REUNION TIME

Thank goodness we don't let too much time pass between Toast and Malarkey reunions. In the past few weeks, we've gotten to play in beautiful Telluride and Funkytown!

Telluride Blues and Brews Festival was everything we hoped for and more. This was the 4th voyage to this remarkable festival for both of us so we are pretty much pros by now. We know where to sit, what to eat (dumplings!), what to wear (tons of flare)... but, what keeps us coming back every year is the music and the people. This year we heard some of our old favorites like JJ Grey and Mofro, Galactic and Derek Trucks and found some new bands like to partake in like The Deetles and Dana Fuchs.

I think we were happy to see each other!

The standard crew

Then just a couple weeks later M heads to Fort Fun to help throw a baby shower our way - fun and tacky. Who wants to sit around and watch your pregnant friend open presents and snack on rabbit food? So in the tradition of throwing parties for our dear friend, Erin Barnes, the tacky theme continued and we celebrated the upcoming birth of little Dylan in a big way. The party was a huge success and the costumes were impressive.

Well, I'm off to get a car wash and to the grocery store - really exciting day o' fun down here. How was your house warming party?

XO,

Toast

Running of the Gays

Fahren, me, and our new friend

A runner

Enjoying brunch

Dear Toast,

Sorry I've been a slacker in the blogging department. Work has been killing me smalls. I did enjoy a hilarious event this past Sunday. I went to the first annual "Running of the Gays" with some friends, Paul and Fahren. It is a benefit run where participants dress up and run a 3-block marathon in heels. Pretty entertaining and hilarious. Apparently the event is in many cities, but they all have different names....All funds for the Denver event go to Art from Ashes, a local poetry program for at-risk youth. Afterwards, we all enjoyed hamburgers and mimosas at Hamburger Mary's (I mentioned this place earlier in my blogging days). Can't wait to see you this weekend!

Love,

Malarkey

H-town

Malarkey,

First off I just want to say that your mom is a strong woman and if anyone was to make a full recovery it is her. My thoughts are with you and your family and Toast is happy to hold things down in the Fort while your family is working through all this.

Here is what has been going on with me. LDeen Photography hit the road and went to visit my old college roomie in Houston to take some photos for her. We spent the weekend walking all around the city capturing shots to decorate her new home. And since it was 100+ degrees we also spent a lot of time popping in and out of local watering holes to cool off. It was a big success and actually some of the bar shots turned out to be our favorites:

We had a blast and it was sad to leave, but I had to come back to see my favorite band, Chromeo. Oh my gosh, I am in love with them. As you know I've seen them in NYC and DC so of course I was going to be there for their first Dallas show. It was a crazy, energetic show and I danced my rear off with the rest of the crowd. Afterwards, I met the front man, Dave One - I think we make a pretty fantastic looking couple.

Chromeo's latest album, "Business Casual" will be released September 14, just in time for my bday! I've already listened the the new singles about a thousand times and I've pre-ordered the entire album on iTunes - I suggest you do the same.

So life is good, but I miss having my partner in crime here. Miss you, Toast

Oh yes, here is a picture of a second grader, who you know well, getting her first gun lesson at the ranch over labor day weekend. She is a natural.

In Honor of my Mom

Please watch any major television network on September 10th, 7 pm central. The annual Stand Up to Cancer telethon in on that night. As many of you know, my mother is fighting breast cancer. All donations will go to the battle against cancer. Find out more at www.standup2cancer.org

Toast visits Denver

Malarkey,

Sorry I've sucked b's at blogging lately. Maybe if I wasn't spending all my free time coming to visit you or waking up at the crack of dawn to get you in Dallas I would have more time to post. For realz though, thanks for being such a great host in Denver. Your home is amazing and it was great to catch up. Let's reminisce, shall we?

Toast and Malarkey

Do Red Rocks!

And get in touch with nature

with a refreshing hike in Boulder!

Miss you,

Big T

Pamela Michelle

I saw these amazing prints in the Women's restroom (good figure :) this past weekend at Eno's Pizza in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas. Check out the website at www.pamelamichelle.com Very cool stuff! I was in town for Joy's Bachelorette weekend. I also recommend Eno's Pizza...really thin crust delish pizza! Bishop Arts District is a cute area in Oakcliff in Dallas. Great place for a date! Check out more about Eno's at www.enospizza.com Happy Monday!

