Watching the wrong movies.

I needed this reminder today. I need this reminder everyday.

Watching the wrong movies.

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JORI!!!!

I know you like seeing your name up there. Can't imagine how excited you are to see it in all caps!

This post is especially for you. Enjoy!

And you are required to leave a comment.

Do you see what I see?

Guess what? I think those are rain clouds. OK, so they aren't the actual clouds I saw this morning as I rode in to downtown on the bus, but they pretty much looked like that (and much thanks to khou.com for the image). What a welcome sight?! Since I have cracks in the yard surrounding my house that look as if we have had some catastrophic earthquake that shook the ground open enough to swallow us all up, I would think everyone would be jumping for joy at this beautiful sight this morning.

I tell you, I was doing a happy dance right there in my seat on the bus. The thoughts crossing my mind were something along the lines of... "I might actually be able to go get my hair done now and stop throwing hundreds of dollars at the local MUD in effort to thwart off any ugly letters from the homeowners association declaring I was an unfit resident of the neighborhood because my grass had the least bit of a yellow tint." Because those cracks in the yard big enough to swallow us whole are really in my neighbors yard, but stretching pretty close to mine.

But, as I was deep in thought about coloring the gray roots that are nearly two inches long on my head right now, my bus seat companion leans across and with an exasperated sigh says, "uh...look at those clouds. (another exasperated sigh) I sure hope the bus gets into downtown before the sky opens up and we get all wet." Followed by many more exasperated sighs ever three minutes for the remainder of our ride into downtown.

Who are you lady? What planet have you been sent here from? How can you even be the least bit bothered by a few raindrops from the sky when we are all about to dry up, wither away or be swallowed up by the cracks in our yards?

There is something refreshing, renewing and cleansing about a good rain shower. In times when we are getting a plethora of rain, I think we loose sight of this and take for granted the sheer magnificence of cleansing our earth and environment.

Personally, I would forgo a good hair day for a little rain. In fact, I have forgone good hair days for a couple of months now in an effort to ward off the evil homeowners association.
After taking a moment to stare at this lady next to me as if she was dropped here from another planet this morning, I am pretty sure she has forgone good hair days for a while and a little sprinkle on her hair won't really hurt anything.

Abi-lene, Abi-lene

Be still my heart! I'm in Abilene and there's a rodeo in town which means no shortage of stud- muffin cowboys my friends!

Big trucks rumble by pulling horse trailers, with windows rolled down. I catch a glimpse of a tanned, weathered face peering beneath the worn edge of a straw cowboy hat and my heart melts. just. like. that.

No sooner does my heart get back on track when swaggers passed me in a restaurant a group of dirt, dusted wrangler wearing men with plaid snap front shirts bearing forearms that make Popeye look like a wimp. Oh, for the sweet love of Jesus, can I please just take one of you home with me?!

I'm so thankful to have the next three days to soak in even more of the spectacular scenery which also means I have some time to convince one of these sweet creatures that he could hitch up his horse in the backyard and stick around in Katy a while. We have rodeo's there, right?!

So, here is to sweet dreams in Abi-lene!



Abi-lene, Abi-lene...Prettiest town I've ever seen (well, I'm not so sure about that line).

The Mother In Me Could Not Resist...

16 minutes to a lifetime of SMILING!

This will suck you in if you take the time to watch it! Do it. I promise you will. love. it.

The stuff that dreams are made of...

For you Jori and anyone else that delights in or dreams about choreographed dance routines!

Rodent Resident

We have a house guest. One of the four-legged variety. I came across the evidence of this new house guest last weekend as I was cleaning out the garage. The sweet gesture was like a scavenger hunt of rodent droppings through one area of the garage. I can't tell you how glaaaad I was to see that we are extending hospitality to such a guest. Just. thrilled.

So, I mention to G about the garage tenant and explain that we must make a trip to the local Home Depot to get a little meal of the poisonous variety for our new guest. Astonished that mom could be so evil, G proudly proclaimed..."No mom. You have to promise me that we will only get rid of the mouse in a humane way."

His sensitive little heart and desire to protect the innocent thrills me to no end, except when it comes to a four-legged rodent creature on the verge of crossing the threshold of my home and bedroom door. However, it so hard to look into those brown eyes and tell him that without a doubt, I want nothing more than to remove that little rodent friend of ours from the face of the earth and any little buddies or family members that may be tagging along with him.

I caved.

