Wednesday, March 04, 2009

what's in you wednesday

Oh, hey there!


How are you doing?

Me?

I'm great!

Other than my running has taken a total skid and I've been living off a diet of frozen pizza, bagged salad, Ginger Ale and chocolate chip cookies. But whatever. I figure everyone is entitled to a week or so of nothing but junk food and severe inactivity.

Sadly, the one real meal that I made this week, (french toast and tofu sausage) was put on a plate and stuck in the oven to be kept warm and enjoyed after I took a shower. But I've had so much on my mind that I completely forgot about it until two days later when I opened the oven to stick in yet another sheet of cookies.

What happened?

Why the loss of momentum?

I'm not really sure.

Everyone in our household is sick with a cold. Children are sleeping even less than they normally do and, they've gotten in to this tricky habit of taking off their night time diapers in the middle of the night and since they don't yet know how to wake up to use the toilet ... we have been awoken from a sound sleep on more than one occasion by howls of, "I AM SOAKED!"

Followed by, "I AM, TOO!"

Followed by, "I AM, TOO!"

Followed by a baby that screams, "MAMAMAMA!!! APPWLES!!!"

Work has been a little crazy. There is a lot of discussion over a possible relocation and lots of soul searching as to what we need and want to do. The relocation wouldn't be to the northeast. It would be to Texas. Houston to be exact. This coming summer. Circa July.

Isn't that the equivalent of moving to Alaska in January?

I tried to go running on Thursday of last week and I could only run for two minutes before stopping to walk. After starting and stopping, I would set my sights on something like a stop sign a few hundred yards ahead and think, "I'll make it to that sign and then I can walk." But I'd start running and only cover a distance of about 10 feet before having to stop again.

It seriously took every ounce of my strength to not lay down on the ground and draft a note for those who found me.

My legs were lead.

On Saturday, Charlie and I drove out to meet our Team In Training group for the eight-mile run. And for the record, the acronym for Team In Training is T-N-T.

(Whenever Charlie read on someone's blog [who shall remain nameless] about training for a T-I-T endeavor, he fell in to a laughing fit so badly I thought he was going to stop breathing.)

As it turns out, we were an hour and a half late. And even though we still could have done the run, we took one look at the hilly course, and the rising sun, and the two double strollers that we needed to push and we decided that a morning spent at IHOP sounded like a much better proposal. So that's just what we did.

Heck yeah I'll take a Rooty Tooty Fresh
'N Fruity!

Today, I was thinking that perhaps the reason I have been feeling so tired is because I have almost completely cut meat out of my diet the past six months and my body is in dire need of protein. So for the next few days I am going to eat nothing but steak (and peanut butter cups) and we'll see how that helps.

Oh and yesterday?

I met with a podiatrist who gave me a pair of inserts for my running shoes and told me that if those don't work with my feet falling asleep, he wants to schedule an angiogram and MRI.

Hot diggity!

Cookie anyone?

Now I know you didn't come here to hear me complain. Unless you enjoy seeing someone who feels like they are getting run over by the train of life.

So now I want to share some awesome news about Deana.

Today, she wrote on her CaringBridge site that the doctors have told her the chemo seems to be working. Two weeks ago, Deana was told by her doctors in California that she had a few weeks left to live and she needed to call in Hospice. And now, her doctors in Texas are telling her that she may be released as soon as Friday or Saturday as an outpatient. Granted, Deana still has a long road ahead of her ... but for now ... the chemo seems to be working.

Can I get a Hallelujah?!


Charlie, Margaret and I will finish the 26.2 miles. As for me, personally, I might walk 25 of those miles, but I will cross the finish line. All three of us will also meet our minimum fundraising goals, and hopefully, exceed them by at least a thousand or two.

When I met my fundraising minimum last week, I received a (form) e-mail from the President of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in which I learned that since its founding in 1949, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has invested more than $600 million in blood cancer research.

They have funded more blood cancer research than all other voluntary agencies combined.

They have been directly responsible for developing Gleevec, a pill for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). Now, more than 95 percent of newly diagnosed CML patients survive more than five years with a good quality of life. AND, they were instrumental in the development of Velcade, the first new treatment in more than a decade to be approved for patients with multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.

This is the exact reason we are participating in this marathon.


This is the exact reason we are raising money for research.


Because RESEARCH leads to DEVELOPMENT of new MEDICATIONS that SAVE lives.

