Last Saturday I had a last minute call for a flower delivery at work.   I always try to accomoodate people who call last minute.  Not that I condone floral procrastination  :) , but if I'm at the shop, regardless of our hours of operation, I consider us open for business.
This particular delivery ended up close to my home,  so I decided that I would deliver it myself.
I ended up delivering a beautiful bouquet to a home in an amazing neighborhood that lies just blocks away from my house...The Historical West Austin area.

I took the next opportunity that I had to go running and explore the area!  

I learned that there are more than 20 historical homes within a 3 block radius of me!  Just look at the history...

Photos By:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Woodlawn_austin_2006.jpghttp://www.txinfo.com/brykerwoods/News/OWAHD.html

It was a Monday.  The day that I do the laundry.  I counted the quarters that were needed for the coin-op laundry in the apartment complex and realized that I only had enough money for one load.

Dang-it!

So as anyone would do, I made a pile of the clothes that Nick and I would need the most in the up-coming week.  (underwear, undershirts, socks, etc.)
I took the "priority" laundry down to the laundromat and proceeded as usual.
(Wash, Rinse, Spin, Dry)
I returned to my laundry when it was dry, retrieved it, and hauled it back up to our apartment to fold. 
As I folded the fresh, clean clothes I noticed that the load looked a little light.  It wasn't until everything was put away that I realized ALL OF MY UNDERWEAR WAS MISSING!

I went through every drawer and the dirty laundry basket just to make sure I wasn't going crazy.  I didn't find a single pair.  Someone had gone through our clean laundry in the dryer and picked out the items that they wanted.  They just happened to be very fond of my underwear. (oh and my running shorts.  That just downright pissed me off)  Creepy!  There is either some pervert watching me in the complex, or a cross dresser who is too ashamed to go and buy thongs to prance around the house in.

I took action and put up this poster in the laundromat in our complex.  It was torn down within 24 hours. (obviously the perpetrator didn't want the word to get out)  So I hung more.  They have stayed for 6 days, so far.

To everyone who does their laundry at the laundromat, keep your guard up!  Don't let anyone steal your panties!

My mom is always urging her lil' chitlins to get in to the spirit of Holiday.  Yes, just in general Holiday.  She is the Queen of festive ( I swear she would adopt more religions and cultures just to celebrate more holidays if she could)  

One year she harassed my oldest brother Justin about not having ANY Christmas decorations up at his house.  He finally conceded and found a tangled bunch of Christmas lights that he duct taped to his front window and plugged in. (haha!)

Her love and enthusiasm of creating a magical holiday for her family has inspired all of us "kids."  Mom, your efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.  From the Valentines that are much more than just a Valentine, to the last Icicle hung on the tree (the tree that you and Dad search for every year so that it fits perfectly into the solarium).  Oh and may I also mention the Mothers Day gifts, even though I don't have any kids (she accepts Rocco as my child!)  I know that you do it not only because you love it but also because you want to create a memory and a feeling for your family.

So, I want you to know Mom that even though I haven't missed the cold weather back in Utah that I am trying to feel the fall spirit here in Austin!

Love You!

So, I have been trying to get out and run a bit more these past few weeks.  I've needed the endorphines for more than one reason.
I have been feeling a bit homesick, but I haven't been recognizing what that feeling is until it bubbles out in a big fountain of tears.  I also had a friend pass away in SLC this past week.  It has been really hard not being there to help and not knowing the mental state of everyone involved.  Support via text message can only go so far.    (Nick has been sopping up little puddles quite frequently, thanks baby.)
While running I find that my neighborhood keeps revealing it's personality and character.  I have especially loved the sidewalk art and vintage signs that I have come across. 

Here are a few pics...

The sidewalk "art" makes me emotional every time I look at it this week.  Falecia, I'm thinking of you.

In Salt Lake City I was an ambassador for Ballet West.  Honestly I had been around the ballet for so many years that I finally just said put me to work!  It was a great group and we had a lot of fun!

One of the first things on my agenda when I got to Austin (besides getting a job.  Which I have since done because of attending a Guild event...no joke) was to join the Ballet Austin Guild, the Ambassador equivalent for Ballet Austin.  I have met a ton of people and been to a few events.

This weekend was the season opener.  They performed act II of Swan Lake (I don't really understand why you would only do one act of a full length) and Fire Bird with Stephen Mill's Choreography (interesting).  

I was able to volunteer at the Gift Barre, an area set up with merchandise, signed toe shoes etc.  All income generated at the Gift Barre goes directly to Ballet Austin.  We made $1,200 in one night even with ACL going on. (ACL should really look at being more friendly to the ballet!  We know that you don't have to schedule as far out as the ballet does!)

Here are a few photos of the evening. 

Every Fall my entire family makes a trip up to Park City, UT for our "Spaghetti Annual".  Pasta, Sauce, and Garlic galore!  This year the family kept it quite small but I was sad to have missed it none the less.

I made sure to have my own celebration of Italian cuisine here is Austin.  Oh, and let me just say that we are not an Italian family, we just like to pretend that we are!

I decided to make Italian meatballs and peirogis (ok maybe a half italian celebration) with a marinara sauce.  This was my first attempt EVER at making meatballs.  I didn't botch it too bad so I guess I will share! 

 I used:

1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. sausage
two eggs
1/2 c dry bread crumbs
4 good sized fresh basil leaves chopped
2 cloves of garlic crushed
dash of salt and pepper
1 Tbs of italian seasoning
1/4 c freshly grated parmesan

Start heating a heavy pot with a thin layer (less than a 1/4 c) of olive oil on the stove.

I just put all of the ingredients in a bowl and mixed them together by hand.  (Just like you would for meatloaf)  Once mixed pinch off portions of the meat mixture and roll them into 1 1/2 inch balls.

Make sure the oil is hot before you put your meatballs in.

One mistake I made was not moving the meatballs constantly when they're cooking.  This gives them the round shape.  Mine were way too crowded in the pan!  You may have to do them in batches.

Once they are browned on all sides and the inside reaches at least 150 degrees, they're done! (I did mine to 160 degrees just to be sure, seriously my digital meat thermometer is one of my best friends)

They still tasted great but next time I'll leave them some wiggle room!

Rocco is our very silly kitten.  He is five years old but I call him a kitten because he still has the energy and playfulness of a kitten! 

I found Rocco at a Super Pet Adoption in Salt Lake City.  I went there just to "look".  Haha! 

I looked at a bunch of kittens.  Then I saw a cage with a litter of kittens from Park City.  They were all wild and jumping on each other, biting, etc.  In the middle of this chaos was a kitten sitting with his two paws turned out, just regulating the chaos around him.  I knew... that was my kitten.

Nick didn't know that I had gone to the Super Pet Adoption. :)  I called him and said that we could just keep the kitten overnight and if things didn't work out we could take him back.

So, I brought this kitten home.  I needed to go to the store to get litter, food etc. for the night and left the kitten and Nick at home.  When I got home Nick had made a friend named Rocco.

He is still as silly as ever!