We loaded up the car Monday evening and headed out to make our rodent hotel purchase. As we scoured the aisle of the rodent ridding options available, I had my crossed fingers safely tucked away in my pockets with secret hopes that no 'humane' options existed. Boy was I wrong.

Apparently, someone with a true passion for animal rights has designed several different options for the little rodent to rest in comfortably until he can be transported to a new home. This part raises a question in my mind. Once the rodent resident has been safely captured, do we just take him out back and let him go? maybe down the street? or the neighbors yard? Seriously, disposal instructions are not included. Only a warning that it could be lethal to leave the mouse in the trap for longer than 6-8 hours. Even going so far to explain the slow and painful death that would entail as the mouse would die from dehydration.

Oh my tree hugging friends, please forgive me?!

1 week. That's all G gets to try out his humane efforts at mouse trapping. After that, we are making a return trip to invest in one of each option that will surely have rodent resident meet his demise!

Walk.Run.Live.Love.

Next Saturday, myself along with a fantastic team of family and friends will be participating in the Methodist Hospital Stride4Stroke Awareness 5K Walk/Run. It's been over a year since I first set out to do a little jog around the block. A smoker then, this was no easy task. My goal was a neighborhood loop that was approximately 1 mile. As you can imagine, it took me several weeks to accomplish the task of a consistent snails pace jog around that one mile loop. Walking breaks were more like jogging breaks when I first started.

Walk for about 5 minutes and jog for about 20 seconds. No, that is not a typo.

It did not take long for me to realize that quitting the nicotine habit would vastly improve my lung capacity and hence my ability to drag myself around the neighborhood on foot. The idea of quitting had already been something I mulled over and really, I had put all the steps in place and cut back to just a handful a day. If you have ever been a hard core smoker, then you know this is no easy task.

It wasn't long before I found myself in the Dr.'s office asking about a new Rx to help curb the effects of quitting. Of course, she was completely on board with that and I jumped on the Chantix bandwagon. Along with tons of prayer and the strength of the Lord, I was able to quit on my 'quit date' and never look back.

Needless to say, I am now running on average 12-15 miles a week and feel healthier than I ever have in my life. My chances of having a stroke have been reduced significantly.

But, all that is not really the story I want to share with you.

In 2004, my aunt (grandmother of this little bit of heaven) suffered a severe stroke. She was moved to Methodist Hospital in Houston and the prognosis was grim. The details are all a little hazy to me now, but I recall the biggest detail of all. It was uncertain whether she would survive or not and even if she did, her quality of life would suffer dramatically. She was a healthy woman, guys. She did not smoke or drink alcohol. She exercised regularly, ate healthy meals, maintained a healthy work/life balance and loved the Lord with all of her heart! But, even in those ideal circumstances she lived with stress in her life. Really, how many of us don't?

Needless to say, she has made a miraculous recovery. She has returned to her life of working, exercising, eating healthy and loving and living for the Lord. She is an AMAZING lady!

Here she is with her daughter and newest granddaughter.

Stroke education isn't in the forefront of medical news like cancer or heart health. This walk/run is to help support Methodist Hospitals education efforts. For more stroke education and resources, please check out their site. You can find information on signs, symptoms, risk factors and treatments.

Sadly, not everyone survives a stroke. A dear, dear friend of mine lost her father to a stroke several years ago. He had all the classic risk factors associated with stroke victims, but chose to do nothing about it. Could his choices have been different if the educational resources were more readily available to him? Possibly so.

If you would like to support our team and Methodist Hospital, please go here and make a donation to the team s4s_walk.run.live.love. The denomination of your support does not matter, it's the attitude of giving that means the most.

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.

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!

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?

Friday. At Last.

So, it's here. Finally. I'm not sure it could have gotten here any faster.

Hopefully, I can get through this bad case of the "don't wanna's" today with a little musical inspiration. Changed the Pandora station from Mozart to Colby O'Donis this morning. Time to move into a weekend kind of groove.

Insert aside here: Did you know that the annoying Santa can be hushed to make your visit here a little more pleasant? I've come to realize that his cuteness increases dramatically when he is quiet. Just click the little "hush" in the top right hand corner and you can enjoy his silence too.

My plans include some quality sister time cooking up something delicious like this and maybe if we can spare some calories share a yummy bottle of wine. If not, then we may just have to hit the long Quail Trail at the park Saturday morning before heading off to our stepsisters bridal shower.

Looks like its going to be a splendid weekend. What's in store for yours?

My Heart Throb

Last night I watched on the edge of my seat and with a box of tissues handy as Barbara Walters dove into an excruciating, enlightening and heart felt interview with Patrick Swayze and wife Lisa.

