2008 In Review

This may become a New Year tradition… I started this a year ago. Boy how things have changed! (and some things haven’t changed at all!)

Here’s a look back at 2008. It was a doozie.

Where did you begin 2008? I hosted an impromptu New Years party at my house. I think we decided to throw the party around 6pm that night. This year, I’m throwing one with a bit more planning. Disco ball, strobe lights, Dance Dance Revolution, and all.

Were you in school this year? I took four graduate classes this year… School was really tough, but I was also blessed to earn FREE tuition, plus a stipend (aka—Cruise Money), plus a trip to Miami! With five classes left (I’ve taken seven), I should finish this masters in December 2009 or May 2010. Praise the Lord. Oh, and I spoke to a bunch of junior high classes about the importance of going to college, choosing a career in advertising, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah. And I serve on a board for the school district, which technically is sort of school-related.

Where did you go on vacation? My sister and I jaunted over to NYC for a mini-trip smack full of Yankee games, pedicures, shopping, and Broadway. It was absolutely fantastic. I am super excited about my Mediterranean Cruise in summer 2009!

Favorite Books from 2008? I devoured Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Definitely the best book of my year, every girl should read that book. I also read three or four Anita Shreve novels (I want to write like her someday). And a book on hearing God speak, which turned into a whole Sunday School series. There were others, I just don’t remember the titles. I wish I could have read more, but I also read about 10 million journal articles for school, which tend to suck the life out of me. And, I read 52 issues of TIME Magazine cover-to-cover. Okay, and 52 issues of US Weekly, but that doesn’t make me sound nearly as sophisticated.

Did you know anybody who got married? Jim and Tiffany, Scott and Cassandra, Jason and Ginger… I’m sure I’m forgetting a few. And my sister Lindsay got engaged!

 Did you move anywhere? Oh thank goodness, no.

 What sporting events did you attend? About a million Rangers games, a couple of Stars games (including a playoff game), the Mavs home opener, a Yankee game in New York, two marathon events, and a minor league hockey game. Plus, I played a little tennis, golf, flag football, sand volleyball, and played on my church softball team. I spent most of my free time this year outside playing sports.

Describe your birthday: I had a retro roller skating party with about 25 friends from church. I felt like a kid again, which is exactly how a girl should feel on her 28^th birthday. I loved that night.

What's something you learned about yourself? I was reminded once again that my family is the greatest ever. They are such a blessing, I am so thankful to have a family that is supportive, fun, entertaining, unconditionally loving, and willing to do anything to take care of each other. Plus, they’re all very strong Christians. My family rocks.

I learned how important it is to care for others when they’re hurting. Watching my sister recover from major surgery this fall showed me how important it is to not only rally around someone when they have surgery (or a death, or another traumatic experience), but to stick around and continue to check on them in the weeks following. People tend to step up in the immediate, but later tend to forget about the person who is hurting. I think people just don’t know what to do.

I learned that God keeps his promises… and I learned that scripture is very clear about that if you’ll just pay attention. All year long I wrote these promises down in my prayer journal and meditated on them… it got me through a lot of tough times. I am constantly reminded of just how fantastic my God really is.

Any new additions to your family? I’ll be getting a new brother-in-law next June. It will be so weird to have a BOY in our family full of girls! Luckily he’s really cool, so he’ll fit right in. I’m really excited for my sister.

Made new friends? My prayer this year was for God to bring me some more girlfriends… and he delivered! Don’t you love it when God answers your prayers? 

Favorite Night out? Some of my favorite nights were when I got to sit on my porch, relax, and look at the stars. This year was so absurdly busy with school and work that those nights were a rare treat. I also loved all the afternoons/evenings when my friends would play outside… softball, tennis, flag football, sand volleyball… I have developed a real craving for the outdoors.

Something else I loved this year was having close friends live in my neighborhood. Just last weekend, two called me up and invited me to take our dogs for a walk. Once a month my neighborhood friends organize a dinner party. I absolutely love being two minutes away from a friend, being able to carpool to a party or have an impromptu dinner together. My parents have kept in touch with some of their church and neighborhood friends from back when they were my age… and it makes me wonder if some of these friends will turn out to be those same kinds of life-long friends. I sure hope so.

What do you want to change in 2009? I had three break-ups in the first six months of 2008 (is that some sort of record?), so I’m going to vote for none in 2009. Or less than three. I think that’s achievable. Or maybe I should at least spread them out in different zip codes or something.

What would you change about 2008? I don’t think I would have changed much. Parts of this year were really fantastic… professionally it was one of my best years ever. Even the parts that weren’t very fun helped me to grow and mature, and I learned a lot about myself and what I want to do with my life.

What random cool things happened in 2008? (New Question This Year!)

-I was quoted in USA Today, my local newspaper (plus papers in Florida, Oklahoma, New Mexico), interviewed by multiple radio stations (one in-studio with the DJs!), and did some on-camera interviews for our local news. Plus, I worked behind-the-scenes on dozens of stories for all sorts of media outlets. It was a fun year at work.

-I taught classes on media buying, advertising, and corporate communications at TCU and UTA… I rediscovered how much I love teaching.

-I ran a half marathon! Who would have thought that the lazy girl with asthma who hated running would ever accomplish that?!

-I revived my passion for teaching Sunday School. I have always enjoyed it, but this year I became hungrier than ever before to teach, and to show my girls the difference between a limiting faith filled with “no’s” and rules and an empowering faith filled with grace and freedom. I realized this concept several years ago, and I have never been the same.

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time? I spent a lot of time running at the park, preparing for my half marathon. I really do love running at the park… it’s a nice balance to a stressful day. I was never an outdoor runner until this year, but now a treadmill seems so boring… I need a trail through the woods or by a lake.

Do you have a New Year's resolution? Yes, but I won’t tell until next week.

Do anything embarrassing? This is me we’re talking about… life wouldn’t be fun if it weren’t filled with wonderfully embarrassing moments! In the last week I set my hair on fire at the Christmas Eve candlelight service, and I knocked over a candle (because I knocked over the table it was sitting on) in Sunday School and almost burned the place down. And that was only the last week of December.

What was your favorite purchase? I really like my new MacBook, filled with all my Adobe programs and my newly discovered iMovie. So many fun toys to play with. And I'm super excited about the curtains and rug I just bought for my living room and dining room. I shopped for TWO YEARS before making the purchase. They'll be delivered next week!, and my windows will no longer be naked!

Did you get sick this year? I was extremely healthy all year. What a blessing.

Start a new hobby? I learned how to quilt! Oh, and all that running.

Are you happy to see 2008 go? Oh my goodness, yes. Goodbye, and good riddance, my friend! I plan to kick some major bootie in 2009. Hold on to your seats, folks.

What are you wishing for in 2009? Lot’s of good memories, a fabulous trip to Europe, a fun wedding for my sister, and possibly a graduation from grad school! And I look forward to all sorts of unplanned adventures… welcome 2009!

