Friday, February 27, 2009

Go Texan Day

It's Rodeo season here in Houston. Today, thousands of trail riders descended upon this great city, the smell of pit-smoked barbecue lingers in the air and nearly the entire populace pulls out their cowboy hats, blue jeans and boots for this day. For some reason, unwritten but understood rules exist over the next couple of weeks that govern the appearance of so many fellow Houstonians. Rules like:

1. Men.. there is no need to shave, so sport your after five shadows and full grown beards with pride and

2. Ladies, its ok to get out the blue eye shadow, wear your jeans too tight and curl your hair with those hot rollers. Aquanet sales increase during the month of March in Houston, Texas. Nothing else combats the humidity quite the same.

3. Cowboy hats and boots are considered business, business casual, casual and everything in between.

4. It's ok to be seen drinking a beer with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Whether your a Texas native or you've adopted this great state as your home, you can not deny the spirit in the air during this great season. If you have never experienced it, I encourage you to pull on your boots and mosey on down Houston way sometime in the next couple of weeks to get a little dose of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Spirit yourself.

**Picture compliments of DAV775549 over at Flicker.

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover

"…just slip out the back. jack. make a new plan. stan. you don't need to be coy. roy. just get yourself free.....

hop on the bus. gus. you don't need to discuss. much. just hop on the bus gus and get yourself freeeee."


Happy Friday! Go listen here.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

It's A Great Day

It's a great day. GREAT DAY. Yep, it's a great day!


This video was written and produced by some of our very own, extremely talented Bible Study class members. We are having a church wide contest between classes to see who can get the most hits on our unique class 'commercials' posted on YouTube. As of now, we are in the running with 372 hits on our fantastically produced little number, but still running in what looks to be 3rd place. Every vote counts. So go watch. And watch each day. You have to stick around to the end for the vote to be counted.
You will either be convinced that it IS truly a great day, that missing church on Sunday mornings can prove to be a dangerous path to fall into or that the Lord truly spoke to you through the voice over at the end and you will never miss Bible study again. Props to Joe for a job well done!
That and our leading actor Tony, might have a shot at a backup career in acting. That is, if the need for quality educators seems to diminish and he is absolutely desperate for a job. Wink, wink!
Enjoy and pass it along!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Giant Caterpillar Found in Australia

Happy Monday!

This is a little disturbing, but funny at the same time! It gave me a chuckle and who can't use a good laugh on a Monday?

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Valentine's Shmalentine's

Today awoke my inner cynicism regarding this overly commercialized day that is deemed a holiday. Yesterday, wasn't so bad and I was highly encouraged by a friends sweet words and still am, so don't take all of this the wrong way. But, this day is just not the same for those of us still stuck in the world of singledom.

Maybe the cynicism has been unleashed because I have returned from the movie "He's Just Not that Into You." Spoiler alert: The movie ends with one who is just as into her as she is to him. So, girls, if you are looking for solace in your state of aloneness this valentine's day, this may NOT be the movie to see.

I have been accused of over analyzing things in my life. Such things include statements people make (sometimes from people I know and sometimes from people I don't know) or how someone is dressed or how they act and their mannerisms. I analyze friendships, familial relationships, dating relationships (both committal and noncommittal alike) and pretty much anything that ends in "ship." So, when I was being ever so productive Friday afternoon at work and surfing my favorite rude, crude and socially unacceptable greeting card site to find unspeakably sarcastic valentine's day cards to make me feel better about this over commercialized day, I came across the following:






My immediate response was to share this little gem of a card with my dear sister, who happens to be the above mentioned accuser. My message attached read something like this...

I have been sitting here patiently all day watching flower, chocolate and balloon deliveries be made to all those around me consoling my self with bits of chocolate I have hidden in various crevices of my cubicle for such a day as today. Of course, I knew you would get a kick out of this card, so I could not resist sending it your way and letting you know that my current Valentine's Day plans include my favorite pj's, frozen pizza bites, ice cream and copious amounts of wine. Happy Valentine's Day, Sister!

Of course, I got an immediate response that she shared in the humor of this card and I would bet, hands down that she found it to be even more entertaining than I did.

As Gigi so eloquently said in the movie today though, "I'd rather be my way than yours!" Without spoiling too much of the movie, I'll just say that she too had been accused of over analyzing and freaking out about men and when they would call and if they would call and what they said, when they said it, how they said it...

What woman in her right mind can relate to that?! I know it may be a real stretch for some of us.

