Fall update

I have not been pretty bad about blogging the past few months. A friend told me a few weeks ago that they enjoyed reading my blog b/c it helps them feel connected to my life. I'll try to do better.

I was surprised to find out on Thursday night that we (my roommate and

myself) had tickets to go see the Broadway musical RENT this weekend! After moving some work meetings and other things around I was able to enjoy the musical . It was a nice afternoon with good friends and a nice break from my weekend of work.

As many of you know my parents sold my childhood home in Van Meter and now will be "snow birds" and be spending there winters in TX. I will be joining them for 10 days over my Christmas vacation. I was not quite sure where there new home was so I did some looking online. I did not know that my parents would be moving to Mexico/Taxes really on the border. I am looking forward to spending time with my parents, going to Mexico, South Padres Islands, eating shrimp and enjoy water aerobics with all the old ladies in the pool. The new winter home is close to McAllen TX. If you notice the map to the right, you can look south and see the green star, that's HOME, mostly in Mexico. A few photo highlights of the new house... The front of the house , the kitchen (YES! I know it's PURPLE!), and my parents know own an orange tree...

Long awaited blog..

A good friend pointed out that it is time for me to update my blog...


Last Wednesday after class I went to The House of Bricks with some friends to hear the band Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. I don't remember the last time I went out to a bar or club in Des Moines, I felt almost "cool". The band was a unique blend of country meeting Rock and Roll, there lyrics made me laugh and the crowed was a mix people in country hats and biker dudes. The leader singer had better hair then me and was enjoyable to look at the eyes, and the drummer was just HOT!

As I was "dancing" I could not help but remember something my good friend Pauly down in Mississippi once told me ... "white people dance with there months open". He always told me that all I needed to do with stick with the two step and keep my mouth closed. Pauly - I failed on Wed. night.

They have a unique sound and fun songs. Check them out :)

Michael Phelps or Shamu

Over the past few weeks I have built up my swimming from 20min to now an hour. I even went and got a pair of goggles to wear so the chemicals in the pool don't burn my eyes.

I have find this hour a great chance to think or more importantly to not think at all and just zone out doing something other then laying on the couch watching TV.

I am sure I look like Shamu in the water even though I would like to think of myself as the next Olympic girl Michael Phelps. Every time I come up for air I sound like a whale that I seen in Australia last summer.

The new swimming idea is two folded:
1.) I want to start to run sometime and I hear that it is much easier for swimmers to run. I am hoping that it will help with this goal of running over time.

2.) My back has been messed up since I moved at the end of July. Doing any other form of working out hurts to much and I have found swimming to be very relaxing.

After A LOT of convincing from Lacy and Bob, I went today for the first time ever to a physical therapist about the lower back pain. In a 2-3 weeks at $80 a week I should be back to normal or that is goal. It is NOT ok for Loaders to only be comfortable while standing, sitting and laying around is what I do best and I wish to not be in pain for those Olympic sports. I am looking forward to feeling better soon however I am not looking forward to the dent this is going to cause in money.

In other news. I fear it is time to go out and buy new clothes. The old clothes are starting to get to big. I don't know how I am ever going to find old FIA and NCYC t-shirts to wear daily that are a size smaller, I might have to start dressing like a women.

Small and random thoughts...

A few small and random things in my life....

1.) Next week my parents will no longer own my childhood home in Van Meter Iowa.

2.) I have started swimming daily (ok really I have gone every day this week) and I am working on doing the breast stroke. It has been nice.

3.) I am LOVING farm fresh tomatoes this summer, I average about 4 a day. I also have found a new love for yellow pear tomatoes.




4.) My bed sits at an angle in the corner of my room so none of the sides are touching a wall. I have not fallen off or drooped a pillow in over a week.

5.) I have only one more episode of the TV series Weeds to watch tonight, I CAN'T WAIT!

6.) I love this summer's big brother.

7.) Moving and this summers Vacation to Mississippi was a lot of money, it's time to rebuild the savings account. I am sad so say I don't there will be any upcoming trips anytime soon after Colorado in September.

Ta Ta from Tonia's Times

Be still. Be quiet. And know that we have a God that loves us.

A few weeks ago I moved into a new home. Lacy (roommate) and I have worked hard at making our new place a home. One thing I wanted to do when I got into this new place was create a space in my bedroom for prayer. A place where I can spend time each day with God.

Each night when I go upstairs I turn off the cell phone. Turn on the lamp (never a big fan of overhead lighting) and light my prayer candle. After getting ready for the evening slumber comes my favorite part of the evening. I sit in my prayer chair and spend sometime being still, being quiet(never an easy thing for me to do) and let God love me. Prayer is always different, never structured and always life giving. This has become my favorite part of each evening.

At the end of prayer I turned off the light and crawl into bed and just let the softness of the candle flames dance on the walls around me. It is the perfect way to end the day.

Like most things in my life I have rules for the prayer chair. Nothing ever gets put into the prayer chair, such as clothes, books or other items that would prevent me from sitting in it. I am only allowed to sit there when I am in prayer.

If you do not have a space for prayer, try it, you will be amazed at how that space will transform your life. If you would ever like to join me, you are always welcome!

I got nothing....

Everyday for the past week and a half I have been thinking about what to post in a new blog and I truly have nothing new going on in my life to blog about. There is always items going on in our lives but some things are just not items to be shared.

So I will now hit up some of the superficial highlights in my life, really if I was you I would just stop reading.

- I am moving July 24th. B/c I am lazy we hired a moving company who will move all of our shit in under 3 hours - I am looking forward to having to do little to no work in true loader ways.

- I love watching the TV show Weeds - it's a must check out.

- Mississippi was a lot of fun and I am still sad that I am back in Iowa and not down south.

- When I was down in Mississippi I meet a black Hip-Hop artist that's pretty great, if he ever gives the "ok" for the blog I wrote about him I'll post that up.

- I am failing at getting healthy in 2009, something has got to change SOON!

- My parents sold there house in Van Meter.

- I have gotten to hang out with my friend Nikki and lot going on walks, and good chats on the floor of the new townhouse.

- I really like beer.

- Father Al is in the office today so I can't watch my online TV shows while at work. I better go home now.

I have lots of blogs saved up maybe I should post one of those.

Current Temp: 101

Hello from M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I!

Day one of the summer program is going great! In the morning I helped out in arts and crafts and painted a great flower. I spent the afternoon in the pool flopping around like a beached whale teaching kids how to swim. It made me thankful for all the hours my mom and dad spent with me in the water teaching how to swim.

Yesterday when it is only 99 outside we went to the horse races. It was fun to people watch and I think I lost 6 pounds just sitting outside in that heat. We then went to the Do-Drop to get a bit to eat. The Do-Drop is a double wide trailer out in the country that is half bar, half dance floor. I was the only white person in the joint and was the center of everyone eye for the first 20min. or so that I was in the club.

The first time I was down here four years ago we took a bus trip up to Ohio, half way home the air quite working. This trip my 2nd plane did not have air on it nor did the Do-Drop club. Air is a MUST for down here in late June!

Pictures to come soon. Ta ta for now!!

God Bless