This one is for you Kate....

So, I’ve been told to blog more by my sister since my infamous busy…or also known as “great”, “high”, and “tax” season is over.  Whatever you want to call it..., it’s really just not all that fun.  But, that’s the life of an auditor I guess.  And no, I’m not a tax accountant either.  I don’t know tax.  Me being a CPA does not mean I know tax law.  I do my own taxes via Turbo Tax.  As a matter of fact, I hate tax.  Who wants to spend their time doing taxes is really beyond me.  Okay, rant over.  Now, that I have “freedom” (term is meant to be used loosely), I can blog again.

So, let me get you up to date.  Okay.   Work.  There, you’re up to date.  Okay, just kidding!!!  I’m really pulling your leg.  Rob and I have been on several adventures which have included:

A trip to Sinton to visit Nana & Pop and do Nana’s taxes.  Only I failed at her taxes.  Had to file an extension.  I guess I’ll be back.  Note:  I do nana’s taxes simply because I’m good granddaughter.  This does not give you the right to ask me to do your taxes, because well… I’m not that good and they take me a long time b/c I have to do research on every step.  Damn tax law is so freaking confusing. Ha!  We did all of that in s a single day trip on a Sunday b/c I worked all day on Saturday.

We have been to Austin, TX to be a part of the Texas Relays.  My sister high jumped on Friday, but we didn’t get to see her… why you ask?  Oh, only because we were working!  Duh!  You knew that was coming.  But, to continue on… we drove to Austin Friday night where we met up with Nana & Pop, mom & dad, and Kathleen (Rob’s mom) at the outlet mall.  Kate wasn’t there because .. she was working like most normal people and has to save some of her vacation days.  Also, Kathleen was in New Braunfels working as well that week and weekend, so we got to see her too! Have I mentioned  I love outlet malls?  I really do.  My heart starts to beat fast and my pulse begins to race just when I see one in the distance.  I am the ultimate good deal shopper.  I love to shop and when it’s a good deal, well… nothing can stop me.  Not even Dave Ramsey (just kidding, Robert! Wink, wink)  We went to a few stores looking for a cast iron enameled frying pan for my mom.  But, we never found one.  She did buy an All-Clad frying pan from the Williams & Sonoma outlet, but she had Dad take it back the next day.

On Saturday, we hung out with Kirstie at her hotel early in the morning and then headed to the track meet where we met up with Gretchen Southard, Travis’ mom.  (Remember Travis?--> he’s Kirk’s boyfriend that is on the men’s track team).  Trav was running in the DMR that afternoon at around 1 PM.  I personally was so excited about spending the day in the track, simply because my co-worker has called me “pasty”, so I wanted some freaking sun!  I went a whole hour without putting sunscreen on.  As I came to find out later that day, that was one hour too long.  Yep.  One hour too long.  Doesn’t matter that I put it on three times after that one hour.  My shoulders and forehead were goners.  Actually, it’s been two weeks since that weekend and my shoulders are still peeling from that fiasco.  Oh, I think its also highly unprofessional to go to a client with your forehead peeling.  LIKE A BANANA! Yeah, looked like I had dandruff all up in my hair.  Quite disturbing.  I’d go to the bathroom every so often to check it on and let my hair done and have it fall to the floor.  Disturbing, I know.  But, I don’t think I’m quite at the “pasty” level anymore.  Besides, you always have to get a good burn at the beginning of the spring/summer season!

Anyways, back to the track meet.  When we got there around 10:30 AM, there were a lot of people there but, there was still room to find a seat.  When we left, it was standing room only.  And how I can I put this without offending anyone?  You know how a black eyed pea is white with a little black spot in the middle?  If you can picture that in reverse, that’s what the stands looked like.   But, it was great to see such an amazing crowd.  Would you say it was close to 10,000 mom, dad and Robert?  Maybe more?  It was very impressive.

Okay, back to the race we came to watch.  Wait?  We came to watch a race?  I came to get a sun-tan! Okay, sun burn in my case.  Alright. Just kidding.  I took pictures from beginning to end of Trav’s race.  He now things I’m stalking him and is afraid of his life.  It might be borderline lunacy that he’s only met me like three times, but I’ve posted like 15 pictures of him on MY facebook.  Oh well, it was quite fabulous to watch.  The best FORTY-SIX POINT THREE SECONDS of my life Trav.  Now, you people, don’t go getting the wrong idea here.  I mean, it was only the fastest and bestest FORTHY SIX POINT THREE SECONDS of my life.  Get a grip people, that’s how long his leg was of his DMR.  He ran his 400 (one time around the track for you non-track people like my self) in FORTY SIX POINT THREE SECONDS.  That was a new PR for him and it put Arkansas in the front running to win if his teammates could keep it up as well.  And they did!  They ran first place.  I’ll post a few more pics on here, just to make sure Trav thinks I’m real crazy and goes and files a restraining order against his girlfriend’s sister.