I love. love. love. this man.

Every time I think of him I just imagine crawling across the floor toward him in my cute, cut off denim knee length shorts circa 1987 with my keds and short, curly permed bob sultrily singing about having the time of my life. Phew... I have to fan myself now just imagining it!

I can only hope to have someone in my life as incredible as he one day.

Although he is terminally ill and fighting an uphill battle, he has the strength and courage of ten armies! His brutal honesty about his condition and feelings was refreshing. He openly confessed his fears and feelings and expectations about being sick, dying and leaving a legacy. Most of all, his adoration and devotion for his wife and family struck my core.

He made a comment that seems so appropriate as we enter a new year of life and make resolutions to improve the quality of our life as we know it. He said...

I could spend the rest of my life chasing life, but what I really want to do is live life.

Embracing life as it is day by day and minute by minute is a challenge for most of us and it is sad that when we realize our mortality is when the blinders come off and we can truly begin to live life fully!

This year I resolved to no resolutions. However, I am issuing myself a challenge. To live life each day to its fullest. Embracing all that life has to offer and not worrying as much about chasing life. Because, I know full well that I'll never catch it and will just end up missing out on so many great times.

By the way, Swayze has a new TV show on A&E next week. The Beast. Can you believe this man filmed an entire season of shows while battling pancreatic cancer?!?! He is amazing I tell you and the show looks amazing too.

Changes

"Step, step, side to side"

Small steps, derriere under.

"Round and round. Dip and Glide."

Breathe in through the nose two steps; out through the mouth for two more.

"Separate. Bring it back."

Relax the shoulders.

"Now let me see you do the love slide."

Keep the arms in close.

Sadly enough, it was R. Kelly rather than J.T carrying me through mile three tonight.

The focus on form though has been the theme of each run I have been on since re-entering my own little jog world. I have realized one thing, that pre-hip mess there was no thought into form. It was natural, easy and part of my routine. No conscience effort was required.

So, through hard work, determination and practice my approach to workouts will change. I will grow and change. Less focus on the form and more focus on the function of what I am doing. Once the form becomes emeshed into my runs again, then I can start to grow and change in other areas like pace and distance. Are you starting to pick up on the repeated use of the word change here?

Recently, I was challenged by someone with the view that "people don't change. We are who we are and there is nothing that can be done about it." Mind you, in nearly the same breath this person explained to me that I had changed drastically over the past several months.

But, for a moment I would like to get on my soapbox. Everyone is capable of change. We change and grow continually in our lives. If we aren't growing and changing, then we become stagnant, boring people.

Now, I will agree that change is uncomfortable for many and not usually an easy thing to endure. But, it does happen. And sometimes, just sometimes, you might be pleasantly surprised that the growing pains endured results in a growth in our lives that is immeasurable. But, we have to be willing and open to the effort required.

So, I will continue to diligently sing my running song like so:

Breath in through the nose for two. Out through the mouth another two.

"I know one things for sure..."

Derriere under. Small steps.

"...I'm gonna put on my dancin shoes tonight."

Tighten the core. Shoulders down and relaxed.

"...then I'mma hit the door. And go out and step the whole night through."

and know that one day, I can get back to running along to the pace of J.T. serenading me with Sexy Back without having to other focusing on anything but how I am really bringing sexy back!

Back in the game

So, I've been a little checked out for the past couple of weeks. But, I am slowly coming back around and getting back in the game. Tonight I feel strong! Well, I felt strong a little earlier when I got back from a fantastic run. After 9 long months of waiting I am finally able to pull out the sports bra and lace up the tennies. In March the doc told me I had a "femoral neck stress fracture" which is fancy for a really screwed up hip. All in all it involved a lot of pain, sleepless nights and pent up frustration and stress. And over the ocurse of the last 9 months I used it as an excuse to become blatently lazy. The legs are jello. The core is soft and a little larger than a few months ago. And just when I thought the stamina would be amiss, I go for a little run.

Ten, twenty, thirty minutes go by and I was still going. YES!

You see, I have this love/hate relationship with running. (More so pre-hip mess since absence truly does make the heart grow fonder) Most of the 'hate' part stems from building endurance. It's hard work. And I am not sure sometimes how much I really enjoy the hard work. But the past couple of runs I have had have really surprised me. Stamina does not fade as fast as muscletone and strength apparently. Praise God! I'm not pulling off any marathons anytime soon. But, possibly a 5K in the near future.

Post jog. Feeling strong.