February 28th - Jar of Buttons

I decided to put all the extra buttons I've been collecting into one jar. I didn't have nearly as many as I thought I had.

February 27th - Jane Eyre

I'm rereading Jane Eyre in anticipation of the new movie coming out next month.

February 26th - Austin skyline from Mopac

Today I decided to drive over to Barton Creek to do some shopping. On the way back, I stopped at Mangia for a late lunch/early dinner and then decided to shop and take pictures at Eliers Park and Deep Eddy Pool. I took the walking trail down to the Mopac footbridge and snapped this picture of downtown from underneath Mopac.

February 25th - One Year

In some ways, today is the one-year anniversary of Project 365.

No, I didn't begin the project until April 1, 2010, but February 25 is important because that's when all the changes that happened this past year were set in motion. On February 25, 2010, I was laid off from my job at the museum. It can be hard to actually write or say those words - laid off - because it feels like failure. The thing is, I feel happy and blessed about the changes that have occurred in my life over the last year. I'm happy to be back in Texas, happy to be closer to my family, happy to be working at a job that I enjoy so much more than my last one.

And I'm also happy that I began this project a little over a month later and have almost completed it. At first it was something for me to do each day so I wouldn't be bored or feel too sorry for myself. It later became a way for me to share a little piece of my life each day with friends and family. I feel honored to know that others have begun similar projects.

One year. It can change everything.

February 24th - Office Ghost

Every office needs one, right? This sheet has been hanging in one of the trees outside of the office for as long as I can remember.

February 23rd - iPod

What I'll be waking up to tomorrow.

February 22nd - Boxed in

What is it about cats and boxes?

February 21st - Presidents' Day

The parking lot is a lot emptier on a Monday holiday.

February 20th - My Heart Will Go On

Back in late 1997/early 1998, I loved Titanic. I think I saw the movie twice in theaters (this paled in comparison to some girls) and got excited every time Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On came on the radio, especially the version that featured dialogue from the movie. And then my feelings changed. Perhaps it was the fact that My Heart Will Go On was overplayed on the radio or that James Cameron was just so cocky. Anyway, it was a complete 180 from December/January to March of that year.

Titanic was on TV this evening, which made me think of all this. I caught it halfway through and still couldn't managed to pay attention until the end.

February 19th - Photo Walk

Today I had the chance the take a photo walk around my apartment complex with my new camera (yes, I finally got a DSLR using credit card points). At first I didn't think there would be too many things to take pictures of since the area around the complex is rather plain, but I enjoyed taking pictures around the pool area. The picture above is a detail of a mosaic. It was so nice around the pool that I brought my book back and read until it got too dark.

February 18th - Little details

A few more decorations from my apartment.

February 17th - Rise

In lieu of a picture today, I scanned in the postcard they gave us at the end of the movie Rise. The movie was about the 1961 U.S. figure skating team who died in a plane crash on the way to the World Championships. I thought the movie was well done, and the personal stories were quite moving.

February 16th - Dear Abby

Dear Abby,

I have a problem that I'm a little bit embarrassed to tell you about. I think my cat (I'll call him "Simon") scratched me while I was sleeping last night. (Please see picture above.) This isn't the first time he's attacked me. What should I do?

Sincerely,
Anxious and Abused in Austin

Dear Anxious and Abused,


I must admit that I've never heard of a situation quite like yours. Your cat Simon appears to have some aggression issues. I suggest group therapy or obedience training. Or perhaps relocation to a new home.


Sincerely,
Abby

February 15th - Traffic jam

I had to drive down Parmer today to get to CVS. I'm so thankful this isn't my usual commute; it was bumper-to-bumper traffic the entire way there (but smooth sailing on the way back).

February 14th - Loverly sunset

The sky was beautiful this evening after work.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

February 13th - And then there was one...

A few months ago, I thought it would be nice to add cork board squares to my office. Sammy, unfortunately, had other ideas. In spite of nailing the squares to the wall, Sammy has pulled three of the four squares off.

This is not as bad as spilling water on the computer, but seriously...this cat is in need of some major obedience training.

February 12th - Texas Basketball

Unlike our football team, the Texas basketball team is having an amazing season so far. The whole family went to see the Texas-Baylor game this afternoon. In spite of some tense moments in the second half, the Longhorns won, 69-60. Hook 'em, Horns!

February 11th - Work of Heart

Nothing says love quite like a heart-shaped pizza. I was happy to share it with Paul and Esther tonight.

February 10th - Blessing

Words to live by this Thursday (from a magnet on my refrigerator)

February 9th - Ice isn't nice

I walked out to my car this morning to discover that the windshield and left windows were covered with a thick layer of ice. Between the defroster and the ice scraper, I managed to clean the windshield off so I could drive to work. I'm so ready for my mild Texas winter to return - I left Massachusetts for a reason.

February 8th - Miles to Go

Now that I'm back in Texas, I continue to add more and more miles to my car.

February 7th - B-A-N-A-N-A-S

When life hands you ripe bananas, make banana bread (and mini muffins).

February 6th - Green-eyed monster

I think someone's a little jealous that I oohed and aahed over the adorable puppies (and kittens) in the Puppy Bowl this afternoon.

February 5th - Passport of Memories

My trusty National Parks passport has been out on my coffee table for the last few weeks - I think I took it out of some box that was too full and never found another spot for it. I love this old thing because it holds so many memories of past family vacations. My mom bought my brother and me our passports on our Lincoln vacation in 1992, and we've filled them with stamps almost every summer until now. Mine is especially "well loved" because I would pore through it both before and during vacations, trying to find any and every national park/monument within a two-hour radius of where we were going (my parents loved this!). I'm so happy and blessed to have these memories and hope that I can put even more stamps in my passport in the coming years.

February 4th - Snow Day in Austin

1 inch of snow = SNOW DAY in Austin (Hey, I'm not complaining!)

Most of the snow had melted by early afternoon.

February 3rd - Hallelujah!

It works!

February 2nd - Baby, it's (really) cold

It was so cold this morning that ice had formed on the inside of my window. Brr!

February 1st - The Moat

The office next door has a nice water feature, especially when they keep it filled.