Monday, June 25, 2007

Ten Greatest Bands of All Time

This week's Ten on Tuesday list - the Ten Greatest Bands of All Time! Oh, this'll be easy, I thought. Ha! Had a hard time narrowing it down to ten. Here's my final cut (in no particular order):
  1. Bon Jovi
  2. Aerosmith
  3. Journey
  4. The Beatles
  5. Styx
  6. AC/DC
  7. The Eagles
  8. Van Halen
  9. The Rolling Stones
  10. Guns N' Roses

An Honorable Mention goes to Def Leppard, The Police, REO Speedwagon, and Lynyrd Skynard. They rotated on and off my list all week. I wish it was Fourteen on Tuesday this week!

So, does my list date me or what?? Ha! Rock on!

Oh, and since you're here checking out my list, check out USO Girl's list, too - she's a new blogger and needs more readers!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Tagged Again!





I've been tagged again - this time by Jolene of The Middling Monettes. Here is my list of Eight Things That I Know:

  1. I know that I will spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus Christ.
  2. I know the words to a LOT of songs.
  3. I know that after two or three drinks I will be quite tipsy. This is especially true if I haven't had very much to eat!
  4. I know that putting Hubby in charge of taking pictures or video is a bad idea. He tends to cut off heads.
  5. I know how to drive a stick shift.
  6. I know that no matter how hard I try, I can't yodel.
  7. I know that sometimes you just need your mom.
  8. I know how important the little things are.

OK, now I have to tag some people - I choose Bubba's Mom, USO Girl, Crazy Working Mom, and Mz. Jackson.

Have fun!

Friday, June 22, 2007

One, two, three.......BREAK!

Why is it that bad things always happen in threes? Like things breaking......just this week we have had a hat trick of things breaking around here! It started off with the kids' computer - we think it needs a new video card, but we're not 100% sure. Hopefully that will be an easy, inexpensive fix. Then the lawnmower broke. Mechanically Inclined Hubby tried in vain to fix it, but it's looking like we need a new one. That might not be so inexpensive. The doozy of them all this week was that Hubby broke a tooth! The dentist says he needs a crown - and maybe even a root canal! Even with dental insurance, this is NOT cheap!

Reminds me of another movie quote: "Sometimes life has a way of just kicking the shit out of you." I can't remember what movie that's from - I want to say Terms of Endearment - but I'm not sure. Oh well. It's true.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Friday's Feast #5



My Friday's Feast is served......

Appetizer

Name a funny habit you have.

always keeping the TV volume on an even number

Soup

If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick?

the piano

Salad

How long is your hair?

Well, I just got quite a bit cut off for summer, but I would say about shoulder-length, maybe a tad shorter.

Main Course

When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it?

I struggle with forgiveness - little things are not a problem, but the big stuff - well, I tend to carry a grudge. I would have to say my kids or my husband, tho I can't think of for what! Must not have been a big deal!

Dessert

What is your favorite kitchen appliance?

my microwave - ha!!

A new meme!

Thanks to USO Girl I have found a fun new meme - Foto Pherrets!

This week's word is SUMMER. I know I used this picture in another meme, but it is one of my absolute favorites (and one of my absolute favorite places to go in the summer - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina!)



Texas News

This is the kind of stuff that happens where I live:

Calf Runs Down Freeway Feeder

HOUSTON -- A calf kept humans at bay for nearly an hour and a half as it ran down a freeway feeder road early Thursday. Harris County Precinct 8 deputy constables said the calf charged a woman twice as it ran along the Gulf Freeway feeder road near Clear Lake City Boulevard at about 1:30 a.m. Deputies used the patrol cars and a wrecker truck helped guide the calf back into a hole of a fence, where it escaped. No injuries were reported.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Ten Movies I Like to Quote



This week's Ten on Tuesday list was a fun one!

  1. Gone With the Wind ("I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.")
  2. Ghostbusters (" We came, we saw, we kicked its ass.")
  3. Bull Durham ("I believe in the soul, the c**k, the p***y, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. [pause] Goodnight.")
  4. Caddyshack ("Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!")
  5. Forrest Gump ("Me and Jenny goes together like peas and carrots.")
  6. Pirates of the Caribbean ("Savvy?")
  7. Hope Floats ("Dancing's just a conversation between two people. Talk to me.")
  8. Finding Nemo ("Cuz we were like, "woaaaah.", and I was like, "woaaaah." and you were like, "woaaahh...”)
  9. Talladega Nights ("Help me Jesus! Help me Jewish God! Help me Allah! AAAAAHHH! Help me Tom Cruise! Tom Cruise, use your witchcraft on me to get the fire off me!")
  10. Steel Magnolias ("That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.")

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Music Skipping Meme

Found this fun meme on ilovegoaliesplits' blog! This should be interesting, since I have over 750 songs in my music player!!!

- Put your music player on shuffle.
- Press forward for each question.
- Use the song title as the answer to the question even if they don’t make sense.

How am I feeling today? "Let's Hear It For the Boy" by Deniece Williams (appropriate for Father's Day! Let's hear it for the dads!)

Will I get far in life? "Shake for the Sheik" by Escape Club

How do my friends see me? "I'll Always Be Right There" by Bryan Adams

Where will I get married? "I Want You Bad (And That Ain't Good) by Collin Raye (hmmmm....)

What is my best friend’s theme song? "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson

What is the story of my life? "Livin' on Lone Star Time" by Dub Miller (that's a good one!)

What is/was high school like? "You Want To Make A Memory" by Bon Jovi

How can I get ahead in life? "In My Daughter's Eyes" by Martina McBride

What is the best thing about me? "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" by Elton John

What is today going to be like? "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys (ha!)

What is in store for this weekend? "Celebration" by Kool & The Gang

What song describes my parents? "You're Beginning to Get to Me" by Clay Walker

To describe my grandparents? "Go Rest High on That Mountain" by Vince Gill (I promise I'm not manipulating this!)

How is my life going? "Shine" by Collective Soul

What song will they play at my funeral? "The Best I've Ever Had" by Gary Allen

How does the world see me? "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" by Alan Jackson

Will I have a happy life? "Sparks" by Coldplay

What do my friends really think of me? "Come Sail Away" by Styx

Do people secretly lust after me? "You've Never Been This Far Before" by Conway Twitty

How can I make myself happy? "You Sang to Me" by Marc Anthony

What should I do with my life? "The Beaches of Cheyenne" by Garth Brooks

Will I ever have children? "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals (this makes no sense at all, unless my children are the animals.....ha!)

