Lavender Heaven

What I love about Texas is the many Festivals to experience during the Summers.  This past weekend I went back to Blanco's Lavender Festival.  They had the little Lavender Farmers Market set up around the town's Courthouse to sample different products made with Lavender.  By the end of the day, it can leave any visitor in a state of Lavender Euphoria.


A couple years back, I went to Blanco, TX with my friend Faye for the Blanco Lavender Festival.  We sampled all the homemade product made out of Lavender, drank Lavender Lemonade, ate Lavender Ice Cream, had Lavender Pedicures, and went to one of the lavender Farms and picked a handful of Lavender.  We saturated our senses with Lavender, and had a silent, RELAXED road trip back to Austin.

This year, I went with my roommate and her mom as a recovery Therapy for her (roommate) after her surgery a couple days before.  We only stayed for a couple hours, but that was still enough to enjoy Lavender with all our senses.  They weren't completely saturated as before, but still enough to relax and enjoy the scenery on our way back home.

If you're ever in Texas in the first week of June, stop by Blanco, TX.  Beautiful drive, and relaxing day.

Austin's way of ringing in the New Year.

Last year on New Years Eve, I celebrated the new year(2008) by staying home with a fireplace, S'mores, and Bourne Trilogy. This Year (well, now last year), I celebrated the New Year on a Party Barge!! My church was doing a fundraiser for a group we're sending to Egypt by inviting 140 people on a barge to ring in the new year and chat with the ladies headed for Egypt.

It started mildly when my friends and I boarded the boat, and saw a lot of friends I haven't seen for a great while. Since our church is getting big with 4 different services, I haven't seen a lot of my friends so it was great to catch up last night. The Barge is a two story boat, with the outside deck as the 2nd floor. What made it extraordinary were my amazing friends Char, Emily, Wendy, Jen, Tracy, Heather, and Dana altogether, and I've been in stitches throughout the whole night that my sides hurt from laughing so hard. I wish I could put down all the details on this blog, but there's too much.

Later, we disembarked to watch the fireworks at Auditorium Shores, where the city built a wooden clock to represent the Year 2008 just to set it on fire. I guess it's an art expression of making room for the new year. Earlier, as we drove by it to the party, we watched the blazing clock while we were on the Riverside Dr. parking lot(Everyone driving decided to stop in the middle of the street to watch) By the time we got back to the Auditorium Shores, the clock was reduced to a small bonfire in the middle of the park.

At midnight, the fireworks began, and kept on going that we looked at each other asking if it was over yet. Quite a few times they had a barage of fireworks that appeared to be the finale, but it kept on going. By the time the real finale came, and we were cheering that it was finally over.

This has been an awesome end of the year for me, as in the last 2 months. Surrounded by loving friends and church family, I can truly say I've been truly blessed in 2008.

All-American Holiday Feasts.

This holiday season has been interesting and revealing for me. Where do I start? I'm a Filipino-American born in the US. I have eaten plenty of American food, and my mom has done a pretty good job learning to cook my dad's favorite American dishes when she married my dad and came to the US. However, after 38 years of my life, this is the first holiday I had a COMPLETE American Holiday spread of food. That's right. FIRST!

Every holiday with my family we would have a turkey, ham, and even hamhocks and beans. Maybe occasional american fixin's like canned cranberry sauce and stuffing. But, the rest of the food on the table was Filipino food. No complaints here. My mom is an excellent cook. Filipinos are biased to their own mom's cooking, but even my friends would say that my mom cooks better their moms (maybe a little pride there ;))

This year is my 3rd year away from that family tradition, but my first year to enjoy a sit down home cook American dinner/lunch for the holidays. My friends Dan and Jess invited me to their place for Thanksgiving, and made a full Thanksgiving spread for 4 people. A lot of food, and awesome to feast on. First time I had REAL cranberry chutney and candied yams (my mom's was canned.) It was amazing altogether.

On Christmas, my friend Kari invited me to celebrate Christmas with her family. They had the usual Ham, but they also had Green Bean Casserole and a Broccoli/Rice Casserole. That's when it dawned on me that I really haven't had an all-american holiday meal until this year. Restaurants don't count. I never had a Green Bean casserole or Broccoli and Rice Casserole until that day at Kari's uncle's house. It was good, and I went back for seconds. There was also a salad with yogurt (?), walnuts, fruit, and mini marshmellows. I don't know what it's called, but that was GOOOD too.

