10 Things I Have a Weakness For...

1. Back rubs
2. Happy, giggling babies
3. Correctly-made Long Island Iced Teas (pre-pregnancy, of course)
4. The smell of the ocean and the feeling of sand between my toes
5. UT football...college football in general
6. Hard-covered books
7. Chips & queso (or chips & salsa)
8. Real icing on a cake
9. Going down to 6th Street and hearing a great band play live
10. Fiercely intelligent people with a slightly wicked sense of humor

Maid Time = Meme Time

While my twice-a-month housekeeper is here working her magic, I am stuck in my home office and have no other choice by to kill time with another self-absorbed meme.

What's your favorite comfort food?
Anything involving a potato...chips, mashed potatoes, potato soup, fries, potatoes au gratin, you name it. I can avoid the sweets, but love the carbs.

Do you snore? What about your bed-mate? What's your remedy to get them to stop snoring?
Before I was pregnant I never snored. Since becoming pregnant, Hubby says I sound like an old man. Hubby snores only if he rolls onto his back in the night. I usually push his arm and say, "Roll over." That does the trick and he stops.

Have you ever sent or received a piece of fan mail?
The only time I can remember sending anything that may be classified as fan mail was actually pretty recently. Jeff Bagwell, a long-time Houston Astros baseball player, announced his retirement a few months ago. I had met him a decade ago through my dad (who worked in professional baseball his entire life). So I just wrote him a letter congratulating him on such a long, successful career and wishing him all the best in the future. He wrote me back a nice letter thanking me for my kind words and expressing his sadness over my dad's death (he wasn't aware of it). As for me, I have received some nice thank you letters from clients over the years. I suppose that's considered fan mail.

If you could describe January 2007 so far in two words, what would they be?
Cold. Boring.

Do you write a diary as well as blogging? Have you ever been a diary writer?
No, I just have this blog. I have never been a diary writer...although I did have one in the 6th grade. It's funny to look at now and makes me wish I had been a diary writer through high school.

What is the least-deserved praise that you've ever been given?
I've always gotten a lot of compliments on my eyes, especially my eye color. Back in the day, as a joke, a friend and I put on some seriously whored-up eye make-up and had a photographer friend shoot some photos of my eyes. Without my knowledge, he submitted them to a "Best Eyes in Texas" contest. Amazingly, I came in second place and I used the money to pay for a semester of college. Anyway, I always thought compliments on my eyes were meaningless because that's just a genetic thing. I had nothing to do with it. It's not something I worked for.

What is the most meaningful compliment that you've ever gotten?
Anything involving my intelligence, work ethic or generosity.

When did you love the most?
I would say right now. My love for my husband has grown and evolved during this pregnancy. I feel I am in a big transformation period right now. For the first time in my life, I love something more than myself...I love my babies. I can only imagine how all-encompassing it will become once they are born.

Are you more likely to yell or give the silent treatment?
Yell. The silent treatment is more like punishing myself.

What are you five most visited stores?
H.E.B. (grocery store), Target, Babies R Us, Half Price Books (I love all bookstores), & Office Max

Is there any store you absolutely hate going to?
I hate grocery shopping and I don't like Wal-Mart. It's always a busy zoo there.

Do you prefer to shop in person or online?
In person. I need the instant gratification and I don't like waiting for packages to arrive.

When was the last time you went on a date?
May 16, 2001...that was my first date with future hubby. It was all over with after that.

Do you think the child you were would like the adult you've become?
In some ways yes, and in some ways no. I was a very idealistic, passionate teenager. I wanted to be a ball-busting, take-no-prisoners journalist. I got my degree in journalism and worked as a reporter for a few years...and hated it. Then I got into real estate primarily for the money. I think the child I was would consider that selling-out. But overall my life, my lifestyle, my pre-pregnant career, my husband, my soon-to-be family are all wonderful and better than I could have imagined as a child.

Meme Time: Question of the Day

How many islands have you been on in your life? Name them.

1. Manhattan, NY
2. Long Island, NY
3. Galveston, TX
4. South Padre, TX
5. Grand Cayman
6. Cozumel, Mexico
7. Jamaica

Hmm, I know I must be forgetting some.