What is some good advice for me? "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt

How will I be remembered? "This Is How You Remind Me" by Nickelback

What is my signature dancing song? "Livin La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin (ha!)

What is my current theme song? "Sneaky Snake" by Tom T. Hall (Don't laugh! I used to love singing this song with my Granddaddy so that's why I have it! And no, I'm not sneaky, but I do like root beer!)

What does everyone else think my current theme song is? "Shake It Up" by The Cars

What type of men/women do you like? "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol (Hubby works in the automotive industry - how perfect is that?)

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Cinderella, dressed in yella, went upstairs to kiss a fella.....

OK, first of all, I may not be the best person to comment on this, because I do not work out. I don't think I've ever been to a gym. I dance - that's it. But it must be working for me because I'm 5'1'' and I weigh less than 100 pounds and I'm pretty healthy. So. Anyway, I was reading the paper the other day (yes, I read the newspaper) and I came across an ad for this. A ropeless jump rope. I am thinking this is the dumbest thing I have ever seen!

WHY NOT JUST JUMP UP AND DOWN??

Friday, June 15, 2007

Friday's Feast #4


TGIF and bon appetite!
Appetizer

Fill in the blank: The best thing about where I live is __
___being near the ocean (OK, it's the Gulf but close enough)____…

Soup

Create a new name for a deodorant (like “Flower Fresh” or “Shower Scent”).
Summer Rain

Salad

What was the last piece of software you installed onto your computer?
I can't even remember!

Main Course

If you were to receive a superlative award today beginning with the words ”Most likely to…”, what would the rest of the phrase say?
....take a nap!

Dessert

What two colors do you like to wear together?
khaki and navy

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Ten Awesome Things About Me

Another challenging Ten on Tuesday post for me - I don't tend to see myself as awesome in any way. I'm just me. So I got help on this one - I asked ten people to each tell me something awesome about me! So here's what I came up with - according to those who know me best, here are Ten Awesome Things About Me:

1. I am a true and loyal friend with a great capacity to love unselfishly.

2. I am a wonderful mother - the greatest compliment I could receive from my own mother. She said, "It comes so naturally to you, like you were born to mother. And, of course, your children reflect that."

3. I'm an awesome tap dancer.

4. I can eat whatever I want and not gain weight (many envy this).

5. I keep in touch with my family and friends and remember all their special days (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.).

6. I am great at organizing things, whether it be vacations, files, photos, whatever (some say this is anal, however at least one person in my life thought it was awesome, so there!).

7. I can roll out of bed and be ready to go somewhere in 30 minutes. No dilly-dallying and waiting around on me!

8. I'm fun to hang out with and always make people laugh and feel good about themselves.

9. I take awesome pictures - I have a good eye for photography.

10. I may not cook meals very well, but I can make a damn good dessert!

Awwww......hearing that that's what other people think of me.......now THAT makes me feel awesome!

Happy Tuesday!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Weekend Randomness

Pat-A-Cake, Pat-A-Cake, Baker's Man.....

My kids have taken up baking - a fun summer thing for them to do! Of course they aren't baking anything from scratch - we don't even have scratch in our house. I don't even think my store carries it because I've looked and I can't find it anywhere. So I settled for an 88-cent cake mix. They started easy - just a Bundt cake. Mix it up, mix it up, throw it in the pan! Delicious! Next they moved on to muffins - my personal fav - and last night it was lemon bars (again, from a mix, but oh so delicious!). So this summer we always have something freshly baked sitting around to snack on, and the kids are learning some good skills. As Martha would say, it's a good thing.

Last Week's Soup

Some of my blogger friends were concerned for me last week that my stress level was up at an 8. Well, I'm happy to report that this week it is way down - I'd say a 2. The worries that were hanging over my head have been resolved (and who says worrying doesn't do any good?) and I'm feeling good about life once again.

Make New Friends, Keep the Old; One Is Silver, The Other is Gold

My grandmother used to have a pillow with that little adage stitched upon it. I have some wonderful friends in my life (including my BFF USO Girl!) but lately here in the blogging world I have made some new friends - and for that I am blessed. Thank you all for the visits to my blog and all the comments - it's so nice to "meet" you all! Come back often!

Pirates - Arrrrrrr!

This afternoon we're going to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie (At World's End). I have heard that it is long and rambling and hard to follow, but definitely worth seeing. Since I get to spend a great deal of time watching my Pirate Love Captain Jack Sparrow, I'd say that's going to be worth the price of admission alone!

We've also started watching the new summer reality show Pirate Master - it's by the same guy who produces Survivor. So far it is just OK in my opinion - I don't love it like I do Survivor and my other reality shows, but it's good entertainment for the summer.


That's all I've got for now! Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday, June 08, 2007

Welcome, USO Girl!!

Everyone head over and check out my BFF's new blog: Just Call Me Part of the USO

Welcome, sweetie! I think you will find blogging to be lots of fun (and hopefully entertaining for Coastie Brother).

Friday's Feast #3

Friday's Feast for today - enjoy!



Appetizer

What do you consider to be the ultimate snack food?

Brownies, hands down.

Soup

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name?

Probably about a 3 or 4.

Salad

Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why?

Chandler from Friends - before he hooked up with Monica!

Main Course

Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies.

I rarely shop online, but I do like Amazon for books and CD's. You get them so fast!

Dessert

Fill in the blank: I think ___________ should be ___________.

I think birthdays should be special.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Absolutely. Ridiculous.


They've let Paris Hilton out of jail already. This is a travesty. A sham. A mockery. A traveshamockery!! (Can't remember which commercial that came from, but it sure is funny!)

She is a spoiled brat. I'm ready for her 15 minutes to be up.
****UPDATE****
Ha ha - she's going back! Read this online just now:
LOS ANGELES(AP) Paris Hilton was taken from a courtroom screaming and crying Friday seconds after a judge ordered her returned to jail to serve out her entire 45-day sentence for a parole violation in a reckless driving case.
"It's not right!" shouted the weeping Hilton.
Awwwwww........poor Paris! NOT!

