Today I’m a Texan

I just returned home from a weeklong family vacation. And although we had a fabulous time, it’s good to be home. Ironically, this vacation took us home — to Iowa — where we were able to spend the better part of four days with family and friends.

Some of the high points (in no particular order):

1.  Iowa sweet corn
2.  Homemade ice cream
3.  Fireworks on the lake
4.  Casey’s coffee and donuts
5.  S’mores around the campfire
6.  Sun and fun at the water park
7.  Waking up to my daughter’s giggles
8.  A long run along the shores of Storm Lake
9.  Watching my son gather more than enough pinecones for the fire
10.  Catching up with family over coffee or beer (depending upon the time of day)

And a few low points (Nothing real can be all Norman Rockwell):

1.  Mosquito bites
2.  Road construction
3.  Sunburned shoulders
4.  Torrential rains while driving on the Interstate
5.  Spending upwards of nine hours in a minivan in one day

A mere hour after pulling in the driveway, you won’t find any of us in a room together. We’ve each found a favorite corner of the house to unwind and decompress. Iowa was a great place to visit, but we’re all very happy to be home in Texas! And if they’re thinking what I’m thinking, it’s all about a good night’s sleep in my own bed.

Today I’m a Believer

I just spent the afternoon at the NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas. I reconnected with a friend from my hometown who works there and he hooked up the whole family with a private tour. After seeing the beauty of historic mission control, the enormity of the Saturn V rockets, the genius behind the International Space Station and the extreme strategy that goes into each and every shuttle mission, I am in awe. This tour made everything seem so real.

I know there are a lot of questions around the validity of our first moon landing… or any moon landing for that matter. And I’m not interested in a debate, but I love the fact that so many men and women have dedicated their careers and lives to furthering space exploration. The many years of training that go into preparing for a two-week shuttle mission astounds me.

We were all fascinated with the complexity of the space station and blown away with the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. If you ever get the chance to see this, it’s a must. Over 200 feet long, 100 feet wide and 40 feet deep this ginormous swimming pool allows astronauts to train for space walks in a weightless environment. Although, no astronauts were training at the time, the elements of the space station were all very visible from the observation deck.

Hats off to Michael for a wonderful afternoon and memorable family trip. And although we saw a lot today, we still didn’t have time for the Visitor’s Center. We might just have to make another visit tomorrow.

Today I’m an Iowan

I’ve lived in Texas for nearly 10 years now and it’s quite likely I’ll continue to live here for many more to come. However, I will always be an Iowan. I spent what I would consider my formative years (birth to 30) growing up in Iowa. I wear this hat today because I am thinking of the thousands of people cycling across the state this week on RAGBRAI.

For those not familiar with this grand Iowa tradition, RAGBRAI is the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. And according to the official website, this yearly event is “the longest, largest and oldest touring bicycle ride in the world.”

Although I’ve never endured the challenge of this seven-day trek, I remember going to host towns as a kid to greet the riders as they rolled into town to find a place to pitch their tents for the night. I know many classmates, friends and family members who have dipped their tires in both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers on this great ride. And one day, perhaps I will too. But for now, I’ll just reminisce, read the blogs, follow the tweets and take pride in being an Iowan.

Here’s to Day 1

If you stumbled upon this blog, I hope you’ll tag it and come back occasionally. If you were invited, thanks for stopping in to read and/or comment on these pages.

As an online marketing professional, I value the freedom we’ve all gained in this grand world of self-publication. And although I read blogs, I’ve never braved the terrain of creating or contributing to this fantastic genre of self-expression.

One note about the content you’ll find here: it’s likely to be all over the place. Why? Because that’s what I know. I’m a wife, mother, writer, marketer, TV junkie, movie-lover and Midwesterner-turned-Texan. Like lots of others out there, I have many roles and wear So Many Hats.

I hope you find something you can relate to. Something that makes you laugh. That reminds you of the past. That encourages you to try new things. Or maybe you’ll even find something that incites you to comment.  Either way, thanks for spending time with me today.