I have a Vice.....

Well, I actually have several vices, but one in particular that I am willing to share. I love Reality TV shows......not all of them, of course......I do have my standards. For instance, I have never watched Toddlers and Tiaras that a friend of mine told me about. She loves it. I also never did get into Dating in the Dark.....once I saw the participants in the light I realized that they should probably continue to date in the dark, so I wasn't interested.



I love Survivor, Amazing Race, Big Brother, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Being hooked on these shows makes me very thankful that DVR's were invented because I can record them all ahead of time and if I am not home when they are aired I won't miss an imporant episode.....one that may include some major reality show drama or somebody eating something really icky.



Gary and I often compare ourselves to the contestants on the Amazing Race declaring that we would be able to navigate around the world much better than they because of our skills at various things that are required of them. The only thing holding us back from attempting to be cast in that show is that we know we would have some HUGE fights (mainly over driving directions) on National Television........they may have to take the show out of the prime time viewing slot due to explicit language.




After a long day of work I like nothing better than to chill out and watch these shows. I have a TV mounted on the wall in my bathroom and I while I enjoy a good soak in the tub I flip the channels to my favorite shows. Two of which are at the top of my list for late night viewing: Top Chef and World Series of Poker.




I recently had the pleasure of meeting my favorite celebrity chef from the Top Chef Masters season, Chef Hubert Keller. I always thought he was such a gentleman on the series and he was no less such in person.


And, I love playing Texas Hold 'Em.......I have a girlfriend that has Girls Night Poker at her place every once in a while and we all get together to play Texas Hold 'Em........and, we have an instructor present to help out (usually a guy friend that plays poker alot). I watch the World Series of Poker tournaments just like I used to read the Bridge column. So, it was a real treat when, through my job as a real estate agent ,I happened to meet Ylon Schwartz, one of the top winners of the tournament......a fourth place finish, to be exact. That's huge! He called on one of my listings and I have met with him a few times to show him the property. An awesome condo project designed by the renowned architect, Dick Clark, in South Austin (Soco to the locals). Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/y9s5qsv He is really nice, but he didn't seem too thrilled to be an instructor at our Girls Night Poker when I asked him. He just kind of laughed and avoided a commitment........I think he was just so overwhelmed to have been asked that he didn't know what to say. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. If you want to get a visual of him you can read more about him at http://tinyurl.com/yeb884z


I am always on the lookout for a new Reality Show that I can get hooked on......so, if you have any suggestions please let me know!

There is Tailgating, and there is TAILGATING!

I have come to realize that tailgating has become a true art form and possibly......well, an obsession. I am amazed at the lengths people will go to have the ultimate tailgate party.

Merriam Webster defines tailgating as follows: an intransitive verb 1 : to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle2 : to hold a tailgate picnic. So, a tailgate party is a social event held on and around the tailgate of a vehicle.


How did tailgating actually start? It seems that it has its roots from a college football game in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton. It was reported back then that it was a fine game and a fine party!


The tailgate party has evolved into something big and grand since those early days. As gas grills became more portable and coolers grew wheels, rows of parking spots have transformed themselves into communities, some with their own names, lights, games and flags. The ultimate tailgates in these lots and grassy areas are almost worthy of being judged something akin to floats in a parade. There are websites devoted to tailgate fare, tailgate games and tailgate decorations.

I have witnessed and attended tailgate parties with elaborate tents, party lighting, satellite TV's, chairs set up in theatre-style seating, and a spread of food to match the best Luby's buffet line.I have seen people playing beer-pong, tossing horse-shoes, throwing washers and even making putts on a make-shift putting green at tailgate parties.

There are huge tailgate parties with a multitude of people, some over-flowing from the tailgate next door. These are typically the tailgaters that have arrived at their tailgate location several hours before a game to set-up their home-away-from-home. Some people haul half their homes to these parking lots. This type of tailgater is considered to be part of a Tailgation - the collective term for a community of Tailgaters.




Then there are those tailgate parties that have a smaller group of fans. No less fun than the larger tailgates, but a little more intimate, with a group of close friends. The party fare may consist of chips and dips, grilled sausage and most certainly some Pluckers wings. Of course, there will be beer and/or wine. Indeed, adult beverages are also an important if not crucial factor in successful tailgating.









And then, there is the fan that just embraces the art of Tailgating for the sake of Tailgating. Even if he/she has no friends to tailgate with.........this would be considered a Lone Tailgater.

The draws that pull today’s well-equipped, well-dressed, well-fed fan to the parking lot are the same ones that drew that crowd in 1869: the friends, the party, the game. In fact, two out of three are sufficient for some fans. And probably in that order: One survey found 30 percent of tailgaters never set foot in the stadium.

Personally, I like to actually GO to the football game, sit in the stands, holler for my team and sing the fight song with the crowd. I will attend a tailgate before or after the game, but if I am going to tailgate during the game it will be in my own living room with A/C, comfortable chairs, and remote control for rewind........but, most importantly, I like the bathroom set-up much better.

For the 2009 University of Texas football schedule visit my website at http://www.livelargeaustin.com/

Dallas Cheerleader Wannabe?

It would appear that way, but the picture is deceiving. Since I am dressed in Dallas cheerleader gear, blonde wig and all, you would think that I have a secret desire to be a cheerleader. Yet, the truth of the matter is that after trying out for cheerleader in 7th grade and being horribly crushed by not being elected by my peers I gave up all aspirations of being ANY kind of cheerleader........except, of course, for my children.

In actuality I am dressed in this polyester uniform for the Kick-Off meeting of my Helping Hand Home gala committee, along with my co-chair Susan Prickett. We have taken on the monumental task of being the chair-persons for the Gala 2010 which is held in March. We have been working many hours a week since this past January (yes, that would be approx. 15 months prior to the actual Gala date) on preparations for the Gala that will be in the Spring of 2010........our job, besides planning the gala which usually has around 3500 attendees, is to keep our committee motivated, encouraged, focused and in high spirits. Thus, the cheerleader garb.

The Gala is a debutante event held at Palmer Auditorium with a silent auction, deb presentation, dinner, dancing and just all-around fun. It is one of the biggest parties of the year in Austin and is always well attended. I remember, well, when my daughter Ellie was presented as a Deb at the event........she had so much fun and will remember it always. And, in my opinion, was one of the prettiest Debs I have ever seen.

The Helping Hand Gala isn't just for fun, though! On the contrary, it is the largest fund-raiser for the Helping Hand Home for children. The Home provides vital services to children who have been severely affected by neglect and abuse.

The residential treatment facility for abused and neglected children provides a supportive and loving atmosphere where each child can begin to heal. Specialized therapy is provided with the goal of restoring the child to a family setting. Individualized care and treatment are costly for these children, but the Helping Hand Society is committed to the concept that the Home can make dramatic changes in a child’s life. This past year the Home made an extraordinary addition to their campus, the Charter School. This facility helps the most socially and academically challenged children by equipping them with the skills they will need to succeed in the public school system. If you would like to know more about the Home please visit the website at http://www.helpinghandhome.org/

The Gala committee is working hard to plan the event whose proceeds make up the majority of the funds needed to run the Helping Hand Home. Planning this event is a task that I welcomed because I believe so strongly in the work that the home does for the children that we serve. We welcome any and all levels of donations, so if you would like to help support the valuable service that the home provides to our community please contact me........ It takes alot of hard work to put on an event of this magnitude so my cheerleader outfit will be ready at hand for the next several months!