Ten on Tuesday: TV Guilty Pleasures

1. The Girls Next Door (E!)
2. Ace of Cakes (Food Network)
3. Big Brother (CBS)
4. Project Runway (Bravo)
5. Inside the Actor's Studio (Bravo)
6. Semi-Homemade Cooking (Food Network)
7. Dog the Bounty Hunter (A&E)
8. Anything on The History Channel
9. Roseanne (reruns on Nick @ Nite)
10. All of the house flipping/real estate shows (Designed to Sell, Flip That House, Property Ladder, etc).

11 Things People Do That Annoy You

I am trapped in my home office while my maid does her magic, so it's meme time!

1. People who don't send Thank You notes.
2. People who are chronically late.
3. People who don't know how to merge onto the highway from the entrance ramp.
4. People who talk on their cell phones while you are sitting in a restaurant or in the car with them. This especially applies if they don't tell the caller they are busy and will call them back -- i.e., if they actually have a damn conversation with the caller as you just sit there.
5. People who don't return their emails or voicemails.
6. People who just generally don't keep their word. If you say you're going do to something -- and especially if others are depending on you to do it -- then you better do it.
7. People who make racist, sexist, anti-Semitic or homophobic remarks.
8. Drivers who don't give a little thank you wave when you go out of your way to let them in. This may be just a Southern thing.
9. People who are just excuse-makers; no sense of personal accountability; cannot admit fault; who always assumes the victim role.
10. People who are having a conversation with who ever is in the room with them while you are on the phone with them.
11. People who let their kids run wild and free at the store.

Yet another Meme!

Okay, clearly I have problem because I can't seem to walk away from anything that isn't a quiz or meme. I know it's getting boring and tiresome for anyone who actually reads this blog.

In 2007...

Will you be looking for a new job?
I don't think so. It's more like I will be restarting my real estate career later in the year. It all depends on how my twins are doing, but I definitely miss working.

Will you be looking for a new relationship?
No, I am very happy in my marriage right now. It hasn't always been like that, and I feel like I finally am where I want to be.

New house?
I hope so. We are going to start looking this summer. We need a bigger house thanks to the twins. For the first time, we are having to think about stuff like schools, parks, safe neighborhoods, etc.

What will you do differently in 2007?
I have a feeling that becoming a parent for the first time will force me to do almost everything differently. I hope to have more patience.

New Year's resolutions?
Yes, and I've already posted them.

What will you not be doing in 2007?
Putting myself first. Probably won't be going out much either.

Any trips planned?
The only thing we seem to know for sure is that we will be going out to Vegas for a friend's wedding this fall. I am also hoping to take the twins to our favorite Galveston cabin late in the summer. I love going there and I want to introduce the babies to ocean as soon as possible. Of course, this may not be happening since they will still be so young.

Wedding plans?
Not for me! I know one of my close friends will be getting married and possibly another one will too. I am looking forward to just be a guest!

Major thing on your calendar?
March 1st...that's my goal on holding in my twins. That marks 36 weeks.

What can't you wait for?
March 1st...and the birth of my twins. I am also looking forward to next Christmas.

What would you like to see happen differently?
Less friend drama

What about yourself will be changing?
Everything...the challenge will be keeping some part of myself from not changing.

What happened in 2006 that you didn't think would ever happen?
Getting pregant. Getting pregnant with twins!

Will you dress differently this year than you did in 2006?
Yes, I will be out of maternity clothes!

Will you do charity work?
I wish I could, but the truthful answer is that I won't have time.

Do you expect 2007 to be a good year for you?
Yes...one of the best.

How much did you change from this time last year until now?
A lot. I wasn't very happy this time last year for a huge range of reasons. It's like the difference between night and day now.

Do you plan on having a child?
Yes! Two of them.

Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now?
I hope so, but some of them are going to have to step up to the plate more in the near future. I hope to make more friends that are in the same boat I am in currently...new mother, mother of twins. I am still the only chick in my circle of friends that is married. I feel like Miranda sometimes!

Major lifestyle changes?
Yes...the biggest...parenthood

Will you be moving?
God, I hope so!

What will you make sure doesn't happen in 2007 that happened in 2006?
Getting pregnant...we are done with that.

Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?
Yes, but my someone was sleeping!

One wish for 2007?
Healthy babies, Healthy me

Giant End-of-the-Year Meme

What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?

Visited Washington DC and South Padre Island…both places I haven’t been before. Got pregnant. Skinny-dipped…thanks to having my own pool; highly recommended. Gave some work-related speeches…which was a big deal since I am deathly afraid of public speaking.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I kept one of my resolutions from 2006 -- to travel more. Yes, I am making more for 2007.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin Julie had twins. My step-brother and his wife had their second baby.

