big bend it like beckham

I’m back! Big Bend was fun, but first, here is my Lake Charles Painting Pictorial from 2 weeks ago.

Bo + Spackle = Fun Times:

Teamwork is important whilst spackling:

Aneil & Lauren try to do actual work whiles Amee tries to spackle Aneil’s head:

Aunt Jenny provides donuts + provides occasional commentary:

Okay, so last week was spring break. Which meant I got to go to work + work on my Finance project, so it wasn’t much of a break. On the plus side, since I had no classes, I got to watch American Idol for the first time. The dad-looking guy makes me laugh, and there are a couple of girls who are awesome. Also although I hate modern rock, that bald-headed "rocker" guy is really good.

Thursday I left work and headed to Austin. Along the way I was so excited because I stopped at a random gas station that stocked Trolli Strawberry Puffs, which, for whatever reason, you can’t find anywhere anymore! (Maybe because they’re sort of gross, but I love them.) This falls into my list of items that have been discontinued and I mourn the loss regularly:

5. Revlon Lipstick Color "Granite"
4. Freaks and Geeks
3. Tato Skins Chips (which in all fairness have been reinvented as TGIFridays Chips)
2. Trolli Strawberry Puffs
1. LEMON COOLERS! (damn you Keebler for purchasing the glorious Sunshine cookie company and discontinuing the best cookie of all time)

Okay yeah, so then, Aneil and I feasted (!) on Olive Garden Unlimited Soup + Salad + Spaghetti + Breadsticks. We just kept eating and eating lettuce and the nice waiter kept heaping grated cheese on all of our foods. It was strangely satisfying and delicious.

Then we had to get up super early to depart for Big Bend, which, it turns out is >500 miles away from Austin. We rode in my car and brought along Aneil’s friend Ashley, and his girlfriend/friend/something-or-other, Kristen. Both were real nice and Ashley found me to be a little odd, I think:

The other car consisted of Aneil’s friends Brent and Kenneth, also both very cool/nice/etc:

We finally got to Big Bend about 8 hours later…the scenery was great:

And our accommodations cozy (although every time the wind blew the rain cover I thought it was a bear/mountain lion):

Friday night was the chili cook out and it was delic-i-o-so. I filled my tummie with chili and s’mores and beer before heading to bed at like, 10:30.
Next morning we woke up and drove out to Boquillas Canyon to hike and look at Mexico from across the Rio Grande. While there we climbed one of the rocks:

So we could run down it:

But I was worried about my lil granny knees so I slid down it on butt:

Then we practiced the ancient art of rock skipping, and got somewhat addicted to it:

The perfect rock! (note crazed look in eye):

We also drove out to the hot springs and dipped our feet in. (It was hot) And then dipped them in the Rio Grande (It was cold). Post hiking, we were worn out, but had to rush to take showers at the lodge and get ready for the wedding. The weather turned out to be really pretty and everything fell into place. Here are Bob & Steph looking pretty:

The reception was fun. I didn’t take any pictures (doh!) but they decorated the ramada with white tarps and tulle and it was adorable and festive and super fun. The bikers/caterers, Pam and Sid, were really nice and made yummie fajitas (love that guac!) and in lieu of cake they had cookies in the shape of Texas that said Bob (heart) Steph. Adorable. We danced the night away, but of course were in bed by 9:30.

Next morning we were up and out of there. Goodbye Big Bend!

Seriously, it was the longest drive ever, especially because everyone got dropped off in Austin (around 5pm) and I had to keep driving by myself to Houston until 10pm or so. Phew! Getting up early Monday to drive to one of the plants at 7am was exhausting to say the least.

Anywho, I should start studying for my Stat test or something. Woo.