Currently...

Enjoying the twinkle lights on my Christmas tree (even if the tree seems to have an unlighted "belt" this year)

Watching Downton Abbey reruns on PBS — I'm so excited for Season 3 in January!

Addressing my Christmas cards

Looking forward to spending over a week at home for Christmas this year

Reveling in the fact that I'm finally caught up with Project Life (I haven't been able to say that since maybe sometime in August or September)

Planning to reread A Christmas Carol sometime this December

Making plans to watch several movies with my parents while I'm home (hopefully Les Miserables and Lincoln)

Needing to wrap the presents I've already bought

Hoping the presents I bought online make it in time for Christmas

Appreciating this special season and the true reason behind it

Around Here...

It's been a long time since I've written anything, so I thought I would write about what I'm doing right now.

Around here I am...


Getting super excited for my trip to Seattle (and skating — I'm very excited to attend Skate America for the third time).

Making a few last-minute packing decisions (lots of long sleeves and rain protection).

Preparing things for Sammy while I'm gone. I'm very happy my family will see him this weekend so he won't be alone too long.

Trying to stay out of all the pre-election craziness but still getting sucked in. Every four years I get really excited to follow the debates, learn about the different issues, and passionately support my favorite candidates. Then I go on Facebook (or Twitter) and wish the election were already over.

Learning more and more about my new iPad. It's been fun to try out some of the different apps and download my first book on the Kindle app. I'm looking forward to traveling with it for the first time tomorrow.

Staying ahead at work (this one is not a joke). For some reason, it's like feast and famine with my job — I'm either pulling-my-hair-out busy or frantically looking for tasks to complete.

Enjoying the new season of Dancing with the Stars more than I thought I would. I'm Team Shawn, even though I'd like someone new to win this time.

Attempting to play four-in-hand at handbells. My bells are much more active this year, and I haven't quite gotten the hang of everything yet.

Using my oscillating fan to block out the noise from next door. If it's not fighting, it's something else, and the something else makes me miss the fighting. Awkward.

Reading The Technologists by Matthew Pearl (downloaded on my iPad). I just started it yesterday, but I'm enjoying the descriptions of Boston so far.

Hoping the Longhorns can turn their season around this weekend. If not, I'm looking forward to basketball season.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Currently...

Thrilled I found a pair of dress pants at Banana Republic for $10 this weekend (They were marked down from $98!)

Trying to mark a few things off my ever-present to-do list

Impatiently counting down the days until the start of the Olympics in London

Celebrating the upcoming Olympics by rereading Harry Potter

Organizing my office/spare room

Looking forward to Paul and Esther's visit to Austin in August

Staying busy, busy, busy at work (but not quite as busy as before vacation)

Waiting for some cookies to cool (I used the recipe here.)

Planning to put the finishing touches on my Week in the Life album this week

Watching HGTV while surfing the internet

Loving life

30 Things to Be Thankful For - Day 3

I am so thankful for my job. After spending almost half a year unemployed, I was excited to receive the opportunity to work again. This job, however, has meant so much more than that.

I love my co-workers and look forward to seeing them every day. 

I enjoy being creative and learning more about writing and other new skills like HTML and Photoshop. 

I think working with clients can be fun (or at least, very interesting some days). 

Most of all, I'm thankful that this job gave me my confidence back and brought me to Austin.

I unfortunately don't have any truly compelling photos for today. Come back tomorrow if you really like pictures.

Olympic Fever!

I was talking with my mom earlier today and realized that I hadn't written on my blog in a long, long time. (I was complaining that I don't get to really write anymore — I'm probably one of the few people who would ever say that.) Since my time over the last week or so has been filled with the Olympics, I thought I would write down some of my thoughts.

Figure skating, of course, is my favorite sport of the Winter Olympics. Since I follow figure skating all the time, the Olympics sometimes offer me mixed feelings. I love the wonder and pageantry of the Olympics but usually feel discouraged because my favorites almost never win. It's also strange to hear and read comments from people who never watch the sport any other time. (Everyone is always an "expert.") This Olympics, however, has been a little different. I've actually been happy with all three podiums so far. The pairs competition started things off wonderfully with Shen & Zhao finally winning the gold after four tries. Then Evan Lysacek won the men's competition, the first time an American man has won since Brian Boitano won in 1988 (also in Canada). Last night the dance competition concluded with Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir of Canada winning the gold and Meryl Davis & Charlie White of the U.S. winning the silver. I was a little upset that Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto couldn't pull off the bronze medal, but other than that, it was a beautiful podium. (Check out the medal ceremony; it has to be one of the most heartfelt ones I've ever seen. Oh, Canada!)

Tonight the women's competition begins. Unlike most years, the U.S. doesn't have a particularly strong female skater, but I'm excited to see how Rachael Flatt (above) and Mirai Nagasu do. The favorite in the competition is Kim Yu-Na (top picture), who is absolutely wonderful. I had the chance to see her back in November, and even though she didn't skate her best there, she really is something special. She also has a huge (and I mean, HUGE) following in Korea and the Korean community. Michelle Kwan was always very popular when she skated, but Kim surpasses even her in that regard. I'm also looking forward to seeing Mao Asada, Miki Ando, Akiko Suzuki, and Joannie Rochette skate.

Besides figure skating, I've enjoyed watching many of the other events and rooting for the Americans. I'm so proud of Bode Miller for redeeming himself after Torino four years ago and Lindsey Vonn for fighting through her injury to win gold in the women's downhill. I was also impressed to hear about Hannah Teter's organization Hannah's Gold that provides cleaning drinking water for a village in Kenya. Apolo Ohno has also been a lot of fun to watch as well.

It's hard to believe that next weekend will be the end of another Winter Olympics. Hopefully someday I'll be able to attend one in person, but until then, I'll have to rely on NBC (and my rogue Russian feeds).