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My New Years Resolution

It's that time of the year again, when men pledge to find themselves a woman, when women pledge to lose 10 lbs, and when dating websites and exercise videos go platinum.

Not this chick.

My 2011 New Years Resolution has nothing to do with finding true love (got it), losing 10 lbs (I like food, thanks) or getting a puppy.

Ok, it would be to get a puppy if Will didn't say no.

My desire for this year is simple.

To learn how to kill a man with my bare hands.

No lie.

After watching "Taken" with Laura and Will I decided that I needed to become an empowered woman. A fierce woman. A woman who, though she may seem feminine, knows how to break bones and cause mass chaos and panic if necessary. A woman who can walk the dark and dangerous streets of Oxford, England without fear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvUxdQ4q-Lg&feature=related <--the source of my inspiration, in case any one is curious.

I shared my rather violent resolution with my husband and he is thrilled. Boy, did I marry the right man or what! Will already has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has talked about wanting to get back into martial arts as long as I've known him, so we decided that this would be a great hobby to try together. We've spent some time researching different martial arts gyms in the Oxford area and weighing our options. I've also spent a considerable amount of time researching different martial arts and have found my calling. Any one heard of Krav Maga?

Because EVERY woman should be able to take down a gunman.

If you're thinking "an eclectic hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel that involves wrestling, grappling and striking techniques, mostly known for its extremely efficient and brutal counter-attacks, as it is also taught to elite special forces around the world," then you and Wikipedia are correct! We have found a gym that is currently working on hiring a Krav Maga instructor... once they have the new guy all set up we are planning to use our "visit one class for free" pass and see what its like when it's not on youtube. I CAN'T WAIT!

Happy New Year!

Happy (Belated) New Year, lovely readers!

Yes, I do realize that I am 17 days late, but isn't it the thought that counts? I vote yes, and as it's my blog then it's only my vote that counts. Ahem.

We have so much to update you on! It's been a busy yet wonderful few weeks--the main highlights being visits from two of my favorite people ever--so I will attempt to summarize the fun stuff without turning this post into a novel.

Exciting January Event Number 1:

LAURA COMES TO OXFORD!

After much begging and pleading and promising to guard her from all earthly dangers (and British boys), my wonderful parents agreed to send Laura to Oxford for 10 days! We had such a great time exploring colleges, visiting Hogwarts (oh yes), touring London, hiking Port Meadow, introducing her to our new friends, and generally having such excellent adventures that those 10 days went by way too fast. I've stolen some of her pictures so that those of you who aren't Facebook fans can get a glimpse into her trip here:

We climbed towers.

We made friends with the London locals.

We posed for pictures in Hyde Park...

And in front of London Bridge.

We stopped by the Hogwarts Dining Hall. She sat at the Griffindor table, naturally.

We made ourselves comfortable at Trinity.

We frolicked!

Even Will!

We were so sorry to see her leave that we came close to not putting her on the plane to Houston! Actually, her alarm didn't go off that morning but I'd like to think it had more to do with our desire to keep her here than her setting the alarm incorrectly...

I miss your face! Please come back.

Exciting January Event Number 2:

DAD COMES (ever-so-briefly) BACK TO OXFORD!

We didn't have too much time to mourn Laura's departure because Dad had a business trip to England six days later! Have I mentioned that BP is my new favorite company ever? Dad estimates that with his new job he'll be traveling to England about four times a year! This was a short trip--Dad flew into Heathrow on Saturday morning, drove to Oxford (on the "wrong" side of the road--what a trooper!) and hung out with Will and me until Sunday evening when he returned to London for business. In that brief amount of time we did manage to visit Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's birthplace), check out another local pub, eat some incredible Italian food, and introduce Dad to some friends from church. I suggested that he call in sick on Monday so that he could spend another 24 hours in Oxford, but my wise father pointed out that he wouldn't keep his job and therefore wouldn't be able to see me as often. This is why he makes the big bucks. :)

In front of Shakespeare's birthplace.

And now we are back to normal life... as normal as life gets when you live in a city like this!