Nov 04 2009
I’ve been incredibly busy writing code over the past two months in order to hit our big Code Complete deadline last week. Now that we’ve hit it, I’ve got a more reasonable schedule, so I figured I should post up a quick update.
I’m loving my bicycle. I have gotten in the habit of riding to/from work several days (if not all days) a week. The weather is getting cooler, but most days are >55, so it makes a brisk ride strenous enough to keep me warm. I don’t know that I’ve seen a huge health benefit yet, but I’ve only been diligent about riding it the past week or so. I really need to keep it up to keep in shape for our big Half Dome hike next summer.
One reason I have been biking more is that I started taking a class at Stanford, through their Center for Professional Development. I have embarked on a “graduate certificate” program that will grant me a certificate in databases after taking 4 classes. One way to describe this certificate is like “1/5 of a Master’s”. The four classes count towards a Master’s degree, so after I complete them this time next year, I can re-evaluate going down that path depending on everything else going on in my life. I really enjoy doing academia and industry computer science simultaneously - it’s a nice balance of “pure science” in academia, and “engineering” in industry. Anyway, the bike is helpful around campus because Stanford is so huge, it would take forever to walk around. I am mainly taking the class online, but I go to campus to study and work on programming projects due to the increased intra-network connectivity. It’s challenging, but I am really enjoying it.
Oh yeah, I was Travis Bickle from The Taxi Driver (with Rober Deniro) for Halloween, so my hair is currently cut into a mohawk. 
Sep 23 2009
As you might have read a while ago, I thought I was going to train for a marathon. That went pretty well, until I started getting horrible shin splints. I read a lot of advice about getting new shoes, but this is not the first time I have suffered shin splints, so I kind of gave up trying to cure them.
Instead, I decided to embark on a no-impact sport, cycling! I found a nice used Giant OCR3 road bike on Craigslist and am excited to get into the sport. I’ve only had it for a few days and I’ve already ridden several times. I really enjoy it, and it is much less painful than running! I am trying to work up to commuting to and from my office a few days a week… about 11 miles each way. If I can do that, I’m sure I’ll see great results both on my body and on my wallet from the gas savings.
The main thing Ashley and I are trying to get ready for now is doing the Half Dome hike in Yosemite next summer. This hike is known as the most strenous charted day-hike in the nation! It is about 8 miles of trail that climbs almost 5000 feet in elevation… one way!
Sep 22 2009
Matt and I enjoyed a wonderful Labor Day weekend with a 2-night camping trip at Big Sur! We’ve had reservations for a few months, and we were really excited to head out. We’ve both been going a mile a minute with work, church, and rehearsals, so a weekend in the middle of nowhere sounded AWESOME!
We took a leisurely drive down to Big Sur, and stopped to take pictures on the INCREDIBLE view on Highway 1. Highway 1 runs along the coast, so you can see mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. We are always astounded by the beauty of the scenery, and it makes for much more enjoyable driving conditions
We picked out the perfect campsite online, and were pleasantly surprised to find that it was large and mostly secluded. Unlike Yosemite, where the campsites are literally on top of each, Big Sur had quite a bit of separation and trees between each site. We decided to be really high-maintenance and bring our blow-up mattress to sleep on… and I have to say, why haven’t we been doing this for all of our camping trips? It’s AMAZING, and it’s not like we’re having to carry our gear on our backs, so why not? Matt also cooked wonderful steaks, chicken and potatoes for dinner. We used most of the chicken to make sandwiches to take on our hike the next day.
We had a lazy breakfast of bacon, eggs, and coffee, and then headed out the see the falls. BIG disappointment! After you’ve seen the falls at Yosemite, a little 20 ft. drizzle of water is not impressive. However, the weather was nice, and it was a good warm up for the day We decided to hike up to Buzzard’s Roost after lunch, and enjoyed a great view at the top. You could see the moutains all around, and there was no one at the top. Both trails were pretty empty during the day, so it was really fun to spend some alone time together. We put our feet in the stream on the way back, and the cold water was so refreshing on our tired feet Matt made pork for dinner, and we roasted marshmallows by the fire.