Did anyone close to you die?
Yes…Granny

What countries did you visit?
Various parts of the U.S.

What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Bigger house (our family is doubling in size!). Bigger car (our family is doubling in size!). Babies. An assistant to get more work cranked out (later in the year). More patience.

What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 30 – Granny’s death. Memorial Week – Washington DC trip with Amanda. August 1 – Found out I’m pregnant. August 29 – Find out about the twins.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting knocked up naturally (I know ya’ll are sick of all the twin talk!). Wonderful marriage. Keeping my diabetes in check (for the most part). Stayed sane.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thankfully

What was the best thing you bought?
Car. Hubby’s new golf clubs (something he really wanted and was surprised by). New furniture.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Hubby. The Dems for somewhat getting it together.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Bush’s veto of the Stem Cell Bill. Young Hollywood’s trend in flashing their yoo-hoos in public.

Where did most of your money go?
House. Car. My business. Babies.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finding out I was pregnant (after 3+ years of trying). Finding out we were having twins. Finding out it was boy/girl twins. Feeling baby movement for the first time.

What song will always remind you of 2006?
Hmm…probably “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake. That song was in the background when I found out I was pregnant, so it’s burned into my memory.

Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
(a) Happier; (b) Fatter, but with a good excuse; (c) Richer.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Relaxing. Scuba/Snorkeling/Swimming in the ocean. Dancing. Traveling. Drinking (I have been wanting a good Long Island Iced Tea lately. Had I known I would be getting pregnant this year, I would have definitely thrown more back!)

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. Beating myself up for nearly everything I'm doing/not doing/not doing fast enough. Getting muddled down in other’s drama/toxicity.

How will you be spending Christmas?
We spent Christmas all alone this year and it was horrible. I wasn’t able to travel to be with family.

Did you fall in love in 2006?
This is totally sappy, but I think I re-fell in love with Hubby. Shhhh. Let's maintain the illusion that I'm all tough 'n shit. :)

What was your favorite TV program?
CSI, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Sopranos and a ton of TBS and Nick @ Nite re-runs

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
"Hate" is pretty strong. I'm much more annoyed by Paris Hilton, if that counts. And there are people I'm certainly more annoyed by. My strong dislike for Donald Trump has definitely grown in recent weeks.

What was the best book you read?
I think the most helpful book I read this year was “Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy.” I pull that book out at least once a week. I have been saving up all of other books to read in January and February when I am stuck in bed.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
As we speak, I am rediscovering the greatness of James Brown. I’ve also become a big fan of reggae and Latin hip-hop/rap…strange, I know. My musical tastes tend to run in cycles. My musical highlight of 2006 was seeing Aerosmith play "Dream On" live in concert (in January in Dallas). It's was awesome!

What did you want and get?
A house with a pool. A new car. A new computer. A satisfying marriage. Pregnancy.

What did you want and not get?
New house slippers…stupid, I know. I wish we could have gone to Europe this year. With the twins coming, big trips like that will be years and years away now.

What was your favorite film of this year?
As I get older I have really become anti-movie. The one movie that I will always remember this year (and NOT because it was a piece of brilliant film-making) is “You, Me and Dupree” because we saw that movie on the date night in which we conceived the twins. I can’t believe I got knocked up after watching an Owen Wilson flick…how sad, and funny! I will have to live with that shame forever.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29, and I honestly don’t remember what I did for my birthday. Oh, wait, yes I do remember…I was moving in our new Austin house. Needless to say, moving is one of the worst things to do on a birthday. We were too tired and sore to even go out to dinner.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to call my dad and Granny to give them womb updates. Not having to stick a needled into my tummy four times a day (insulin injections).

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Uh, yeah, not my best fashion year. It was all about what was most comfortable and, more importantly, what fit.

What kept you sane?
Hubby. Mom. Music. Writing. My dogs. Good friends. New outlook on life. Going on drives (alone) out in the country with the windows down, music turned up, and clearing my mind.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have never been one to fancy celebrities.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Stem Cell Research; Iraq War

Who did you miss?
My dad and my Granny…everyday. I've also been missing one of my old college roommates (Tom). He dropped off the planet about 6 years ago and I can't track him down.

