Tice's are in Town!

My good friend Jamie and her husband Doug came to Austin from Nashville to spend some time with the raddest Californians in Austin this last weekend. I've known Jamie since junior high, back in the good ol' days of Rose Drive youth group and it's been awesome to have stayed in contact this long. She moved to Nashville in '07 and that is where she met her future hubby Mr. Doug Tice. They wed last fall in CA and their wedding was such a hoot, if I do say so myself.

Jamie (Lap) and I tried to show them some good Austin fun and what better way to do that then...go out to EAT!! While visiting, the Tice's were able to experience the awesomeness of Pok-E-Jo's, Mighty Fine, Juan in a Million, and, of course, Chuy's.

Only in Texas would they put "Texas Take Out" on their take out boxes.

Sunday was such a beautiful day the outdoors were just calling us. We spent most of the afternoon walking around town lake and just soaking up the warmth of the sun's goodness.
Doug had heard about Austins killer roller derby program, the Texas Lonestar Rollergirls, and really wanted to go watch so we got tickets and got to experience a roller derby, live and in the flesh, Austin style on Sunday evening. Let me tell you, folks, the crowd at these shin-digs are a breed in and of themselves. Never knew that there really was such a thing as a roller derby and definitely had no idea of what kind of "girls" participated in them. I quote "girls" because there were a few I was almost positive were males and pretty much all of them, you just don't want to run into on the streets on their bad days.

When I arrived there, I felt very out of place as I was lacking: several tattoos, innumerable amount of piercings in socially awkward places, holey fish net stockings, and a taste in hardcore metal music. Oh, and my neon green mini skirt and brass knuckles. I'm pretty sure Willie Nelson's cousin was sitting in front of us, Marilyn Mansons fan club was a few rows back, a large population of Rosie O'Donnell's exes were surrounding the rink and bar, and everything else in between were present at the derby. The MC of this roller derby was a 58 year old man with hair that looked like clay molding, a face that radiated from it's spray tan, wearing a red sports jacket and baby blue alligator skinned shoes. I think EVERYONE should experience the Texas Roller Derby at least once in your life and if my synopsis isn't good enough to persuade you, if you go on your birthday, you get have both teams give you a birthday spanking!!!

And there's nothing better to finish off an awesome weekend then a pizzookie at BJ's. Cheers to Tice's and rad times in Austin!!

Idol Sum Up

Matt - Let's Get it On: took PHENOMENAL to a new level. Nuff said.
Chris - How Sweet it is to be Loved by You: made it your own, good job.
Scott - You Can't Hurry Love: you have a special place in my heart, just not sure if tonight was your best.
Megan - For Once in My Life: I just don't dig you...at all. I'm sorry.
Anoop - Ooo, Baby, Baby: amazing voice. Anoop, I heart you.
Michael - Ain't too Proud to Beg: you got vocals, Mike, but I have to agree and it sounded a little like "Vegas lounge music."
Lil - Heat Wave: LOVED the Motown look to coincide with your song. I thought you made yourself Motown Queen tonight.
Adam - Tracks of my Tears: a million times better than last week's catastrophe. You have a great vocal range, but you're still not my fave.
Danny - Get Ready: you always rock the stage and I love your voice.
Allison - Papa was a Rolling a Stone: rockin vocals that kicks butt!!!

Rocked Tonight's Idol: Matt
Peace out: Megan

Hail Storm '09

I've seen hail once in my life and it was more like ice chips the size of rice falling from the sky.

Tonight, I about soiled myself. I'm sitting at my desk in my room and it's pouring rain. No biggie. Then I hear the wind pick up. Wow, it's really blowin. All of sudden it sounds like rocks are being thrown at my window. What the...??? Get up, walk to window, and then...there, that's when it happened, that's when I soiled myself. White golf balls are falling from the sky!!! It's like the end of the world as we know it... and I feel fine. (REM shout out.)

So what do we do anytime there's something even quasi-exciting going on?? Get the camera!!!

And here's what we saw...


Hail Storm '09 from Mariko on Vimeo.

I love Austin, but...

...I have moments of missing California like no other.