Pomona High

Toast,

Hi friend! Change of plans....I will no longer have to make the 45 minute drive to Longmont, CO for work. Last Friday, I interviewed for a position as a school psychologist with Jeffco school district...and I got it. I will by working at Pomona High School full time. This will be different than Ft. Worth ISD where I travelled to many different schools. I'm very excited! This school is well known for its high academic achievement, band, and athletics. If you're bored, check out the website at www.jeffco.k12.co.us/high/pomona. Toast, how bout you post some pics from your travels to CO? I hear you had a nice time :) I hope everyone in Tejas is doing well. I really miss ya'll.

Love,

Malarkey

Lazy Summer Daze

Toast,

I had a very lazy summer day today. I finally finished the above book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, recommended to me by my friend, Claire. Now I'm not usually into murder mystery books, but this one was great! Can't wait to start the next one in the series. I also planted some flowers and went on a jog. I'm trying to enjoy my time off...in 2 short weeks I will have to start waking about at 5:30 am to make a 45 minute drive to work to make it there by 7:20 am. Oh, the beauty of change. Can't wait to see you this weekend.

Love,

Malarkey

Steamboat

Toast,

Here are a few pics from my family trip to Steamboat....what a great time with fam. I love your baby pics! You are very talented. Can't wait to hang in a short week and a half. Please comment readers about the new format...like, dislike? Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying summer!

Love,

Malarkey

Babies galore

Malarkey,

In the past weeks I've found myself surrounded by babes. No, it's not time to order our Asian baby yet, but I have been having fun exploiting of all my friends' little peanuts. First up was the Sip n' See for Lauren M and Mary Marshall. Of course I am partial to Collier Morgan, but MM's twin girls are nothing to shake a stick at (am I using that expression correctly - what I mean is that they are adorable!!!) We got them together for their first family portraits and they turned out pretty stinking cute:

Then Saturday I spent out on Eagle Mountain Lake to hang with Nick and Sarah and their little Bennett. Little B is taking after his father and loving the water.

Am I alarmed that my fridge has become void of wedding invitations and replenished with invites to baby showers? Not so much. While these little darlings are so cute they'll give you a toothache, I am happy to turn them back over to my their rightful owners and head out on the town with my single girls. Just not there yet and having way too much fun in the mean time.

Miss you, but I will be there soon!

What the French,

Toast

Favorites

Toast,

Hi there!! It's definitely been awhile. I haven't updated because I really haven't known where to begin. The rest of the family trip was fun. I highly recommend Bath, Amsterdam, and London! Skip Brussels, not much to see. After my two weeks in Europe, I've decided that I'm going to look into careers with the Department of Defense and the American Embassy...I'm sure they need hardworking school psychologists, right?? I spent a week in Steamboat Springs with Hadley, Jane, Allison, John, my mom, cousin, grandparents, and aunt and uncle. It was very fun. I haven't been the best about taking pictures. We hiked, fished, swam, ate, floated the rive, etc. Hadley still regards me as her best friend, a title I take with great pride.

I did re-read my favorite book of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird. If you have never read it, I highly recommend you doing so. When I was little, I begged my family to call me Scout..it didn't stick :). I am defintely naming my first child, Atticus. I'll upload more trip photos when I receive them from family members. Soooo glad you decided to visit for a weekend. Denver won't know what hit them ;).

Lots of love,

Malarkey

M,

I think I miss you more since you are so far away. Europa looks fabulous and brings back many memories of my summer abroad. I would tell you the great places to visit in Amsterdam, but for some reason the details of that leg of the trip are a little hazy...

So, I had our former neighbor over for dinner the other night and I made him our favorite Ina Garten recipe, Spring Green Risotto!!!! (click here for the goods). DarIen was very impressed. Not only had he not had risotto before, but he's never cooked with leeks. Hmph, and he calls himself a foodie! It was delicious and after words we went to see Bob Schneider play at 8.0's. He was super rad and we even talked to him for a bit after the show. Things were going well, he even asked what we were up to later, but then we both buckled under pressure, made asses of ourselves and he promptly said he had to go back to Austin and got the hell away from us. Ah, well. He well be mine someday, oh yes, he will be mine.

