I had this terrible dream.
I was sitting at work and all of sudden my coworkers started making fun of me and my blog. My blog? What kind of a nerd has a blog? Oh, wait a minute. I do.
I'm not sure why it threw me off, I mean, I do write embarrassing stuff but its not that bad, and I don't write about all the horrible work K**** C**** *shoutout* gives me.
....Then I realized it wasn't a dream. It was for real.
More shoutouts to all my co-workers who get my RSS feeds. Y'all really should be more open about being creepy.
I'm blaming Hannah. She made me get a blog, and she made me get Twitter, but I never really use that either. I seriously thought it was just Hannah, my mom and granddad (and sometimes Liz) who read it.
Now I can't be as funny and embarrassing now that I know people who judge me *another Kevin shoutout* read it.
Wednesday, June 1
Tuesday, April 19
Gulp of (not so) fresh....water?
Solution? 2 hours at the gym. Well...maybe 2 hours. Some elliptical, some weights, some more elliptical and then a few laps topped off with a little yoga when I got home.
I didn't think the pool would be crowded at 9:30, but it was so, I hung out in the hot tub (I'd only do that if it was empty and luckily it was!) After about 15 minutes, a lane opened, so I grabbed it. It was me and 3 guys about my age in the pool. They weren't hard core- no swim caps or goggles. They didn't even swim 2 consecutive laps.
I could tell they were watching me. I look like I'm legit because I do wear a swim cap and goggles. I let them think what they want, but if they watch me too long, they'll figure out I'm not headed for the Olympics anytime soon.
I ignored the boys and kept swimming. They went into the sauna and I could tell they were still watching me through the steamy glass. I pulled out the big guns- the butterfly. (Let's be clear... I'm going for tough workout b/c I felt disgusting, I'm not trying to show off for these guys....please, I'm wearing a 1 piece swimsuit and a swim cap. I'm sure my mascara was all over my face and I looked utterly adorable).
Anyway, I do my lap of the butterfly towards the sauna, making sure to pull out of the water like all the really cool pictures of the awesome swimmers. I saw one of the guys in the sauna come stand at the glass as if he'd never seen anyone do the butterfly as gracefully as me (uh...yeah Hayley....that's it).
I could see a wave in front of me carving out a path for me as I made my way to the other end. There was the wall...one last stroke...come up for air....OH NO, the wave had hit the wall and it came crashing straight into my mouth. I coughed up a TON of water but then I still had about a pint lodged in my windpipe. Great finale. Now they all know you're not awesome.
I played it off with an easy breaststroke back...ya know, just in case I died from choking on water, I'd die doing an easy stroke. Needless to say, that was my last lap of the night.
Saturday, April 9
More to Live For
Last night I went to a film festival where they showed "More to Live For" that was held in honor of a coworker's 18-month old baby niece, Winslet.
Winslet was born premature at 4 pounds, 8 ounces, was resuscitated in the delivery room, was critically ill with only 33% of the blood volume she should have had, and her vital organs were shutting down. She fought her way back to health during a seven week stay in the NICU, but there was one major lingering problem — Winslet was not making blood. After months of blood tests, dozens of transfusions, three bone marrow biopsies, and consulting with leading hematologists around the world, doctors were at a loss for a diagnosis and now refer to her condition as Winslet’s Disease.
Winslet's only chance for a cure was a life-saving bone marrow transplant. She was lucky — doctors quickly found a 6/6 match from the National Marrow Donor Program cord blood bank. Winslet endured eight days of around-the-clock intensive chemotherapy in preparation for her bone marrow transplant, which took place February 3, 2011. After 54 days in Medical City Dallas, Winslet faces two years of recovery before it will be known if the transplant was a success.
The documentary "More to Live For" is shown by a non-profit called Love Hope Strength, which is an international, music-centric cancer charity dedicated to saving lives, one concert at a time. Right now, they're raising funds to build cancer centers around the world (Peru, Nepal, Tanzania...), build awareness of global cancer needs, and build an international bone marrow registry.
Before I saw this documentary last night, I really didn't know much about bone marrow transplants. I didn't realize there are thousands of people waiting to find a match today. I thought bone marrow donors had to be from the patient's family and there wasn't a need to "join a registry" because (thank the Lord) everyone in my family is healthy. Heck, I actually didn't know there was a registry.
James Chippendale, the co-founder of Love Hope Strength, was blessed to find his match- a German man who has never left his small village outside of Berlin. A complete stranger on the other side of the world gave his bone marrow to save the life of a stranger- no questions asked. That's the way this world should be.
James was at the film screening last night and he was describing how he was laying on his death bed, losing a battle with leukemia, when he found his match. Once he began recovering, he had to transition back into the real world. He said there was a pre-cancer James and a post-cancer James and everything in life was completely different. He said, "All of a sudden, I didn't understand why this person was yelling at the traffic, and that person was honking...." He is so grateful to be alive, he doesn't let the petty stressors get to him- why should anyone!?
I joined the bone marrow registry after the movie. All it took was a simple 10 second cotton swab in my cheek and I could be someone's match. They can't get that swab to a lab fast enough- I want to get the call NOW that I can save someone. Isn't that so cool that we can save lives just with the blood that's pumping through our veins?! It doesn't get much cooler than that.
Winslet's only chance for a cure was a life-saving bone marrow transplant. She was lucky — doctors quickly found a 6/6 match from the National Marrow Donor Program cord blood bank. Winslet endured eight days of around-the-clock intensive chemotherapy in preparation for her bone marrow transplant, which took place February 3, 2011. After 54 days in Medical City Dallas, Winslet faces two years of recovery before it will be known if the transplant was a success.
The documentary "More to Live For" is shown by a non-profit called Love Hope Strength, which is an international, music-centric cancer charity dedicated to saving lives, one concert at a time. Right now, they're raising funds to build cancer centers around the world (Peru, Nepal, Tanzania...), build awareness of global cancer needs, and build an international bone marrow registry.Before I saw this documentary last night, I really didn't know much about bone marrow transplants. I didn't realize there are thousands of people waiting to find a match today. I thought bone marrow donors had to be from the patient's family and there wasn't a need to "join a registry" because (thank the Lord) everyone in my family is healthy. Heck, I actually didn't know there was a registry.
James Chippendale, the co-founder of Love Hope Strength, was blessed to find his match- a German man who has never left his small village outside of Berlin. A complete stranger on the other side of the world gave his bone marrow to save the life of a stranger- no questions asked. That's the way this world should be.
James was at the film screening last night and he was describing how he was laying on his death bed, losing a battle with leukemia, when he found his match. Once he began recovering, he had to transition back into the real world. He said there was a pre-cancer James and a post-cancer James and everything in life was completely different. He said, "All of a sudden, I didn't understand why this person was yelling at the traffic, and that person was honking...." He is so grateful to be alive, he doesn't let the petty stressors get to him- why should anyone!?
I joined the bone marrow registry after the movie. All it took was a simple 10 second cotton swab in my cheek and I could be someone's match. They can't get that swab to a lab fast enough- I want to get the call NOW that I can save someone. Isn't that so cool that we can save lives just with the blood that's pumping through our veins?! It doesn't get much cooler than that.
Tuesday, April 5
Arachnophobia
I'm not a very "phobic" person. I used to be claustrophobic as a child. I was DEATHLY afraid of elevators- particularly the idea of getting stuck in an elevator. I could only ride alone in a glass elevator, and even then, I didn't trust that strangers watching me panic inside a stuck elevator would have the heart to help me.
But this blog post isn't about the claustrophobia I've grown out of- it's about the arachnophobia I'll NEVER grow out of.
I hate spiders. They have more legs, and probably more eyes, than I do. Most of them can outrun me too (ha). Well...today I was walking down the hall and something fell from the ceiling down my shirt. Eh...surely it's just dust, right? It's never just dust.
I made it about 50 yards to my BFF's desk:
"OMG...something fell down my shirt!"
"What was it?"
"I don't know"....I look...*GASP* "A spider!"
No kidding, she jumped at least 3 feet back from me!
Suddenly people looked at me more like a leper in that moment than they did when I had a cough last week. I had a spider in my shirt and I had no intention of reaching in it to get it out or stripping in front of my coworkers!
I would have loved to scream, but I heard with tarantulas, it's better to stay calm because they attack when they sense fear. I know this dime-sized spider wasn't a tarantula, but I wasn't sure if the rules applied across the board, and I'm at work...gotta maintain a sense of professionalism so the VP of Marketing doesn't see you running down the hall tearing your shirt off to get a spider out. I don't really see a promotion coming from that scenario (at least not in my line of work).