Now, my blogging friends, it’s your turn. Tell me about your year in review… I can’t wait to read it!

Favorite Song

Just a quick note as I scarf down a quick bowl of cereal for dinner (mom would be so disappointed in me)...

I am absolutely obsessed with the Taylor Swift song "Love Song." I could listen to it twenty times a day and never get tired of it. I especially love the pop version they play on the radio, but I also have the regular country version at the top of my newest iPod playlist, and I listen to it over and over, just like a teenage girl. There's something about the melody that just makes me giddy. 

Okay, enough of the rambling. I'm sure all the boys reading this are now rolling their eyes. I promise to write a post on the positive qualities of Metallica sometime soon, so you'll feel included. Or maybe analyze all the insufficiencies of the Cowboys.

But now I'm off to Wal-Mart to buy last-minute supplies for my New Year's party tomorrow. I hate Wal-Mart, so this shows you just how committed I am to having a rockin' New Year's party, complete with a dance floor and a disco ball. Apparently the only place you can buy colored indoor flood lights is at Wal-Mart, and I need them to reflect off my disco ball, so off I go. I hate that place. HATE. There will probably be one check-out line open for about 1,000 shoppers. Maybe I'll bring a book. (shiver)

Or maybe I'll just sing Taylor Swift over and over as I stand in line next to scary men who stare at me and babies who scream and teenagers who wear shirts covered in profanity... yes, that will make it all better.

Who's getting married???

I got a text message this morning that simply said: "I'm getting married!!!"

Unfortunately, I didn't recognize the number. So I quickly responded, "Who is this?"  It may be a bit rude for me not to know who it was, but this was big news and I needed to know which of my friends I should be happy for.

I never heard back.

So I texted a few more friends. "Do you know who's getting married?"  I hit a broad range of folks, figuring somebody would be in the same circle as the unknown friend and solve the mystery.

But nobody knew.

So I went through my mental list of friends who are dating. Crazy enough, I only know one or two people who might be in a position to get engaged, and those had already been covered. So after hours of being curious, I finally just dialed the number.

It was a wrong number. Some chick named Michelle, whom I don't know, is getting married. Congratulations Michelle. I wish you and your stranger fiance a very happy life together.

But what a disappointment for me! So to all my friends who didn't get engaged today... I feel sort of let down. I was so happy for you, if only for a short while. Maybe tomorrow will be your day.

Why my family is the coolest

In case you haven't laughed today...

Light of the world... literally

I went to my parents' tiny Baptist church for their Christmas Eve candlelight service. It was very special... all the families gathered together, babies dressed in red velvet dresses, little ones anxious to come home and devour their presents under the tree, slightly older ones just ready to come home and devour Christmas dinner... and everybody looking forward to the climax of the service--lighting the candles and singing Silent Night.

Only at this tiny Baptist church, Silent Night wasn't so silent.

Because I set my hair on fire.

I was being a bit mischievous. That's what happens when you get my family together, we look for any excuse to laugh and have a good time. So of course, when I put my lit candle under my chin and made a scary face, kind of like one would do when telling a ghost story around a campfire, sister Sarah provided me with the reaction I was hoping for... a giggle. But then sister Lindsay, in a motherly way, brushed the hair back on my right side and said, "Don't catch your hair on fire...""

And right at that moment I heard a gasp, then "BETHE!!!" and then she reached over and put the fire out that was starting on my left side. It's amazing how fast hair can burn... one minute you're just standing there, being silly and singing Christmas carols, and the next minute, "SPARK," then "POOF" and a terrible stench of burned hair fills the room. Luckily she saw it as it happened, so I only lost a small amount at the bottom, and I have such long hair (and so much of it) that nobody will ever notice, except for the singed ends which I should probably trim off today.

I'm glad we were sitting on the second-to-back row and not in our normal front-row spot for all the tiny Baptist church to see. Only the rows behind us and in front of us really got to experience me adding a "spark" to Christmas... ruining silent light but taking Jesus' command literally in Matthew 5:14 when he told us to be "the light of the world." 

Merry Christmas, and may God bless you in 2009.

Finally, school pays off

I found out late last week that the research paper I have worked so hard on this semester was accepted to a conference in Miami. In mid-March, my professor and I will go present our research to a bunch of public relations academics and professionals. And we're competing for "top paper" with some other folks... at times I can be a bit competitive, and this one has a CASH PRIZE, which means I would really, REALLY like to win. When you start talking monetary rewards, research seems to become a bit more interesting.

I could tell you what it's about, but the title alone is about 50 words long and would put you straight to sleep. Basically, it's about how intranets can provide employees with "voice" in a large organization. I have enjoyed learning about intranets and creating one of my own, but my 25 pages of literature review, descriptions and stats might just put you to sleep. Hopefully it won't put the conference attendees to sleep. I guess either way, I get a trip to Miami out of the deal.

Put on some clothes

Dear topless girl at my gym,

Please be considerate of those of us who might be a bit more modest than you, and PUT ON SOME CLOTHES. There's a reason God invented bathroom stalls... if you need to change clothes, it's a good idea not to do it out in the open part of the girls' locker room. When I walk by for a quick bathroom break between the treadmill and the weights, I don't want to have to see you in all your glory. So please, PLEASE, just put on some clothes and give the rest of us (me) a break.

Back when I was training for the half marathon, I didn't have to deal with folks not wearing clothes. This is what I get for going to the gym. Maybe I should just stay home and eat my ice cream in peace.

Thank you,
Concerned Gym Member

Weekend Wrap-Up

I've had such a good weekend. Friday night I got a pedicure with my sister and another friend, and then the three of us, plus one more, met up for a quiet dinner. It was so nice... just laid back, lot's of laughing, comfortable shoes... I love nights like that. The pedicure place used a chocolate exfoliator thing on my legs... you haven't lived until you've had a stranger rub chocolate on your legs as you sit in a massage chair sipping a cappuccino. Hmmm... that sounds a bit racier than it really was. After the pedicure, I felt like a new woman. A new woman with dark purple toenails... again. The edginess is back. And maybe here to stay.

Then Saturday I spent the whole day cooking and cleaning to prepare for a shower I hosted tonight for sister Lindsay (the one getting married). I absolutely love the preparation that goes into throwing a party. I like the cleaning up afterward part a lot less. Saturday night I turned my iPod on "shuffle" (yes, the iPod magically works again), and cooked for hours. I cooked for the party, and also made Christmas goodies for some of my favorite coworkers. Since they put up with me for another year (almost five, actually), I figure they deserve some baked goods.

I did such a good job of preparing yesterday that today I was able to sneak in a quick nap after church. A nap on a party day is so very rare, and it was just the thing I needed to keep me going through the party. The party went fantastically well, many of my sister's bridesmaids, old roommates, and friends from childhood came by, along with some of her new family members. It's weird to see that my sister is going to have NEW family members... new sisters-in-law. Part of me finds the whole situation a bit strange, but I'm thankful that these new family members seem to be strong Christian women who treat her well, so I guess it's okay to share her a little.

