Thursday

I have always found Thursdays to be very, I don't know....blah. I mean, we've passed hump day, haven't made it to Friday yet and the weekend is two days away. Thursday just seems like a "filler" day. I am here at work suffering from Spring fever...when is this day going to end?!?!?!

So, last night I went to the Campus Theatre in Denton to see The Sound of Music on stage. It was so good. A friend of mine, Katrina, called me yesterday morning asking if I had any plans for the evening. Since I didn't, she told me that there was a Charity showing and that I should go. I am so glad I did. The Sound of Music is such a great story.

Katrina and I worked together for years at Randy's Steakhouse. She is one of those friends that I speak with inly about once a month. But, when we hang out and visit, it is like we haven't missed a day since we've worked together. We went to Dinner at Burgundy's. It is a somewhat fine dining restaurant. We shared a salad and fillet, since we both had late, big lunches.

I think we might have an impromptu game night tonight. John D. and Alyssa (my best friend and her fiancee) are gonna come over after work. We are all hooked on this game called Farkel. It is a dice game, and you must score 10,000 points to win. Come by sometime, and I will teach you to play it...you'll be addicted too!!!!

I had a scripture come to my mind today.... I don't want to sound like a heathen, but normally that doesn't happen.... I am sure we all have heard it before, but sometimes it is nice to have a friendly reminder of the love that is graciously given to us.... Read it, it might encourage you.

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ^[a]

2 I will say ^[b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Enjoy this day...even if it is mundane!

I try, and I try

I get so exhausted at times. It seems that the harder I try to be a polite, kind, gracious person, the more opposition I have. I want to like and be liked by all. I have always felt that I am easy-going and that I can eventually win people over as friends once I get to know them. I don't understand why we can't have world peace. ha ha ha

So I got to use my teaser last night.... It wasn't for defense. I just found a guy who would let me shock him. It was great! I never laughed so hard in my life. If you ever want a good laugh, just come by my house and we will have to try and find Mark. He is crazy...but comical!

I think I might start writing my life story...but as a novel. I think there is a great, sad, but extremely hilarious story with my life and my perspective on family, friends and the differences between us all. I am not sure how it will all end up. I don't think I could write it chronologically. I'd have to write it by memories, and somehow tie it all together. So there will probably be some made up areas, but over all, it will be me and my story...from my perspective. I think it will be fun. I think it will be very therapeutic. As my characters are created, I will introduce them to you.

Well, I think I should probably get some work completed. Have a great day!

Weekend Recap

Ok, so I had a really busy weekend. My brother James and I went up to Oklahoma on Friday afternoon to get ready for my Granny's party. We drove to Ada, and met up with Julie and Bryan at Bryan's parents' home. Julie and I got the the hall early and did a pretty good job on getting set up. James, Bryan and I went to lunch at the greasiest, most unhealthy, but most delicious place to get a burger...Hamburger King in Ada, Ok. I had a double swiss cheese burger with mushrooms, grilled onions, fresh cut french fries and a large Dr. Pepper with crushed ice. Yum. I ate 3/4 of the burger and was stuffed...but it was so good.

Granny's party turned out really nice. She wasn't surprised, but she was honored, I think. She was glowing. We had around 80-85 people there. It was fun getting to work with cousins.... I think this was the first event where my generation was very active in the planning and execution of the party. I really enjoyed seeing Granny with all her friends. She looks incredible for being 80!!!!

I rode back to Celina with Eric, Whitney and Alyssa. Eric, Whitney and Katie came down for Easter. It was nice hanging out with them this weekend too.

The only problem with a full weekend is that there is no time for rest. I feel like I will get caught up on my rest this week.

Once I get some pictures downloaded from the weekend, I will get some posted and give a commentary on them too!

I hope everyone has had a great Monday! I have actually been extremely busy today at work. i really like that since it causes the day to go by so much quicker.

Until tomorrow, take care!

I can still remember....

I found an old journal of mine last night. One from when I was in high school. I had illusions of being a great writer some day, so I would jot down my little meditations. Even though I can't remember what I was wearing or what I actually accomplished on those days, I remember penning some of those thoughts, excitements and anxieties. Looking back, I wonder, "Why did I ever fret of those small details?"