"Hi Mary, this risotto is delicious!"

Did I tell you I was the photographer on the set of KNIFE, the indie film Alec is producing? It was pretty sweet and the film is already getting some press. It's most likely going to sky rocket my career and you can say you knew me when.

Enjoy your fam time across the pond and write soom. Miss you, Toast

England

The flag

My attempt at artistic photography

Here Will and I are with a guard...playing it cool, as usual

Changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace...ignore the camera

My brothers and I in the eye of London..a huge Ferris wheel

The eye

I have been infected with World Cup fever....

Canterbury Cathedral

Stonehenge...my favorite sight so far

Toast,

Look I found you in London!!! England has been amazing so far...great food, nice accommodations! I do not recommend EVER renting a car in Europe..very confusing, frustrating, and scary. We have visited all the sights in London, went to Bath, a town in West England where ancient Romans went to visit the natural springs, Canterbury and now Stonehenge. We are heading for Brussels and then Amsterdam tomorrow...should be interesting with two teenage boys;/. Please forgive my lack of photography skills, I need your help with that. The weather is very nice here and it doesn't get dark until 10:30 pm...kinda weird. Everyone in England is very excited about the World Cup! I hope for a big victory tomorrow against Germany just to root for the home team. Good luck USA tonight! Heading to watch the game now. How is the fort? I miss you and can't wait to see you at the airport.

Love,

Malarkey

Estes Park

Toast,

Look who I found in Denver?? You know him, David! We spent the day hiking in Estes Park and enjoyed some amazing Colorado taffy. Then enjoyed a beer at Oskar Blues...great microbrewery in Lyons. I think Anner and you played some music there once...right? The lake is Emerald lake and obviously beautiful! Crazy there is still snow on the ground. I have an extra bedroom for you and everyone else is welcome too! David tried it and said he slept like a baby last night! Woke up to birds chirping....at 5:30 am :/..Come visit soon! Heading with the family to England tomorrow..Tally ho!

Love,

Malarkey

PS...I found a job!! Yes! I will be a school psychologist in Longmont...a 45 minute drive every day there and back, but it's a cool town and it's a job. Feeling much better about my big decision to move. PSS..I have heard of this icing phenomenon..guys do it here too, looks horrible!

Yo Malarkey,

Love the pics of the new place. I hope you have plenty of pictures of me all around so you don't go into withdrawal; I know it will be hard adjusting to living without me. I'll put some pics up of my new digs soon. I love it, but it's not as polished as your place yet since I have a job in all and don't have all day to lounge around and rearrange nick nacs. Jab! Actually it's pretty funny being the employed one for a change - I wonder if we will ever both be working at the same time? What this really means is that we need to better prepare for our next sabbaticals and take leave at the same time. Australia here we come... someday...

Things are starting to settle down here in Funkytown after my crazy month of moving, work and Bermuda so I will be better about keeping you informed. Bermuda was beautiful, see:

And it was on this island that I learned about the Smirnoff Ice phenomenon, "Bros Icing Bros". Ummm, have you played this game? It is pretty incredible and I highly recommend. Please "Ice" Anne the next time you see her. It's all the rage with the kids these days. Here is a NY Times article about it so that you know I'm legit.

Lots more to update you on soon. We miss you here in the Fort.

Love you. Mean it.

Toast

Letters to Deen

New Home

Great backyard

MGMT at Red Rocks

Toast,

Experienced Red Rocks for the first time this summer seeing MGMT. It rained the entire concert so we spent most of the time wet hanging out in the cheaply tricked out rented winnebago and in the downstairs museum of the history of Red Rocks attempting to stay dry...still enjoyed the popular songs of "Kids" and "Electric Feel." Can't wait for you to come visit soon! Brett Dennan is playing July 31st!! Heading to Great Britian on Friday...I'll post lots of pics when I hear back from you via the web.

Love,

Malarkey