You'd never know what you've been missing unless you go outside your secure little box. This has been an interesting year....more to come on that later.

Wow, 2 years....

It's been 2 years since I first came to Austin, TX (well, 2 years in Jan 5), and so much has happened since then. I came to Austin just for a 3 month travel assignment, and then leave and not return. The Lord's plan is so much more than my own. I thought that after St Louis, I would move on to the new england coast, make my way south to Savannah, GA, then back to St Louis for Summer '08 to watch my niece's graduation, and then make my way back to San Diego. No where in my plan did I consider going back to Austin, TX. That was MY plan.

God's plan: Return to Austin after St Louis, and stay...why? I still don't know, and it's been over a year since I've returned. I've heard Him say "rest" and "learn," but learn what? It only took me 10 months to learn how to rest, and then to actually do it.

I still get antsy staying in one place still, but it hasn't been as bad as last year in Nov. If I continued on as a Travel nurse, I would have left in Nov '07. But, since the Lord wants me to stay in Austin, He didn't give me another city to request for.

A Texas Christmas Carol.

That's right..I went to a play called, "A Texas Christmas Carol." I heard this play being called, "ridiculously hilarious," "awesome,", "priceless," and even "cracked up Christmas Carol." However, this play is not a comical play. One of my friends here in Austin works as a Theater Coordinator for a museum here. (can't give TOO much info..don't want to get her into trouble) The museum was going to produce "The Christmas Carol" story, but in a black version. A lot of things occurred in the background almost the entire cast quitting to unable to find nun costumes. Yes, nun costumes. And some costumes made last minute.

Why I love Texas: Reason #451

September has been a rough month, especially for Louisiana and Texas. The Texas coast is still picking up their lives that's been blown and swept away by Ike, and still waiting for power and water. This has been my first Hurricane season here in Austin. Last Hurricane season wasn't so bad to consider it as my first. This year, though, a lot of my friends at work compared this season to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Same 2 areas threatened, but Houston this time wasn't as lucky as before. My friends were telling me stories of how the hospitals in Austin were affected during Katrina and Rita, even though they didn't experience the Hurricanes directly, but they received a lot of patients from those that did. This year, it's the same.

This is another reason why I'm lovin' Texas. A lot of us stepped up when needed most. A lot of the staff at my hospital worked extra hours, and even called in to be placed On-Call if the hospital needed extra hands. I heard many times on the radio and news Texans saying, "We need to help our fellow Texans." It was more like family than pride. Texas is the second biggest state in the US, but it's the most close knit state I've been in. Like a family bond, and its probably why people that move here from another state don't want to leave. We just want to be part of that "Texan" family.

My prayers are still going out to those still unsure of their lives post-Ike. We still have patients from Houston, Galvaston, and Louisana. Pray for them, and if you hear of any ways to help them, please do.


Reason #452 is the Smokehouse BBQ ;-D

My first Triathlon season

My first Triathlon season is now complete. It's amazing how I even got talked into it, but it has been a great incentive to get back into shape. In April, I was talking to one of my friends about my new bike, and somehow the conversation shifted directions, and I found myself saying "yes" when Anita asked me to do the Danskin Triathlon with her and Jennifer. When I searched the internet about the triathlon, I found out that it was considered a Triathlon SPRINT: 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run. I thought that I could probably do that. I may not be a runner, but 3 miles shouldn't be that bad, along with swimming and biking that I love. Yikes! I was in for a surprise.

I had 2 months to train and prepare for the Tri, so I used my gym membership more frequently, and tried to get into jogging (I hate running). I have been a strong swimmer, and I biked long distances a few times in SD (thanks to my brother Wayne..), so I thought I didn't have much training to do, just combine them to increase my endurance. What I neglected to remember at the time was that it's been QUITE a while since I've been on a bike and since I've been in a pool. My endurance did increase, but I later found out it still wasn't enough.