What she was saying though makes so much sense. If being disengaged to such a point all in an effort to spare your own feelings a little worry, stress, heartache and pain, I don't want any part of it! It's totally possible that you might miss 'it.' That moment of connection with someone when you wonder how it might all turn out, those butterflies in the pit of your stomach, the sweaty palms and sleepless nights due to racing thoughts and fantasies. What would life be without all of that?

If you know me well, you might not consider me to be a hopeless romantic and you might even think of me as that girl who doesn't wear her feelings on her shoulders; the one who is sensible and practical and does everything just so to prevent too much heartache and suffering in her own life; analyzing everything to a tee. It's true, that can be me at times. I know what your thinking now...'most of the time in fact."

Under all of the tough exterior, there is a heart inside. One that flutters when the phone rings on occasion, butterflies in the stomach from a stolen glance with a cute guy in the grocery store, curiosity overwhelms me when there is someone new and I don't know if they will call again and I do even check my phone obsessively sometimes when there is even the slightest possibility that a call from someone on the 'interest' list might occur. I chatter the ears off of certain friends about what might happen, why it did not happen, how it could be or could have been and the like.

And even though I am still single and have a heart that's been through the ringer a few times, I refuse to let go of the dream that Mr. Right will come along some day and release that hopeless romantic fully and completely that only bubbles at the surface. And I'm happy to say that I like doing it my way, too!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

She Ain't Tellin' Lies!

I think you’re a really great friend
Fun’s always just ‘round the bend
The time always flies
I’m not telling lies
I know that the laughs will not end!



Aww, sweet stuff right there. Written especially for me by a dear, dear friend that is one of my true valentine's this year! How can a single girl's V-Day miseries be so bad with a friend like that!


"Is This Real Life?"

"Is THIS real life?" "Will I feel like this forever?" "Aggggghhhh!!!" "I don't feel so good."

All questions I ask myself on nearly a daily basis.



Only thing is, I don't feel quite like little David does. I'm off to book that much needed apointment with the dentist right now! Maybe I'll have a new outlook on life. At least for a brief moment.

Grins.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Thankfullness or Not

As I was running through my morning routine of applying nearly 30 products to my body, dressing and re-dressing at least 3 times to find just the right outfit and rearranging my hair no less than two times, I heard an interesting question posed on the morning radio show that I listen too.

For those of you who just asked yourself, "did she just say radio?" Yes, I do still listen to a radio in the morning. An exceptionally fine radio on my iHome, that I received as a gift, but I have to listen to the radio because I do not have an iPod. Don't judge, I just haven't gotten around to getting myself one yet. However, I would miss interesting stuff like what I am about to share if I chose to only listen to customized play lists with no commercial interruptions each morning.

Back to the topic at hand...

"What are you thankful for that you do not have?"
I pondered this as I was getting ready. It's not easy to think about those things that you are thankful that you do not have. Each time I came up with one, my mind immediately drifted off to the things for which I was thankful.
But, here is my lame attempt to come up with those things that I am thankful I do not have:
1. I'm thankful to not have longer hair because it would take me twice as long to get ready in the morning and twice as many products, reminiscent of the good old days of high school with long, big and permed hair.
2. I'm thankful to not have a home any larger than what I have or I might never come to the end of my chore list and the electricity bill would eat me alive!
3. I'm thankful that I do not have to worry about an adjustable rate mortgage right now.
4. I'm thankful that I do not have to worry about my son having a girlfriend yet. Sounds presumptuous, huh? We have had really thorough heart to heart and he really convinced me that this isn't a concern yet. Do you think I am a mother in denial?
5. I'm thankful that I do not have to worry about where my next paycheck is coming from or the next meal that we eat, even if it gets to a point of beans and cornbread on a daily basis. It's better than nothing.
6. After watching the news last nights, I am so thankful that I do not live near tornado alley or where earthquakes and tsunami's are a concern. Yikes!
7. I'm thankful to not have too many days with low humidity here in southeast Texas. I might get too used to having good hair days if we did.
8. I'm thankfuuuul tooooo nooooot haaaaaaave aaaaaaa.... husband/boyfriend right now. Eeeek...that was difficult to say and I still have a grimace on my face. But, let me tell you why. If I had one right now, he would not be the right one. Simple as that, even though its hard to swallow sometimes.
9. I'm thankful that I do not have to admit to the above all of the time. At least not aloud.
10. I'm thankful to not have to worry about my future or eternity or live without the blessed assurance of knowing that I am loved deeply, forgiven always and extended grace and mercy over and over and over!
What are you thankful to NOT have in your life?

Thursday, February 5, 2009

GGGGRRROOOSSSS!!!


Snakes gross me out! I sometimes have nightmares about snakes. This just gives me the hibeegibees!