So it was a good weekend. I got to spend quality time with friends and family, got rubbed down with chocolate, danced in my kitchen and ate large quantities of cake. Yes, it was a very good weekend.

Are you happy?

According to the Wall Street Journal, happiness is contagious. Especially if the happy person happens to be your neighbor. Check this out.

Okay, I had promised a re-cap on the White Rock Half Marathon. Here goes...

The race was one of those really cool moments in my life... I worked so hard, for so many months to be able to do this. I'm not a runner. I never will be. I have asthma, I'm not a super athlete, I tend to be a bit lazy, and I'm very, very busy. So the fact that I did this without giving up was kind of unexpected.

I ran it with three friends from church. I couldn't have done it without the camaraderie that went along with running with friends. Otherwise I would have quit after a few weeks. They made it fun.

Here's a play-by-play of the race, for the two people who might care...

1. The night before, we went for high-carb pizza, and then an emergency trip to pick out a running outfit for Sara. Luckily, we found success quickly and made it home in time for a good night's sleep.

2. I woke up at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday and rode with my friends to Dallas. Sara and I had debated about wearing make-up for the race... it seems so vain, but we knew we were going to se a bunch of people out there, and we didn't want to look like death. So I ran my race with a tiny bit of mascara, eye liner, and concealer. I'm sure it all sweat off after mile 2. But what can I say, I'm a girl.

3. About five minutes before the race began, I realized my iPod, filled with my super-awesome running playlist, had frozen. It wouldn't work. In a panic, I called Sister Lindsay who lives in Dallas and asked her to meet me at mile 6 with her iPod. I think I may have to sue Apple. And I think I'm going to need to get Lindsay a nicer Christmas gift for saving my life with a new iPod to distract me from the pain I was feeling. She rocks.

4. Speaking of pain... I felt a lot of it at mile 5. It was pretty hot and there wasn't much water on the course, and I got a stomach cramp.... one of those that feel like a knife twisting in your side. It was so bad at one point that I either wanted to throw up or curl to the fetal position. But at that point there was nothing to do but keep plugging along. The cramp lasted about 1.5 miles and really slowed my time down. But that's okay... sometimes those things happen. And it went away before mile 7.

5. I felt absolutely fantastic for miles 1-4, and then again for miles 7-10. Around the tenth mile I started to feel like I might throw up. It's not really very fun to run while half expecting you might hurl at any given moment. So I had to do some more walk/run for awhile.

6. I think around mile 12 is when I wanted to die the most. Isn't running fun?

7. And then, after 13.1 miles, I crossed the finish line. That part was fantastic. It meant I could stop... no more running, no more wanting to throw up, no more stomach cramps... they loaded me up with a finisher's medal, a t-shirt, a cup of water (yes!), and I was instantly a much happier girl.

My time was a lot slower than I had wanted it. I basically ran about a minute a mile slower than had been my goal... but that's okay. I finished. And even though for a good part of that race I was in extreme pain and wanted Jesus to come down out of heaven and rapture me so I could leave the miserable run behind, I still have really good memories of the day. I got to run with 17,000 other runners, while 150,000 spectators cheered me on for 13.1 miles. And I got to do it with friends. While wearing mascara.

On Sunday, after the race, I thought I might never want to run again. Today, just three days later, I'm seriously considering doing this whole thing again. Only faster. 

By the way... I'm not sure why the photo spacing is so whacky... so you'll just have to ignore that. I couldn't post captions... but wanted to explain the first photo with the old guy. That's Larry, who has the Guinness World Record for most marathons in one year... this was his 105th marathon in 2008. Not only that, but he has run a marathon in all 50 states. I haven't even been to all 50 states, much less run a marathon in them! So of course, we had to get a picture...

Running in silence

I survived the half marathon. I'm so pleased that all four of us who started training so many months ago ran the race together. Well, actually, we started together, but my friends finished a little ahead of me. And that's okay, because it meant I got to cheer them on from behind!

I'll post more on the race later, but for now, I'm so glad that I'm done with all this training. No more late night runs, no more 6 a.m. Saturday runs (I know... crazy, huh?) and no more calling 8 miles a "short" run. I get to go back to the normal world where I'm satisfied if I run 30 minutes on a treadmill once or twice a week. Probably once a week. If that.

Now it's time for these sore legs of mine to crawl into bed and take a nice, long nap. Ahhh... there's nothing like a good rest after a big accomplishment.

One more thing I can cross off my list of life goals. Half Marathon... check.

Half Marathon Playlist

Here it is... my half marathon soundtrack. 

Whoot, There It Is - 95 South

Panama - Van Halen

Jump Around - House of Pain

Tootsee Roll (Dance Version) - 69 Boyz

Paper Planes - M.I.A.

Love Lockdown - Kanye West

Deport Them - Sean Paul

Love Story - Taylor Swift (I'm obsessed with this song, so it's on here more than once)

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-Lot

I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fraid

Hot N Cold - Katy Perry

Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic

See You Again - Miley Cyrus

When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls

Picture to Burn - Taylor Swift

Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J

Enter Sandman - Metallica

Whatta Man - En Vogue

Singe Ladies (Put a Ring On it) - Beyonce

Funky Cold Medina - Tone Loc

All That She Wants - Ace of Base

Womanizer - Britney Spears

Move This - Technotronic

Love Story - Taylor Swift

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne

California Love - 2Pac

Barbie Doll - Jack Ingram

Here Comes the Hotstepper - Ini Kamoze

Mood Rings - Relient k

Give a Little Love - The Judds

Sadie Hawkins Dance - Relient k

Butterfly - Crazy Town

Temperature - Sean Paul

7 Things - Miley Cyrus

Just a Lil Bit - 50 Cent

Love Don't Live Here - Lady Antebellum

Oops! I Did It Again - Britney Spears

Red High Heels - Kellie Pickler

Son's Gonna Rise - Citizen Cope & Santana

Paper Planes - M.I.A.

Love Lockdown - Kanye West

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-Lot

I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

Perfect fit

I always have to have the perfect outfit for my race. It's a little tradition I started back with my first marathon relay up in Oklahoma City about four years ago. I may not be good at running, but I want to look good when I run. 

So on Sunday I will be sporting a brand-new pink running outfit... pink from head to toe. I bought it today. It's sporty and super girly (who would have guessed) and should help me shave off at least a few minutes on Sunday. As those faster runners go zooming past me, they'll all be thinking, "That girl has on such a cute outfit that I almost didn't notice how slowly she runs."

And because the store was running such a good sale, I also got the perfect yoga outfit... a bright green yoga outfit. Because next week, when I retire my running shoes and replace it with my yoga mat, I'll need something to wear.

Carb load

According to Wikipedia, I am supposed to be practicing "carb load" this week. It's a tough job, but I'm up for the challenge. That's why I ate french fries for dinner, made rice krispie treats (dyed green and made to look like Christmas wreaths, yum) for dessert, bought croissants for breakfast tomorrow... this may be the best part of my training program.

