To a few people from Saturday night (in order of appearance)

The random dude named Justin… You stood near us being all shady until you worked up the nerve to speak.  You chatted us up for all of five minutes before offering to “get us a drink”.  When you found out what we ordered, you kindly put them on MY TAB!  Get us a drink.  Buy us a drink.  Semantics I guess, but still, thanks for nothing.

The questionable 40 year old wearing a blazer…  How ironic it was that you approached while we were laughing about that fashion statement.  After whispering odd things into my ear like the brand name of everything you were wearing, you asked me if I “liked to party”.  At this point my friend, thanks Maureen, had successfully abandoned me!  When I told you that I did not “party” you insisted on asking me FOUR MORE TIMES.  Dude, I will tell you once more, to party would not be conducive to my job.  My bad, conducive is probably too big of a word for you to process at this juncture in the evening.  Look, here are your friends, and oh wow, they are leaving.  Peace.

Jonnie and Fonz… How I miss thee.  I forgot how great Fonz’s dry sense of humor is to be around.  Jonnie, you always told me you could dance, but I thought you were kidding.  We should do it again sometime soon boys, and you should bring Craig.

Craig… I am sorry I did not have a chance to really talk to you, but I forgive you for baptizing me in your beer.

Last, but by no means least, the tow people…  YOU JERKS!  Now it was my friend’s car, and not mine, so I have a bit of a different perspective, but I was not thrilled.  Ok. Fine. She parked in an empty parking lot DIRECTLY across from where she was going.  Sorry she felt like that would be a safe option.  When we went to get her car, you put your shady ass place in the nether regions of the city.  Not where people die, but where people drop the bodies.  Not kidding.  I have never felt unsafe in my own city until last night when we went to claim her very nice luxury vehicle from a dark alley in the industrial park southwest of the city.  Oh, and did I thank you for letting us talk to a one sided window with half of the letters peeled off?  I didn’t?  Well, thanks.

There it is.  The bad, the good, and the ugly.  Thanks…in varying degrees.

Hmmmm

I do not really know what to title this post.  Never in my life have I ever thought that I would "ask" someone for a prayer.  Partly because my up bringing just never really encouraged me to ask for a prayer and partly because I respect the fact that, frankly, some people just do not believe in it.  At this point though, I am putting that all aside to ask you for a few.  One of my great friends, Julie, sent me a text yesterday morning that her brother was in a head on collision on the highway on his way to work.  I ask that you pray for him.  She packed up her husband and son and left her classroom to go be with her family.  I ask that you pray for her and her family.  

On Tuesday I was reminded by some former students about the collapse of Bonfire at Texas A & M.  I remember that day very vividly and rarely talk about it.  What was so striking about November 18th this year was that Eb's sister had her baby.  For so many years I remember that one event on that one day, but now there is a celebration for the day.  I also became very much aware of the power of prayer that day in 1999.  So many families came to BCS to be with their injured loved ones.  I know that those prayers helped.  I guess that is just my way of asking for some for Julie, her brother, and her family.

Thanks!!

Things I am loving

My car back☺
That is right. After 32 days and over 1200 miles on a rent car, my Mini is home. It was a long, ugly time (that is going to continue since two of the other parties are in small claims court), but now all is right with my transportation world again. The insurance company also cut me a check for “pain and suffering” which covered the rest of my deductible and gave me a little cash to get The Wii...

Meet mii.  Does it look like me?

I am obviously still learning, but seriously J, you really should have pushed me to get this earlier. I also had some cash for my new TOMS

I love them and all that they stand for today. Then I got motivated to turn my frat house of a place into a clean house.

One more thing needed a little sprucing up and so now I have a clean pup, and the two of us have been taking long walks in the fantabulous fall weather. Everyone knows that crisp temperatures mean pulling out some new decorations.

These are the bows that The Station puts up for the holidays. They are up on the lofts above the Starbucks where I sat with my mint hot chocolate and managed to build the DONE pile for work. After a crazy hectic last two weeks, I am finally feeling like I can breath again. Especially since there are three more days until Thanksgiving break!