Can I get a Hallelujah?!


So even though I have legs of lead and my doctor thinks that I have a circulatory problem within my calves that may require surgery, and we have four-year-old triplets and a one-year-old toddler and we both work and we don't sleep nearly as much as we'd like and yada, yada, yada ... we are so PUMPED to be doing exactly what it is that we are doing.

Infact, I am planning to compete in the Ovarian Cancer Research triathlon in October and in November, I am planning to complete the 3-Day Breast Cancer walk. (Provided of course we don't move to Texas in the middle of July.) I'm currently in the process of pulling together a walk team and thus far, I have three people who have said they would walk with me.

Granted, two of them had consumed two cocktails when they accepted the invitation ... but I'm sure they'll be out there with me.

Right, Jessica and Jeanmarie?

And Debbie? I'm expecting you out there, too.

And Lorie. You're not getting out of THIS one.

Do you live in southern California and want to walk with us?

OK then, you're invited.

I don't know how exactly I am going to do it, without giving away the farm, but my lofty goal is to help raise $50,000.00 this year for cancer research. As of today, between Margaret, Charlie and I, we have raised over $6,000.00 (not shown on our fundraising pages are several checks that need to be deposited in to our accounts).

So that leaves $44,000.00.

Have you bid yet on the Melissa & Doug easel?

Did I mention it is one of our children's favorite toys and even I, who tends to prefer activities of the non-messy variety, really loves this thing? Probably even more so than I love our PBK beanbag chairs?!

Speaking of which ... the winner of the personalized beanbag chair is: Maggie Nixon!

Maggie, please send me an e-mail to: TheAmazingTrips (at) gmail.com and let me know what solid color slipcover you would like for your beanbag, and also - the name you would like to have embroidered and which font selection. Here's the link to the PBK website to help you in your selection process. If you could also confirm the mailing address where you would like the bag shipped, that would be great.

For everyone who participated in the beanbag contest, thank you so much.

You helped to raise almost $1,000.00 for cancer research. Even though you didn't win a beanbag, I hope that you get a lot of satisfaction from knowing that you are providing an opportunity for people like Deana to live a longer life.

And hey, there is yet another contest coming up this Friday and it is guaranteed to be the biggest one yet. (Shhh. Don't tell Charlie. He might put a freeze on our bank account.)

Hopefully, once my fellow cancer crusaders have met their minimum fundraising goals, I will stop stuffing my face with cookies and see if perhaps I can get excited about running.

running.

COOKIES!!!

running.


COOKIES!!!


I fear I have a looong way to go.

How are you doing with your goals?

30 comments:

  1. Jen,

    From following your blog, I would say do not move to Houston. Would you like the lifestyle, the climate, and is it near family, really near family?
    My bro moved from San Diego to TX for a job 2 years ago, a great job that he loves, but he would move back in a heartbeat. It is very hot in TX for a long time every year, my bro says thats why people have such big homes, they can't go outside.
    Other job opportunities will come along.
    my 2 cents, not that you asked-
    Cali

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  2. Hi Jen,
    Have you heard os Skins? They are really big here in Australia and with good reason. They are perhaps the best compression clothes out there. I have a pair of the She long tights, and 2 pairs of the Sport half tights which I wear with my Sport powersox. I wear my Skins while cycling and running, and although I am by no means an elite athlete (so far from it, it is quite amusing) I have noticed a significant decrease in pain during and after exercise. After a 25km bike ride (on a 20inch BMX race bike I might add) with my Skins on I don't feel at all sore the day after. Plus, I imagine the increased circulation as a result of the compression removing the lactic acid from my muscles as soon as they start to burn.

    In case you hadn't noticed - I love my Skins!! And yes they are expensive but they last for ages and the benefits they provide are massive (including being SPF50+ which is really important for a very fair person like myself), plus they make you look like a pro (same effect as Charlie's wetsuit I would guess). And getting the long tights on is a workout in itself.
    Here is a link to the Skins website: http://www.skins.net/us/en/Products/BioAcceleration_Technology/sport
    Hopefully they can help you run like the wind in the race to beat cancer!!

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  3. Yes! Actually, I have heard of skins. Charlie read about them in a triathlon magazine and when I was in a running store last week I considered buying a pair. But I haven't yet.

    Maybe I'll go do that tomorrow and maybe, having new running gear will actually make me want to RUN!