Monday, June 04, 2007

Ten Things I Wanted To Be When I Grew Up



What a fun Ten on Tuesday topic this week! Here's my list of my childhood aspirations....

1. Ballerina (I didn't have the ankles for this as a career.)

2. Artist (I have no idea why this was appealing to me because I can't draw well at all....but I always did like to color....)

3. Veterinarian (Doesn't every kid want to be this at some point in their life?)

4. Circus performer (Something with a beautiful costume and graceful animals....)

5. Teacher (This career goal actually made it to my college years....and I guess as a dance teacher I still kinda get to do this.)

6. Psychic (I used to try SO HARD to have psychic powers!!! No dice.)

7. Author (Would still like to be this someday.)

8. Miss America (Would also like to be this someday.)

9. Barrel racer (Again, glitzy cowgirl outfit, beautiful horse....)

10. A Mommy (the greatest job in the world, and it's the one I ended up with! Yay me!)

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Dream On...

OK, all you dream interpreters - figure these out!

Dream #1 from Thursday night: For some reason I am in Dallas and have to fly home on a plane (I am very scared of flying). My mom is with me and she is telling me I'll be fine - it's less than an hour and it'll be good practice for my flight to Disney this fall (which is really happening). But she is also trying to get me to check a bag that has a big, black gun in it! And I'm freaking out that they're going to detain me or something because I brought a gun on the plane (even tho I checked it with my baggage and didn't carry it on or anything). Next thing I know, I'm on the plane, but I realize I have gotten on the WRONG plane and I'm headed to Los Angeles! Panic!

Dream #2 from Thursday night: I am at the dance studio where I work, getting ready to teach my baby class. But I can't because the room I use is being taken up by a bunch of the teachers and students rehearsing for some big dance show they're going to be in. And I'm thinking, "Why wasn't I asked to dance in this show? I'm one of the best dancers in this studio!" So I'm kinda pissed. Then I notice what appears to be a kitten has gotten into the dance room, then I realize it's a squirrel! So I go to pick it up and take it out, and it bites me on both my hands. Hard. There's some blood. Now I'm scared I'm going to get rabies.

Dream #3 from Friday night: Hubby and I have a little Chinese girl (I'm not sure if we adopted her or what, but we had her). BUT the Chinese Government is coming to take her back, AND take all of our things! Anything that is touching the floor is fair game. So Hubby and I (and for some odd reason, Hubby's brother) are running around hiding things and putting them up off the floor so the Chinese Government won't get them. I'm trying to think of what possessions I cherish the most and where I can hide them. We are cramming stuff everywhere.

What is up with all that?!??!?!?

Friday, June 01, 2007

Friday's Feast #2


Friday's Feast for today! Enjoy, and Happy Friday!
Appetizer

Name something you think is “the best.”

The BEST summer snack - strawberries and my homemade fruit dip (1 block of cream cheese, 1 jar of marshmallow whip, and 1 cup of powdered sugar, blended well)

Soup

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 highest), how stressed are you today?

8

Salad

What kind of cleanser do you use to wash your face?

soap and water (I know - gasp!); I do use cold cream to take off my eye makeup on the rare occasions I do wear eye makeup

Main Course

Tonight is a blue moon! What is something that you believe only happens “once in a blue moon.”

It only snows in Houston once in a blue moon - but I'm thinking that's NOT gonna happen today!

Dessert

When was the last time it rained where you live?

Not counting a passing sprinkle, then Monday (Memorial Day) - it was a complete washout!

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

I was born a skinny white child....

Summer is here, and I'm just waiting for the teasing to begin. The ribbing and jokes about how WHITE I am! "Don't you ever get out in the sun?" "Girl, you need a TAN!" "I think they can see you from space you're so white!" You get the gist.

I really can not tan. Not easily, anyway. However, I can burn real good. I have had some BAD sunburns in my life - sunburns that caused me to have to call in sick to my job because I couldn't put on clothes. Sunburns that were so deep they looked almost blue. Sunburns that made me physically ill. I worry now about the effects of my adolescent vanity and stupidity in the sun-worshipping department. I really don't want skin cancer. Really. Don't. And frankly, I don't care if I'm tan anymore, either. White and healthy or bronzed and cancer-ridden? I'll take my Southern magnolia skin any day, thankyouverymuch. So if you don't like the way my pasty, toothpick-skinny legs look poking out of my shorts - well, then don't look. I probably haven't shaved them in a couple of days anyway.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

My Ten Greatest Accomplishments in Life

This week's Ten on Tuesday list was tough for me......I don't really feel like I have made great "accomplishments" in my life - except for my kids. Those three kids are the greatest things that I have done in my life. I didn't graduate from college, I don't have a high-powered career, I haven't battled any major diseases (altho I watched my mother do it), I haven't changed the world in any big way. But I have raised a son to be a fine young man, and am raising a daughter and another son that amaze me every day with their wonderfulness. So if that is my only legacy - to be their mother and to have helped shape them into who they are - then that is the greatest legacy of all.

So here are some other things I have done that, to me, are pretty neat accomplishments:

1. Trained and danced with a professional ballet company
2. Found the courage to leave an abusive ex-husband
3. Overcame fear and rode all the roller coasters at Disney World
4. Won a bowling tournament
5. Went from renting a home to owning one
6. Survived the Hurricane Rita evacuation without going crazy and killing someone
7. Became a dance teacher so I can give children the gift of dance (see a small success story here)
8. Ended unhealthy relationships and cultivated new, healthy ones
9. Supported my husband thru difficult times
10. Swam with stingrays in Grand Cayman

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Tag - I'm It!!!

Wow - I've never been tagged before! I feel so special! This tag is courtesy of Michael - Lover of Amy:

What were you doing 10 years ago?
May of 1997... Navy Son (who was not yet in the Navy, of course) was 11, Darling Daughter was 3, and Baby Son was 2 months old....so probably just adjusting to life with three children! We were also getting ready to buy our first house - they built it over the summer of 1997 and we moved into it in November.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
Pretty much the same thing I am doing now - recovering from dance recital and looking forward to a relaxing summer! We were also in the process of selling our rental house, a process that took FOREVER but thank goodness we finally got it sold! Now if we could just sell the one we're in now we'd be in good shape.....

