Living in Munchkinland

I scheduled my hysterectomy today. For the last year I've been taking depo provera to help with my endometriosis, cysts and chronic pelvic pain. It has helped tremendously, but the side effects have been awful. Though I run 4 miles every other day, do pilates and eat vegan, I have gained 20 pounds (average they say for depo), suffered daily headaches and mood swings and lost my libido. And with all that, the pain never went away, it just got better than it was. After lots of thinking and pondering and talking to doctors, I decided to day to have a full hysterectomy. Goodbye, ovaries, tubes, uterus and cervix, hello menopause. It's a hell of trade off, but I'm thinking it can't be worse than depo. And maybe I'll be over all my issues and you'll never have to hear about my ladies parts again. I'm nervous about the surgery (what if I die on the table?????), but I know it's a routine surgery done all the time and I trust my doctor. I'll still...

We did the crop walk again this year. Our Unitarian Universalist fellowship coordinated the walk and we all raised money for the Hays County Food bank and did the walk together. It was warm, but we all had a good time for a great cause.

It's green again! Though our local weather says we still need 13 inches of rain before we are out of drought, we have gotten a ton of rain already this winter/spring. The whole ranch is green and gorgeous. Our drive down to the beach was beautiful with some of the most amazing, colorful wildflowers I've ever seen. The boys and I went on our annual flower hunt on Thursday afternoon. They bring a bucket and pick flowers and I take pictures of them sitting in the bluebonnets. Not all of the flowers have bloomed yet on the ranch, so we'll probably have to do it again in a week or two. Michael and I are jonesing to get up to the Stonewall house to see the flowers, but I don't know if we'll make it since every weekend through the June seems to booked up. On Friday morning we had not one, but two huge hot air balloons come right over our house. They were so close, we even got to chat with them. They come down the river and then turn at our house to head toward an ...

Dad and I drove up to Austin today wearing red to protest on the Capital Steps. It was a great crowd and had a very fun vibe. Marcia Ball invited us up there to celebrate her birthday. Here's her email about why we went. What the heck’s happening with our poor country?! Who knew that in 2012 in the USA we would be fighting about contraception and basic women's health? Next Tuesday, between noon and 2:00 PM, I am going to put on a red shirt and stand in front of the Texas State Capitol at the corner of Congress Avenue and 11th Street holding a sign decrying the defunding of women’s health services. I am calling my effort SEEING RED and it may be just me and a few friends or a few hundred. This is my own personal response to the outrage of the Texas Taliban’s war on women and, peripherally, my sadness over the death of foreign correspondent Marie Colvin who gave her life to tell us about the inhumanity and injustice of those who target the powerless. My vigil is in honor...

We are down in Port A for my birthday/spring break. It has been totally awesome. We are here with Cheris and Rob and their kids, Chris and Stacey and their kids, Elizabeth and Zach and their kids, Mom and Dad and Lilliana, and have met up with Anne and Jeff and their kids and friends. It is such a joy to be surrounded by our friends and family. And they are so fun! We spent our first full day/my birthday on the beach and then had an amazing potluck (with fried pies for dessert) downstairs. After dinner, we put the kids down and then Michael hooked up a security surveillance camera as a monitor and we went down to the 101 condo porch and all the grown ups played "Things" and partied our rear ends off. It was the best birthday ever. Since then we have spent time at the pool, played at the park, gone on a bike ride, attended Charlie's birthday party on the beach, played the wii, dined at Beaches and Fins, cooked three amazing pot luck dinners and played more "Thi...

The boys make their beds every morning, but lately Davis has been elevating his bed making to an art. His stuffed animals each have a place to go and it's the same each day. Check it out.

Michael and I drove an hour to the Sherwood Forest Ren Fair yesterday. We had a great time. The weather was perfect. It was cool, sunny and only got into the mid seventies. We met up with Zach and Elizabeth and their kids there. We rode the giant swing, saw a cool falcon show, watched a hand-to-hand combat show during which Michael got chosen as a judge, bought the boys costumes (they are Robin Hood and Little John), ate yummy vegan food, drank wine, watched a dog show and much more. The boys' favorite activity was shooting bows and arrows at a target and beating each other with pillows while standing on a log. Elizabeth threw knives and both she and Michael threw tomatoes at a heckler. Michael and I are inspired to get costumes ourselves. Michael spent yesterday evening researching steampunk costumes. We had a great time. I highly recommend it!

We went up to Austin for a third time to dine at the Hyden Park Supper Club. We met Marchelle and Marc there and had a wonderful time. The food was good and the company was great. Anyone want to start a supper club in San Marcos?

Michael's grandmother passed away on Saturday. She was surrounded by her family and went peacefully. The family sang the Lord's Prayer around her bedside when she passed. I remember her as a beautiful, fun, interesting woman with great stories. She sang beautifully and I am glad I got to know her. Please send up some thoughts or prayers for Michael's family during this time.