Baby clothes do not really fit into my regular daily life, but Amy (Eb's sister) had her baby girl EARLY this morning, so I will be sending her this terribly cute hoodie, and a fun shirt for the big brother.

On the work front...

I am loving this thing we do with another "company" to raise money for charity. The McDonald's between the two places donates 50% of their profits from breakfast all week to a shelter we work with throughout the year. Therefore, I will met the people I work for up at McD's for an early morning bite four days this week. The girls in my family will also be doing dinner and some friends will be getting together for appetizers at other restaurants that are also donating proceeds for the cause this week.  Lovin' it!!

                                 

Another work thing...there are a lot, A LOT, of international folks where I work. Every year the new people from around the world take a trip to Washington D.C. for obvious reasons. Well, they went last week. Can I say jealous?! I told one of them that I fit nicely into a large piece of luggage. She did not take me up on it. Bummer. Anyway, one of them brought back a souvenir for me. Yes, the simple idea/thought is super nice, BUT, it is a Constitutional baseball!!

 A-W-E! Seriously. It is probably one of the coolest baseball things I own. 

Scratch that, it IS the coolest.

It is complete with a replica signature of my favorite president, Abe Lincoln.

So there are 12 little things that I am thankful for and enjoying this week.

Kick it to me, Pele'

Yeah, she is #1...the one and only!

Saturday afternoon was Bea’s last soccer game of the season. She has improved soooo much! She actually bends her arms when she runs. I know. You are thinking, what? How do you run with your arms straight? I will just tell you, not well. And slowly. Note to parents: teach your kids to run before signing them up for ballet.

I digress.

At the first game Bea was barely in the back of the bunch as they all corralled the ball sheep dog style. She was far more concerned with how her lip-gloss looked than catching some damn ball. Every now and again she would go after it, but I think it was because it was hot pink, and not because it’s the concept of the game. Now, it is the end of the season. She “practices” with one of us when she is benched and is smack dab in the middle of the group when coach puts her in the game. She is so on top of it, she scored TWO goals!! Okay, so one goal and one assist, really. The second one went in after she gingerly kicked the ball when her teammate very gracefully fell over it. I say gracefully, because this 4 year old managed to fall over the ball and move her arms in such a manner that she caught herself WITHOUT touching it.  Seriously impressive!  I am not really sure what the team’s record was this season because everybody seems to win…that is until they go into the real world.  Ah, to be a member of this generation.

While all that 4-year-old soccer was great and all, the soccer celebrations continued on Sunday. I had the privilege of teaching some of the greatest kids before I quit last year. Among the many, was one little soccer player. Melissa is respectful, kind, and humble. She would do anything for her friends and worked hard in the classroom. Aside from all of that, she is a ROCKSTAR on the soccer field. Mel accepted an opportunity to play for ND this year, and boy has she! She was not only honored with the Rookie of the Year award for the Big East, but she was the second rookie in history to be named Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Championship tourney. That is probably because she scored the ONLY goal of the game to give ND the Big East title and keep their record at 21-0-0. Holy Crap! So proud of you, Melissa!

Mars and Venus

So I was talking to a friend of mine last week that had sat through a lecture on how men and women are different. He wanted to test something out on me. He presented it as a “story” and not a test. It went a little something like this…

H : Ok, so there is this guy and girl who are dating, and they are coming up on their anniversary. She plans this picnic on Saturday at 3:00 and tells him all about it. About the amazing weather she has planned, the food, the butterflies, and unicorns, basically the perfect picnic to celebrate them. All he hears is Saturday. Three o’clock. Food. Got it.

Me : Ok. Sounds normal. Was a game on?

H : Not the point. So, Saturday comes around and she calls and tells him that she forgot mayonnaise and asks him to go to the store and pick some up.

Me : Alright. (Smirk a little)

H : So, what did she ask him to pick up at the store.

Me : (Tilt my head, pop my mouth open a little, squint my eyes and shoot him my best are-you-a-moron look.) Um…FLOWERS!

