It's that time again

Lent is upon us. According to the Catholic church, starting tomorrow I must give something up for the next 40 days in an effort to experience sacrifice as Jesus Christ did for us on the cross and to repent for the sins that led to that...hmmmmm.... Although I kind of think this is a hokey event some historical Catholic created only to impose suffering on worshippers (seeing that the religion is infamous for administering the feelings of guilt and unworthiness), I thought I would instead use it as a platform to test my will for one of my many weaknesses. Weakness for good food, weakness for whiskey, weakness for excessive spending on kitchen gadgetry, weakness for speaking horribly about people who (in all due respect) are just ASKING for me to comment on their lack of fashion basics, weakness for tanned, European men who yacht all day in the French Mediterranean.... Ok, strike that last one.

I can already feel my mother hurling her rosary at me and see all my fair-weather Catholic friends shaking their heads for speaking so poorly of Lent, but I just can't believe that the church equates me giving up using four-letter words for six weeks as "giving me an understanding" of how Christ suffered for us - JEEZ, the man was nailed to a cross in the burning sun with open wounds from being whipped all day! Somehow, I really don't see how that evens out, but oh well...you say tom-AY-to, I say tom-AH-to...

Also, if I consider that my denying myself something as repentance for the sins of those before me who put Jesus on that cross, wouldn't that be reciprocating the age-old oppression excuse? People shouldn't be rewarded for the pain their forefathers experienced nor should we be punished for their evil deeds. Punishment for our own individual acts are fair game though, don't you agree?

Can you believe what I found a particular website to say?!?!? Get this- "...indulging in the pleasure of eating to physical flabbiness and, if this is great enough, an inability to perform in physically demanding situations , indulging in pleasure in general leads to spiritual flabbiness and, if this is great enough, an inability to perform in spiritual demanding situations..." (http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/lent.htm) I'm mesmerized at people's interpretations! "Spiritual flabbiness", that's a new one... You would think with my mother's devout Catholic upbringing, and my family's obsession in believing I've gained 20lbs everytime I see them, that I would've heard of "spiritual flabbiness" by now.

Seriously though, what do I give up in my quest to withhold myself a guilty pleasure? Or should I do the modern-day-Catholic thing and inversely NOT give up something, but instead promise to try to do more of something like working out 3 times a week on a regular basis, feed the homeless, spend more time with my family, etc? Suggestions?

Wanted: Glass of pinot, a hug, and a good night's sleep

I wish I could go into detail more about what has turned my week so sour...and it's only Monday for Pete's sake! All I can say is that a lot of changes are in the cards for me and for a lot of people who I know and love. The cliche that "all things happen for a reason" is the LAST thing I want to hear from people this week. So be forewarned that utilizing this has-been phrase will probably result in the biting off of your head, the death stare that would give that Italian pairs ice-skating chick a run for her money when her partner dropped her during the Olympics, or simply me breaking down in an emotional blubbering mess. Never have I wanted to have Tourettes Syndrome so that I can blurt out a slew obscenities to unsuspecting passersby in order take my frustrations out on them and not on people who I happen to know. Although I sometimes do that when I've had a bit too much whiskey, I feel like I might feel less overwhelmed if I could just do that while I'm sober for the next couple of days. Healthy? Probably not, but it would be better than either (1) internalizing my being upset and (2) taking it out on the likes of my friends and family. Don't you think?

I'm sure I'll eventually post why I'm so hurt and upset, but I need time to let it fester and make me even crazier first...you know, the most common thing to do...

Congrats to the new Mr & Mrs

So another one bites the dust...kidding. Nathan and Susan made it official this past Saturday at lovely Jekyll Island Resort - if only it wasn't so rainy so that we could've enjoyed more of the historical sightseeing. I wish you two the absolute best!!! Now they are enjoying some much needed R&R on their honeymoon in Tahoe. I'm so jealous!

We were all fortunate enough to have atleast gotten a short visit squeezed in with Nathan on his last night of being a bachelor. We had a couple of drinks and reminisced the days gone by... if only House could've included some of the stories we talked about in his toast!

I really enjoyed getting to spend time with Nathan's little sis Emily and her boyfriend Adam again. I love those two to death!!! I can't wait til they come to visit in May or June! It was fantastic getting to spend time with Leisl and Jeff, too. They are so fun! Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend too much time with House...but luckily, I got to sit next to him at the reception and catch up about his beautiful wife Christina and his great kids.

I really wanted to include photos in this post, but my brother forgot to return my USB cable when he borrowed my camera. Until I get that, downloading my pictures will be on hold. I actually got some great shots of the event.

3 Days Left!!!

I can't believe that in 3 days Nathan is going to be married!!! So, Nate, is she taking your name or are you taking her's (nouveau chic, n'est pas?)? I'm super excited for him. I know that he's been looking forward to this event his whole life, and I'm glad that I'm getting to bear witness to it all.

To be honest, Nate, I'm surprised that you're brave enough to invite Schlobbles and Scrambles to your wedding...but, I promise we'll try to stay on our best behavior ;)

Power Shopping: Good for the Soul, Bad for the Pocketbook

So I decided that NYC was my destination afterall for this past weekend. Matt and I flew into NYC late Friday night after over two hours of delays because of strong northeasterly winds. What a waste of leaving work early, huh? When we got in, Scott met us so that we could grab a quick bite and have a couple of drinks.