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. Chocolate candy - pretty much any kind
2. Mrs. Baird's mini-donuts (first choice - powdered sugar; second choice - chocolate)
3. Homemade Muffins - favorite is blueberry, but tonight I had a banana nut one and it was pretty yummy
4. Jelly beans (Brach's only, and no black ones! Ick!)
5. Fritos and bean dip

Five songs that you know all the lyrics:
1. "I Want You To Want Me" by Cheap Trick
2. "Livin' On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi
3. "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash
4. "Fishin' In The Dark" by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5. "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Pay off all of our debt
2. Set aside money for the kids' college
3. Buy my dream house
4. Take a really cool vacation
5. Buy Astros season tickets

Five bad habits:
1. PROCRASTINATING! If it weren't for the last minute I wouldn't get anything done!
2. Putting something in a "safe place" and then forgetting where I put it!
3. Eating candy
4. Not hanging up/putting away laundry (I think our underwear and socks perpetually live in the dryer!)
5. Letting my car get really really low on gas.

Five things you like doing:
1. Dancing
2. Travelling
3. Scrapbooking my travel photos
4. Taking a bubble bath
5. Fishing

Five things you would never wear again:
1. A white bathing suit!!
2. Leg warmers
3. Short-shorts (a la Daisy Duke)
4. For the same reason as #3, a mini-skirt
5. Braces

Five favorite toys:
1. my computer
2. my digital camera
3. my DVR (Who invented this? Brilliant!)
4. 20Q (that thing is SMART!)
5. I just can't think of anything else. I'm not that into "toys".

OK, I've never tagged before - but I'll give it a try:

Katie Lady
cjh
Samantha Jo
Hootin' Anni
StaceyG

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Friday's Feast #1


Another meme I think will be fun: Friday's Feast. Here is my first:

Appetizer
Name a sound you like to hear. the ocean

Soup
What is your favorite kind of cheese? queso dip

Salad
Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not? I sleep late whenever I can!!!

Main Course
When was the last time you forgot something? What was it, and how long did it take to remember it? I also forget stuff all the time - in fact, I can't even remember the last time I forgot something, but I'm sure it was today!

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I notice ___bad manners____ when __I'm eating out___. (Like men who do not remove their hats at the table!!!)

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

And the winner is......

Eric and Danielle - Winners of The Amazing Race 11

Earl Cole, winner of Survivor: Fiji

Apolo Anton Ohno and his partner, Julianne Hough, winners of Dancing With The Stars

and Jordin Sparks, winner of American Idol


All of my reality shows have come to an end for the season. And I am happy with all the winners, altho I really wanted Dustin and Kandice to win The Amazing Race and Yau-Man to win Survivor. And I kinda wanted Joey to win Dancing With The Stars. But I'm OK with the ones that did win. All were good. Congrats to them all!
So now that those shows are over, a whole new bevvy of reality shows is beginning for summer! Last night was the premiere of On the Lot, which I DVR-ed and have not yet watched. Tomorrow brings a new So You Think You Can Dance?, which I enjoyed watching last time around. Next week I plan to check out The Next Best Thing and Pirate Master. I don't know how any of these shows will measure up to my favorites, but they should provide reasonable entertainment for the summer. That and my Houston Astros. I don't think I'll have to give up my Prime Time Couch Potato title just yet!

Monday, May 21, 2007

Ten Favorite Pics I've Taken

At first I thought this Ten on Tuesday list was going to be hard, because most of my favorite pictures are of my family - and I don't really want to post personal pictures on my blog. Then I started looking thru my pictures and it began to be hard to narrow my favorite non-family photos down to only ten!! So after much hemming and hawing, here are the ones that made the final cut:


My favorite subject next to my kids - my dogs!

Naughty Little Boy Dog - but isn't he cute?!?


My favorite place in the world!


My favorite place in the world at night!


My other favorite place in the world - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina


Another one from Hilton Head - I took this from the boat and then petted this dolpin on his nose! His name is Blackbeard and he lives in the wild, NOT in captivity.


The Texas State Capitol at night...


The inside of the Capitol, looking up into the rotunda....


The Mississippi River from the deck of our riverboat cruise...


Graceland

Sunday, May 20, 2007

And another one down....

Another successful dance recital has come and gone.....this year was a little easier on me than last year because I didn't dance in any dances at all. I only had to work in a teacher capacity and everything went pretty smoothly as far as that goes. My greatest achievement of the weekend came Saturday afternoon - my class of babies (3- and 4-year olds) was all ready for their first recital - they looked precious in their tutus and ballet slippers - but one, the youngest one, was completely overwhelmed by the backstage ruckus, and clung so tightly to her mother's legs that I thought she was trying to climb back into the womb. After convincing Mom to leave, I took Baby Ballerina into my arms and we removed ourselves from some of the din and found a quiet place to sit and chat. Mainly she just leaned up against my chest and hid her tear-streaked face from the world, but the more we talked the more she relaxed, and soon I had her waiting in the wings on her own two ballet-shoed feet, attached to me now only by her little hand. Would she go on stage? Would her mother get to see her Baby Ballerina's debut into show business? I gave her all the Teacher Love and Kindness I could muster up, and she did, indeed, go on. She danced, she smiled - SUCCESS! This is why I do what I do.....the smell of the grease paint, the roar of the crowd.....and the smiling faces of my dancing little girls when they come off that stage and hug me. I love it.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

(Sniff!) One More

Add this one to the list of Songs That Make Me Sad:

Waxing Poetic

I have loved this poem since I studied it in high school, and its lines are in my mind as our journey thru life takes us once again into the many summer mornings.....

Ithaca
by Constantine P. Cavafy
When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

What's in a name?

Found a cool link on one of the blogs I linked to today - and here's what I found out:

My name is the #159 most common female name.
0.142% of females in the US share my name.
Around 181,050 US females have the same name as I do!

So of course I had to look up the info on the rest of the family:

Hubby has the #842 most common male name.
0.007% of men in the US share his name.
Around 8575 US men have the same name as he does!
So he's a little more unique than I am....

Navy Son has the #246 most common male name.
0.063% of men in the US share his name.
Around 77,175 US men are named the same thing he is!
Not as unique as Hubby, but moreso than me.

