We are alive!

We have been blowing and going, but we are so happy that November is here.  November for me, means I get a week off for Thanksgiving.... the thought of that makes everything better.  We had a fun October!  We had a Halloween Party and Dustin and I were "Lincoln Logs."  He dressed up as "Abe" and I had a shirt of "logs," (math problems).  Tomorrow night we are having a "Wear your Red Jeans," party in celebration of Election Day.  We said no "blue" jeans allowed, since we are hoping that the red (Republicans) take over in the House and Senate.  But I will GLADLY WELCOME A BLUE GOVERNOR!  We've been busy, but this has kept our mind off of the bar exam results that come out this Thursday and it has certainly helped pass the time.  We have such great friends for support; we are very lucky.  :  )

Dustin's Webpage

You can check out Dustin's personal profile and his firm's new website since adding a new partner.  

http://www.mani-sloan.com/who-we-are/category/attorneys/ 

Click on Dustin when at the above website to read his full, legal resume!

October is the BEST month!

October used to really be my favorite month when I ENJOYED birthdays, but after 21....they aren't quite as "incentive-y" anymore (16, 18, 21)...  Now it's like is this the year I am going to have to begin dying my hair to hide the gre/ays?   However, October weather in South Texas is amazing.  Cool nights -- cool enough for some fireplace action or chiminea outdoors.  Thanks to my dad, who chopped down a dead tree in our front yard, we now have a large collection of firewood.  

My mom and dad are here visiting for a few days -- we have had some delicious, healthy food -- and had a nice birthday dinner for my mom's and my birthdays.  Yes, we're a little early for those of you thinking you missed it -- haha you didn't...not until later in the month, but we celebrate ALL of October, ha.  

We had some German food in Fredericksburg, did some antique shopping in Comfort and finished our Saturday afternoon off in Boerne -- cute cute small towns!!!  Dustin spent the weekend hunting with his firm -- they shot over 100 birds and didn't bring a one of them home -- YEAHHHHHH!

Dustin bought his first new car as a big boy yesterday.  He shopped and shopped and shopped some more -- city to city, dealership vs. other dealerships etc. etc. etc.  I am exhausted, but he FINALLY got up the courage to buy himself a Range Rover Sport.  It is beautiful -- we picked it up last night.  White with black leather -- would he own anything else?  Once you have had the dark interior it's hard to go back to light....

This weekend is going to be a weekend to ourselves -- no plans, no musts, no obligations.  : )  It is loooooong overdue.  

Fall Weddings Check!

This was our last wedding until winter....we have November off -- whewwww....unless of course there is the unexpected, ha. We had the BEST time at Amber's wedding -- a great "reunion," of all of my high school friends and their families. Stevi, Dillon's sister, was the photographer --- she is quite talented. Her first picture she posted from the night was of Dustin or Elvis or Snickers = Snelvis!

God Blessed Texas!

Well -- it has been a while since we last blogged.  We have been overwhelmingly busy with work and of course play.  :  )  Dustin's job is going well -- he truly is happy, and is meeting his bill-a-bles (however you spell that!).  It is the end of the quarter and he's chasing his bonus...so he's been extra busy this week.  I on the other hand am still searching for the "down," time I had expected following the start of school -- I am still soooo swamped and hope it calms down soon.  We have been running around from multiple trips to Lubbock, Vegas with my high school girlfriends etc.  Dustin had the pleasure of visiting Lubbock for the UT / Tech game.  Poor Polo, he really needs  new UT collar -- his is sooo tattered from wearing it so long (all seasons since we have had him except 1, in case you were counting) -- any takers to send a new one?  J/K  We are getting him the Vineyard Vine whale collar for his upcoming birthday (Nov. 1) http://www.vineyardvines.com/product__110857_____31556_13050

I went to Vegas with my high school girlfriends for Amber's Bachelorette Party a week ago -- FUN is an understatement.  We got NO sleep from clubbing, gambling and just catching up....a priceless trip.  A few pics are above.  We are headed to Lubbock this weekend for Amber and Jeremy's wedding -- a cute couple with a FANTASTIC band planned---ELEMENT...We are so pumped!  We also went to Lubbock for Papa Claude's funeral -- a huge loss, but no one can ever say the man did not have a fulfilled life!  He married so many of our friend's parents (Kyna's and Dillon's) -- made a lasting impression on many of his students.  