I wonder if it's bad if I decide to extend "Carb Load Week" to "Carb Load Month." Or maybe 2009 could be "Carb Load Year." 

Are there carbs in chocolate mousse cake? Because I had some of that today too.

Just the facts, ma'am

A half marathon is 13.1 miles, or 21,097.5 meters.

Half marathon male world record: 58:33. Female world record: 1:06:25.

(By contrast, I hope to run it in about 2:10-2:20, maybe slower).

As of June 30, 2007, Horst Preisler of Germany had successfully completed 1157 full marathons, plus 343 ultramarathons (Mr. Horst is obviously nuts).

Ever wonder how they measure the length of the course? Here's how.

Only four days to go... Happy Half Marathon Week.

Running is Biblical

One of the things I love about running is that it's Biblical. The Bible uses it as a theme throughout scripture... a theme for Christian discipline, for perseverance, for never giving up, and for finding strength in Christ when we have none left for ourselves. The Bible makes it clear that our faith should not be a sprint, but a marathon. These are some of the verses that I will be quoting as I run on Sunday:

Psalm 119:32

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

Proverbs 4:11-12

I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Philippians 2:16

As you hold out the word of life--in order that I may not boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

And finally... for the verses that explain why I run. And the reason why I live my life the way I do. You might call it my "life verses." I even have part of it engraved on my iPod, so I can remember it when I'm ready to give up.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that in a race that all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize...  I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

National Half Marathon Week

In just seven days I run my first half marathon. So I hereby proclaim December 8-14 to be National Half Marathon Week. "Says who?" you may ask... well, says me!

There are many important aspects of preparing for a half marathon. The two most important keys to a good race are having the perfect wardrobe, and the perfect soundtrack.  

Here's where you come in. I need suggestions from all of my music loving friends (like you, David!). No song is too crazy... my current running playlist includes Metallica, Ozzie, Britney, Miley, Keith Urban, Nirvana, Vanilla Ice, Tupac, and Faith Hill. I'll take all your suggestions and publish my Perfect Half Marathon Running List later this week. 

Time for bed. For the next seven days I need to get lot's of sleep, eat tons of carbs, and run!

Good news

Guess who got renewed for another semester as a graduate assistant? Me! Me! Me! That's right, I get free tuition again in the spring, plus a little extra spending money. Praise the Lord, it's a huge blessing!

It's a bit surprising, considering the 17...

Just give me the stupid grade already

I tend to have unrealistic expectations when it comes to my graduate program. Like, if I turn in an assignment, I expect to have it graded and returned. If you give me a test, I expect you to return it and tell me how I did. I expect you to actually read the papers that I make so many sacrifices to write.

But sometimes that's too much to ask. Not all my professors... I have had a few who are absolutely fantastic. And I have had a few who are not.

So tonight my professor returned my research paper... which I honestly kind of phoned in anyway. Let's face it, I had a tough semester and I had a 98 going into this final paper, so I approached it with a "good enough" attitude. I even reconciled the fact that I just might get a B. (gasp) in the class. My first in this program.

So you can imagine my horror when I got back the paper and it had a big fat 17 on the top. SEVENTEEN. Eeeek! Are you kidding me? I may have done a less than stellar job, but a SEVENTEEN???? I thought you could get at least 17 points just for putting your name on it. 

And then my professor explained that this score was like golf... the lower your score, the better you did. So I think, "Do I subtract 17 from 100? Does that mean I made an 83?" 

Apparently  not. Because  a perfect score was an 8. Seriously. Somehow an 8 is a 100, and a 100 is a 0. Huh? So I have no idea what a 17 means. I figure it's somewhere between an 83-91. Whatever. Honestly, I was too tired to mess with it this morning. So I took my 17 and went home. I take that back... my 17 and I went out for sushi with friends from class, and then we went home.

I'm not sure this paper will be going on my refrigerator.

Beginning of the End

Today is the first day of the last month of 2008. Thank goodness. This has been a rough year for me... filled with ups and downs, but the downs were really tough this year.

But here's my theory... it seems that  most of the time, a bad year is followed by a really great year. One filled with adventures and friendships and the more obvious kinds of blessings that make you want to jump up and down like a little kid who hears the ice cream truck approaching. My 2008 was filled with many, many blessings, but a lot of my year's blessings were the kind that you had to look harder to see.

And that's really okay, because either way I choose to have joy. Joy if my blessings come wrapped in a huge bow of ease and excitement, and joy if my blessings come sandwiched between hardship and heartache. Either way, I choose joy.

End of the month

November is National Blogging Month, and my blog-a-day challenge has come to a close. I didn't make it every day, but I did manage 27 out of 30 possible days. Not bad.

Here's a quick run-down of my really fantastic and relaxing Thanksgiving week:

• Thanksgiving with my family was really nice. My mom is a fantastic cook and made us a feast, and sister Lindsay is a master pie baker... I wish I could eat pecan pie every day. 
  
• I ran 12 miles on Friday, in 126 minutes. It was a really good run, I didn't feel like throwing up a single time. That's a lot better than my last super-long run (Isn't it crazy that I judge success by my lack of vomiting? That's how I know this sport is nuts). Just 14 days until my half marathon.
• I put up several thousand Christmas lights on my house on Saturday. All by myself. I'm really proud, it looks great. I'm even more proud that I didn't need a guy to help. Except for the part where my dad came, but that was at the very end, so I don't count it.
• Tonight several of my friends helped neighbor Nick decorate his Christmas tree. I love having friends who live in my neighborhood, it's really special. I'm not sure why, but it makes me feel like a grown-up.
• Today I finished piecing together my latest quilt. I promise to post pictures soon. I'm really proud of how well it turned out.
• I didn't do a lick of homework the entire weekend. It was absolutely glorious.
  

Time to grab some sleep so I'm nice and fresh for my first day back in the real world tomorrow. Is it crazy that I'm excited to go back to work? I really do love what I do, and if I'm gone for a few days, I start to miss it. 

Shopping is hazardous to your health

Want to know why I like to get my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving? So this doesn't happen...

Thankful

In honor of Thanksgiving, here is a list of things I'm thankful for:

• My savior, Jesus, who loves me when I don't deserve it, and who is more powerful that I will ever be able to understand.
  