Darling Daughter has a very rare female name.
Very few females in the US share her name.
She should be proud of her unique name! (I am proud I gave it to her!)

Youngest son has the #739 most common male name.
0.009% of men in the US share his name.
Around 11,025 US men are named the same thing he is!
So he's still not as unique as Hubby, but unique nonetheless....

I find this all very fascinating.

Ten Songs That Make Me Sad


My Ten on Tuesday list for this week - Ten Songs That Make Me Sad:

  1. Where've You Been? by Kathy Mattea
  2. Walking Her Home by Mark Schultz
  3. Because He Lives (because it was my grandmother's favorite hymn and hearing it makes me think of her)
  4. To Make You Feel My Love by Garth Brooks
  5. After All This Time by Rodney Crowell
  6. Don't Take the Girl by Tim McGraw (the video is really the killer on this one)
  7. I'm Already There by Lonestar (go ahead - watch the video and try to not cry)
  8. Hurt by Johnny Cash
  9. Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
  10. It's Your Song by Garth Brooks (sorry, can't find a good link to this one)

Hmmm......mostly country songs. Interesting.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Cole Survivor

So Earl Cole is the $1-million winner of Survivor: Fiji. I'm OK with that, but I really think Yau-Man should have won, and he would have if Dreamz hadn't gone back on his word and had given Yau-Man Immunity in the Final Four like he said he would. I think that is the lowest act since Johnny Fairplay told his dead grandmother story in Season 7. But oh well. Earl played the game well, so congratulations to him. Maybe he'll buy Yau-Man a new truck.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

I'm not tellin'!

The Ten on Tuesday topic this week was "Ten Things Most People Don't Know About You" - cjh's list is great (especially #4 - it reminds me of something the Ya-Ya's would do!). I really wanted to do this this week, because I love to make lists anyway and putting lists on my blog is extra fun! But the more I thought about it the more I realized - the things that most people don't know about me are things I don't want most people to know about me! I'm not a very secretive person - those who know me know me well (in fact, Hubby thinks I blab too much sometimes). But there are some things - maybe not even ten - that I just don't want everyone to know. So, sorry! No Ten on Tuesday list for me this week. I'm already at work on next week's list, tho. It should be a good one!

Sunday, May 06, 2007

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good

- Wonderful Son was baptized today and the church had a HUGE party for him (and the other people who were also baptized today). Our family and friends were all there and it was a fabulous, blessed event!

- Rookie Hunter Pence hit a grand slam in yesterday's Astros game!

The Bad

- The critter is still pitter-pattering around in our attic, eluding the trap.

- Despite a few hopeful showings lately, we still do not have a contract on our house.

- The Houston Rockets

The Ugly

- Roger Clements

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Ten Movies That Make Me Cry

Inspired by cjh, who was inspired by geek and 10 on Tuesday, here is my list of Ten Movies That Make Me Cry (this was not a stretch for me because almost ALL movies make me cry!):

1. Titanic - bawled and bawled when I saw this one! Seriously. Bawled.
2. Fried Green Tomatoes - ditto, and it was first movie I saw with Hubby!
3. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (cried when I read the book, cried when I saw the movie)
4. Hope Floats
5. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (yes, I know this was a comedy, but the end was sad!)
6. Forrest Gump
7. Big Fish
8. Parenthood
9. The Prince of Tides (my daughter's name comes from this book/movie)
10. Passion of the Christ (how could anyone NOT cry at this one?)

There are other classic tearjerker movies that I refuse to watch for that exact reason, like Stepmom or My Girl or The Notebook. I mean, why put myself thru that?

Monday, April 30, 2007

Critter Gitter

We have a critter in our attic. An unidentified critter - could be a raccoon or a possum or maybe a squirrel - but it's definitely up there because we hear it scratching around, and it has left some critter poop around in the attic. (I suspect it is a possum because we've had to get a possum out of our attic before - oh the critter stories I could tell!)

So we borrowed Bubba's Dad's trap - affectionately called the Critter Gitter. Bubba's Dad had a squirrel problem a few years back and trapped quite a few of them in his Critter Gitter, so we know it is an effective means of ridding our attic of critters. Brave Hubby set it all up this weekend, leaving a trail of dog food right into the trap, with a pile of dog food and a cinnamon roll at the back. Last night we checked it, and apparently we have a clever critter on our hands - he ate all the dog food all the way into the cage, up to the thing he has to step on to shut the door - but then backed out and left the rest, including the cinnamon roll! It's like he knew it was a trap! So we re-baited and will try again. In the meantime I hope he doesn't come crashing thru the ceiling and land in my bed with me - THAT would be bad.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Idol Gives Back

I cried my eyes out while watching American Idol tonight. No, not because my favorite contestant went home - in fact, no one went home tonight! Tonight was a special fund-raising event called Idol Gives Back, where they raised money for impoverished children in the USA and in Africa. It was quite the star-studded two-hour event, but the images they showed of the children in Africa who are orphaned by AIDS, some dying of AIDS or malaria themselves - children and families in Africa AND in our own United States who have NOTHING, who cannot read, who live in squalor and do not have enough to eat - it broke my heart. At times I couldn't bear to watch anymore. But I couldn't bear not to. Was this the emotional response they were going for? Absolutely. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. But I hope everyone else that was watching did, too. We all know there are horrible conditions in this world, but to see them in front of your eyes that way - well, maybe we all need that kind of awareness every now and then. If that's what it takes to get people to open up their hearts and help (yes, that also means opening up their wallets), then it's a good thing. Millions of dollars were raised tonight to help these children. Will it save them all? No. But if you can help save ONE LIFE, then it is so worth it. While some have criticized American Idol for jumping on the philanthropy bandwagon, I applaud them. They have made a difference in this world, not just by giving us pop stars - but by giving people hope.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

It's about time!

Last night on American Idol, Sanjaya finally went home. Even if you don't watch the show, you have surely heard the media hype over this strange 17-year-old with the wild hairstyles who over-stayed his welcome on the show. From an article on MSNBC:

Sanjaya Malakar had more admirers, or “admirers,” than would ordinarily surround someone of his caliber in a competition like this one. Some liked his personality, his constantly changing hairstyle, or the fact that he was an underdog. Some were rooting for him because they thought it would be funny to have a lesser talent win the whole thing. And some probably just liked the way he sang.

