Happy 84th Birthday Mary Esther Niño

Today is my MIL's 84th birthday. She lives in Friendswood (Houston) with Danny's brother and his family. I had the idea about 2 weeks ago to drive on Sat and surprise her! Veronica and Chris thought that would be great. So, we left yesterday around noon and traveled to their home. Marisa and Daniel were so excited to see us at the door..they didn't know either. Mom was in her room with the door closed and after we knocked and she said come in....Paul went running into her room and over to where she was sitting with a big smile and a big HI!!! She was VERY surprised and even cried a little. We all went to 5pm mass then back to the house for an awesome dinner..steak, salad, potato and all the trimmings. Oh and wine and cake and spinach dip! Veronica's parents came and her brother and his family. They are live in the area.

I played Wii Sports and had fun with the kids..as usual. They think I am silly and fun to be around. I don't disagree! Paul was laughing hysterically every time I knocked down all the bowling pins. Tennis is fun..but a real workout!!! I knocked a few home runs too. I don't think the kids really know how much of a sports fan I am and that I am decent!! Although Daniel remembers my trip there in July---I was the soccer stud of the day!

We got Mary Esther a GINOBILI SPURS Jersey--she loved it and put it on right away. She loves her SPURS, but living in Houston..she doesn't get to see them too often. Here she is....gotta love #20!!!

We got up this morning and all went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast--yummy! Here is a group picture of the family. Little Daniel is almost 7 and blinked..but this is still the best one! Chris is Danny's older brother and his wife Veronica. Marisa is 11 and a girlie girl! Mom, Me, Paul and My Danny. We got back home today around 3:30. Thank you to the Zimmerman's for keeping Miss Oreo while we were away. It saved us $50! We owe you T, T, Z and M!!

I am going to study tonight b/c I plan to take my practice exam tomorrow at work..for my insurance license. If I do ok, I will take the real exam on Friday! Pray for me please. I need to pass and get this over with..so I can start making money.

It is HOT here today....something like 85! I am not in the mood for this weather. Give me 65 and sun please!

Have a joy filled and productive week friends!

Tuesday

First--the answer to the trivia question from yesterday. Seventeen Presidents have occupied the Oval Office. William Howard Taft was the first one to walk into the Oval Office in 1909.

I picked up Paul around 5:15. He had a good day until about 4pm. Apparently he didn't nap today..kinda strange..so on the playground he got mad at a little boy and bit him on the back. UGH! As we left his classroom I cried. Ms. Susan called me later to say..no worries. That was nice of her to call and comfort me.

Paul and I ate dinner together and watched Dora and some Barney. We also played with his train set and played fetch with Miss Oreo. He is now in bed. Praise God! My Mom and Wayne sent him a $10 giftcard in his Valentine card..I purchased 2 Dr. Suess books at Target. He LOVES the one titled: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish We read it tonight and 3 other books..then off to sleep. I am WIPED OUT! I am going to study for about an hour and then go to bed. I only got about 5 hours of sleep last night. I need 8!!!!

I leave you with this tonight......
John 13:34-35 says, "I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other."

The Men of the Oval Office

Many of you know that I taught US History, World History and US Government to high school teens..loved it!! So, here is some President's Day trivia for you......how many of the 42 U.S. President's have occupied the Oval Office? Answer to be displayed tomorrow...
Some of my favorite President's..for reasons I won't bore you with....George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Abe Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, FDR, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan.

We kept Paul home from school today so we could be around him. Danny decided to take him to the zoo this morning around 10. Paul tried popcorn for the first time and loved it! I was busy making calls, laundry, dusting and filling out some paperwork for my new job.

While Paul was napping, I went for a 40 minute walk. Strutting along as I listened to my IPOD and enjoying the nice sunny weather--I wondered--how will I fit in exercise with this new job?!

I am headed to church shortly for our Parish Mission. It is this week and tonight Father Bruce is speaking to us about The Crib - where God inserts Himself into our lives. Father Bruce is a young Redemptorist from Philadelphia. Also a nice time to see all my ACTS Brothers and Sisters!