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  4. J--Look up alternative sources for protein. And Iron, as the sluggishness may be an iron deficiency. That happens a lot when people go meatless but haven't figured out how to adjust---and you're asking a lot more from you body right now than normal. (26 miles? Insane. But I digress...) Here's a great article from Brit's Vegetarian Society about iron deficiency (which the majority of women in child-bearing years suffer from): http://www.vegsoc.org/info/iron.html It describes things you mention (sluggishness, lack of stamina) and lists iron-rich foods and things that help your body better absorb the iron you do eat (cookies probably aren't on that list). Here's the link to their protein article: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/protein.html which includes a list of protein-rich foods that don't require you to be carniverous, like nuts and seeds, pulses, soya products (tofu, soya milk and textured soya protein such as soya mince), cereals (wheat, oats, and rice), free-range eggs and some dairy products (milk, cheese and yoghurt). Hey, I think a few of those DO show up in cookies...

    I'm convinced that diet is an overlooked but essential way to change the way we feel, and ultimately it's something you can control. I like being in control.

    -D

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  5. Oh, I just read the ENTIRE post, and thus have two more things to say. 1) HALLELUJAH! In fact, Deana deserves more than one, so HALLEJUH! again. Nah, that's not enough, how about HALLELUJAH INFINITY! 2) I'll have you know that even before you shouted out my name in the post, you guilt-meister, I'd decided to email you to join up for new teams. I will never run 26 miles, so no marathons for me (every time I run, the family Bad Knee kicks in and I don't want knee replacement like Mom and Grandmpa) but I'm game for everything else. Hey, this is the girl who punched through boards with bare knuckles and let 300-lb guys throw me over their shoulders! I don't need cocktails in me to agree to physical battering. You know, if I walked ahead of you in the races with a broomstick over my shoulder and a bag of Joe-Joe's taped to its end, I bet you wouldn't even notice those numb feet. Who needs surgery? Count me in!

    'Course, this means you have to stay in San Diego..
    -Debbie

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  6. I have an award for you :)

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  7. WHAT?????? WALKING?????? OTHER'S ON YOUR TEAM???? to WALK??????? No.NO.NO!!

    OH NO!! You are going to RUN! So get your BUM in gear!

    Your sister promised cookies, your cousin promised hershey kisses, and your uncle promised to be there!!!!! Your fans, your readers, need you!!!!!!

    I love you to much to allow you to TALK like this...

    Ms Motivation of The Year! What has happened to your sail? Yes We Can!! AND YOU WILL!! WE WILL! RRRUUUNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!

    Love, Marg ;-)

    PS If it wasn't 4:30 am your time and You didn't have those cute kids I WOULD BE CALLING YOU RIGHT NOW!

    (I'm going to look into the skins product for both of us...for we have miles to go before we sleep!)

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  8. Well, I live in Houston (if you are seriously considering this move, look at living in The Woodlands, a suburb on the north side. It is a very kid friendly, beautiful suburb), and it has pros and cons. The heat IS bad in the summer, but it doesn't really seem to be an issue for kids...they seem to be immune to it and you DO get used to it as an adult. Just get a house with a pool, and you will be fine!

    We spend a lot of time in San Diego as hubby's whole family (minus 1 sister) is from there and it would be hard to move from there to here. San Diego is very unique...not many places like that in the country, especially for young children (zoo, wild animal park, legoland, seaworld, beach, etc...) But, my SIL and her family just moved from San Diego to Dallas and doubt they will ever move back (they intended to live in Dallas for maybe 5 years while the housing market totally tanked in So. Ca.).

    Good luck deciding...I am AWFUL with decisions like this!

    Kelly(Houston)

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  9. thanks for answering , I really got happy to see your opinion about my m&m's heart so...now we will be plugged amd we will share comments and blogs .Have a nice day!!!!!

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  10. I got a full body chill when I read your news about Deana. HALLELUJAH!!!!

    My opinion on the Houston move~ don't do it. You and your family enjoy the outdoors too much. It truly gets too hot to be able to go outdoors in the spring and summer. Just my take on it...

    I hope the cold bug is exterminated soon and you're all feeling better!

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  11. Jen--

    I also trained for a marathon, and my feet would always fall asleep around 6 miles in...can't give you any advice, just know you can vent at how annoying it is ;) Am now training for a half-marathon to support the stop of Human Trafficking in Europe!! Keep up the hard work, you're saving lives!!!

