Vay-cay...

See the woman in the blue swimsuit? Lazily enjoying a refreshing beverage by the swim-up bar?

Yeah... come August 19, that will be me and Melissa.

SO EXCITED.

Out of this world...

New favorite place to eat in Austin:

GALAXY CAFE

So yummy....

POW: "Unknown Journey"

New songs on repeat this week...

1. The Last Summer, The Forward
2. The Moment, SafetySuit (amazing new band)
3. Falling In Love At a Coffee Shop, Landon Pigg (as heard on that adorable AT&T commercial)
4. This Is It, Staind*
5. Love Drunk, Boys Like Girls
6. Capital M-E, Taking Back Sunday*
7. The Man Who Can't Be Moved, The Script (soooo good)
8. I Don't Think I Love You, Hoobastank*
9. Creator, Santigold
10. Let It Go, Cavo*
11. Hero, Skillet
12. 21 Guns, Green Day*
13. Eyes On Fire, Blue Foundation
14. Something I Said, SafetySuit
15. New Divide, Linkin Park*

*from the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack

"And I'd gladly stand up next to you..."

"...and defend her still today, 'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A."

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

(more pictures from my trip to DC)

Arlington National Cemetery

Battle of the Bulge Memorial - Grandpa fought in this battle

Marine Corps War Memorial (aka Iwo Jima Memorial) 

Lincoln Memorial

Mount Vernon - Washington's ancestral home

Jefferson Memorial

The Capitol Building

Lady Freedom sits on top of the Capitol

For Dad - Where was Key when he wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?!

Washington, DC Temple at night - During the Eisenhower administration, the Church was asked to turn the temple lights off at night to conserve power.  The Church complied until the FAA called and asked them to turn the lights back on because the pilots use the temple as a land marker when they are flying in at night.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

And I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

(Lee Greenwood)

Rediscovering a Favorite...

I've been sitting here for the past couple of hours, doing homework, enjoying the melodic accompaniment of one of my all-time favorite bands:

Thank you, Stephan Jenkins & Co., for being the soundtrack of my high school years.

Ponder this thought...

What win I, if I gain the thing I seek?

A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy.

Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week?

Or sells eternity to get a toy?

For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?

Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,

Would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?

(William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece)

"Clinging to God and My Guns"

I have found that I prefer the Glock over the Springfield... and that I am a pretty consistent shot.  So. Much. Fun.

God Bless Texas, baby....