What next? Chilifest '09

Although Maui was "life changing" for me, we still had to come back to Texas and try to move forward. I was hard. I left and didn't feel the same when I got back home. Suddenly the things that mattered most had shifted. Work seemed to draw on... I seemed to get more and more unhappy each day I went. At one point Kevin and I were ready to just pack up and move and leave everything behind. It seems that we are at our best when we are able to spend time with each other. Maui really brought out the best in both of us, and we both felt the pull of the islands!! But... as THE FORDS are always BUSY BUSY, we pressed on and tried to enjoy all the little blessings we have here.

In April we took a little trip to College Station for Chilifest!! Chilifest is somewhat bittersweet for me. I have yet to miss this annual event since I first went to A&M in 1999! It is the best time and is the true compliment to TEXAS. It's a weekend full of beer, pastures, friends and TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC!

Only this trip was different for two reasons.

1.) We had our good friend Brennan in from Hawaii visiting us for the week and he wanted to see a "Country Concert". So I thought what better place than to Chilifest for him to see Pat Green, Cross Canadian, Robert Earl Keen and other legends.

2.) Afterwards, I realized I'm not in college anymore, nor can I keep pretending I am. So all though we rocked Chilifest '09 with a bang... it will probably be my last.

It's like any great sitcom, Friends, Sex and the City, Seinfield... Smart people end a show while its still great.. before it drags out and is only remembered for its last "overdone" episodes.

So, in conclusion of the last 10 years of Chilifest's, here are a few things I am going to miss.

1) Shotgunning beers

2) 24 hours of sweaty, hot, sunburning, Texas heat... along with beer

3) The venue... which has not changed in the past 10 years. Thank you Pat, Cross, and Willie for the continuous memories

4) The Port-a Pottys... which I found a way to never use!

5) The groups of friends you come with and the ones you always make while there

6) The beer... oh the beer...

Here are some pictures from the event!

All Things Maui

Goodness its been a long time... so much to catch up on that I assume it will be the first of a series. If I had to pick up from where I first left off that would be in the same place I am now... IN LOVE WITH MAUI!

Our trip was amazing, to say the least. I found a part of my soul there. It was the most beautiful, inspiring, peaceful and calm place that I have ever known. Well, maybe second to Bora Bora. But when I think of Maui, I think of a place I could easily call home. That is what separates it from any other place. A life there would be an adjustment, but by no means hard. A few things I noticed is that people are outside... daily! Here in Texas, I noticed that there are days when the only breath of fresh air I take is walking to my car to and from work :(

On our vacation we were so active, we swam, hiked, watched sunsets, took walks, went on a helicopter ride, watched the whales, saw Hawaiian shows and ate great food.


I remember one evening it was 5'0clock and we were on our way to dinner. I noticed that every place we drove past people were standing outside. Most of them in small gatherings, they were in parks, streets, apartment complexes... everywhere! I asked Kevin why all these people were outside. His response " It's time for sunset, and everyone in Maui stops to watch the sunset!"

That blew me away. In a world that is so fast pace where people seldom take time to enjoy their surroundings... this is a place that does. The culture, and lifestyle here are something that is humbling and yet inviting all at the same time.

With that being said, its inevitable that we will be living there someday. Our goal now is to position ourselves to be there in 5 years!