I used to be one of those people must have every detailed lined up. I would get so anxious if I couldn't see the planned outcome. Isn't it funny, though, that I survived so many "insurmountable" obstacles? I wonder how worry becomes such a prominent fixture in my life. Even though I am not quite as up-tight as I once was, Worry is still my "neighbor." I've been trying to get him evicted, but to no avail....

Isn't it comforting to finally relax and trust and have faith that everything will work out? Not that I have mastered this area, but every once in a while, I realize it! Sometimes we need those reminders. Sometimes we need to find old journals and just remember....

Gotta Dance....

Ok, so Dancing with the Stars is back on ABC. I didn't catch the first episode that had the men dancing on it, but I did catch the ladies dancing last night. I was quite impressed. I think Kristi Yamaguchi and Priscilla Presley will go far in the competition. I was not expecting the former, Mrs. Elvis to do that well. You know what I mean...she has been stitched, tucked, and pinned so many times that I didn't expect her to be fluid at all. She did good. Kristi didn't surprise me...I figured she knows what competition is like, and how much practice was needed for a performance. I was also impressed with Marlee Matlin. She won an Oscar back in the eighties. Anyway, she is completely deaf. It was awesome seeing how much rhythm she had. I do not think she is strong enough to go all the way, but she was very inspiring. I am excited about this season. I really got hooked last season. The only bad thing is that it interferes with American Idol on Tuesday nights. argh...

The sun is out today.... I don't think I will ever figure out the weather here in Texas. I received an email from the church prayer chain this morning. Don't know if you had heard or not, but there was a young boy who was swept down a drainage ditch yesterday during the flooding. He still hasn't been found. He is the son on a lady that works with a man in my church....(not to joke, but how many degrees of separation was that?) Anyway...I can't image how horrible that must be. Please pray for this boy's family.

My friend, Nic, and his girlfriend stopped by last night. Nic lives in Wichita Falls, and is going to college there. He is in for Spring Break. Last summer, Nic was always over at the house. He is the one that got me hooked on the dice game, farkle. If you haven't played it before...come on over, I'll teach ya! Nic's mom went through breast cancer the year after my mom did. Nic and I talked a lot last year about our families and frustrations with cancer. It is nice having someone who has the same perspective as myself.

I cooked dinner last night. I was supposed to be doing Lindsey's highlights last night. She canceled, so I broiled steaks, sauteed mushrooms, cooked some candied carrots and made some pasta. Brooke was at work, and no one showed up to eat with me, so I made a plate and took it to Gigi. Today at lunch, I need to go cut some herbs from her garden...she keeps telling me to take advantage of her herb garden. I need to. Last night was the first time I cooked a steak in an electric oven. I didn't really care for it...I like it better on the grill. I over cooked the steak...I like mine as rare as it can be. Oh well...at least we were nourished, right?

I also think I have restless leg syndrome.... When I finally finish my "chores" each evening, my legs just throb when I put them up. I bought some new sandals at the resale shop about a month ago. I wore them on Saturday when my mom and I went shopping. My legs and feet are still hurting...and all I did was walk around stores. I guess that comes with getting older. ha ha ha

My mind just keeps jumping to a new subject.... On Saturday, I went to the resale shop and found these little statues. My mom has them from when she sold Home Interiors. They are called the Artist and the Critic. They are of these little kids, a boy and a girl. The boy is playing a saxophone and the girl is covering her ears. Anyway, when they were made (back in the 70s), they were painted cream with brown antiquing. I painted them silver with black antiquing this weekend. I am so thrilled with them. I have always loved my mom's Artist and Critic, so it was a treat finding these and putting my twist to them.

Alright...I need to stop thinking about updates to my mundane world.... I will post tomorrow everything I forgot today.....ha ha ha

Have a fabulous day!

It's Beginning to Rain

Of course, the weather can't stay nice and stable for too many days in a row. It's Texas...do we really expect anything else? I really expected the crazy weather to start yesterday. But, alas, we only had cloudy skies!

Eric and Whitney came down for the afternoon yesterday. It was great getting to see them. I touched up Whitney's highlights. Fun Times. They took Trent and Dylan home with them for the week. It is odd to see me and my older brothers as adults...but we are. Eric told us that it doesn't look like he will be deployed...Thank God! Their baby is due 8/14/2008. I was hoping for a Little One on my birthday...but I wouldn't wish that Whitney be over due by two weeks. I can share the month with the kid, though!