Who was the best new person you met?
I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one person. MySpace, in all it’s silliness, has re-introduced me to some folks from my past that I am glad I know once again.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
(a) Life works in cycles…times of extreme sadness are usually followed by times of joy; (b) Sometimes big mistakes offer moments of needed clarity

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Most things I worry about never happen anyway." – Crawling Back to You by Tom Petty

Resolutions for 2007

Alright, this is seriously the last meme of the day, and then I really will get to doing what I need to be doing. On a side note, I hate it when people say that their resolution for the New Year is to not making any resolutions. It's all about goal setting! When you actually have a written list of small goals you would like to accomplish in the near future, it seems to be easier to stay on task and when you mark something off, there is a much greater sense of accomplishment.

1. Take my bed rest confinement seriously. Know that it's to help my babies stay inside the oven for as long as possible and it's only temporary.
2. Handle the birth of my twins like a champ! Conquer my fears in this department and try to enjoy the miracle of the whole event.
3. Allow others to help me...i.e., stop being such a control freak and accept the help I will so desperately need when it's offered to me.
4. Be the best mother I can be. Hopefully gain some patience and selflessness, and just give everything I can to these two lives that will depend on me for everything. Enjoy motherhood!
5. Schedule some private time for myself and Hubby.
6. Get back in shape! Lose the baby weight and then some. This will also greatly help my diabetes. I want off of the insulin and back to just taking one pill a day.
7. Gradually start working again from home later in the year.
8. Go to Vegas in November for my good friend's wedding. This will probably be the first little post-twins trip Hubby and I make. We are already looking forward to it!
9. Stay connected to my network of friends.
10. Buy new house this summer.

10 Things I Want for Christmas

You should be able to tell how utterly bored I am when I just sit around and fill out meme after meme...

1. New House Slippers. I know it's not a sexy request, but I love the ones I have had since last Christmas and it's time for some new ones. Plus, it would be good to have in the hospital when the twins decide to make their debut.
2. Fudge. As a diabetic, I literally fantasize about this. I just want one single piece of homemade fudge to melt in my mouth. Just one!
3. High-Quality, Professional Camera. I have a pretty good digital camera, but I want something fancy. When I was in high school and college, I was really into photography (I pretty much had to be since I was majoring in journalism and often had to shoot my own stories.), but I haven't had a good camera to do such work anymore. Hubby also loves photography, so I think he will be all for getting a new camera.
4. Books. I love books and always have. I need some new books to occupy my time while I am on the 2-months of bed rest. It might be the last time in my life I actually have the leisure time to just read.
5. Bigger Car. We bought a new car -- a Nissan Altima -- back in May. That was 3-months before we knew we were going from a family of two to a family of four (plus two dogs). We seriously need some kind of SUV-type monster to haul our new crew around in.
6. Bigger House. Car? House? I know this is asking an awful lot for Christmas, but we really do need a bigger house. We had outgrown our place before we knew we had twins coming. Now it's almost mandatory. We will probably start looking this summer once the twins are a bit older.
7. Bling. I joke with Hubby that I have earned some diamonds out of this twin pregnancy adventure. This obviously isn't something I need in any way, but it will interesting to see if he's listening. He has never been a jewelry-giving type of husband.
8. Massively Huge Sweater(s). We are experiencing a pretty chilly winter for Austin, and it's damn near impossible to find over-sized warm sweaters that will fit over my big belly. Maternity clothes just aren't cutting it anymore, and the maternity stores down in the South rarely carry any warm clothes.
9. Good Vacuum Cleaner. I swear I go through a crappy one a year...thanks to having two shedding dogs. I need to just buy a high-quality one that will last forever.
10. Flannel Sheets. I just love them.

10 Things I Love About the Holidays

1. Seeing family
2. Watching the young members of my family get excited about the magic of Santa and opening their gifts.
3. The smells -- cinnamon, cider, Christmas trees, peppermint, fireplaces burning throughout the neighborhood, etc.
4. Sending and receiving Christmas cards. It's the only time of the year when you get more personal mail than junk mail or bills.
5. The food! It's like Thanksgiving but with more sweets.
6. Seeing all the holiday lights on houses in the neighborhood.
7. Decorating the house and tree. We decided not to decorate this year (too much work), but next Christmas we will go all out. The twins will be about 7-8 months old then and there will be a lot of excitement watching them experience their first Christmas!
8. Gift wrapping. In my family it's almost a competitive sport. We don't half-ass the presentation!
9. When I was a kid, I used to love going to Midnight Mass with my family. The church was always decorated beautifully, everyone was dressed in their new Christmas dresses, and I loved hearing the Christmas songs.
10. Baking my family's famous pecan pies for hubby's co-workers. Damn, that reminds me...I need to do that tomorrow!