I drug my 2 nearest female coworkers to the bathroom with me...I couldn't face this beast alone. I was shaking and starting to sweat. The 2 bathroom stalls in the closest bathroom were full. We went into the executive suite...I was ready to pop into my boss' office (luckily he wasn't in there) and dig the spider out there, but we made it another 30 yards to the bathroom where I ripped off my jacket and shook out my shirt. The spider plopped on the ground and in true girl-fashion we sprung back. I threw a paper towel on the floor over it but it ran. My brave coworker stomped it with her stiletto several times till it was unrecognizable.
I'm safe. I survived, and I feel like I did so with professional poise. Now I'm just wearing turtlenecks to work!
But this blog post isn't about the claustrophobia I've grown out of- it's about the arachnophobia I'll NEVER grow out of.
I hate spiders. They have more legs, and probably more eyes, than I do. Most of them can outrun me too (ha). Well...today I was walking down the hall and something fell from the ceiling down my shirt. Eh...surely it's just dust, right? It's never just dust.
I made it about 50 yards to my BFF's desk:
"OMG...something fell down my shirt!"
"What was it?"
"I don't know"....I look...*GASP* "A spider!"
No kidding, she jumped at least 3 feet back from me!
Suddenly people looked at me more like a leper in that moment than they did when I had a cough last week. I had a spider in my shirt and I had no intention of reaching in it to get it out or stripping in front of my coworkers!
I would have loved to scream, but I heard with tarantulas, it's better to stay calm because they attack when they sense fear. I know this dime-sized spider wasn't a tarantula, but I wasn't sure if the rules applied across the board, and I'm at work...gotta maintain a sense of professionalism so the VP of Marketing doesn't see you running down the hall tearing your shirt off to get a spider out. I don't really see a promotion coming from that scenario (at least not in my line of work).
I drug my 2 nearest female coworkers to the bathroom with me...I couldn't face this beast alone. I was shaking and starting to sweat. The 2 bathroom stalls in the closest bathroom were full. We went into the executive suite...I was ready to pop into my boss' office (luckily he wasn't in there) and dig the spider out there, but we made it another 30 yards to the bathroom where I ripped off my jacket and shook out my shirt. The spider plopped on the ground and in true girl-fashion we sprung back. I threw a paper towel on the floor over it but it ran. My brave coworker stomped it with her stiletto several times till it was unrecognizable.
I'm safe. I survived, and I feel like I did so with professional poise. Now I'm just wearing turtlenecks to work!
Sunday, March 6
Faith & Opportunism
I tend to think I need a plan. I need to have everything mapped out and figured out. Basically up until graduating from college, I did. The plan was 1. Graduate high school, 2. Graduate college, 3. Be financially independent, 4. Get married sometime after that.
I'm currently working on #3. At some point, I want to lapse back into #2 and get a Master's degree in something. It helps to know what that something is before studying for whatever test I'll need to take and applying to whatever schools I need to apply to. I'll need to apply for loans, decide to work and take classes at the same time or go full time. I'll need to think about how much debt I'm willing to take on, what kind of doors an advanced degree might open and what I'd be leaving behind to pursue something else.
When I start thinking about my future (even as near as this summer or next year) I start spiraling into confusion. Most 20-something year olds get it. They're in my boat, but there is no use talking about my future plans with real adults (i.e. my parents or coworkers) because it just shows them I'm lost, unstable and unprepared to take on the world.
BUT, I'm coming to terms with the fact that I don't need to have my life mapped out. I actually had a thought this morning that some of the people who will most influence me in my life are not even alive yet...like my children and grandchildren. Somewhere we get the idea that by the age of 20, we need to have the next 60+ years mapped out.
I heard a great statement about faith today. When you're driving at night, you can only see a few hundred feet in front of you, but you still know the road is there. As long as you follow the little bit of the road you can see, you'll get where you're going. It's such a simple concept, but I need to apply it to my life. I'm not big on cliche quotes, but I like this one by Martin Luther King Jr., "Faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase."
Now, you're probably expecting some big announcement that I'm taking some grand big step on my grand staircase of life- I don't have a big announcement other than I'm going to go to work tomorrow and keep living my life.
My aunt gave me a little pep talk about being opportunistic today. After thinking about it, some really great and exciting things have happened to me when I chose to be opportunistic instead of chickening out. My sophomore year of college, an opportunity to study abroad with Baylor University for 19 days in Southeast Asia fell in my lap. I'm not quite sure how- I wasn't looking for it. I had never dreamt of going to Asia, and I honestly didn't have a strong desire to go. I felt pressured by the Baylor professor, and before I gave my final "yes," the professor reserved a plane ticket with my name on it and my mom made a deposit.
On January 1, 2008 I found myself bawling in the airport parking lot with my family all around me (I don't like crying in front of people- even my family). I was scared. I was going to spend 19 days on the other side of the world with 13 strangers- kids I had never met from a different school. It was actually a bigger deal than just that. A week after I was to get back from Asia, I was spending an entire semester in London with a group of girls I had met a few times- I had a few acquaintances in the group, but they might as well have been strangers too. I felt the close friends I had made in my first 3 semesters at school drifting away and I knew when I got back the next Fall, everything would be different. My parents told me I didn't have to go if I didn't want to. What? We've paid for this trip, I've packed, I'm here at the airport and you're telling me I don't have to go?
I went anyway. Both study abroad experiences were life changing. I went to 10 new countries, shook the hand of a Thai prince, went paragliding in Switzerland, climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower, St. Paul's Cathedral, and St. Peter's Basilica, laid on a Spanish beach and hiked through the English countryside. I learned a great deal about myself and the strangers I was afraid of became some of my best friends. I am thankful for the lessons learned, the experiences I gained and the people I met. I trust life continues to hand me wonderful and unexpected opportunities.
I can't stress about my future. I know as long as I'm patient and have faith, my future will unfold without me trying. I think if I try to map out the next 60 years of my life, I'll screw it up. God knows what He's doing. He has a plan, and He isn't willing to unveil it all right now, but that's probably for the best. I'd be far too excited about my entire future to fold my laundry tonight and go into work in the morning.
"Your life is defined by opportunities. Even the ones you miss." Benjamin Button
I'm currently working on #3. At some point, I want to lapse back into #2 and get a Master's degree in something. It helps to know what that something is before studying for whatever test I'll need to take and applying to whatever schools I need to apply to. I'll need to apply for loans, decide to work and take classes at the same time or go full time. I'll need to think about how much debt I'm willing to take on, what kind of doors an advanced degree might open and what I'd be leaving behind to pursue something else.
When I start thinking about my future (even as near as this summer or next year) I start spiraling into confusion. Most 20-something year olds get it. They're in my boat, but there is no use talking about my future plans with real adults (i.e. my parents or coworkers) because it just shows them I'm lost, unstable and unprepared to take on the world.
BUT, I'm coming to terms with the fact that I don't need to have my life mapped out. I actually had a thought this morning that some of the people who will most influence me in my life are not even alive yet...like my children and grandchildren. Somewhere we get the idea that by the age of 20, we need to have the next 60+ years mapped out.
I heard a great statement about faith today. When you're driving at night, you can only see a few hundred feet in front of you, but you still know the road is there. As long as you follow the little bit of the road you can see, you'll get where you're going. It's such a simple concept, but I need to apply it to my life. I'm not big on cliche quotes, but I like this one by Martin Luther King Jr., "Faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase."
Now, you're probably expecting some big announcement that I'm taking some grand big step on my grand staircase of life- I don't have a big announcement other than I'm going to go to work tomorrow and keep living my life.
My aunt gave me a little pep talk about being opportunistic today. After thinking about it, some really great and exciting things have happened to me when I chose to be opportunistic instead of chickening out. My sophomore year of college, an opportunity to study abroad with Baylor University for 19 days in Southeast Asia fell in my lap. I'm not quite sure how- I wasn't looking for it. I had never dreamt of going to Asia, and I honestly didn't have a strong desire to go. I felt pressured by the Baylor professor, and before I gave my final "yes," the professor reserved a plane ticket with my name on it and my mom made a deposit.
