O Christmas Tree

Most families have some Christmas decorating traditions, maybe big light displays or festive wreaths (I'm guessing that's why the house down the street has 8 - one on each door and window).

In my family, the tree is the big deal. Or should I say trees, since growing up we always had multiple. The big one is "Dad's" with only Hallmark ornaments - 600+ at recent count; the others a variety of other sizes and decorations for a total of 3-7 trees around the house.

My own tree has followed me through the years, from home to Lubbock to Dallas. It's decorated with a hodgepodge of ornaments collected through the years, with heavy emphasis on snowflakes!

This year I've added a SWA themed tree for my work cube. Along with a few glass planes and SWA heart, I have the SWA collectible ornament for each of the Christmas I've worked here (2 and counting!) I've snagged a picture with my phone - not too clear, but captures the spirit!





Yes, the tree skirt is the sky and that's a Southwest plane stitched in the front.

Family Weekend

This past weekend, my mom's family made our way from all over the state to Victoria, TX, to celebrate my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. As usual, my mom and aunt did a great job orchestrating the event, with a BBQ family meal and 'cake and punch' reception for friends. We enjoyed a great day; it isn't often we all get together and I rarely see the cousins from Corpus Christi.

My grandparents are in an assisted living place now, but quite a few of their friends from Port Lavaca, where they lived for so long, were able to drive over for the reception. I don't think I recognized any of them, but all of the names were very familiar and it was great to meet these people I'd heard my grandmother talk about all these years.

My mom and brother-in-law are speedy picture sharers, so I do have a few pics!



Jacinda and I with Cailyn, the
newest addition to the family.





The cousins with Grandma and Grandpa Toole






Coming back through Central Texas on Saturday night, the Judah clan also made our annual pilgrimage to Johnson City to see their "Lights Spectacular, Hill Country Style." For a town of 1500 people, they go all out at Christmas - the courthouse covered in lights and the local electric coop wraps all the trees on their block-wide lot in white lights. This was Evan's first visit and he was impressed. And I must say, even seeing it all these years, so was I.

Jacinda and I behind "THE tree." After years, we've found the perfect picture place.

No Camera

So, I've been chastised for not posting. I know, I know. Allow me to offer my excuse, if you will. I don't own a digital camera and have been depending on others to get pictures for all these years. Which involves waiting patiently, bugging them, and usually by the time I get the pictures, the event about which I was going to blog is 2-3 weeks ago and old news. Thus, no post.

Yes, I am aware a post does not require a picture. But when you are blogging about travels, it really is just so much more fun with a picture. I was going to run out at 5am on "Black Friday" to try to snag a good camera deal, but my mother complained that I was taking away a good Christmas gift idea. So, here's hoping she or Santa comes through in a couple of weeks and 2009 is well documented for your reading pleasure!

Bedrock Residents

Although SWA is on a mission to "own all of the holidays," Halloween is the big one. At Headquarters where I work, it is a all play and no work day, filled with carnivals, department decoration contests, and skits which put many a MasterFollies (SingSong, Spring Sing -insert your own C of C university event here) show to shame. And, of course, costumes required.

This year, my department chose a "TV and Movie Character" theme and a group of us went back to our cartoon-watching days and come as The Flintstones. Fun costumes and it gave me an excuse to dust off the sewing machine a bit.


We are posing with our CEO Gary Kelly, aka Billy Gibbons, lead singer of ZZ Top. His costumes are always top secret and a big hit; this year's did not disappoint, complete with the spinning guitar.

All One Needs is a Good Title

After a couple of years being an anonymous commenter on others’ blogs, I’ve finally decided to join this loquacious world. There really is little reason not to; I love to write and have so enjoyed reading blogs of recent or long lost friends. I even contemplated starting one a few months back, but one thing was hindering me…a good blog title.

You see, good blog titles are very descriptive and must give the reader an idea of the blog’s content, whether it be focused on a family, a newborn, or one’s adventures. Mine, naturally, will primarily consist of travels, as I take trips 2-3 weekends a month and my recent employment with Southwest Airlines (free flights-yippee!) has only bolstered those. Some of my favorite travel saturated blogs, like Jessica’s Grand Adventure and All Packed and Ready to Go, have such fabulous titles, so the expectation was high.

Like all moments of inspiration, my title came unexpectedly, with no warning or forethought. With the unique lyrics of my favorite Bowling for Soup song running through my head, I realized I had found my perfect blog title. I am a self proclaimed travelholic, but whether driving cross country or flying across the Atlantic, there is nothing like coming home to this great state that I call home.