SPAM!

Do you know what is just as gross as actual Spam, the alleged meat in a can? Comment spam! I've had this blog for well over a year and a half and not once had I gotten spammed in my comments...until today. The most ridiculous part is that the spammer commented on a post back in August of 2004...and it wasn't even related to that post but a post further down the page! If I didn't have my comments emailed to me, I would never have known. It kind of irritates me that my spammer wasn't even remotely intelligent. Unfortunately, this means I am now turning on comment verification. Boo.

a little TLC

Lately, I've been feeling the need for a change in my life. The harsh reality of entering my late 20's has brought with it the additionally harsh reality that I might need a more sophisticated wardrobe. For instance, I should probably not wear a camp t-shirt, jeans, tennies, and a hoodie to work. Yet that is exactly what I have found myself doing the past three days. I used to care about fashion, but I've been so busy with my job that I hardly even notice when I go 4 months without a haircut or that I have a professional image to maintain. (Okay, so really I am just low on clean laundry and I've been sick....but let's stick with the story here, folks.)

TLC is one of my favorite channels. Why? Because it features What Not to Wear, one of my favorite shows. If you've never watched style gurus Stacy London and Clinton Kelly at work, you're missing out.

So what I propose is this: I will continue to wear t-shirts, jeans, and tennies every day for several weeks. You will nominate me for the show, explaining that I never dress appropriately. Stacy and Clinton will come to my rescue with the $5,000 Visa card in hand. I'll get to go shopping in NYC and also get a hair and makeup makeover in the process. (See, it's a brilliant plan.)

Any questions? No? Okay then...get to nominating!

2005: A Year-End Review

I'm sitting at home -- sick. It's not really fun. So rather than enjoying my New Year's Eve plans, I have instead resigned myself to watching Making the Band re-runs on MTV and updating my blog. I know you envy me and wish you could do the same.

In the spirit of the new year, I decided to be lame and do a review just like everyone else. Consider it my "holiday letter" since I didn't send out Christmas cards (as if I ever do?).

January began with the best New Year’s celebration to date: a fun dinner party at my friend Deanna’s apartment with some great friends. I felt renewed and energized for an exciting year, not knowing what would be in store.

February brought with it the realization that God was calling me into a different ministry. There was much of my job in counseling women in unplanned pregnancies that I loved, but it seemed time for a change. A door opened, and I had a great job interview.

March was an interesting month. I ended my job at the adoption agency with a bang: a baby was born that very day.

April proved a time for relaxation. I took time for myself, which I hadn’t done in a very long time. I visited my parents for a couple weeks and returned in time to interview moving companies and pack up my life in Edmond. At the end of the month, I moved.

May 1st was my very first day at my new job in children’s ministry. Things got rolling and haven’t slowed down since.

June allowed me the opportunity to return to Edmond for the first time since my move. I taught at Camp Impact and also got to see friends and family.

July began some awkward dating set-ups that didn’t work out. Apparently I have standards…and apparently they’re high. I'm okay with that.

August held the Family Retreat. It was my first time to attend. Turns out, I spent most of that time in the kitchen preparing, serving, and cleaning after meals. But I was able to sneak in some quiet time outdoors and really found refreshment.

September began a serious phase of planning and anticipating. And at the end of the month, fall began…if only in name. We were still having record-breaking high temps.

October will forever be etched into my memory for the tire incident. On my way to Houston, I suffered a tire blow-out. I was alone, dressed in a skirt, and completely unsure of my ability to change a tire as I’d never done so. But Daddy to the rescue! He talked me through it over the phone.

November was the cruise with Marilee and her family! Goodness, that was a fun week with memories for a lifetime. It definitely renewed my travel bug. Good thing, because I also took a quick trip to Edmond for camp meetings, and later a little longer trip to visit my parents for Thanksgiving.

December concludes with me owing a debt of gratitude and gratefulness to the Kelso family, who has taken me into the fold with open arms. Not only did they take me cruising in November, but this month, they helped me celebrate my birthday and Christmas in style. What a great family!

So that’s that. My year in review. I know you feel better for having caught the highlights. You get a gold star if you actually read the whole thing!

Tis the Season!

I'm not really a huge fan of bumper stickers, but in honor of the Christmas season, I believe this one is appropriate. :) 

Meanwhile...

I'm working on a new post. But in the meantime, take this quiz. (Okay, so I copied MGam. But who cares? Quizzes are fun!)

The "Blind" Lady

Preface: I do have a picture of the lady I'm about to describe, but I decided against posting it in case she is a friend of any of you. I'd hate to be held libel for defamation of character or something. So just imagine if you will a woman approximately 6 feet tall weighing 400 pounds with a series of very bad blonde wigs.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

I'd like to start by saying that this woman was aboard our cruise and claimed to be completely blind. In the week we spent with her, it became increasingly apparent that this woman was not, in fact, completely blind. There's no way she could have been.

Here, I present the Top 10 Reasons I Know This Woman Was Not Really Completely Blind:

10. She claims the cruiseline broke her "blind stick" when it went through baggage. Don't you think if she were really completely blind, she would've taken it aboard with her from the get-go and not packed it separately to send through baggage check?