We debated going on an 8 mile hike during our fireside conversation, but made the final decision on the way to the park down the road. The hike began with a 1 mile route to the beach, which was surrounded by huge hills… that we realized we would be climbing on the next leg of the hike. We started up the hill at a strong pace, and made it to the half-way point in about 2 hours. Make no mistake, this “hill” was at a pretty steep angle, with plenty of wind and sun to beat us up However, the scenery was well worth it, and the view from the top was all the gratification we needed We thought it would be easier to head down, but we found out that the other side of the trail was only about 1 foot wide, with brush and grass on either side. We each slipped a few times, but managed to make it down in one piece We realized that we are a bit out of shape for our spring Half-Dome trip, but hiking is such a fun past-time. We topped off our strenuous exercise with the utterly healthy Round Table pizza. Bad choice, to say the least!
Big Sur was a great weekend, wait ’til you see the top of the hikes…. you’ll be jealous!
Aug 09 2009
Hi all, sorry I have been neglecting the blog! We’ve been busy with friends, shows, work, etc. so here’s a quick update of life lately.
I just finished opening weekend for “The Fisherman and His Wife” with the Santa Clara Players. I am playing the Storyteller in this children’s show. I am narrating and facilitating audience participation, so it’s been interesting trying to get the kids (and adults) to interact. I’ve enjoyed the role, as it’s different than other roles I’ve had in the past. If you’re in the Bay area, come check it out! I’ve also started rehearsals for “Cinderella” with Lyric Theater. I know, I know, double shows is a little crazy, but it’s fun! I’m in the chorus for “Cinderella”, and we will open in October. Check back for more details on that one!
I’ve started two new blog projects, one for Marketing and one for creativity. Musing Marketing is a blog about Marketing, with my thoughts on my profession. The Creative Cap is a blog about creativity, with scrapbooking ideas and updates about my adventures in the performing arts. Please take a look and make comments… it makes me happy to share things with you!
Well, quick update, but we’re havin’ fun!
Jul 25 2009
One of my college friends decided to take a little summer vacation and visit us in California! He and his girlfriend arrived on Thursday evening and left Monday evening, for a long weekend. We took it pretty easy Thursday night, with a nice dinner (thanks Ashley!) and just chatted for a while. I took off on Friday, and we embarked on a leisurely 4 hour drive to a campsite at Yosemite Lakes, which is a private campground about 5 miles west of the Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park. The campgrounds were pretty crowded, but luckily ReserveAmerica had a deal where we could stay in the “members only” spots. I can’t imagine the other spots, they must have been tiny!
We were able to setup camp rather quickly, and then walked down to swim and lounge around in the stream at the campgrounds. We cooked up some filet mignon and ribeyes with loaded baked potatoes for dinner and had a great time hanging out by the campfire. We were lucky to have a campfire at all, it took us quite some time (and money) to find someone who would sell us firewood!
The next morning, I used my fancy 3-burner camp stove to cook up some bacon and scrambled eggs to fuel our big day. Driving through Yosemite was incredible! The scenery there is unlike any I have ever seen, and the park is so big - there is so much to do! There are 5-6 campgrounds within the park and even a 4-star hotel. It’s really commercialized, but it does not detract from the beauty of the surroundings. We also found out that the weekend we were there was free entry to the park! It was a nice surprise when we got there, but it also meant that it was incredibly crowded. It took us nearly 15 minutes to find a parking spot so that we could get out and begin our hike. We set out on the John Muir Trail, which happens to extend for over 212 miles! We only made it about 2 miles up the mountain, and it was one of the most strenous hikes we have ever been on! It was pretty much 2 miles of huge stairs up a steep cliffside. We grew very tired and had to take several breaks, but the views were well worth it.
When we got up to the top of the falls, my friend and I decided to go for a swim in Emerald Pool. The snowmelt was pretty cold, but it was a hot enough day that it felt great! Yosemite valley was carved by glacier movement, so I have swam around in a glacial pool at the top of a waterfall! Refreshed by the cool waters, we started our trek down the mountain. It was MUCH easier going downhill, and we were able to get down in about 45 minutes. We walked around a little more in the park, and then started the 4 hour drive home (it took 45 minutes just to get out of the park and on the road)!