• I have the most awesome family. Ever. You may think your family is cool, but I'm convinced that mine may be better. They're just really wonderful. And they make me laugh.
• I have a job that I love. It allows me to help people when they're sick and hurting. I get paid to work with local charities. I get to be creative and think outside the box every day. Every once in awhile I get to be on TV or in the paper. And I have fantastic bosses and coworkers. I'm so thankful for this, since it's where I spend most of my time.
• I got free tuition for grad school this semester. In fact, they even paid me a stipend. That's spending money that I wasn't expecting, not to mention that I saved about $6,000 in tuition this fall. That's huge.
• I have a really great church. They don't just talk a good game, the folks there are mission-minded, outward-focused, and passionate about people. They're not preachy, yet they've got such an obvious faith. I'm so proud to serve with them.
• I got to make some new friends this year. Some came from unexpected places. Funny how that works.
• I'm really healthy. So healthy that I get to run a half-marathon in two weeks. A lot of folks don't have the opportunity to do that.
• I have a home. One that I built, so it's exactly the way I want it. Even though I've only lived here two years, I already have a lot of good memories here.
• I get to travel a lot. This year I went to New York. Next year I'm going to Europe, and possibly Miami. I've gotten to see a lot of neat places since I got out of school.
• I'm debt free. That's a huge blessing.
• I have a really cool dog.
• I live in America, which means I have the freedom to do just about anything I want to do. I realize that freedom didn't come without a cost. I'm thankful for that.

And I'm thankful that I have a warm bed waiting for me. Goodnight!

There

I ran a quick two miles today at about 8:15 per mile. I really didn't want to, but I knew the guilt would be overwhelming if I skipped. Silly race...

However, I must brag that today I finished almost all of my Christmas shopping! I always try to finish most of it before Thanksgiving so that I can avoid all those crazy shopping fanatics who insist on a mob mentality approach to shopping. I got mine done in relative peace, and enjoyed finding the perfect gift for each person on my list. Now I can just sit back and relax for the next few weeks! (and run... and run... and run).

Christmas Newsletter

I have a new toy to go with my new MacBook... Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, & PhotoShop! Apparently one of the few perks of paying $35,000 for a masters degree is that you get crazy discounts on software! They were practically paying me to take it off their hands (seriously... I paid $200 for a $1200 package... I'm pumped).

Which can mean only one thing...

It's time to create my third-annual Christmas Newsletter! If you have never gotten a copy, this is a newsletter unlike any you have ever seen. If you want to be added to my mailing list, shoot me an email with your address.

Front page news

Today I had a story on the front page of the newspaper. Actually, it was on the front page of both Section A and Section B, complete with several pictures. That story represents hours of work behind the scenes, coordinating interviews for the reporter, prepping my folks being interviewed, finding background research... I even had to re-design our Web site so they could link to a certain video (which didn't exist until I did a quickie online tutorial on how to upload videos... now that's customer service!).  My name may not be on the story, but seeing it there in black and white (with color photos!) makes me a really happy girl. Plus, it makes my boss really happy, which is even better. I do these all the time, but this one I'm framing and hanging in my office... it was that good.

Other than that... I forgot to mention that I ran 5 miles yesterday with an average of 8:30 per mile. I've got to hit it hard again tomorrow, and then we'll run 12 on Friday. Three more weeks and I start my lazy girl workout!

What's for dinner?

My friends have created a neighborhood dinner club. We all happen to go to the same church and live in the same part of town, so logically this meant we just HAD to create a supper club! It only makes sense, it had to be done.

Tonight we met at Andrea & Sara's house, and Sara, the best cook in town, made us the most fantastic dinner! It was great... I got to hang out with old friends, and we invited some new folks to join us who just started visiting our church. It was a great picture of what good church outreach should look like... laid back, getting to know each other around the dinner table, and enjoying a good meal together. 

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.... Every day they continued to meet together... they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

--Acts 2:42, 46-47

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves... Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

--Romans 12:10, 12-13

Happy birthday to me

Today is my birthday. The Big 2-8. 

It's also the one-year anniversary of this blog. Here's the original, written last year. 

And here's a throw-back to another birthday post on the old blog. 

I seem to get a bit sentimental on my birthday. But for some reason, not this year. I'm in a pretty good place, one of those transitional spots where I'm on my way somewhere, but not there yet. But as I travel to my next destination, I find myself happy, content, and thankful to be surrounded by some pretty neat people. And surprisingly enough, I don't feel the least bit introspective. Maybe I'm just too full with chocolate birthday cake to worry about much.

Tonight I had a birthday party... a retro roller-skating party with about 25 friends and family members. It was a real hoot--I promise to post pictures very soon. I felt like a kid again... possibly because I wore a glo-necklace, raced boys on rollerblades, and had my mom there taking pictures. Yep, I may be 28, but that doesn't mean I have to act like it.

Fa la la la la

It may be a week before Thanksgiving, but it's never too early to decorate for Christmas. I lit a fire in the fire place, cranked up the Christmas music, baked a home-made molten chocolate cake, and tackled those decorations. 

We found Harley the Wonder Schnoodle's Santa costume when we were unpacking decorations. He absolutely hates this outfit... I suspect because it's made from cheap polyester, which probably doesn't feel good on his skin. But when I put it on him, he cowers, sulks, pouts, and gives me mean, hateful looks until I take it off of him. I should probably be more sympathetic, but it's hilarious to watch, so we pulled out the camera to document his disgust. I don't know if you can tell from his body language, but my roommate was trying to get him to look at her while she took the photo, and he stubbornly refused. This is Harley's "I hate you both" look. Isn't it adorable?

Playing Hookie

I was scheduled to run with a friend tonight, and here's how the conversation went, via text message, about 30 minutes before our run was scheduled to start:

(Sara)--Brrrr! Are we still running?

(me)--Is it really cold? I haven't been outside. I feel sick today, we could skip and grab dinner instead.

(Sara)--lol. That was way too easy. My roommate is making chili, come join us!

(me)--Deal!

And that's how my 1-hour run turned into a 2 1/2 hour dinner with friends... which was so much better than running in the cold wind.

Speedy

Check this out... tonight I ran 4.06 miles in only 36:02 minutes... that's 8:52/mile. I know this because I bought one of those cool Nike thingy's that plug into your iPod and tell you how fast/how far you are running. It's a pretty neat invention!

Last Saturday I ran 10 miles in 1 hour and 56 minutes. For those keeping track, that's very, VERY slow (it would have been faster if I wasn't so close to throwing up for the last two miles... fun). I'm shooting for a 10-minute mile at my half-marathon, which means I have a lot of training to do in the next month! And then, after that, I will have a lot of sitting-on-my-couch-eating-ice-cream-and-not-exercising to do. Beginning December 15. Mark your calendar, maybe you can "train" with me.

Sushi Support Group

So a Muslim, a Jew and a Baptist go to a sushi restaurant...

Sounds like the beginning of a joke, doesn't it? Actually, that was my night--I went out to dinner with a few friends from grad school tonight after class, and we had a BLAST. It was so fun--one girl is a Muslim from Pakistan (but has lived in the US most of her life). Another girl is a Jewish Chilean who has just been in the US for a year. And then there was a girl from Keller... and then me. The blue-eyed blonde girl with freckles from Texas (sometimes don't you wish you were deliciously exotic? I do!).

I love getting to know people who are nothing like me, but everything like me. I love hearing their stories, breaking down stereotypes and learning what makes them tick. We talked about boys, school, religion, Middle Eastern conflicts, movies, our families, the election... all the stuff normal classmates talk about. And we did it all while eating $3 sushi at a little hole-in-the-wall close to campus.

