9:00 a.m. – This is officially a “no work” weekend, and I spent Saturday morning reveling in the thought of two whole days of fun. I had planned to spend the morning gardening, but it got cold here Friday night. Well, OK, to be a bit more accurate, the temp dropped into the ’50’s today and it was damp. To this native Houstonian, that’s cold, and so I decided to limit my outdoor activities to filling up the bird feeders and doing a little watering. As I was filling up the hummingbird feeders, I realized this may be the last time I put fresh nectar out for the pint-sized critters. But then last night at dusk I saw one at the feeder. I really thought all the hummers had finally migrated south for the winter, but perhaps not. I’ll watch today for other stragglers. And, quite frankly, even if I take the feeders down and there are those who were left behind, they’ll have food from the flowers of my pineapple salvia and turks cap. I’m always sad when they leave. I miss their aerial battles. But then I remember the goldfinches who will soon be here for the winter, and that cheers me up!

12:30 p.m. – Lunch and laughter and a mani/pedi with my good friend Cheryl. Heaven!

9:00 p.m. – I decided Saturday was Movie Extravaganza Day and spent some quality time at the Angelika at Mockingbird Station. I saw “Butter,” followed by “The Oranges.” Jennifer Garner was so good in “Butter,” playing a crazed butter sculptor competing for the championship at the Iowa State Fair. Her main competitor was a 10-year-old African-American foster child with a talent for butter sculpting. And Olivia Wilde was awesome as the local stripper – amazing tattoos! If you go, stay for the out takes at the end of the movie! I was less enthralled with “Oranges,” although it was nice to see Hugh Laurie playing a normal guy (**spoiler alert**) who has an affair with his best friend’s 24-year-old daughter.

Today’s fun — The FAIR!! More later! Until then, please enjoy Alton Brown’s tribute to 50 years of James Bond:

http://altonbrown.com/2012/shaken-not-stirred

Cathjanie

Hello, everyone!

First things first — a little bit about me.

I’m a lawyer who came to the law relatively late in life. I didn’t start law school until I was 38, and when I applied, I was a stay-at-home mom with no lofty ambitions – I was just looking for a way to support myself post-divorce. My surprise has been that I find inspiration and comfort in the practice of law. It’s a noble profession, and one in which I have respected and liked my clients and have been pleased and proud to represent their interests zealously. That representation has required twenty-plus years of nights/weekends/vacations/any other personal time you can think of, all of which I have happily devoted to my craft.  I gave that time gladly. I will be the first to admit, though, that it has not been a very well-rounded life.

Now that I am leaving the 50-something part of my life and entering the 60-something part, it’s time for my world to expand. I am beginning a journey towards becoming a person who is hopefully more complete, more in-tune with the world around me, and perhaps more interesting. The first part of the adventure will lie in exploring the wonders that I suspect lurk just outside my office. Let’s go!

Cathjanie