On Sunday, my friends borrowed our car to do the Alcatraz tour, and then Ashley and I took CalTrain to meet up with them later that afternoon. We had lunch on Pier 39, walked around there, to Ghiradelli Square, and Lombard Street. Then, we got back in the car to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and take some pics from the other side. We also explored a little around a beach near the bridge and found a great place for a picnic next time we visit!
All in all, it was an outstanding weekend and it was really cool to catch up with old friends around the city!
Jul 04 2009
A group from church planned a trip to Sequia National Park, and I was lucky enough to be able to come along! It was about a 5 hour drive from Santa Clara, but once we got there, it was very much worth the wait! The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and the scenery even more outstanding! We set up camp and began the incredible experience of living amongst one of the greatest parks in the nation. There were several deer spottings within our camp, and the adventures we had outside of our camp were out of this world. The views and weather were truly an experience to be reckoned with. I have posted several pictures of the event, and below are some videos I took.
Jun 24 2009
I just finished the opening weekend of “Yeomen of the Guard”, complete with the ultimate Fan Club… that Howard clan!
My parents, grandparents, grandmother, sister, brother, and brother’s girlfriend arrived around 4:30 on Friday evening. I was in the process of preparing spaghetti and meatballs for 10 when they knocked on the door! I had already made a batch of my Granny’s homemade rolls, with two more pans ready to go in the oven. I had about 4 trays of meatballs, and two pots for the spaghetti. For appetizers, I had made an Olive Salad and Caesar salad, so my starving family started munching immediately. My family was pretty impressed with my cooking skills, so it looks like the Thanksgiving and Christmas practice paid off! We finished up dinner with a Kentucky Derby Pie and coffee. The adults headed to their hotel, I headed to Praise Team practice at BVC, and the kids watched some TV while their food was digesting. By special request from my brother and sister, the kids decided to head to Sky High after my rehearsal. Our jump time started at 10:30 pm… and it was interesting! Matt perfected his back flip (courtesy of Jay’s… we’ll call it coaching, but I use that term VERY loosely), Erin and Brianna raced in and out of the foam pit, and tried to teach Brianna my special seat drop/turn around combination. After a tiring hour of bouncing off the walls (literally), we decided to get some Dippin’ Dots from the concession stand. Matt kicked my butt at DDR before we headed home for the night. Of course, by this time, we were all riled up, with no bed time in sight. We decided to teach Erin how to play poker, and she ended up coming in 2nd place! To be fair, you know it’s bed time when I start pushing ALL IN on EVERY hand I’m dealt….
On Saturday, we headed to downtown San Francisco for the traditional tourist day! We had lunch had Crab House, which was AMAZING. Matt, Brianna and I split a whole crab, filet mignon, and shrimp. We’ll post pictures in the gallery with our lovely crab bibs We meandered around Pier 39, drove down Lombard Street, and made a quick crossing of the Golden Gate Bridge. After the San Francisco adventure, we all decided to take naps before show time. My family ate at Il Fornaio in downtown San Jose, and I checked in at the theatre to prepare for the show. The curtain was at 8 for opening night of “Yeomen of the Guard”! We had a full house with a live crowd, and the energy was high. Apparently, in the middle of intermission, someone in the orchestra had a medical emergency. The paramedics had to come and take them away, but they are doing better now. After holding the curtain for about 10 minutes, we finished Act II with a bang! My family loved the show, and we took several pictures with me in costume.
On Sunday, my family attended Berryessa Valley Church with us. I had to head out early for the matinee show, so the men played a round of glof at Shorelinks Golf Course, while the women shopped at Santana Row. We had everyone over for dinner after the girl time/guy time. I had homemade guacamole, chips and salsa, and leftover rolls and olive salad for appetizers. Matt did an outstanding job grilling burgers, two kinds of chicken and a pork loin! It was a great meal with good conversation, followed by a rousing (if random) performance by the Howard kids of favorites from Wicked, Josh Groban, The Secret Garden and Idol winner Kris Allen.
My family left for Texas on Monday morning, and I prepared for an audition that evening. It was GREAT to have my family in town for my California debut, and I can’t wait for this weekend’s “Yeomen” performances!