On January 1, 2008 I found myself bawling in the airport parking lot with my family all around me (I don't like crying in front of people- even my family). I was scared. I was going to spend 19 days on the other side of the world with 13 strangers- kids I had never met from a different school. It was actually a bigger deal than just that. A week after I was to get back from Asia, I was spending an entire semester in London with a group of girls I had met a few times- I had a few acquaintances in the group, but they might as well have been strangers too. I felt the close friends I had made in my first 3 semesters at school drifting away and I knew when I got back the next Fall, everything would be different. My parents told me I didn't have to go if I didn't want to. What? We've paid for this trip, I've packed, I'm here at the airport and you're telling me I don't have to go?
I went anyway. Both study abroad experiences were life changing. I went to 10 new countries, shook the hand of a Thai prince, went paragliding in Switzerland, climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower, St. Paul's Cathedral, and St. Peter's Basilica, laid on a Spanish beach and hiked through the English countryside. I learned a great deal about myself and the strangers I was afraid of became some of my best friends. I am thankful for the lessons learned, the experiences I gained and the people I met. I trust life continues to hand me wonderful and unexpected opportunities.
I can't stress about my future. I know as long as I'm patient and have faith, my future will unfold without me trying. I think if I try to map out the next 60 years of my life, I'll screw it up. God knows what He's doing. He has a plan, and He isn't willing to unveil it all right now, but that's probably for the best. I'd be far too excited about my entire future to fold my laundry tonight and go into work in the morning.
"Your life is defined by opportunities. Even the ones you miss." Benjamin Button
Saturday, March 5
My Oscar Debut
I know I'm way behind the times, but last night I finally saw The King's Speech. Just to show how out of the loop I am, I was excited to see Colin Firth was in it....didn't even know he was the Oscar-winning star!
I think that is the all time best ever movie....ever.
I love the acting- Colin is unbelievable! I love the filming too. Every shot was deliberate. I love the colors and decor in every scene.
I could never pick a favorite scene, but I do love this one. The character development is great- you see a this hostile relationship between a therapist and royalty turn into a true friendship.
I could own this movie. I don't like owning movies because I don't normally like seeing movies more than once. Most movies that are out there are just mediocre and who wants to see a mediocre movie over and over and over? The King's Speech is actually a movie worth memorizing the lines to.
The real reason I love this movie is because I'm in it. Kind of....
In this clip at 1:20 and 2:15 there are clips of people hanging on a gate outside of Buckingham Palace. I was in London last January and one day I took a walk...right past Buckingham Palace and I saw them filming something. I had no idea what it was and I asked someone else watching and they didn't know. The camera crew was set up outside the palace gate filming people right up on the gate and then about 30 yards back there was a group of people sitting up on the statue in front of Buckingham Palace.
They actually let us walk between the people hanging on the gate and the people on the statue because the people on the gate cover all the tourists in the background. I was walking in the middle of that scene while they were filming! I was in a movie that won 3 Oscars!!!
During the movie, I leaned over to my friend and said, "When I was in London I saw them filming a movie that looked like it was set in the 1940s. I wonder if this is it!" Then during the big huge final speech, it showed this scene for 3 seconds and I freaked out and said, "I was there! I was there!!!!" So embarrassing....but I'm so proud of my big Hollywood breakthrough!
I think that is the all time best ever movie....ever.
I love the acting- Colin is unbelievable! I love the filming too. Every shot was deliberate. I love the colors and decor in every scene.
I could never pick a favorite scene, but I do love this one. The character development is great- you see a this hostile relationship between a therapist and royalty turn into a true friendship.
I could own this movie. I don't like owning movies because I don't normally like seeing movies more than once. Most movies that are out there are just mediocre and who wants to see a mediocre movie over and over and over? The King's Speech is actually a movie worth memorizing the lines to.
The real reason I love this movie is because I'm in it. Kind of....
 |
| Camera crew for The Kings Speech |
They actually let us walk between the people hanging on the gate and the people on the statue because the people on the gate cover all the tourists in the background. I was walking in the middle of that scene while they were filming! I was in a movie that won 3 Oscars!!!
 |
| @ 1:20 in the movie trailer, there's a clip of people hanging on a gate- this is the filming of that clip! |
 |
| @ 2:15 in the trailer, you see a group of people standing on a statue- I walked right past them while they were filming! |
Thursday, March 3
The Verdict is In
I won the creative award. Most people were a little apprehensive to try the "tie-dyed" cupcakes. One co-worker (who.shall.not.be.named) was worried the dye wouldn't make it through the digestive system well (if you know what I mean...). They're just hating on my creativity. They were delicious! And I think they looked good for an amateur if I may say so myself. I think I have a sugar high headache just from smelling sugar all day.
Ok, now to travel back in time. Back when we had Super Storm MMXI, my mom called me to tell me I got a jury summons in the mail. Great....I had to miss work for jury duty on top of having to miss 4 days of work for Super Winter Storm MMXI and then 1 day of work for Mini Winter Storm MMXI the next week, and then after a full week of work I was out an entire week for Super Flu MMXI (that wasn't really the flu but I don't really know what it was so I call it the flu).
I had mixed feelings going into jury duty. On the one hand I have way too much work to do to miss any days, but on the other, I'm a huge fan of the justice system. I think its brilliant that our country allows us to have a free and fair trial by our peers. I'm grateful for that and therefore (as strange as it might be) I'm grateful for the chance to serve on a jury.
I don't really know how to write about this experience. When I got home from the trail (after the case was closed of course) I talked my parents' ears off. Completely. I just kept talking and talking and talking about all the details. Cases fascinate me, and this wasn't even a good case. I got a civil trial.
I'll go ahead and condense the case and ruin the surprise. This woman was turning left, waiting on oncoming traffic to clear when a man driving behind her took his eyes off the road to pick up a water bottle he dropped on the floorboard and when he looked up, saw the stopped car, slammed on the brakes and swerved. Unfortunately for him, he did hit her a little- barely. The lady complained of back problems when she had chronic back problems and multiple sclerosis to begin with. There wasn't a "guilty/not guilty" sentence. We had to decide if the injuries claimed were solely caused by this accident. We said no. And we gave her no money.
Highlights of jury duty:
- When all the jurors of the day were sitting in one big room (like 1,000 people), I was sitting up front by the judge and got to hear everyone's great excuses for trying to get out of jury duty. One of the requirements is you have to be a citizen and you have to be able to read and write (in English). There were quite a few...well, I'm from Texas...you know. They tried to get out of jury duty by saying they didn't know English well. The judge said, "Did you fill out your summons card by yourself?" "Yes" "Well this is wonderful! You did so well! Sit down, you're still in!" HAHAHA
- 2 of the 36 jurors on my jury panel fell asleep during voire dire (where they question the jurors to see if you'll be biased)
- I see no strategy in actually picking the jury. Two people who admitted that they would probably be biased in one way or another during voire dire were chosen for the jury. I was number 21 and they only needed 12. Tell me how I got picked as #12?
- This lady had the world's worst (or most selective) memory and the worst hearing. She actually put her ear up to the microphone like it would help her hear. Interestingly, she could understand her own attorney pretty well, but not the defending council. He did have a southern accent, but it wasn't that bad.
- I loved the nonverbal communication in the courtroom. I actually think that's how all cases are decided. The plaintiff's refusal to respond to the defending council's questions and her awful memory ruined her credibility. I get it if you don't remember much about the accident, but if you don't remember multiple car accidents, your medications, your doctors, or even if you took your mom the loaf of bread after the accident....come on! What DO you remember about the past 5 years?
- I loved how the attorneys made strategic eye contact with the jury. During one of the painful moments of silence when the plaintiff refused to answer (but she was really just pretending like she didn't hear), the defending council saw me make a face. I think he saw me make several faces (I'm a really easy person to read). I think I actually became his "go to girl" for a reaction. Never let me play poker- at least not for money.
- During one recess I got to watch a bunch of 50 year olds on the jury play Angry Birds. Definite highlight of my day.
- It's funny how the smartphone has replaced the endless trail of photos of kids and grandkids people used to keep in their wallets. Why yes...I'd love to see your entire family and all their birthday cakes.
- We had a fun jury. How often does a group of 12 strangers from a wide age range and a variety of education levels and jobs get along as well as we do? We spent maybe 20 minutes deliberating. We probably only needed 7- it was an easy case.
- If jury duty paid better, I'd want to be a professional juror. I like to listen and observe.
A Week of Birthdays
So this post is going to be chronologically out of order. The post that is still in my head comes before the one I'm writing, but this one is shorter, so it's coming out of my head first.