Experiences like that form some of the good memories that I'll take away from my grad school experience. It dulls the pain of all of those hours of homework, the social activities I'm forced to sacrifice, and the evenings spent in a classroom with no windows. Because occasionally I get to make a new friend, somebody I would normally never get to know under any other circumstances.

In fact, we're already planning our next outing... a make-over party! One of the girls is a local television reporter who is a make-up pro... so she's providing the rest of us with a Sephora make-up tutorial. We may be grown-ups, but we're never too old to play dress-up. It's fun to be a girl, even if I'm not deliciously exotic!

Quilting Bee

I mentioned awhile back that I'm learning to quilt in my spare time. Well, here's number two. My quilting is much like my training for the half marathon... slow, painful, and sporadic. But I must admit that I really enjoy the challenge of learning something new. It's definitely a lot harder than it looks...

I apologize to my male blog readers who are yawning and super bored right now. But my quilting friends Tiff & Melanie will be quite proud.

Grant Teaff & Pecan Pie

I had yet another fundraising dinner for work tonight (this one for a very worthy Christian non-profit). If you're taking notes, that's my 5 millionth fundraiser this month. No kidding.

I must admit that I wasn't super excited about having to work until 10 p.m. on a Monday night (since Tuesday I have class until 9 p.m.--two late nights in a row), but I was pleasantly surprised because (1) Grant Teaff, the best football coach in Baylor's history, gave a fabulous speech, (2) I got to get my photo made with him (and my eyes were open!), and (3) they served some really fantastic pecan pie, which happens to be my favorite.

So my night turned out to be pretty darn good. Sic 'em, Bears!

Romance & Geese

This makes me laugh... in fact, everything found here makes me laugh.

License Renewal

I got my driver's license renewed today. It was a little bittersweet because I've been carrying the same license since I was 18... that's ten years! But alas, next week, on my 28th birthday, my beloved license will expire. And in a rare and unexpected twist of fate, I actually took care of it EARLY. This coming from the girl who was six months late renewing her car registration last year. Don't tell my dad... I finally took care of it after that nice police officer gave me a ticket.

So you can understand my anxiety when the lady at the DMV took my photo for the new license... and then began laughing. Uncontrollably.  Really? Is it that bad? 

After a lot of begging, she relented and agreed to retake the photo. Twice. This whole thing would be a lot better if we could just provide our own headshots. Everybody looks better with a few PhotoShop touch-ups.

Free Pass

I know I promised a blog a day for November. And I missed last night. But I had more important things to do, like organizing my laundry room and cleaning out drawers. What can I say, I lead an extremely glamorous life. 

And tonight I'm just not in the mood. So I will leave you with a short list of random things that I have discovered lately that I really like. Please do me a favor and let me know one of your recent fun discoveries in life. 

1. I really love naan. It's kind of like flat bread... I think it's Greek. Whatever it is, it's awesome with melted cheese, onions, peppers, and ham on top. You can buy it at Target.

2. I absolutely love gummy vitamins. They taste so good that I'm tempted to eat the whole bottle. But I'm not four, so I won't. 

3. I just bought cold water Tide laundry detergent. You can save $0.36 a load if you wash in cold water. And in a bad economy, every little bit helps! Only 1,000 loads until I can buy something nice!

4. My cafeteria just started selling jumbo hot dogs. I may pretend to be classy and sophisticated, but I love a good hot dog every once in awhile for lunch. It's kind of like working at the ballpark.

5. I may have mentioned it in a past blog, but I love leggings. It's pretty much my uniform when I'm at home, and I have begun wearing them when I run on cold mornings. I never knew the 80s were so wonderful.

That's it. It's 8:45 p.m. and I haven't had dinner yet (it was a school night). I'm off to go scrounge something up.  The dinner is really just a technicality... because I'm having ice cream for dessert. It's the best part.

Action

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

--1 John 3:18

Running again

I ran nine miles this morning. It was actually quite pleasant, considering it had been almost two weeks since my last run. Only 34 days til the half marathon! I can't believe it's almost here... it seems like forever ago (early July?) when Sara and Liz mentioned over dinner that they might do it. And here we are!

But what if it takes two more years?

My family held an intervention the past two nights. My parents basically told me that I am over-doing it with school and work and life in general, and that next semester I should go back to just one class. I guess it's not healthy to always feel like you're going to cry, or collapse from exhaustion that comes from working two jobs and taking two night classes. 

Part of me wants to hunker down and take two classes so I can stay on track to graduate next Christmas (I have five classes left). But another part of me wants to cry at the idea, and realizes that life has become too much to handle. Will the world end if it takes me two more years to finish? If, during those two years, I can coast and enjoy life and play with friends, and only worry about school one night a week? The thought brings so much relief. 

Maybe they're on to something...

Please feel my pain

I had (got?) to work a business expo today for work. The event was surprisingly fun, although one booth kind of put a lid on my fun.

My booth was right around the corner from an OPEN CASKET! Yep, the local funeral home had a booth near mine, and somebody thought it would be a positive marketing tactic to bring a casket. Because we all love to be reminded of our own mortality. Yep, I think I'll stop and get a chair massage, grab some chips and salsa, pick up a few highlighters and a koozie, and then go by the funeral booth to talk about dying.

Sometimes I'm a fashionista

There's a new trend out there that all the kids will be wearing very soon. It's the new "Bethe Onesie."  If you want your own, I can make that happen. Soon I'll be offering adult sizes (boys, these make super Christmas gifts!).

To see more of my original designs, check out Tiffany's new baby blog.

Better late than never

This is what I'm meditating on:

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning.

--Psalm 130:5-6

There's so much to these verses. It talks about our source of hope, of being patient, of our soul longing for Christ. I love the metaphor of the watchmen... I can imagine him sitting on the wall of the city, waiting and watching, standing at attention, fully focused and committed.

Also, go check out Psalm 121, you'll love it.

Get some perspective

It's election night. I find it all very entertaining... it's kind of like Christmas morning, you finally know what's inside all of that pretty packaging. Sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you don't.

However, I wonder about all of the folks out there who have completely lost perspective. I think it's because the campaigns began almost two years ago. That's a long time, and we slowly became more and more invested in the process. Which is good, because folks should care about politics. But I think the unprecedented attention has made everybody lose their minds.

Guys, I think if Obama wasn't really an American, we would have known it by now. The mainstream media may lean a tad liberal, but I guarantee that the bloggers out there would have dug this up. Or some rogue reporter looking to make a name for himself. So take a deep breath and don't worry about that.

He's probably not a terrorist either. In fact, he's probably a decent guy. As is McCain. And McCain isn't George Bush. I really don't care for either candidate. But I also have enough confidence in my country and in our political process to know that we will survive. Either guy is going to make some huge mistakes. And we will survive. He will take credit for good things begun by Bush. He'll get blamed for things that began long before he took office. We will survive. No matter who wins, I don't think we will see the radical changes that have been predicted. The sky won't fall, the world won't come to an end. Because our government is overwhelmingly inefficient. Sometimes it frustrates me, sometimes I find it strangely comforting. Change comes very slowly and with a lot of resistance.