10 Best Things That Happened to Me This Year

In no particular order...

1. Finally got pregnant...by accident, no less!
2. Moved to Austin and out of blue-haired, conservative Georgetown
3. Visited Washington, D.C.
4. Got a new car
5. Found out I was having boy/girl twins
6. Re-connected with some long lost friends
7. Happy, stable marriage
8. Finally had my own private backyard pool for nightly summertime swims
9. Dems took back control of Congress. (Not sure if that qualifies as something that happened to me, but it still brought me a lot of joy!)
10. Maintained good health for myself and my babies

Guilty Pleasures

Stuff I’m suppose to like, but don’t...
Beer; Reading fiction; Coffee; Shopping; Raw onions and tomatoes; Carnations; High heels; the Bible; Lakes; Religion; Cell phones; going to the movies; Cooking; Wine; French kissing; Pedicures (I have ticklish feet so it’s like a monthly torture session); Photos of myself; Cigars; Cookies; Jazz; Stephen King novels; horror movies; Hair accessories; Wearing watches; Feng shui; Reality TV; Singing; Large groups of people; Watermelon; Hard candy

Stuff I like, but I’m not suppose to...
Watching re-runs on Nick @ Nite; Politics; Popcorn dipped in Ranch dressing; Cigarettes; music from the early 90s; Jack-in-the-Box tacos; the History channel; Reading non-fiction; handwriting letters to people; Road trips; Driving a stick; Going to the doctor; Flannel pillowcases (even in the summer); Canned potato soup; Celebrity gossip; John Cougar Melloncamp (especially “Hurt So Good”); Cleaning the kitchen; Occasional fighting; Nutter Butters; Tuna Helpers; Using the “C” word; Fog

I'm the Flanders Mare!

I don't know about the rest of you, dear readers, but I get slammed with several pointless, silly quizzes everyday online. Today, I was finally sent something that was a bit more high-brow.

Which wife of Henry VIII are you?

I admit to being a bit of an English/Royalty/Tudor history nerd, so I enjoyed it. I was disappointed that I wasn't Anne Boleyn (Elizabeth I's mom). Oh well, at least I am a wife that kept her head! Here are my results:

I AM ANNA OF CLEVES:

Sensible, comfort loving and practical. Not afraid to wear ugly shoes on a date.

Anna of Cleves got the royal shaft. She came all the way to England to become the fourth wife of Henry VIII. Once married to Anna, he refused to consummate the marriage, and called her the "Flanders Mare." Talk about a burn, considering that by this time, Henry was the fattest man in England and had a rotting syphilis sore on his leg.

Anna was miffed, but she was too sensible to let it ruin her fun. She was given an annulment and a fat yearly allowance, and she threw extravagant parties and dined on delicacies for the rest of her life.

Things I Need to Knock Out

A few nights ago I was browsing around the blog world, and came across this To-Do-List blog. One of the lists on there was “What I Want to Do with my Life,” and it reminded me that it has been entirely too long since I have re-evaluated those things in my own life. So, here is a small part of my lengthy list – some are long-term items, most are things I can and should do now:

* Travel through Europe -- especially Italy

* Set-up a baseball scholarship in dad's name

* See a game at Wrigley Field

* Conquer my fear of public speaking

* See the Texas-OU football game in person

* Stop smoking for good [This will be happening on May 31st]

* Get pregnant & raise a family

* Establish a more regular exercise routine that I won't burn out on

* Pay off hubby's student loan

* Make more time for volunteer work at Austin's Safe Place & Women's Shelter

* Polish-up on my Spanish & become fluent

* Learn to let things I can't control roll off my back more easily (i.e., not letting stupid people piss me off so badly)

* Cook more at home

* Have my business be 100% based on referrals & repeat clients. In the mean time, create a marketing campaign I actually like.

* Get more active in the local political scene

* See Dave Matthews Band in concert [This August!]

* Go diving at least once a year

* Read the newspaper every day instead of just Sundays

* Host more dinner parties & entertain more at home

* Take the long talked about trip to London with my mom

* Open my own brokerage