Jun 10 2009
Matt and I just returned from Dallas, where we spent a lot of family time celebrating high school graduation for my cousin and my sister! Brianna graduated from Hebron, and Joni graduated from Valley View. Bri has been accepted into the Occupational Therapy program at Belmont University, in Nashville, TN. Joni will be attending Clarendon College, doing her basics and preparing to transfer to major in Animal Science. I’m so proud of both of them… they have grown up to be AWESOME girls! It was great to see both sides of the family as well. We also took Matt’s parents out for his dad’s birthday… Happy 50th Bryan! We went to Mastergrill, a Brazilian-style steakhouse in Frisco.
Matt and I spent the entire trip running around to parties and outings with friends and family. I’m always so proud of my friends when we get to catch up, as they all continue to make great strides in their lives. I even headed down to Austin to catch up with a friend for the day, and it was great to see her! Matt should be posting a map of our trip, as we also took a day trip down to Mt. Pleasant, TX. Matt proposed to me in Mt. Pleasant a little over a year and a half ago, so we made the trip to celebrate our one year anniversary. We took the top of our wedding cake (yes, it was a year old), and Matt proposed with a fork! Of course, I accepted, and we had a slice of the traditional one-year wedding cake. Surprisingly, the cake tasted really good, and wasn’t terribly stale or disgusting. We took some pictures and headed home, glad to be traveling down memory lane once more!
Dallas was fast and furious, but I got my Chic-fil-a fix, my Garcia Brother’s fix, my girl time fix, and my family time fix… so it was well worth it! Again, congrats to the class of 2009… we’re proud of you!
Jun 02 2009
Matt and I have been married for one year! We have enjoyed married life, and highly recommend it to anyone that’s found the person they are meant to be with!
We started the weekend with an ice cream date and reminiscing about our dating relationship. On Saturday, I kicked Matt out of the house for a few hours to prepare a feast from scratch. He really likes lasagna, but I never make it for him. I found an amazing recipe for Ultimate Lasagna, completed with beef, sausage, ricotta and parmesan cheese, carrots, celery, tomatoes and several kinds of spices. I cut the recipe in half, and it was still overflowing the 9 x 13 inch pan! I also decided to make some brownies layered with cream cheese from scratch. I stumbled onto the site bakeorbreak.com recently, and let me tell you, I think I’m going to get addicted. The brownie recipe is listed on the site, and it is AMAZING. To be fair, anything with four baker’s squares of chocolate, two sticks of butter, two cups of sugar, and 16 oz. of cream cheese is sure to taste good. Also, to be fair, normal kitchens are NOT set up to make entire meals from scratch! I used all of our mixing bowls and mixing spoons, and I had to rinse them off in the process… and my wimpy hand-mixer almost stopped when I tried to whip the cream cheese! But, fear not, I did eventually get all the components into their respective pots and pans to complete the cooking process. As a side dish, I made fried mozzarella from scratch, which was really tasty. Top that off with ceasar salad and two kinds of bread, and we had a feast! Matt LOVED the meal, which made me very happy. It was a great second day of anniversary weekend
On Sunday, we were up early to enjoy Matt’s anniversary gift. He surprised me with “Man of La Mancha” tickets. The tickets were special, as the musical was to be performed at an amphitheater on top of Mt. Tamalpais. We had breakfast at a cute diner in San Francisco, and caught the 9:00 am shuttle up the mountain. It was foggy all the way up the mountain, but just before we reached our destination the sun burst through the clouds! We later determined that WE had actually burst through the clouds, and that we were above the fog! Matt had packed blankets and a cooler for the day, complete with garlic stuffed olives for me We set up on the stone seats, and headed out for a hike. We hiked to West Point Inn before the show, which was 1.5 miles each way! The show was EXCELLENT, and we enjoyed the view of the bay behind the scenery. We ended up going to bed ridiculously early… it had been a long weekend!
We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating our first year of marriage, and I can’t wait for the next 50 or 60 years with Matt!
May 30 2009
I finally got around to posting some videos on our website! Ashley and I generally take videos whenever we take pictures, but as of yet, they have not made it onto the website. Today, all that has changed. The videos will be embedded into the blog posts, but to quickly gain access to an index of them, you can click the Video Post category link on the left navigation bar. Enjoy!