Just smile

I have to do it. While the media coverage is daunting to say the least and there are FAR more important things happening, I have to post about Michael Jackson. MJ. Wacko Jacko. The King of Pop. Whatever you want to call him.

Maybe it is my age, maybe my childhood packed with dance classes, maybe my love for all things eccentric, but let’s just say I LOVE HIM! Oh, he is a complete freak show, a bit shady, and had questionable relationships to put it nicely, but above all else, he was an immensely gifted AND talented man.

He really did write the soundtrack to my life. I was only three when he did the moonwalk for the first time, and I do not remember watching it, but I can guarantee you that my Detroit born parents tuned in to watch the Motown Anniversary. I vividly remember many nights practicing MJ moves with my brother, sister, and Heather (the babysitter) on the parquet floor in the living room. I can still moonwalk to this day. When I was 6, I hid one of my white Easter gloves under all my clothes in the bottom drawer so I could go to Mass with only one (in my mind) sparkly glove. I always wanted silver sequin socks. I went to a premier of the movie Free Willy not for the film but for the soundtrack. I own the Making of Thriller video and have watched it more times than I can count. I stayed in ballet so I could go on Pointe and do a toe-stand in any kind of shoes just like him. The album HIStory was the talk of my driver’s ed class when it was released in the summer of 1995. We all bought it at Sound Warehouse the day it was available. We would listen to Bad, Thriller, and Off the Wall for hours after work during “book rush” in college. I never wanted to dance like him because I always knew I was not that musical. His moves were just another instrument in his hits. It was incredible!

There were times that he was a complete train wreck. Do you remember the Lisa Marie kiss? Eww! Do you remember that weird belly shot in the "You Are Not Alone" video? Oh, and the fact that he and Lisa Marie were naked? Eww times two! And that just scratches the surface of oddities. But aside from all of that, today he was saluted. Stevie Wonder, a man who has won 22 Grammy awards, recognized him with song. Maya Angelou wrote a poem about him, remembering “normal” moments of side splitting belly laughter and “performance” moments like the toe-stand. Berry Gordy called him the “greatest entertainer to ever live” and Gordy knows a few great entertainers. Most who spoke today talked about perfectly normal times with a perfectly normal guy.  A guy who loved much and laughed often.  I did not know that guy, but the entertainer that I grew up with was an idol.
I remember that Elisabeth adored him and always wanted to meet him and see him in concert. Luckily, she was given the chance to do just that before she died. She went to his concert on September 10, 2001 in New York.

My dad has always told me “if you believe it, you become it.” I realized I should actually listen to him when I was 21 and heard an interview with MJ where he said, “…whatever you believe, you become.”

I'm an intellectual...Make me turn it off!

Okay, everybody close your eyes. Now, be honest. Do not worry. No one can see you. Raise you hand if you watch I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. Hell’s Kitchen? America’s Next Top Model? Real Housewives of Orange County? New York? Atlanta? New Jersey? Survivor? Kathy Griffin: Life on the D-List? True Life? 

I watch them all! IT IS SICK!! I do not watch them religiously and thank God for DVR because otherwise it could get ugly.

This week I have jumped feet first into vacation. For that reason I have found myself up until 3am watching complete and total crap on television. I feel like my brain has been fried to only two brain cells. And those are competing over whom I detest more…Danielle from Jersey or Speidi from The Hills/Celebrity. MAKE ME TURN IT OFF!! How did my life turn so sad in just one week?!

I found myself on Google looking up when the new Big Brother was going to start. I was relieved to know that I would not be on a plane to visit CL when NYC Prep premieres this week. I am bummed that Project Runway is no longer on television, but was happy to see Kat Von D came back to LA Ink for another season. Seriously, find me a 12-step program PRONTO!!

I will say that I do not have emotional feelings for the people on these shows. I do not cry when they leave or scream at them when they do something stupid. There is really no reason why I watch them because they are dumb and make me feel far less intelligent on a daily basis, but they make me laugh so hard! I think I will make a list of one-liners that make me laugh out loud every week. Really. People could not write this stuff!