I know it's silly, but Sunday was my 1/2 birthday. I don't know why I even "observe" my 1/2 birthday. I think, as an August baby I may have been sensitive to the fact that I was always the youngest in my class, so I was so proud of my 1/2 birthday because it meant I was almost as old as the other kids!! I guess my nerdy 1/2 celebration could also be from my mom letting us eat dinner on the "special plate" when I was little on our birthdays and half birthdays. It was just a blue plate with confetti and "Celebrate!" written on it. It still makes me feel special to eat dinner on it :) But I didn't get to on Sunday :(
Today (what's left of it) is Texas' birthday. The grand, great, beautiful state of Texas became the Republic of Texas March 2, 1836!
Texas was an independent nation for a short 9 years (we're still holding out hope that one day we'll regain our independence). While the Republic of Texas, they established an embassy in London which is now a Tex-Mex restaurant called the Texas Embassy (creative, huh?)
When I studied in London for a semester, a group of us went to eat at the embassy to get a tex-mex fix. Emily (on the right) was the other Texan with me in our London group.
Today was also a coworker's birthday. He didn't tell anyone about, but Facebook isn't good at keeping secrets, so we made a big deal of it. Well...as big of a deal as saying "Happy Birthday" and eating lunch at Cane's.
My coworker/friend since birth (Liz) and I decided to bake cupcakes. I think we both crave baking but have no one to bake for (unless we want to bake for ourselves and blow up like blimps). At first, I thought we'd do this collaboratively, but it turned into a bake-off. I'll probably get my tail handed to me because she took a cake decorating class at Hobby Lobby and I don't have cake decorating skills. We asked the birthday boy what his favorite color was and he didn't give a straight answer. The conversation led to tie-dye, which is the inspiration of my cupcakes!!!
I got some white cake mix and NEON food coloring, mixed up the batter and then split it up into 4 bowls (see pic #1). I made deep purple, neon green, turquoise and hot pink! (Perfect boy colors, right!? I know he'll love it!)
So, next picture...I dropped the different colors in random order into the cups and swirled and stirred them with a knife. I completely forgot to take a picture of what they looked like when they got out of the oven, but they basically look like the did when they were uncooked, just a little bigger and...well, more cooked.
Now for the icing...I don't have professional-grade cake decorating tools like my competition, but I split the icing up into 3 bowls and colored them Green Apple, Smoky Blue, and Neon Blue. I put the icing into a ziplock bag, cut the corner and made my own piping bag! The swirled icing didn't look fabulous so I swirled the icing with a spoon and topped with fabulous silver sprinkles!
We'll be operating on a sugar high in the morning.
I know it's silly, but Sunday was my 1/2 birthday. I don't know why I even "observe" my 1/2 birthday. I think, as an August baby I may have been sensitive to the fact that I was always the youngest in my class, so I was so proud of my 1/2 birthday because it meant I was almost as old as the other kids!! I guess my nerdy 1/2 celebration could also be from my mom letting us eat dinner on the "special plate" when I was little on our birthdays and half birthdays. It was just a blue plate with confetti and "Celebrate!" written on it. It still makes me feel special to eat dinner on it :) But I didn't get to on Sunday :(
Today (what's left of it) is Texas' birthday. The grand, great, beautiful state of Texas became the Republic of Texas March 2, 1836!
Texas was an independent nation for a short 9 years (we're still holding out hope that one day we'll regain our independence). While the Republic of Texas, they established an embassy in London which is now a Tex-Mex restaurant called the Texas Embassy (creative, huh?)When I studied in London for a semester, a group of us went to eat at the embassy to get a tex-mex fix. Emily (on the right) was the other Texan with me in our London group.
Today was also a coworker's birthday. He didn't tell anyone about, but Facebook isn't good at keeping secrets, so we made a big deal of it. Well...as big of a deal as saying "Happy Birthday" and eating lunch at Cane's.
My coworker/friend since birth (Liz) and I decided to bake cupcakes. I think we both crave baking but have no one to bake for (unless we want to bake for ourselves and blow up like blimps). At first, I thought we'd do this collaboratively, but it turned into a bake-off. I'll probably get my tail handed to me because she took a cake decorating class at Hobby Lobby and I don't have cake decorating skills. We asked the birthday boy what his favorite color was and he didn't give a straight answer. The conversation led to tie-dye, which is the inspiration of my cupcakes!!!
Now for the icing...I don't have professional-grade cake decorating tools like my competition, but I split the icing up into 3 bowls and colored them Green Apple, Smoky Blue, and Neon Blue. I put the icing into a ziplock bag, cut the corner and made my own piping bag! The swirled icing didn't look fabulous so I swirled the icing with a spoon and topped with fabulous silver sprinkles!
We'll be operating on a sugar high in the morning.
Tuesday, February 8
Rhet Crit
I'm a nerd, I know.
My favorite class in college was Rhetorical Criticism. I loved analyzing ad campaigns and researching what made them work or not work. I actually like watching commercials more than I like watching tv...especially during the Super Bowl!!! There were some fabulous commercials and some not so fabulous commercials. I think the fact that the most popular commercials were the Doritos commercial with the dog knocking the door down and the Bud commercial with the dogs serving beer goes to show that the average American loves dogs and is stupid.
I did laugh out loud at the resurrected grandpa Doritos commercial.
I love ambiguity in advertising (wrote a nerdy paper about it my Junior year if you'd never like to read it...) I personally think the Hundai Elantra ad is fabulous (this one and this one too). They use subliminal messaging to make you think you're buying into some subliminal compact car conspiracy. The Reliant Energy ad that is (not) endorsed by Troy Aikman works really really well too- you can hardly tell Troy is endorsing Reliant.
The Kia Optima and Carmax are growing on me. They're thinkers too- the flow from one scene to the next works a lot like my brain does but I find that normal people in normal conversation don't really follow me there, so I wonder how many people get lost in these ads.
The worst ones by far that really rub me wrong are the Groupon commercials that take actual problems with humanity or the environment and belittle them. The whole thing with Tibet was ridiculous and uncalled for. I'd say the Groupon commercials are actually worse than the Old Navy mannequin commercials. That's why I get my deals from Daily Social, not Groupon.
On the flip side...I LOVE Toyota's commercials "Ideas for Good"- it sort of makes up for Groupon, but not really.
You know who made a smart move?....Crystal Light.
Ocean Spray marked on their box (on the top and the front) that their flavor packets were only 5 calories per serving. Crystal Light's were 10 calories a serving. What did they do? They cut their serving in half. Now, the back says a serving is 1/2 a packet, but so does Ocean Spray's...so they're the same, but stupid shoppers couldn't figure that out before so Crystal Light had to step up their game to compete with Ocean Spray. Good move Crystal Light.
My favorite class in college was Rhetorical Criticism. I loved analyzing ad campaigns and researching what made them work or not work. I actually like watching commercials more than I like watching tv...especially during the Super Bowl!!! There were some fabulous commercials and some not so fabulous commercials. I think the fact that the most popular commercials were the Doritos commercial with the dog knocking the door down and the Bud commercial with the dogs serving beer goes to show that the average American loves dogs and is stupid.
I did laugh out loud at the resurrected grandpa Doritos commercial.
I love ambiguity in advertising (wrote a nerdy paper about it my Junior year if you'd never like to read it...) I personally think the Hundai Elantra ad is fabulous (this one and this one too). They use subliminal messaging to make you think you're buying into some subliminal compact car conspiracy. The Reliant Energy ad that is (not) endorsed by Troy Aikman works really really well too- you can hardly tell Troy is endorsing Reliant.
The Kia Optima and Carmax are growing on me. They're thinkers too- the flow from one scene to the next works a lot like my brain does but I find that normal people in normal conversation don't really follow me there, so I wonder how many people get lost in these ads.
The worst ones by far that really rub me wrong are the Groupon commercials that take actual problems with humanity or the environment and belittle them. The whole thing with Tibet was ridiculous and uncalled for. I'd say the Groupon commercials are actually worse than the Old Navy mannequin commercials. That's why I get my deals from Daily Social, not Groupon.
On the flip side...I LOVE Toyota's commercials "Ideas for Good"- it sort of makes up for Groupon, but not really.
You know who made a smart move?....Crystal Light.
Ocean Spray marked on their box (on the top and the front) that their flavor packets were only 5 calories per serving. Crystal Light's were 10 calories a serving. What did they do? They cut their serving in half. Now, the back says a serving is 1/2 a packet, but so does Ocean Spray's...so they're the same, but stupid shoppers couldn't figure that out before so Crystal Light had to step up their game to compete with Ocean Spray. Good move Crystal Light.
Thursday, February 3
SUPER STORM MMXI
Yesterday I woke up in a slight panic- the "worst case scenario" had happened.
