and cleaning up the disaster in my room.  The house is so clean and airy now, I'm already thinking more clearly and feeling more relaxed.  I am so excited for Thanksgiving dinner at my Gram's house this afternoon.  There will be lots of family and lots of good food.  I am bringing the chocolate marshmallow cookies that Lauren and I baked at our Christmas Day celebration last year.  

Ok, off to run on this gorgeous day!

P.S.  The pumpkin pancakes were AMAZING.  Especially with some cinammon-sugar on top.  I suggest you make some before Fall is over. :)