    And Texas is great...I'd give my right arm (and I'm right handed, this is a HUGE statement) to get back sooner :) You'll survive the heat, just live near a pool!

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  12. okay... second thought. Those skins... ARE skin tight! As of today I will only eat brownie mix...no more cookie dough! (unless I don't get any more dough...then I might stress out and...)

    Gotta fit into my skins...;-) Marg.

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  13. I second Cali's comment - do not move to Houston. It's horrible! Since, like me, you are also in the oil and gas industry - I'm sure you've been there (I only have to go once a year, but it's more than enough) - stay in SoCal!!

    Your energy/passion/enthusiasm is really inspiring. I choked up to hear about your friend's progress. That is WONDERFUL. You're doing great things.

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  14. Hi Jen! Love your blog, I check on you a few times per week. Kudos for everything you are doing to raise money for cancer research. I get tired just reading about everything on your plate.

    As far as Houston is concerned- although I now reside in New Jersey, I lived there most of my adult life and have to tell you that I'd move back in a second. Yes summers are hot. But the remaining 9 months of the year are quite nice. Real estate is cheap, people are incredibly friendly and there are great running trails everywhere. And did I mention the food? More restaurants per capita than any place other than NYC. That said- Austin, TX might be the most incredible place in the world to live. If there was any way you could detour to Austin it will be less humid and much prettier than Houston. Not to mention a great college town.

    My two cents! You could do much worse than H-Town. Good luck with your decision!

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  15. I just wanted you to know that you have inspired me! I am currently 5 months pregnant and can't really focus on losing weight or exercise (I get a stitch in my side after walking for 10 minutes on the treadmill) until say....August. But I have already signed up for a walk in October for a cause near and dear to my heart. And a friend is trying to encourage me to run a 5K. Me. A non-runner. Run a 5K. Bah! But I watch all that you and Charlie do and I think to myself, when this baby is here. And I need to get myself back in shape and healthy. .. I could totally do it too.

    I may end up at IHOP in October...but I sure will try.

    Thanks for the inspiration Jen! And I am thrilled to hear about yoru friend Deanna.

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  16. Jen,

    I found that I ran much faster when someone drives ahead of me in the car and throws Toll House Cookies at me. Of course I lose valuble time when I have to stop and pick them up, but the fresh air is invigorating! Perhaps you should change your routine??

    On a serious note, I'm SO happy to hear about Deana!

    XOXO AM

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  17. alright... count me in for your walk! email me the info... can't you tell that I'm so excited! No really, I am!

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  18. I meant to do that!

    I wanted to see if you guys read my blog and just because I am giving and loving and everything good.........I wanted to give Charlie a good laugh....

    That's my story and I am sticking to it!!

    So happy Deana is doing better!

    I'll give you an Hallelujah! and a YEAH!!!!

    I must add:

    I think Anne is just BRILLINT!......I'm going to try it!

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  19. Wow...you have an awesome blog. From a person who has just moved away from Texas but was raised mostly there I would say you kind of learn to live with it. Although it can be tough. There are so many amazing things to do there but the weather does...well, I won't say the word I was thinking. The weather leaves little to be desired at least 4-5 months of the year. But then again it is beautiful there right now. :) You will go where your heart tells you to. Just have faith and it will all work out...

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  20. I am so jealous! I would LOVE to move to Houston instead of the Northeast frozen tundra - but of course Houston is my home. I am sure it is different from when I was growing up, but aside from the heat (everything is air conditioned), it is so much cheaper than either coast and the people are so friendly, and the food is awesome - and there is so much to do. Yeah, it gets hot in the summer, but it gets pretty hot in So CA too if I recall - you just deal with it and go on, kwim?

    Good luck on your decision.

    BTW - how's your Dad doing these days??

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  21. Great news about Deanna. I think you may want to run a mile and then take a bus to the finish line.
    Great cause---but c'mon 26 miles for a Nursing Mom? I will try to park on a side street and pick you up---if I can make it.
    What is that thing in Henry's mouth???
    NONI

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  22. Oh Jen,

    I forgot to say something about your possible move to Texas ~ Remember what my father always says about where you are going?

    "If you like were you are and who you are with, you will like were you are going

    You know he is right?

    It will be okay....you and Charlie really seem to work well with each other.....

    I think Texas will be in for a treat!