It was the coldest night in Dallas in 15 years and I woke up at 6:00 am to no power. I immediately called my mom, because that's always what you should do when you're panicking. My throat was killing me and my apartment was getting colder by the minute. I closed my sheer curtains as if that was actually going to help keep the cold out. A ton of cold air was coming in through my fireplace, but I didn't have wood. For about 8 seconds I actually contemplated burning old books or clothes that are too big...luckily I snapped out of it.
After layering on clothes and snuggling up in bed, I realized...this is what cavemen went through! Except they didn't have candles to light, or matches to light them with, or a soft bed or a secure apartment. I have some serious respect for prehistoric humans! I was so thankful to at least have my iPhone so I could stay in contact with the rest of humanity.
I feel so awful for the homebound elderly and disabled during this "SUPER STORM 2011." I saw Meals on Wheels wasn't delivering yesterday, and I doubt they're delivering today. I'm quickly running out of food (probably have enough to last me until Saturday, but then again, I live within walking distance of a gas station), but I can't imagine what those who depend on others for their food are going through! I hope they either have kind neighbors or their food providers delivered extra before the storm hit.
Most of North Texas experienced some power outage as they did rolling blackouts. I don't understand the whole power system enough to really know why, but they said each outage would only last about 15 minutes. Mine was out at least 2 hours, and another friends was out 3 hours and 20 minutes. Do you know how fast a house can get cold when it's 18 degrees outside?! No fear though, every building associated with the Super Bowl had full power all day- you know...for security reasons.
It's supposed to snow tomorrow. You know you're officially "grown up" when the word "snow" doesn't get you excited anymore. I don't want to go throw snowballs or make snow angels. I just want it to be warm, I want the roads to be clear, and I want to go to work. I'm working from home again but there's just something about getting dressed up and going into the office. I like it and I miss it.
It was the coldest night in Dallas in 15 years and I woke up at 6:00 am to no power. I immediately called my mom, because that's always what you should do when you're panicking. My throat was killing me and my apartment was getting colder by the minute. I closed my sheer curtains as if that was actually going to help keep the cold out. A ton of cold air was coming in through my fireplace, but I didn't have wood. For about 8 seconds I actually contemplated burning old books or clothes that are too big...luckily I snapped out of it.
After layering on clothes and snuggling up in bed, I realized...this is what cavemen went through! Except they didn't have candles to light, or matches to light them with, or a soft bed or a secure apartment. I have some serious respect for prehistoric humans! I was so thankful to at least have my iPhone so I could stay in contact with the rest of humanity.
I feel so awful for the homebound elderly and disabled during this "SUPER STORM 2011." I saw Meals on Wheels wasn't delivering yesterday, and I doubt they're delivering today. I'm quickly running out of food (probably have enough to last me until Saturday, but then again, I live within walking distance of a gas station), but I can't imagine what those who depend on others for their food are going through! I hope they either have kind neighbors or their food providers delivered extra before the storm hit.
Most of North Texas experienced some power outage as they did rolling blackouts. I don't understand the whole power system enough to really know why, but they said each outage would only last about 15 minutes. Mine was out at least 2 hours, and another friends was out 3 hours and 20 minutes. Do you know how fast a house can get cold when it's 18 degrees outside?! No fear though, every building associated with the Super Bowl had full power all day- you know...for security reasons.
It's supposed to snow tomorrow. You know you're officially "grown up" when the word "snow" doesn't get you excited anymore. I don't want to go throw snowballs or make snow angels. I just want it to be warm, I want the roads to be clear, and I want to go to work. I'm working from home again but there's just something about getting dressed up and going into the office. I like it and I miss it.
Tuesday, February 1
I'm alive...with a case of cabin fever
I have an excuse....okay, many excuses....I did try to post a new blog entry at some point in January but it just didn't work.
Other excuses:
- I'm a workaholic
I think that covers everything.
North Texas is in a state of emergency. Current temperature= 18 degrees, but it feels like 1 degree (straight off weather.com...that's not me being exaggerative). It rained most of the night, started sleeting about 4 am and it started snowing soon after.
I knew conditions would be rough, and I woke up to the news/talk radio show saying, "If you possibly can, stay home today." No way dude! I'm still a glorified intern. I have to show dedication and determination (and stupidity). A friend said I am a rare combination of a defiant and stubborn 12-year old and a 35-year old workaholic dad. That's a fair assessment. I woke up at 5:25 am and got ready for work. Mom texted just as I was about to step out the door and said, "I hope you're planning to work from home today!" I ventured outside. The complex was a ghost town. The sidewalk was solid ice, the parking lot was solid ice....my car was solid ice. I tried scrapping the little snow off the car and it wouldn't go anywhere. I started defrosting the car, and not much happened. I could tell 1 car had made it out of the lot successfully, but I had visions of me sliding out of the lot hitting every car on my way. I don't think my insurance would cover that much damage....my boss would understand.
So, I'm working from home against my will. It's Mother Nature's way of forcing me to update my blog. Like the new layout?! I took the background pic with my dad's old black and white film camera (and had the film put on a cd before I developed them myself in class...so fun!)
I have cabin fever already. Temperatures are supposed to stay below freezing until Friday. FRIDAY. That's 4 days I could be trapped in my apartment. (P.S. my electricity just flickered, so this could become an interesting week).
I just want to go outside. I'll walk around the neighborhood in the freezing cold, I don't care. Last January, when I was the student assistant for Jan Term in London, I had lots of free time to explore the city. One day I went on a solo adventure up to a Northern London neighborhood, Hampstead Health, and walked around a HUGE park. I walked miles and miles in the snow, taking baby steps on the ice. I might be crazy, but how many free days do you have in London? Take advantage! I saw some pretty cool stuff and got some cool pics.
Maybe I'll actually finish working on my scrapbook from my semester abroad that I did 3 years ago! Or I can do like 5 workout DVDs a day and read 20 books. I mean....I'm working from home. I have work to do.
I've gotten some really interesting calls while at work recently. First, I've gotten calls from Clearwater, FL nearly every day for the past 3 weeks. I usually ignore them or miss them, but I've been 'chosen' for a million dollar prize, maybe a free cruise too. I don't really listen, I just say, "I'm not interested in a million dollars, thanks." Boy, is that weird to say! I got a call from my cable company last week and they were offering me this amazing deal where I could get my internet, cable and a land line for only $107. That's great, but I only pay $39 now and I don't need a land line. *click*
My favorite calls are when the caller asks to speak to the owner of my company. Hmmmm....let's see. In the 9 months I've worked here, I've seen Michael Dell once, and that was kind of a big deal. I've never spoken to him, so no, I don't think you can either. Who do these people think they're calling?
My next favorite was a lady who called for a Mr. Hamilton. I told her she had the wrong phone number. She apologized but asked if there was a veteran in the home. I said no, but a coworker said I should've said, "Well...actually, yes. Mr. Perot."
I might choose to be stupid and go into work for a 1pm meeting. We'll see. I just can't stay inside forever!
Other excuses:
- I'm a workaholic
I think that covers everything.
North Texas is in a state of emergency. Current temperature= 18 degrees, but it feels like 1 degree (straight off weather.com...that's not me being exaggerative). It rained most of the night, started sleeting about 4 am and it started snowing soon after.
I knew conditions would be rough, and I woke up to the news/talk radio show saying, "If you possibly can, stay home today." No way dude! I'm still a glorified intern. I have to show dedication and determination (and stupidity). A friend said I am a rare combination of a defiant and stubborn 12-year old and a 35-year old workaholic dad. That's a fair assessment. I woke up at 5:25 am and got ready for work. Mom texted just as I was about to step out the door and said, "I hope you're planning to work from home today!" I ventured outside. The complex was a ghost town. The sidewalk was solid ice, the parking lot was solid ice....my car was solid ice. I tried scrapping the little snow off the car and it wouldn't go anywhere. I started defrosting the car, and not much happened. I could tell 1 car had made it out of the lot successfully, but I had visions of me sliding out of the lot hitting every car on my way. I don't think my insurance would cover that much damage....my boss would understand.
So, I'm working from home against my will. It's Mother Nature's way of forcing me to update my blog. Like the new layout?! I took the background pic with my dad's old black and white film camera (and had the film put on a cd before I developed them myself in class...so fun!)