I got a washer and dryer this weekend. I would have never guessed that I would be so thrilled at receiving an appliance. And, believe it or not, I actually hooked everything up myself. Just call me the Maytag man! I had to hook the washer up to the water...the first go around, I didn't get the hoses screwed on good enough. When I turned the water on, I quickly learned that I had made a mistake. After I got the washer hooked up, I realized that I had the wrong plug on the dryer to fit the socket on the wall. You guessed right, I switched out the plug yesterday. Then I had to hook up the vent hose. I actually took the time to make sure the hose was hooked up. It took a while for me to get the round clasp tight enough on the vent. I got every hoked up, and I am happy to report that I washed and dried clothes last night. I love my jeans being fresh and warm from the dryer in the mornings.

I got the arrangement done for Granny's party. I think she will like it...it reminds me of Granny in a way. I bought a galvanized bucket type vase thing to hold the arrangement. It is very springy too! I am looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday.

This weekend will be a busy one! We have Granny's party on Saturday, then we come home that night to be back for our Easter program at church on Sunday. I am already tired thinking of how packed the weekend is gonna be.

I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day. I had a pretty good one...I did a lot of hair...and it keeps going this week too. I am highlighting Lindsey's hair tonight..then I have Ivonda and Tamara on Wednesday night. I am grateful that I am able to do this to bring in a little extra income. I also like learning new techniques from my friend Dana and my roommate Brooke.

Well, I should probably get back to work. Have a great day!

Responsibility...ugh

Ok, so I am the head of a house hold.... I have to make sure bills get paid. I have a puppy, I have to make sure she has food. My head hurts...everything is current...why am I stressed about all this?!?!?!?

The weather here in Celina is not as nice as it was yesterday. The sun is covered by clouds. The wind is blowing steadily. Texas doesn't seem to ever have normality in its weather patterns.

My coworker, Elizabeth, is going on a date tonight. It is the first date she has been on in a while. It is a fun atmosphere here in the office with her plans. They are going to Terelli's tonight. I love that restaurant. I love Italian food. I threatened to come spy on her and eat there tonight too.

With the sun not out, I am so tired. I want to crawl into bed, curl up with my puppy and fall asleep. I guess I haven't caught back up on sleep yet.

Better Get to Livin'!

I am a huge Dolly Parton fan. I think she is a great "rags to riches" story. I know it seems strange to ever think that Dolly ever lived paycheck to paycheck. I also appreciate her humility. She is grounded in her faith too. She credits God for her success and talents. Don't find that too often now-a-days with all the pop stars. This new song of hers is very encouraging to me. It reminds me that God called us to be more than just a fixtures in this world. He created us as living beings. He created a world for us to enjoy and live in. That is a gift.

I had a great aunt that embodied this song. Aunt Dena believed in living life safely, but to its fullest. This song reminds me of her a lot.

I really like the phrase that states (I am paraphrasing) Be a little more forgiving. This is so difficult for me to grasp. I feel that I am a very positive person, but one area that I definitely need help in is forgiveness. I am learning that un-forgiveness is a form of pride. I never thought about it that way until today. I must a pretty inflated view of myself if I think that I can hold a grudge and the other person is gonna put as much effort into being mad at me too. I tend to think that the person who has offended me must be so miserable without me in their life positively. Does that make sense? I mean, really, I can't expect someone who lives across the country to be preoccupied with not being my friend. See how I can describe it as pride?

God...help me be humble, and through that, help me forgive!

So, I am looking forward to the 22 of this month. We are throwing a surprise birthday party for my Granny. I don't think she has ever had a big birthday party like this. It should be special for her. I get to make a floral arrangement for the party. I think all of the family will be together except my older brother Scott and his family.

Well, I am gonna sign off for today! Better get to Livin'!

Michael Buble

I am gonna see if I can post a music video on here.... Here goes.....

Sleepy

I am so tired. Ever have those conversations where you know it should end because of the time of day, but there is so much that needs to be squeezed into that conversation? I had one last night. I am now reaping the exhaustion from the late night. But, I had a great visit. So it is worth it!