Whatever the motivation, the story of Sanjaya has eclipsed everything else in the “Idol” universe over the past month. He’s been mentioned on just about every entertainment program in the country, from talk-show television to satellite radio to the blogosphere. At 17, he’s a lock to have a shot at a career in entertainment if he wants it, since his name recognition alone will make him among the most sought-after TV guest stars over the next few months.

But this week he was so bad that it was almost as if he was trying to sing badly. America finally had enough. He's outta there.

So we're down to the Top Six - I'm sticking with my original prediction that Melinda will win it all, but I'm also rooting for Blake and Jordin. However it turns out, they have all launched music careers from the show. Which reminds me, I think I'll go buy Chris Daughtry's CD today....

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

I'm in love.


Today I officially met my new nephew, Drew Bear - the precious son of Bubba and Katie Lady. I have to say I am THE proudest aunt in the world! It has been so long since I have held a baby in my arms, smelled his sweet neck, and pressed my cheek to the top of his fuzzy head. I can't have any more babies of my own, but the baby of my brother is the next best thing! As my kids told me tonight, I "hogged the baby"! I just didn't want to let go of him! He loves me, too - we talked - he smiled and cooed at me - even laughed when I said things particularly funny. I told him all the fun things we would do together when he gets a little older. It's gonna be great. When he got tired I soothed him to sleep, and he took a nap lying on my chest. He is my new love.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Yeah, what Ken said.

So they fired Don Imus. While I agree that what he said was very ugly, I'm not sure he should have been fired (I think the 2-week suspension would have been enough). A letter in the Houston Chronicle expressed very well the way I feel about it.....

If the Rev. Al Sharpton is so offended by remarks made regarding some young black women by Don Imus, why isn't Sharpton out campaigning against rappers? On any given day, you can find a rapper referring to young black women in terms even worse than what Imus called them. Why doesn't Sharpton campaign against this violence against women? Why isn't he sticking his face in front of a TV camera, calling for them to lose their recording contracts and be punished?
Or is it only white people who are not allowed to make these kinds of remarks? Isn't that rather racist? If it is wrong for Imus to demean young black women, then it should be just as wrong for rappers to do it, as well. Where's Sharpton's fairness?
KEN DAVIS Houston

I don't want to come off as racist, because I'm not. But the guy's got a point!

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Family Roots

It has been about 9 months or so since my grandmother passed away. Years before she died she started divvying up her things amongst the family members - most of it given away when she moved from her house to an apartment, a little more when she moved to an assisted-living facility, a little more when she went into the nursing home. I received the things that meant the most to me - her spoons collected from all her vacation destinations, the twin spindle beds that Bubba and I would sleep in when we went to visit her, the gumdrop tree she would always put out at Christmas, her Blue Danube dishes. Last weekend my parents took a visit to see my aunt - Dad's sister - and they took some time to sort thru more of Maw Maw's things (she never threw anything away!). It was mostly knick-knacks, old letters, and some great old pictures. To me they brought the most precious treasure of all -the family geneology, and memories hand-written by Maw Maw of her childhood and young adult life. I have pored over all of these papers for hours tonight. I am fascinated. From me, it is seven generations back that my family was in Ireland. I learned that from Ireland the family mostly settled in Mississippi and Tennessee before coming to Texas. There are fascinating stories within all these papers, and the OCD in me is coming out, wanting to organize it all and document everything in an orderly fashion. I want to do more research. It's a project I look forward to getting into!

But the most precious stories are the ones such as these, written in my grandmother's hand....

"I remember one time that Papa sent Jane and Clarice (Maw Maw's sisters) to bring some cows home to milk. They let me go along. Papa had told us not to ride the cows, but I am sure I begged to ride so they put me on one. We were going down the lane when the cow saw an open gate and bolted through the gate and I fell off. I was afraid Papa was going to whip me so I made a big deal of hurting and crying. I got by with it that time."

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Happy Easter


Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Maundy Thursday

Bubba's Dad has a bit of a scheduling conflict tomorrow - his Baptist Sunday school class is having a special Maundy Thursday communion at one of the members' houses. It's also the meeting of the Keg of the Month Club that he's been enjoying the past few months. Oh, what to do?

I told him he should go to the Keg of the Month Club, leave a little early, and show up at his Sunday school class with beer on his breath, slurring, "Is it Maundy, or is it Thursday??"

Monday, April 02, 2007

Opening Day!


Baseball is back, and our Houston Astros played the Pittsburg Pirates tonight at Minute Maid Park. Unfortunately, they lost the opener - gotta do something about Lidge!! But that's OK - we've got the whole season ahead of us! Bring out the peanuts and Cracker Jacks - it's gonna be a great year!

Saturday, March 31, 2007

I've done it again.

I don't know why I punish myself like this. But I do. While my house is on the market, I look at other houses that I want to buy - you know, so I won't be homeless when my house DOES sell. However, what happens is I find a house I love, only to have it bought out from under me before I can sell mine. It has happened three times. It is very frustrating. You'd think I'd learn. But no - today I went and looked at another house. And I'm in love with it. It is SUCH a great house! I could move right in and not have to change a thing! It's a great location, great size, great layout, great schools for the kids - basically, it's perfect. But because it is perfect, I know it will sell fast, and I do not have an offer on my very-nice-house-that-I'm-only-selling-because-we-want-to-downsize-and-live-closer-to-my-parents. I'm probably going to watch House #4 slip away like the others..........wah!

So, anyone out there wanna buy a house?????

**UPDATE - Sunday night - just as I predicted, it went fast. I checked on it tonight and it has a contract on it. Dammit. That's it. I'm not looking at ANY MORE HOUSES until I sell this one!

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Transition

I know exactly where I was 13 years ago right now. I was at the hospital, getting an epidural (I distinctly remember telling the anesthesiologist that I loved him). Two hours later - at 1:16 a.m. on March 22, 1994 - my daughter was born. My first born. She was absolutely beautiful and perfect. She was born 1 week early, and she weighed 5 pounds and 13 ounces. She was a tiny thing. The most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I was in love.