Here is my little Oval Office Man-taken today while hanging out with Mommy and Daddy!

New Job, GNO,Valentine's Day and Food-OH MY

It' s been a super busy week. I started my new job on Wednesday. The people at my new job couldn't be nicer and more excited to have me on board. Especially the 3 gals who are my support staff in the Personal Lines Department...Jacki, Nicole and Linda. Fabulous women who are filled with TEAM SPIRIT---GO TEAM!!! The alarm went off at 6:30. I left the house at 7:30 and arrived at work at 8am. It's only 11 miles, but the traffic that time is not so pretty. I of course wore 3 inch heels and the balls of my feet were SCREAMING and BURNING by lunch time. My poor 'ol feet need some time to adjust to this again. My friend Lori also said to purchase a pair or two of cushion inserts for the heels...they really do help she says!

Danny was surprised that I was game for going out for GNO. Damn straight I was....I had a good day and was full of team spirit and enthusiasm. How could I waste all that energy being at home?! :-) We went to a place that opened in Nov in Alamo Heights called Merchants Grand Cafe. I arrived first at 7pm. I sat at the bar and ordered wine. Shortly after, a couple came in and sat next to me at the bar. They looked familar to me. I started talking to them about college basketball. Duke was on the TV playing Maryland...I was cheering for Duke. This was good b/c the man gradiated from Duke. I told him I was a KU grad and off our conversation went. Introductions came and I said, "yes, I know you both!" Alison and Derrick Fox. Alison is the VP of Community Relations for the SPURS and the Exec Dir for the Spurs Foundation. Derrick is the CEO of the Valero Alamo Bowl. They both do phenominial at their jobs which rally help our community! It was their anniversary and their 2 boys..ages 12 and 11...were at a boy scout meeting so they were slamming down wine and eating some pizzza. (their words exactly)
Then all the girls started arriving and we eventually sat down for dinner and laughs! Tina, Michelle, Judy, Maile, Courtney, Adrienne and myself were all in attendance. GREAT food and awesome fellowship. A really FUN time indeed!

I also ran into Kate Crosby who I had worked with at Frost Bank. She is still there and this restaurant is owned by her sister and brother in law. They were there celebrating a birthday. Small world!! Well truth be told...SA is a small town..with 1.4 million people...but I am always running into people I know. Maybe it's b/c I am in sales, been involved in numerous charitable events and will talk to anyone or anything. Shoot, I could probably make friends with a post or bar stool! Does anyone agree with that statement about me?! Then a pit stop at HEB (at 11pm) and then on home to get some sleep.

I need to come back to this post and write about Sweetheart's Day and today. It's 8:30 and I need to rest and have a chocolate covered strawberry!

I'll continue starting with Valentine's Day. Got to work and had all kind of sweets on my desk. Danny called and wanted to have lunch with me. He picked me up and we went to Tai Pei for a nice lunch and conversation. Met Danny and Paul at home around 5 and off we went to Trilogy to have a yummy dinner. Our friend from church had given us a $50 gift card and we were using it that night. Paul LOVES their pizza! I had wine, we had an appetizer and nice meals. Paul was funny and behaved very nicely. We didn't take our time b/c I was so tired and only wanted to get home and relax. For the past 10 years Danny has gotten me chocolate covered strawberries from Central Market. I love them and they are dressed up in cute little tuxedos! I usually eat all but one -- that one is for my sweet brown boy...Danny!

Friday was a good day. Studied for my license exam and continued to meet great people at work. A group of us went to Chester's for a bday lunch. Since I am Catholic and it was Friday--no burger for me. I had a grilled cheese and fries! Jacki drove her suburban. Three of us in the WAY back...3 in the middle, and 2 up front. It was almost like riding on a roller coaster on the way there....let me explain. Connie, Nicole and myself were in the WAY back...third seat. And see..it wasn't locked and when Jacki did something....our seat went up and back and we all thought we were headed out the rear end of the vehicle. I think we all screamed. Thanks Jacki..my third day on the job and she already wants to be rid of me! :-)

Finally, around 4pm, my friend Lori invited me to go with her to Carrabba's. She was seeing an old friend of ours from Frost. He now works for Plains Capital Bank and will be a great referral source for us. I was so tired...but I went. And voila...he wants me to call him Tuesday and he will give me his Traveler's policy numbers and I can take them over with a simple signature on what we call a Change of Agent form. It will be a nice acccount and he will be able to refer me some good prospects. I got home around 7 and was pooped. I was glad I went..and Lori paid for my drink!