My dog, Cappie, was tired too. We usually get up and play first thing in the morning. Cappie was still in bed when I left for work. I am not good at following a different schedule. I guess I probably should have put Cappie to bed long before I did. When I woke this morning, I tried waking Cappie too. She gave me a very sleepy look and went back to sleep. I actually took a picture of her this morning. Cappie is a chihuahua with huge ears compared to her body. And, when she is tired, her left ear droops. She was in full droop this morning. Poor puppy.

It is a pretty day here in Texas. It is difficult to believe that we had snow twice last week. I ride my bike to work, and it was such a nice ride to work. I have discovered that I have Spring Fever. In fact, most of us at work have it. I want my desk to be outside...how nice would that be!?!?!?

James and I are going to see a musical this weekend. We are gonna see Menopause, The Musical. I am excited!

Well, I guess I should get more work done. 'Til next time.....

Monday, Monday...so good to me.

It's Monday, and the weekend is over. I can't believe it is over so soon! I got my laundry done this weekend. I hadn't washed any clothes since I moved. I had lived in the duplex almost a whole month and finally just did laundry. Yes, I have that many clothes. It is nice at times, but at the same time, it is a pain when I finally do laundry.

I had to play the piano at church yesterday. I always get so nervous when I have to play the piano. I play the keyboard at church every Sunday, but when the pianist is out, I get moved to the big piano. Lynda is an incredible pianist, she is proficient in piano. She can read music and can add so many incidentals. Probably one of the best pianist that I have ever heard. So when I have to fill her shoes, I get petrified. I was completely drenched in sweat by the time the worship service was over. I hate sweating. But, I must admit, that is the best practice I can get...having to play for "big church."

I want to get a piano for my home. I have a keyboard right now...it is nice, but there is something in the sound of a real piano that is unmatchable. I am confident that I will get a piano soon...the timing just isn't right.

My younger brother and sister came over on Saturday. I like how the older I get, and the older my siblings get, our relationships change from siblings to friends. They also make me feel older...which I am. But, my mind feels the same age as them. Shane helped me with laundry, and then I touched up Alyssa's roots, and added more highlights to her hair. She is so gorgeous!

I briefly talked with my older brother Eric on Friday. He is now an officer in the military. I am proud of him. He and his wife are expecting their child sometime in September. Could I have a niece or nephew with the same b-day as mine?!?!?

I also got to hang out briefly with my other older brother James. He is going through the ordination process to become an Episcopal priest. James is one of the most intelligent people I know. When we were younger, I would have never expected James to be so kind, laid back and understanding of most once he got older. James really does exemplify a true Christian. I hope to be as wise as him someday. Last year James and I went to a few of the Dallas Summer Musicals. It was so much fun and we had some great talks while hanging out. I am really looking forward to this years' roster of musicals!

Isn't it funny how family always remains important. That was ingrained into us kids growing up. Can't take any possessions with you to heaven...just people. I am glad that I am learning to invest more time into my family. Family can hurt you the most, but I love that they are mine!

I hope everyone has a fabulous Monday! Take time to call a sibling...they can brighten your day!

Monday, Monday...so good to me.

The name is Bond, James Bond, licensed to kill.

I woke up at 4:30 this morning. I was completely rested and could not fall back asleep...much to my dismay. I have become addicted to the Biography channel. So if one can't sleep, what does he do? He gets up and puts on the coffee and turns on the Biography channel.

The first episode I was able to watch this morning was Ian Flemming. He was a British author. He created the James Bond character and wrote all the books. I was quite surprised to learn that the creator of James Bond also was the creator of Chitty Bang Bang...another one of my favorite movies .

Chitty Bang Bang was the bed time stories that Ian used to tell his son. It was sad to think that he died in his 50's due to smoking 60 cigarettes a day.

Which bring me to a new topic...not smoking. I haven't bought a pack of cigarettes since the Sunday before the new year. And it has not been pretty. Though I am pleased to report that my eating has not increased, my cough is less phlemmy, and my bank account appreciates the break from a daily trip to Bobcat. The greatest thing I miss about smoking though is not the nicotine or the flavor, it is the mini-breaks I used to take. During those times, I could just sit and not have to do any thing except focus on myself.... Yes, it is selfish, but it was nice.