I have cabin fever already. Temperatures are supposed to stay below freezing until Friday. FRIDAY. That's 4 days I could be trapped in my apartment. (P.S. my electricity just flickered, so this could become an interesting week).
 |
| This is the Kenwood house where the last scene of Notting Hill was filmed. |
I've gotten some really interesting calls while at work recently. First, I've gotten calls from Clearwater, FL nearly every day for the past 3 weeks. I usually ignore them or miss them, but I've been 'chosen' for a million dollar prize, maybe a free cruise too. I don't really listen, I just say, "I'm not interested in a million dollars, thanks." Boy, is that weird to say! I got a call from my cable company last week and they were offering me this amazing deal where I could get my internet, cable and a land line for only $107. That's great, but I only pay $39 now and I don't need a land line. *click*
My favorite calls are when the caller asks to speak to the owner of my company. Hmmmm....let's see. In the 9 months I've worked here, I've seen Michael Dell once, and that was kind of a big deal. I've never spoken to him, so no, I don't think you can either. Who do these people think they're calling?My next favorite was a lady who called for a Mr. Hamilton. I told her she had the wrong phone number. She apologized but asked if there was a veteran in the home. I said no, but a coworker said I should've said, "Well...actually, yes. Mr. Perot."
I might choose to be stupid and go into work for a 1pm meeting. We'll see. I just can't stay inside forever!
Thursday, December 30
My return to the blogosphere
Sorry for my absence. I know I'm probably the Ginch-iest Christian there is so I avoided blogging over Christmas. I know I'd go off on some rant about commercializing a sacred day and how I don't see any significance in Christmas trees or ornaments and that would just have ruined everyone's Christmas.
The UPS man came to visit yesterday and I was stupid enough to answer the door looking like a mess and a half! SO EMBARRASSING! I thought I could hide behind the door and just take the package, but nope...I had to sign for it! UGH...I won't even describe how awful I looked. You'd be scarred.
Tomorrow is NYE. Last NYE I was standing directly under Big Ben with my buddies Hannah and Andrew...in the cold...for 3 hours. Then we floated (yes....floated because our feet never touched the ground) in a crowd in the snow 1.25 miles to Victoria Station. That was a year to remember. 2010 was a year to remember in genearl. Graduation...sister getting married...moving to a new city, starting a new job, living by myself for the first time. Big changes. Can't wait to see what 2011 brings! (I'll try not to let the fact that I hate odd numbers get to me this year!)
The UPS man came to visit yesterday and I was stupid enough to answer the door looking like a mess and a half! SO EMBARRASSING! I thought I could hide behind the door and just take the package, but nope...I had to sign for it! UGH...I won't even describe how awful I looked. You'd be scarred.
Tomorrow is NYE. Last NYE I was standing directly under Big Ben with my buddies Hannah and Andrew...in the cold...for 3 hours. Then we floated (yes....floated because our feet never touched the ground) in a crowd in the snow 1.25 miles to Victoria Station. That was a year to remember. 2010 was a year to remember in genearl. Graduation...sister getting married...moving to a new city, starting a new job, living by myself for the first time. Big changes. Can't wait to see what 2011 brings! (I'll try not to let the fact that I hate odd numbers get to me this year!)
Sunday, December 12
Best tip I learned this week...
My dad told me about this MSN article: 8 Surprising Habits Ruining Your Health. #1 is pretty disgusting...dust mites and nast inside your pillows! GROSS! I threw my pillows in the dryer this week and now they're all fluffy and dust mite free! I can sleep in peace!
Sunday, December 5
Memoirs of a Knee
I'm writing a book. Not necessarily now. It might happen when I'm 80. Actually, it'll probably be funniest when I'm 80....maybe when I'm recovering from a knee replacement. The book will be a memoir of my knee's life experiences told from my right knee's point of view. I can already see it on the bestseller list.
The said knee has been through some traumatic experiences in it's short life so far. I can't remember what it went through as a child, I'm sure it had rough days when I fell off my bike or fell rollerblading or when it had it's first encounter with hydrogen peroxide.
College was probably even rougher on my knee. One fine day my Freshmen year on the quad, I borrowed a friend's shoes to go inside the student center to use the loo, but these shoes were too small, so when I was returning to my circle of friends, I tripped on some gravel and my knee took a hit for the rest of me. I tried to play it cool like any Freshmen would, but the blood oozing down my shin blew the cover of all my lies "I'm okay, really, I'm fine." (hint....when I say that I never mean it).
I'm honestly getting tired of people asking, "What's wrong with your leg (or knee)?"! Okay, I get it! I have an ugly knee! This traumatic experience my Freshmen year has scarred me. The wound didn't heal (I probably needed stitches in the first place). A few weeks later, I was home chasing my little brother around the dining room table, dove for him, and the wound reopened with carpet burn (leaving a little blood on my mom's white carpet...no worries, rubbing alcohol does miracles!). I can't remember every time I've fallen since then, but let's just say I'm a pretty regular klutz. My knee wound has had rough days. Sometimes it would swell up really big, then other days it would be "fine".
Junior year was a rough year for it. I went skiing over Jan term (let's just say skiing won't be my key to getting to the Olympics). I got back to the cabin after a long day of skiing (and falling) and found my long johns all bloody from my poor knee! Weeks later Step Sing practice began. The crazy dances of step sing require you to kneel or fall suddenly to your knees...not okay. I also took Karate that semester (again...another activity I'm not skilled in). In Karate we had to sit on our knees and bow before and after every class and do some stretches on our knees. All this made me develop fluid in my knee (aka, it swelled up so big I had kiwi stuck in my knee!). I went to "MedHelp" because I hate making appointments and waiting in waiting rooms (yeah, I know, I'm a spoiled doctor's kid). I'm not so sure if the doctor there made a good call in draining my knee and stuffing it. He essentially opened a wound that will never heal.
It's been ugly and purple every since, and my leg modeling career has gone down the drain. Senior year I got bad tendonitis in this knee and could've sworn it was connected to the ugly scar. X-rays and MRIs thought otherwise...actually, they couldn't see anything! I went to plastic surgeon (something I never thought I'd do). He said if I had surgery I'd have to keep my right leg straight (PERFECTLY straight) for 6 weeks. That means no driving, no climbing stairs, no jumping, swimming, running, no fun or independence for 6 weeks. Nah, I'm good.
Friday night I was walking down the street with my friends, stepped off the curb the wrong way, and I knew it was coming...the slow-mo fall. There was nothing to grab on to except the ground beneath my feet, so I did. In perfect slow-mo fashion, I dropped to my knees as if to say a prayer to Mary in the middle of the Dallas streets, then caught myself with my hands. "I'm okay, I'm okay," I laughed as I popped back up! "Whew, I knew that was coming. It's been a few months since I've fallen so I should've seen it coming." "MONTHS?" The girls I was with said?! "More like years since I've fallen down!" What can I say? I'm clumsy. I need to go to finishing school...I'm not finished yet. My main concern was that my jeans had ripped...nope! Great! Next, was I bleeding? The left knee was great....but surprise surprise, the right knee was gushing! Some strangers walking by (who luckily hadn't seen me fall) offered a pack of Kleenex. We didn't have any band-aid so the Kleenex worked until we got home. This fall was exactly like the fall at Cinque Terra (minus the gorgeous scenery). I have a nice pic of me and my friends with the cute little village of Vernazza in the background and blood running down my leg. That's one for the scrapbook.
So, to answer the question of what's wrong with my knee....read the book when it comes out in 60 years, written by a poor old battered replaced knee. (It'll be a tear jerker).
The said knee has been through some traumatic experiences in it's short life so far. I can't remember what it went through as a child, I'm sure it had rough days when I fell off my bike or fell rollerblading or when it had it's first encounter with hydrogen peroxide.
College was probably even rougher on my knee. One fine day my Freshmen year on the quad, I borrowed a friend's shoes to go inside the student center to use the loo, but these shoes were too small, so when I was returning to my circle of friends, I tripped on some gravel and my knee took a hit for the rest of me. I tried to play it cool like any Freshmen would, but the blood oozing down my shin blew the cover of all my lies "I'm okay, really, I'm fine." (hint....when I say that I never mean it).
I'm honestly getting tired of people asking, "What's wrong with your leg (or knee)?"! Okay, I get it! I have an ugly knee! This traumatic experience my Freshmen year has scarred me. The wound didn't heal (I probably needed stitches in the first place). A few weeks later, I was home chasing my little brother around the dining room table, dove for him, and the wound reopened with carpet burn (leaving a little blood on my mom's white carpet...no worries, rubbing alcohol does miracles!). I can't remember every time I've fallen since then, but let's just say I'm a pretty regular klutz. My knee wound has had rough days. Sometimes it would swell up really big, then other days it would be "fine".
