What a great Christmas!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
So, yes, it was a great Christmas...but there's also quite a bit of sarcasm in that "What a great Christmas!" Let's start at the beginning....
We leave to go down to H-town (that's Houston you slow ones) early Saturday morning...by early, I mean like 9 am. We get down there, get settled in, Hope plays a little....and then she walks back into where we're sitting around, and looks like she's just been hit with the plague. We get her over to us, and she's burning up. Take her temperature and it's over 103. For anyone who doesn't know, Hope has a horrible history of ear infections. So we automatically start thinking that. Alexis had just seen an ad in a magazine for this little device that is supposed to detect fluid in the ears to help early diagnose ear infections at home....so her and her mom went out to do some shopping and picked one up. The thing told us what we already knew, but had no idea what to do next....us being in Houston, away from doctors we know, on a Saturday evening. We end up finding an extended hours clinic, and get her there in time. Turns out she has strep as well as both ears being bad.....fantastic. They give her a penicillin shot and start some antibiotics and some cough/congestion medicine. I end up not getting home from the 24 hour pharmacy at Walgreen's til about 11:30 pm. She's miserable all day Sunday, still running a high fever Monday morning. After a phone call to a friend who's in the medical profession, calling a 24 hour free nurse hotline, and calling the extended hours clinic back Monday morning...it was the general consensus that we needed to take her to an ER. So, that's exactly how we want to spend our Christmas Eve...at the ER. Luckily, the Kingwood Medical Center ER was amazing. I could not imagine a less painful/stressful experience for an ER. We were checked in, registered and seeing the doctor in about 25-30 minutes. We ran in right before a rush, so we were the first out of a large group that came right with us. And all the nurses and the doctor were really good and incredibly nice....even with it being Christmas Eve. So, how about some Christmas Eve pictures....
We drive back home to Rusk in the middle of the night Monday, Christmas Eve. Luckily, she finally gets some good rest that night and wakes up feeling a little better Christmas morning. This was destined to be crazy day....first of all, our Christmas lunch with family happened at OUR house...and second of all, it was ALL of my family....my dad's side and my mom's side. So we ended up with about 20 people here. But it was really great....first time we've ever done it like this, with both sides of the family....and it turned out awesome. It was also our first Christmas without my Aunt Debbie, which was hard...but we did ok. So, pictures from Christmas day.....and hope you all a great day with your families as well.
Author: Jinx » Comments:
Revenge of the Gas Tank
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
For anyone who was unaware, I wanted to share my new toy with everyone. My faithful car is no longer with me. We've been through thick and thin together, and he always treated me well. But the time came to move on. So, last Friday we parted ways forever. And now, the new addition to the family....
Almost exactly twice the size of gas tank compared to my Matrix....and maybe a third less gas mileage....not nearly as bad as it could be. So I hope you all get to meet my Dodge Ram 1500 sometime soon.
And yes, it's got a Hemi.
Author: Jinx » Comments:
Cool shirts
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Just wanted to share a very cool site with everyone. They have random designers and artists designing t-shirts, and I think they pretty sweet. Some of you might not be into the style...but you have to admit that they're awesome designs, and have to admire the talent....plus they're unique, and pretty cheap for some cool shirts like this.
Anyways the site is Design By Humans. That's www.designbyhumans.com for those who would like to see the actual link rather than just follow it. And if you like their stuff and want to order something, use this link and it gets me referral points. http://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/affiliate/revjinx
Author: Jinx » Comments:
Saturday in Tyler
Sunday, December 16, 2007
So we went to Tyler yesterday to do Christmas shopping. Just a couple things to share about the day. First of all, I hate Christmas shopping for other people. Shopping for myself, or even for Alexis, is fine. I know what I like, I know what I want, I know what I could use, etc. But I very much dislike having to pick out things for people when I have no clue what they need, want, could use, etc. Because I don't like buying gifts that will either be just some cheesy, stupid gift just because I had to find something to buy, or will be something that ends up being totally useless. There, now that's off my chest. Thanks for listening.
Next thing on the list...first of two things that made my day great. We were coming into Tyler, and notice this sign at a Burger King. This is incredibly impressive to me, in a time where you can barely even say "Merry Christmas" without worrying about offending someone. Where the politically correct statement is "Happy Holidays". Whoever is in charge of this Burger King (I know they're franchised, so I'd like to know who owns this place), not only stuck with the "Merry Christmas" end of it, but slams the truth in everyone's face that drives by.
