Texas.. up close and personal

I had the privilege, in 2006, to see the Horns at practice.  It was an amazing experience in a million different ways.  Really emotional.  Really hard to put in words.  Best way I can say it was.. that it was electric!!

Let me share a bit of Austin and the Longhorns with you:

Here's the Capital of Texas.  Gorgeous!

Can you tell I'm excited?  Here are a few snaps from the practice.  Took these before I realized I wasn't supposed to.  I felt bad, but at the same time.. how cool that I got pictures of Colt McCoy before he was the real thing (he's the QB if you didn't know)!!  And now here he is ... 4 years later .... leading Texas in a fight for the National Championship!  I feel like I've been able to be a real part of it!

I'm just going to let the snaps flow now.  The game will start soon... GO HORNS!!  No matter what... I LOVE YA!!    Hook 'em  \m/  WHOOT WHOOT!!!!

Yes, that's Colt with his helmet off!  Yes, that's the UT Tower lite up in burnt orange!  Yes, that's me.  Yes, I have goosebumps.

For me... Cheering my head off for Texas = happiness!!

AND.. I have a nice little surprise for you when Texas wins!  Bet you can't guess what it is ;)

Live the dream again!

Today my big excitement and happiness is coming from this:

And this

I really, really, really wanted to be able to go to my first BCS bowl game this year to see my Horns play.  Alass, I have to be content watching them from my couch on the big screen tonight.

If you haven't figured it out, I'm talking about my passion for college football.  More specifically the coolest team out there... the  Texas Longhorns (University of Texas, Austin).

I have a bit more to say about this, but wanted to start your morning right!

(picture credits to BCSfootball.org and MackBrown-TexasFootbal.com)

Inch by Inch Art - Courage

Joining in on Remembering Paris' Inch by Inch Art on Tuesdays = happiness! (and check out the other artists by clicking on the Remembering Paris link above)

Today's theme was courage. I sat down a few times this weekend to try and draw something that to me represented courage. No easy task. So, I started looking through my old photo albums for inspiration and found these shots I took from Austin, TX in 2006.

Seeing this sculpture of a lady (in a dress) firing a canon makes be remember how proud I am of the many people before us that fought for our rights and the freedom we have today. Imagine the courage that she must have had!! I bet she didn't even think twice about her personal safety, but simply stepped up and charged forward with what needed to be done. It all shows in the expression on her face!

If I could find a way to incorporate even the smallest fraction of her courage in to my life I wouldn't find the world nearly as tough as I have lately. Let's all try and be as tough as this Canon Lady!