Make a splash, 2011

Happy New Year!  >> new decade!  >> new beginnings!

I tend to stumble upon things, more so than diving right in....particularly when it comes to my career.  I like to ease into situations, maintaining my comfort zone while I test the waters.  This year my resolution will be to get out of my comfort zone.  I think Billie is a bit like me {okay so she is only 13 weeks old and I'm 31 years old}.  Much like myself, she inadvertently discovered the swimming pool this New Years weekend.  She was just tagging along behind me when she stumbled over the edge of what she apparently thought was a blue rug.  She trotted right into the frigid water.  Her water dog instincts kicked in and she paddled herself back to the edge from which she tumbled.

I guess whether you stumble into something or dive in, you better make a splash.

Austin City Limits

Gorgeous weather, massive crowds, Knitta Please, rock & recycle, good times, great friends, scooter rides, and at last lush grass in Zilker Park, here are a few photos from Austin City Limits [which was, ehem, three weekends ago.]

As many of you may know I am a few weeks behind on posts here.  I know, I know, I need to pick up the pace a bit.  

How do you like them apples?

Does anything say 'hello fall' like a cider tour?  B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill is the oldest steam powered cider mill in the US.  What a sight to see with the steam rising, belts spinning, cheesecloth flipping, pallet rotating, sweet nectar dripping, and compost hauling.  It was nice to step back to simpler times and experience how this family has been making cider for six generations.  

Jobs that Matter

Are you still here?  Thank you so much for sticking around during my hiatus!  It was a very productive week and hopefully later I can showcase what I have been working on here on Nola West.

Ok, where were we?  Oh yes, Connecticut.  Are you familiar with the above Coast Guard marketing slogan?  It was aired several times during our courting period, and after Will's reunion our belief in this was reaffirmed.  All of his classmates whether still in the service or out are truly getting what they want out of life.  Consider us inspired!  

Wet in the City

We were fortunate to spend about ten hours in New York City on our way to Connecticut for Will's CGA reunion.  There was a tropical system in the area, which I am not sure if it made me feel more at home or just sticky.  Southerners know that a beach vacation during hurricane season is asking for it, but who would have thought the same about NY?  So needless to say it was a very swampy day in the big city, but we had a long to-do list thanks to Kelly [my fellow ITL guest blogger and newest friend] so we just forged ahead and loved every minute of it.

Now I just need to know when I can go back to finish my list.

Next stop...Connecticut.