Then, I watched a biography on Sean Connery. I learned that when he starred with Harrison Ford in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," Connery was just 12 years older than Ford. Connery also said that Tippy Hedron was the most underrated actresses of her time.(Not sure that I agree with him on that one) Isn't it funny how people have different likes and dislikes?

The snow is almost all gone. I got to work, and in the corner of the buildings, I caught a glimpse of some snow still piled up.

And, Hillary won the democratic primaries last night. I have always thought that Hillary would make a great president and the Barack would be a great vice. Guess what...Hillary is hinting about combining forces with Barack. Isn't that ironic? I am very glad that I took time out of my day yesterday to go vote. I feel that I helped plan the future of our country. I am very excited about this years election. I feel that America is about to take pride in herself again, which hasn't been seen in quite some time.

Brooke's brother, Justin, came over last night. I cooked dinner. We had some baked chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes with sweet tea. yum. Then we played Farkel. Farkel is a dice game that is so much fun. I won 3 out of 4 games. Yes, I am good at this game. ha ha ha We then watched, "Man of the Year." It stars one of my favorite actresses, Laura Linney. To me, she is the most underrated actors out there. Her looks remind me of my mom when she was in high school. It was a cute movie. I thought it would just be a comedy, but there was some suspense there too.

Today is a gorgeous day. The bike ride to work was fantastic. Take some time to step outside to enjoy it! Love to all!

Celina has icing!

There is nothing more beautiful that waking to a blanket of snow over the lawn. The shrubs out front have little piles of snow on each leaf. I love the feeling of being warm in bed and looking out the window to see the snow everywhere.

Brooke and I celebrated the snow last night. After a relaxing evening, I went outside to carry out the garbage and was pleasantly surprised when I saw the snow coming full force. I am so amazed at how quickly the weather changes here. I wasn't even expecting the snow. I was told by co-workers that we are expecting a wintry mix. Of course, since this is Texas, I didn't think that we would actually get snow, I mean, this is Texas.

I know not to get my hopes up too high. The sun is already out and the snow is quickly melting. But, isn't that how life is at times? You see, we are never guaranteed anything. We have to be grateful for what we have at each season in our life. And, believe me, this is no simple task!

But, I love the simple reminders we get. Enjoy the snow, it is quickly melting. Enjoy the children, they are growing up. Enjoy your friends, they could move on. Enjoy the elderly, they may be gone tomorrow. Enjoy your family, you never know how long they will be close. Enjoy the fresh air, this could be the last breath.

What a blessing the snow is! Yes, it causes some complications on the road, but it is the simple pleasures in life that make the lasting impacts. I think that is a lesson God wanted me to learn through seeing the snow.

Family, friends, and life are precious...enjoy every moment!

Oh yeah...don't forget to vote today! We cannot control the past, but we can control the future...it is up to us!!!!

Friends and Family

Isn't it funny how much life can change from the plans you make in high school? When I was in high school, I was convinced that I was gonna be a gospel music singer. I still wish at times I was. But if I were, more than likely, I wouldn't be living the life I am right now. And, I am not sure I want that to change.

Saturday night was the annual Celina Chamber of Commerce awards banquet. My best friend is the chamber president. So I get roped into helping with the execution of it all. The theme was "Oscar Night." We could either dress up as a significant movie character or we could dress in Hollywood Glamour. I was so much fun. I have a great group of friends. We ate fajitas, danced, gambled (no money involved), and visited. It was a great night. I am posting a picture of me and my roommate, Brooke, from Saturday night. We struck a skinny pose...hat do you think, are we skinny?


I am so glad that I have moved to Celina. I never thought I would say that. I think I say that each time I move. The only places I didn't like living at all were Ringling, Oklahoma and Cordell, Oklahoma. Isn't it funny how quickly opinions can change. I never thought I would ever fit in here...but Celina is my home, and I am glad.

Celina life is not what I had planned for me, but I realize it is what God had planned for me. It is so true...He is so much wiser, His ways are so much higher.

So it is a new week, a new month. I can't believe how quickly January and February passed. I know I went 90 miles an hour the whole time. Hopefully I will rest more in March.

Have a wonderful day...it's waiting for ya!