Note: I have not watched Jon & Kate since the “babies” were potty training (the “announcement” is recorded however), but Aaden and Leah are my favorite. I do not watch the Bachelor/Bachelorette because it makes me uncomfortable. Every now and again I will watch a Real World or Road Rules thing, but it makes me worry about my former students.  (I do not think yall need links to those 5 shows.)

Another note: Do not even think about putting Amazing Race or So You Think You Can Dance in this crap reality show category. Those two shows are pure GREATNESS! I mean television GOLD! So back off.

Post criteria

People often post comments or ask questions about my job, my hometown, or ask, "do you even have a family?"  Basically, yes, I have a job, but we (the company) are very protective of the people we work with because they deserve the utmost in privacy.  Yes, I have a hometown.  It is in Texas.  Yes, I have a family, but Sis has made it VERY clear that she wants no pics of Bea on the internet EVER!  

I respect the fact that this is my blog and they (my coworkers, clients, or family) did not ask to have their likeness splattered over the world wide web.  People have criticized me about being too protective of my work and family, but frankly they are mine and you do not get a say. Sorry. Wait, no I am not. Deal with it. 

Every picture I post is a debate.  I always want to make sure that no one in the picture could be affected in any way by the post.  I often crop photos so that it is only me, only people from the back, or identifying information is blurred.  If there are other people in the photos or mentioned by real name in the posts, they are aware of it because I have told them.  Call me overprotective, that is fine.

Just to prove my point, here is an interesting story about a company that lifted a picture from a blog and used it without the family's permission.  It is a harmless example, but just think of what else could happen.  Think about it when you think it is cute to post pictures of your small children or anyone else's kids for that matter.

Christmas photo ends up in Czech ad

Do not be paranoid and completely stop posting pics (everyone knows posts are better with pictures), just think about the ones you publish and maybe add a watermark on them.

Calling all 8 of you

Yes, the 8 of you that read my blog, including my creeper family members that think I do not know they check the blog.  I see you. I know you are there.   Thanks Google Analytics.

Anyway, I thought I would post a little something from BlogHer.  They are trying to have “meet-ups” with their bloggers around the United States.  Most all of the meetings are this month, sorry I found this after some of them already happened.  I went to one of these things back, oh I do not know when but it was cold outside, and it was a blast.   It is so fun to see the face and hear the voice behind the many witty, heartfelt, and crafty talents we all blog stalk.   So, go to this link and see where to find your meet-up group.

It is a great way to network!  Jen—go to the Dallas one and market the Sip-n-Swap.  (Lord, I hope you have business cards for the event.)  

Dear Liza, Dear Liza

There is a hole in my pocket!  My money is GONE!  Where does it go?!

Somehow I have burned (might as well be literally) through my entire month’s budget.  I can hear you…but Colleen, it is only 8 days into June.  Yes, I know.  But Colleen, how did you do that?   Well duh!  If I knew, I would not have a post to blog about people.  So Colleen, what are you going to do?  Hold my breath until I get paid again on the 25th and roll coins found in the couch cushions.  See?   I have a plan.

I know some of it (read “a lot”) went to the Ballpark in Arlington, but by no means all of it!  So, if you see me in real-life eating out, shopping, or generally gallivanting around town throwing hundred dollar bills into the air, please stop me...unless I am watching the Rangers.   All that money is totally worth it.   Oh, and if you stop me you can totally have one of those hundreds.

K? Thx!

Side note – have you ever actually learned the words to that song? ODD!

Wordless Wednesday

For Amanda...

Six Word Saturday

Projects done,

Rangers doubleheader,

Summer's here!

I promise this will not become a baseball blog over the summer months.  It is just really exciting that my boys are actually winning and sticking with it this year.  I have said for too many years that they would go to the World Series when I was 80...it may happen a bit earlier. :)

Play Six Word with Cate...

Wordless Wednesday

Beautiful flowers Daigle sent to work as a "thank you" for the Triple Play ticket.

Before they opened...

Blooming!!