By the time the Triathlon came I already was able to swim 1000 meters (in a pool) and bike the 12 miles (lets not talk about the jogging). This was my first time to swim in open water. A couple things about triathlon swimming is that it's in open water (Decker Lake), and you're trying to swim around a lot of arms and legs of other swimmers. This is the biggest women triathlon sprint that Austin has, so there were A LOT of arms and legs. I started off pretty good, had a good rhythm, but ran into someone's legs and got kicked. When I slowed down to recollect myself, I got slapped by someone's arm that was swimming by. I was told that if I got tired during the swimming to just float on my back to rest before continuing on, but when I did that I got splashed on that there was no rest. What would take 20 minutes for me to swim, it took me nearly 40 minutes. The good thing was that there were plenty of volunteers in Kayaks to rest and wait until there was an open spot in the sea of people to continue on without battling others to swim. When I finally made it to land, I praised God that was over, until someone yelled, "Way to go! One leg of the race down, 2 more to go!" WHAT?! Can I just finish now?

The biking and running were not as bad, since they were both on dry land, and I could rest more often without worrying about drowning. I did pretty good with the biking, except with 2 steep hills that a lot of women actually walked their bikes up. There's one interesting hill that surprised everyone even when we were warned about it at the pre-race meeting. There's one hill that you would go downhill and pick up speed, but as you turn the corner of the trail there's an even steeper hill to bike up. You would have to change your gears to the lowest gear as possible before you get to the bottom just to take the steep hill around the corner. I didn't get to that low gear in time, so I got half way up the hill before I had to walk the rest of the way up.

Of course, its not a complete bike ride for me unless I fall off at some point. While I was biking, my seat somehow became loose. I decided to stop to fix it. [Ok, before going on I need to say this: I don't like clips on my pedals (instead of pedals, bikers clip special bike shoes into specially made pedals for more pedal control). Fearing that my shoes won't unclip off the pedals in time before I stop, I decided to use a cage and strap pedal that you can slip the toes of your shoe into.] When I was slowing down to stop, I slipped my right foot out of the strap and was going to lean to the right as I stopped (you know where this is going, don't ya.) Instead, my bike started leaning to the left, and I couldn't get my left foot out of the strap in time and I fell down on my left side (I'd say "how embarrassing", but that's me --I might as well embrace it), and I almost got ran over by another biker. Needless to say, I got my seat fixed, my abrasions cleaned up, and what pride I had left back on the bike and rode on. By the time I got back for the running portion, I was ready to walk the rest of the way. I did jog every so often, and especially at the last mile. Praise God I made it to the finish line on my feet.

After the Danskin triathlon, I was determined to finish a triathlon sprint, but swim non-stop, bike non-stop, and run non-stop. I signed up for another Tri Sprint with my friends Jocelin and Dana, and trained a lot more. My second and last Tri Sprint of the season was this past weekend. The swim distance was 500 meters (less than Danskin's), but I still remembered my last experience in open water and was getting nervous. I prayed I wouldn't choke like I did at the Danskin, and the Lord reminded me what I've always done whenever I swim: find my swim stroke rhythm and pray while working out. I went into the water with my swim wave group, and prayed how awesome He is. I had friends motivating me, but none did as great a job as the Lord did. Thank you, Jesus. I swam non-stop, and had a few arms and legs, but not as bad as the last time. I got out the water, and ran to the transition area where our bikes were racked at (1/4 mile away from the lake shore). I got my bike equipment on, and off I went. I biked 14 miles, non-stop, and then run/walk non-stop (it was hot (96 degrees)). I ran the last mile in, but felt a whole lot better in my accomplishment (especially the swimming portion). Maybe I'll do another Triathlon season next year, but let's see how in shape I am by then. Hopefully, I might have actually found the love for jogging by then.

Click here to check out my photos on Facebook.

Another Texas experience?..

Ok, about a month or so ago, I met this fabulous lady named Jen. She moved from St Louis about 3-4 months ago,and has been learning about Texas as well. One story she shared with me recently is so funny that I can't even describe it as well as she did, so below is the link to her blog site to read her adventure. Jen, thank you so much.

http://healthydoseofgrace.blogspot.com/2008/08/for-those-of-you-who-may-have-been.html

Enjoy.
Leona

Is Texas a foreign country?

It's incredible to see how much things have changed in my life. When I first moved to Texas, I could only describe it as a another country. I've lived in 3 states so far when I first got here, and I've seen how different it is. When I was first here, I was constantly reminded that I was in Texas by every billboard I drove by on the freeway, and I found myself saying, "wow, I'm in Texas. What am I doing in Texas?" I have to admit, I didn't like it at first. A lot of pride, a lot of country music, and no friends or family. I learned that the kids learn World history, US history, and Texas history. I've heard of different laws here, that I've never heard in other cities, like: if you lend your car to a teenager, and they are at fault of a fatal crash, YOU are charged of the death even if you weren't in the car. There are other things, but I can't remember them now.