That tiny little bundle of joy will be 13 years old in just a couple of hours. She will wake up in the morning a teenager. I can hardly believe it - where has the time gone? How could she have grown up so fast? Sometimes I just want to yell, "Wait! Wait! It's going too fast!" I want to slow life down and enjoy the beautiful moments more........the moments when my children were babies with curly blond hair and big blue eyes and toothless smiles that would melt your heart........the funny baby things they said and did.........even the middle-of-the-night feedings, when it was just the two of us in the darkness, bonding in love. Sometimes I'll tell Beautiful Daughter, "Can't you go back and be a baby again?" and she says to me, "Mom! I gotta live!" Yes. She's got to live. And I pray that it is a blessed life. She is entering into a difficult time in life......but also a time of fun and opportunity.......from here she steps into adulthood. I hope I am doing my job well. So far so good - I couldn't ask for a better daughter. She is still absolutely beautiful and perfect.

Happy Birthday, baby girl. I love you!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Dancing With the Amazing Idol Survivor (or, How I Became a Prime Time Couch Potato)

This is nothing to be proud of. Surely I have better things to do with my time than watch reality TV five nights a week. But I can't help it! I'm addicted! It just so happens that all my favorite shows are on at the same time right now. This makes for a busy week of TV watching. Thank goodness I have the DVR in case something really important comes up!

My week begins with Amazing Race on Sunday night. I missed the very first season of this show, but have been hooked ever since Season 2! This season is an "All Star" season; I pretty much like all of the teams, except Charla & Myrna. They have GOT to go! I'm rooting for the Beauty Queens, Dustin and Kandice.

On Monday nights it's Dancing With the Stars! I love love LOVE this show (probably because I love dancing so much)! Last season I was ga-ga over Mario and Emmitt. This season my early favorite is Joey Fatone, altho there were others that I thought did very well, too. We'll see how the season plays out - it has only just begun.

On Tuesdays it's American Idol! This is another one I have watched since Season 2 (where was I during Season 1???). I don't really have any favorites yet this season, but I think Sanjaya has outworn his welcome, and I think Melinda will win it all. Just my early opinion. There are several I like on there.

Tuesday nights will also be the results show for DWTS. I will likely DVR this and fast-forward thru the boring parts to the end when the announcement of who's going home is made.

Wednesday nights are Idol's results show. This is another good one to DVR and then skip to the end. No need to listen to 30 minutes of blah blah blah when all I want to know is a) who are the Bottom Three, and 2) who is going home.

Thursdays bring Survivor! I have watched this one from the beginning, and I still love it in its 14th season. This season has gotten off to a slow start for me, but it looks like they are going to mix things up this week, so it should get better. No favorites on this one so far for me, either, but there are a few I certainly dislike!

With all this going on, I barely have time for my other TV addictions......Lost and Desperate Housewives, to name a couple. Like I said, good thing I have that DVR!

Hello. My name is Bubba's Sis and I am a Prime Time Couch Potato.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

To sleep, perchance to dream....

When I sleep, I dream. Vivid, sometimes crazy dreams that I can remember clearly, sometimes for years afterwards (like the one where I was going on a date with Vince Gill and we went ice skating and he had a pet monkey....). I even dream when I nap. I have recurring dreams and random dreams. Perhaps I shall post my dreams on this blog sometimes, both for your amusement and so maybe you psychotherapist-type readers can help me figure out what they mean!!!

But that's for another day.

There are some nights, like last night, when I don't sleep. I don't know why. Sometimes I don't sleep at all - just lightly doze here and there for 5-10 minutes at a time, then lie awake the rest of the time. Some nights I lie awake for hours, songs and thoughts whirling in my head, playing like a movie on the back of my eyelids, until I finally fall asleep just in time to be good and asleep when it's time to get up. Because I haven't done a good list here in a while, I figured this would be a good one -

Ten Things I Think About When I Can't Sleep

1. Things I need to do the next day
2. My next vacation
3. How I will arrange my furniture and things in the new house I want
4. Impacted ear wax (I think I have that right now and I'm somewhat concerned)
5. Whether the people I interact with on a regular basis really like me or are just pretending to
6. What I would do with the money if I won the lottery
7. What I would name another child if I were to miraculously have one
8. Hurtful things that have happened in the past, and why some of them I can let go of and others still kinda piss me off
9. Things to blog about
10. What time I have to get up and how little sleep I am getting.

Of course, there are a million other things that go thru my mind on nights like these, and they are always set to music. I'll get songs in my head that I have no idea how they got in there. I'm weird that way.

So what do you do when you can't sleep? Besides READ, which everyone tells me to do. Sometimes that works for me, sometimes it doesn't. What stuff do you think about?

Friday, March 09, 2007

Sad Sign of the Times

I know what fear is. All my life I have been afraid of things - some irrational, some not - but I know that feeling in the pit of your stomach, that pounding heart, that overwhelming sense of dread. But never in my life did I feel fear at school (except for a tornado drill in 2nd grade that freaked me out a little). I never felt unsafe at school, never worried that I would be harmed or, worse, killed.

Times are different now.

Yesterday Darling Daughter (who is in 7th grade) was absolutely terrified to go to school. It seems that rumors started swirling on Wednesday that gang members would come into the school on Thursday and shoot anyone that was wearing red or blue. EVERYONE was talking about it. The teachers had called a faculty meeting about it. The school officer was on high alert (we didn't even have a school officer when I was in school!).

My first thought was, "Well, just don't wear red or blue tomorrow!", but looking into her tear-filled eyes, I knew that this was very real to her. She was truly afraid.

Of course this was real to her. She has grown up hearing tales of Columbine and other school-shootings; along with tornado drills and fire drills, the schools now also have lock-down drills. More than once has an area school been sent into lock-down for various reasons. When Navy Son was in high school they went into lock-down for hours because of some shooting or knifing threat. She knows that these things do happen, and they can happen here in our suburbian bubble just as well as they can happen in the inner city. My daughter did not want to die at school.

After a phone call to the school I was assured by both the counselor and the principal that they were, indeed, aware of the rumors and they were just that: rumors. Nonetheless, the school security was prevalent on Thursday, and there were no incidents. Darling Daughter did not wear red or blue anyway, just in case. She was nervous all day. My heart ached for her.

No child should have to be afraid at school; no child should have to worry that they will be gunned down for wearing the wrong colors. What kind of society have we created??