So instead I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching the political process in action. It's highly entertaining. And it makes me so very thankful to be an American.

Prison Blog

Today was a good day... except for the part where I almost went to prison.

Okay, maybe not prison. But I almost committed a class-B misdemeanor. Okay, maybe 30-40 counts of a class-B misdemeanor. But I did it with very good intentions.

I was trying to save the world and be a good American. Some patients at the hospital where I work had asked if they could vote on election day from the hospital. Being the patient-focused, pro-democracy girl scout that I am, I called my county elections office and got the scoop on how I could help these nice patients vote. 

Long story short, they told me that I would have to personally handle the whole process for ALL of our patients. Luckily I found out before it was too late that this is against the law--an individual can only assist ONE person with their voting from the hospital (which makes sense, because a bad, anti-American girl scout hater could hypothetically stuff the ballot box this way).  If you assist multiple people, it's a misdemeanor. I was going to do that 30-40 times. Oops. 

Thankfully I realized my mistake and didn't break the law. I won't be going to jail. Which is a good thing, because I've got a lot going on right now and am not sure where I would fit that "time" in.

In other political news, I have a big work event Saturday night, and my State Representative will be sitting at my table as one of my guests. It will be a lot of fun if he happens to be reelected tomorrow. If not, it could be awkward.

Love a challenge

My good friend David has challenged the blog world to write a post every day for the month of November. Apparently November is National Blogging Month. It also happens to be my birthday month, so if you're looking for a reason to buy me a present, now you have two! (just kidding... I'll settle for a funny-but-meaningful-and-heartfelt card and some cash).

I'm sitting here at Starbucks, trying to finish a long research paper due on Friday (I'm on page 18 of 20... almost there), and because I've consumed massive amounts of coffee, this blog may be a bit scattered. Which is why I will employ the numbering system... so I don't confuse you. Or me.

1. I hate it when furniture companies pay homeless people to stand on the street corner with those giant "going out of business" signs. It's absolutely terrible. First of all, why don't you just follow your city's regulations like the rest of us advertising folks and get a sign permit? Or run an ad? Or buy a billboard? But no, you would rather pay a homeless man in cash to stand there and humiliate himself and make me sad as he stands for hours at a time, in extreme weather conditions, holding your sign. It breaks my heart. Really. It makes me hate your store and makes me VERY glad you're going out of business. If you really ARE going out of business. So tacky.

2. I've been asked to serve on an advisory board for my local school district's school board. I'm so excited about this! We have our first meeting tomorrow night. This one excites me because I'm absolutely fascinated by education, and I love my local school district. Plus, the superintendent is the one who asked me, which was pretty special. So tomorrow night I'll be putting on my big-girl suit and meeting with the superintendent, the administrator of curriculum, a few teachers, and five other community representatives. Yea! I wonder if these folks know that on the inside I'm really a huge dork who's only pretending to be a grown-up. Please don't blow my cover...

3. Today was Tiffany's baby shower (shout out to Tiff, one of my few faithful readers!). It was a lot of fun, and not to brag, but I think my gift was the best. I made her a few custom-onesies with special sayings on them. My favorite was one that said "I want to be just like Bethe when I grow up." I'm thinking about mass-producing them and then handing them out for birthday parties, baby showers, wedding presents... this could be the next big fad! Let me know if you'd like your own special version (Joel, I expect you to be first in line!).

Back to that paper... maybe...

LOVE Target!

I love Target. I went there at 6:30 tonight, Halloween night, to start working on my costume. Not only did I find the biggest bra in the whole wide world (because I'm going to be Dolly Parton... shhh, don't spoil the surprise!), but I came home with a new orange jacket, a ton of jewelry on clearance, a red patent leather belt, and a red terry cloth bathrobe! What I should have bought instead was my weekly groceries, but I left my list at home, and I was in a totally ADD mood. So it was a bra and jewelry for me tonight!

Now I have to go find the correct material to stuff my super-gigantic bra for tonight's Halloween party. I promise to post pictures soon!

Hospital Blog

For all those who have been praying for my sister's surgery, I want to say thank you. It's so neat to see people rally around someone you love, and I can tell you that she is so moved by the support she has gotten from her friends and her church family. I write this blog as I sit in her hospital room, chuckling at my sister's witty sense of humor, even with her head slightly cloudy from her pain medications. She is a real trooper, and I'll be so glad to have my favorite playmate back up and running very soon! 

In the meantime we're having a bit of a party in her room. And by party, I mean I'm sitting here doing homework while she catches up on her sleep. Tomorrow night she and I will be having a slumber party... there's even talk of painting her toe nails a new fabulous color. A girl may be sick in a hospital, but that's no excuse for not looking fantastic! If only I had planned ahead and bedazzled that drab hospital gown... sparkles would definitely add a spark to her stay!

Guys who can't commit

I've personally known some guys who were terrified of commitment, but this may be the worst example ever:

Runaway Groom Sets Wedding Venue on Fire

A Japanese Groom Set His Wedding Site on Fire, to Avoid Getting Married Again

By NORIKO NAMIKI

TOKYO, Oct. 27, 2008 —

A 39-year-old Japanese groom-to-be set his wedding site on fire in central Japan Saturday in an apparent attempt to sabotage his own wedding.

Japanese police arrested Tatsuhiko Kawata, an office worker, early Sunday morning after investigators said he confessed he was responsible for the hotel fire.

Police would not confirm a report by a Japanese newspaper that Kawata wanted to get out of the wedding because he was already secretly married to someone else.

According to the Yamanashi Prefectural Police, Kawata showed up at the Risonare, a hotel in Yamanashi Prefecture, 90 miles northwest of Tokyo, early Saturday morning -- the day he was supposed to tie the knot.

A hotel employee who did not want to be identified told ABC News that the fire alarm and extinguisher were activated immediately.

He said the hotel is still assessing the damage, but it seems minimal. The employee also said the hotel evacuated about 150 guests, but they were all able to go back to their rooms that evening after the fire department confirmed the hotel was safe.

The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shinbun, which reported that Kawata was already married, said the suspect told the police that he had "a reason not to go through the wedding" and that he believed setting the place on fire would help him avoid it.

Police said officers visited the suspect's residence to interview him, and that was where the suspect admitted his wrongdoing.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=6119323&page=1 

Mac kind of girl

I finally broke down and bought a new computer! No more PCs for me... I'm now a Mac girl! I'm not quite sure how to work everything, but fully expect to love it and never, ever, go back to a PC. Apple's just so darn cool. 

When I turned it on for the first time, it played a ROCK VIDEO. Ahh, so so cool.