I was truly amazed by not only the faith displayed by some people here, but by the guts it takes to make a stand like this as a major business in today's society. Thank you Burger King owner in Tyler.
Next topic....and I guess the last. Those of you familiar with La Carretas in Nacogdoches, you might know that there used to be a La Carretas in Tyler as well (owned by the same guy, by the way). For some reason, they built a new building, moved locations, and reopened only as Carretas. Technically still the same restaurant I guess, but for reasons unknown to me, they dropped the "La". Anyways, my little brother works at Carretas in Tyler. Yesterday was the first time we've eaten there since they've moved and renamed...and also the first time we've been there since he's been working there. We, of course, requested to be seated in his section...and it was quite funny watching him run around serving people. Anyways, a couple pics...
Yeah, we're too cool for school. And I made him work hard for his tip, trust me.
Author: Jinx » Comments:
The Nativity
Friday, December 14, 2007
So, we busted out the box with the nativity scene in it last night. Start taking out all the pieces to start setting it up on top of the entertainment center in the front living room. I unwrap this dude from the newspaper he's been resting in for a year....yeah, that newspaper is some super protective stuff apparently.
He didn't even have a chance. Poor camel just kinda lost his head....but I have a theory that involves Osama.
Author: Jinx » Comments:
Back to a simpler time...
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Just created my own template for the ol' blog here. It's simple....very simple....and just easy to look at. Hope you like it.
Don't forget the pics below....do it.
Author: Jinx » Comments:
Photos from this weekend...
Ok, here's my top 6 pics from the class I went to this weekend. We were all supposed to submit our top 5 favorites to be voted upon on Shauna Maness' blog (the teacher/amazing photographer/awesome Christian woman). By the way, everyone needs to go there and vote for my pics....as soon as she puts them up, don't when that's going to happen....maybe I'll let you know once it happens, just to be helpful. So, the first 5 here are the ones I submitted, but I really like the 6th one too....and couldn't decide whether it should have been in my top 5. These are all of our model for the day, Zack Jones....student at Sam Houston State University, and bass player for John Sherrill. Anyways, I'd love to hear what you all think about these. My mind completely full of ideas, thoughts, confusion, etc. about where my photography needs to go. I'm really wanting to take it to the next level....whether that means doing it full time, or just putting myself out there more for more jobs but still doing it on the side. Either way, I know that I need to be doing more with it. But first, I'll wait and see if someone shoots down my self-esteem by hating these pictures. I really do want to hear some feedback though.....so shoot away people. Oh, and you know the drill....click to see it a little bigger.
Author: Jinx » Comments:
the resurrection...
Sunday, December 09, 2007
I feel like it's been nearly a month since I've posted on my blog.
Wait....it has been nearly a month. And I've even been at home, not in Groesbeck for about 2 1/2 weeks now. So you'd think I'd have a little time to do this. But alas, it has not been that easy. My life seems to have been extremely crazy, busy, hectic, stressful, busy again, etc., etc. Trying to get a new vehicle (pray about that for me, by the way), been working on a job here at home the last 2 weeks that has been kinda intense time-wise, trying to make some changes in my photography "business" (another thing I'd appreciate some prayer on), and other random things that have totally consumed my time lately.
Just to make some people happy, I've deleted the post about the album covers....since it seems that some people's browsers/computers make it an annoyingly wide post.
One more topic....I had an absolutely amazing Saturday, yesterday. I went and took a little class that this photographer put on. So I drove out to Madisonville, TX, and got to spend the day with an amazing group of people. A group of fellow photographers, one incredible professional, a superfly model. Our model, who was a friend of our teacher, also happens to be the bass player for John Sherrill. I'll try to post some of my favorite shots I ended up with in the next day or so. I'm actually feeling a lot better about my photography after this event....and I really hope to do something more with this now.....pray for me.
And on that note, I'll leave you with this. This is an actual, for real fortune that I got in a fortune cookie this week. You can't make this stuff up...
Author: Jinx » Comments:
We drive back home to Rusk in the middle of the night Monday, Christmas Eve. Luckily, she finally gets some good rest that night and wakes up feeling a little better Christmas morning. This was destined to be crazy day....first of all, our Christmas lunch with family happened at OUR house...and second of all, it was ALL of my family....my dad's side and my mom's side. So we ended up with about 20 people here. But it was really great....first time we've ever done it like this, with both sides of the family....and it turned out awesome. It was also our first Christmas without my Aunt Debbie, which was hard...but we did ok. So, pictures from Christmas day.....and hope you all a great day with your families as well.
