Here

I think I would like to be here today. I do enjoy being surrounded by roses in bloom, listening to a babbling brook, recharging in the shade. Yup, it's good to be me, cause I have been there before and a good memory is a thing to be treasured.

Paths

Today is one of those wonderful "off days" more commonly refered to as "days off." I feel as if I have the whole world in front of me. So many options, so many paths, so many adventures. I hope I have a long, long, long healthy life ahead of me so I can explore all of them. That's one of the joys of nursing, so many paths. So many areas of interest, so many interesting people to meet and problems to solve.

I am standing at crossroads today, whether to start up work again, making sure of my finances, my career, my "safety net". To get back to my roots, settle down, start investing in my life and grow up.

Or to take a month off, do a medical mission trip to Peru, touching peoples lives who are currently unknown to me, trusting God that finances will be okay to not work for a whole month. See a new world.

It's a little scary, yet thrilling at the same time.

It seems like a "tri-fecta" as the Soprannos (intentionally spelled wrong) put it. God, Medicine, Travel. What's not to love?

They both seem great! Wonderful even. What to do. What to do....
What would you, as my reader, do with such an opportunity, either choice is an opportunity.

It's good to be me, and it's good to have choices.

Still Austin, TX

Look at what has popped up in Austin!!! Lining the freeways and adorning the meadows, Texas's best features are showing themselves at long last! The Almighty Texas Bluebonnet. Texas' grace in floral form. These were also taken over the weekend of March 8th, when Crystal was in town.
Makes even the greyest day a delight. I really enjoy this picture of Crystal taken beside the highway because it appears to me that she has sprouted from the bluebonnets, and this is how cowgirls are actually born. Fun thought!

The rickety old white fences defining the ranches brought out my desire to strap on my boots, throw on my cowboy hat, and imagine all that I surveyed was mine. If you look closely, you can see the gazebo and red barn in the background amidst the stately (presumed) oak trees. Special thanks to Crystal of takeing the pictures of me.

We kept swapping cameras so that we would have equal amounts of pictures of each other on each camera. Too often, you get back from a trip, and upon reviewing your pictures, realize that you had no pictures of yourself! Many pictures of where you were and who you were with, but none of you, which, of course, are the ones your family and other friends wanted to see in the first place. Solution: give your friends your camera and borrow theirs frequently.

Crystal is such a good sport, posing at the side of a rather busy highway. She is so photogenic, and is perfectly smashing in a cowboy hat. The bluebonnets seem to have bloomed specifically to take a peek at Crystal and dance at being able to be photographed with her.

I love this shot that Crystal took. It gives great perspective as to the sea I felt I was in of bluebonnets.

Getting low, practically laying down, makes for such great photos. I feel you can capture the sould of the blooms.

I also enjoy this candid pose of Crystal. She seems so focused and poised. She fits in so seamlessly.

I felt as though I could have floated away.

Can you just imagine that this is the entry way into your ranch? Unbelievable. You can really see the temper of the clouds in this picture. It is as though the sky was urped that the ground had stolen it's rich blues and sealed the hue in flower form.

We made some friends along the way. They were glad to have someone to sniff. Quite friendly chaps.

The brilliant greens the ponys had to nibble upon was terrific.

And last, but not least, the entry gate to the "mansion" I would have enjoyed to be a guest of. Course, 'round here, they just call it home.

Ranch hardly begins to describe it.

It's good to be me when the bluebonnets are in bloom.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

I hope you are wearing your green today!!!

Hart did his best to celebrate with us, definately made for a cute decoration...

What Irish decendant American doesn't have "traditional" corned beef, cabbage and potatoes for supper? (On a note though, the entire time I was in Ireland, I couldn't find corned beef or cabbage to save my soul. Or mutton for that matter. Lots of beans, boiled tomatoes and blood sausage though.)

Me parents! The luck o' the Irish gave me two good 'uns.

Daddy enjoying his Guinness. "Guinness is good for you," so the signs in Ireland told me. What you can't see is him hiding the New Castle, an English beer, under the table since we only had one Guinness to share between 3 of us. Bad planning on our part.

Arrrrrr!!!! It be St. Patrick's Day! Pirate Day!!!! Sure. Why not? It's not even Thurrrrsssday yet, but this is Houston and they have done a heck of a job messing up what St. Patrick's Day is. All the people in the crowd of the St. Paddy's Day parade Mom and I went to were waving American flags (not Ireland) and very few wore green. They must still be stuck on Mardi Gras, since all the floats were throwing beads at us, and not just green ones either. Luckily, I did not see any flashing, just cheers of "Beads! Beads!!!" and lots of, what's the PC way of saying it? Not freckled, green eyed or pale skinned people. Think dark skin, burritos, and jerry curls. I think Mom and I were the only ones, uh, like ourselves. Ahem.

I didn't feel the Irish love. If anything, I was more afraid. I think they lynched this Leprechaun. Can you see it hanging from the roof of the truck? Shudder!!! Let's just say Mom and I didn't stick around for the rest of it. Them Texans were getting roudy. For beads.

This morning, Mom and I took our Zoomba class, a combination of salsa, mambo, and whatever else our mainly spanish speaking instructor decides to make us sweat to. This morning, she had on green tights, a tied up green shirt with golden yellow brickabrack, and an alien looking shamrock head band. The assistant instructor showed up with a Canadian Roots jacket. So confusing.

In between cha-cha-cha, she threw in about 3 irish dance songs, complete with the straight arms and dancing on toes. Go figure. I'm going to try out the "local pub" tonight. We shall see if we can get this St. Patrick's Day straightened out. If not, I'm going to go over to the Mexican food shop instead.

I've got my "Kiss me, I've been to Ireland" shirt on, with my green hair tie, green socks, "Lucky" shamrock tattoo (temporary, of course) on, and, after a shower, will be putting on my "Irish Luck" green panties. Too much information, I know, but since I'm not showing them off to anyone, I figured I would share with you! No pictures! I promise!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!!! It's good to be me, and the Luck o' the Irish to ye today and everyday!!!!