    Love,

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  23. I just read the comments and I have to second the food part. The food here is amazing!!! SOOOOO much better than San Diego. I swear my in-laws come out here just to eat! Everytime we visit San Diego we are really suprised at the lack of restaurants/quality of food.

    Of course, you will have to run even more marathons to make up for eating all that delicious food, but it will be worth it:)))

    And someone wrote that the weather is bad 4-5 months a year, but it is really only super hot for 3 months. The remaining 9 months are actually very nice.

    Kelly(Houston)

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  24. Oh how I wish I lived in Southern California... for a variety of reasons, the latest being the thought of being a 3Day teammate of yours. Oh well, I will have to settle with DC walking ;~) I can't believe you already have walkers! Your enthusiasm is catchy!

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  25. I'm back... I just read 'Noni's' comment and had to look back to see the paci Henry was sporting. Does he use his upside down, too???? At 21 months old I weaned my daughter from breastfeeding by giving her a paci (she had started biting and nursing ALL NIGHT LONG). From the start she turned the paci over. I had never seen anyone else do it until now! Too funny!
    :)

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  26. I have never responded, but followed your blog. I am from and have lived in Houston most of my life. I won't try to deceive, the summers are HOT and humid and won't cool down until late October. We love it here though, we have lived in The Heights area and now live in Cypress. The Woodlands is a beautiful area, but if working downtown the commute could be bad. Houston has a lot of great museums and family things to do. Obviously you know about the great medical center that your friend Deanna is receiving treatment. I am so happy for her!! You can drive to Austin or San Antonio easily. Can't beat the cost of living and the mexican food is awesome! Moving is a hard decision, good luck!

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  27. I'm a Hawaii transplant into North Texas. Houston is really not my cuppa. Unless it's a Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Cuppa. :-)

    Seriously, for outdoorsy folk, I can't say it's a winner. For standard of life compared to SoCal, maybe so. But there aren't any Trader Joes down here either. Take that into consideration! Important factor I think...

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  28. I am in my own version of "what the heck is going on with my feet???" right now, and am just coming off a two week no-running restriction (peroneal tendon strain and sesamoiditis- basically all the tendons in my right foot are freaking out right now). I am itching to hit the pavement (er, treadmill) again, but I'm pretty convinced now that I was misdiagnosed in the first place, so while I'm positive that the rest will have done some good, I am not hopeful that the problem has been solved. I need to get one of those fancy whatchamacallems? Podiatrists? I think we might have one of those out here in the sticks!

    Ah, Houston. I am supremely jealous. I grew up in Austin, and took my first real job working for a power company in Houston. At the time, I hated it because I was so deep in the waters of comparison between my beloved (hippie) hometown and this giant corporate nightmare of a city.

    BUT, now that I am located worlds away from Austin (and far from Texas generally, and home specifically, and anything that has been remotely familiar for the first 30 years of my life), Houston seems like paradise. Yes, it's hot. It's muggy as hell. The pollution is terrible and that makes running hard. But once your lungs get used to it, it is a FANTASTIC place to run- there are pretty much no hills in Houston (well, there are some man-made ones out by reservoirs or whatnot, but not generally), so you can just run and run and run. Well, you can run in neighborhoods. If you appear on foot at any major intersection, the drivers don't know what to do- they just stare and stare, and wait for you to either hand them a leaflet of some sort or beg for change.

    Anyhow... I moved to Houston in late June with a car that had no air conditioning. I was newly employed (and thus, broke), so I could only afford parking on the 13th floor, uncovered parking, so that first 10 minutes in my car was utter hell, but honestly. You get used to it.

    I'm sorry Cali's brother had such a terrible experience, but people have big homes everywhere, and you can definitely go outside (as a matter of fact, much like San Diego, you can enjoy sitting on the perfectly manicured lawn at the museum in short sleeves in January. But unlike San Diego, on rare occasion, you might actually get a tiny bit of snow!). As a matter of fact, I'm going to claim that the "big home" factor has far more to do with the simple availability of land in Texas, even in big cities, as opposed to any climate conditions.