Today was chores and a trip to Fatso's Sports Bar to watch KU beat up on Colorado. We won by something like 30 points!!! Danny is out with his cousin Roddy and I am headed to watch some tv. Tomorrow we are going to the KLRN champagne brunch at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort...sitting at the SWBC table. And then tomorrow night, we ahve our monthly Teams of Our Lady meeting over at Vicki and George's home. Whew...thank goodness Monday is a holiday!

Father-Daughter Ball

Here is my brother, Tom, and my pretty little niece Lauren. They attended the Father-Daughter Ball at her school Friday night. Lauren is in first grade and loves to get dressed up. She is silly..like her Aunt Susan and Cousin Paul! They live in Littleton, CO.

Danny has Walking Pneumonia

It has been a long and difficult week. Danny started getting sick over a week ago and on Sunday, Feb 3 visited the Texas Med Clinic and was diagnosed with the flu. Ordered to stay in bed for a few days. He only got worse during the week and so he finally went to see our doctor who said he now had a severe ear infection AND walking pneumonia. More bed rest and more meds. I think we have spent over $400 on Danny's medical issues the past 12 days with dr visits and medications. Yes, ALL out of pocket. UGH! A real scary moment was this past Thursday night when Danny had a temp of 104 and the shakes and chills. That high of a temp is not good! And since he has been sick for more than 10 days--no help with Paul or around the house. I am worn out. Not exactly how I wished to start my new job--which begins this Wednesday.

I took Miss Oreo to the vet Friday morning for her annual checkup and shots. She was a trooper. The vet tech and dr oooed and ahhed over her. She is a sweet and cute dog. Her weight is perfect...29.8lbs and she is healthy. The only thing was her left ear had a bunch of brown and black wax and guck. Dr. Antosh cleaned it out and suggested we might have to clean her ears once a week. No biggie--I can do that!

I took Master Paul to the zoo this morning. We had a fun time walking around and visiting all of our animals. It started getting pretty crowded as we headed out. That is why I love to go around 9 and leave at 11am.

I still feel a litlte punk. I cannot shake this congestion and tiredness. Paul just woke from his long nap. I need to run 2 errands. Danny is feeling a little better...well enough to get out of bed and watch the SPURS play this afternoon. Although--they lost. :-(

From 1 Corinthians 13, "Love....does not seek its own advantage....."
Teach your heart to swim in the ocean of love. Do not take yourself too seriously! His Will includes our happiness here and now. Surrender to Him, and ask Him to teach you how to love and be joyful. AMEN

A Little of This...A Little of That

Busy week in the Niño home. Sick people, movies, getting jobs, chores, being sick, college basketball games, being sick, visiting drs....

GNO this week was Courtney, Tina and myself. Camino Ranch Cafe and then a movie. We saw Atonement and I liked it...not exactly a girly movie for GNO----maybe better for another night..but nonetheless, a good flick. And I went to see Juno this afternoon. Loved this movie!

Texas won this weekend as did my Kansas Jayhawks. However, KU lost to KSTATE on Wed night and about crushed me. No worries, we are 21-1 and ranked #2 in the country.

Danny has been very sick since Thursday. I tried to get him to visit the TX Med Clinic yesterday..you know how men are when they are sick...STUBBORN!!! BUT--he is even worse today, so he is now at the Med Clinic and I won't be surprised to learn he has the flu! Paul is getting breathing treatments and another round of antibiotics for his ear infection. He is doing much better this afternoon and will go to school tomorrow. I kept him home last Monday and again on Friday.