Since living out here in Austin, the one thing I realized I took for granted was the close proximity of everyone and everything I loved back in Cali. Growing up you never think that life will separate you from all that you love. I never imagined my family would be living in different states. I never thought I would be living out of California. I never thought my closest friends would be too far to hang out with on the weekends.

I miss my mom's amazing cooking. I miss my Friday nights and often weekend times with The Peeps. I miss my Japanese markets. I miss the beaches. I miss the mountains. I miss Angel games. I miss Disneyland. I miss Pacific Standard Time.

I truly, madly, deeply (a little Savage Garden for you guys) miss not having my tight peeps and family close by. I pray on a consistent basis that God will bring my BFF's and family all around me again...preferably in Austin, TX or some other cute, quaint, small town in any of the other places I could live in (Nashville, Alpharetta, or the-non-snow-towns of Colorado). I want to have Sunday dinners at my parents home. I want to be able to walk over to my friends house and have "tea time" with them. When we get married and start having children, I want our families to be in each others' lives. I want our hubbies to be BFF's. =)

I know now more then ever that God wants me in Austin, TX at this time of my life. The people He's brought into my life are some of the most incredible people I've ever met who have encouraged me immensely. I am a part of a church that has challenged me beyond measure and has showed me what it looks like to put your love into action. I have learned so much more about myself and who I am during the 9 1/2 months that I've lived here through the crazy times I've come across. I love this town and everything it has brought me! I wouldn't trade living here for anything else right now.

Austin, I love ya and I'll be here for awhile! Cali, you will always be my first love! =)

Last Nights Idol Faves

My friend Jaci does a great summation of Idol nights on her blog, so I won't be redundant and re-state everything, but I will list my faves on here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I think I came to work today looking like a hobbit....

...but that's besides the point. It's St. Patrick's Day!!

Back home in Cali, one of my friend's family had this tradition every St. Patrick's Day called Green Dinner. And it's exactly what it is: a meal where EVERYTHING is green. As friends of the McGees, we got to partake in a few as well and I LOVE it! Sadly, this year I wasn't able to join in the festivities as there were 3,000 miles separating me from my corned beef.

Here are some pics from last year's Green Dinner!

I missed ya, McGee Ladies, but there is always next year!

Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

(The Message)

Phobia

I have a handful of fears in my life. I am afraid of heights. I am afraid of the dark. I am afraid of all my eye lashes falling off. And as I went through the Phobia List I realized I had more fears and there are actually scientific names for each one. Awesome. Now I have a fear of phobia lists. I also noticed that many of my friends have fears that are listed and I'll probably end up emailing them each what kind of phobics they are. Ya know, just to brighten their day up.

Here are some of my faves:

Fear of...
-Air swallowing- Aerophobia
-Bathing- Ablutophobia (let's just say I wouldn't want to be around this person)
-Pope- Papaphobia
-Names- Nomatophobia
-France or French culture- Francophobia, Gallophobia or Galiphobia
-Eating or food- Sitophobia (I wish I had this fear...)
-Heredity- Patroiophobia (Not quite sure how this fear could develop)
-Memories- Mnemophobia
-Knees- Genuphobia (that's the closest to large calves that I could find)
-School, going to school- Didaskaleinophobia (let's be honest...who didn't suffer from this)

Check out the list and see all the phobias you have!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Today I send birthday wishes to one of the most amazing people to ever walk this earth! My mom is seriously the most compassionate, loving, caring, and giving person that I know. I'm not just saying that either because she's my mother. I remember being a child and wondering why does my mom have to be so stinkin nice to everyone when other kids' moms aren't that nice to me. Ask anyone that knows her and they will say she doesn't have a mean bone in her body...except, of course, when disciplining her children. =) If she knows of a need, she will do anything in her power to fill it. She puts action to her love. Her faith in the Lord is unshakable. She is my prayer warrior. She has a giving spirit that pours God's love into so many lives. She is everything that I try to model my life after. God spoiled me with giving me a mother like her that I feel so undeserving of. And today I praise Him for her life!!

Okaasama,

Tanjoubi omedeteto!

I love you!

(My mom with her favorite child...he's not dead, just on cloud nine.)