Junior year was a rough year for it. I went skiing over Jan term (let's just say skiing won't be my key to getting to the Olympics). I got back to the cabin after a long day of skiing (and falling) and found my long johns all bloody from my poor knee! Weeks later Step Sing practice began. The crazy dances of step sing require you to kneel or fall suddenly to your knees...not okay. I also took Karate that semester (again...another activity I'm not skilled in). In Karate we had to sit on our knees and bow before and after every class and do some stretches on our knees. All this made me develop fluid in my knee (aka, it swelled up so big I had kiwi stuck in my knee!). I went to "MedHelp" because I hate making appointments and waiting in waiting rooms (yeah, I know, I'm a spoiled doctor's kid). I'm not so sure if the doctor there made a good call in draining my knee and stuffing it. He essentially opened a wound that will never heal.
It's been ugly and purple every since, and my leg modeling career has gone down the drain. Senior year I got bad tendonitis in this knee and could've sworn it was connected to the ugly scar. X-rays and MRIs thought otherwise...actually, they couldn't see anything! I went to plastic surgeon (something I never thought I'd do). He said if I had surgery I'd have to keep my right leg straight (PERFECTLY straight) for 6 weeks. That means no driving, no climbing stairs, no jumping, swimming, running, no fun or independence for 6 weeks. Nah, I'm good.
Friday night I was walking down the street with my friends, stepped off the curb the wrong way, and I knew it was coming...the slow-mo fall. There was nothing to grab on to except the ground beneath my feet, so I did. In perfect slow-mo fashion, I dropped to my knees as if to say a prayer to Mary in the middle of the Dallas streets, then caught myself with my hands. "I'm okay, I'm okay," I laughed as I popped back up! "Whew, I knew that was coming. It's been a few months since I've fallen so I should've seen it coming." "MONTHS?" The girls I was with said?! "More like years since I've fallen down!" What can I say? I'm clumsy. I need to go to finishing school...I'm not finished yet. My main concern was that my jeans had ripped...nope! Great! Next, was I bleeding? The left knee was great....but surprise surprise, the right knee was gushing! Some strangers walking by (who luckily hadn't seen me fall) offered a pack of Kleenex. We didn't have any band-aid so the Kleenex worked until we got home. This fall was exactly like the fall at Cinque Terra (minus the gorgeous scenery). I have a nice pic of me and my friends with the cute little village of Vernazza in the background and blood running down my leg. That's one for the scrapbook.
So, to answer the question of what's wrong with my knee....read the book when it comes out in 60 years, written by a poor old battered replaced knee. (It'll be a tear jerker).
Sunday, November 21
The Wonderful Weepies
I know it shouldn't be too much to ask, but these days I think its rare to find a band or singer that sounds as good (or better) live than on a recording. The Weepies sound even better live! I couldn't believe I was finally seeing the faces that the amazing voices belonged to!The Weepies singers are a married couple (Steve and Deb) and they're so in love! They have 2 sons, ages 3 and 7 months (and they're touring as a little family!) I think the picture on the left is when they first met 10 years ago.
I love it when artists tell stories about how and why they wrote their songs! Every time Deb would tell a story, Steve would look at her and smile, and she would do the same thing when he talked...and sometimes they would just tell a story together. She'd start, and he'd say, "Can I set the background?" and she'd say, "of course!" so he' tell half the story and she'd jump back in. Too cute! I'm a huge fan!
Sunday, November 14
The Grandest Surprise
Remember a few weeks ago when I made a list of things I was looking forward to? In that list I said the week after Birmingham but before the Weepies there was a surprise that I couldn't tell you about.
It happened.
Four of my high school friends and I piled in the car and hit the road at 7:30 AM on Saturday morning to drive to Lubbock where we surprised our dear friend Audrey for her birthday!!! The 5 hour car ride to west Texas (I thought) wasn't that bad. The girls I rode with went to college 1.5-3 hours from home- so a 5 hour ride through the flat cotton fields of west Texas was a little much, but I reminded them that our trip to Lubbock was only half the distance to Samford! Granted, you hit more big cities going to Birmingham...we only got Abilene, Tye, and Post (none of which are considered 'cities' to me).
We surprised Audrey at lunch- she had no idea, which is always my favorite part. I'm a surprise ruiner for myself. I somehow always get suspicious and figure out when I'm going to be surprised, and if I don't figure it out ahead of time I get really upset that everyone knew something I didn't. I'm such a party pooper!
I'm glad we could rescue Audrey from her law school studies for at least a day! It was good to be back with old friends. I had never been to Lubbock or seen Tech, so it was good to see where she has spent the last 4.5 years of her life!
My throat is a little sore from belting out 90's and Disney music on the long ride back to Ft. Worth. I'm glad I have some friends I can completely embarrass myself in front of and they don't even care because they're just as embarrassing!!
Happy Birthday weekend Audrey!!!
It happened.
Four of my high school friends and I piled in the car and hit the road at 7:30 AM on Saturday morning to drive to Lubbock where we surprised our dear friend Audrey for her birthday!!! The 5 hour car ride to west Texas (I thought) wasn't that bad. The girls I rode with went to college 1.5-3 hours from home- so a 5 hour ride through the flat cotton fields of west Texas was a little much, but I reminded them that our trip to Lubbock was only half the distance to Samford! Granted, you hit more big cities going to Birmingham...we only got Abilene, Tye, and Post (none of which are considered 'cities' to me).
We surprised Audrey at lunch- she had no idea, which is always my favorite part. I'm a surprise ruiner for myself. I somehow always get suspicious and figure out when I'm going to be surprised, and if I don't figure it out ahead of time I get really upset that everyone knew something I didn't. I'm such a party pooper!
I'm glad we could rescue Audrey from her law school studies for at least a day! It was good to be back with old friends. I had never been to Lubbock or seen Tech, so it was good to see where she has spent the last 4.5 years of her life!
My throat is a little sore from belting out 90's and Disney music on the long ride back to Ft. Worth. I'm glad I have some friends I can completely embarrass myself in front of and they don't even care because they're just as embarrassing!!
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| This is our "frat pose" |
Tuesday, November 9
'Tis the Season
I love Fall...I do, but there are 2 things I HATE about it getting cold.
1. Getting a cold. I woke up at 6:30 this morning feeling great. I bounced out of bed, was going to get to work early....things were going great. By 9 I just couldn't think straight and I was so tired. Throughout the day my head started hurting more, my throat got dry, and somehow a billion cotton balls found their way inside my head! I left work a couple hours early to "work from home"...does it count if I dreamt about work??
2. Dry Skin. I only noticed this problem after London but my skin cracks really bad in the winter. Thank goodness for the amazing goodness of Bath & Body Works Shea Cashmere Hand Lotion!!
I actually went to the grocery store to load up on Zicam, Advil, and Mucinex to try to kick this nasty cold, BUT Bath & Body Works is right next to Tom Thumb! So I got to solve both of my cold weather worries in one trip (well...the cold isn't exactly SOLVED but I should be on the road to recovery).
I have a lot of trouble going into a store and walking out only with what I went in for. For instance: Sunday night I went to Tom Thumb for cheese and milk- that's it. What did I walk out with? Cheese, Milk, Tilapia fillets, yogurt, jello mix and bananas. Today I went in for Zicam and Advil and I got some Reeses too (I'm sick, I deserve them, right?). I went into Bath and Body Works for this Shea Cashmere goodness and I walked out with that AND 3 amazing Holiday scented candles (that I can't actually smell right now because I can't smell anything). I got Homemade Cookies (that I hope doesn't make me crave the actual thing!), Autumn, and Twisted Peppermint.
Love the holiday scents...hate the cold and dry skin!
1. Getting a cold. I woke up at 6:30 this morning feeling great. I bounced out of bed, was going to get to work early....things were going great. By 9 I just couldn't think straight and I was so tired. Throughout the day my head started hurting more, my throat got dry, and somehow a billion cotton balls found their way inside my head! I left work a couple hours early to "work from home"...does it count if I dreamt about work??
I actually went to the grocery store to load up on Zicam, Advil, and Mucinex to try to kick this nasty cold, BUT Bath & Body Works is right next to Tom Thumb! So I got to solve both of my cold weather worries in one trip (well...the cold isn't exactly SOLVED but I should be on the road to recovery).
Love the holiday scents...hate the cold and dry skin!