9. She wore makeup that -- although tacky -- was perfectly applied.

8. I just wonder why a completely blind woman would go on a cruise by herself. It seems unlikely.

7. She had a video camera and always seemed to know when she could see our boat in the harbor from our position on the bus in Grand Cayman in order to video it. She started taping when it was visible and stopped taping when it wasn't.

6. She gave Marilee and I dirty looks every time we were near her. I think she knew we were onto her scheme.

5. She was watching the movement of the stingrays in the ocean and yelling out to people 15 feet away from her that a male stingray was headed toward them. How did she distinguish the male from female without being able to see? How did she know in the choppy water that a stingray was headed in a zig-zaggy pattern toward people so far away from her?

4. For that matter, why would a completely blind woman choose to go alone on a stingray swim and snorkel excursion?

3. She managed to walk around the photo display area with ease without any assistance, marched right up to a sign, pulled it out of the slatboard holder, and proceeded to ask what it said.

2. She also knew that she was missing a picture -- the one of her posing in a red dress in front of a boat backdrop. Without the aid of sight, I wonder how she knew the picture with the boat and red dress weren't among the ones she'd already miraculously found along the display racks.

1. She could always find the most affluent-looking or attractive people to cling to for help. You see, her ability to function varied depending on the people she was around.

There are plenty other examples, but I think you get the point. I'm just saying...this woman wasn't completely blind. And it really is sad that she would feign such an impairment for attention, unecessary help, etc. I kind of wonder if she was running some kind of theivery scam. If she winds up on America's Most Wanted, I won't be surprised.

Meet My Sister, Marilee

This is Marilee -- my dear friend who was gracious enought to invite me on a cruise with her family. Let me tell you, cruising with her family was quite possibly the most hilarious thing I've done in recent years. I am posting this picture so you have a clear visual of the two of us before I proceed.

I can't tell you how many people on the cruise thought we were sisters. It was better than other things they could've thought, I suppose, considering the large number of "alternative lifestylers" on the ship. At any rate, I could go for friends, even cousins, and maybe half sisters or something. But twins?! There was one particularly drunk woman who thought we were identical twins. She was kind of funny in a rather unfortunate way.

I'll update some more cruise details soon-ish.

Home Sweet Home

Due to popular demand, I am updating my blog! Here is a very exciting picture of my living room. I know you are overjoyed at the sight of this. Don't you think it needs a paint job in a major way? Unfortunately, that won't happen while I'm still in this apartment. Anyway, here is my home...for those of you dying to know what I did with the place after unpacking my boxes.

20!

Alexa "tagged" me to do a post of 20 random things about myself. Since I'm in desperate need of an update, here we are:

1. I love God!

2. I am incredibly blessed with awesome friendships.

3. I think my skin is so pale it's actually translucent.

4. I went off caffeine for a month but now I drink more Diet Coke than ever.

5. My favorite ice is from Sonic. I feel badly for my parents who no longer can enjoy Sonic as the Terre Haute location went out of business.

6. I stopped watching Alias this season. Killing off Vaugn in the first episode and "reassigning" Weiss in the second were just more than I could handle.

7. I haven't written anything on my thesis in at least 6 weeks. But that is going to change soon...I hope.

8. This creepy little scarecrow thing is sitting on my desk and it's kinda freaking me out.

9. It's been almost 4 months since my last haircut.

10. My county is under a weather alert: we might have cooler temperatures due to a cold front. How cool are these temperatures they're warning us about? Highs are only gonna be in the 80s!

11. I love Taco Cabana, but I still crave Taco Bueno from time to time.

12. Chai, aka: "Thanksgiving in a cup," is my favorite hot beverage.

13. I'm only occasionally artistic.

14. I ate blueberry waffles for dinner.

15. I set sail for a week-long cruise with the Kelso family on the 30th!

16. I have actually started keeping my checkbook register again.

17. I haven't ironed an article of clothing in quite some time, but my iron is plugged in (although safely in the "off" position) just in case.

18. I enjoy watching sports more during play-offs than regular season games.

19. I think I have 6 valid email accounts for some strange reason.

20. I will be in Oklahoma for two days in early November!

Now I am supposed to tag 10 people to write their 20 random things. So get to it: April, Adam, Karessa, Lindsy, Sara, Stacey, Dara, Terra, Jinny, and Marilee.

If you didn't make my official list of tagged bloggers, I apologize. Please submit a written request and I will be certain you are tagged for something in the future!

this is only a test...

Do you ever have one of those days where God completely reveals himself to you and you think to yourself, "YES! This is exactly what I needed. God is good!" You might take some time to praise God and reflect on His work in your life. And you feel content in your faith and your relationship with God. All is right. It's a good day. But then the very next day -- BOOM! Satan comes flying at you with so much force that it knocks you back.

That's kind of where I am today. Instead of wallowing in it, though, I am fighting back. I decided to seek some wisdom from my Father. And this is what He provided:

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -- Isaiah 40:29-31

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -- Isaiah 41:10

What scripture(s) do you find empowering?