I was doing so good!

March 1st started the 40 Days of Water and I gave mucho props to myself as I suffered through a neglect-of-caffeine-induced headache the first couple days (at least I'm pretty sure that's what caused it) and came out of that a stronger person. I feel as though I now understand how it must feel like coming off of acid. I'm pretty sure they have the same side effects...

Drinking just water is really hard. One of my favorite things about the weekends are the mornings: taking my time waking up, drinking my coffee and eating breakfast in the kitchen at a lax pace, enjoying the morning brew. I just survived my first full weekend without my Cup o' Joe in the morning and I'm not going to lie...it was brutal. I don't know how people do it.

I was doing great, though. I didn't have to concentrate on ignoring my coffee pot too much since it was a pretty busy weekend and I wasn't alone with the cause of my demise for very long moments of time. In the morning, I went to Reagan High School again and helped paint signs to put up around campus. I then went to meet up with a friend and we went to the mall, the movie theater (saw "He's just not that into you"), and then to dinner.

I was having such a good time and I was really excited to see the movie since everyone had good things to say about it. We walk into the theater, without even thinking anything of it, we head straight to the snack bar, and I order popcorn and.......an ICEE. !!!! At this point, I still don't realize the atrocity I've just committed. It isn't until about half way through the movie that I get this light pulsing headache....and then it hits. I suck at life. There in the Gateway movie theater #6, third to last row, about 6 seats in from the right, I wallowed in my guilt. In my defense, though, it wasn't a conscious choice during a moment of weakness, but a stupid slip up during a moment of retardedness. Nonetheless, I still deserved the caffeine induced headache.

I know this isn't anything trivial or majorly significant and you probably think I'm being very melodramatic here, but I just felt like I had to confess that since I did make a commitment to drink only water and I failed on day 7. Argh....

So with that off my chest, I say shame to you, Icee, shame on YOU...

Old Man Crushes

So I have a few Old Man Crushes in the celebrity world. These men hold a special place in my heart. My affections for them have grown mainly due to the fact that I am an avid viewer of their shows. Granted they are at least 20 years my senior, but DANG, they sure keep my heart twitter-pated on a daily basis, with much thanks to the USA network.

And here are my boys:

NCIS Agent Jethro Gibbs

Dr. Gregory House

Detective Elliot Stabler

#13

My vote for Idol this season:

Anoop Dawg

Anyone who can rock Bobby Brown's "My Perogative" like he did is right up there with Wiki in my heart.

Switchin things up

So my workout the last few weeks has consisted of jogging (mostly on the treadmill) and weights. I love consistency and it's sometimes hard to move my workout regime around even though I know that is highly recommended. I just want to find the workouts that will show results the fastest...remember, I'm impatient.

These last several days I have been in a battle with one of the most annoying headaches and it has kept me from being physically productive. Yesterday afternoon I actually felt good enough to workout, but I didn't want to jump into running a couple miles. So I decided to try the elliptical.

Now, I have friends who much prefer the elliptical to the treadmill and vice versa. My elliptical sessions in the past haven't lasted longer than 5 minutes. I don't know what it is, but my legs can't handle the elliptical so I have always preferred running. Until now.

My friends, I did the elliptical yesterday, on the "weight loss" program, for 30 minutes!! I perspired like madness, couldn't feel my legs when I got off, and my knees were not sore at all! It was beautiful!

So I went to Ask.com to see what the major differences between the elliptical and treadmill were. Throughout my research here's basically what most had to say the differences were:

-On the elliptical you workout more of your body (legs, arms, chest, shoulders, back)

-The elliptical is easier on your joints.

-As a result of being lighter on your knees and such, you tend to do more of a workout on an elliptical, but feel as though you are not doing as much.

-Both treadmill and elliptical are good aerobic exercises.

With all that said, I've chosen to switch to using the elliptical as it won't harm my knees and I'll be getting a better workout in the long run. I'm all about faster results!!

What do you guys prefer? (I'd like to note that I feel stupid asking questions on here like I'm going to get an over-pouring number of responses from my 3 readers, but hey, just thought I'd throw it out there)