It has been a busy few weeks!  I just returned, today from a 3 day trip to Austin for a data-analysis conference for math and science...yes it was the headache it sounds like.  I luckily was on the UT campus that did not have shooter.  I didn't even have a clue that this was going on until Tonna texted me about what was going on...I was at the research campus, 8 miles north of the main campus.  Thankfully, no one was hurt and God truly did bless Texas today!  HOOK 'EM.  My dad had his first follow-up appointment yesterday and all is well!  He had some reactions to his medications early on that caused some issues, but they are working to get that sorted out, but his levels of everything are optimal, so we're happy.  He still kids me when we talk on the phone that he has to go so that he can go and flip his chicken-fry, but my mom e-mails me what he eats, so he really doesn't have me fooled.  :  )  I am a stickler about this low-fat, no red meat diet.  Thursday my mom was phase 2 of her root-canal.  She compares it with child-birth....hmmmm I am going to floss, rinse with mouthwash, and brush extra long tonight! I will post pics from Amber's wedding after this weekend.  :  )

A Fresh Start...

Well as you have probably heard we made an emergency trip to Lubbock to see my dad that was in the hospital for some heart issues. It took a couple of days to figure out the problem, but after he failed his stress test they scheduled him for an angioplasty on Saturday morning. He had 99% blockage in one area and they ended up placing 2 stents in his heart. It all went well and he is feeling much much better, but naturally is a little slow and sore, but certainly back to his old self! (We came home last night, from the TTU football game, late, to find that my parents had left a note saying "gone to Ruidoso, feed the dog." --obviously they didn't go, but my dad was perky enough to do that!) He got to go home on Sunday afternoon after a 3 night stay. The picture is of him and me -- in front of the cardiac ICU minutes after he found out he was going home that day -- clearly he was eager (already dressed out of his gown). Now marks the hard part....low fat and low salt diet. The Dr. referred to it as the American Heart Association Diet -- but we haven't checked out their website yet for recipes and food ideas, but we will. Dustin and I got home this afternoon from Lubbock and hit the grocery store for some low fat choices. Our dinner tonight was a turkey wheat wrap with spinach, carrots and tomatoes. Good, but well not great -- BUT we're pledging to make better choices and limit our red meat intake (cattle-raisers, please don't sue me -- this is a personal choice haha...referencing the Oprah incident in Amarillo in the 90's). Life is too short, to not feel your best or to simply not be around -- this has been an emotional few days for both Dustin and myself. My dad has said he's changing his diet to reflect that of the Dr's suggestion and limit the nicotine intake and eventually have NO nicotine intake -- I didn't have much to give up to compare with that, but I am giving up alcohol, with the exception of 2-3 glasses of red wine per week (heart healthy, baby!). Dustin claims that his life is now going to be miserable based upon my insisting that we eat healthier -- but he'll thank me soon. I encourage each of you, as our blog readers, to consciously grocery shop and make healthier food choices -- we love you all, that's why we have given you this address! Now back to work -- thank goodness it is a 4 day week, that's about all I can take!

Dustin's New Job

He Loves It!!! Dustin loves the work (though he says it is hard because it is all new to him) and loves the people. A very professional office! It is going to take him a few weeks to get settled, learn the software, etc. etc., but that is any job!

Dustin just got home and said "work was good today, I finally am getting a hang of this title deal." I can't believe I forgot this on Saturday's blog -- we saw Tony Parker! And I cannot believe we did not take a picture with him! We were behind him going in to a parking lot where he was meeting another bball player (couldn't tell who) for lunch. Tony wasn't trying to hide -- he was driving a red ferrari with Tony P 9 on the license plate....