    Anyhow, as a Texas girl, I have to say that (aside from Austin) Houston is an excellent choice as a home. There's world-class museums, an awesome symphony and theater troupe and ballet and opera, plenty of grown-up activities, a TON of kid-friendly places, sporting events for those that dig that kind of thing, beaches at Galveston only 30 minutes away, and best of all- living in Houston puts you in extremely close proximity to a very large international airport, which means that flying pretty much anywhere in the country is cheap cheap CHEAP. And if you were interested in international flights, you can go directly to almost anywhere in the world. You're close enough to Mexico to get ridiculously cheap flights there (or if flying isn't your thing, Galveston is a huge cruise ship port, so you can grab a last minute $200 cruise to Cozumel to just get out of town for 4-5 days).

    And did I mention the wineries? A mere 3 hour drive from Houston, in the hill country to the west, are TONS of very nice wineries. You know, in case you're interested in wine... They even have limos that will drive you from place to place so that you don't have to drink and drive. Sweet!

    As far as neighborhoods go, if I had my choice, I'd live in the Heights again. It's a ten minute (tops) commute from downtown, convenient to the loop, right off I-10, right near the I-10/I-45 exchange, and has a great young family/walking neighborhood vibe. And a great yarn store (if it's still there). And a great pizza place. And adorable houses. I've seen other commenters mention the Woodlands, which is a very nice neighborhood, but having family that grew up in that neighborhood, I can tell you that it is known for being- well... stuck up? That's not quite the right word, but it's the kind of place that feels very- Stepford, if you will. Your neighbors there will think you an oddity if you told them you were largely vegetarian, or that you (rightfully) choose to still breastfeed your baby (or that- GASP -you aren't a teetotaling Southern Baptist...). It's just a very conservative neighborhood (though because of that, the property values are ridiculous), and the commute (if you were working downtown and had to commute) would KILL you if the neighbors didn't.

    Regardless of where you choose to live, you'll find that property is cheap. This is partially because Texas has no state income tax, and thus gets large portions of it's revenue from property taxes, so property prices seem to be kept artificially low as compared to the rest of the country because taxes are (of course) based on property value. I mean, I have a friend who lives in a gorgeous old historic neighborhood in central Houston- prime location, beautiful tree lined streets, wide sidewalks, historic mansions, quiet, close to everything, etc., and he was trying to tell us how horribly expensive it was, and he said, "You know, these houses go for, like, $100,000 per bedroom, basically", and I was thinking, 'That's a BARGAIN', 'cos elsewhere in the country, $400K wouldn't even buy you the ground on which to build the house... so yeah. Values are different in that area of the world, so coming from California, you could substantially profit.

    Anyhow, I wish you all the best with resolution of the numbness. And I promise you that while Houston in July (or August or September) is pretty awful, you'll get used to it far more quickly than you can imagine. They have a massive tunnel system connecting most major downtown buildings (complete with shops, restaurants, tax preparers, dentists, hairdresser- you name it, and it's underground in downtown Houston), so if all else fails, you just pack up the family and go wander the (air conditioned) tunnels for the afternoon. Or you go to one of the awesome museums. Or you head to the beach. You learn to cope. It's not as bad as everyone says it is, but you do have to get used to it.

    And also, I'm not 100% positive what company you work with, but I'm guessing from various clues that it might be the one with the yellow crustacean logo, and if so, then my cousin works in corporate communications for that company in the Houston office and loves it. She's worked for several large corporations before (including the Mouse), but she can't say enough about how great her office environment is. And she's a tough sell, so I think her opinion in this case means something to me...

    Anyhow, regardless of what happens, I hope that things turn out well for you and your family. And I'll be keeping Deana in my thoughts (ah, that's yet another benefit of Houston- world-class medicine!).

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  29. First I'm gonna give an AMEN on your HALLELUJAH!!! That is just awesome! I'm so proud of all ya'll have done, truly amazing! That is wonderful news about Deana

    Now let me chat about the whole Houston thing. I grew up in Houston and now live just north of The Woodlands (that was mentioned in a previous post). They are right, it's HOT here. Really hot. I grew up here, but my family is from Alaska, so you can imagine my view on the heat. However, you can go outside whenever so that comment is not true in my view. You adjust, you learn, you cope. You go to the beach, the pool, museums, zoo, aquarium, rainforest (yep, even have one of those), you want it, we got it! We don't have seasons here really, just warm, hot, and OMG did that thermometer really just say 112?? But it's still awesome. I have no doubt we'll be here until the day we die. And hey, we'd love to have ya!

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  30. ok,when I posted yesterday, my cousin (Myrannda) was still logged in! That post is really from me (she lives in MS)!!!

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