Nonetheless, it was a very excited race to watch all the way around.  I believe the whole thing was in the 9 minute mark somewhere.  Very impressive.  His mom was going wild and so was my mom and Kirstie was hollering… but my favorite thing I listened to were these two PB men behind me that were saying in their deep voices, “Yes, he’s running a good race.  Really going to kick it in now.  Nice legs. I do believe Arkansas has got this.  Yes, Arkansas has got this.”  I don’t know how much of track experts they were, but they were at least rooting for the Hogs.  We got to chit chat with him briefly afterwards and then him and Kirk headed to wherever athletes go to board the bus and head to the airport.

Travis is taking off!

Coming round the bend...

Finishing and about to hand off the baton.
Notice how's caught up with the guy in first place.
(To see a complete story in photo's see my facebook)

Mom, dad, Robert and I… well, we headed to….. wait for it…. THE OUTLET MALL!  Yep, we went back again.  Did some shopping at J Crew, Ann Taylor, Polo.  Then we headed to this GREAT fried seafood place called Clear Springs.  We met Mema and Pepa there as well as Kathleen.  I personally had the catfish and shrimp, all fried.  Robert had the same plus a salad.  It was delish!

After we all chatted together and stuffed ourselves full, we all headed our separate directions. Mema & Pepa to Seguin, Kathleen back to New Braunfels, and me, mom, dad, and Robert to…. Wait for it… the outlet mall!  This time, we stopped for a potty break and to get some lotion at L’Occitane.  At this time, my forehead was so red, you could have mistaken it for a stoplight.  Same with my shoulders.  So, I bought some of the good stuff.  Didn’t keep me from peeling though!  Tear.  While we were shopping for lotion, dad walked in and said how he just saw the skinniest police officer alive.  Once I made my purchased, he was right.  It was the skinniest, tallest security guard man known to man kind.  It was kind of hilarious.  We were so caught up in the moment we walked past our car.  Then, mom and I filed in a single file line behind dad and pretended to be ducks following their master.  Quite an amusing site I can assure you.  Rob would not participate.  He was the undisciplined duck. Hehehehe.

Alas, that puts up to pretty current.  Last weekend we sat out by the pool all day on Saturday.   I had to burn my back so that it would even out with my shoulders.  It worked.  I’m now the same color between shoulders and back.  No peeling just yet, either.   I read a whole book from start to finish and we went and saw Source Code in theaters.  Pretty good movie, kind of weird though… but entertaining enough.

This where you could find me in Robert last weekend on Saturday.

Sunday I got a pedicure, we went to get ice cream and we made a new recipe called Chicken Tarragon.  It was a success.  And then that really brings us up to current.

Other than that, we haven’t been up to much.  I have taken a liking to painting my nails.  I kind have grown them out long enough so that I paint them French.  Except, I’ve been painting the normally white part (the tips) colors.  Purple has been my choice of color multiple times, but right now it’s lime green.  I personally like it.  But, when my nana saw them she said “Your nails… their interesting.”  I don’t think she was overly joyous of the purple tips.  Then when mom and Kirstie saw them they did comment on them by saying something to the effect of, “Jess, your nails!”  But they never said, “Jess, I like your nails!”  So, perhaps I’m not hitting a fashion statement here?  But nonetheless, it’s my new hobby.  I paint them once to twice a week.  Works for me and I don’t have to pay anyone to do it.  (Check.. dave ramsey).

Oh, speaking of Dave Ramsey… we bought tickets to go and see him October 5^th.  We were so quick to buy tickets that we got them for $19 dollars!  The $9 were sold out already, so we weren’t fast enough.  Anyone who wants to come see Dave needs to come to Houston on October 5^th.  That is where we will be.  I’m kind of excited.  We will have Robert’s car paid off in the next one-two months and then we will be DEBT FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Let me say that again, DEBT FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  When that time comes, no worries.. I’ll have a whole blog devoted to DEBT FREE!!!!!  It’s coming.  And then we can concentrate fully on our house downpayment.  Baby steps, like Dave says.  Oh, special congratulations go out to Ryan and Stacy who got the official word today that they bought a house!!!  First time homeowners!!  That’s just awesome.  They will close when we get back from Vegas.  Vegas?  What, have I mentioned vegas?  Well, I’m going.  In May.  That’s going to be a blog worth reading.  Anyways, I’ve digressed.

Now, not speaking of Dave, we bought Taylor Swift tickets this week as well.  When is her concert you ask?  Oh, not until November.  I seem to like to buy my tickets way in advance, apparently.  I’m seeing a pattern.  Those were not quite on the Dave plan, but Robert said I could buy them so I did!!!  J

I head to Philadelphia next week (6 days) for my first day off of work since New Year’s vacation.  It promises to be a heck of vacation and a blog.  Until next time….



Oh, how I'm glad spring is here and summer is around the corner!
(P.S. Don't mind Rob's picture, he's not very good at this taking a picture thing, hehe.)