Date with Daigle and Ryan

I got an email about two weeks ago asking if I would be interested in attending the Texas Rangers Foundation Triple Play charity dinner.  I jumped at the chance.  Tickets normally run about $350, but this particular person bought a table of 10 and invited little old me, and a guest, to join them.

It was quite the debate on who to take with me.  Despite it being on King’s birthday, he is overseas all month for work.  So I came up with strict criteria…1. Male 2. Single 3. Know baseball 4. Be a fan of (or at least appreciate) the Rangers 5. Own a suit 6. Be able to behave at a dinner table and in front of VIPs.

So, I email Daigle, a buddy from high school.  I have not seen/spoken to him in four years, but he is a walking, talking Beckett book of Ranger facts, figures, and fan-demonium.  Honestly, he is a complete freak show when it comes to team stats.  I knew he would be excited and a bit hesitant as well.  I mean really, this old friend comes out of nowhere and offers you a $350 dinner … with your favorite people on earth … for free?  Hmmmm.

He takes the offer and picks me up.

On the way there I ask him if there is anyone he really wants to meet.  He mentions Nolan Ryan and I tell him I can guarantee to get him close enough to introduce himself.   (I have no shame doing that for other people.)  He promptly tells me he would “punch him in the face from sheer excitement.”  I get a little worried.  I mean I knew Daigle’s favorite number was 34 and his room was plastered with posters of Nolan in high school, but I guess I never really had a childhood hero like this before. (Pic below of what Nolan can do if someone comes after him.  Click for the video.)

We are told to take our seats, and we find the table which ends up being front and center.  There is another couple there and a lovely woman standing alone.  We all introduce ourselves with first names and sit.  Daigle looks at me, eyes about to pop out of his head, and tells me the woman is Nolan Ryan’s wife.  I just smile.  Tom Hicks and his wife Cinda then join us at the table as well.  Then Derek Holland joins us.  (He is our new, fresh pitcher we drafted from junior college 2 years ago and just brought up to play this year.  God, I hope he can turn our pitching around!)

There is one empty chair.  It is at Daigle’s immediate left.

He looks at me in a burst of bridled giddiness I could never describe and forces out, “Is he going to sit next to me?”  I just laugh.  He tells me his hands are shaking and sure enough I look down to see a grand mal seizure going on from wrist to fingertip.  Before we knew it, Mr. Ryan was shaking our hands and saying “nice to meet you”.  I thought Daigle was going to pass out.  It was SO FREAKING COOL!! They were all incredibly nice and funny to boot!  After dinner, the players entertain everyone with a round of Fielder’s Feud.  It is like Family Feud, but the “families” are the Infielders vs. the Outfielders.  Pretty.  Stinkin’.  Funny.  Next up was a lovely serenade of "Afternoon Delight" by the rookies in full '70s Anchorman attire.  Ballplayers in tight pants, platform heels, and singing = greatness.  Elvis Andrus with maracas is quite possibly the most entertaining thing I have seen in a long time.  

Then there was a Guys and Dolls (the theme of the evening) battle of the sexes game with the players and their wives.  Dolls won.  Not surprising!

I did not get pictures with any of the players because of where I was sitting.  I did not think it would be a good idea to turn into a swooning, blubbering, psycho fan in 9/10 of a second, but I did get a baseball autographed by Michael Young and Josh Hamilton.  Seriously…they are all so kind!! 

Josh Hamilton 1 Peter 2:24  He has an incredible story!!

Michael Young

Needless to say, the evening was FANTASTIC and will remain one of the greatest nights of my life for…well…pretty much forever.  It was an added bonus that I got to witness Daigle meet his “all-time idol,” and no, he did not punch him.  

Got a little story for ya...

...but it will have to wait until later in the week.  I AM SOOOO SORRY!  I know I have completely neglected my poor, sweet blog and all of my blogiverse friends, but it has been crazy with a capital K around here.  There really is a good story coming, but in order to do it justice it will have to wait.  I have a HUGE project due at work this week so I am off to work for another 3-4 hours.  Yes, that will make my first all-nighter for work since college.  Damn me and my procrastination skills!