Monday, March 05, 2007

Diagnosis

Got in to see my doctor today - after 4 days without a voice, the diagnosis was confirmed: I have laryngitis. I also have bronchitis. So now I'm on an antibiotic and some wicked cough syrup that makes me feel way drunk and sleepy. But I don't seem to be coughing as much, so that's good. Give me a few days and I'll be back to my good ol' self, voice and all.

In the meantime, I must sleep........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sunday, March 04, 2007

My Happy Place

Just got home from spending a wonderful week in my Happy Place - Disney World. Yes, I know we go there a lot. This was Hubby's and my 6th trip; it was the kids' 5th. We love it there. Even after that many trips, we still did things we had never done before - rode new rides, saw new characters, ate at new restaurants, stayed at a new resort - every trip we take there is different. And every one is magical.

I came home sick this time - it hit me on our last day there - sore throat, bad cough, and no voice. I suspect I have strep throat, but maybe not. Definitely laryngitis. Maybe pneumonia for all I know. We got home at about 10:00 Friday night, so I can't see my doctor until Monday. I'm managing to suffer thru the weekend so far.

Welcome back to real life.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Movie Review


I don't go to the movies very much. It's not that I don't enjoy movies - I just don't usually enjoy the movie theater experience. The prices are too high, the people are annoying....I'd much rather watch from the comfort of my own couch. HOWEVER, I am occasionally persuaded to take in a movie on the big screen. This weekend it was Music and Lyrics, with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.

I thought this was a great movie! Granted, it is a "chick flick" (altho Hubby enjoyed it, too - I caught him laughing several times!). But it was a good story, funny, and had great music. Anyone who remembers the 80's will get a kick out of how well the music of that time is portrayed. The video is hilarious, and I've been watching it on YouTube several times today! I definitely recommend this movie - and I think I'll even buy the soundtrack.

And now that Hubby has seen Music and Lyrics with me, he wants me to go see Ghost Rider with him. Ugh.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Saturday, February 10, 2007

I Wanna Be a Bear

I don't know who authored this, but I like it! Because the Winter Doldrums have got me down....

In My Next Life, I Want to Be a Bear


In my next life, I want to be a bear.
If you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months.
I could deal with that.
Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid.
I could deal with that, too.
If you're a bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute cuddly cubs.
I could definitely deal with that.
If you're a Mama Bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.
I could deal with that.
If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat. He KNOWS not to get between you and the food.

Yup..... Gonna be a bear.

Monday, February 05, 2007

He's here!!!


Take a look at my new nephew!!! Isn't he beautiful?!? Bubba and Katie Lady welcomed Baby Drew into the world today at 5:19 p.m. EST (which was 4:19 p.m. here in Texas). He weighs 8 pounds and 5 ounces - a big boy! I'm so proud and I can't wait to see him in person!!

Monday, January 29, 2007

There she is....


Congratulations to Miss Oklahoma Lauren Nelson, who tonight was crowned Miss America 2007! The Miss America Party at my house was smaller than usual this year, partly because the pageant was on Monday night (how crazy is that?!?). The usual attendees include myself, Bubba's Mom, Katie Lady, Wendy Bird, and my best friend Dana Lou. Wendy Bird couldn't make it down from Fort Worth this year, and of course Katie Lady couldn't come all the way from NYC with a baby about to be born any day now!! But we did have a good time, eating brownies and critiquing the contestants; and one of our favorites did win this year! So we put the crowns away until July, when we will get them out again for the Miss Texas pageant. Hopefully the whole gang will be back together again for that one! Until then we will all keep wishing for World Peace....

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Normal? It's all relative....

Recently took a "How Normal Are You?" quiz that I found on cjh's blog - here are my results:


You Are 40% Normal

While some of your behavior is quite normal...
Other things you do are downright strange
You've got a little of your freak going on
But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself


Bubba and Katie Lady also took the quiz, and they too are 40% normal! And Cousin Wendy Bird - 40% normal. So it must be a family thing.

I am surprised that my normalcy is only at 40% - I always thought *I* was the normal one, and everyone else was weird! It certainly seems that way. But I can see a few things I do that people may construe as weird...

For instance, I like even numbers. The volume on the TV should always be an even number. Or a multiple of 5 - that is OK, too. Also, if I'm walking up stairs I must take the first step with my right foot. And the right sock must go one first, then the left sock, then the right shoe, then the left shoe. If you go sock-shoe, sock-shoe, it's just not right (Bubba will back me up on that one!). I'm a very organized person, to the point where some think I could have a bit of OCD - but that's not weird. That's just organized. I like to do certain things in a certain order. I like things to be in their place.

Doesn't everyone have their little idiosyncrasies? Does that make us not "normal"? I didn't understand how some of the questions in the quiz determined if I'm normal or not - like is it ok for someone else to be in the room when you use the bathroom. Any married couple has done this. It's a necessity. Not weird. And have I smoked pot? I have not. Is that normal? I have no idea. Bubba, have you smoked pot???

Well, all quizzing aside, I still see myself as a pretty normal gal. And if you don't agree - well, you're weird.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Clean Slate

My favorite part of New Years is starting a new calendar. It's like a clean slate - open to all the possibilites of things I will do throughout the next year. At the end of the year I can look back on it and remember the story of my life for the past 365 days. All written out neatly in blue ink. All the birthdays and anniversaries checked off, the list of books I read and movies I watched, the appointments kept and parties attended. The weddings and the funerals. The good and the bad. It's all there.

One would think I would have my resolutions in there - my list of things to do better - or at least differently - for the New Year. This year I'm not making resolutions. Because who are we kidding? I'm not going to keep them anyway. Things I should resolve to do? Cook better meals for my family and not eat out so much, save more money, read more books. Might happen. Might not. Either way, I'll be OK. Why put pressure on myself by making it an official resolution?

I do have some goals for 2007. I want to move out of this house. Hopefully soon. It will be an improvement to all areas of our lives. I want to go on the vacation we had to give up when Hubby broke his leg. We have that tentatively re-scheduled, but we will see. I want to become stronger in my faith and truly trust God enough to not worry about things. I guess those kinda sound like resolutions, but they're not exactly. Just things I want for myself and my family. Things to improve our lives and make us happy. We need happy. Because we've dealt with a lot of crap lately. I can prove it - it's all written in last year's calendar.