Sunday, November 7
New Friends
Just when I thought I was turning into an introvert and it was impossible for me to make new friends, I sit down by Michael on the plane to Birmingham. I'm not really one to strike up a conversation with a stranger on a plane. I always thought that was weird, but I know now that I just hadn't met the right stranger yet.
Michael is in the Army, married, and has a baby on the way (due in April-ish). Our conversation started when I asked, "Are you coming or going [from war]?" And therein launched our 2+ hour conversation. He actually wasn't coming or going, he was going to training for the weekend. He had been to Iraq and by summer he'll be in Afganistan.
I (probably like most Americans) avoid thinking about the fact that America is at war. Or maybe it's just that we've been at one war or another for my entire life, and we've been at war in the Middle East for the majority of my formative years, and just I've become numb to it. Honestly, I think the media does a poor job of telling American citizens just exactly what's going on. I'd wager that the average American couldn't tell you the difference in the Iraq and Afghan wars- why each started, and what our mission is in each. Actually, I couldn't honestly tell you before I sat down by Michael.
I learned a lot in those 2 hours. I learned about why the wars started, what we're trying to do, why that probably isn't working, what we probably should do differently, what it's really like in infantry, what our soldiers are going through physically and especially mentally, and then we ended with a great talk about women in infantry. When we landed, the lady sitting in front of us said, "I was trying to sleep but you two were yacking away the whole flight!" We both felt bad for a mili-second, but then he said, "Sorry- it's a public flight!" Haha
He was on my return flight, but got bumped up to first class so we didn't get to talk any more except at baggage claim. A friend said I should get his address and have a soldier pen-pal. I'd feel weird about that. I also feel weird about saying cliche things to strangers. I should have said something along the lines of "Congratulations on becoming a daddy come spring" and "Thank you for serving our country," but I don't say things like that (at least not without feeling fake). I think he can tell just in my showing interest that I was more than just interested in his service- I genuinely appreciated it. I hope he knows that. If not, then this will be more formal "thank you": I truly thank all the men and women of this country who fight for us each and every day while I go and sit behind a desk and live my life in a comfortable denial that we're even at war.
At baggage claim, Michael said he'd be making that same flight back to Birmingham a lot and asked if I flew it every month. I told him I probably wouldn't go back until May. He said, "Well I hope I'll get to see you again in May." I made a new friend! Meeting him reminded me that our soldiers need our support whether or not we support the politics behind the wars. These men suffer physically and mentally for us. I can't really express my gratitude.
Old Friends
So that whole deal about me posting a different Weepies song every day didn't quite work out because I slacked off on my trip to Birmingham, but the break from the Internet was refreshing.
The whole weekend was just really refreshing in general. I've only taken 2 days off since I started my job on June 1, and I really needed Friday off. It was great. I got some good sister time, I got to visit with my favorite professors (yes, I'm a nerd), and I got to see my wonderful friends!
Going back to see my professors made me realize what made Samford so special. I'm always hearing my coworkers talk about their state school experiences, and yeah, its sad that I missed out on the Big 12 football rivalries and Samford football isn't much to write home about, but I walked away from college with more than just school spirit. Samford isn't the kind of place you can show up on the first day of class and for every test and still make it out of the class okay. You can't just "borrow" an old test from your sorority sisters and expect an 'A'. Samford professors know you. I went to a number of Samford prof's homes- including the President of the university! I babysat for my professors, I ate around their tables. I can tell you the names of my favorite professors children. I had several professors multiple times...a couple I had back to back classes with, which wasn't always as fun as it may sound. At Samford, my professors were my teachers, my mentors, my advisors, my guides, and now they're my friends. It was good to visit with them. They played a big part in getting me to where I am today, and I'm thankful for them.
I had some good conversations with my ol' girlfriends. These girls are the friends that I may or may not have the time to see or talk to much when we're grown and have our own families, but I know that no matter how much time goes by between our visits, we can sit down and pick up where we left off- talking 100mph until....well...we may just never stop. I'm so glad to have those close friendships, and I was truly blessed by our conversations this weekend and just the time I got to spend with them (over some great food!)
The whole weekend was just really refreshing in general. I've only taken 2 days off since I started my job on June 1, and I really needed Friday off. It was great. I got some good sister time, I got to visit with my favorite professors (yes, I'm a nerd), and I got to see my wonderful friends!
Going back to see my professors made me realize what made Samford so special. I'm always hearing my coworkers talk about their state school experiences, and yeah, its sad that I missed out on the Big 12 football rivalries and Samford football isn't much to write home about, but I walked away from college with more than just school spirit. Samford isn't the kind of place you can show up on the first day of class and for every test and still make it out of the class okay. You can't just "borrow" an old test from your sorority sisters and expect an 'A'. Samford professors know you. I went to a number of Samford prof's homes- including the President of the university! I babysat for my professors, I ate around their tables. I can tell you the names of my favorite professors children. I had several professors multiple times...a couple I had back to back classes with, which wasn't always as fun as it may sound. At Samford, my professors were my teachers, my mentors, my advisors, my guides, and now they're my friends. It was good to visit with them. They played a big part in getting me to where I am today, and I'm thankful for them.
I had some good conversations with my ol' girlfriends. These girls are the friends that I may or may not have the time to see or talk to much when we're grown and have our own families, but I know that no matter how much time goes by between our visits, we can sit down and pick up where we left off- talking 100mph until....well...we may just never stop. I'm so glad to have those close friendships, and I was truly blessed by our conversations this weekend and just the time I got to spend with them (over some great food!)
Thursday, November 4
Airports
This is my first ever blogpost from my phone! I can't say it's easy. It's like I'm writing the worlds longest text message and the screen looks just like a typewriter except it catches typos and let's you backspace!
I'm writing from my phone because I'm at dfw airport waiting for my flight to Birmingham that won't even start boarding for another hour!!! I wasn't sure how bad traffic would be during rush hour or how many idiots....oh, I mean "inexperienced travelers" there would be in front of me in the security line.
I'll be the first to admit I have a bit of a complex when it comes to traveling. I was blessed to grow up in a family of travelers and grew up going places. In 2008 I got to see the world (well just highlights of the northern hemisphere really). In January 2008 I took 11 flights and slept in at least 8 different hotels and I LOVED it! I absolutely love airports, I love flying, and I love passport stamps. I even enjoy the stress that comes along with language barriers. Maybe it's just the sense of accomplishment I feel after getting myself out of a pickle like getting lost in Italy and then locked out of our hotel, or missing trains, or dealing with cab drivers who don't speak English. I just love it all. What I DON'T love is people asking stupid questions in security lines like "do I have to take my socks off too?" NO. Gross. Please don't.
I don't know if you saw "up in the air" with George Clooney but he was a master at getting through security. He had it DOWN. That is the kind of traveler I aspire to be. Get in and get out without making the buzzer go off or getting patted down! Some people travel with too much STUFF it just doesn't make sense!
Anyway, that's my rant for the day. I could start a whole new blog on people watching in airports and posts pics of all these interesting folks. My weepies song of the day is "the world spins madly on". Quite appropriate for the airport scene. Sorry I can't embed. I'm running low tech today but here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdoI_ZHdRPA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I'm writing from my phone because I'm at dfw airport waiting for my flight to Birmingham that won't even start boarding for another hour!!! I wasn't sure how bad traffic would be during rush hour or how many idiots....oh, I mean "inexperienced travelers" there would be in front of me in the security line.
I'll be the first to admit I have a bit of a complex when it comes to traveling. I was blessed to grow up in a family of travelers and grew up going places. In 2008 I got to see the world (well just highlights of the northern hemisphere really). In January 2008 I took 11 flights and slept in at least 8 different hotels and I LOVED it! I absolutely love airports, I love flying, and I love passport stamps. I even enjoy the stress that comes along with language barriers. Maybe it's just the sense of accomplishment I feel after getting myself out of a pickle like getting lost in Italy and then locked out of our hotel, or missing trains, or dealing with cab drivers who don't speak English. I just love it all. What I DON'T love is people asking stupid questions in security lines like "do I have to take my socks off too?" NO. Gross. Please don't.
I don't know if you saw "up in the air" with George Clooney but he was a master at getting through security. He had it DOWN. That is the kind of traveler I aspire to be. Get in and get out without making the buzzer go off or getting patted down! Some people travel with too much STUFF it just doesn't make sense!
Anyway, that's my rant for the day. I could start a whole new blog on people watching in airports and posts pics of all these interesting folks. My weepies song of the day is "the world spins madly on". Quite appropriate for the airport scene. Sorry I can't embed. I'm running low tech today but here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdoI_ZHdRPA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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