Just thinking

I caught up with an old friend Sunday night. They have never been very religious. Ok, they pretty much announce themselves as an atheist to anyone who will listen. Out of the blue they tell me they have started going to church. I try to not act very shocked. You don't hear this that often from an atheist.

I of course asked which church, and he told me he was going to the Universalist church down in Dallas. They had a pretty big congregation. He had been going since Easter and was loving it.

I guess the Universalists are all inclusive. I think I had heard this before. He said there were Jews and Muslims there. He liked the people and the speakers. I just kept thinking "good for you".

I had just been thinking myself that morning that running has become more then just exercise for me. I'm not going to go so far as to say its my church. But, I think it has given me a lot. I'm there on Sunday mornings, running for an hour with a group of sweet, supportive people. I have a lot of head time to think things through. Its been really nice. I get a bit of zen a couple of times a week.

A new food adventure

Nicole is coming through tonight on another one of her home from Houston jaunts. She is supposed to spend the night and requested Mexican.

Funny thing is, of all the food out there, Mexican is the last thing I crave, BUT this is only because of the absolute abundance of it. When I lived in Detroit, I would insist upon landing in Houston that we head straight to Guadalajara. I needed some good tex-mex. Just one piece of fajita meat, and I was bliss.

Anyway, everytime Nicole comes to town we did Chuys. I think once she was fine with it, but by the fourth visit she spoke up. She requested no Chuys. I told her I would have been fine with no Chuys on visit 2-4, but that is the place people always seem to pick, and I just go with the flow.

So, I did some digging. Since I am not a Mexican/Tex Mex afficionado, I started searching places not too far from my house. I did think of Casa Milagro, and while it is good, I haven't been wowed. It has quite a following though. Everytime I go on the weekends the wait is out the door. I thought of Desperados on Campbell, but I have been to the one down in Dallas a couple of times. That has been done.

My research ended with Apricio's in old downtown Plano. I'm going to venture out and not do the same old same old, Veracruz. Wish me luck!

What has become of my life

Sunday morning

5 am - wake up
5:10 am - wake up again
5:15 am - go cuddle the kitten
5:20 am - wash my face and put on clothes that don't smell
5:30 am - meet Elizabeth on the back porch and get into my car
5:31 am - smash my right side mirror to pieces while backing out of the garage
5:32 am - repark my car, get into elizabeth's, and drive down to the run
6 am - get to the run and look for my coach
6:10 am - start running through the M-Streets and talking in loud voices about our absolute disgust of all the tear downs appearing in the neighborhood that do not comply with the original asthetic
7 am - stop running, drink lots of water
7:20 am - get home. Hug my big kitty. Go hug my little kitty. Make sure no one feels left out

This is not good people. My life now revolves around my cat, my kitten, and the 5 miles I have to get in.

I replaced the mirror this morning. I'm hoping these runs don't put me into the poor house. My budget for the month has officially been blown out of the water!!

Violet

The newest member of the household moved in, and its been interesting, to say the least.

My friend saved a mama cat from a shelter and was looking for homes for the four kittens. I decided I could take another one in.

I brought Violet home last Wednesday night, and poor thing was completely scared out of her mind. I put her in the back bedroom and she hid. I came in with a book and read, and she came out from under the bed a bit, but she was still figuring things out.

Lets just say, by Friday, Violet has figured out that humans are the most wonderful things in the world, especially me. She just wants me in the room with her. She runs around and completely tires herself out, and then comes over for some pets and a cuddle. Its really sweet, BUT its kind of upsetting to the senior feline member of the household, Penny. I think Penny could take it ok when she could ignore the thing in the other room, but the thing not only meows at the door, but now she puts her nose and paws under the door trying to get out. You really can't ignore that.

And so, the hissing begins.

I try to share my time between the two of them, but its a bit much. I can't let Violet out of her room until she has been to the vet tomorrow, and she wants out DESPERATELY. She reinacts escape from Alcatraz whenever I open the bedroom door.


Tomorrow night, Violet gets to room the house. Cross your fingers Penny doesn't attack her.