But, Texas has grown on me now.

I love living here. Living in Austin, the liberal dot of Texas. I love the live music I hear especially on the weekends as I run passed a little leagues baseball field. I love the green lushest sceneries only the Hill Country of Texas can give you. Not the same as SD. I love the friends I've met here. The hospital I work at. Even the church that I'm going to, Austin Stone Community Church. My heart has changed, and I've been assimilated ..TO A POINT. I still have the salty ocean in my blood, and San Diego is always on my mind and a special part of my heart. I now have 2 homes: San Diego and Texas. (BTW, did you know there's a San Diego, TX here? Nothing like the real thing though) Of course, some things in Texas throw me for a loop, and on occasion its still a foreign country to me.

A Texas Thanksgiving

Hello, all.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Crispy atmosphere, pumpkin pies, turkeys, and football games. Since I'm new on the block here in Austin, I have to work on the holidays. However, that's not ALL bad. I enjoyed a Thanksgiving lunch with my colleagues and patients' families at the hospital, and then later went home to warm up in front of a fireplace with hot chocolate. I can't complain.

I'm thankful of so much that I can't even think where to begin!! My Family, friends, my latest career adventure as a travel nurse, ....... Too much. That's not even scratching the surface. This has been an awesome (and quick) year, and now it's time for Christmas. Wow!!

What made this a Texas Thanksgiving for me was a football game. There's this huge college rival between Univ of Texas Longhorns(here in Austin) and Texas A&M Aggies(in College Station) . Every year, day after Thanksgiving, they have their game, and this year it was in College Station. One of my friends at church invited me to come with her to watch the game live. It was interesting, educational, and entertaining. Interesting words for a football, huh? It was a great game to watch, but I was intrigued with A&M's ....um.....traditions. A&M has A LOT of traditions, but what made it entertaining were their "Yell Leaders". That's right. They don't have cheerleaders, they have "Yell Leaders" that look like they time traveled from the 1940's. Letterman cardigans, white pants, and crew cuts. During the game they have these hand signals that the students obviously know, and the whole maroon crowd (Aggies) would yell what consisted of vowels "AAAAAAA" "OOOOOOO" "UUUUU" with each hand signal. I guess you have to be an Aggie to understand, because I still don't. I also found out the Aggies means farmers (Agriculture). This is a farming university. I saw some students wearing overalls painted with maroon and white, and then it finally dawned on me. "AAHH. Farmers. Farming college." Took a while for me to get it.

UT lost, but I came away from the game learning a lot more about Aggies (A&M). It's one thing hearing about it, but another to actually see it. I hope this has been entertaining for you though confusing, as it has for me.


Happy Thanksgiving, all!!!
Leona

Pictures of the UT/A&M game

Labor Day fun

Yet another late blog. Let's celebrate Labor Day again.


Happy Labor Day!! (though it's a couple days later)


I got a chance to celebrate a holiday. WooHoo!! One of my friends owns a boat and invited us to celebrate Labor Day with him and his friend Travis. It was fun. Since it was overcast, not that many boats were on the lake. But, I doubt that would matter much or not. Lake Travis is HUGE. We were driving across the lake for an hour, and we have yet to see half of it. We finally stopped, and swam a bit before being pulled on an inner tube.

Lesson 1: do not go any faster than 20 mph when pulling someone on an inner tube. We didn't know that until AFTER the fact. Travis was no typical boat driver. He went 40 mph like everyone else, but decided to do figure 8's, zigzags, and loops with me. So, I was holding on tight. The smile is pasted on (or actually frozen on) my face when the picture was taken. I could feel the water touching my feet, and it wasn't soft while he was going fast with me.

Afterwards, they took us to a restaurant located on the edge of the lake. We drove the boat up to the restaurant's dock, parked, and walked in. A few of restaurants and coffee shops like that here. Pretty cool.

No other new updates in my life. I hope everyone had an awesome Labor Day, not laboring.


Love ya and missing everyone. Click to see Labor Day Pics.

Leona