We turned in sometime after 3am and was out the door by 9:30am the next morning to pick up the rental car. Scott, his friend Liz, Matt, and I were heading to Woodbury Commons (an outlet mall in upstate NY) for the day. Matt got his first experience driving in snow flurries...he was pretty excited seeing he had never seen snow before. Once we got to Woodbury Commons, it was ON! We power shopped until the stores locked up at 9pm. This outlet mall is unlike any outlet mall I've ever been...designer stores out the wazoo with serious deals. I'm not talking your typical outlet with cheesy stores like Liz Claiborne, Mikasa, and American Eagle. I'm talking Dolce&Gabbana, Versace, Gucci, Chanel, Armani, Barney's New York, BCBG, etc. I'm not a big "label queen" or anything, but when you're getting deals on such labels for the same price as non-designer wear, I couldn't really pass it up.

It was absolutely FREEZING while we were out there, too! I think it was about 15 degrees in the evenings and the days were in the the mid- to high-20's...low 30's if we were lucky. At some point, I lost feeling on my right thumb because I wasn't wearing gloves, and left it exposed while holding shopping bags Saturday evening....jeez! I hope there isn't any extensive damage...lol.

So the moral of the story for this weekend is that Jacky is on financial groundation until April...hehehe. That means that Nathan's wedding will be my last big blowout for awhile :( Of course, I say that now...

Where oh where will my next vacation be?

This weekend, I have the whole weekend off....and even Monday from both jobs (can you believe it?!?!?!?) My original game plan was to high-tail it to NYC and mooch off of a free place to stay with the good doctor, but the record blizzard this past weekend is putting a bit of a damper on that idea. Flights are backed up and weather conditions are still a little sketchy. Don't know if I want to take that risk. My other option is to go shopping like a mad woman in order to make up for my lack of travel...hehe.

Next weekend, I have Nathan's wedding. Although, I believe Jekyll Island will be gorgeous, my trip is too short to really enjoy it...plus, I think it will be a bit chilly, so I really won't get to enjoy the beach/summer resort appeal it's reknowned for. Oh, well... a trip out of Houston is still a trip out of Houston. And, it's a place I've never been, so it will be interesting. You know I love my adventures into the unknown. And, OF COURSE, I wouldn't miss Nathan's official exit out of the single life for the world. I'm thinking the night before we should hold a wake for his days of bachelorhood where all of Nathan's friends stand over him staring at him shaking their heads and signing the holy cross over their chests...kidding!!!

These are the rest of my tentative travel plans so far...can you believe I'm booked up virtually through the summer already?!?!

March-

• Let's Everybody Get Trashed For Chris' B-day at a Casino in Louisiana Trip

April-

• MJ's Hitting the BIG 3-0! To Austin we go...
• Scott's celebrating his third annual 28th bday (he says me stating his real age is merely allegation)
• I celebrate the last of my 20's

May-

• Barcelona and Southern France...how does that sound Dr. P? What about Norway? I think we fly into Olso, huh?

July-

• Spain - More time in Barcelona this time around...maybe do more of the surrounding areas

Thanks Matt, MJ, Chris, Paula, and Lindsay!

Paula, Chris, Lindsay, and MJ

For those of you who actually made it to the Young Professionals in Energy HH last Friday, I wanted to thank you. I know that it was such a mish mash of people (mainly finance guys), but I appreciate the turnout. Stephen appreciates you being there as well. Otherwise, I would've been there all by my lonesome :( However, I'm seeing that the promise of good Italian food is always a good way to bribe you folks into doing stuff for me. I'll make note of that...lol






Chris, Lindsay, MJ, Matt, and some guys from DXP Enterprise

In a new place

I sent this to post some time last week, but for some reason it never made it on...hmmm...well, here it goes again then...

First off, my great-uncle passed away last Friday morning. Seeing that my family is all my great-aunt has here in the U.S., my parents have been in a tailspin trying to figure out when and where to schedule the wake, the cremation, and moving my 87-year old great-aunt to live with my folks once all her personal business is in order in Florida. It's been hectic to say the least...

So I had a change of heart the day before moving into my parents' place. With the news of my parents taking on another family member and my absolute anxiety of moving back to Channelview, I decided to move to the Greenway Plaza area instead. So there you have it...my stint in Midtown is officially over, and I'm about to wreak havoc on another part of Houston...at least for the duration of my year lease. Haha.

There are some downsides to my new place though - (1) I'm close to the freeway and 59 NEVER stops...good thing I'm not a light sleeper (2) I gave up my phenomenal balcony view of the beautiful pool at the last place for prime viewing of people filling up at a gas station or using the drive-up ATM at Washington Mutual (3) Lastly, I have no clue whatsoever where to take my trash on my floor yet....hmmm...not good.

The upside - (1) I have dry cleaning on the property, (2) I have a two-story workout facility, and (3) I'm close to a grocery store and a number of restaurants...you all know how much the accessibility of food is important to me :)

That's my update for now. Hope everyone is doing well...