H : (stumbles back a little, throws his arms out, leans forward.) WHAT?! That is exactly what all the women said. Why would I get flowers? She asked for mayonnaise.

Me : Why would you not get flowers. You have to walk past them to get to the mayonnaise. I mean at least a card.

H : Or maybe a little bear thing.

Me : (A little insulted.) No! That will just gather dust and end up being thrown away.

H : and flowers…

Me : Not the point. Get the flowers! Damn it.

H : That does not even make sense.

Me : It makes perfect sense. You do not make sense.

Yes, that is how I win an argument. With a quick, “yeah, well you are stupid, stupid.” But seriously ladies, am I wrong? She wanted flowers, right?

For the kiddies

Every friend I have that has children has a little girl (and the only one that has a boy is due any day with a daughter). I found this contest just for yall. You have all asked where to find cute dresses for all sorts of events from weddings to Easter or just a weekend with the grandparents. I thought this was perfect. Even if you do not win, it is a great source for the future. Oh, and let's just say BOWS GALORE!! So run over to SITS and check it out.

(Get ready for girlie fun, Eb. Or just forward it to mom...she will love it.)

As if there were any doubt

Yes. I am an Election Day voter. Sadly, there was no line when I went to cast my ballot. As with the other presidential elections I voted in, I stood and contemplated my decision. Just to make sure. Now I sit with my map and color in each state as the totals scroll across the screen.
Complete with the traditional every half-hour phone call check-ins from Eb.
God, it's great to be an American!!

Proudly sported bipartisan purple to work today.

I just had to do it

Elections are coming to an end and I just had to include one more thing about voting. I used to teach high school at a rather diverse little place and I loved learning more than is ever necessary about the hip hop culture. The kids thought it was funny when my skinny little white self would rap, walk it out, or pop and lock. I miss them. A lot. Here is a little taste of the greatness that is pop culture and politics. Thanks to T.I. and Ron Clark!

I included the lyrics below for those that are not used to the speed.



Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

(McCain supporters)
McCain is the man
Fought for us in Vietnam
You know if anyone can
Help our country he can
Taxes droppin low
Dont you know oils gonna flow
Drill it low
I'll show our economy will grow

McCain's the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They'll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might

(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama's new, he's younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He'll bring a change, he's got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq's a shame
Four more years would be insane

Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won't
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won't!
Have enough experience - you know that they don't
STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won't

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you're going to have some drama
We need it
HE'LL BRING IT
He'll be it
YOU'LL SEE IT
We'll do it
GET TO IT
Let's move it
DO IT!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

I'm talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice

But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN'T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

I do not like being tagged

So, I was “tagged”.  My good friend C posted this and then sent it on to me.  I did a similar post when I first started the whole blogging thing; click here to read that entry.  All that is written there is still very true, but here are a few more…only 6 because I have serious OCD about even numbers.

1.)  I hate the fact that I do not work out.  A consistent exercise routine has not been in my life since April of 1998.  I used to be proud of that, but now it drives me crazy.  I try, but so much of it is boring to me.  Any suggestions?  (Cheap would be nice)

2.)  I love giving gifts.  When I see things that I think someone would like, I usually buy it.  Even if I have not talked to them in months, it makes me smile and remember them.  People think it strange, but it is fun.  Plus, I have a great stash in my “prize closet”.

3.)  I think SNL commercials are hilarious.  The old ones of course are classics, but some of the new ones are greatness, too.  My personal favorite is Pat ‘N Patti’s Backpack Shack.  Oh, and I adore Jimmy Fallon.  Here is a clip from his performance where I went to school.

4.)  I am addicted to the news.  I watch it a minimum of 4 times a day.  Local, national, BBC, I do not even care…I watch it all

5.)  Despite my love of and degree in history, I find it difficult to watch “historical” movies.  I spot the inconsistencies and it annoys people when I point them out.

6.)  I refuse to tell people what political party I belong to and who I vote for in elections.  I value the Australian ballot.  I will never ask you whom you voted for, so stop asking me.

I tag whoever wants to do this little thing.