Retreat

I feel like most of my posts are about how tired, or busy,or stressed I am. All are true, because this has been the toughest year of my life. Working full time, having a part-time job, and going to graduate school has begun to take its toll on me physically. I have hit moments of exhaustion worse than I've ever experienced before. I keep telling myself that the worst is behind me, I have 13 more months and counting. Hopefully.

But today I'm enjoying a personal retreat. I'm far from civilization, sitting on my balcony overlooking a gorgeous lake, enjoying absolute quiet. This afternoon I got a massage, read a book, took a nap, and then went for a long run through the hills around the lake. Days like these are enough to recharge my batteries for a little while longer. After today, I can go back to the real world of homework, deadlines, and responsibilities.

But for a few more minutes I'm going to enjoy some peace.

Two Hundred

In honor of my two hundredth blog, I thought I would go a little "retro." Here's a throw-back to a past Chick-fil-a blunder.

Today I had another one--this time I was enjoying some chicken nuggets dipped in barbecue sauce on my way to class when I spilled an entire sauce packet all over my jeans. But this time, that brown, smelly, sticky mess didn't ruin my day. Because I have finally learned my lesson and now carry a Tide stain stick in my purse! That magical wonder of a product almost completely erased all evidence of my clumsiness from my pants.

This may be the best invention since the internet.

You have to watch these

My friend David is a blogging master. If you want to relive some of the greatest musical moments from the 90s, please, please pay him a visit.

Hodge Podge Blog(dge)

1. In a moment of true edginess, I decided to paint my toe nails purple. Deep, dark purple. Almost black. I feel like such a rebel. The pedicure lady was a bit worried I might not like it, but I have savored the unexpected pop of color peeking out of my peep-toe shoes ever since. Now I just need to find a motorcycle that I can hop on the back of and ride off into the sunset like the bad girl I am.

2. I love free stuff, and lately that has carried over into loving to get free shots. This summer I got a tetanus shot, just because it was free. I mean, you never know when you might step on a rusty nail, and then I will be thankful that I got my free tetanus shot at work. It'll save me a trip to the ER (assuming I'm not bleeding profusely from whatever rusty nail wound I might encounter). This is all hypothetical, of course.

So yesterday you can only imagine my elation when I got my annual free flu shot. Not only will I be flu-free this winter, but I can apply that $15 I saved toward something a lot more useful, like a pedicure. Or some new earrings. I wonder what other shots I can get for free? Maybe I can score a pneumonia vaccine? I should call HR.

3. I just love this cold, fall weather. I've been sleeping with my windows open, which may be contributing to the head cold I'm trying to fight off, but it's worth it to sleep with fresh air blowing on my face, curled under my covers for warmth. Maybe soon I can pull out the old electric blanket. It may be my favorite possession.

4. I taught three classes at TCU this week. Two classes on media buying, and one on employee/internal communication. I love teaching. The only thing I don't love is the parking on campus. If I ever get hired as a full-time professor, I'll have to hire a helicopter to drop me off by my building, because there's only 5 parking spaces for 8,000 students at that school. Next week I've been asked to speak to an advertising class at UTA, and I hear their parking situation is even worse. So if you know of anybody with a helicopter, who won't be busy Tuesday morning, please have them call me. It shouldn't take long, they can just hover over my building while I teach. The class is only 90 minutes.

Engaged

I promise to post more details (and photos!) later, but I just wanted to spread the big news... my youngest sister Lindsay is engaged! Her longtime boyfriend Dallas popped the big question last night. It's so exciting!

I'm also so relieved... I've been bursting with this secret for a week. I think this proves once again that I CAN keep a good secret (much to the surprise of those who know me best), although I'll admit that all I wanted to do for the past seven days was call everybody I know and tell them the good news.

So there. If I didn't post this, I probably would have exploded. Congrats Lindsay and Dallas!

A bit about me

Surveys are like train wrecks. You know you shouldn't look, but you just can't help yourself.

Go ahead, you can look. I won't tell. Besides, you know you want to turn around and fill it out yourself...

10 years ago:
I was 17 and a senior in high school. I was the school’s mascot (a tiger… it was such a fun gig!) and on a competitive cheerleading squad with girls from about 10 different high schools. I did 50 back flips almost every day, worked every afternoon as a secretary at a law firm, and hated my midnight curfew. I dated Bobby, Stephen, John (I think that was his name?), but none for more than a month or two. I bet they’re all in prison now.

Things on my to-do list today:
Today was an absolute treat. This morning I played in a golf tournament for our local fire fighter association (lot’s of cute fire fighters!). Afterward, I went to a reception for our school district superintendent who was recognized for winning a big award. Then tonight I taught my first advertising class over at TCU as part of my graduate assistantship. I think it went well… I bribed my students with lot’s of candy, so they were happy. Tomorrow I speak to another advertising class, this time as a “visiting professional” as a favor to one of my favorite professors. I feel momentarily academic… although I know that will quickly pass.

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
I would be soooo excited… and surprised! I’d give a bunch to my church, buy a pretty house on the lake somewhere and have a boat, give my family lot’s of money, quit my job and become the queen of volunteering. Or maybe I’d start my own charity and volunteer there. In my spare time I would travel the world with my friends and family. Gosh… being rich sounds kind of lonely, maybe it’s better that I’m not a billionaire. Plus I bet most billionaires are stressing a little more about this financial crisis than I am.

Actually, if money were no object, I would quit full-time working and teach part-time at a college somewhere (and have a million hobbies/projects on the side). But that won't pay my mortgage and I'd have to finish this master's degree first. Besides, I really do love my job and am super thankful to have it.

Three of my bad habits:
1. I drink strawberry milkshakes almost every night during the summer. In the winter, I eat freshly baked chocolate chip cookies almost every night. I’m weak, I admit it.
2. I drink way too much coffee—usually 2-3 cups a day, sometimes more. Sometimes much more. There’s a Starbucks in the lobby of my building, so I’m a bit spoiled.
3. I tend to get excited and over-commit to activities, and then wonder where all my free time went. But if I didn’t do that, I would be extremely bored.

Five jobs I have had:
1. Softball umpire (senior year of high school)
2. Cafeteria lady at my sisters’ school (for just 3 weeks in college… sexy, I know.)
3. Cheerleading camp instructor (three summers in college)
4. Gymnastics coach (senior year of college)
5. Mascot choreographer (all 4 years of college... high school kids would pay me to make up their mascot try-out routines... I never had a kid not make the squad!).

And now I have this advertising gig, which is pretty cool.

Five things people don't know about me:
1. I used to know the N’Sync dances. I love to dance, I’m just really bad at it.
2. I am scared of diving off of a diving board, even though I used to do back flips on concrete and not even flinch.
3. I won a giant inflatable cow in a contest in elementary school. As an adult, I won a 36” TV. And $1,000. And some baseball memorabilia. I had a lucky streak in 2004!
4. I am terrified of flying. It doesn’t stop me, but I’m really scared during take-off and landing.
5. Cheesecake makes my stomach turn. I can barely stand to look at it.